"Camp Fly" We did not get back from the big final camp wide campfire until late. I just got back into the tent, pulled out mu headlamp and the sketchbook. I recalled an elliptical symbol somewhere in camp. I thought it had a nice shape, so I did this abstract style fly incorporating the symbol.
"Scout Motto Fly" The Boy Scout Motto "Be Prepared" adorns this fly. Time is real tight to get sketches done. We are running all day and into the night. making sure our scouts get to their merit badge stations and attending leaders meetings takes it out of you.
"Drawing Flies Merit Badge" I am pushing to have this merit badge approved by the Boy Scouts of America!
"Swiss Army Fly" Waterproof ink and watercolor. The alway versatile knife transformed into a fly.
" Carved Apple Fly" I took my apple to go from the camp dinning hall and decided to carve a fly into it.
"Leave No Trace Fly" White gouache on tree bark - I spent the last week at Boy Scout Summer camp with my youngest Son. I am one of the Assistant Scout Masters for his troop. I was going to use my knife to carve the fly into the bark, but that would permanently scar the tree and would be against the "Leave No Trace" policy we try to teach the kids. So instead, I pulled out my white water soluble gouache and painted the fly on the tree. It rained a couple of times during our stay and all traces of the fly are now gone.
" Negative Fly" 14" x 10" Watercolor. Just experimenting with some negative shape painting and different techniques.
"Practice" Watercolor, indigo pencil and gouache. Just sketching the shapes and form in advance of a painting for this fly. Story to follow.
"Rat Mouse!" Pen and Watercolor. I tried this pattern for the first time last year. It was around 11:00 pm and I decided to try the only mouse I had in my fly box. I tied it on and cast to some dead fall along the bank. The mouse hit with a "PLOP" before I could get my first strip in, the water erupted. It sounded like a depth charge hit the water. I set the hook and the reel started to scream. The fish took off for cover and broke me off in the submerged logs. I picked up a few more mice to give it another try this trip. I had a difficult time of not setting the hook right away and stripping the fly from the fish. My buddy Corey used the mouse with much greater success. He really knows how to strip in the line after the take and then sets the hook. It was great watching him hookup on some nice fish using this pattern.
"Olive Madonna" Pen and Watercolor. I love swinging this fly after dark on my 6 weight. I have caught many a good size brown on a down and across swing. I have been known to fish until 12:30 - 1:00 in the morning swinging this fly in total darkness. Caught a few this trip on it, but not as many as previous years. It is still one of my high confidence patterns and it works equally as well on smallmouth
"Drake Emerger" Pen and Watercolor. The last evening of the trip was by far the most productive fishing dries. After the sun went down, we switched to an emerger and started back down river. Fished the emerger down and across on a swing. Corey expertly cast the emerger in a spot where he was earlier rejected while fishing a dry. The first cast in the area resulted in a nice brown. Persistence pays off.
"Old Skool Drawing Flies Template" Digital. I use to use these templates back in the day. Actually, even though I do a lot of my design work in 3D on the computer, I still pull out my templates when I do some sketching. I did retire the slide rule!
"Finger Fly" I laid down a watercolor wash on YUPO which is a synthetic paper that repels water and water based pigments. After the wash was complete, I used my finger to push paint away and paint the fly. Kind of takes me back to grade school when you would finger paint.
"Crazy Charlie" 10" x 8"color and gouache. I have been wanting to get to a saltwater patter for a while. Today it was over 80 degrees here, so it was time for some salt! This pattern is so simple and a classic.
Brook has a new tattoo! I am sure that you will be able to find it. Brook will be featured in a twelve month 2009 calendar. Stay tuned for the update.
