The Ondawa

The Ondawa

Last Friday night my wife and I settled in on the couch to watch a little TV and pray that our electricity didn't go out.  Winter storm Nemo was in full effect dropping an insane amount of snow with howling winds.  So I decided to do a little fly tying just for fun.  The fly I chose to tie was not the typical tenkara sakasa kebari I love to tie but what's known as heritage wet fly called the Ondawa.  This fly was recently highlighted in the winter 2012 edition of Fly Tyer.

 Sharon E. Wright wrote the article as well as tied the fly.  I met Ms. Wright at the recent Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, NJ and had a good look at the actual fly featured in the article.  I liked it very much, which is no surprise because classic wet flies are among my favorite kinds of flies.  So I picked up a few materials at the show and decided when a chance arose I would tie one.  Seems Nemo provided the right opportunity to try one of these.

The Ondawa-pg 64 Winter 2012 Fly Tyer

 The Ondawa was mentioned in Mary Orvis Marbury's Favorite Flies and Their Histories as a bass fly.  The name comes from the Mohican name for the Battenkill River in Vermont.  I believe the pattern was created in the late 1800's.  I think this is a very striking fly that would indeed land a few respectable bass or trout but I don't see myself using this fly on my tenkara rod any time soon.  I like how my first attempt came out  (Not as clean as Sharon's by a long shot....but respectable) but I think this fly might go into a presentation fly box for a little while. These heritage flies are not only beautiful but also serve as a connection to all of those anglers who have come before us in this great sport.

Nemo

Webster's has a new way to spell "pain".  As of Feb. 9th 2013 it is now to be spelled N E M O.  My back is sore beyond words and memories of muscles that I used to use when I played football years ago came back to me.  BTW...man's best friend is not a dog....it'a Sears Craftsman snowblower.  After 7 hours yesterday and a few more today the driveway and sidewalks are clear.

Top half of  a cherry tree that fell across one end of the driveway

Just because removing 30 inches of snow isn't fun enough, the top half of a mature cherry tree snapped and fell across one end of the driveway and proceeded to become buried in with the snow.  I guess after Irene, Sandy and now Nemo it had had enough.  That pretty much also was the same sentiment shared by a number of other trees on the street.  They decided to block the one end of the street. "Well then go out out the other end of the street." you say? No go there either. The one plow that made it to the street is stuck in the middle of the street and effectively keeps us put.  At least I can move freely on the driveway now.  I guess I can't complain too much.  Unlike Sandy, where we went without power for 8 days we only lost out cable and internet for a day (so of or neighbors were not so lucky). The other good thing was that my too little snow angels seemed to be having a fun time.

"Hey Daddy...these have your name written all over them!"

I put some of the time stuck inside to good use tying some flies.  My next post will cover some of that. I hope anyone else having to put up with Nemo has heat and light where they are and plenty of Advil.  Stay safe.