http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm The blog of Tyler Befus. en-us Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:09:02 -0400 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:57:00 -0400 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss tyler@tylerbefus.com tyler@tylerbefus.com http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/8/30/Summer-is-Almost-Over Wow! I can not believe it is almost September. I have been so busy swimming, spending time with my family and fly fishing I have not kept up on my regular blog posts. As summer comes to a close I often start to think back on all the fun fishing I had over the summer. This summer was probably one of my favorites because of the number of youth fly fishing classes I was fortunate enough to be able to teach. My fishing trips stayed pretty close to home but that sure did not affect the amount of fish I was able to catch! There were also many learning experiences for me over the summer, for an example, I learned how to Czech nymph and have really been practicing that technique to prepare for the 2010 America Cup Fly Fishing Competition that starts on September 17th. Here are a few pictures to recap all that went on this summer! More posts to come over the next couple of weeks. Competing at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. This was round 2 of the fly casting. I finished 15th overall. It was great weekend. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2971.JPG"> A cutbow from Hecoma Ranch. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_31241.JPG"> A colorful small stream brownie! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_3276.JPG"> The Uncompahgre River below Ridgeway Reservior. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_3417.JPG"> My little sister with a Green Sunfish from Swietzer Lake. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_3449.JPG"> Practice day with my America Cup Youth Team on the Colorado River. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_3700.JPG"> My sister Ava with a Gunnison River brown. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP2385.JPG"> My dad and baby sister checking out a Gunnison River brown trout. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP2372.JPG"> Fly Fishing Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:57:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/8/30/Summer-is-Almost-Over http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/20/Simple-Stonefly-Nymph-Fly-Tying-Tutorial I just added a new step-by-step fly tying tutorial for a fun pattern I call the Simple Stonefly nymph. Check it out in the pattern directory or from the link on my home page. It is a variation of the Bitch Creek pattern. It is almost stonefly time on my home water, the Gunnison River! Can't wait to cast a few of these to the hungry rainbows and browns living in the Gunnison. This a great pattern that will work anywhere there are stoneflies. You can change the color and size to match the bugs in your local rivers. Have fun tying this one and let me know how it works for you. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//finished fly1.JPG"> Fly Fishing Thu, 20 May 2010 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/20/Simple-Stonefly-Nymph-Fly-Tying-Tutorial http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/16/Bonefish-Patterns-for-Black-Fly-Bonefish-Club Here are a three of the bonefish fly patterns that I got from the guys from Black Fly Outfitters as samples for my fly tying as I am getting ready for my trip to the Black Fly Bonefish Club in the Bahamas. These are some of the local favorites. I am buy tying these patterns and some of the old stand by patterns like Crazy Charlies, Clouser Minnows, Puffs and Gotcha. <a href="http://www.blackflyoutfitters.com/" target="_blank"> Click here for more information about bonefish flies or the 2010 Summer Guide Camp at Black Fly Bonefish Club in Abaco Bahamas.<a> King of Abaco Bonefish Fly <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP2064.JPG"> Queen of Abaco Bonefish Fly <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP2062.JPG"> Clint's Secret Fly <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP2061.JPG"> Fly Fishing Sun, 16 May 2010 15:40:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/16/Bonefish-Patterns-for-Black-Fly-Bonefish-Club http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/12/Fly-Fishing-Education-For-KIDS Lots of teaching is taking place this year. Just last week I taught a class at Anglers All fly shop and taught fly tying and casting techniques at Oak Grove Elementary School in Montrose, CO. At Oak Grove I taught six groups of fourth graders and every person in each group got the chance to cast a Ross Journey Youth fly rod! All of them seemed to think that the blue rod was pretty cool. I also showed them how to tie a basic Woolly Bugger. It was awesome to see that all of them were excited to learn about fly fishing and fly tying. The following day at Anglers All located in Littleton, CO. I taught a kids class on basic fly tying, fly casting, gear and entomology. I had four students, all of which had gone fishing before, that were very excited to learn more about fly fishing. Three of them had tied flies before and for the fourth one who had not tied a fly, did an excellent job tying his San Juan Worm and a Woolly Bugger. Here are some pictures from both days of teaching. Enjoy! Enjoying a little bit of fly tying outdoors! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2607.JPG"> Learning about the fly rod. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2611.JPG"> Some more outdoor fly tying at Oak Grove Elementary School! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2618.JPG"> Getting the class started at Anglers All fly shop. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2653.JPG"> Some fly casting games out on the grass. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2662.JPG"> Learning about different fish we can catch on a fly rod. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2666.JPG"> Me and the students from the kids fly fishing school at Anglers All fly shop. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2668.JPG"> Fly Fishing Wed, 12 May 2010 02:47:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/12/Fly-Fishing-Education-For-KIDS http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/3/Fly-Fishing-School-for-Kids I Will be at Angler's All in Littleton, Colorado this coming Saturday (May 8th) from 11:00AM till 5:00 PM teaching a Fly Fishing School for Kids. The cost of the class is $45.00. Rods, reels, fly line and all the fly tying tools and materials will be provided along with lunch. Call Chris or Gary at Angler's All to sign up 800-327-5014. We all had a great time at the classes I taught there last year. It is a great time to learn about fly fishing and meet other kids that are also interested in fly fishing. Sign up now! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_9827.JPG"> Fly Fishing Mon, 03 May 2010 10:45:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/5/3/Fly-Fishing-School-for-Kids http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/25/Acres-Green-Elementary-School--The-South-Platte-River This past Thursday my dad and I made a trip over to the Front Range to visit a school known as Acres Green Elementary School. There at the school I gave a presentation to a couple of fifth and sixth grade classes on fly fishing. It was great to see that there are so many kids that want to learn about fly fishing and with the great youth program at Acres Green they are really getting a good start! After the program I gave away some prizes that some of the kids won during a question and answer session. After we left Acres Green we headed to the South Platte River to fish. The section we fished was the Dream Stream section between 11-Mile Reservoir and Spinney Reservoir. Since it was overcast we had a really hard time sight fishing and the water was a little off color. Despite our disadvantage I still managed to catch a couple resident rainbow trout on egg patterns and Zebra Midges! Here are some pictures of the days adventures. Enjoy! Talking to the kids at Acres Green Elementary School. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2374.JPG"> One of the girls that won some fly fishing stickers I was giving away. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2375.JPG"> Alright here are the rules!!! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2443.JPG"> I came, I saw... <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2426.JPG"> I conquered! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2394.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1977.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1982.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_2419.JPG"> Fly Fishing Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:11:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/25/Acres-Green-Elementary-School--The-South-Platte-River http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/15/2010-America-Cup-Youth-Team I am honored to be a member of the 2010 America Cup Youth Fly Fishing Team along with four other incredibly talented youth fly fishers. My teammates include our team captain Cody Burgdorff-age 16 (Lafayette, CO), Connor Murphy-age 15 (Fort Collins, CO), Charlie Valuck-age 12 (Centennial, CO) and Jacob Knight-age 12 (Vail, CO). We will be competing against 14 other teams that are made up of some of the best competition anglers from around the world. The 2010 America Cup Youth Team is the youngest of 14 teams currently scheduled to compete in The America Cup, an international fly fishing competition to be held in Frisco, Colorado on September 17-19, 2010. The goal of The America Cup is to sponsor good will, grow tourism, and enhance and protect trout fisheries in the State of Colorado, nationally, and internationally. This years America Cup Youth Team is made up of five boys, ages 12-16, from across the state of Colorado. Despite their young ages, these boys are all fine young fishermen, and will compete against the best fly fishing teams in the world without handicap. <a href="http://theamericacup.com/youthteam.html" target="_blank"> Visit the America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament website for more details.<a> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//America Cup Logo1.jpg"> Fly Fishing Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:45:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/15/2010-America-Cup-Youth-Team http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/13/2010--Black-Fly-Bonefish-Club-Summer-Guide-Camp Summer Guide Camp! June 27th - July 2nd and July 4th - 9th A five day event that is designed to give young people, ages 12-14, and their parents a fun training experience as life as a guide! I will be one of the instructors helping with the camp. It will be $1,595.00 for kids and $895.00 for parents. Includes food, lodging at Black Fly Bonefish Club, camp activities, a fly rod and reel, fly tying vise and materials, t-shirts, hats and other cool stuff from sponsors of the event. Only 8 student/parent spots are available. The camp will include: - Conservation and science of flats fishing - Fly casting lessons - Fly Fishing techniques - Fly tying - Boat handling and lots of FUN! Talk to Jean at Black Fly Outfitters 904.997.2220 for more information or to book your spot for the camp. <a href="http://www.blackflybonefishclub.com/" target="_blank"> Visit the Black Fly Bonefish Camp website and blog to learn more about this amazing place in Schooner Bay, Abaco, Bahamas.<a> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//BFBC Image.jpg"> Fly Fishing Tue, 13 Apr 2010 02:02:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/13/2010--Black-Fly-Bonefish-Club-Summer-Guide-Camp http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/1/Western-Colorado-Spring-Fly-Fishing I have been fishing my local river (Uncompahgre River)the past few weekends and almost every afternoon after school. The nymph fishing has been very good with caddis larva and different beadhead patterns. I have been practicing Czech nymphing techniques and am starting to get it down. This past weekend I saw caddis adults, Blue Winged olives and Midges all hatching. Here are a few pictures from my latest trips to the river. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1822.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1819.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1802.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1838.JPG"> Fly Fishing Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:41:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/1/Western-Colorado-Spring-Fly-Fishing http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/18/Early-Spring-Time-Bluegills I am so excited! Spring is almost here which means that it is time to do some warmwater fly fishing. Here in Montrose we have been getting some amazing days that are in the high fifties to low sixties. With such warm weather the lakes have been unfreezing at an unbelievable rate. So, yesterday as we were driving past one of our local ponds I saw some fish working the banks and even rising some! Since I love fishing for bluegill and bass I asked my mom if she would take me fishing. Being the wonderful mom she is, she ran me home to get my gear then took me back to the pond to do some fishing! I started out looking for bass and was unable to cast to the ones that I saw so I went to plan B. and caught a couple of bluegill on beetles and small poppers before I went to swim practice that night. The best part was to be able to see that the fish were healthy and had great coloring. Here are some pictures from my fishing at Chipeta Lake. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1766.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1767.JPG"> Fly Fishing Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:43:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/18/Early-Spring-Time-Bluegills http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/15/Fly-Fishing-the-Gunnison-River-In-March Well, last Thursday I fished the Gunnison River at the Gunnison Forks Area. I fished with my friend Lori Nicholson from Angler's All fly shop in Denver (I will be teaching three kid's fly fishing classes at their shop this summer. It was nice day and we had sunshine, clouds and wind off and on during the day. There was a good midge hatch all day but only saw a couple of fish rising. I hooked most my fish on small #18-#22 black midges and Brassie patterns. Here are a few pictures from our day. I hope you enjoy them. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1733.JPG"> Lori Nicholson with a Gunnison River Brown trout. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1728.JPG"> The release! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1729.JPG"> An amazing March day. (photo by Lori Nicholson) <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//March Ark, 2010 (19 of 21).jpg"> Watching my strike indicator. (photo by Lori Nicholson) <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//March Ark, 2010 (1 of 21).jpg"> Hmmmm...What fly to use? (photo by Lori Nicholson) <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//March Ark, 2010 (20 of 21).jpg"> Fly Fishing Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:50:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/15/Fly-Fishing-the-Gunnison-River-In-March http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/8/2010-Black-Canyon-Fly-Fishing-Show--Montrose-Colorado This past Saturday my family and I participated in the Black Canyon Fly Fishing Show in Montrose, Colorado. My sisters, Ava and Vivian tied flies with me and my dad. They tied foam frogs and lady bugs! I tied in the fly tying video theater and did a program about my fly fishing trips to Japan. It was great to see a bunch of my friends from different places in Colorado and Utah. Here are a few pictures from the show. This coming Saturday I will be tying flies and signing books and DVDs at Western Anglers in Grand Junction, Colorado from 10:00AM until noon. Hope to see you there. My sisters Ava and Vivian having fun tying flies. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1662.JPG"> My youngest sister Olivia checking out a foam frog my sister Ava tied. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1658.JPG"> My friend Geoff Samples tying flies at the show. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1671.JPG"> Mr. Jim Aubrey from Durango, Colorado was tying up some very cool baby brook trout streamers. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMGP1678.JPG"> Fly Fishing Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:01:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/3/8/2010-Black-Canyon-Fly-Fishing-Show--Montrose-Colorado http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/25/Bass-Pro-Shops-Spring-Classic-Denver-Colorado I will be at Bass Pro Shops in Denver, Colorado this Saturday, February 27th to tie flies and sign books in the Authors Corner. I will be at the store for the annual Bass Pro Spring Classic Fishing event. I had a great time there last year and I am really looking forward to being there again this year. See you there so we can talk about fly fishing and fly tying! <a href="http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=94&template=listallevents.cfm&storeID=43#48184" target="_blank"> Click here to check out the event schedule.<a> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//bassproshopHeaderLogo.gif"> Fly Fishing Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:02:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/25/Bass-Pro-Shops-Spring-Classic-Denver-Colorado http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/14/More-Winter-Fly-Fishing-With-Kids Yesterday my mom took me to Gunnison to tie some flies with a friend of mine, Merne Judson. I am going to be doing some fly tying for the fly business he is starting. While we were in Gunnison my dad took my two youngest little sisters fishing on the Uncompahgre River near our house. Check out a few of the pictures my dad took and a couple I took of the upper Gunnison River (still frozen!) and Blue Mesa Reservoir. All bundled up and ready to fish! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 002.jpg"> Vivian watching her pink Thingamabobber. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 004.jpg"> One of the Rainbow's that Vivian caught. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 012.jpg"> Ready for release. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 017.jpg"> The frozen upper Gunnison River at the town of Gunnison. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 025.jpg"> Winter time at Blue Mesa Reservoir. <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 029.jpg"> Fly Fishing Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:12:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/14/More-Winter-Fly-Fishing-With-Kids http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/11/Fly-Tying-Fun-at-Cimarron-Creek-Fly-Shop Last Saturday my dad and I did a fly tying demo at Cimarron Creek Fly Shop here in Montrose. It was a lot of fun. We focused on tying weighted nymphs. Here are a few pictures. Hope you like them. Oh yeah, I fished a little over the weekend too! <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_1938.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//IMG_1939.JPG"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 023.jpg"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 027.jpg"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 041.jpg"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 047.jpg"> <img src="http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/images//images/blog//Picture 052.jpg"> Fly Fishing Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:40:00 -0400 http://www.tylerbefus.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/2/11/Fly-Tying-Fun-at-Cimarron-Creek-Fly-Shop