Winter Rises: Midges in the Cold

More often than not, the trout sipping midges in the winter are not going to take you into your backing.  But these fish offer a great change of pace from normal cold weather techniques. Instead of bouncing nymphs along the bottoms of the deepest holes in the river and methodically targeting every hole in the river, you can see the fish and see what the fish are eating.

Small insects, in colors like olive, cream, and gray, will hatch throughout the winter. Even when there are feet of snow these little bugs will be buzzing around. All that is needed is a little sun. Depending on the river and the trout population, midges will be a consistent food source for fish.

Here are three things to consider when you see fish sipping something you can’t see in the middle of winter:

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Coke Machines & Caddisflies

Getting rid of the Coca-Cola vending machine was a terrible decision for the fly shop. I can’t say I ever bought a soda there. But I know that I wasn’t the only one who would swing into the parking lot to look at the thing. I could pull right up, roll down my window, and see which bugs were congregating on the glowing red and white sign. For all I know, the machine was filled with expired New Coke and Tab – but it was still doing a heck of a job.

Living close to a trout stream affords you these little routines. Work. Home. Dinner. River. If you’re curious, you can pull into the fly shop’s parking lot to see if the drakes are coming off yet. Hurry isn’t necessary. All your stuff is still in your car from last night. Chances are that your rod is already strung up. If the Coke machine doesn’t reveal anything compelling, you might even just fish with the fly that is on there.

It’s quite the little routine, if you can swing it.

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Podcast Ep. 64: 3 Fly Fishing Show Observations

Every January I spend a few weekends at The Fly Fishing Show. There is some great networking, dangerous shopping, and top-shelf people watching. Above all, it is good to see people I might only talk face-to-face with a few times a year.

But  this episode isn’t a review of the show or a run down on the latest industry offerings.

I really enjoy taking in what is going on at the Show. There is a lot happening, and I think there are some conclusions that you can draw about the culture of fly fishing. Bottom line: I think things are good. My take might be a little controversial in some circles. And if so, I’m always willing to talk.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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Fly Fishing’s Little Things: Loon Rogue Zinger

It is okay to get excited about the little things in life. A good parking spot. An  onion ring mixed in with your french fries. A nice sunset on your evening commute. Inconsequential, yes. But no one is going to fault you for smiling about it. If all that holds true, then it is absolutely okay to get excited about the little things in fly fishing.

One of the smallest things in fly fishing is the zinger. A zinger, or gear retractor if you prefer, is the button-shaped spring-loaded gadget that holds your most essential tools. It holds them out of the way when you’re not using them. With a simple pull, it allows you to hold them where you need them when you need them. Simple and convenient, but not life changing. No zinger is going to catch you more fish. No zinger is going to make or break your day on the water.

But a good zinger is okay to get a little excited about.

I can say this because I’m a little excited about the Loon Rogue Zinger. I’ve had it for a few months now, and it has made an impression. Here are a few reasons why:

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The Best Small Stream Bass Fly Rods

May it never be said that trout are the only species that demand fly fishing nuance.

Whether it be due to location or preference, some anglers routinely pursue species like bass. Additionally, the waters they frequent aren’t the typical wide smallmouth rivers or vast largemouth lakes. Our nation is covered with small steams that contain robust populations of bass and other warm water fish,

Typical “bass fly gear” will absolutely work for small stream smallies, rock bass, shoal bass, etc. Similarly, larger trout tackle will be serviceable. But if given the choice or opportunity, might it be worth finding gear that fits the fly fishing you’re engaging in? If your local creek is where you’re going to be spending a lot of time, isn’t the right rod the right choice?

If so, maybe you’re up for looking into a small stream fly rod for bass. Here are three things to consider:

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Podcast Ep. 63: Split Shot! (& a Wide World of Weights)

That tiny, compartmentalized plastic cup. You probably had one in your tackle box when you were a kid. You need to have one in your fly fishing vest today.

Because if you’re not using weight, you’re not fly fishing right.

But split shot is just the tip of the weight-option iceberg. Weighted flies, poly leaders, and sink tips – what a time to be alive. In this episode, I discuss some of the pros and cons of these options. I also talk a little bit about some nontraditional ways to think about adding weight to your fly rigs.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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The Brown Trout with the Bright Red Patch

I remember kneeling in the snow. I can recall the exact spot. It was right at the apex of a gentle bend. There was a log jutting into the water that covered the entire stream’s width but for a few feet. I held the trout firmly. I did so because I didn’t want it to fall onto the snowy ground. I could do so because the girth of its tail filled my left hand. I cradled its belly in my right hand. Overall the fish was lighter in color than it looked in the water. That red patch was more vibrant out of the water. Jeff was just downstream from me. He took the picture. I can remember it all very clearly.

But it is only a memory. I can’t find the picture.

I had seen this particular brown trout for months. At first I was sure that the big fish was a rainbow. Its distinguishing feature was a bright red patch. My mistake makes sense. Usually red means rainbows. But upon closer inspection it was clearly a brown trout. The golden belly. The hooked jaw. The bronze, hunched back.

The gin clear water of the spring creek made these observations simple. But the street went two ways. Any movement beyond a gentle, deliberate cast would force the trout right back under the bank. It moved slowly. It moved confidently. It appeared more bored than intimidated. It certainty didn’t appear enticed.

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Nature isn’t that Special

The day after Christmas, the Orlando Sentinel published an opinion piece by Elizabeth Drayer. She is a lawyer and, as her byline states, a longtime environmental advocate. I haven’t read another word that Ms. Drayer has written outside of this article. To be clear: I appreciate her passion for protecting our natural resources. I believe that Ms. Drayer does care for the environment in Florida and beyond. I also think that her approach is misguided, dangerous, and untenable.

I think this because Ms Drayer suggests granting legal personhood to natural wonders. Or, to put it much plainer: calling things that aren’t people people.

Please entertain a quick reducio ad absurdum, taking this suggestion to its logical conclusion in order to demonstrate the short-sightedness of such a position. If we are consistent, what other personal values should we confer onto nature? Consent? Tolerance? Reciprocity?

No matter how hard you try, a fish, a river, or a patch of soil can’t grant consent. It is impossible to ascertain if a streambank wants your trespassing footsteps. Even more so, you can not arrive at any sort of reasonable certainty that each and every fish you tempt is game for your angling.

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Podcast Ep. 62: Fly Shop Lost

A lot more goes into a good fly shop than some big-name decals on the windows.

Sometimes, a good fly shop has faded sign with a cartoon worm underneath the words “live bait.”

I’m not kidding. What makes a good fly shop is all about the soul on the inside. You need flies, rods, and all the miscellany to make it a store. But it is the people, and what they offer, who give it soul.

On this episode of the podcast, I recount some formative fly fishing experiences from an unlikely angling location.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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Bears. Bugs. Bows.

Bears can’t open car doors. Even if a bear could get into the car, a black bear couldn’t do it so fast that we couldn’t start the engine and escape. And a black bear wouldn’t hang on to the roof like James Bond as we swerved down the mountain.

I could close my eyes and try to get some sleep.

But what if I had to go to the bathroom?

My eyes popped back open.

We had driven hours and hours from suburban DC to a weird and wild part of the Mid Atlantic. It’s mountainous. It’s old mining country. Logging roads wind along rivers and up steep valleys and it’s easy to loose track of if you’re in Maryland, West Virginia, or Pennsylvania. And it’s rural. With a capital R.

Rural also meant big rivers. There were plenty of fine trout streams only a short drive from home. The vast majority were just that: streams. Creeks. Runs. I love those streams. Every now and again it is nice to be able to cast. More refreshing is to cast without thinking about being surrounded by trees. In that part of the country, you do have to get rural to find these big trout rivers.

It was so rural that the first two campsites were on roads our little Toyota Corolla couldn’t navigate. Brown signs with a-frame tent logos promised opportunities just down the path. But the paths were equal parts mud, roots, and tire-eating holes. Add in the darkening skies over a thick canopy, and we opted for another option.

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