New Fly: The Foxybead Sculpin

For me personally, my best flies spawn from ideas developed on the water, in the act of pursuing my intended quarry. Without time on the water, I would have bored of fly tying years ago. But there's few things that I get excited for more than rushing home after a day of fishing to bring new ideas to fruition. Such was the case for this little creation. It incorporates plastic beads for the abdomen and a cool Enrico Puglisi material called a "foxy brush" for the head. 

I developed the pattern after a recent trip to a couple of Montana spring creeks, and wanted to create a small to mid-size sculpin pattern that could get down quick and had plenty of natural movement. I've been pretty pleased after testing it out recently around Bozeman.

This pattern is available for sale, at $6 per fly, and for inquiries on ordering, email me at: westonthier@gmail.com.

Seasons Change

Hard to slow down here in Big Sky country. Winter moved along fast, and now spring's approaching hastily. Not that I'm complaining...lots of fishing trips, flies tied, and even a bluegrass party at the house this winter. My brother Trav and I have been playing some music of our own, and scheming trips into the backcountry for this summer. Here's some iPhone pics of the Montana winter. 

Beartrap.

Trav scaling a wall in Beartrap Canyon, barefoot.

Passenger seat tying. 

The Montana Mongrel's been catching lots of browns lately.

I also took my first trip to the West Coast this winter, visiting my good friend Lauren, who is pictured here taking a glug from the sacred flask.

Bleu and I made the trip in mid February, and we were both stunned by the incredible greenery Oregon had to offer in the middle of winter. 

Even caught a few fish on the Crooked River, near Bend. 

The Geo Metro was once again in beast mode this trip, braving a wicked snowstorm on top of Lookout Pass in Idaho, and then completing the 2,000 or so round-trip journey. Thankfully for Bleu and I, its muffler fell off the day AFTER we returned home. 

Bastard

My good friend Nate Thomas posted this pig of a cutthroat pic a couple days ago, the same day (see title) that I started classes for what will be my final year of college. The caption from his Facebook page goes as follows:

"Life is simple these days, I haul gravel and catch 22" cutthroat trout on my 15 minute break from hauling gravel."

Thank you, Nate, for making every hour spent in MUSIC 225 go by that much slower.