Trout Are Not Smarter Than People, But They May Be Smarter Than Me
I HOPE I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY.
Everybody gets their ass handed to them once in a while and I’m certainly no exception. The latest installment came just last week. I was in Colorado and mentioned to a friend that I’d never fished Cheeseman Canyon, and away we went. If you were to do a quick Google search for Cheeseman Canyon you might click the first link and read this description on Colorado Fishing Reports.
“The drainage is one of the most pristine and technical in the world; if you can catch trout here you can catch them anywhere.”
That reads like some good old Colorado bravado but on closer inspection, at least the day I was there, it could be true. At least the last part. I don’t know that it’s the most pristine place I’ve ever fished but it was certainly a challenge. For six hours of fishing, I enjoyed three hookups and unbuttoned two of them for a total of one fish. It was the smallest of the three and I was happy to have him.
It’s easy to see why this place is so hard on anglers. The pressure is ridiculous. Literally, three guys fishing every run. Anglers on Colorado’s front range are used to that kind of pressure and to their credit, everyone was super polite and practiced great stream etiquette. If not for that it would have been miserable. Still, the pressure makes it very tough in a couple of ways.
It’s all but impossible to move around on the river, unless you’re just out for a good hike. You wind up camped in a couple of spots working a pod of fish who watch you like the Ferguson P.D. To its credit, the South Platte is full of fish. Quality fish at that. Pods of them in every run but it’s kind of a Mexican stand off.
The fish are as much traumatized as educated.
They have adapted to the the pressure in some interesting ways. To start with, they just don’t eat flies. That’s obvious. Many of them seem to be night feeders. I found a lot of fish sleeping during the day. Fish sleep behavior is fascinating and
Sunday Classic / Fight Big Fish with the Butt Section of the Fly Rod Not the Tip
IF YOU FLY FISH LONG ENOUGH AND PAY YOUR DUES, IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL YOU HOOK INTO A GIANT FISH AND EXPERIENCE DEFEAT.
I’ve always loved the saying, “It’s always the big ones that get away”, like it provides anglers a viable excuse for losing battles with big fish. I’ll admit there are times when we’re at complete mercy of big fish, and defeat is 99% inevitable, but most battles are lost due to angler error, specifically by fighting big fish incorrectly with the fly rod.
For many anglers, every time they lose a big fish, a portion of their fish-fighting confidence disappears with it, and they become more paranoid with each unsuccessful encounter. Overtime, this paranoia and lack of confidence distorts their fish fighting instincts, and they begin to play big fish too conservatively, thinking if they put more pressure on the fish, the tippet will break or the hook will pull free. What they end up doing most of the time is fighting the fish with their rod tip instead of fighting the fish with the mid-section and butt section of the rod. This seriously limits an anglers ability to apply power and steer the fish during a fight, because all the power comes from the butt and mid-section of the rod, not the tip. It also will keep the leverage in the fish’s court, which will take it far longer for you to tire out a big fish. Fight times can be doubled, sometimes even tripled, and that’s bad news for a trophy specimen if the battle is taking place during the year when oxygen levels are low (you can play a fish to death). Furthermore, the longer the fight is prolonged, the better the chance something could go wrong, resulting in a fish being lost during the fight (teeth wearing through tippet, fish raking you across rocks and breaking line, fish snapping you off in a snag, ect).
Fight a big fish the right way
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Wild Reverence
WILD REVERENCE “THE PLIGHT OF THE AMERICAN WILD STEELHEAD”
This film by Shane Anderson chronicles one of the most sought after fish on the planet and the severe decline of wild populations with hope and solutions for a wild future.
If chasing wild steelhead is not your passion, it may be once you’ve seen this film. It’s hard to not get swept away by the powerful feelings surrounding this amazing fish and it’s perilous circumstances. If you are a devotee, this film is a must see.
Shane’s film is not only beautiful and moving, it’s important in its efforts to raise awareness of the steelhead dilemma. It has it’s heart in the right place, but it’s pockets too. Proceeds from the film go to help preserve wild steelhead.
Check out the trailer. You might learn a thing or two about wild steelhead. You might find yourself loving them.
Read More »New Orvis Fly Rods for 2015 Offer Innovation And Value
THE GUYS AT THE ORVIS ROD SHOP HAVE BEEN ON A ROLL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
Some of my favorite rods of late have come out of that shop, including the Helios 2 and the Superfine Glass. For 2015 Orvis has a couple of new offerings that caught my eye. The new Recon and the H2 One Piece both look very promising. I haven’t fished these rods yet, but I will be very soon so stay tuned for full reviews on each.
The Recon is Orvis’s new mid-priced offering. Retailing for under $500 this rod is a great value. I honestly can’t see it as a compromise. It’s a beautifully made rod with a light, crisp action. The hardware is excellent and whole rod, even the tube, is made in the USA.
The Helios 2 One Piece is the next evolutionary step for the award winning H2. It combines the thermo-plastic design of the H2 with the accuracy, cast-ability and strength of a one piece rod. It feels amazing in the hand. Extremely light and lively. I’m really looking forward to trying this rod out.
Tom Rosenbauer took some time to talk about the new rods with me at IFTD. Check out the video.
Read More »Fly Fishing: Don’t Turn Your Cheek, Pay it Forward
By Kent Klewien
The other day I had the opportunity to guide a client who previously had put down his fly rod for many years. As he put on his waders and boots, and I began rigging the rods, he told me that many of his good friends were avid fly fisherman. Problem was, they had made it clear to him that they preferred he didn’t tag along with them, because they didn’t want to waste their precious fly fishing time teaching a beginner. I felt bad for the guy. He had been painted an outcast by his own buddies, and every year that went by, it made it harder and harder for him to pick up his fly rod. With a comforting grin on my face, I replied, “Man, I really wish you would have called me sooner. We could have nipped that in the butt a long time ago.”
During our hike in to the river, I decided my mission for the day was going to be getting my client back up to speed. I was going to teach him everything he needed to know, so that the next time his buddies went fly fishing, he could surprise them with his presence, and put on a clinic. I had a silent laugh going on inside me throughout the day, as I pictured the looks on his buddies faces as they watched their outcast friend out fish them. I used this to fuel my guiding efforts, and it kept me focused during the slow learning process.
Teaching someone to fly fish from square one
Read More »It’s Time to go bonefishing in the Bahamas with G&G!
Fish the Bahamas with the Boys from G&G!
November 9-15 2014 November 15-11 2014 & March 14-21 2015
That’s right, you can get in on the Gink!
WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE THIRD ANNUAL GINK AND GASOLINE FISHING TRIP AT THE ANDROS SOUTH BONEFISH LODGE.
This year we have exciting OPPORTUNITIES for everyone who attends!
Every Angler will receive a sweet package of flats gear from Simms and a new saltwater line from Airflo!
WE ALSO HAVE TWO EXCITING PRIZES TO BE RAFFLED OFF!
One lucky angler each week will take home a new Thomas & Thomas Solar saltwater fly rod! Another angler will win a new Nautilus CCFX2 reel! You cant beat that.
Experience the worlds best bone fishing and learn the ropes of saltwater fly fishing , all while enjoying the company of the G&G community!
Dates are,
March 14-21 $4635
Nov 9-15 $3600
Nov 15-19 $2410
Includes
• Guided fishing on the most productive bonefish flats anywhere
• Great meals and unlimited bar (all food and drinks included and unlimited)
• Single Occupancy Rooms
• Bonefish 101 school for those who would like. Learn everything you kneed to know to be a successful bonefish angler.
• Fly and leader tying instruction
THIS IS A GREAT TRIP NO MATTER YOUR SKILL LEVEL
Sign up today. Just email hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
Read More »Sunday Classic / Working a Steelhead
I had the opportunity to watch my friend Jeff Hickman work a shy Steelhead the other day and his effort was exemplary.
Swinging flies for winter steelhead is a game of numbers, very small numbers. It’s a given when chasing winter fish that there may be limited numbers of fish present in the river. Even fewer of them will be willing to eat a swung fly. You can not afford to miss putting your fly in front of every fish. These fish are on the move so you never know where they will be. You have to be methodical and know that it could happen at any time.
When you really think about it, the mathematics of the system are remarkable. For those not familiar, the idea is pretty simple. You cast across the current far enough to cover any possible holding water and swing the fly down and across until it hangs directly below you. Strip in your line, make the same cast with exactly the same amount of line, step down stream the length of a fish and repeat. Granted, this is a gross oversimplification of a very nuanced technique but that’s the general idea. If you take the time to draw a picture, using a drafting compass you will see that the concentric circles your swinging fly makes cover the water with amazing efficiency. It’s a bit like Tai Chi. You are always striving for perfection.
After hours, or days, covering water in this way it can be heartbreaking when you find a fish who’s interested but won’t commit. Often a single tug is the only evidence that you have found a player. I had the opportunity to watch my friend Jeff Hickman work just such a shy player the other day and his effort was exemplary. Here’s how it went down.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Red Legg’ed Devils
THE TRUTH, THE DIRTY TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, ABOUT “THE RICH MAN’S PARADISE CLUB”
A little off topic but right on target. Red Legg’ed Devils may be a hunting blog but this issue is right at the heart of fly fishing. RLD doesn’t spare the rod when it comes to calling out the crooked bastards in Washington for stealing our public lands. This is an article that every sportsman should read and act on.
“We came for the truth and a drink, and there ain’t nothin but sober lawyers here.”
I love this guy!
CHECK OUT “THE RICH MAN’S PARADISE CLUB”
Read More »The New RIO Line Selector App
THAT’S RIGHT, I SAID APP.
The coolest thing I saw at IFTD this years isn’t even a piece of fishing gear. At least not in the conventional sense. The new Line Selector App from RIO is simply brilliant. It’s never been easier to find the right line for your fly rod. This app, available for iPhone, iPad and Android, breaks down RIO’s vast product line into a straight forward flow chart that let’s you find the perfect line for any rod, location, species or style of fishing.
The app is highly detailed and surprisingly streamlined. It anticipates a wide array of fishing options and walks you through the process of narrowing down the hundreds of complicated choices. It an amazing piece of work, with Simon Gawesworth’s finger prints all over it. It’s like having Simon on speed dial!
I’m sure this will sell a lot of lines for RIO but it’s also great as an educational tool for anglers who are overwhelmed with option paralysis. Watch the video to see the full lineup of features, then head over to the App Store and get this free app for yourself!
Read More »My Most Memorable Bonefish
By Kent Klewein
ISN’T IT FUNNY, HOW CERTAIN FISH WE CATCH DURING OUR FLY FISHING TRIPS CAN END UP PROVIDING US WITH TEN TIMES THE SATISFACTION OVER ALL THE OTHERS.
Sometimes, the size of our catch has little at all to do with the amount of reward it brings. I love catching big fish just as much as the next guy, but for me at least, it’s often more about overcoming the challenges along the way that’s what really makes one catch end up standing out amongst all the rest.
For example, my most memorable bonefish to date, only weighed around four pounds. I’ve landed much larger bones over the years, but what made this particular bonefish so special to me, were the extremely difficult fly fishing conditions I had to work through to hook and land it. Before it all unfolded, and I found myself feeling that special fish tugging on the end of my line, I was holding onto the last remaining tidbits of hope I had left inside me for dear life. I thought success was just about impossible. Never give up when you’re out fly fishing. For when you succeed when everything is stacked up against you, it will provide you the feeling of complete bliss.
I’ll never forget that day of fly fishing in the Bahamas. It started off beautiful. The water was calm as can be, and there was barely a cloud in the sky. Louis and I were both confident it was going to be our best day of bonefishing for the week. Forty-five minutes later though, that all changed
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