Photo via MidCurrent
Montana Fly Fishing Magazine is a newly released e-zine that features FF Valhalla area guides and authors that will pull out the ‘usual’ visuals and words that inspire and motivate. Liked the Winter fishing scenes too.
I particularly enjoyed the photography of Ryan Brewer, the guy holding the beautiful Brown on the front cover. Check it out…
He might be making a move on April Vokey’s image status from the testosterone side of the grip and grin equation. Nice first outing…
Several times a year, I find myself up logging roads toward upper drainages/tributaries of big rivers. I string up the 9′ to 9’6″ rod and set forth weaving my way, this way and that way, through the trees toward the waters edge. Once on the water, I scout the canopy and other over hanging growth to not only avoid hanging up the fly + tippet, but also to avoid smacking the rod tip.
The confines of a small stream quickly reveal the tangled web we weave when at first we use too big a stick on a small stream. Recently, I was privileged to review some DVD’s by Ed Herbst and in those DVD’s I noticed he was wielding short rods on narrow streams. He moved with ease, in stealth mode, and waved the little wand to delicately present his flies.
Now, this initially contradicts my impulse toward bigger waters, longer rods and more power. I have those rods and love them. But, those small streams are another enviro that beg the small stick. So, I invested in a couple Loomis rods, both 3 weights and shorter (7′ and 8′). For the last few years, I have used a 3 wt. (9′ St. Croix Legend) more and have handled some substantial trout on the 3 wt. These shorter rods have a softer, medium action and will most probably meet few fish beyond 14″….more like 6″ to 10″. If I do connect to a larger fish, it will be an epic story.
These are not rods for big rivers and big fish, which to my thinking would be potentially irresponsible if I am seeking a humane catch and release. These are sticks for little streams, the intimate confines and small flies. I am excited to use these on those private little escapes. Some of my best life time memories while fly fishing were on small streams.
There is, for me, a decided uniqueness to the Fly Tying and Fly Fishing of SE Europe. One part of that uniqueness is the available Marble Trout of Slovenia. A cousin of the Brown Trout, the fish reaches large size and lives in some of the most pristine rivers, which pour into the Adriatic Sea.
A Marble Trout from Josko.Org
Take a few minutes to study up on this unique fishery and the beauty of the region at JOSKO.ORG and at Fish & Fly. I think big flies (streamers, big stones and large morsels are in order)
“If you spend every day on the water casting tiny dry flies, you might have a lot of action but your chances of hooking a trout of a lifetime are slim to none. Monster marble trout eat sculpins, crayfish, big stoneflies and most of the time small grayling.” Fish&Fly
The Marble Trout is present in several countries bordering the Adriatic Sea, but Slovenia claims the fish as theirs. High in the mountains in the Soca and Idrijca Rivers the Marble Trout return.
A warm Fall day. The crowds gone. Rustling reeds, a brush of warm breeze across the face. Anticipation for the take. No one around. Like your own private lake with a cabin on the hill in the distance amongst the Ponderosa. Bliss!
“…South Africa does not have an adequate record of fly fishing evolution and development. Piscator, because it has been in unbroken publication since 1947, has performed that role in some measure and, as its editor for the past 15 years, I have always been aware of its importance as a journal of historic record. Many of the original pioneers are now dead but this DVD is an attempt to create a cinematic legacy.”
Recently, I was fortunate to receive a DVD from Ed Herbst entitled A South African Fly Tying Journey with Ed Herbst and Friends. I found the DVD very enjoyable. Included in this work were fly patterns I had never seen before, as well as quite a few fly tying techniques also new to me. Ed Herbst, Fred Steynberg, Dean Riphagen and Tom Sutcliffe tie the fly patterns unique to the Cape.
Ed writes: “South Africa became the focus of global attention when we hosted the FIFA World Soccer Cup last year but not many fly fishers are aware that we have some very pleasant small streams about 90 minutes drive from Cape Town and it is these streams that have been the crucible of much development in small stream fly fishing in this country.“
The fly tying DVD can be purchased online through the Stream-X fly shop in Cape Town - http://www.streamx.co.za/index.htm and its proprietor, Craig Thom – sales@streamx.co.za. An additional DVD re tying and fishing terrestrials designed in South Africa will be forthcoming in early 2012. Contact Craig Thom at the Stream X Fly Shop and order this first in a series of fly tying DVD’s and enjoy the tying and the gentlemanly camaraderie of the participants.
Ed Herbst and a Small Stream Rod/Reel
A side note: you will see Ed stalking trout in a beautiful small stream. He sent me a remark about that small stick… “Both the cover and the picture on the DVD itself show examples of the rod handles created by Stephen Boshoff in our never-ending pursuit of the ultimate small stream fly rod. The one on the DVD itself is a Scott 1 weight blank – alas no longer made - and the reel is held on with plastic cable ties to reduce weight. To further reduce weight there is no butt capp and the blank is sprayed matte khaki to reduce fish-scaring rod flash.”
Thank you Ed for the most enjoyable gift of learning new concepts in fly tying and fly fishing.
East Lake (Oregon) One of my all time favorite lakes. Carrying a lot of surface ice in this picture, but the memories and anticipation to work this lake again linger through the Winter.
Fly fishing has so many possibilities. One of my favorite is figuring out a lake, pond, reservoir. Your observation skills are required on a lake as much as they are standing knee deep in a stream. Presentation on a lake is as important as on a stream.
I frequently see lake fly fishers in their pontoon, float tube, raft etc. moving along, line extended behind and rhythmically kicking, drifting or rowing with only the slightest consideration given to a retrieve or to their position. We all do this at times while searching/discovering a new body of water. But, I would suggest that if you are out over 50′ of water with no discernible hatch/feeding activity you would be better served to move in toward the shoreline and attempt to study the contours of the lake. This may show you the structure and feeding zones where fish congregate for safety and food.
The drop is that area that transitions from somewhat shallow waters of say 10′ downward to deeper water. This drop off is prime in searching for trout that move up on the shoal to feed and move back off the shoal for safety and food as well. At a minimum work parallel to this drop and present your fly up on the shoal if hatch/feeding activity is apparent or work the fly down into the drop off area and slightly deeper.
Anchoring and fishing toward the drop (toward the shoreline) or up on the shoal can be productive. If you are not anchored, the wind or the torque of your casting can push you back out of the productive waters. This results in a lot of kicking or rowing to hold position and disturbances that may put the fish off the bite.
Sometimes the insect that is emerging, say Damsels or Gray Drakes, are actually moving toward shore to stage for their ‘hatch’. You would want to position yourself on the shore or in close to shore and cast out away from shore then slowly work your Damsel or swimming Mayfly pattern back toward shore to mimic the Damsels moving just below the surface toward the shoreline reeds, weeds and structure.
Here is a piece by Herman deGalat at HookFlyFishing that highlights several of these points on fishing the drop and the presentation.
East Lake after a successful day. SwittersB
Hot Spot Nymphs Collage
As a beginning fly tier, you will see the pattern index is full of a large array of patterns, most of which tend toward a natural, impressionistic look. The incorporation of a ‘hot spot’ does fly in the face of traditions and for some tiers smacks of an egg pattern, worm pattern or some sort of Jezebel.
This push/pull mental process is for you to sort out and is part of the fun of fly tying and fly fishing. The hot spot of red, orange, blue, chartreuse etc. does add interest to a fly pattern. The hot spot can be pronounced or it can be the subtle variety like say a thread head. Experiment with hot spots at the tail, butt section of abdomen, thorax, thread head or hackle barbs.
http://flyfishingtraditions.blogspot.com
This is interesting an Caddis pattern. What is instructive, for the beginning fly tier, is the use of the rotary vise (benefits vs. wrapping on fixed vise) and the materials used to create the Long Kong Kaddis (Hook Fly Fishing Site).
Shannon's Long Kong Kaddis (Hook Fly Fishing)
