Fly Fishing’s Core Truth

“I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly…”  Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Trout Fisherman @ Flydaho and Idahope

The above is, perhaps, the core truth of the endeavor. Associated factors are ‘the moment’, the stealth, the seduction, the process, the prep, the company, the ego. But, they are all secondary to the above for many of us. Peace of mind and peace of soul…whether we realize it or not while we immerse ourselves in the secondary factors.

Spain Rampage: Raging Bull (Hmmmm….?)

40 people were injured in northern Spain on Wednesday when a raging bull jumped into the packed grandstands of a bullring and ran amok. The terrifying incide…

Spain Rampage: Raging bull charges into crowd i…, posted with vodpod

Transitions in Life (Creekwalker)

I finally got two days off in a row. My car club was having a major show event at the Carousel in Salem, and I took a vacation day to be able to have the Saturday off. The temperature was in the 90 degree range, way too hot for this whimp. I stayed about 3 hours and I had to retreat to a cooler place. I decided to drive up to Trillium and do some fishing. Very nice, no fish to speak of…what I did manage to hook were a couple of puny things. But a nice day overall, and after leaving a note for a friend, I headed home.

Creekwalker at Neskowin

Sunday came and I was determined to make the most of my weekend so I headed out for the Wilson River up near Tillamook. Work had been horrific, and more than one person close to me is dying of cancer, and the past year had taken a toll on my otherwise cheerful self. My best friend moved to California, so I was kind of in a wander. I needed the relaxation and the time to put it into perspective. I decided to take a walk on the beach at Neskowin on my way up to Tillamook. It was a beautiful day at the coast!

Chance Encounter (Creekwalker)

Seeking some sort of respite from my troubles, I began to walk. Then she (?) came. She was so delicate, like a the landing of a feather that had taken flight. She was beautiful, and she stayed for almost 20 minutes. It wasnt long before I got the message she had brought me. I decided to not get self-absorbed, would express my hopes, dreams and needs to those who can help me along my journey…

Like this delicate creature, I decided that the transformation that had taken place in my life over the last year was a necessary part of my metamorphosis. I had taken flight just like this sweet creature! I have been submerged, fought my way to the surface, and struggled to take flight. I think she was trying to tell me that I have made it, I was going to be able to rise above the waves, the floatsam and jetsam, and finally enjoy my freedom in the sunshine.

Creek

Fly Tying: Stovepipe Caddis Pupa

I was recently pleased to rediscover a pattern that I first discovered 30 years ago at the Camp Sherman Store on the Metolius River (Oregon). The Stovepipe seemed odd back then and it still does, yet it worked mucho back then and I am anxious to see if it will work again. The above fly is on a size 10 hook with a golden pheasant tail, an olive chenille body, an orange hackle beard and a wing of natural mallard. Does it look like a Caddis?….Probably not, but really what does a Stayner Ducktail suggest?

Looking forward to fishing this pattern on a river or even a lake. Nice to see that after so many years this pattern is still in a fly cubicle at the Camp Sherman Store. Oh, the original did not have a bead head.

Nature & Hopefully Not You!

HERE HUMAN, HUMAN

Fly Fishing: The Beginnings

Evan and Maddox Muncy Fly Fishing (swittersb)

In the simplest terms, a child watching mom or dad fish often peeks their curiosity to learn more. They want to be near the parent (or uncle or aunt, or significant other) and they want to know what is so much fun to take you away from them. I have fond memories of introducing three sons to fly fishing. I tried with the daughter, but you can’t win them all.

I believe before the introduction of a float tube, much can be taught shore side with first a spinning reel, casting bubble and a fly. Pick an optimum time for the hatch and at first cast for them, let them slowly reel in and hopefully enjoy the hookup. I used this technique a lot when backpacking, using a collapsible rod and small reel. The kids came to appreciate the worth of a fly and the enjoyment of releasing most of the fish. All my sons were accomplished drift gear fishermen for steelhead, salmon and trout. Yet, all now primarily enjoy fly fishing and are adept with single handed and two handed rods. Patience is ALWAYS a virtue.

Fly Fishing Stillwaters: Some Random Reminders

SwittersB Has Some Thoughts

~Know your location relative to other boats, tubes, rafts, kayaks. Yesterday, as one kayaker after another glided over my fly line some 40′ out, I asked how in the hell were they so oblivious. At the same time, I had one float tuber collide with the rear of my anchored pontoon boat. He wasn’t paying attention. No harm. No apology offered. Oblivious.

~As my left pontoon became noticeably less inflated, I noticed a I had a bit of a kick or row toward a shoreline with footing. The colder water had sapped some of the inflation. But also, I most probably had not equally inflated the pontoons. While listing to the left I attempted to row. The left oar could not come fully out of the water so at times I was taking a less than straight course toward the shore.

~Always barb your hook. Not just for the catch & release of your fish, but for the release of your hat, back of your shirt, fabric of your older pontoons, your rubber booties and the kayaker’s life jacket that skimmed along behind you and into your back cast.

~Back casts into a side wind will push the fly in the direction of the wind on the forward stroke. Figure out if that might be detrimental to you….you did barb the hook, right?

~At times it is fine to just kick or row about, trolling a fly while you explore a lake or move from point A to point B. But, you learn little about presentations of the fly if you only ever kick and troll. Anchoring up or holding steady in the winds will allow you to manipulate the fly horizontally, diagonally and vertically. Kicking along parallel to a drop/ledge from the shoal to the drop is ok, as long as you are aware of the location.

~As you fish, the rod tip should be down almost into the water with a floating line and into the water a few inches with a sinking line. Yesterday, I saw a few fly fishers with their rod held high, a big bow in the line and too much slack to consistently set the hook. Many hookups will be missed that way. The understandable exception to this is the person still using a donut shaped float tube (time to upgrade to a V tube).

~As you change flies, looking for the seducer, you can use up 2-4″ of line for each new tie on. Especially, if your fingers are frozen, you will use more line as you fumble with the knot. Keep your tippet at the optimal length. Rule of thumb: for a floating line or intermediate line keep your entire leader length at least the length of the rod…once it is reaching that stripping guide rebuild the leader. Depending upon the type of sink tip or full sink line the leader may be shorter.

Curls, Bows & Waves (Strike Detection) SwittersB

~With an unsettled surface from the wind and waves, the fly line will often lay less than straight toward the fly. Often the most subtle take will be seen as the kinks, waves and bows ever so slightly straighten…set the hook. Seeing & feeling may be obscured or muted by the wind and waves.

~Birds, ducks, up at camp and your own eyes. Swarming birds over the water or slightly higher are a good indication of a hatch (midges, caddis, dragons, mayflies). Ducks working the reeds for damsels. The obvious too….

~When I went up to camp for a bite, around 2pm, the camp was a swarm with midges blown in from the lake. The family was dutifully applying DEET thinking them mosquitoes. So, I surmised there was a hatch of midges before the time I started fishing the lake at 10am. Had I been fishing the lake the next day, I would be on the water.

Meth, Frank, Dancing and Organic Vegetables

Meth, Frank & Dancing, posted with vodpod

WHEN FRANK ISN’T STEALING METAL TO FEED HIS METH HABIT, HE ENJOYS ATTENDING THOSE WEEKEND FESTIVALS WHERE THE HIPSTERS, YUPPIES AND CULTURALLY ATTUNED ATTEND. FRANK AND HIS PARTNER IN CRIME, EUGENE ARE DIALED IN TO THE BEAT WITH A LITTLE CHEMICAL HELP. FRANK USUALLY PASSES ON THE ORGANIC VEGETABLES & FRUIT.

Fly Fishing: Last Light Upon a Stillwater

SwittersB Last Light

Next time you are on a lake and the sun has set, look in different directions. You will note a silvery sheen to the surface in some directions and a darker appearance in other directions. Looking toward the W/SW will allow you to see the darker, slashing shapes of porpoising fish or the bubbling slurps as fish take your fly or insects. Just a slight edge in seeing activity. If you enjoy the squinting into darkness and the surprise of the hit, that’s ok too; look toward the darker sides. The picture above is pretty much last light, but for an hour or more before this, there is a point where fishing toward the lighter side has its advantages. The lighting will be influenced by the surrounding terrain of trees, mountains and hills. Experiment with it.

Fly Fishing: TMI & Numbness?

This small but meaningful post at TU does resonate. Running a blog of any size is a drain in itself re trying to be meaningful, real and discoverable. Beyond that, I for one, am saturated at all levels with too much information about everything. Frankly, the escape route is obvious. The worth obvious. No one even needs to know. Go wet a line and get lost in the moment.

“While the Internet freed our tiny fly fishing demographic from the shackles of a hidebound fly fishing media, might it also be rewiring our brains – and making it harder for us enjoy our time on the river?     Maybe.”    Tom Chandler at TU