Trout Quixote: Seven

I had the morning to myself. While on a family trip in Northern Virginia, I could have easily found my way to some amazing fly fishing opportunities. Feisty mountain brook trout. River smallies on topwater flies. Thick spring creek browns. While there is no such thing as a done deal in fly fishing, each of those options probably would have yielded fish. I’m familiar with all of them. I know the flies, the pools, and the fish.

But something else was on my mind.

Three years prior, while living in the area, I had hiked up a muddy river bank to access a small spring creek in search of wild trout. I failed. That failure had been camping out in the back of my mind all this time. It stood out from fish that I had missed or casts that I had messed up. Those memories were just  moments I couldn’t get back. This little spring creek was still there. I had another shot.

So that was my choice on that morning. The challenge outweighed the familiar.

The hike was the same. A hot, humid Virginia morning. A muddy, slick riverbank. Dense weeds and posted property kept me along the water. I had to climb over fallen trees and their accompanying jams. Dried in the summer sun, anything thinner than a man’s wrist would snap under any weight. Add in a few snakes, and it was slightly harrowing while carrying two rods.

One rod was for spring creek trout. The other was for anything swimming in the river. There was a lot swimming in that river. Panfish cracked at dragonflies. Bass sent baitfish skittering across the surface. And there were more common carp than I have ever seen in my entire life. I’m glad I brought the larger rod, but I quickly realized that it was a distraction that was going to keep me from making upstream progress.

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Podcast Ep. 88: Trout Mission – Accomplished

There is one fish that I have been trying to catch for nearly 20 years. It isn’t a specific fish, per se, but any  rainbow trout out of a particular stream.

This week I caught that fish.

It was a little fish. Really little. But that is okay. After numerous failed attempts (some of which resulted in law enforcement intervention), it was immensely satisfying to catch and release this one trout.

How can one little fish be so hard to catch? And why would I have some quixotic obsession with it? Let me tell you about it.

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

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Trout & Feather: July

This month on Trout & Feather, my post is called Fly Fishing Past. There are also some great tying tutorials to be found, including the “perfect” jig nymph.

Where is the farthest point upstream you’ve fished on your favorite river? What do you think is a little past that? And, if you were being adventurous, what do you think you’d encounter if you went even a little bit more?

As a general rule, the pools and deep runs that are within a short walk from the parking lot get fished hard. The water looks great. It seems like it might be productive. Styrofoam worm cups and Bud Lite cans are often serve as the fishing report. Only five or ten minutes up into the mountains and things change. The literal quiet is accompanied by a sense of quiet. The trails get narrower. The signs of people disappear.

Then, there are fish.

Watch the videos, and find a link to the article, below:

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Fixing Fly Fishing Failure: 3 Thoughts

Just over three years ago I visited a stream that I had fantasized about for decades. Decades. It isn’t on the other side of the world. It isn’t even across the country. In fact, I’ve crossed over it hundreds of times. The access just so happens to be a bit on the restrictive side. As in none.

So how did I find myself on this particular creek? A lot of poring over maps, researching property lines, and hiking. Some class A quickest-way-between-two-points is muddy, weedy, and steep hiking.

But when I got there I struck out. Not a fish. They’re there and I know they’re there. I’ve seen them during reconnaissance. Rainbows, primarily. Smallish, but healthy and (this is the important part) naturally reproducing. All of this data was gathered sans trout in hand. I pulled out all of my usual tricks for the situation I was in. I bounced small streamers through the deep pools. I splatted little foam beetles under overhanging trees. I even resorted to tightline nymphing a hare’s ear. Still nothing.

This week I intend on retracing my steps. Part of me thinks it is foolish. More of me wants to catch something in that little spring creek. Consequently, instead of fantasizing about the fish I’ll catch I’ve been strategizing about how to catch them. Here are  three things I’ve been thinking about that ought to help me on that creek – but should translate to any failure you or I have had on the water:

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Podcast Ep. 87: Sneak a Little Fishing In

If you can negotiate some time on the water, then you should absolutely sneak some fishing into your family trip.

Want my advice? Don’t bring what you would normally bring on a fishing trip. Pack lighter. Be it out of necessity or simply to keep the peace, choose what you’re hauling along with coolers, strollers, and scooters wisely. Even if you are flying and going solo, there should be a minimized method to your madness.

Today on the podcast, I talk through fitting fly fishing into trips. Specifically, I discuss packing theory. (Packing theory sounds like a 21st century college major, doesn’t it? I think I could teach in such a program…)

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

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Fun in Spite of the Sun

I don’t like the sun.

…let me qualify that statement: I am very thankful for the  gravitational, thermodynamic, and myriad of other benefits that the sun provides to me and every other organism on this planet. However, I certainly don’t like sunburn and I’m not that fond of UV rays in general. Add to that the fact that I loathe sunscreen. I don’t like how it smells, feels, and stops working without warning. There might be detrimental health concerns for the stuff, too. That isn’t my top concern, but it isn’t helping it’s case.

That is quite the predicament for someone who enjoys fly fishing and the outdoors, isn’t it?

I want to stay outside, but I don’t want to get fried. I want to stay comfortable, but I realize that it is going be a relative comfort if I’m out in the elements.

So what do I do? Here’s five things. You know, in case you also have a hate/love relationship with the sun:

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The Bad Day Eraser

I’ve got the cure for a difficult day. And I don’t think it’s a presumptuous statement to assume that a lot of us are having difficult days. It isn’t anything chemical, expensive, or difficult itself. But what it does promise is some peace, some quiet, and some fun.

After work, after dinner, after the kids are in bed, go catch some sunfish.

Take your 3-weight, your 5-weight, or 7-weight. It really doesn’t matter that much. Forget packing up a fully loaded sling or vest. Just put a small box of poppers or foam dries in your pocket.

That’s it. That’s all you need.

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Podcast Ep. 86: Spinners, Scum Frogs, & Fly Fishing

I’m pretty confident that my audience is beyond the “fly fishing is the only kind of fly fishing!” thing.

Don’t get me wrong: I love fly fishing. 9 times out of 10, I’m fishing with a fly rod. But that “1” makes for plenty of opportunities. And I can honestly say that all of my time fishing with a fly has made me a better angler when I’m using spinning or baitcasting gear.

In this episode I talk about three ways that fly fishing techniques have honed and improved my time on the water… including using the wonderful lure that is the scum frog.

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

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Long, Light Fly Rods

Earlier this week I wrote about fishing long, light fly rods. Writing it  got me thinking about how incredibly practical and fun something like a 9′ 3-weight is for certain situations in trout fishing. Moreover, these are length/weight models that aren’t as common as shorter lightweight rods. Consequently, they’re not usually discussed.

I wanted to continue to explore ultralight rods that aren’t compact. I paged through the catalogs of all the major fly rod manufactures and compiled a list of all the available models that are rated for a 3-weight and under while also being at least 8′. They range in tapers, actions, and lengths (including some that are 10′!). They also range in price. You can add a rod like this to your arsenal for as low as $149 and as high as $975.

First, here are some questions that I wanted to address:

Aren’t 10’+ rods built for 2- and 3-weight lines common these days? I am aware that there are dozens upon dozens of 11′ and 12′ 3-weights out there today. But they are nymphing rods. They are designed for drifting weighted, subsurface flies and not for general fishing. Can you cast and drift a dry fly with these rods? Sure. But it isn’t what they’re  for.meant to do.

Why is 8′ the cutoff? I admit that it is arbitrary. But in my personal experience, casting and mending really start to improve at the 8′ mark. And in my research, most 2- and 3-weights are shorter than 8′. That makes those longer rods listed a little more unique.

Aren’t 4-weights light, too? Yes. In fact, I am sure that there are excellent 4-weights out there that feel “lighter in hand” and outperform some of the 3-weights listed. Two things: First, I’d suggest casting some 4’s alongside 3’s. There are a lot more of them out there, and a 4 might give you what you’re looking for. Second, 3 was another arbitrary cutoff. It is based upon the line designation, but also corresponds with a drop-off in availability.

Where are the glass rods? With a few minor caveats, every fly rod listed is made from graphite. Fiberglass is incredibly popular among ultralight aficionados. However, as a material it becomes more difficult to balance with longer weights and narrower tapers. It can be done, and some small-batch blank manufacturers achieve it. But among  the major fly rod labels, only two mix up the blank components: Blue Halo uses a graphite/glass mix, and Winston uses boron.

Below is an assortment of long, light fly rods available as of June, 2020. If there are any glaring omissions (with dozens upon dozens of small-batch rod makers, I know there are omissions), feel free to let me know. Also, if you own or have fished with one of the rods listed please share your experiences.

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3 Places to Fish Long, Light Fly Rods

Not every river yields twenty-inch trout with consistency. Especially in smaller waters, footlong fish are the norm. As contentment in fly fishing is subjective, trout like these are targeted and celebrated.

It is for good reason that fly fishers love to use light line weights for these trout. 4-weights and under are preferred when angling in medium to small creeks. They aid in casting and presentation.  Fighting smaller fish is also a more engaging experience. Often, light line weights are accompanied by short rod lengths. In the tight conditions of mountain creeks or headwater tributaries a 7’6″ rod (or much shorter) can come in handy.

Consequently, people buy short rods for their light lines but opt for lengths around 9′ for 5- and 6-weights. Depending on where you fish, you might want to consider adding a longer lightweight rod to your arsenal. Contemporary technology allows for well-balanced rods such as 8’9″ and even 9′ 3-weights. These rods are built to cast. They can still be used to flip a fly into a tight spot or dap in a plunge pool, but they’re uniquely capable of unrolling 50′  of light line. Plus, in the hands of a skilled angler they are able to handle a surprise twenty-inch trout.

Here are 3 situations that warrant a longer lightweight fly rod:

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