Tag Archives: fly fishing

Meetings, Meetings 2015

April Stuff

The next meeting of the HFF will be April 21st at the Colorado
Steakhouse. This month the program will be Mike Exl of Wildcat Creek Outfitters. He will be talking about Smallmouth fishing in
Indiana.  (http://www.wildcatcreekoutfitters.com.)

Mike Exl Wildcat Creek Outfitters
Mike Exl Wildcat Creek Outfitters

From their web site: “Mike has been fly fishing most of his life. He has traveled to destinations such as the Bahamas, Alaska, and even Chile.  Mike is one of our guides and also instructs our fly tying classes and is one of our two Carp guides.”  Be sure to visit their website to learn more about fly fishing Indiana and how Wildcat Creek Outfitters can help you.

The fly tying demo this month will be Barry Clarke tying an H and L
variant. Although this is a trout pattern,I am willing to bet the odd
Bluegill might gobble one of these. The annual picnic may be a good
chance to test this theory …but remember, this is just a theory. There
is a nice video on tying this pattern available at
http://thefeatherbender.com/2014/07/12/tying-the-h-l-variant/

Future Events: The annual HFF picnic will be May 9th. Stay tuned for more information on the picnic coming soon.

Fishing Report: The weather is sotra kinda getting OK and it sure looks like it is about time to go fishing. However,Paul and I drove down to look at Clear Creek on Friday. Lots of water,one might even call it a flood. As of this morning Lake Monroe was up 6.9 ft. I guess we will have to wait for a while to chase Carp and Wipers in the lake. The water at Fairfax is up to the parking lot so if you are hungry for some action you could cast out of the back of a pickup in any of the numerous parking spots open now.  Water temperatures are in the mid to high 40’s and rumors of crappies and bluegills biting have been heard.

Hope to see you all on the 21st at the Colorado Steakhouse. Dinner will be at 6:00 and the program will start at 7:00. Get those rods and reels in good shape, you will be needing them soon… . Don’t forget 2015 Fishing License and Trout Stamps are needed now. Fishing time is here, get out and enjoy it.
Tim

Meetings, Meetings 2015

Flymasters, Expos, and Rancid Crabtree

We had a great turn out for the January HFF meeting. There were lots of old faces around the tables as well as several new faces. It was good to see all of you there!  Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and food before the meeting with tales of Florida Fly Fishing, Big Wisconsin Smallies, walleyes on a fly and the Indy Fly Fishing Expo.  There was also a rumor about one of our old faces having a discussion with Bob Clouser last week about designing better flies for wipers.  But then again maybe I heard it wrong,  hopefully there will be more discussion about that at the February HFF Meeting. Don’t miss it!

Derrick Filkins
Derrick Filkins Flymasters and Tim Mather HFF President

One of the new faces at the meeting was Derrick Filkins of Flymasters Indianapolis.  Derrick was welcomed by club president Tim Mather. Derrick spoke to the group about warm water fly fishing and clued us in on some of the newest and greatest fly fishing gear available now at Flymasters. Check out their website or drop in the shop on Allisonville Road on the NE side of Indianapolis. If they don’t have what you need they will order it.

Lead Wing Coachman
Lead Wing Coachman by Mike Donovan

This year the fly tying demonstrations will be Traditional Classic Patterns that are over 30 years old and still produce fish. Mike Donovan, club program director, demonstrated how to tie a Lead Wing Coachman.

The trick is getting the wings on correctly and Mike showed how to do that. It is always educational watching how other people tie flies. Learning the little shortcuts or tricks they use  at the vise can save you lots of time when tying your own. Most all of the HFF meetings will have fly tying demonstrations.

On a sad note, it’s the end of an era.  If you are a fan of Pat , Crazy Eddie Muldoon, Rancid, Melba Peachbottom, Sneed, Strange  or are a member of the Rancid Crabtree Fly Fishing and Filisofical Society then you need to go to www.patrickfmcmanus.com.  Sadly the McManus website monthly blog and book store is no more.  You can read more about it on the website.