Tag Archives: Bob Clouser

Meetings, Meetings 2016

January HFF Meeting Notes

Hoosier Fly Fishers started the new year off with a great meeting.  As always the food and hospitality at Bobby’s Colorado Steakhouse was the best.  Thanks to the staff for always taking such good care of us!

Mike Exl Fishing Guide
Mike Exl Fishing Guide

The guest speaker for this month was Mike Exl, head fly fishing guide at Wildcat Creek Outfitters located on Main Street in Zionsville, Indiana.  This evening Mike gave a talk about fly fishing for carp in Indiana and Lake Michigan.  Mike is very enthusiastic about fly fishing for carp and covered every aspect of carp on the fly so well that several of the members are ready to start tying carp flies for the coming year.  He even mentioned a few of his secret flies and honey holes for carp.  I know I am anxious to get to the tying bench to tie up some of those purple thingies and this summer you will find me wading the flats. Thanks Mike for a great presentation.  If you are interested in fly fishing Indiana stop in at  Wildcat Creek Outfitters and talk to Mike about a fly fishing trip soon or email him from their website. You’ll be glad you did.

Tim Mather
Tim Mather

Club President Tim Mather gave a fly tying demonstration on tying weighted flies.  Tim showed a large fly box full of examples of weighted flies from size 8 up to size 2/0.  For the demonstration Tim tied a Flat Wing Full Dress Clouser with tips on tying dubbing loops and spacing materials.  Tim also discussed what fish species he has caught using weighted flies such as wipers, smallmouth bass, carp and one pound bluegills.  What a great looking fly! I will use it wisely, thanks Tim.  If you missed the large box of weighted flies, it is rumored you might get a close look at it in the April Meeting, bring cash.

Flat Wing Full Dress Clouser
Flat Wing Full Dress Clouser

Fish Report: NONE

Upcoming Meeting Highlights:  February, Jill Vance of the Indiana DNR will be here to talk with us about youth fishing and Lake Monroe events.  April, Colonel Kevin will once again delight us with his Auctioneer Skills.

Upcoming Events:

Kentuckiana Fly Fishing Show January 23rd

Great American Fly Fishing Expo February 19th – 21st

The Ford Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show February 19th – 28th

Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo March 18th – 20th

Meetings, Meetings 2015

Flymasters, Expos, and Rancid Crabtree

We had a great turn out for the January HFF meeting. There were lots of old faces around the tables as well as several new faces. It was good to see all of you there!  Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and food before the meeting with tales of Florida Fly Fishing, Big Wisconsin Smallies, walleyes on a fly and the Indy Fly Fishing Expo.  There was also a rumor about one of our old faces having a discussion with Bob Clouser last week about designing better flies for wipers.  But then again maybe I heard it wrong,  hopefully there will be more discussion about that at the February HFF Meeting. Don’t miss it!

Derrick Filkins
Derrick Filkins Flymasters and Tim Mather HFF President

One of the new faces at the meeting was Derrick Filkins of Flymasters Indianapolis.  Derrick was welcomed by club president Tim Mather. Derrick spoke to the group about warm water fly fishing and clued us in on some of the newest and greatest fly fishing gear available now at Flymasters. Check out their website or drop in the shop on Allisonville Road on the NE side of Indianapolis. If they don’t have what you need they will order it.

Lead Wing Coachman
Lead Wing Coachman by Mike Donovan

This year the fly tying demonstrations will be Traditional Classic Patterns that are over 30 years old and still produce fish. Mike Donovan, club program director, demonstrated how to tie a Lead Wing Coachman.

The trick is getting the wings on correctly and Mike showed how to do that. It is always educational watching how other people tie flies. Learning the little shortcuts or tricks they use  at the vise can save you lots of time when tying your own. Most all of the HFF meetings will have fly tying demonstrations.

On a sad note, it’s the end of an era.  If you are a fan of Pat , Crazy Eddie Muldoon, Rancid, Melba Peachbottom, Sneed, Strange  or are a member of the Rancid Crabtree Fly Fishing and Filisofical Society then you need to go to www.patrickfmcmanus.com.  Sadly the McManus website monthly blog and book store is no more.  You can read more about it on the website.