SHOP NOTES | C.J. BOVA RODS

Mac-o-Cheek Creek, Clint Bova, tonal field study, oil on wood panel 6"x8" “Somebody behind you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl.” ~Ernest Hemingway

 above photo: I made a simple test tube stand with a block of Koa and a drill press. A very effective way to soak large quantities of quills with no color bleed using very little space on your table. The footprint is that of a 4x5 index card.   Many of us fly tiers love using quills for bodies, but the problem has always been manufacturers over bleaching quills or not effectively creating a stop bath. The result is quills  that have a tendency to crack while you are winding them up a hook shank (even after soaking for a few days). I have bought many packages of quills over the years only to find that a large majority of them really are unusable. About 17 years ago I purchased a crate of feather dusters from China. The feathers were all made of Chinese rooster with beautiful long quills! I now have a lifetime supply of quills. So if your looking around hardware stores or general stores always look for feather dusters! I have gotten over 200 quills out of one feat...

We often see pictures of midges with their wings pulled together and resting on the back of their abdomen. The wings often splay when they are stuck in the surface film along creeks, rivers, and ponds. Typically the pictures do not capture that struggle that the insect experiences. The wings of a midge are proportionately shorter than their abdomens and angle out and back like the delta wing on a fighter jet. The following pattern is one that I've developed myself over the years and really has saved me on the stream from getting skunked especially in the late fall (click on photos below to enlarge) This is a relatively easy pattern to tie and master in a few hours. Pay close attention to proportions and you will find it is a very useful pattern year round. Delta Wing Midge~ Hook: TMC 531sizes #18-22 Thread: Veevus 16/0 black Body:   SLF Spikey Squirrel black, clear Uni Mylar stretched thin Legs: Knotted pheasant tail black (double knotted segmentation) Wing: Med or ...

Many people lately have asked me what kind of bobbin I use for Veevus threads. Some have said that the spools rotate too tightly others say that it makes a horrible squeaking noise when the bobbin turns. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water, there is a simple solution that I have employed since I started using Veevus threads around eight years ago. First take the outside cap off of the side of the spool. Then get a drop point pocket knife and run it along the edge of the center hole. You need to knock down the edge and create a slight chamfer on both sides of the spool. This will allow you to adjust the tension of the spool. The more you chamfer the center hole edge the looser the spool becomes.  Do not get too aggressive with your blade when you first start. keep popping it back on your bobbin to check the tension you desire. This operation takes all of a minute or so. (Note: I have tried chamfering the inner hole using a #11 xacto blade but it is too aggressive...

“Seldom Seen Pond” oil on wood panel 6x8  Field Study by Clint Bova 2017 An early fall and hot weather has made for some interesting color this year as well as some interesting insects that have been hatching out of season. Fumbling through fly boxes that are out of season and modifying patterns to keep up with the idiosyncrasies are a common fly fishing occurrence for the last three or so weeks. I suppose it keeps the angler on his toes and keep the creative juices flowing. My motto is “failure is always an option” just don't let it get you down. I think my bamboo rod is the only familiar partner I have during this strange uncharacteristic season. Some fall signs in the middle of August, the little black  surface midges prove a worthy fly to carry

 “ Mad Storms Coming ”   field study, Oil on 6x8 wood panel, by Clint Bova The summer of 2017 to many fisherman was a very disappointing summer. It was a summer of constant rain and wind with fronts coming in from the west that seemed never ending. Relentless patience and perseverance was really the only tactic to track down the Brown Trout. As for myself I often put down my rod and lifted up a brush instead of fighting it. I was amazed at the light, color, and atmosphere these storms presented. I can only say failure sometimes brings new perspective. I failed often this season only to find consolation and beauty in and out of the Mad. I suppose at some point I just embraced whatever Mother Nature slammed down on me and tried to capture the moment.          ~Clint Bova

“Downstream Winds” 6x8 oil on wood panel by Clint Bova Field Study, Mad River June 11th 2017 “Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay at eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain” ~Henry David Thoreau Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrydavid106919.html

 above photo: Provided by Debbi T. Walker an Ohio Photographer.  Debbi is a talented outdoor photographer who loves to take pictures of insects, animals, and landscapes and often shoots photography around the Mad River and Cedar Bog. In the heat of the summer many fish hunker down during the day and will pass up the occasional Caddis, midge, or ant floating overhead. Often fish conserve energy for a larger more nourishing food item. During the summer months fish want to conserve energy and exert themselves only for the most significant meal.    This is called the “Pounds Per Meat Law” again the least amount of energy is expelled for the most nourishment possible. This should be the mid-summer mantra for both fishers and fish!  Large ants are another food item that fish will come off of the bottom for during the midday sun and heat. Japanese Beetles are one of those items on the surface menu that will spark a fishes interest when nothing ...

  “Mac-o-Cheek Wet Bridge” oil on 6x8 wood panel  field study ~ Clint Bova spring 2017 The Mecoche Division of the Shawnee lived along the Mac-o-Cheek creek hundreds of years ago. Today the creek is still flowing just north east of West Liberty Ohio. Its a tiny creek that in most sections is no wider than a pickup truck. It runs cold year around and supports Brown trout that were stocked originally by the Piatt's in the late 1880's. The Mac-o-Cheek is one of my favorite little creeks not only in Ohio but in the North East. I designed the “Little Mecoche” cane rod specifically for this little creek which can be referenced in my main site under rod types. A visit to the Piatt Castles is a must for any fly fisherman to uncover the mysteries of this little gem. please visit: www.piattcastles.org                               ~C...

“Upstream Under Cover” field study, N. Lippencott   oil on 6x8 wood panel ~Clint Bova When fishing in narrow creeks and smallish streams the mantra has always been move slowly and fish in the upstream position. There is a lot of truth to these precepts for about a half dozen different reasons. If you have ever read In the Ring of the Rise by Vince Marinaro he speaks about moving in the upstream position with great conviction. Marinaro is a master of deception when it comes to remaining invisible to trout and moving with catlike stealth. ~The upstream position or 12 o'clock position allows you to move without creating any siltation that will often trigger a flight response from fish. ~The upstream position allows you to stay out of the fishes peripheral vision and what we call the absolute window . Just recently marine biologists are discovering that the fishes eyesight is much more acute above the surface than previously understood. ~The upstr...

Many people ask me what kind of emerger hooks I prefer to use on  my patterns? Specifically for caddis, midges, and mayflies. For many years I used the TMC 2488, 2487, Dai-Riki 125's, Gamakatsu C-15's, Daiichi 1167...and the list goes on. What I have found is that these are all good hooks in general BUT what makes a good all around emerger hook? T here are three traits to the hook geometry that make it a great hook.  ~The first great hook trait is the fine wire diameter for properly suspending a fly in the surface film cast after cast. The hook needs to be strong and fine. The hook cannot be to heavy since the gossamer materials used to mimic this life stage need to be somewhat minimal or sparse in appearance. ~The Second trait is the hook profile needs to offer you enough real estate to actually tie a proportional facsimile. If the hook is too long it may only be appropriate for a very narrow genre of insects. If the hook is too short in gape, bite, shank...

“Deer Crossing” Oil Tonal Study, 6x8 wood panel Mad River Spring 2017, Clint Joseph Bova Often in the spring I just go for long walks along the river to observe all the changes that take place over the winter. Root wads move, limbs break, entire trees come down creating new prime lies. Compound lies are created by sand bars and bank erosion that are really subtle indicators that will help you map in your brain where the fish may be before you even set foot in the water.  “Deer Crossing” Oil on 6x8 wood panel Mad River Spring 2017, Clint Joseph Bova I create both visual maps and mental maps. Everyone who knows me knows that I spend a lot of time wandering about (often aimlessly and confused) sketching and writing in my journal. I think I would feel a bit lost if I didn't observe as much as possible. Taking notes in whatever form you feel comfortable with always pays big dividends in the long run. Nice Spring Brown caught on a CDC midge emerger  Ma...

    “Old Iron” The Mad River, 6x8 Oil Field Study on Wood Panel  Clint Bova Spring 2017 Spring 2017 has proven to be a great one thus far with some spectacular early hatches and some early warm weather. The peculiar spring weather has been a refreshing blessing.  “Color is only beautiful when it means something” ~Robert Henri

Fellow fly fishers ask me all the time what kind of “staple” emerger pattern I use so I decided to share my “Four Season Emerger” pattern. The following is a simple emerger pattern that I use season after season. This fly is very durable, very convincing, and the TMC 212Y hook is a perfect canvas for this style fly. The Four Season Emerger Thread: Veevus 14/0 Hook: TMC 212Y 14-22 Wing: CDC natural or desired tint Body: Dyed Peacock quill Dubbing: (Thorax) Beaver Belly w/guard hairs Legs: Knotted dyed Pheasant tail (double knotted) Varnish: SH Hard as Nails You can tie this up as a midge, mayfly, or even caddis imitation depending on your proportions and material selections. First create a body on a TMC 212Y sizes #14-22 by winding a stripped and dyed peacock quill. Varnish with 2 coats of SH Hard as Nails. After your bodies have dried tie in some knotted pheasant tail. Notice the two knotted strands, two legs on both sides of the hook. Dub over your thr...

 “Cedar Bog Treeline” Morning Field Study  Oil on wood panel, 6x8 inches, Clint Bova “Paint the flying spirit of the bird  rather than its feathers”        ~Robert Henri Don't miss the Great Backyard Bird Count founded by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. The Great Backyard Bird Count is the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.  Contact Cedar Bog Nature Preserve at 937-484-3744 or cedarbog@ctcn.net to learn how you can participate. Stay outside this winter! ~Clint Joseph Bova

  above photo: One of my RS2 patterns, tied with three fibers of coq de leon, CDC puff, and dyed beaver belly using Ritt dyes. The RS2 has been a deadly combination of materials and proportions for quite some time. For over forty years this fly has been a “last ditch fly” for many anglers. The RS2 is a fly that I have tied in many variations using a multitude of different materials both synthetic and natural. Rim Chung who originated the fly opened the floodgates and introduced a CDC fly that really could fool the most weary of fish. After many years of fishing this fly and its many variations like many anglers I have some some common theories about it. One is that the RS2 could very well be imitating a cripple. Because its thorax is so close to the surface film and there are no hackles on the pattern the shuck may very well be represented by the CDC puff. Contrary to this theory the pattern has a completely exposed or freed tail and often the tail is still trying to escape...