Mac Warner - Saskatchewan's Mr Fly Fishing

Mac Warner Sept 2007 Twin Lake, Manitoba.

Tiger Trout ( Photo by C.T. Winters )

Some 19 years ago I met a very interesting man in a tackle shop in Moose Jaw Sask. He was talking with another customer as I walked in but paused to cheerfully greet me as I perused the goodies on display.

This was the start of a whole new adventure in my life, one that included learning about fly fishing, fly tying, black powder muzzle loaders, archery and much more. The best thing about visiting Mac’s Fly Shop was the enthusiastic teaching and stories that accompanied the equipment. The shop was also a place where one could connect with fellow enthusiasts of hunting and fishing.

Mac has since retired from the retail storefront in Moose Jaw but still helps folks to acquire tackle, flies and equipment. He spends a good deal of his time fishing and teaching others about 2 of his main passions fly fishing and fly tying.

More than once I have watched as he gave an impromptu tying lesson at a picnic or kitchen table. It’s cool to see the wide-eyed faces watching, as he spins deer hair with a Dubbit tool to create some of his trademark patterns. The author of a variety of books and instructional CD-Rom’s, Mac patterns are tied and fished all over Canada and the States and beyond.

Many of Mac’s patterns are very simple and easy to tie. Leaving many amazed at how effectively they also catch fish. He also is known for his skill and craftsmanship. As many of the flies featured in the beautiful coffee table book A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns, were tied by Warner.

One of Mac’s famous patterns is the M.U.D. caddis. Named by Bob Sheedy (a fly fishing guru to many and a trout bum to others).
Sheedy coined the acronym to represent "Mac’s utterly disgusting caddis". The name stuck after that. You can read this story and more in the introduction by Sheedy for Warner’s book, My Favorite Western Canadian Fly Patterns.

The M.U.D. Caddis

Hook -Dry Fly size 10 to 14

Thread -Matching deer hair color

Body -deer hair ( Spun & trimmed in a V shape on sides )

The above M.U.D Caddis was tied by Mac as he gave a tying lesson at my kitchen table a few summers ago. Below is an olive version, that I tied to demonstrate different views, to show the angles for trimming the deer hair. Use different color deer hair to match your lake's caddis fly population.

Top View

Bottom View

The M.U.D. Caddis, like the Goddard Caddis is basically unsinkable. It's main function is to provide a silhouette from below that simulates the emerging fly. You can spin the deer hair traditionally or put it in a dubbing loop for added strength. To see more of Mac Warner's flies order your copy of " A Compendium of Canadian Fly Patterns " It can be viewed at this link

http://www.galesendpress.com/flypatternsexperts.html

In closing I will just quote Mac's famous line " Keep your feet dry and your lines tight " Cheers! C.T Winters

The Wonderful Fall Fly Fishing Season Is Upon Us

September is just around the corner. The temperature of the parkland lakes are already near ideal, due to the cool summer. Fall fly fishing is here.

Here are 2 patterns that should be in your fly box as you venture out to your next trout expedition.


The Improved Diefenbaker



Hook - Size 2 to 6 Streamer 3-x Shank
Thread - Black
Tail - Black Maraboo, Crystal Flash
Body - Grey Crystal Flash, Salmon Needle Point Yarn
Wing - Black Maraboo, Crystal Flash
Head - Peacock Herl


This pattern originated back in the late 80's. The 1st version was created by Pat Williams who then resided in Regina Sask.

Pat loved to drive to Diefenbaker Lake on his days off and hunt the native rainbows. This was before the now famous "genetic growth hormone juiced up" farmed rainbows, that where released into the lake via the torn nets.

Pat's flys were never pretty but they caught fish none the less. Lots of fish. He was well known for sharing his patterns and advise where ever he went.

John Yury modified the design and put it into production, selling the pattern in his Fly Shop.

It was given to me on the water at Vinni Lake 10 yrs ago by a fellow named Nathan as we chatted side by side in our float tubes. I still have that fly.

The design now has the added Peacock hurl head that adds that extra flash as well as bulks up the head with out the need for tons of thread. This also allows for the use of a finer thread leaving less undesired build up during the tying process.

Early ice out, as well as late fall, are good seasons for the Diefenbaker, as the trout are often keying in on minnows as the bugs are less active.

The Crystal Boatman



Hook - Size 8 Wet fly / Nymph
Thread - Black or Olive
Wing Case - Olive Guinea Fowl
Body - Light Olive Rabbit Dubbing with Crystal Flash
Legs - Pearl Crystal Flash ( Accented with black or olive marker )
Head - Peacock Herl

The water boatman fly is often seen tyed with goose biots or bungee rubber for the legs. Neither material actually moves much as the pattern is stripped through the water, especially the goose biots. The beauty of using crystal flash for the legs, is it will move as the fly is advanced, yet returns to it's tied position when the fly is allowed to rest.

After keeping an East Blue Lake Rainbow trout for our evening supper, in latter September a few years ago. I noticed a robust water boatman pop out of the throat of the fish and skitter across the cleaning table. I quickly placed it into my water bottle to use for a " living" control pattern. That night in my cabin, Mr Water Boatman swam up and down resting long enough to give me a birds eye view of his markings and color. Luck would have it my portable tying kit contained what was needed to replicate the size, color and long legs, that seemed to match fairly close.

The following afternoon was spent fishing adjacent Shilliday lake. The rainbows were surfacing all around as they fed on the real Water boatman. This was the same day my father finally chose to try fly fishing solo out of a small 12 foot boat with an electric motor. He had his new fly rod with borrowed dry line and half a dozen freshly tyed Crystal Boatman's. Up until this time he had only agreed to troll a streamer fly on his spinning outfit a couple of times.

The following 3 or 4 hours past so fast as he landed and released 27 rainbows averaging around the 17" range. The highlight for me was hearing him hoot and holler as he released a rainbow only to have another one on his line as he gathered it up to attempt another cast. Needless to say he is now way more open minded about Fly Fishing and has since invested in considerable more equipment. It's neat to hear him enthusiastically tell others, how great fishing on the fly can be.

This pattern is best fished with floating or sink tip line. I will often strip in 8 to 10 quick one inch strips then wait for about ten seconds before repeating the process. Often the trout will take the fly during the 1o second rest making for some real entertainment.

Coat the wing case and peacock herl head with liberal amounts of head cement. make the head as wide as the body to match the natural shape of the real thing.

As the water temperature dips below 60 F the trout will instinctively begin their fall feeding fest. Try these patterns out. Alter the colors to match your local haunts and see how you make out.

Until next time, Cheers!