Sunday Classic / Streamers Aren’t Just For Big Water
Fly fishing to picky educated trout that get pounded daily by fly anglers, can get many of us flustered at times.
It’s easy to find ourselves following everyone else’s lead on the water when it comes to pattern choice. Blue ribbon trout streams in Colorado come to mind, where the key to success is often sight-fishing with tiny nymphs on fine tippet. But even fishing the right fly patterns, you still are going to have to deal with hard to read intricate currents above and below the surface, of which, will constantly be trying to compromise your drift and fly placement. This is often the key factor in whether you fool or tip off the fish that your offering is not the real deal.
I’ll never forget a day on the upper Roaring Fork a couple years back that left me humbled to the core. I had no problem locating numerous trophy class fish. Hell, they were everywhere it seemed like, and often only a couple rod lengths away from me. Unfortunately, the majority of them were holding in all the wrong places, where it was almost impossible to get a good presentation and drift with my flies. I’d make what I thought was a perfect cast, and right when my flies were about to enter the target zone of the fish, I would lose my drift and the fish would slide off to the slide and give me the finger. An 11′ switch rod with a extra long leader was what I needed that day, but unfortunately, I left that rod at home. Those big beautiful fish on the Roaring Fork, gave me a whole new appreciation for PHD educated trout. They all seemed to know exactly where to sit and feed, just out of fly anglers reach. I finished that day with a few respectable mature trout and numerous other smaller fish that looked like they had been booted out of the prime lies. Knowing what I know now, I should have
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Nat Geo on Killing Cormorants
Should U.S. Government Kill Thousands of Birds to Save Salmon?
I generally down on killing thing, but I’m willing to make an exception for these guys.
This is a topic I’ve struggled with for some time. I’ve thought about writing on it many times but have never felt like I had enough facts to move forward. Fortunately for me, National Geographic has taken care of it for me, or at least started.
This article takes a hard look at the decision to kill a vast number of cormorants in the Pacific North West. These birds are dramatically effecting salmon runs and the step has been carefully taken to protect these fish who are already in grave danger.
I’m personally excited to hear of it and I hope it will be a precedent. I’m not just choosing fish over birds but the truth is that cormorants are an invasive species. Protected nationally because they were a gift to Harry Truman’s wife from the Emperor of China, if I have the story right.
The North West is not alone in their cormorant troubles. They are reeking havoc on baby tarpon habitat in the Florida Keys. They are turning up everywhere and it’s an issue we should all have our eyes on. So I’ll turn it over to Nat Geo for the hard science.
CHECK OUT: SHOULD U.S. GOVERNMENT KILL THOUSANDS OF BIRDS TO SAVE SALMON?
Read More »Hoo-Rag The Better Bandana
The most comfortable sun protection I’ve found, and maybe the coolest.
Hoo Rag took on the established big dogs in the sun protection gear market just a few years ago. They have grown quickly and now I see them everywhere. I’m not surprised. Hoo Rag’s commitment to higher quality and cooler designs is a winning combination.
I have several Hoo Rags and they have quickly become my go-to seamless bandanas. They are amazingly breathable, supper comfortable with a little extra stretch and alway look awesome. I see their Skull Daddy models on Harley Riders everywhere.
In this video we take a look at some of the new designs for 2015.
Read More »Go Slow Mo Fo
By Jeff Hickman
Ask any Spey casting coach or steelhead guide what they find themselves saying most often during the day and most likely it’s the words, “slow down”.
I have often joked about just getting a tape recorder to say it for me on repeat. But oftentimes guys say they are trying really hard but they just can’t!
It’s as though their muscles won’t go slow, or maybe their brain won’t let their muscles go slow. Is it fear of failure? Paranoia that they might make a pathetic cast that just lands in an ugly pile of line? How embarrassing that would that be if others on the river saw! Rushed casts can happen for any number of reasons and they happen to everyone from time to time.
There are a couple of tricks I use when people get into this downward spiral of rushing the cast.
First I ask them to take a short one minute timeout and relax their shoulders. After the timeout, I ask them to stop and pause for a full second after setting the anchor. A good way to ensure that you wait a full second is to take a deep breath after you set the anchor. You don’t have to be in such a rush. After the anchor is set you have lots of time to sweep and then cast. It’s as if that pause just sets the tempo for the rest of the cast.
After all, the anchor placement is completely separate from the sweep and cast. It’s important to
Read More »2015 G&G Fishing Trips are Bigger, Better and More Affordable
Kanektok River, Alaska / Deschutes River Steelhead / Dean River Chinook and Steelhead for as little as $2000 / person! I’m excited to have three amazing trips to offer in 2015. Each is a unique adventure. Each a bucket list location and each a chance to catch the fish of a lifetime. I’ve spent the last several years researching these locations and feel really confident that we have the best possible trips planned. These fly fishing adventures are not to be missed! Join me on one of these great trips and I’ll do everything in my power to make it an experience to remember. You’ll meet and fish with other members of the Gink and Gasoline community and go home with new friends, new skills and memories that will last forever. Gink and Gasoline trips are a blast! Alaska West Lodge, July 26 – Aug 8, 2015 Alaska West is a remote but comfortable camp deep in western Alaska. On the banks of the Kanektok River, it offers some of the best fly fishing on the planet for rainbow trout, dolly varden, grayling and all five species of Pacific salmon. Our week in July offers amazing trout fishing. Generally the flesh bite is just coming on strong which means the biggest fish in the river are out in force where we can target them. The mouse bite is typically strong as well, offering the most exciting trout fishing possible. In addition to epic trout fishing, this is one of the few times of the year you can do the salmon slam, catching all five species of salmon. The chum salmon should be in full swing and highly aggressive and the first silvers hitting the river hot and bothered. This week was epic last year and I expect a repeat performance. … Continue reading
Read More »Orvis Recon, Too Good For The Money
“I don’t know what the conversations were like at Orvis when this rod was being developed but I’d be shocked if no one expressed concerns that it was too good for the money.”
I’m not sure what I expected from the Orvis Recon, but it wasn’t what I got. Honestly, up until a couple of years ago I didn’t think much about Orvis fly rods. I owned one years ago. A nine weight that I bought for a trip to Alaska. The rod was fine, but what saved me was the service. I broke the rod days before my trip. I walk into the Orvis store and walked out with a new rod. I’ve had a lot of respect for Orvis customer service ever since.
When it came to rod action and performance, I guess I always thought of Orvis as a little old-fashioned. That changed when I fell in love with the Helios II. I now own 4 H2s and fish them all the time. When Orvis introduced the Superfine Glass I fell in love again. The new Orvis rods are clearly to be taken seriously. Still, when I heard that Orvis was bringing out a mid-priced rod made in America, my expectations were somewhat limited.
I guess I expected a medium action trout rod that wasn’t too inspiring. After all, what could you expect for $425? It turns out the answer is, something pretty awesome! The Recon may be middle of the road in price, but in every other way it’s way out front. A fast powerful action, light weight, beautiful finish and sweet hardware. It only feels like a bargain when you’re paying for it.
I have the 9′ 5 weight. It’s a very
Read More »Sunday Classic / Dos and Don’ts For Guided Fishing
“I have done enough guiding with enough people of all types that I sometimes cheer for the fish.”
My friend Kirk Deeter, writing on the Trout Unlimited blog April 25th, threw out the bold headline: “Guides: Gatekeepers or Profiteers”. There’s no mystery where Kirk stands on the subject. He goes on to write, “I think the sun rises and sets on the fly fishing world where guides collectively say it does. They are stewards of their rivers. They are the innovators, and the teachers. And a good guide is, for fly fishing and trout conservation, worth his or her weight in gold.”
I agree with Kirk completely but it’s apparently a controversial topic. Not everyone loves fishing guides and it got me wondering why. Most of my friends are, or have been, fishing guides. I am not, but I hear the stories and I remember having a few rough days with guides back in the day. I mentioned it to Kirk and this was his response.
“You ask a great question here. Let me put it to you this way. I have done enough guiding with enough people of all types that I sometimes cheer for the fish. Seriously. You can say I said that. On the other hand, nothing lights me up more than sharing a passion with someone who gets it, appreciates it, and really shows some genuine class and enthusiasm. A great guide and client team should be like a Bwana and his tracker… two people on one mission… bound by respect.”
I reached out to a few more friends in the guiding business and asked them, from their perspective, where things go wrong. I decided to make a list. I figured, like Rodney King said, “why can’t we all just get along?”
People hire guides for a host of different reasons but they all want the same thing, a great day on the water. Unfortunately, some days end with neither the guide or the client feeling all that good about it. Malfunctions in the client-guide relationship can spoil what should be a positive experience for everyone. Fortunately these malfunctions can be easily avoided. With that in mind, here is a list of dos and don’ts for your day of guided fishing. Follow these simple guidelines and, even if the fishing is slow, you’ll walk away feeling like you got your money’s worth.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Take The Kids
This weeks Shout out is all about taking the kids fishing.
Cameron Mortenson over at The Fiberglass Manifesto gets to thinking about how he, and just about everyone else, can do better by their kids. It’s an inspirational piece for busy parents.
CHECK OUT, “PARENTS, WE CAN ALL DO BETTER”
Meanwhile, over at Stalking The Seam, Steven Brutger is getting down to brass tacks on how to make winter fishing with the kids a success rather than a tantrum, on anyone’s part. It’s great advice that will keep you and your kids out making memories during the colder months.
CHECK OUT, “WINTER FISHING: WITH KIDS”
Read More »Maven Fly, Fly Fishing Gear For Women, By Women
Quality you can feel, style you can’t help but see.
Women’s fishing clothing is a tough market and one too many fly fishing brands ignore all together. With women being the fastest growing demographic in fly fishing, it’s nice to see a company like Maven Fly taking it seriously.
This is the nicest women’s specific fly fishing clothing I’ve seen. It’s stylish, technical and feels extremely well made. The line is still fairly small but it’s an impressive start. Maven Fly is definitely a brand to keep your Eye on.
In this video Lise Lozelle shows is a few on the cool offerings from maven Fly.
Read More »Covering a Hatch Starts with Carrying the Right Flies
By Kent Klewein
Have you ever been standing in the river watching a big hatch unfolding with rising fish all around you, but for some reason you can’t get the feeding fish to eat your flies?
Covering and owning a hatch starts with you first carrying the right fly patterns. When you know you’re going to encounter a specific hatch on the water, always carry multiple variations (colors, sizes) and stages (nymph, emerger, dun, spinner) to make sure you’re covered. Trout can get really picky during selective feeding.
This very situation happened to me last year running a guided float trip during an intense sulphur hatch. There was yellow everywhere, and fish were in a feeding frenzy, but the trout wouldn’t eat any of my sulphur patterns I tied on for my clients. Even my CDC go-to patterns that always work, were shunned by the feeding trout. I finally found a sulphur pattern after my seventh try that the trout consistently liked, and it saved the day. It ended up being nothing special, just a dun with in a slightly different color shade. The remainder of the float trip all I could think about was how important it was that I had so many different sulphur imitations on hand. It would have been a long quiet drive back if my clients witnessed an epic hatch with perfect conditions, and we ended up striking out on the water.
Your standard parahcute style dun with a small nymph dropper off the back will not always work. Below are some examples of other fly pattern options for rounding out your fly box and owning a hatch:
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