Captain Rich Waldner has a way with flies, and this one’s no exception.

I managed to snag a $12-dollar fly off the counter at Uptown Angler when I was there a couple of weeks ago, therefore redeeming myself for not purchasing one when I was there for the IFTD show last year. It was $10-dollars way back then.

Fascinating to say the least. This fly is hard to track down through searching the internet, but I think it’s his “representational” spoon fly. It’s one that, if I read correctly, represents a spoon, but is much easier to cast because of obvious improvements in aerodynamics. It’s even harder to find good photographs of this fly to go by. So, call it an expose, call it the sasquatch fly, call it what you will, but here it is.

Rich Waldner Representational Spoon Fly For Louisiana Redfish Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

What isn’t so obvious about this Rich Waldner fly is the materials that are actually used. The hook is stainless and looks to be a Mustaad #34007 in 1/0, and the eyes are medium lead underneath a mix of epoxy and red glitter. The entire fly (except the tail) is stiff as if thinly coated with epoxy. The bundled ends appear to be dipped in a very fine gold glitter while still wet with epoxy. Overall this feels like one tough hombre.

What makes a fly worth $12-dollars? When you are completely stumped on how to do it yourself of course!

Take the time to visit Captain Rich Waldner’s website, and make sure you check out Uptown Angler as well. Waldner’s flies are pretty widely available and his spoon flies are also highly sought after.

The First Red River Rendezvous will take place January 20th – 22nd, 2012 at beautiful Bonham State Park. We have reserved the group camping facility which includes a large recreation hall with a commercial kitchen, 5 group cabins with a total of 94 beds, and the entire area that the aforementioned buildings encircle. There is a heated central shower and restroom facility. The entire area is well lit for safety.

The event will be a reunion of fly tyers from the Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana area where we can all sit down and share and enjoy the fine art of fly tying. Weather permitting we are planning a fly casting obstacle course. There is plenty of open space to cast on the lawn in front of the Rec Hall so bring your rods and show off those excellent casting skills.

The park has a 65 acre lake which is stocked with bass, sunfish, and catfish which is great for bank, wade, kayak, canoe, or kick-boat fishing year around. The lake is within walking distance of the event area. No fishing license is required to fish inside a State Park. There are also 4 other lakes within 20 minutes of the park.

We plan on having lots of door prizes and a silent auction.

TFO Fly Rods and Mariner Sails have confirmed that they will be there on Saturday.

Mark your calenders and plan on attending. We would love to see you there.

MORE INFORMATION

Red River Fly Fishers
PO BOX 1931
SHERMAN, TX 76964

Jerry Hamon (214)457-3407 or
Jeff Tomlinson (903)271-3039

Event Hours:
Registration starts Friday at 3PM and we have to be checked out by 2PM on Sunday

Cost:
Family – $50/weekend or $25/day or night
Individual – $40/weekend or $20/day or night

The event fee includes camping in a group shelter and entry to the park. Those not staying in the bunkhouses are encouraged to make a donation to help offset park fees.
There are 21 RV spaces at the park so if you plan on bringing your RV you should make reservations early to insure you get a space. We will be designating cabins for couples, male singles, female singles, and we will have a “non-snoring cabin” as well. The rooms do not have actual doors so if you want to bring a sheet or curtain to cover the opening for additional privacy please feel free to do so.

What to bring:
Bed sheets, pillows, or a sleeping bag.
Personal toiletries.

Meals:
Everyone is asked to bring their necessary foods for the weekend. The idea is to bring enough to share, so all you need to provide is a nice sized dish for each meal. The kitchen has a large commercial refrigerator/freezer so we will have plenty of storage. If a group wants to volunteer to prepare a certain meal for the whole group just let us know and we’ll put you on the schedule to do so. RRFF will provide plates, bowls, cups, and plasticware. If your dish requires a crockpot please bring one. There is a large pantry area for storage of non-perishable food items. There are two large charcoal grills just outside of the Rec Hall.

REGISTER FOR THE FIRST RED RIVER RENDEZVOUS

This year, I am going to break down the perfect gifts for the fly fisher in your life into categories instead of lumping all the greatest things together.

The first category this year, and just about out of time, is fly tying. As you can see, I have been busy filling my quota of 1-thousand flies a year, which is a pretty easy task around here if one simply takes it on as a daily assignment. I tied these Clousers and refilled my stock of Hybrid Clouser Flies after it was wiped out in holiday orders.

NUMBER 5
Peace on earth and good capes for all. We pray for the end of all fly feather hair fetishes, forever and ever amen.

NUMBER 4
The fourth day of fly tying should bring a product that is available right here at Texas Fly Caster. We make a custom shelf that clamps right up to the fly tying desk you may have purchased at Cabela’s recently, or not so recently. It comes in plain vanilla, and can be modded with magnets and precision drilled holes to hold tools or other tying aids. A must have for your generic table. Made by me right here in Texas.

NUMBER 3
Fish-Skull by Flymen Fishing Company. Yes, sculpin heads and fish skulls – who could ask for anything more in their stockings! There’s another way of looking at the weighted fly head, and these fish skulls and sculpin heads and could open up a lot of possibilities. They make heavy stocking stuffers guaranteed not to sink your budget. 100-percent designed and manufactured in the good old USA!

Number 2
It was a year of “upgrades” (to borrow an overused computer term and beat it to death in fly fishing) on my bench, and that included the enlightening and insanely great Rite Bobbins brand of thread bobbins. These are a bargain at twice the price for what they do. I thank Stephen Woodcock at Backwood’s Fort Worth for showing me the error of my ways, which he never hesitates to do for anyone, and bringing me into the 21st. century of fly tying. Sure they cost more, but if you tie enough flies, these bobbins make you better at the game. It’s a product that makes you wince when you see how much better Merco’s Rite Bobbins (kind of like owning Apple computers for nearly 20 years of daily business use) are. I have three models of these bad boys, and I am not done yet. Not made in the USA?

NUMBER 1
Clear Cure Goo. More sticky stuff in your stocking than a barrel of chocolate monkeys. I was a bit disappointed by the first generation of CCG that left the user having to overcoat the hardened product with something like Sally’s to cover that tacky feeling that also mottled / dulled the glassy surface CCG left after hardening with Brian’s (owner of CCG) proprietary UV flashlight. There’s still a lot I don’t know about this product, but the new Hydro, which Brian sent me is the REAL DEAL. HYDRO dries hard and fast. The biggest expense is the flashlight, and once you get that, you won’t be needing another one. So, get your fly tier a flashlight (I haven’t found another source for these and claims are made that no other light works), and let them choose the Goo that’s right for their needs.
Clear Cure Goo is potentially the most revolutionary product to hit fly tying in a long, long time. Your fly tier will thank you again, and agin for this gift. All Clear Cure Goo products are made in the USA. Clear Cure Goo is a Texas company, based right here in North Texas.

More Last Minute Gift Ideas Later This Week – for you midnight shoppers!