MORNING GLORY

We who have had the uncommon good fortune of living and waking each morning in the California Sunshine are blessed with each new morning created as if Diana and Artemis protectors of wild things had woven, spun, created out of magic angel dust including sparkling colors that flash as healthy trout dart in ice cold waters, a place of singular unique properties every single morning without fail... Mornings especially along this rugged large boulder strewn Pacific Ocean shore is best described by my favorite California Poet Robinson Jeffers, 1887- 1962, “ For our country here at the west of things is pregnant of dreams; and west of the west I have lived; where the last low land out flings its yellow-white sand to the edge of the bay; and the west wind over us every day blows, and throws with landward spray dreams on our minds, and a dreamy unrest. “

All those who have lived and enjoyed the far west be they fly fisher, surfer, hiker or bird watcher can share in the glory of early morning and late afternoon evening light exploding into vivid colors orange, purple, and blue. My fly fisher life has consisted of endless glorious mornings either on small boats or wading streams misty fog all around, birds, water sounds bouncing off moving cold water. Often early mornings are the most interesting and instructive for fly fishers no matter if they are on home waters or afar. One might imagine being back- stage at a famous Italian Opera about to raise the curtain as birds and various varmints move about in their morning routines a joy to behold! This time is perfect for finding ones center most calm place before gently descending into the natural order of the insect and the timeless dance of feeding trout or salmon in their liquid fourth dimension. One of my most cherished early morning memories has to be the 6am glass smooth Fall River encounter with a new born Mallard Duck who seemed to enjoy staying close to my 12 foot boat all morning as I threw lines near his home.

During the very early morning period from around sun up until I actually begin presenting my humble hand made offerings to potential dance partners usually trout or salmon, I spend many quiet moments just watching and trying to understand what the currents and structure ( boulders, logs ) are doing to the overall flow of the stream. It is usually quickly made apparent exactly where fish might be holding to stay safe, conserve energy and feed. These areas include deep pockets, twists and turns or meanders that usually hold fish as do quiet waters directly behind large boulders. It is best to stay well back from stream or river edges if one wants to watch fish come and go unmolested. One can be certain as soon as your shadow or vibrations resonate near stream edges all resident trout are no longer swimming or feeding naturally, this is the number one fact and most over looked aspect of actually finding and catching releasing trout. One must at all times sneak or even crawl up to within twenty, thirty feet and just sit and watch and pay attention. In a few moments the sounds and behavior will return to normal and you may see several large trout dart in and out of moving currents and gulp every possible opportunity for a meal.

In the years I have sat and watched trout swim up to inspect an odd looking new insect like your pretty Royal Coachmen, it seems as often as not they will come up close and suddenly turn away. I have never seen a trout turn away from a drowning moth or butterfly, in fact almost any ugly black and red insect caterpillar appearing bug will get swallowed by feeding trout.

FALLONIOUS ACTIAS ( Common moth )

HOOK: Dry Fly # 12 - 16

THREAD: Black

BODY: Peacock Herl covered with black thread

WINGS: Green, brown, black, white hen tips or whatever color is appropriate

HEAD: After tying body create larger head with black thread, shape and finish with head cement, black marker or burnt mono for natural effect.

LEGS: Black paint brush knotted and left dangling as in natural dying insect

ANTENNA: Black paint brush

EYES: Beads colored with marker or eye profile of your indigenous common moth

My favorite unusual flying terrestrial is a pattern I call the Fallonious Actias a newly discovered sub species of the Lepidopteran family. This pattern closely resembles many common moths native to Western United States trout streams, I like this generic moth pattern because thanks to modern over use of pesticides these little moths are becoming a rare trout treat. In my experience there will be a time in every fly fishermens life when all the usual dry flies, streamers, or nymphs or whatever will fail. It is in this period of nothing enticing or causing trout to rise I turn to either a dead on natural native terrestrial fly like a Black Woolly Bugger that looks like many leaches found in countless streams and rivers. If streamer type flies are failing because water is simply too clear and fish are educated and weary, try this moth tied with the correct color and plumage indigenous to your area. By simply changing the size, shape of head or color size of wings, almost any indigenous moth can be created.

The Dance

I usually allow this moth to dead drift and sink as slowly or quickly as water flows dictate, trout seem to hit it when it sinks quickly in fast water and the moth appears freshly drowned with its black legs flailing away most seductive to world weary trout... This never ending game of enticing and seducing trout reminds me of a famous phrase from the “ Adventures Of Fletcher Quill “ ,

Every early morning I spend stream side ice cold air blowing every breath - water crashing all around waking birds singing first notes - the smell of wild pine and wet grass in my nose. The seduction begins and soon I’m lost and defenseless at the mercy of the water gods Neptune and Aphrodite, as they begin weaving their eternal aqua spell.”

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“ ADVENTURES OF FLETCHER QUILL “