One of my favorite videos. Shows the movement of a Predaceous Beetle larvae and what the body looks like. This bug was filmed in Thailand but we have very similar species here in the U.S.. The music with this video is perfect!

Through my grandfather, I came upon this pattern in the early 70’s.  My dad  started my tying passion for me on this fly by having me present a dozen of these every year to Grandpa Virgil on Father’s Day.  The
pattern was a staple for him on
Soldier’s Meadow and Winchester Lake.  He
also fished it on a wet-fly swing in innumerable rivers in Central Idaho. Years before he passed he told me the pattern was something he fished on Henry’s lake with great success.  I know this  started prior to the early 70’s but when exactly I can’t say. I am sure we can hypothesize that the pattern imitated scuds or damsels when fished appropriately. I  don’t think grandpa cared. It caught fish. It caught  a lot of fish. Why?  Well, that didn’t really matter.

I know it's spring... at least I keep telling myself that. There are signs all around the Great Basin. The Snow and Ross's Geese are back in big numbers, Sandhill Cranes stalk flooded fields, the aquatic beetle flights have been taking place filling any standing water with beetles of all sorts causing the fish in the local reservoir to go on the bite. I even saw Tree Swallows and Turkey Vultures several days ago, sure signs of spring...right? As I sit here writing this on April 1st it is snowing out, no fools joke and I'm cold. Okay...a little whinny, but  I love that it is giving us much needed moisture filling reservoirs and lakes  with enough water to keep fisheries viable this year. Frankly, I wouldn't trade it for dry and warm right now, as good as that sounds.  Give it a month, then I will be on that band wagon but until that happens, I hope you all are able to get out between squalls and hook a fish or two!

Tim 

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