Saturday Shoutout / Help The Bahamas
I dreamed about the Bahamas last night.
I dreamed that I was fishing the flats with one of my favorite Bahamian guides when we were pulled over by authorities in a shiny new patrol boat. I was taken into custody and sent to an alien processing center. I think it’s fair to say that, in spite of the recent good news on the future of Bahamian fishing regulation, I’m still a little stressed about it.
The reality in the Bahamas is quite different. Many of the family islands were devastated by Hurricane Joaquin. Families who rely on the bonefishing business are struggling just stay housed and fed. This is the perfect time for us, the sport fishing community, to show exactly what kind of people we really are. It’s time for us to help.
Perhaps the worst thing to come from the recent controversy over Bahamian fishing regulations is that a lot of foreign anglers have been left with the feeling they are unwanted. I can assure you that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The Bahamian people are a joy and they truly appreciate the folks who visit and fish in their country. The harsh, anti foreign regulation which were proposed, were really the work of one man. We should not punish all Bahamians based on his hateful nature. Don’t boycott the Bahamas. In fact, let’s take it a step further and help them rebuild.
THERE ARE TWO GREAT RELIEF EFFORTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!
Oliver White, owner of The Abaco Lodge and Bair’s Lodge has started a Fund Me campaign and is matching donations up to $10K. Let’s help max this donation out ASAP.
CLICK HERE!
The Abaco Fly Fishing Guide Association is also collecting relief funds. It is important to note that the AFGA is a great, pro foreign angler, group which predates the BFFIA, who have caused such an uproar. Supporting the AFGA is a great sign that we in the sport fishing community look out for the places we fish and the folks who live there. You can find out all you need to know about this fund over at Bonefish on the Brain.
CLICK HERE!
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE BAHAMAS AS THEY REBUILD. THANK YOU!
Read More »New X-Series Reels From Nautilus
Nautilus raises the bar one more time with this new offering.
Rumors have been flying for a while now about a radical new trout reel from Nautilus. The X-Series reels are certainly radical. Unbelievably light and yet totally ridged. The frame of the reel is a simple X-shaped strut, billet machined and engineered as a torsion box, which makes it incredibly strong in spite of its light weight. It covers just enough of the spool to protect it from damage.
These reels are the perfect compliment for today’s ultra-light weight rods. They have a powerful carbon fiber and Teflon drag system with virtually no startup inertia. Plenty of drag for any species. The X-Series were designed for trout anglers but are available for lines up to 8 weight and all are rated for saltwater.
X-Series Sizes: XS 3.25”2-4wt, XM3.5”4-6 wt, XL4” 6-7Wt, XL MAX 4” same as XLframe but spool is for 8/9 wt
WATCH THIS VIDEO TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND SEE THE NEW X-SERIES REEL.
Read More »Rely On Muscle Memory for Difficult fly Casts
By Kent Klewein I learned a long time ago that most of the time my clients cast better in high pressure situations when they’re relaxed, confident and keep their head out of the game. It’s really easy to think that the more difficult a fly fishing presentation is, the more we should be trying to focus and think about every detail of our cast during the execution. According to many neuroscientists and psychologists who’ve studied why professional athletes choke under pressure, most agree that thinking too much during a task, no matter how routine it may be, can actually decrease your chances for succeeding in high pressure situations. [Psychologist Sian Beilock of the University of Chicago calls it “paralysis by analysis.” Beilock, author of the book, “Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To,” contends that too much thinking at the wrong time can lead to “logjams in the brain” because they’re thinking too much and that ends up overriding their muscle memory.] So the next time you’re confronted on the water with a difficult presentation and you feel the pressure weighing you down, take a second or two to take a deep breath, believe in yourself, and let your trained muscle memory do the work. If you go into a fly casting situation on the water doubting yourself and thinking, “I can’t make this cast, it’s too difficult” chances are you’re not going to make a successful presentation. However, if you throw away all that negativity and doubt, and instead believe in your fly casting skills, more times than not, you’ll pull off the cast without a hitch. Keep it Reel, Come fish with us in the Bahamas! Kent Klewein Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter! … Continue reading
Read More »Our Natural Resources Are A Privilege! Treat Them That Way!
By Justin Pickett
“THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON’T TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GIVEN.”
Just yesterday I decided to spend the first few hours of the morning fishing one of my favorite local spots. The weather was perfect and the river levels were just right. I indeed had a great morning, landing several nice fish. I even had the chance to sight fish to a behemoth of a shoal bass, but after many casts and patterns it was evident that he either had lockjaw, or he’s just an asshole. Nonetheless, though, it was a great day.
Satisfied with my morning, and with the temps rising, I decided to string it up and head back to the truck. As I got closer to the bridge, I noticed two gentlemen walking out from the woods, out onto the rocks. I thought it was a little odd of fishermen to show up to fish during the hottest part of the day, but whatever. Once I closed a little more distance between us I realized that they were DNR officers, and then I suddenly got the feeling that they were likely waiting for me.
Once I was in ear-shot I gave a friendly “hello”, and they greeted me back and asked if they could check my fishing license. I quickly made it over and gave them my ID and license as they asked how the fishing had been. Then they hit me with the real reason why they were there waiting for me…
“Sir did you realize that you are trespassing on private property?”
Read More »Fish With G&G! 3 Exciting opportunities
Is a hosted fishing trip right for you? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT. Argentina Trout and Golden Dorado I’ll be hosting two amazing fishing opportunities for you in Patagonia & Argentina with Andes Drifters. Do either trip or both in two consecutive weeks! February 20-27 2016 Patagonia Trout This is nothing less than a week of the best trout fishing and greatest hospitality on the planet. I made this trip last year and it was the coolest fishing trip I’ve ever made. While your friends shovel snow at home you’ll throw big dry flies to hungry brown and rainbow trout of 18-24 inches, drink Argentinean wine, fish at the foot of a giant volcano, eat goat roasted on a spit and sleep under the Southern Cross. The fishing is truly remarkable. Think Montana times 10. There will be ample opportunity to cast to rising trout or work the bank with hoppers. If you like to throw streamers, hold on baby! These fish are aggressive. We’ll spend the first few days floating the Chimehuin and Alumine Rivers, and wading the beautiful Malleo River at the foot of the Lanin volcano. We will stay at the Spring Creek Lodge, which is as comfortable as it is charming. The Argentines are gracious folks and they are proud to share their country and their culture. There will be local wine tasting, music, tango dancers and food that you just can’t believe. If you never touched your fly rod it would be a bucket list trip. And just when you think it can’t get any better…it does. We’ll end the trip with an epic three-day float and camp on the legendary Limay Medio, The River Of Monsters. Although your average fish on this river will likely be 20 inches, it’s quite likely the best place in the … Continue reading
Read More »Sunday Classic / 12 Tips for Spotting More Bonefish
SO YOU WANT TO CATCH A BONEFISH?
To catch a bonefish, one must first see a bonefish, and there’s the problem. Bonefish are nearly invisible as any living creature. Their camouflage is almost flawless. Their sides are as bright as a mirror and reflect their surroundings perfectly. If the bottom is light, the fish is light. If the bottom is dark, the fish is dark. It can be maddening.
The problem is compounded for the angler who is making the transition from trout fishing to flats fishing. The method of spotting fish is completely different. In fact it’s almost opposite. To find a trout you identify the likely holding water and stare into that spot, waiting for the window to open so that you can glimpse a head or a tail. But trout are holding still in moving water. Bonefish are always on the move. If you stare through that window you’ll miss the show.
I can remember standing on the bow, listening to my guide’s voice become tense, then frustrated. “He’s right there Man, forty feet, right in front of the boat.” “You can’t see the fish, Man?” It will test your self confidence, make you wonder if you know anything about fishing.
With time, the lights turn on and you start to understand the subtle signs of life that you’ve been missing. You learn how to look for fish. Spotting bonefish never gets easy but it become doable. With time, a good pair of polarized glasses and a little patience from your guide, the bonefish will reveal himself.
HERE ARE TEN TIPS TO HELP.
1. Keep your head on a swivel
There are some rules for how fish move on the tide, but bonefish don’t care much for rules. They’re like kids, they mill around, get distracted, turn and stop suddenly. They could be anywhere on the flat. Keep scanning the water. The closest bonefish may be behind you.
2. Don’t get tunnel vision
It’s easy to anticipate where you will see fish. You can find yourself staring at a small piece of water trying to make fish appear. This tunnel vision can be its worst when your guide is calling out a fish. You may be looking ten feet to the left of the fish and never see it. Keep your eyes relaxed and look at the big picture. See the forest, not the trees.
3. Search the glare
The surface of the water reflects the sky and one part of the sky is always lighter than the other. That means that there is almost always part of the water where you can see well and a part where you see mostly glare. The natural tendency is to spend your time searching the water where you can see well but this is not the most effective method. Scan that water quickly, then slow down when you scan the glare. That will help keep you from missing fish.
4. Tilt your head
Polarized sun glasses work with the angle of the light. The angle of the light is always changing but your glasses stay put. If you are struggling to see through glare
Saturday Shoutout / Good News In The Bahamas
I think we can all use a little good news and Bonefish On The Brain has it.
B.O.B. Has been relentless in its coverage of the Bahamian regulation controversy. There’s been a lot of bad news in the past months and it’s really refreshing to hear something positive. I think it’s only fitting that you hear it from Bonefish On The Brain.
LIGHT ON THE HORIZON IN THE BAHAMAS
While you’re there check out this great interview with Justin Lewis from the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. You’ll get some insight on Bahamian regulation, the fishery, some tips on catching bonefish and even a rugby lesson.
INTERVIEW WITH JUSTIN LEWIS
Read More »New Waypoints Packs From Simms
When you’ve got serious gear to carry, Simms has you covered.
If you’re into backcountry fly fishing or just need room for extra layers and you’re looking for packs that will get you and the gear you need upriver, Simms has some great new options. The new Waypoints packs are light weight, durable, comfortable, chocked full of features and they’re big enough to get the job done.
There’s a new aluminum frame backpack with rod storage, lots of pockets and lash cords that will carry everything you need for a day or work great for a light overnight. It has all the features you need to use it as a fishing pack as well as a backpack. There’s also a new sling pack that is big enough for lunch and a heavy jacket or great for the angler who just carries a lot of gear.
CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO TO SEE THE PACKS AND GET THE SCOOP!
Read More »10 Yellow Sally Fly Patterns That I Love
By Kent Klewein
WHEN I THINK BACK ON ALL THE TIMES I’VE FISHED YELLOW SALLY STONEFLY HATCHES OVER THE YEARS, I HONESTLY CAN’T REMEMBER EVER HAVING A BAD FISHING EXPERIENCE.
If I can find them on the water, I usually have no problem getting trout to take my imitations. Yellow Sally stoneflies hatch from coast to coast. Depending on where you live, they usually show up the month of May and in some areas will stick around until the end of August. You’ve got to love an aquatic insect that has a hatch period that lasts not weeks, but months. Even in the dead of terrestrial season, or when other aquatic bug hatches such as caddis or mayflies are in progress, trout will regularly forage on Yellow Sallies if they’re available. For that fact alone, fly anglers should always have a handful of Yellow Sally fly patterns stowed away in the fly box at all times. Trout love them and so should you.
With the gargantuan number of fly patterns out there these days, it can be a challenge at times to pick out the real rock stars amongst all the other players in the fly bins. Below are ten Yellow Sally patterns that I’ve personally fished and had great success with. Four are nymphs and six are dries. My hopes for this post is simply to help point fly anglers in the right direction whether it’s at the vise or at a local fly shop for stocking up on proven Yellow Sally stonefly patterns.
YELLOW SALLY NYMPH PATTERNS
Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally
Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally is highly effective fished as a dropper off the back of a dry fly or on a nymph rig. It’s extremely durable and has an accurate profile with nice contrasting colors. The other great thing about this pattern is that I’ve found it works year round for me, so don’t feel like the only time you should break it out is during a Yellow Sally hatch. It’s sold commercially by Montana Fly Company and should be available for purchase in most fly shops around the country.
Recipe: Kyle’s BH Yellow Sally
KYLE’S BH C-N YELLOW SALLY
Kyle’s BH C-N Yellow Sally is a twin of the pattern above. My best guess for the creation of this pattern was that Kyle found himself one night tying yellow sally nymphs, and all he had left in his hook inventory were scud hooks. I’ll leave the ball in Kyle’s court to fill us all in on the backstory for this fly. For now, I tell all that this pattern catches trout and it has a strong following by tons of other fly fisherman around the globe. Again, it’s a very durable fly that you’ll get your money’s worth out of fishing, and the scud hook gives the nymph a nice presentation in the water. Some anglers prefer to fish nymphs on curved hook shanks over traditional straight shanked nymph hooks. How much difference it makes, I can’t tell you, because I catch trout on both styles of nymphs. Go with whatever you have more confidence in.
SILVERMAN’S BH EPOXY-BACK RED TAG SALLY
Looking for a realistic Yellow Sally nymph that has a slim profile and will down to the fish quick? Silverman’s BH Epoxy-Back Red Tag Sally is a fish catching machine that few trout will pass up if Yellow Sallies are on the water. I have to say that I’m a big fan of Silverman’s fly tying. I’ve yet to fish one of his patterns that didn’t get me regular hookups. I like that it’s an easy tie and it’s a spot on imitation.
Recipe: Silverman’s BH Epoxy-Back Red Tag Sally
LITTLE YELLOW SLOAN – NYMPH
Dave Sloan hit a home run when he created his Little Yellow Sloan nymph. I fished it
Read More »Sunday Classic / Realistic Flies Are Worthless Without Movement
Worthless may be a little overboard, but there is some truth behind it. Every year new fly tying products burst onto the scene that are specifically designed for making our fly patterns look extra realistic. I’ll be the first to admit many of them are amazingly cool and innovative. I mean, who wouldn’t want black eyes on their tungsten beads, or a perfect set of pre-molded wing pads or stonefly legs you can plop on a hook to make your nymphs look ultra life-like, right? Seeing these new innovative materials for the first time always gets me giddy, like a fat guy spotting a 5 for 5 deal at Arby’s. But here’s the real question I think we should be asking ourselves. When it comes to purchasing and tying our fly patterns, should we only be focused on how realistic they look? I say hell no, but you’d be surprised how many fly fishermen out there believe “a realistic look” trumps all other attributes in a fly. Ask a fly shop owner why they carry them if they don’t catch fish, and they’ll quickly tell you, because they sell like hot cakes, that’s why. I think a fly being realistic is great, but there needs to be more working elements in a pattern than just a flashy realistic look. I’ve personally found, that a lot of the time the more realistic you go with fly patterns, the more unrealistic they end up moving and looking in the water. And if they don’t look good in the water, chances are, they’re probably going to be worthless for catching fish. For me, the key to tying and picking out successful fly patterns from the bins over the years has been to always make sure a pattern incorporates equal parts of realistic features and … Continue reading
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