Rainbow Trout

A little rainbow trout that I caught on one of the first flies I tied.

Zonker Strip Clouser Minnow

Hook: U301 #8
Eyes: Weighted Dumbbell
Body: White and Chartreuse Zonker Strips
Wire: Chartreuse Medium Wire

Nothing Special

While doing a little research about winter warm water fishing, I came across this fly that has been used for winter bluegill. The creator of the fly named it "Nothing Special". Tying the fly is pretty straight forward. The materials I used are as follows:
Tail: Olive Flashabou
Body: Chartreuse Chenille
Legs: Silicone Chartreuse Barred Legs
Collar: Peacock Ice Dubbing (I tied one with peacock herl. I didn't like how it turned out.)
Hook: Umpqua U103 #14

I'm excited to try this little guy out. Hopefully I can make it out this weekend.

Bluegill Zonkers

Just found this on the fly tying forum. A guy named luvinbluegills ties them. He calls them Bluegill Zonkers. He included the recipe, which I've added below. I'll have to give these guys a shot soon.
Material List:hook: size 4 Mustad streamer (9674)
Thread: 6/0 Olive
tail: Mallard flank
rib: Copper wire
body: Sparkle Blend, Squirrel Belly color, followed by bright orange synthetic dubbing, then Blue floss
back: Olive Zonker strip
eye: stick on dome eye or Jungle Cock

Tying Instructions: Tie in your tail to about 1/3 the length of the body, then tie in the copper rib at the tail, thickly dub the body (you might want to use a dubbing loop for a thicker, faster body) then your hot Orange, then the Blue floss at the front. The floss only needs to be noticeable, as young 'gills (even older ones) rarely have a great deal of Blue showing despite their common name. Measure a piece of Olive Zonker from the eye of the hook to where the skin reaches just past the hook bend. Maybe a 1/4 inch past.

You can save a lot of time after measuring the first one by cutting all your pieces to match it before you start tying.

Hold it against the hook with the tip reaching the eye, and where it touches the bottom of the bend of the hook, impale that part on the hook so that the hair extends from the inside part of the hook.

Straighten the strip and tie it down at the eye. Now, wrap your rib forward, carefully pulling the hair out of the way as you go, so that it flows as freely as possible. This is where a bodkin or any needle comes in very handy!

Try not to put more than one wrap (if ANY) of ribbing through either the Orange or the Blue. If you can run it between them where they meet, that would be great. This is too keep as much of these minimal colors exposed as possible.

Tie off the wire with your thread, create a head for the fly, tie off and cement.

If you decide to use Jungle Cock (or other appropriate feather) for the eye, tie it in as the last step before finishing the head.

Add your stick on eyes with whatever adhesive you prefer. I like Zap a Gap.

To trim this fly for the final touches, trim the Zonker skin back to where there's just a bit of a tag beyond the bend of the hook. Trim the fur so that the tail is the end of the fly instead of the hair.

Most young 'gills this size are actually a lighter shade of Olive to a Golden Olive and some are even a very light Green on their back, blending very subtly to the belly, which this shade of Sparkle Blend is a great match for, so experiment with those colors if you get the chance.

The Duke Nukem Frog

Found this while I was lost on youtube. Pretty easy tie, but I haven't had a chance to test it out yet. Maybe this summer sometime.

Zonker

Hook: Umpqua U301 #8
Ribbing: Copper Wire
Body: Grey Dubbing
Collar: Orange Saddle Hackle
Shoulder: Orange Zonker Strip

Crappie on Caesar Creek

Crappie caught on a #12 olive woolly bugger

Various Larvae/Nymphs/Fish found in the Chena River

Stonefly Nymph

Blackfly Larvae

Cranefly Larvae

Sculpin

Mayfly Nymph

Fly Fishing in Alaska on the Chena River

This summer I had the privilege to tour around Alaska with an environmental science class from Michigan State. We visited Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, and Seward. I had the opportunity to fish on the Chena River for Arctic Greyling. It was pretty amazing. I've never seen so many fish rising on a river before.

Caught this Arctic Grayling on a #16 Adams

Arctic Greyling taken on a #18 mosquito 

My Fly Tying Bench

Crayfish

Hook: Size 8 TMC 5263
Legs: Ginger Saddle Hackle
Eyes: Black Rubber Legs
Carapace: Brown Tungsten Soft Sheet
Claws: Orange Zonker Strips
Body: Orange and Olive Dubbing Mix