All posts by Christopher Kuhn

Favorite Patterns

The Mickey Finn

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As you may have gathered, the ice season ended abruptly in New Jersey with a long mid-winter thaw. Some lakes and ponds still have ice cover though not providing anywhere near what is considered a safe thickness. As a result, part of the MKFF crew headed up to Brant Lake, NY this weekend in search of thicker ice and boy did they locate it!

Cabin Fever weekend, a few of my favorite things.
Cabin Fever weekend, a few of my favorite things.

Dave and I had to hang back here in Frelinghuysen Township; part of our appointed/ elected official duties included posting the boundaries of the new Frelinghuysen Forest Preserve. Fortunately, there was plenty of time to whip up a traditional Brook Trout Streamer whilst listening to Dave strum some new MKFF theme songs on his guitar.

The Pattern

John Alden Knight first designed this fly in the 1930s, named for the infamous drugged drink of the time; it remains a popular and effective bucktail streamer. The Mickey Finn imitates baitfish commonly found in Trout producing streams, the red stripe of bucktail appears like a baitfish’s lateral line to a predator. Similar to the drugged drink, it certainly knocks your prey out; I once had a 20 fish day on stocked Brook Trout with this pattern. The fly can be effective for Salmon, Trout, Steelhead, Bass and even an occasional Pike.

Materials

  1. Mustad 9672; 2-12
  2. UNI-Thread Black 6/0
  3. UNI-Thread Red 6/0
  4. Small Silver Ultra Wire
  5. Large Mylar Tinsel Gold/Silver
  6. Yellow Bucktail
  7. Orange/ Red Bucktail
  8. 1/8” Flat Eyes

Steps

  1. Start the Red thread and build a base near the tail, directly above the barb.

    Step 1 Red Thread
    Step 1 – Start the red thread, build a base for the tail.
  2. Tie your black thread on, one eye‘s length behind the hook eye, lay thread along the shank of hook.

    Step 2 - Start the black thread and create tie in base.
    Step 2 – Start the black thread and create tie in base.
  3. Tie in both the Tinsel and the Ultra Wire at the head; use black thread to layer the length of the shank. Leave red butt end uncovered by black thread.

    Step 3 - Tie in Ultra Wire and Tinsel.
    Step 3 – Tie in Ultra Wire and Tinsel, wrap thread down the shank, locking in Ultra Wire and Tinsel.
  4. Wind the Silver side of the Tinsel flat and tight with a narrow part of each strip overlapping back to the tie in point. Tie off and cut excess.
  5. Wind the ultra wire evenly up the shank in similar fashion, it will provide additional strength to the Tinsel wraps.

    Step 4/5 - Warp Tinsel and Ultra Wire up hook shank, tie off and remove excess.
    Step 4/5 – Warp Tinsel and Ultra Wire up hook shank, tie off and remove excess.
  6. Select a pinch of yellow bucktail, tie in at the base you have created, near the tie in point. Remember to not apply too much pressure to make the butt end of the bucktail flare out. Instead, use multiple loose wraps and create a mound.

    Step 6 - Tie in yellow bucktail.
    Step 6 – Tie in yellow bucktail.
  7. Repeat the same steps completed for the yellow bucktail, this time with the orange. Trim the excess ends of the bucktail off in an upward angle. Add an additional amount of yellow on top of the red. This will create the lateral line effect.

    Step 7 - Add in orange buck tail, use staircase method to layer on thread.
    Step 7 – Add in orange buck tail, use staircase method to layer on thread.
  8. Build up a mound of black thread over the butt ends of the bucktail. Apply some head cement and then add your eyes.

    Finished Mickey Finn, a little light on the yellow thread up top. I will update this picture later in the week once I perfect the pattern.
    Finished Mickey Finn, a little light on the yellow thread up top. I will update this picture later in the week once I perfect the pattern.

How to Use

The Mickey Finn, can be retrieved upstream or down, just don’t use it at a bar, it won’t work on chicks! You can also retrieve across the current with a jerking twitch to imitate baitfish.

Completed Mickey Finn W/O Eyes
Completed Mickey Finn W/O Eyes. Take notice of the lateral line effect created by the layering of bucktail. To a hungry Trout this fly resembles a bait fish.
Ice Fishing

Hard Water is Here

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Happy New Year to all of our readers and followers! The snow event we received at the end of December brought with it the January cold. Last weekend the ice was thick enough, in some places, to head out. Fortunately, for everyone’s waist lines and sanity the Christmas season has come and gone leaving some quality time to get caught up on Rippin’ Lips.

Shakespeare Ice Combo With a Glow in the Dark Spoon.
Shakespeare Ice Combo With a Glow in the Dark Spoon.

Farm Ponds of Warren County

In northern New Jersey, some winters, we will have ice and others we will not. Last winter, there was no ice. Taking a peek at the long-term weather, it is difficult to tell how long the ice will last this year. That being said, smaller, shallow ponds freeze more quickly than larger bodies of water. The farm and horse country of northwest New Jersey is host to thousands of little ponds. Every farmer, former farm or country estate seems to have a little body of water. These puddles are often stocked with Bass and large ones at that.

Old Bucket Mouth Lip Grip.
Old Bucket Mouth Lip Grip.

Bass Under the Ice

In the past we have dedicated some page space to the optimal temperature for Bass. The winter is by no means ideal for this species; Bass slow down their movement and tamper their aggressiveness, though they still must eat.  Early ice provides for more action than late ice, especially when there is no snow cover. In a farm pond or other man made structure the Bass congregate in the deepest area.

The fish were trending smaller on this day.
The fish were trending smaller on this day.

Venturing Onto the Ice

All outdoor activity carries with it certain risks, you should be fully aware of these before venturing out. We recommend carrying certain minimal safety equipment with you. The MKFF crew carries a rope and a set of picks for extraction. Additionally, it makes it easier to walk and you less likely to fall if you use a set of cleats.

Holding up the prize!
Holding up the prize!

Tip Ups

Traditionally, anglers target fish under the ice using a tip up or by jigging with an ice rod. New Jersey allows you to have five (5) set ups in the water at one time. This could be any combination of rod and tip ups to the maximum number. A typical set up includes tip up, ice line, swivel, two to three feet of leader and a circle hook. A medium shiner, hooked through the back with shot sinker, up the leader, one foot from the hook, does the trick. Before hooking the bait, use a sounder attached to the hook, find bottom and pull up to be at the weed level. Once the level is set, attach your bait, lower it in and set the tip up.

Nice fish Ed!Hooking the Fish

A circle hook, as described above, is set in a different manner from the traditional fishing hook. The hook “sets itself,” leaving the angler at risk of pulling the bait out of the fish’s mouth. We adopted a method; in short, once the flag went up, allow some line to run out, once the run slows, pull on the line until taught. The fish will be hooked and you will begin working the fish back through the hole.

Check Back For More

If the winter weather conditions hold we will be back at it, attempting to catch more and bigger fish. If not, MKFF will hit the trap range next weekend. Either way, catch you next time.

Hunting

MKFF Thanksgiving Edition

Hunting a Turkey Through Hurricane Sandy

Is the Pet Cemetery behind that dead fall?

New Jersey Fall Turkey Season was open from Saturday October 27th through November 3rd2012. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy also known as “Superstorm” Sandy, reared its ugly head and made landfall in perfect synchronicity. Sandy destroyed countless homes, farms and businesses in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Fortunately, in Frelinghuysen Township, adverse impacts were limited to downed trees, closed roads, roof damage and two weeks without power.

Telephone pole just laying there.
Gas lines were the post Sandy topic.

Enough about the return of the dark ages, to the most populated urbanized area on Earth. I am going to tell you a story of how despite narrowly missing entire flocks of Turkey with my truck all summer, NOT a single of these giant flying birds exist. At least that is, on the Moose Knuckle Proving Grounds. Up in Vermont during October, they were everywhere on the Post Mills’ Airport runway.

Flock crosses the runway in Post Mills, Vermont.

The Turkey is North America’s largest ground nesting bird. Experts estimate, when the Pilgrims arrived here, there may have been as many as ten million gobblers waddling around. The colonists, market hunters, settlers and immigrants rapidly populating the United States, brought the large and tasty bird to near extinction. The species’ nadir occurred around 1920, with roughly thirty thousand birds left ranging the continent. Aggressive conservation efforts, led by state fish and game departments, have now resulted in the Turkey expanding beyond its native range. There now are more than 5.5 million Turkey’s roaming North America’s forests, farm fields and suburbs. Facts and figures for this paragraph from Jim Sterba’s book, “Nature Wars,” we will be reviewing in a later blog entry.

The Maersk patio Tom Turkey.

Oftentimes, Fly Fishing is about getting out there in Gods Country. The same applies for Hunting.  When Turkey hunting, the hunter attempts to call in the turkey, becoming one with his/her quarry. In the fall season, the sportsman is focused on ambushing the Turkey. They will be called in, although it is not mating season and the bird is less susceptible to courtship. Mark and I were quickly overcome by the cold, sitting and waiting, you need to dress as if its at least 40 degrees colder than it actually is. The hunter has to appear invisible and keep silent when pursuing the elusive gobbler. The animal has keen sight and exceptional hearing.

Mark pretends he sees a gobbler.

Reviewing my words, I break out into a laugh, I once had an altercation with a Tom Turkey on route to Montclair State University. The vicious creature was blocking the Valley Road entrance after an exceptionally long commute on 46. No matter what we did, this cantankerous avian critter just jutted out its left wing and menacingly danced across the street. Finally, commencing a violent pecking on another student’s car. I drove straight at it, Tom yielded and the battle was won, the war continues.

Giralda Farms has a large and aggressive population of suburban Turkeys.

Unfortunately, after hours of sitting, propped against one of Sandy’s numerous deadfalls on the Proving Grounds, Mark and I were unable to score a Turkey for Thanksgiving. This being 2012, the solution was a short trip to the ShopRite. In the spring, I will purchase more appropriate gear and make my way back in the woods for another round.

Turkey Box Call made in Newton, NJ.

The next weekend, while Bow Hunting, Zombo had a Turkey resting under the treestand for over an hour.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be thankful that America is so great you don’t have to hunt a Turkey to eat one today!