Fly Fishing the North Woods
by Rob “Amish” Bolger
IN THE SUMMER OF 2004, MY FATHER TOOK MY FAMILY AND ME ON A VACATION TO A SMALL TOWN IN THE NORTH WOODS OF WISCONSIN.
Fishing had always been a huge passion of mine and coming from Denver, I was shocked by the vast amount of fishable water the Mid-West contained. Since that summer vacation, I have made an annual fishing trip to the North Woods every spring and my skills fishing large lakes have grown exponentially in that time. These are a few tips I have stumbled upon over the years for bass, musky and scouting water.
SPRING TIME BASS ON THE FLY
Springtime in Northern Wisconsin has provided some of the most active large and small mouth bass fishing I have ever experienced. The key to finding the bass is fishing the shoreline, using the trolling motor to slowly work along shorelines. Fishing close to docks and submerged stumps or logs will be the most effective way to find fish. When selecting the lake you want to fish, I have always found that lakes with fewer docks and more natural shore with coontaill weeds and submerged logs will always hold better fish than lakes with docks choking the shoreline. While docks can provide great habitat, nothing can beat natural fish homes. After finding areas that hold bass, fly selection is the next step; with bass I only have two flies in my box, green poppers and white or black zonkers. If you get either of these flies in front of a bass’ face… they will eat.
Musky
Few fish in the freshwater excite me more than Northern Wisconsin Musky, also few fish in the freshwater have challenged me more, time and time again. It is this challenge that excites me and keeps me hunting the fish of ten thousand casts. Being that musky are an incredibly hard species to hook and even harder to land, it is crucial to use your casts wisely; for my first ten thousand casts, I found this out the hard way. After my next thirty thousand I’ve learned to make my casts count and this is how. Number one tip
Read More »Sunday Classic / 4 Tips For Stocking Bonefish Flies
IF YOU’RE PLANNING YOUR FIRST BONEFISH ADVENTURE IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STOCK YOUR SALTWATER FLY BOX WITH A WELL ROUNDED SELECTION OF FLY PATTERNS.
Although bonefish aren’t known for being super selective feeders, stocking the right flies and knowing which pattern to fish in different situations can make a big difference in your success on the water. By far the most important element in bonefishing is fly presentation. Without that, you’re going to miss a lot of shots. Putting that aspect aside with the notion that you understand basic bonefish presentation, let’s talk about some tips for purchasing and tying bonefish flies for your upcoming bonefish trip.
Tip # 1 – Bonefish Flies Should Ride Hook Point Up
Because the mouths of bonefish are located on the bottom of the head and they generally feed down on their prey in most cases, it’s very important that you purchase or tie bonefish flies that ride hook point up when possible. Fishing flies that ride hook point up can increase your hookup rate when bonefish eat, and it will also help to naturally cut down on your flies from snagging on the bottom during the retrieve. Gaze your eyes into a veterans bonefish fly box and you’ll find that most of the fly patterns are tied hook point up, but walk into a store that sells saltwater fly patterns and you’ll be amazed how many fly patterns aren’t tied this way. When you have the choice to tie or purchase your bonefish flies hook point up, I recommend you do so.
Tip # 2 – Bonefish Flies Need to Have Good Movement
Using fly tying materials that have good movement in the water for your bonefish flies is a another way to help you find success. Rabbit strips, marabou, craft fur, and rubber legs are all good examples of tying materials that come to life in the water. I stated before that most bonefish aren’t picky, the key word here is most, but in some situations having a little extra life-like movement in your flies can make a big difference. For instance, a large school of bonefish are going to be less picky on fly pattern choice with competition for food on their minds than a solo bonefish swimming across the flats. Tying or buying bonefish flies that incorporate tying materials that breath well in the water should still provide subtle movement in the water even when you’re not retrieving your flies.
Tip # 3 – Tie Your Favorite Bonefish Flies in Different Weights
All bonefish flats and fishing conditions/situations you’ll encounter in saltwater will not be the same. At times,
Saturday Shoutout / Road To Nowhere
The Florida Everglades is a mysterious fishery.
Stories and rumors are all most anglers know about the Everglades. Few of us have the opportunity to fish there. Fewer still are willing to do what it takes. In this video Dan Decibel does the work and the fishing for us. I’ll warn you, this is going to seriously make you want to plan a trip.
THE ROAD TO NOWHERE
Check out more of Dan’s videos here.
Read More »Is Flat Where It’s At?
By Brian Kozminski
Flat-Brim~ Does it actually improve your ‘sixth’ Fishy sense?
While fishing last fall with John Schmidt of Au Sable Angler, he implored me to open my eyes and give the ‘flat-brim’ a try. Over the winter, I won a great Rep Your Water cap from WindKnots and Tangled Lines, so I kept the brim in its preferred lay flat style. I’m giving it a go to see if all the hype is true. It is rumored you can see into the water better with a flat brim, and of course a quality pair of Polarized Sunglasses (see Native Eyewear, Smith Optics, and Costa). I had to take this investigation a step further. I was going to make myself a deliberate test subject for the next several months. I am alternating my hat choice and keeping a fish log to catalog how many fish were caught with what headwear.
There are relatively few scientific studies I could base my hypothesis on, just my pure gut feelings. I do believe that there is some commonality with a particular fly working best for each angler on the exact same river and evening. The fly that is your favorite is your Go-To fly, because in past experiences, it has always provided beneficial results, and you often fish it more because of these experiences, hence it is your favorite fly. Much like my favorite hat, it’s fit, it’s style and many memories of great nights catching multiple fish are why it is and shall be a favorite. I have had to retire many favorite fishing hats, they have just been played out and didn’t provide the protection and catch rates they once promised.
A few weeks back,
Read More »Tie Twice the Flies in Half the Time
If you tie flies and you’re looking for a way to increase your fly output, I’ve got a great fly tying tip for you today. I personally don’t have the luxury of extra time on my hands these days with running two companies and managing my family time. When my fly boxes start getting bare, I have to restock them as fast as possible. For years, I’ve been an advanced fly tier but I’ve never been one of those guys who can rip out a dozen flies in thirty minutes. I take that back, I can bust out a dozen san juan worms in thirty minutes, but that goes for most of us. For more complex fly patterns, it can be very beneficial to us if we take the time to get organized prior to wrapping the thread on the hook.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Be Prepared For Colorado’s Black Canyon
COLORADO’S BLACK CANYON DOESN’T PLAY.
My buddy John is getting even more fidgety than usual. He’s whipped himself into a froth as I go over the pack-list. Sleeping bag, pad, headlamp, tecnu…” “Water?”, he asked. “No, I told you, filter bottle.” “Cliff Bars, peanut butter, whisky…” “So this trail”, he starts again, “eight hundred and some vertical feet and the road, the guy said four wheel drive, I don’t think the Subaru has a skid plate. “What’s your deal?”, I ask. “No, well, ok, it just sounds like a lot, we are fifty you know, my back’s not good.” He knows it’s pointless, there’s no talking me out of it. “You’re right”, I answer, “let’s wait until we’re sixty, it’ll be much easier then.”
All this noise isn’t for nothing. Colorado’s Black Canyon doesn’t play. You’re not exactly taking your life in your hands fishing down there but bad things can happen. You need a plan because the canyon is not forgiving of mistakes. On the other hand, there are few places in the lower forty-eight that offer the scenery, the quality fishing and the natural experience of the Black Canyon and the Gunnison river. It’s not for everybody and it does get more traffic than you would expect. I’m not trying to add to the pressure but if you are going to go, you should be prepared. Here’s what I learned on my trip.
WHAT TO EXPECT
For the record, fifty is not too old. You need to be in good shape for hiking but if your health is good and you don’t have breathing or heart issues don’t let age stop you. I live at sea level and I did fine with a pack, tent, food and fishing gear.
Most folks do it as a day trip but it’s a great trip to camp. You expend a lot of time and energy getting into and out of the canyon. It’s nice to stay at least one night. The extra weight of the camping gear makes it a tough call but I’m glad we did it. Just go light. Seriously light! Eat cold food before you carry a stove and fuel. If you have an ultralite tent that’s great, otherwise you might sleep under the stars. Camp sites are first come first serve. Get an early start.
The elements are brutal. It’s dry and sun baked and you will be too if you’re not careful. You have to be serious about hydration. My buddy Andrew Grillos who has guided the canyon for years told me has drunk two and a half gallons of water in a day and still been dehydrated. A filter pump and a gallon jug is a good idea. Filter bottles work great but you will need plenty of water for the hike in and out when you’re away from the river. An extra filter bottle is a good idea anyway. I fell and broke the filter in mine. We got by ok sharing on the river but the hike out with one bottle was rough. Sun screen and a buff are a must. It’s hot as hell and the black rock heats up like a wood stove. Leave the waders at home.
The flora is out to kill you. I have seriously never seen so much poison ivy in my life. It’s literally everywhere. From ground cover to four foot high bushes. You can not avoid it, you have to prepare for it. Long pants and sleeves are a start but not enough.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Find Your Water
Redington has a great story.
A venerable fly fishing brand brought back from the bring of collapse to become one of the most vibrant players in the industry. The thing that’s so cool about it is that in their new video series, Find Your Water, it’s not their story there telling. It’s yours.
In this six video series, Redington takes you on a journey to fish water you’ve only dreamed of and water you’ve never heard of. Here are a few favorites.
Check out the whole series here, Find Your Water
Read More »The Reach Cast: Video
The reach cast can be the difference between catching fish and not.
All too often you find yourself casting across fast water to a rising trout on the far bank. It’s a classic set up and one that can make you crazy. You land your fly in the exact spot, only to have it dragged away as the faster current midstream pulls a belly in your line.
Your best shot at hooking a fish in this scenario is to make a reach cast. The reach cast builds a mend into your line before it touches the water. It can buy you a perfect drift long enough to fool a sipping trout.
Make your normal cast and after you stop your rod tip to form the loop, move the rod tip upstream as the loop unrolls. The movement is perpendicular to the angle of the cast so the tension stays in the line and keeps it energized and on course. Once you know how to make this cast, you’ll wonder how you ever fished without it.
WATCH THIS VIDEO TO SEE HOW IT’S DONE!
Read More »This Year IFTD Is More Relevant Than Ever
You know the old Chinese curse, may you live in interesting times?
These are certainly interesting times in the fly fishing industry. The business landscape seems to change under our feet faster than we can react. In just the last week we’ve had news of Sage and RIO selling direct online and the likely nationalization of the Bahamian bonefishing industry. No matter what part of the business you’re in, it’s likely you will need to think very hard about the future of your business. We’re all going to have to work a little smarter in coming years.
That’s why I think this years IFDT show (July 14-17) is more important than ever. IFTD is the beating heart of the fly fishing industry. The one time of the year when we all come together to exchange ideas and plan for the coming year. This year, more than ever, a good plan makes sense.
There has never been a more important time for retailers, guides, lodge owners and manufacturers to focus on relationships. The fly fishing industry is a relationship business and there’s no better place to do that networking than IFTD. Attending the show has been the most important thing I have done for my career.
I spoke to Gary Merriman, owner of The Fish Hawk, the largest Sage dealer by volume in the US. I knew that Gary had not attended IFTD since it was held in Denver but heard he was attending this year.
“For me it was never about buying,” Gary told me, “it was about
Read More »Cicada Fly Patterns – 4 Gink & Gasoline Favorites
You don’t have to be an expert fly fisherman to find success fishing a cicada hatch. It’s probably the least technical hatch I’ve ever fished. All you need to do is get yourself a good cicada fly pattern and fish it on waters where the hatch is occurring. The only thing you really need to know is go big with your tippet (2X-3X) and don’t be too quick on your hook sets. Below are some of my favorite cicada patterns.
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