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
Read More »Sunday Classic / Not Today
“WHEN I SAY I LOVE TO FISH, THAT’S THE KIND OF LOVE I’M TALKING ABOUT. THE KIND OF LOVE THAT COMES WITH PAIN AND STRUGGLE AND DEATH. THE KIND OF LOVE YOU EVENTUALLY WISH YOU HAD NEVER KNOWN.”
The night sky is just opening its eyes. The first bright pin pricks in the cold blue firmament slowly twinkling to life. Like shining snowflakes falling on a glass dome they multiply, forming a blanket of heavenly light over the Wind Range.
There is no moon. The only real light is coming from the last sliver of white along the horizon. The sage brush fades from dusty green to black and the ribbon of pale dirt road that stretches as far as I can see, both ahead and behind, takes on an eerie glow. I feel the first bite of night air and hear the rustlings of nature’s second shift punching the clock. It’s a beautiful Wyoming twilight.
I’m twenty miles, if I have my bearings, from the nearest paved road, a few more to the nearest house. Thirty miles from the nearest cell tower or tandem truck moaning down the highway. Fifty miles from the nearest town. This is what I love, the kind of thing I live for, work for, go way out of my way for. To be alone under the night sky with a trout stream near by and the promise of another day. A perfect ending, to any other day.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Tom Bell Rod Testing
Tom Bell of Sunray Fly Lines is one of a kind.
If you’ve cast Tom’s Sunray Lines, you’re likely a fan. Tom is a kind of a mad scientist and one of the most frenetic individuals I’ve ever met. Spend a few minutes talking with him and you’ll likely wonder what kind of research goes into his remarkable designs. This video might offer an answer.
On the other hand, maybe not, but it’s certainly entertaining and you might actually learn something. Either way, it’s worth a view.
TOM BELL TESTING RODS AND OFFERING CASTING ADVICE.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Most Seams Hold Trout Regardless of Size
Just about all seams in rivers and streams hold trout. The larger and deeper the water a seam has, the more trout it can hold. Likewise, the smaller and shallower a seam is, the less room there will be available and less trout it can accommodate. Just remember, regardless of the size of a seam, that almost all of them hold trout and are worthy of a cast or two by anglers.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Rosenbauer and Gierach
A great discussion between two of my favorite fly-fishing authors.
Tom Rosenbauer’s podcasts are always a treat but this recent episode, featuring John Gierach, was a real treat. It’s a great chance to be a fly on the wall as these two old friends take on a wide range of angling topics. You’d have to look pretty hard to find two guys with better perspective on fly fishing.
John Gierach has been one of my personal favorite writers for some time. His new book “A Fly Rod Of Your Own” is available here.
LISTEN TO TOM AND JOHN.
Read More »Rosenbauer, Takin’ It To The Next Level
By Justin Pickett
Tom Rosenbauer recently released his latest published work entitled Fly Fishing for Trout:
The Next Level, which is intended to reach beyond the beginner and educate those with an already general understanding of fly angling.
I received a copy from Tom just after the book had been released and immediately began flipping through the subject matter. I will be the first to admit, I am not much of a reader at all, but there are tons of photos, diagrams, and even QR codes spattered amongst the pages that compliments each topic, which helps keep my ADD satisfied. This book is filled with colorful illustrations, scientific data, and plenty of Tom’s tips and tricks to help you on the water. Everything about this book is meant to make you a better angler.
Some of the topics covered in this book address areas in which many fly anglers have the least amount of confidence, such as rise forms, where and why trout lie in certain areas of a river or stream, and when and how to fish a particular bug hatch so you can better determine which flies to use. All too often, I see clients become vexed when they are unable to decide what fly they should tie on, or where they should cast. Tom breaks it down and keeps it simple, while still covering a lot of information related to the “3 C’s” (Current, Cover, Cuisine), which allows the reader to retain the information better.
Tom also highlights the most popular techniques and different
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Nomadic Amazon
This is a trip which has been on my bucket list for quite some time now.
Peacock bass, way up the Amazon in Brazil, it doesn’t get much better than that. I’m pretty excited to be making this trip later this year with my good buddy Bruce Chard, thanks to Nomadic Waters. Last year Bruce made the trip for the filming of this episode of Seasons On The Fly. It’s a good look at some hot Amazon fishing action.
ENJOY A VIRTUAL TRIP DOWN THE AMAZON WITH THE FOLKS FROM NOMADIC WATERS.
Read More »Two Anglers Are Often Better Than One
By Kent Klewein
You can’t enjoy camaraderie on the water by yourself.
There’s no high-fives, no passing the victory flask around, and worst of all, it’s awfully hard to snap a quality photograph of you and a prized catch. Wait a minute, I take the latter back. It is possible to get a good photo by yourself if you’ve figured out a way to strap a tri-pod to your back and you’re also willing to lug it around all day. That being said, the main reason I think two anglers are often better than one, is because it allows you to work as a team, and that generally makes it much easier to find success on the water.
Louis and I have had pretty consistent success fishing together over the years. Even during really tough fishing conditions we generally find a way to put enough fish in the net during the day to call it a win. The biggest reason for this is because we’re always working together to decipher the fish code. Fishing as a team, we figure out what the fish are feeding on, where they’re primarily located, and what are the hot fly patterns. We make a point to never tie on the same patterns first thing in the morning, and quite often, we don’t even start out fishing in the same water column. This allows us to quickly eliminate what’s not working and adjust our fishing tactics to what is.
It’s a pretty simple concept, more common sense than rocket science, but it works well, and we stick to it. Even in situations where only one of us can fish at a time, like on a flats boat, the non angler will stay
Read More »Hell Razing Cousins
By Bob Reece
On the whole, leech and crawdad patterns typically land in the medium to large size range in the world of flies. These offerings have proven their worth. However, their vast success in these profiles has led to an oversight on the productivity that they offer in much smaller variations.
Matt McCannel is man of details. The quarry that he frequently pursues with his clients demands the utmost attention. Double digit trout, in pounds, don’t accidentally make their way into your net. Applying tactics that land outside the typical box of thinking help the process of capturing these aquatic unicorns. Matt’s Hell Razor Craw and Leech depart from the norm. They display a small silhouette on a size 12 Tiemco 403 bl jig hook. The dumbbell weighting system in the neck of the jig hook adds the needed weight to get the fly down, while blending into the visual profile of the pattern. Additionally, the construction of these flies results in a highly durable offering that can hold up to a full day of fishing.
Matt runs these offerings under an indicator throughout the majority of the year. Yet, during terrestrial season they make for an outstanding dropper under foam terrestrials. The combo of hopper-crawper, with the Hell Razor Craw, makes for a varied and deadly bank side offering. A quick twitch just after landing gives both flies a burst of life that is often followed by vicious strikes.
As you continue to prepare for another season, take time to think outside the box.
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