Glam Rock & Golden Rainbows

December 21, 2020

The first fish was a fat palomino. They’re bright anyway. Too bright. Unnaturally bright. Genetically modified bright, in fact. This one came out from underneath a tangled mess of roots against the bank to nail a small white streamer. Palominos get picked on. This fish had apparently had enough and it took it out on my fly. The muted orange and yellow from the tannic water hid the brilliance of the hatchery monster. I’d caught palominos before, but never in the middle of a dark winter day. The fish shone like the sun.

But I’ve got too much pride as a fly fisher to go on too much about palominos.

The next few fish weren’t caught on the little white streamer. They fell prey to a #28 cream midge. Certain times of the year I have to fish dry flies. It is a period that begins in January and extends right up until after Christmas. And the smaller, the better. I figure there is some kind of advantage to tying on something most other anglers are too smart to mess with in frigid temperatures. Get noticed by standing out in the crowd. Which, in this instance, means blending in with all the real bugs. It is a bit of a contradiction. But fish aren’t smart enough to pronounce “oxymoron” – let alone grasp the concept.

You Can Never Go Wrong With Flies

December 16, 2020

Gift-giving season is upon us. When done right, it is a very special opportunity. Strip away the stress and the commercialism and the price tags. What are you left with? A chance to find something that will make somebody smile. If that person is a fly fisher, flies may very well do the trick.

Flies are everywhere. Flies are inexpensive. Flies are fun. Flies are necessary.

Even if the person you’re buying for has thousands upon thousands of flies already in their possession, a few more aren’t going to hurt. In fact, their next favorite pattern might be something they have never owned before… but it is something that you’ll give them.

Could the flies you tie turn out to be stinkers? Maybe. Could the knowledgeable and helpful shop employee pick out some flies that aren’t the most useful? Possibly. Are they going to be irredeemable? No. Not one bit.

And here’s a few reasons why:

The Swirl

December 14, 2020

Moving towards the water is always a mystery. Remember that fish live where they’re not supposed to live. The last place you’d expect might be suitable for a small population of something. That could mean a few fish to hand. It also might mean access to and knowledge of your own spot. Someplace you found.

Fish live in places that don’t make it into the guidebooks. Fish thrive in places that aren’t covered by any particular regulations. There are branches of rivers that aren’t on maps, ponds that won’t show up on satellite imagery, and entire creeks that haven’t seen a person in decades. We’re thorough. But nature is very big and we’re very limited. Even in the 21st century, we’re very limited.

Of course the unfortunate inverse is also true. Streams that should hold fish don’t. It could just be the unseen ecosystem. It could be pollution, overfishing, or a near-infinite combination of negative influences. Still, it is always a mystery. The guidebooks and state agencies may say one thing. The truth may be something entirely different.

Podcast Ep. 109: Wintertime Fly Fishing Time, Part 1

December 11, 2020

The calendar should not and can not dictate your fly fishing.

Sure, the water might be frozen over. Maybe it is even illegal to fish in certain months where you live. There is a chance that you hate being cold.

Still, you can stay plugged in to fly fishing and everything that entails.

This week, I talk about three things you can do in the “off-season” to keep those fly fishing connections all winter long.

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

Writing Fly Fishing, est. 2001

December 9, 2020

My wife and I both enjoy books. Too much, maybe. We’ve got large built-in shelves in our living room. My office is organized so that I am wrapped in bookshelves. There are two more extra sets of shelves in the spare bedroom. That is where my second-tier, rarely consulted fishing books live.

I headed up there to find an old Trout Unlimited magazine. When I pulled on the clump of back issues, a notebook came along with it. It was a black and white composition book. I knew exactly what it was: a fishing journal from 2001.

2001 was an eventful year. I graduated high school and started college. I worked at a fly shop. I had my first saltwater fishing experience. I took my girlfriend (now wife) fly fishing for the first time. And I documented a good portion of that year in this composition book.

Fly Fishers are Different

December 7, 2020

Most fly fishers are different. Its the long rod and the thick line. Its the flourished casting such gear requires. Its the trappings and the stereotypes (and the counter-culture trappings and stereotypes within fly fishing). Day to day, we blend in with most normal folk. But on the water? That is where we’re different. We’re the outliers.

Why? Because we tend to not eat the fish we catch.*†

*Are there good reasons for catch and release? Yes.

†Are there fly fishers who do harvest trout and other species? Yes.

Generally, though: we throw them all back. We can probably wax eloquent about the pursuit. There are virtues and joys that come with the challenge and the safe return of our quarry. We should be able to articulate the best practices for conservation. Some ecosystems can only support anglers because of very conservative regulations. Talk that talk. But remember that most people in the world think that fishing results in harvesting.

Okay. Fishing results in killing and eating.

Podcast Ep. 108: Wading in the Footsteps of Giants

December 4, 2020

Unless the circumstances are exceptional, the pivotal men and women of fly fishing history can’t offer you hands-on, in the stream instruction.

Their mentoring must occur in the pages of a book or journal; their words and deeds informing and influencing through a necessary medium. Whether you have a “real life” mentor or not, these insights and experiences are priceless. Lasting the test of time, the best of the best understood how to combine the what and the how with the who and the why.

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

3 Reasons to Fish High & Muddy Water

December 2, 2020

High water looks intimidating. But especially in the fall it should be reason for optimism.

Of course, high and off-color water has it’s drawbacks. Wading and access is more difficult. There is literally more water to fish. Regular holes and targets may be impossible to reach. Every one of those concerns is valid. In fact, depending upon the significance of the changed conditions it might be unsafe to even try to fish. However, every one of those concerns has a positive side as well.

Late season rainfall and snowmelt present a few great opportunities for fly fishers because they create opportunities for fish.

Again, don’t let high and muddy water intimidate you. Here’s 3 reasons why you should see bad conditions as a good thing:

Going & Giving Tuesday

November 30, 2020

Charity shouldn’t be compulsory, but you should be charitable.
Financial contributions are often very helpful for nonprofits, but they’re not what they need the most.

A lot of good is done through the Giving Tuesday initiative. And the organizations who benefit from a surge of giving certainly aren’t going to turn their nose up at any support they may receive. Furthermore, an end-of-the-year reminder that prompts someone to offer up a contribution that might have tax benefits is ultimately a win-win.

Still, I stand by the two statements at the beginning of this article.