SHOP NOTES | C.J. BOVA RODS

“Estuary Afterglow” 24 x24 oil on canvas |  by Clint Bova |  June 2025 “Often I will wait till the sun goes just behind a berm along a river then start sketching and making color notes.  Its in those few minutes that the light becomes filtered, there is a noticeable change in the sounds of the birds, trees, and water. Then like a flash the evening brings on a more monochromatic hush” notes from my sketchbook May 25th 2025 ~Clint Bova www.clintbova.com  

On my previous post I discussed some big advantages to carrying a few damselfly patterns in your fly boxes during the summer months. There are over 3000 recorded species of damselflies worldwide in the order Odonata. These waterborne insects have very thin, elongated abdomens and two pairs of wings. The eyes are compound and the hindwings are generally the same size as the forewing. Unlike their dragonfly counterparts they are very gossamer and less aggressive. These are delicate little insects so hopefully I'm doing them justice with this simple and sparse pattern. Over time I have experimented with foam bodies, detached abdomens, and even moving segments. For the last decade the following pattern is where I have landed on materials and hooks. Take your time with this pattern and it will pay dividends on the water. fig. 1 I am rendering this pattern using the Hanak 300 BL #14 with a cobalt blue stripped peacock quill. The Hanak 300 is a wonderful hook that I really like because of...

  The adult Damselfly is a prolific waterborne insect that doesn't quite get the press that it deserves. As a fly tyer this insect has a special place in my arsenal season after season. For a bug that has been around since the Late Jurassic period. The Zygoptera are an ancient blend of beautifully proportioned abdomens, wings, and thorax that all started 152 million years ago. So as a fly tyer it's top tier subject matter to say the least!  This micro pattern is displayed in this entry using the Hanak 300 BL size 14 and uses pullet tips fixed into a horizontal position coupled with SLF Spikey Squirrel UV and two pairs of knotted pheasant tail legs. The body is made of royal blue dyed Polish Quill. My intent was to create a micro pattern for selective trout in low and slow waters. Many patterns that render the the adult Damsel are very large and use a meriad of synthetics that underrates its very gossamer and delicate qualities. The above video gives you the materials breakdown...

“Silent Cast” |  18x22 Oil on Canvas |  May 2025 Along the banks of the Mad River during the spring storms I always find myself in awe of the extreme weather patterns in the Midwest. Being born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands I did not quite plan to stay very long here but there is a kind of lonesome beauty here that fuels me. Rivers are much more intimate to me than oceans but both have captivated my interest since I was a little boy.                                                  for more original riverscapes please visit clintbova.com

One of my clients requested a video short of my Biot Wing Caddis. This pattern variant I've developed over the last 22 years and has paid vast dividends and never leave home without it. A dubbing loop collar made of squirrel and beaver replaces a traditional hackle collar for this fly. Either a dun hackle collar or a fiber laden dubbing loop works fine. You can also view this video on my you tube channel simply click this link~  “Hook Shorts” ~Enjoy!           ~Clint Bova     ww.cjbovarods.com

One of my clients asked me last week to tie up a dozen Adult Grannoms on a Hanak 300 BL hook. H e wanted a specific blend of Beaver Belly and SLF Squirrel. Also as specified a warm dun CDC underwing. I felt the selections were notable so I decided it warranted an entry. I have been tying more and more flies lately on Hanak hooks more than likely because of the pattern flexibility and hooking success rates of these barbless wonders. The combination of Beaver Belly mixed with SLF Spikey Squirrel makes for a varied and holographic looking fly. Most of these two mixtures is natural but the SLF does contain some synthetic fibers but not a lot.  The antennae is rendered in barred lemon duck flank, the underwing is a subtle warm gray CDC  from an old stash of Marc Petitjean primo select circa late 90's. Adult Summer Caddis | Genus Brachycentrus Hook: Hanak 300 BL #16 Thread: Veevus 14/0 Gray Body: Polish Quill Natural Legs: Micro Knotted Pheasant Tail Natural Dubbing: Blen...