Fly Fishing: TIPS Mouche Rules

TIPS Mouche Rules 2009

I was reading a piece about fly fishing competition and Lance Egan at Troutlegend.com. I have watched a few shows on American TV about competitive fly fishing. It has, personally, grated on me and I have mentally turned away from it as something to endorse or highlight. International competition and the energy associated with it seem to squish that mental space I have on why I fly fish. My problem, no one elses. But, in reading the piece, I see the worth of learning on how to maximize my personal experience and improve my techniques. Because it is predominantly about technique vs. fly pattern. So, I attached the piece because it is interesting and the references to the TIPS Mouche Rules was foreign to me. So, I attached a 2009 file re the rules. Really nothing to shattering in them unless you use split shot and  Thingamabobbers. It isn’t the techniques, it is the mind set and again…..pretty much to each their own as long as the fishery/habitat are safe.

Alaska’s New AG John Burns on State Sovereignty & the Resources

Alaska’s new Attorney General, John Burns, is an avid fly fisher. He also provides not so subtle clues on his position re statehood, state’s rights, Federal regulations and ‘overreach’, development of resources  and the environment in a piece in the Juneau Empire………

“Burns stated the biggest challenge so far is prioritizing the multitude of issues affecting the state. Outside of Alaska is the concern of state sovereignty and the frustration of dealing with Federal regulations and unnecessary overreach, and the federal government seeking to regulate that which they cannot legislate.”

“From our perspective, the ability of our state to become a state, to become an independent entity is critically dependent on its ability to develop its resources,” Burns said, quoting Parnell. Burns urges all Alaskans to read the Statehood Act as well. “The frustration is that, I strongly believe that anybody that lives in the state of Alaska, who has lived here for a long period of time, is an environmentalist. You cannot live in this great state and participate in all that we have and not want to see it continue. But at the same time we recognize that you can have different and responsible development coexisting with that ability to participate. The frustration that I see is that the rest of the world does not believe that we are competent enough to responsibly develop our resources. I don’t think that they believe we care about this wonderful state. To me that belies comprehension. Every Alaskan I have talked to, who has been here for any length of time, is here because it is such an incredible state. The thought that we would do something to ruin it is beyond comprehension to me.”

I wonder if Mark or Brad at Alaska (Juneau) Fly Fishing Goods (nice shop by the way) might ask John Burns, the next time he drops in to heft that new 6 wt., what his take is on the Pebble Mine issue and that  whole process. Unofficial position, of course.

 

Tonya Harding Pregnant & then ………………..

I awakened this morning to the dizzyingly, terrific news that the NW skating ‘legend’ Tonya Harding (Price) is pregnant. I was ecstatic over the trash gene pool being extended in the Pacific NW. Then again, maybe there is another triple axle gene in there. Then my day descended, as my week pretty much has, (did anyone notice some odd forces at play this week? Full moon stuff?) into a morass of regrets. Two days ago, my Blackberry completed its’ own triple axle into the toilet and despite all manner of efforts to dry it out, it is kaput. But, things were about to get worse.

Now, an immensely bigger fumble on my part: I transferred hundreds upon hundreds of family pics from my computer to an external hard drive to free up needed gigs. I have done this before. No probs. So, as I moved a folder over into the external gizmo (without verifying they actually loaded!…they always had before) I ERASED the folder from my computer. On and on I went freeing up 20 gigs of space…..that is  how many pics I had stashed on the hard drive.

Woe is me! They did not load for whatever reason. I cannot find them cued up and waiting. Gone. Some, many of these photo’s, were priceless treasures.Hundreds of pics of flies too.

So, verify the transfer, then and only then dump the duplicate folders. Ok, maybe I was too hard on Tonya Harding.

Update re my stupid move: Well, at least I did one thing correctly…I had previously subscribed to Carbonite. Well, despite the fact that I had indeed deleted the entire files, Carbonite had originally backed up those pics and based upon a tip from FB pal Mara, I found them. The restore mode will take awhile, but it will be worth the wait.

Life = Pilliing (Livin’ It?)

Life = “…pilling is the formation of small, fuzzy balls on the surface of a fabric. It detracts from the appearance of the fabric, making it look old and worn, and it is often difficult to restore a garment with fabric pilling to its original condition. Certain types of fibers and weaves are more prone to fabric pilling than others, but it is often a normal part of wear and tear.”

Pilling Along The Way (SwittersB)

Live your life. Pills are a normal part of life. If you haven’t got any, what the hell are you waiting for? If you do, embrace them your sorry son of a bitch!  Ok, I just watched “We Were Soldiers” A bit over inspired, perhaps.

No, I recently ran into an old acquaintance from another life of say 25 years ago. A life boxed and compartmentalized for  sanity’s sake. He remarked about some ol’ timers he had run into from the old, hard days and how those men all were stuck back in negativity and the past. We shook our heads knowing it was wasteful, but looking over our shoulder to be careful negativity was not looming. I raised my glass to that old friend and saluted where we had been, and more importantly, where we were now. In the present! To the past (if you can remember it) and to the present and future. Rough up that fabric. Oh, psycho babble aside, if the lid on the box is ajar; close it.

Wide Industrial Corridor (Bumps in the Windy Road)

Came upon the issue (via Terry Edelmann @ FB) of the rather sneaky (or we were asleep, or both) Tar Sands Development and the intrusive transportation corridor for materials for development for the extraction of the Tar Sands oil reserves in Northern Alberta, Canada. (Kearl Oil Sands Project)

The attached links will explain that the much of the materials come in via ship from South Korea and elsewhere to the port at Vancouver, Washington. From there the oversized components are barged up the Columbia River to Lewiston, Idaho and then these somewhat massive loads are trucked on precarious roadways up through Idaho and Montana and then into Northern Alberta where they will be assembled for the extraction process.

What is shocking is the little attention this has received until recently (or, I was not paying attention). I find some remarks about it back in 2009 and a lot of eco angst about the whole Tar Sands issue in Alberta. But, there was an almost off the radar coordination here regarding the inland transportation of extraction components. Public hearings were held by Imperial Oil (Exxon-Mobil). (oh, don’t forget Conoco-Phillips is involved here as well).

But, it is evident the buy offs had to have been raised some time back to get the green light to enter a US port, get approval to off load and then reload for a push up the Columbia River, move up through all those dams, utilize the Lewiston port and then most amazingly transport hundreds of over sized loads on roads that will require power line alterations, over pass alterations, turn out alterations, and most importantly to most reading here potentially deform watersheds, fisheries and the recreational industries of Idaho and Montana (Alberta too?).  No studies? No permitting process? Just a big ass green light to proceed.

I have attached several links. One in particular provides comments re the feasibility of much more commerce via this route into Canada and into the US mid west. So, this expanded wide industrial corridor via the mighty Columbia…up through the dams and then by roads, through a way of life we appreciate, idealize, worship, or lead is for many a big middle finger. This is a precursor to greater plans for these routes.

I have attached these links because they are somewhat thoughtful and at least written in a thoughtful tone as opposed to the ecobot’s the sky is falling.  Go to any posts re Tar Sands if you need your hysterical fix.

This is one instance where Washington, Idaho and Montana snuck one by the citizens in a big ass way. As this grotesque convoy scrapes, erodes, defiles its way East and then North some serious questions should be asked of representatives that shrugged, ignored, or accepted no significant impact reports. In this day in age, this is not like building the railroad or as one said honoring Lewis and Clark and Jefferson’s vision.

USA Today Tar Sands Invasion Advocates West

Transportation Report Montana Misssoula News

“…is one of approximately 250 currently proposed for a new permanent industrial corridor through the Northwest. Over the next three decades, existing contracts between oil corporations and Asian manufacturers could result in thousands of shipments traveling this corridor, clogging roads on most days of the year.”      All Against The Haul

Obama Administration comment?

Fly Fishing: Dropper Fly Setups

Dropper Loop at GROG (SwittersB)

GROG S-B-S

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Dropper Knot from Surgeons Knot (Rackelhanen) SB

RACKELHANEN KNOTS PAGE

There are several ways to fish a two (or more) fly set up. This is primarily used for trout & grayling. The dropper portion off of the completed surgeons knot is what I use. Extensions of mono can be tied in above an existing leader knot, using the cinch knot and after tightening sliding the tag down against the leader knot. Also, the slightly more complicated blood knot can be tied and a tag left to tie on a dropper fly.

Blood Knot (Rexgo) SwittersB

Blood Knot Dropper Tag (SwittersB)

The controlling concept here is are all the flies of equal weight/size (like a brace of wet flies) or is there one fly much heavier? Is the heavy fly at the bottom with the smaller fly above tied onto a tag, as described/shown above? Or, lastly, is the heavy fly the lead fly and a portion of leader tied in at the bend of the heavier fly, which trails back and the smaller fly tied on there. Confusing to write, I know, but easier to see and grasp…….   Steven Ojai and Nymphing Tactics

 

Fun Theory (For the City Bound)

FUN THEORY STAIRS v. ESCALATOR c/o PNWSalmonRun

Rosie Barks to Save Family

Not Rosie

I love these stories. Reminds me of Lassie saving Timmy. Rosie, the family dog, alerted (that means barked, spun in circles, jumped, whined, growled) that the house was on fire in Aberdeen, Washington. The family vacated the premises. Cause of fire ($100K damages): the too common hot ashes in a container on the deck. Whether from a fireplace, wood stove or BBQ, come on now…..you know better!

My son has reminded me about cleaning that chimney too. More chimney fires of late.

Game Fish Mounts by David Campbell

 

David Campbell Steelhead Cheek (SwittersB)

DAVID CAMPBELL’S MOUNTING~REPLICA WORK (ASSORTED GAME FISH)

Spey Casting: Followup Homework

I spent the better part of the day on the Sandy River fishing for steelhead. No pulls, but I had a good day. I found a very nice drift. I fished reasonably well and had the luxury of no one pushing me downstream. I got to practice, visualize (remember the post re Mike Kinney and his excellent word pictures?) and correct. At the end of the day, maybe two thirds of the casts really laid out nicely, but my attitude was such that there was no pressure, just a relaxed time on the water with beautiful conditions.

Snap T, or was it a Snap C?

But, I decided to do some followup studying when I got home and try to figure out why my Snap T’s or Z’s..er C’s petered out and caused my fly to unerringly wrap around the end of my rod. I need visuals. I came across a site by Alastair Gowans @ LetsFlyFish. It has some nice basic visuals re some of the Skagit casts as well as other types of fly fishing casts. I also need to pull out Ed Wards Skagit Master DVD and review while today’s fishing is fresh on the mind. I am building the imprint. Got home for last half of the Super Bowl and then it started pouring outside. The day was perfect. (Ok, upon further review, I am not bringing my rod back down river after the snap, but rather stopping as shown in pic, which leaves it open to tangles)