Camp Flies
Nancy and I have been camping, spending some great time together in the wonderful forest lands of the U.S. In addition to the usual “camp chores,” there’s time for some needed reading, writing, lounging, fishing or course, and generally resetting one’s self. I also took some time to dress flies for a soon-upcoming trip to Alaska. I brought my “Jvise” because it has a wide span on the table clamp. Little did I know that the National Forest Service had conspired to make their tables a full 4 inches thick! Extraordinary.
So I clamped the vise to a short 2 x 4 (the vise has a full 3 inch gap on the clamp), laid the 2 x 4 on the table, and weighted it with a couple of big rocks. It looked a bit wild and crazy, and perhaps it was, but it worked great, and I was able to dress several dozen necessary imitations—some single hooks, some articulated on two hooks. They look great, and I’ll bet the rainbows of the Last Frontier will love the big articulated Black and Tan (sculpin imitation), Cop Car (black and white), black articulated Down and Dirty Leeches, Black and Green Down and Dirty Leeches—both articulated and single hook–and single hook Black and Blue Down and Dirty Leeches.
Who says camping has to be just about “getting away”?
Tying outside has some advantages. The disadvantage is the wind, of course.
Yes, the do look a bit ratty and fuzzy, but in the water they are grace personified–liquid fluidity. What trout can resist.