Another great video from Tightline...  Simple BWO Emerger, fun to tie, and more fun to fish!

Fishing For Calm - Tedx Bozeman

The Ted Talk is officially online and can be viewed on Tedx Bozeman's Youtube Channel.

Thank you to everyone who helped craft the message and coach me on the delivery!

The message is important.  Post Traumatic Stress affects many of our returning combat veterans and they need our support.  If you can, please take the time to give of yourselves to thank those that put themselves in harm's way.

Anybody want to go fishing?

International Fly Fishing Fair - Put it on the calendar!

August 4-6, 2016 marks the International Fly Fishing Fair hosted by Park County's own International Federation of Fly Fishers at Park High School in Livingston, Montana.

Put it on your calendars.

The event will include a live auction, BBQ, tying and casting demonstrations, seminars, and much more, including an action packed exhibit hall all three days!  There is a photo contest for all you pic-junkies, stuff for the kids, and much more.  $10 for an adult, $15 for a family, kids 15 and under free.  A limited number of free passes will be available at the Livingston Chamber Office starting on July 1, 2016 for all you looking for a deal.

More information can be found HERE.



Get out there and enjoy in between chasing the hoppers on the Yellowstone...

Sharp Hooks,

Sky

Analyzing Trout Rise Forms - A great post over at the Limp Cobra

This morning over a cup of coffee I perused the usual fly fishing blogs... Orvis, ChiWulff, Yellowstoner, and Limp Cobra.  The Cobra came through with my favorite of the day, linking me to "a real gem from Alan Bulmer at Active Angling New Zealand for your trout hunting pleasure."  It goes into different rise forms (Bulging, Tailing, Sipping) and what the fish is likely to be feeding on.

Here's a link to the full article:  https://activeanglingnz.com/2015/09/30/analysing-trout-rise-forms-a-lost-skill/

It's complete with pictures (mmmmm.... pretttyyy), a great little chart, and some good knowledge to shove into your brain bucket.  Enjoy.

Sharp Hooks,

Sky

The Passing of Prince

When Eric Clapton was asked what it was like being the greatest guitar player in the world, he replied: "I don't know, you'll have to ask Prince."

Below are two of my favorite flies here in Montana.  The Prince Nymph (anywhere, anytime) and the Purple Haze (especially on Slough Creek after the cutties have seen every foam pattern imaginable all Summer long).  While the Purple Haze reflects a song made famous by Jimi Hendrix, I can't help but sing "I only want to see you standing in the Purple Haze.  Purple Haze, Purple Haze." along the lines of one of Prince's most famous hits, "Purple Rain".  He was set to play that song with several others during the halftime show of the 2007 Superbowl during a downpour.  When asked if he could play in the rain by the staff, he said "Yes.  Can't you make it rain harder?"  Like the performer, these flies are up to the challenge and they are a must in any fly fisher's box here in Montana.

While I'm more of a fan of two types of music, country AND western, I can certainly appreciate the guitar mastery displayed by Prince.  We're sorry to see him go.  "Count it".

Tying Videos are by Tightline Video Productions.  They are one of my favorite crews along with Davie McPhail when it comes to learning, honing, and practicing tying skills.  Find more of their videos online at  https://www.youtube.com/user/tightlinevideo

Sharp Hooks,

Sky

Tedx Bozeman - April 9, 2016

The Ted Talk is getting polished up for THIS SATURDAY, April 9th.  The title of my talk is:

Fishing for Calm  -  The Serenity of Fly Fishing and its Use in Treating Post Traumatic Stress in Our Combat Veterans.

If you'd like to view the talk on the live stream, check out the link HERE.

I go onstage at 4:36 pm Montana Time (give or take).

If you can't catch the live stream, I'll be posting a link to the YouTube version as soon as it's available!

I would like to thank:

All of my friends and family for helping me to make this opportunity possible, especially Tara Jean Ray, who is quite the coach, and patient enough to listen to me over, and over, and over...;

The fine folks running this first-class Tedx event... Your hard work is not unnoticed;

The Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation - For all that you do  (more on that later on);

And a special thanks to Saul Martinez at the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation.  I have never served in the military, and his help and guidance in communicating this message properly was essential.

Thank you all!

Sharp Hooks,

Sky Jones

Made In Montana Monday

I happen to have a large collection of old fly fishing magazines that I've acquired over the years and they're a lot of fun.  Occasionally I flip through one and look at the articles all about the latest and greatest thing in fly fishing... which are often about things that are now obsolete.  The greatest thing about these magazines are the old advertisements and I'll start sharing a few of them here every now and then.  These are taken from the June 1984 issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine with none other than Dave Whitlock on the cover.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Whitlock a couple of years ago at the Simms Ice Out event here in Bozeman where he and I were on one of the last tours of the day of Simms' headquarters in Four Corners, Montana, where we saw the production lines for the waders...  Of course they've come a long way since the waders they were advertising in this issue:

There aren't many color advertisements in these old rags, but this one certainly does the trick.  At the time they seem to have been out of Jackson Hole, but we're glad they're in our backyard now.

This last one is for Big Sky of Montana Resort.  I'm not sure why but I think it's a riot.

Enjoy and Sharp Hooks!

Sky

30 Subscribers - 30 Fly Giveaway

I saw where somebody in the Philippines viewed this blog...

I heard of getting lost, but that's a whole new kind of wandering around on the internet.

I also saw that I am approaching a whopping 30 subscribers!  Yes, you saw that right.  It's not a typo.  So, in celebration, once I hit the 30 subscriber mark I'm going to give away 30 flies tied by yours truly.  I'll even tie a few specific patterns for your local waters, wherever you may be.  I wonder if a Philippino Gar Fish would eat a size 16 parachute adams?

Once we hit the big THREE-OH I'll post a quiz, or an essay topic, or perhaps a haiku ad lib, and pick the best to receive the flies.  Maybe I'll put the names in a hat and draw one.  I don't know.

Fly Fishing Is ____________.
I like to __________ __________ ___________ __________.
That's why ___________ _____________ ______.
(Each blank space represents a syllable)

On another note, I've been selected to speak at this year's TedX event here in Bozeman.  More on that to come!

Subscribe on!  Who knows?  Maybe someday it'll be....dare I say it?  40!!!

Sharp Hooks,

Sky

Salty Monday - Big Jack Crevalle off the S.U.P.

Captain Brian Vaughn of Off the Hook Charters, Inc. off of Hilton Head Island with a big Jack Crevalle on the fly.  Nice footwork!  Certainly somebody we want to go fishing with as soon as we can!  Check him out at www.OffTheHookCharters.com and get a load of some of his artwork at www.OriginalFishPrints.com.  Good stuff Brian!

One Of My Favorite Streamer Patterns

This is a great little pattern tied here by Ryan Gabert of Dakota Angler & Outfitter.  I've used this pattern, or one very similar, quite a bit in recent years as I've thrown more and more "small" streamers.  In my opinion a size 6 streamer with catch more fish than an articulated pair of size 2s and you'll still get a look from the bruisers!  

Foam Caddis

Great use of foam for a segmented body....  These techniques may very well work for most any dry fly pattern that has a little bulk (stonefly, etc.).  Can't wait to try a few out on the Big Hole in June!

Yes... He ate the fly...

This fella is a goofball and I love it.  I'm sure he's a Springboks fan, and who wouldn't be?  Neat little fly, but I may stick with the 8/0 uni thread, even though it might not be as "lacquer".  Enjoy!