The Moth Larva Hatch
By Kent Klewein
AS I RELIVED LAST YEAR’S SPRING FISHING SEASON IN MY HEAD SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT HATCH, THE COLOR OF BRIGHT GREEN BEGAN ENTERING MY CONSCIENCE, AND BAM! LIKE A SLAP TO THE FACE, IT HIT ME.
Every year we get a month-long trout feeding frenzy, as moth larva burst onto the scene by the tens of thousands. Yes, I’m talking about the green weenie, the inch worm. The tree limb-repelling caterpillars that every trout in the stream will gorge themselves on through the month of May, and well into summer. Multiple species of moth larva ranging from 1-2″ long annually coordinate a synchronized blanket hatch during late spring that ends up packing the bellies of trout with protein-rich, green gummy goodness. Anglers smart enough to take advantage of this late spring phenomenon can find themselves fooling the biggest trout in their waters.
Timing the Moth Larva Hatch
For the hottest and most consistent fishing, the best time by far to target the moth larva hatch is during it’s early stages. The blanket hatch usually begins the first week of May in North Georgia, but can start a little later depending on how far north you live in the Southeast. Because this hatch unfolds and gains momentum so quickly, it takes very little time for trout to recognize the new food source and begin keying in on it. As soon as I spot the first moth larva of the year, I begin working the larva imitations into my fishing within days. This way I can monitor their effectiveness, and do a much better job of timing the hatch during its peak periods. When most of the trees have gotten the new years foliage, you should start anticipating the hatch to begin.
Fishing the Moth Larva Hatch
There’s basically three ways you can go about fishing the moth larva. The best technique and rig depends on the size and depth of water you’re fishing. It’s also very important to pay attention to how the fish are feeding on the hatch (surface or subsurface), and where you’re locating the concentrations of trout. Here are the two main rigs I use when I’m zeroing in on the moth larva hatch:
Rig 1. Buoyant Dry Fly with Inch-worm Dropper
You can fish a floating inch worm pattern solo like a dry fly. Most of these patterns are tied out of deer hair or foam. They float well, but it can be hard to find the correct shade of tying materials to match the color of the naturals. Because of this, I generally opt for dropping a simple, bright green ultra-chenille inch worm pattern 18-20″ off the back of a buoyant dry fly. You can tie them up in a third of the time of the deer hair patterns, and if you add floating, it floats well enough.
This rig works really well on small streams where
Read More »Happy Independence Day
Let’s take a minute this July 4th to think about what we have.
The image you see here is one of my most popular. I regularly get emails about it. Folks commonly download it and plaster it on their Facebook pages. It seems that every US based angler who sees it has a visceral response. Why do you think that is?
I think it’s pride. Here in the US we anglers have a lot to be proud of. I have fished all over the world and I can tell you that we have a remarkable and unique resource here at home. We have water and land that make anglers around the world envious. The thing with makes me the proudest of my homeland is our vast public lands. Like those anglers who email me about my photo, I too have a profound and visceral response. I think we should all be proud of what we have and what we have been able to keep. It’s a very rare thing in this world and it sets our country apart.
Problem is, we aren’t doing a very good job of looking after it. We take it for granted. We neglect it and we are, at this point in our nations history, the closest we have ever been to losing it. That’s not something we should be proud of. Ask yourself this. Do you want to be part of the generation who lost our public lands? If not, you’d better start doing something about it.
So let’s take a minute this Independence Day and ask ourselves if we are proud. Are we proud of our heritage? Proud of our country? Proud of our public lands? Most importantly, are we proud of what we have done to protect and preserve them. Take that seriously and be honest. It’s easy to put your chest out and say you’re a proud American. It’s not so easy to do something for America that you can be proud of.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM GINK AND GASOLINE
Read More »Sunday Classic / Weight is Great
I’ve hesitated to write on this topic because it seems so elementary. Sort of a fly fishing truism but I’ve been encouraged lately after reminding several of my friends who are highly experienced anglers of this simple fact. If you’re fishing nymphs for trout and you’re not catching fish, the odds are very good that you aren’t using enough weight.
My split shot gets me laughed at. Fly fishermen have ideas about weight. I carry a box of the polite little split shot, made for fly fishermen, but I seldom use them. I go straight to the stuff made for the gear guys. I carry size B and BB but I also carry #7 (1/4 inch diameter) and I’m not afraid to use them. On several occasions lately I’ve been fishing with friends and come to deep runs where neither of us have been able to find fish. After we each fished the run thoroughly, I added one of those #7 shot to my rig and caught a fish on the first cast.
The fish are there in those deep runs but in the early spring with water temps still low, they’re hugging the bottom. They’ll eat a fly, they just won’t move for it. You have to put it right on their nose. It’s a changeling way to fish and dealing with heavy rigs requires making some adjustments to your casting but it gets results. I’ve always thought that the art of fly fishing is in showing the fish what he wants, not expecting him to eat what we want to fish. That often involves weight, lots of it.
The other day I found myself fishing a rig consisting of:
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Wicked Mr Pickett
Get to know Justin Pickett on the Guided Lines Podcast.
If you read Gink and Gasoline you know the name Wicked Justin Pickett from his awesome articles and videos. You likely don’t know just how hard he works to help G&G reach all of our fans on social media. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, that’s Justin.
He’s also a badass guide a dedicated dad and literally saves lives in his spare time. It’s about time he got some recognition. So if you’d like to take a few minutes and get to know Wicked Mr. Pickett, check out the podcast he recorded with Guided Lines podcast.
CLICK HERE FOR WICKED MR PICKETT
Read More »April Vokey Speaks In Atlanta on July 16 To Support The Chattahoochee
This is a rare opportunity to spend an evening with the Fly Gal herself at Sweetwater Brewing in Atlanta.
Gink and Gasoline is very proud to sponsor this awesome event, along with Sweetwater Brewing Co. It’s an opportunity for anglers here in the southeast to hear from one of the most prominent voices in fly fishing. In addition to April’s presentation there will be some great prizes, live music, a short film on the Chattahoochee and lots of great Sweetwater beer.
April’s trip to Atlanta is for a great cause. She is here to support the local angling community in our efforts to save the Hooch. The proceeds from this event will go to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the Chattahoochee River, its lakes and tributaries for the people, fish and wildlife that depend upon them.
I’m personally pretty excited that our effort to save our local river is getting attention at an international level and attracting support of this caliber. If you are in the area, please come out and help support the Hooch. Our river need you now more than ever.
THE EVENT IS SUNDAY, JULY 16TH AT 6:00PM AT SWEETWATER BREWING: 195 OTTLEY DR, ATLANTA, GA 30324.
TICKETS ARE $40 AND CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT HTTPS://CHATTAHOOCHEE.ORG/APRILVOKEY/
The price of your ticket includes beer and food and goes to save the river we love.
I hope you will be able to join us. I would personally like to thank April Vokey, Sweetwater Brewing, The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and all of our sponsors for their good work and generosity.
Read More »Rising Rigging Station
By Justin Pickett
Get yourself organizized.
There are plenty of accessories and gadgets on the market that are meant to somehow make your angling experience more convenient, or organized and, recently, I ran into what I would consider the mother of all such accessories.
Rising has fast become a well-known name in the fly fishing world as their bomb-proof, metal framed nets continue to find their way into anglers’ hands across the globe. And while their nets may have put them on the map, Rising has a full line of made-in-the-USA products that are cleverly designed while still providing solid performance at an affordable price. Rising’s Nippa is hands down the best six bucks you’ll spend.
Thanks to Rising, I was able to get my hands on one of their Rigging Stations and, over the past several weeks, it has fast become one of those pieces of gear that I will not leave home without. It’s designed to hold spools of tippet and leader material, nippers, hemostats, pliers, and just about any other small accessory you might need on the water. Best of all, it’s portable and compact! It comes with a mounting bracket that is easily mounted onto your drift boat, truck bed, or the wall of your garage. With four zingers built in to the body of the Rigging Station, there is plenty of reach to work. The bottom of the rigging station can be used as
Read More »Join G&G At Abaco Lodge March 1-6, 2018
Join Me For Some Amazing Fishing In Abaco, Bahamas
The G&G South Andros Bonefish Schools sold out almost immediately this year. If you missed out on those great trips, never fear! Here’s your chance for some amazing bonefishing and maybe even a permit or tarpon.
Abaco Lodge March 1-6, 2018 $4750
If you’re looking for the absolute best Bahamas experience available, you’ve found it. I can honestly say that Abaco lodge is the best fishing lodge I’ve ever visited. On every count it exceeds expectations. The facility itself is ridiculously nice. Huge single occupancy rooms with big plush beds and fine linens. Luxurious baths with every amenity. Doors that open onto decks overlooking the water. A beautiful pool and fire pit, large covered communal deck with a superb bar.
The whole place shines like a new penny, including the sweet new Mavric skiffs. Best of all, it offers access to the most diverse and productive fisheries in the Bahamas. Anglers can expect great numbers of bonefish as well as quality shots at permit and tarpon. Abaco offers a legitimate chance at the grand slam.
All lodging is single occupancy and the amenities are on par with any luxury hotel. Fabulous meals and a well stocked bar are included. The lodge has it’s own fly shop and a selection of fine cigars. The skiffs can be easily trailered to any part of the island, eliminating long painful boat rides. It’s an amazing 4-day, 5-night trip.
Travel to Abaco is easy, with some major airlines offering direct flights to Marsh Harbor from the US, and the lodge only 10 minutes from the airport. Half days of fishing are possible on arrival and departure days, if your flight schedule allows.
I hope you will be able to join me and the other fans of Gink and Gasoline on this amazing trip. Don’t hesitate to email me if you’d like more detailed information about any aspect of the hosted trip program. I’m happy to help in any way. If you’re not sure how hosted trips work, follow this link to learn all of the details. https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing/how-do-hosted-fishing-trips-work-and-is-it-right-for-me/
Drop me a line at hookups@ginkandgasoline.com to reserve you spot.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Don’t Keep Staring in One Place if You’re Seeing Nada
By Kent Klewein
MY RECENT TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS, FLY FISHING FOR BONEFISH, I GOT A CHANCE TO WORK OUT A BUNCH OF KINKS IN MY FLATS FISHING.
From the help of my buddies, the helpful staff on hand and the fantastic bahamian guides, I eventually got to the point where I could respectfully hold my own on the flats. Despite me being in paradise there were a few times during the trip when I found myself hanging my head. The first problem I had was letting my mind get in the way of my fishing. That was to be expected though, since I’m most comfortable on the cold water streams and rivers, and it had been several years since I’d last chased the grey ghost on the flats. When I trout fish, I don’t have to think about my casts much these days and my confidence is through the roof. This is because I do it day in and day out. Take me to saltwater though, where I only make a few trips a year, and my confidence drops and the first couple days I find myself constantly battling my inner thoughts and nerves. I’m sure many of you out there no where I’m coming from. Anytime you’re lacking confidence and dealing with nerves you’re going to fish at half your potential. And there’s no place this holds true more than standing on the bow of a skiff on the saltwater flats. Lesson learned, if you want to fish more effectively and maximize your success when fishing locations that aren’t your norm, you have to stay relaxed, keep your confidence no matter what, and learn to let the bad casts roll off your back.
My next problem I had during the trip, and the point for writing this post, was learning how to quickly spot the bonefish my guide was calling out to me. I missed countless shots during the week because of one flaw in my fly fishing game. That flaw was getting sucked into all the excitement and locking in and staring at one spot (where the guide called out the location of the bonefish) for too long. The guides were quick to point it out and tell me to continue to scan back and forth if I didn’t see the fish, but just like a lot of bad habits in fly fishing, this one in particular, proved to be tough habit for me to kick.
It’s very rare that any two people, much less a guide and client, will see eye to eye when it comes to gauging distance and direction. That was the problem I had with my recent trip to the Bahamas. The guide would say 50 feet and I would see 30 feet. Did we break out a tape measure or rangefinder? No, but that’s not what’s important. It doesn’t matter
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Drake Cast
There’s a great new podcast from the folks at The Drake Magazine.
The Drake is one of the pubs that does it right. In keeping with their innovative attitude and high standards, the Drake Cast is fun and extremely well done. Elliott Adler strikes the perfect tone for “those who fish.
Episode 1 follows musicians Sean Carey and Ben Lester on a quest for solitude, beer, music and fish that takes them from Wisconsin to Idaho. Take a few minutes and join them on the road.
ENJOY, THE DRAKE CAST
Read More »Simms G4 Sling Pack Review
By Justin Pickett
A few months back I decided to ditch the chest pack that I had carried for so long in favor of a larger, more accommodating sling pack.
I was picky though. I wanted a sling pack that wasn’t ginormous that would be, at least, weather resistant and be well organized, while still allowing me to stuff fly boxes and a camera inside without it bulging at the zippers.
The Simms G4 fit the checklist, and even had a few other bonus features that I hadn’t thought of, but that I have definitely found useful. After trying one on at a local shop, I finally put down the cash and carted it straight to the water.
The G4 Sling boasts a water-shedding, TPU coated nylon that is pretty damn tough. I’ve thrown this thing around without worry for a few months now and there’s barely any evidence of abuse. The zippers are smooth and don’t require Lou Farrigno’s angry muscles to open or close the pack while they keep rain and other elements out. Working around the outside of the pack, I’ve also been very pleased with the Velcro straps that keep the excess straps tucked neatly away so there are nearly zero opportunities for fly line to get snagged. A kind of “bonus” feature for me, there is a net pass-thru on the back of the pack. This is great for keeping your hands free while fishing, taking photographs, tying on a new rig, etc. Be warned though, while I’m sure most nets would fit just fine without insult, the ever-popular, bomb-proof Rising Lunker nets’ knurling on the handle will abrade and wear through the fabric. No fault to either Simms or Rising, but something to certainly be aware of. To round out the exterior, there is also a handy set of buckle straps on the outside of the pack for holding items such as rain jackets and rod tubes.
Working inside of the pack, there are plenty of thoughtful and convenient pockets for storing indicators, tippet, camera equipment, and anything else you may need. The main interior space is
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