John
Larson
aka: Alpinefly
Tucson, Arizona
I grew up around
fishing and easily connect to the movie “A River Runs Through It”. As a
minister’s son, fishing was how our family connected.
Top photo is John casting to a cutthroat on White Mountain, Arizona's "Big Lake" in summer 2002
Bottom photo is John instructing sons Michael and Luke on how to catch a citthroat with an Apache Peacock wet fly. At least Luke is paying close attention.
Much of the year was spent in Iowa fishing for warm water species such as bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye, northerns, & muskie. We would go to Colorado (Boulder) during the summers where my Great Aunt & Uncle had a cabin in Left Hand Canyon. My Great Uncle Homer Pennock was a well known fly fisherman and tier, and many of his fishing buddies were also well known.
(Bottom Photo -
It’s around Left Hand Creek and the Beaver Ponds with beautiful Greenback Cutthroat Trout, Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek, Big Thompson, the Poudre etc., that I learned to fly fish. I was instantly drawn to the split bamboo fly rod with silk line on an old Heddon automatic reel. I didn’t have the patience to sit on my butt & wait for the trout to bite while bait fishing. At first I drifted a grasshopper, and later fished a pair of wet flies. I still have a fondness for well tied classic wet flies, such as Bergman and others, and still believe they catch the big ones, although it’s a lost art.
Fly tying started as a hobby. I did not take it seriously until I moved to Colorado after college. While living in Colorado, people would tell me how much they liked my patterns and that I should sell them. This led to my side business, Alpine Custom Flies, selling flies to tackle shops as well as to my professors in graduate school. This provided spending money while being a poor graduate student.
One of my professors helped me land a job as a Park Ranger in Yellowstone the summer of 1988. I spent all my free time fly fishing and creating new patterns. In 1995 I moved to Arizona. At first I seemed lost but quickly found a fantastic variety of fly fishing for Bass, Striper, walleye, northerns, trout, and saltwater fly fishing on the Baja & Rockypoint, Mexico. Yes there is a vast variety of trout here also. Not just Lee's Ferry Grand Canyon, but also White Mountains with all its streams & high mountain lakes, Oak Creek, Verde & Tonto Creek, and much more. We even have Rose Lake 20 miles away on Mount Lemmon. Trout include Rainbow, browns, cutthroat, lakers, Apache cutthroat, Gila trout, and grayling (did I miss any). Winter days in the mid to low 70’s; and yes... Charlie Meck wasn't kidding about Blue-Winged Olive & Trico hatches in mid-winter.
While Alpine Custom Flies is still a side business, I spend a lot of free time sharing my recipes with others as well as my passion for fly fishing. I keep busy also with swaps and another year of competing in the Mustad International Fly Tying Competition.
One day my wife, kids and I hope to return to the Rocky Mountain country (Montana, Wyoming, or Colorado) where I hope to continue teaching music, guiding fly fishing, and share my love of fly tying. I'm blessed to have had the opportunity to fish so many beautiful waters.
It’s another day in the 70’s and it’s late December. Time to pull out the fly rod and go fishing.
Select One of John's Flies:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
Tier: John Larson
Hook: Mustad
or TMC 101 (size 12 or 14).
Thread: Black.
Tail: Golden pheasant.
Body: Single strand peacock herl.
Rib: Rainbow Krystal Flash.
Hackle: Peacock sword feather (use the blue green color & tie in soft hackle style).
Note: So named after the famed native Apache Trout this wet fly hooks. Any pattern using peacock is popular & deadly in the White Mountains of Arizona. I have found this to be true many other places. Another popular pattern (dry fly) with some simularity is the Gen. Crook tied by Brent Savage.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
(Pink/Orange Softex)
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
2312 size #14.
Thread: Hot Pink 6/0.
Antennae: Ginger Microfibits tied at hook bend (I bring thread underneath Microfibits twice to spread these out).
Eyes: Burn 25 lb. Shakespeare monofilament, and secure behind antennae with superglue. Once dried & secure, add a drop of glow in the dark Zauders orange or hot pink nail polish (let dry).
Body: Tie in Pink, V- Rib, a section of Olive thread (6/0), and either hot pink or hot orange egg yarn behind eyes. Wrap thread to hook eye (leave room) making taper of shrimp body; wrap egg yarn over that; wrap V-Rib over this to hook and tie off; now rib with olive thread for extra body definition, tie off and whip finish. Cement with superglue and give a little coat of hot pink or orange "Glo In The Dark" polish to the tip of the shrimp’s butt.
Legs: Turn shrimp upside down. Put a strip of Softex along underbody; lay across pink shrimp ice dubbing; pinch together before it dries.
Finish: Turn shrimp right side up; coat with Softex letting it drip down & let dry. Trim legs to taper (refer to picture).
Note: Shane Stalcup was the innovator of a pattern called the Softex Scud (refer to page 40 of Fly Tyer Magazine Summer 2002). This is my own version geared for places like Lees Ferry (Arizona). I also use Softex on other patterns of mine (look for future recipes).
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Black Bead Emerger
Tier: John Larson
Hook: Black
(6/0).
Head: 5/32 black bead (build up thread head & secure bead with super glue).
Tail: Black marabou (tied at hook bend & clipped).
Body: Single peacock herl wrapped ¾ way toward bead.
Rib: Red Ultra Wire (brassie size) ¾ way toward bead.
Throat: Gray Antron Sparkle Dub (clipped parallel to hook point when fly is finished).
Thorax: Two peacock herls (build up thorax & whip finish behind bead).
Note: I like to offset the hook slightly for better hooking quality.
I originally tied this pattern for trout but it has turned out to catch every freshwater species. People have told me I could not catch catfish on a fly but this fly hooked an 8 pound channel cat.
I coat this pattern with floatant & fish it on a sink line & leader. Retrieve can vary from slow stripping (like fishing off the float tube) to short jerk strip retrieve.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
101, TMC 100BL or Mustad 94840.
Thread: Brown.
Body: Dubbed brown rabbit fur.
Wing: Brown Swiss Straw trimmed to caddis wing.
Head: Dubbed brown rabbit fur.
Antennae: Optional.
Note: Many years ago, John Barr innovated a pattern called the Zing Wing Caddis.
Over the years, I have tied many variations of caddis using Swiss Straw and have found this to be a great material in imitating many different insect wings.
Use silicon spray floatant (comes in a spray mist bottle).
Another great variation I tie is a pattern called the Electric Caddis (size 18), using a dyed lime green rabbit, & gray Swiss Straw wing. This is deadly on grayling, brookies, and cutthroat.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
2312 size #14
Thread: Olive
Tail: Tan, or Brown Rabbit
Ribbing: Small Copper Ultra Wire
Back: Two strips pearlescent Mylar
Thorax: Olive Rabbit (dubbed)
Wingcase: 3 strips pearlescent Mylar
Legs: Brown or Tan Rabbit
Head: Red Thread
Note: I dab a little super glue (not much) on the Mylar back: a chemical reaction from the super glue brings out some beautiful coloration on the flashback.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster
"Water Fleas"
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
5263 size #8
Thread: Olive 6/0
Tail: Light olive marabou.
Underbody: Two strands of peacock herl.
Body: Canadian Series Spectramized Mohair (pond olive) palmered over peacock underbody; whip finish with flame orange 6/0 thread and cement; carefully pick out mohair fibers; dab Glo nail polish on fibers in any combination (orange, green, and clear; or just green & clear).
Head: Flame orange 6/0 thread.
Note: The originator of Daphnia Cluster patterns is Larry Tullis. This is my own version using a glow in the dark addition (Zauder’s Glo Nailpolish). Green and clear nail polish for warmer months and water conditions, and orange added for colder months and water conditions. Daphnia or water fleas will show in lakes, ponds, and even streams or rivers as an algae bloom.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
101, TMC 100BL, or Mustad 94840.
Thread: Olive.
Body:
Dubbed olive rabbit fur.
Wing: Olive Swiss Straw trimmed to caddis wing.
Head: Dubbed olive rabbit fur.
Antennae: Optional.
Note: Many years ago, John Barr innovated a pattern called the Zing Wing Caddis.
Over the years, I have tied many variations of caddis using Swiss Straw and have found this to be a great material in imitating many different insect wings.
Use silicon spray floatant (comes in a spray mist bottle).
Another great variation I tie is a pattern called the Electric Caddis (size 18); using a dyed lime green rabbit, & gray Swiss straw wing. This is deadly on grayling, brookies, and cutthroat.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
3761 or TMC 101 (size 14).
Thread: Red Danville 6/0 waxed.
Tail: 3 or 4 Ringneck pheasant tail fibers.
Ribbing: Red Ultra Wire (BR).
Body: Pheasant tail fibers wrapped to thorax.
Thorax: Peacock herl.
Wing Case: Pheasant tail fibers.
Legs: Excess pheasant tail fibers from wing case pulled back to sides and clipped.
Note: A friend of mine (Michael Johnson) uses a red glass bead head as a great variation; he has also tied a green version of my Rojo Calienti called the Salsa Verde (with green glass bead & green ultra wire rib).
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
St. Peter's Mayfly (Inverted)
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
2487BL (size 20).
Thread: Black.
Tail: Two gray Microfibits (tied mayfly style).
Body: Stripped peacock herl (water strip with finger nails; do not bleach strip).
Wing: Gray Swiss Straw (trimmed to mayfly wing); figure 8 two marabou feather fibers around mayfly wing and whip finish.
Note: Use a spray silicon floatant (comes in a spray mist bottle).
I have found Swiss Straw to be a great material in imitating insect wings.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Swiss Trico Spent (STS)
Tier: John Larson
Hook: TMC
101 (size 22).
Thread: Black.
Tail: Three gray Microfibits.
Body: Stripped peacock herl (water strip with fingernails; do not bleach strip).
Wing: Gray Swiss Straw tied spent and trimmed to spent wing; two marabou feather fibers figure 8 wrapped over spent wing.
Note: Use a spray silicon floatant (comes in a spray mist bottle).
I have found Swiss Straw to be a great material in the imitation of insect wings.
Olive Antron dub can be used on the butt tip to imitate female egg sac. Bleach strip peacock herl for female imitation.
Trico hatches have been both a great frustration as well as a great teacher over the years. This pattern has become a nice answer to the frustration.
Select Another Fly:
Glow In The Dark Daphnia Cluster AKA: Glow In The Dark Water Fleas
Rojo Calienti (Red Hot) PT Nymph
Black Sabbath (Black Bead) Emerger
Apache Peacock (Wet Fly)
St. Peter’s Mayfly (Inverted)
Swiss Trico Spent (aka: STS)
Return to John's Introduction.
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.