Survivor Fly Tying Challenge 2007
Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 7:15 p.m. CDT
The Scenario
You've spent the week with the Astrological Society of the Great Plains, stargazing from the emptiness of Western Nebraska's Sandhills. The site was chosen precisely for it's remoteness from any artificial night time light which means you are miles from any civilization. It's been a great week; you've seen more in the heavens than you could have possibly anticipated, and you've made a number of new friends. As you finished packing for this trip you looked around the garage, and grabbed a fly rod and reel and threw it in, as a last-minute whim; no flies or vest, but what the heck... You didn't have time or the inclination to fish, but there the rod is, in your trunk as you leave. You're the last one to leave the site. Fortunately the path back to the highway is easy enough to follow and before you know it the paved road that will take you back to civilization looms ahead. Coming up over a rise, you skid to a halt, the car sitting sideways in the road! Two Humvees, and men in fatigues with M-16s are blocking the road! Two National Guardsmen come up to your car; they are polite, but firm: due to an outbreak of Mad Cow Disease in the area all travel is forbidden and you cannot leave the Sandhills until FEMA arrives to decontaminate you and your vehicle. Great! You tend to have a short fuse anyway, and you start to rail about the absurd situation, why can't you just go HOME! and maybe a speck of spit flies out of your mouth as you rant. The Guardsmen suddenly back up and look at each other very nervously - they're thinking: "Does he have Mad Cow? Is he foaming at the mouth? The Guardsmen forcefully tell you to clear the road, and breathe a sign of relief when you pull away. Not knowing what else to do, you head back to the campsite. Maybe you were driving too fast, maybe your frustration with the situation came out in your driving, but whatever, you round a curve too fast, your car shoots off the road, and finds one of the ravines that the Sandhills hide with such ease. Your car bounces and bucks down the incline, but doesn't roll, and eventually creaks to a stop. You're alive, you're OK, but the car isn't going to move again without a tow truck.
You have no food or water and even less confidence that FEMA will show up before you turn to dust. You could walk back up the road, but the Guardsmen were nervous already, and you can see a ranch in the distance. Ranchers in this part of the country are the sort that will give the shirt off their back to someone in need so surely you can find someone who will share a scrap of bread or some beans until FEMA arrives. You take a few items from the car and start the journey on foot. After hours of walking it's obvious that the ranch wasn't as close as you thought, you're lost and you will be in big trouble if you don't find some food and shelter soon. As you scan the horizon you notice a bright reflection coming from a ravine up ahead. When you get to the ravine you discover a couple things. First of all the reflection was caused by the sun bouncing off the side mirror of an old abandoned Honda Accord. Further down the ravine you also spot something that's almost too good to be true. There before you is a beautiful, cool and clear spring running out from a rocky outcrop near some trees. Better yet the spring runs down the ravine and into a lake which must be at least 80 acres in size. A quick reconnoiter reveals this lake is teeming with pike, perch, and some master size largemouth. Taking stock of the situation, the spring and lake will provide water, and the Honda can be used as shelter. You've brought along a fly rod and some fly tying tools but unfortunately all your fly boxes are at home with your kickboat. It should be easy enough to catch some fish if only you had some flies. There is only one thing left to consider; what would a Cornhusker Fly Fisher do in this situation?
You know what to do don't you? Cannibalize the Honda for any fly tying materials you can find, tie some flies and start catching fish!
The Rules:
You may use as many or as few of the materials from the auto to construct your fly. Bring the appropriate tools needed to remove the materials from the auto but please no blow torches or power tools. Also please take only what you need and leave the rest for other tyers. The only other materials you may add in construction of the fly are thread, adhesives, and permanent marking pens. A variety of hooks will be available but you are welcome to bring your own.
Please name your fly.
Be creative
Have a good time.
We will have a show at the end of the evening to display everyone's creations.
Good Luck!
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