Still on the fly tying vise today. Tying Purple Darts.

On the fly-tying vise today. I’ve improved these since I first started selling them. Using Sybai Violet UVR for the body dubbing, Sulky Opal Tinsel secured with monofil that’s stronger than wire. Size 14 with a 3.3 mm copper tungsten bead.

New to me, used book - An Entirely Synthetic Fish. In the Forward, “One of Halverson’s great assets as a thinker and interpreter is his freedom from the smugness and unyielding certainty that characterize many who take up environmental subjects.” “In the epilogue, he suggests only that those who promote the conservation and restoration of native species should do so with a sense of humility. Reading through the letters and public pronouncements of the men who who were most responsible for spreading nonnative species like rainbow trout throughout the world in the nineteenth century, I have been struck by the similarity of the rhetoric to those who promote native species restoration today.”

Fun day fly fishing on the river yesterday with Bobby

On the fly-tying vise today. Taking the general manager of a local fly shop fishing. Tied up some Brown Sugar Nymphs, Mayday Mayfly Nymphs, and Real McCoys. Should be a spectacular day of fly fishing.

On the fly-tying vise today. These leeches are super simple to tie and deadly effective. Use black craft felt, nano silk, and Spectra dubbing in various colors. Black and blue or black and purple are my favorites. A size 12 jig hook and a 4.0mm copper tungsten bead. I don’t know why felt works so well. I’ve had trout follow this right to the riverbank as I’m pulling in my line.

From the fly tying vise. I like how this fly box turned out. Loaded with Real McCoys, Grey and Coppers, Brown Sugars. Threw in some Blindside Midges and Mayday Mayfly Nymphs.

On the fly-tying vise today. Brown Sugars by Cory Cuje. Absolute trout slayer. These are 18s with a 3.3 copper tungsten bead.

. @forestservice I have a question. Since the private company Vista Recreation took over campgrounds in Utah - about 135 of them since 2019 - they charge a $3.00 “tax” on a $26 single campsite. They also charge an extra $0.83, making it $26.83/night. Now we get it for half price with our passes, but they still charge the $3.00 “tax”. They also claim our lifetime passes for day use are not valid. This isn’t just a one off, it’s at every campsite managed by Vista Recreation

The view while hammock camping! Why would you sleep in a tent?

What an amazing three days up in the Uinta Mountains

Brown Trout Friday. I love their golden brown hues.

New Zealand: Introduced strain (rainbows brought to NZ in the late 1800s from California sources). Slower growth in Utah tests. Beitey (or similar spellings): Less documented; one of the strains in 1980s trials with variable performance. Cranebows/Crane Prairie from Oregon, Harrison Lake, etc.): Tested or used regionally for specific traits like size or resistance. Utah has shifted toward refined sets focused on current needs.

Shepherd-of-the-Hills From Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery in Missouri (Branson area, Ozarks). Tested in the 1980 USU study (strong survival in one year at 11%, top in another at 7.6%). Solid survival and catchability; contributed to understanding strain differences in angler satisfaction.

Sand Creek Likely from Sand Creek in northeast Wyoming (Black Hills region, a productive trout stream near Beulah/Sundance with high trout densities). Included in the 1980 USU study (moderate survival, strong growth alongside Ten Sleep). Good growth characteristics; suited for certain fluctuating or reservoir environments.