Tag Archives: fly tying

Evening Frenzy, Morning Calm

Posted on September 4, 2019 by rivertoprambles

Slate Drakes (Isonychia) emerged from evening riffles, and the trout rose hungrily to the surface of the Genesee. Browns and rainbows up to 17 inches long provided a busy outing. In the same stretch, two nights later, there were differences. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cedar waxwings, fly tying, flyfishing, Genesee River, George Skues, Isonychia, soft hackles, traditions, trout, Tup's Indispensable, writing | 14 Comments

Lil’ Dorothy’s Riffle

Posted on July 17, 2019 by rivertoprambles

1. Late morning on a wild trout stream flowing through old farmland. The sky sun-bright and cloudless; the air getting warm. The water summer low and tight with vegetation, not exactly promising for the fisherman… And the brown trout? Spooky … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bee-Balm, fly tying, fly-fishing, friendship, Genesee River, Lil' Dorothy, Mark Libertone, Pennsylvania, poetry, soft hackles, Sulphurs, Walt Franklin, wild trout, writing | 24 Comments

An Adams Will Do

Posted on June 3, 2018 by rivertoprambles

Continuing with my “wings over water” theme of late, I’ve kept an eye out for insect hatches on our trout streams but haven’t seen much yet. Oh, the Sulphur mayflies made an afternoon appearance on Cross Fork Creek. A few … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Adams dry fly, brook trout, fly tying, fly-fishing, friends, Genesee River, hatches, high water, nature, Sinnemahoning, songbirds | 15 Comments

Wings Over Water

Posted on May 23, 2018 by rivertoprambles

There were plenty of quiet moments at the book signing event, so I was glad to have some fly-tying stuff on hand. My books were piled up on the corner of a table in the store; my vise stood before … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beauty, birding, fly tying, fly-fishing, migration, nature, Oswayo Creek, songbirds, Tao Te Ching, truth, Water, writing | 14 Comments

Something Out of Nothing

Posted on January 4, 2017 by rivertoprambles

A ray of light shot from the December darkness that surrounded me for a while. My son Brent and Catherine Rothwell, from Warrenton, Virginia, were married on the banks of the Anacostia River in Washington D.C. on December 23rd. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bamboo rods, celebration, Conhocton River, family, fishing, fly tying, friends, Holiday traditions, marriage, mink, nature, New Year's Day, wildlife, writing | 19 Comments

The Blown Fuse, No Coffee, Fly-Tying Blues

Posted on May 6, 2014 by rivertoprambles

Three lost souls scurried across Slate Run village at dawn. One of them balanced a coffee-maker in his hands, a precious cargo filled with dry coffee and water to brew. A fuse had blown at their small cabin when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Boy Scouts, caffeine, coffee, fly tying, Green Weenie, Little Pine Creek, Pine Creek, Slate Run | 8 Comments

Then Tie On

Posted on December 2, 2013 by rivertoprambles

I was in a non-productive funk, unsure of where my next blog post would be coming from, and feeling boxed-in from the icy weather. One aborted post concerned the use of my wood-splitting maul versus saying no-thanks to the shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blogging, fly tying, maul vs. mall, Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac, soft-hackle flies, Then Play On, writing process | 8 Comments

Crow Messengers: Get Back

Posted on February 2, 2012 by rivertoprambles

Crows have been drawing my attention lately. Driving along the Ridge Road in the afternoon I’ve watched hundreds of them feeding and cavorting over freshly manured fields. These most intelligent of birds, these common and adaptable, ubiquitous creatures seem a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged common crow, crow talk, David Gary Suazo, fly tying, W.W. Christman, wingless wet flies | 6 Comments