Posts
Hulsey Lake, AZ Fly Fishing Report
April 25, 2011
Fly fished from my float tube at Hulsey Lake near Alpine, Arizona. It's a small lake and got pushed around by the wind. Spent a few hours kicking around and caught 4 rainbows around 14 inches. All of the fish landed were on the amber and brown VFG Nymph size 16 trailing a black Wooly Bugger. Some of my fly fishing buddies broke away from their annual turkey to join me.
Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ
Maine Striper Fishing With Capt George Harris & Super Fly Charters
Some decent Striped Bass fishing reports are coming in from southern New England...The herring runs have started to fill in here in Maine, which sets the stage for the Striper migration to begin in the mid coast region of Maine...We'll begin to see some Striped Bass activity on the Kennebec river starting by the end of May and from then on it'll continue to get better as we move into June....On the nearshore ledges cod will start to stack up in big numbers...and my lobstermen buddies will soon be taking some nice sized halibut off gravel bottom areas...I'm looking forward to seeing some fillets very soon...lets hope for some warm weather to help get our saltwater fishing season kicked off strong!!! Just a rminder that we have some availability this may for Merrymeeting Bay Carp fishing...My friend Dan R. recently landed a nice one, well over 10 pounds probably over 15#...A very nice and catch on his 5wt!!! Freshwater fishing also is starting to improve greatly here in Maine. In the streams and rivers, trout are biting well...I have a few friends that have been hammering the rainbow trout in a tiny midcoast maine tailwater, streamer flies and tiny swimming plugs have produced....Spring in Maine is also the time of year when you see many anglers in tin boats trolling streamer flies & wobbling spoons along the shorelines of many of our lakes and ponds...this accounts for some great catches of Brown Trout, Brook Trout and landlocked Salmon. Bass, Northern Pike and Panfish are beginning to wake up in the lakes and ponds...best reports have come from those who have been fishing over dark weedy bottoms as those areas seem to warm up faster...
For those who haven't gotten the yard work done...you better hurry up!!! May is an awesome month to be outdoors & the Fishing in Maine is about to really get cranking
Maine' Premier Saltwater Fishing Guide Service
Super Fly Charters
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
Super Fly Charters Facebook Page
www.superfly-charters.com
For those who haven't gotten the yard work done...you better hurry up!!! May is an awesome month to be outdoors & the Fishing in Maine is about to really get cranking
Maine' Premier Saltwater Fishing Guide Service
Super Fly Charters
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
Super Fly Charters Facebook Page
www.superfly-charters.com
Bee Gees Jam
Here's one for the Johno.
His favorite, jam band, combined with Stew's favorite, the Bee Gees. Does it get any better than this?
Well?
His favorite, jam band, combined with Stew's favorite, the Bee Gees. Does it get any better than this?
Well?
Turkey Hill Brewery
Visited the new micro-brewery adjacent to The Inn at Turkey Hill tonight.
Stew was so busy he couldn't return my phone call, but Crazy Craig was there.
Tried the Dubbel, Belgian Ale and Belgian Blond, and all were better than expected.
Had a burger which was quite tasty as well.
Witnessed the desert of the apocalypse, a porter ice cream on porter beer float. Didn't try, salivated instead.
Do try this at home! Queue sounds of angels in awe of the awesomeness that is this all beer desert.
Stew was so busy he couldn't return my phone call, but Crazy Craig was there.
Tried the Dubbel, Belgian Ale and Belgian Blond, and all were better than expected.
Had a burger which was quite tasty as well.
Witnessed the desert of the apocalypse, a porter ice cream on porter beer float. Didn't try, salivated instead.
sea ducks
dreamed about it, woke up and did some illustrations... all 4 species can be seen around boston harbor during the winter...
Fly Fishing Report from An Irish Angler
Easing away from the beach around 16.30pm a strong north easterly breeze was blowing down the lake producing a nice wave. Heading towards the boathouse shore, Gary and I aimed to work a drift close to the tree line on the assumption that terrestrial flies would be blown onto the water. Gary fished a wet cell three with a Bibio on the top dropper followed by a Connamara Black and an Alexandra on the point, whereas I fished a floating line with a Bibio on the top followed by a Watsons and a Wicklow Killer on the point.
Lough Dan is home to free rising wild mountain trout averaging 6 - 8 ozs, plump and dark they fight well above their weight. Closest to the bank, about ten meters out, I connected with the first trout who took the Watsons. Sprightly and game on that first drift I landed four trout to Gary's one. We both rose a number of fish and close to a rock at the end of the drift I brought up one of the Lough's biggies but failed to set the hook. Motoring up for the second drift it became apparent that the breeze was easing.
This time around roles were reversed with Gary landing four trout to my one. Again plenty of trout rose to the flies, some head and tailing which was great fun to watch. On connecting the trout would jump clear, tail walk, and bore deep, great sport the action was non stop that is until the wind died. It took a while, we managed to eke out another drift, but by 19.00pm the lake was mirror calm and the trout lost interest. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains it got decidedly chilly so we called it a day. Twelve trout to the boat and plenty of rises, a typical Lough Dan foray.
Capt. Paul Rose on the Itnerant Angler Podcast
FlyfishMagazine contributor and guy we enjoy carp fishing with is making an appearance on Zach Matthew's Itinerant Angler podcast. If you have ever thought about chasing "golden bonefish" on the fly you should check it out.
Temperatures are due to drop a little next week, and due to the clear skies, it is forecast that there will be a few frosts. The Wellow yesterday evening seemed a little still with very few fish showing themselves, and I wondered if this was a change in air pressure creeping up on us earlier than expected. Looking at the sunshine today, perhaps not. The River Chew was certainly more forgiving this morning. Faced with these less than ideal conditions, it is worth keeping your options open, choosing the 'Duo' ( New Zealand style, nymph and dry fly).
Easter Sunday evening, on the Wellow:
Vince makes a cast into some deeper water.
Easter Sunday evening, on the Wellow:
Vince makes a cast into some deeper water.
Eventually, a fish fooled by the size 18 tungsten PTN, comes to hand:
A fighting fit, wild brown trout:
Fishing the River Chew this morning for just an hour or so, it was a slightly different story. Although there were only a few fish willing to rise, they were clearly feeding well and the duo worked its magic again, finding fish in all the likely looking haunts.
A good, solid lump that was eager to take me into all the roots ~ a healthy bend in a #1 rod...
Another beatifully marked fish, this time falling for the dry fly:
The tungsten PTN was working well, getting down the to fish quickly:
Another fish on the dry fly, this time an example with a paddle like tail:
~Dave
Enjoy Boston Symphony Orchestra
Last Friday, me and Bob went to the Boston Symphony Orchestra together to enjoy the wonderful Opera from Bach "St. John Passion" (1749 version). I am always a big fan of Bach's music, but I haven't get into his Opera that much...so a bit nervous at very beginning... well... It was a quite a astonishing experience... the acoustical effect in the hall is amazing! The performance almost take my breath (conducted by Masaaki Suzuki, BSO)! During the concert, I had to remind myself "this is real" while listening those beautiful harmony rhyme. Thank you Bob for offer me the great opportunity! My soul is enriched after this concert and I am sure I will be back VERY soon! : )
The VFG Nymph **Available May 1, 2011**
The VFG Nymph will be tied in amber, brown, olive, red, and rust. These midges will be tied in sizes 14 and 16. The VFG Nymph will be available for $1.25/each plus shipping.
You can make your purchase in the VFG Store and use PayPal to complete your order.
Devon Trout Fishing
Summer has come early in Lifton and scorching temperatures with no rain to speak of mean that the rivers are currently at a very low level. Insect hatches are gradually picking up and the trout are beginning to come to life. Nymph fishing is currently producing most of the fish (with regular Mike Haines landing 26 to 9in yesterday evening, but dry flies fished in the shaded areas are also worth a cast or two.
Given two or three weeks (and ideally some rain!) we should see the onset of peak trout fishing on our rivers at The Arundell Arms.
Given two or three weeks (and ideally some rain!) we should see the onset of peak trout fishing on our rivers at The Arundell Arms.
Scott Howell's Squidro
Scott Howell’s Squidro Flies are now availableApril 20, 2011 (San Francisco, CA): Scott Howell’s new steelhead fly pattern, the Squidro, is now available for purchase exclusively at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters. Swinging for steelhead will never be the same.
New Thinking: Tirelessly tinkering with ways to catch more steelhead on the swing, Scott Howell has taken the proven intruder fly pattern and incorporated new materials that bring the best out of the intruder design. The result is the Squidro - a resilient fly that offers more fish-catching options to the steelhead angler, regardless of the fishing conditions.
Materials: Unlike traditional steelhead flies, which primarily use natural materials, the Squidro pattern incorporates rubber legs. The rubber legs not only offer a broader array of color options, they also provide added flash, a bigger fly profile, lifelike underwater action and improved durability. The brighter colors and faster sink rate of the Squidro allow steelhead anglers to fish water that was previously considered “blown” (off color and high).The Options: Scott’s Squidro pattern options have all your steelhead conditions covered. When fishing for fresh sea-run fish, the Squidro “Sea Food Series” provides more life-like color options for hungry fish, fresh from the ocean salt. When fishing summer-run steelhead, the “Summer Series” is sized slightly smaller with lighter-weight eyes and with more subdued colors. The “Winter Series” is larger with a more pronounced profile. The heavier-weighted eyes keep the fly down deep in the strike zone, while the brighter colors make the fly noticeable, even in darker water.
The Man: Scott Howell’s passion for steelhead began at a very young age. His singular dedication to this fish has elevated his name as one of the foremost fly fishing guides for steelhead. Based in Oregon, Scott puts his clients on the best runs of the best rivers year round as the season dictates. Scott walks the fine line of staying true to the heritage of fly fishing, while always pushing the envelope in tackle, flies and techniques.
The Fish: The steelhead is truly the fish of a thousand casts. Finicky by nature and challenging to catch, the wild Pacific steelhead returns to some of the most beautiful rivers on earth. If you haven’t fished for steelhead before, you should. If you already do and want to increase your catch, make sure to try Scott Howell’s Squidro.
Bottom Line: The Squidro Series steelhead flies provide an unmatched combination of profile, movement, sink rate, castability, durability, and versatility.
About Leland: For 26 years, Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters has serviced fly anglers from around the world with their proven education program, innovative fly fishing gear selection and travel destinations. Scott Howell will be visiting the Leland Sonoma Ranch for his annual steelhead weekend. Be sure to check with Leland for dates and rates.
Contact: Burke White at burke@flyfishingoutfitters.com or 415-781-3474
Squidro Fly Review
Skagit Master: Steelheading Outside the Box
Scott Howell Video
Spey Rods
Switch Rods
Contest: Design Your Dream Fishing App
Montana Fly Company is running a contest that rewards the creative mind that comes up with the ultimate fishing app for your favorite smart phone. You can win some fish skin for your hip. Check out their blog for details:
Here are a few examples of new apps that we think would be awesome before, during and after a fishing trip.
1. An app that knows if you’ve forgotten something like your cooler, rod or waders.
2. An app that will create a slideshow of your fishy grin n’ grip pics and display them like a projector on the back wall at the local bar.
So get after it! What app would you like to see in your wildest dreams? The best one (we judge) is the winner!
1. An app that knows if you’ve forgotten something like your cooler, rod or waders.
2. An app that will create a slideshow of your fishy grin n’ grip pics and display them like a projector on the back wall at the local bar.
So get after it! What app would you like to see in your wildest dreams? The best one (we judge) is the winner!
April? Really? It feels more like the middle of August with high temperatures and low flows on the rivers. These conditions are tricky; usually some heavy flies on a short line pitched through the deeper runs are the order of the day during these early weeks of the season, but the last few days have seen the need for dry flies and small nymphs, cast to targetted fish. Spooky ones too - they simply will not tolerate any disturbance - and when you see a few fish bolting downstream of you, depsite your deftest casts and subtle foot steps, the thought must cross your mind of how many have dispersed upstream and just skewed your next pool? Challenging!
However, it would be all too easy to wait for better conditions and I have had the pleasure to fish and chat with some super characters this week. Plus we caught a few fish:
A tough evening with Nick S on Wednesday, but we both managed a couple of fish each and moved many more. Fish were taking midge and it was a Shuttlecock emerger (#18) that did the business:
Nick takes a fish as darkness begins to fall, and the fish grew in confidence:
Another well marked wild fish for Nick:
A small fish for me to an emerger:
Nick casts into a likely looking run. Incredibly, many of the typical spots seemed devoid of fish; the brighter conditions forcing them to seek sanctuary in the deeper pools:
Crystal clear waters:
Thursday was a 'Let's Tackle Cancer' charity day with myself and Vince Brandon guiding Peter Anderson and Pete Tyjas in some very tricky bright and warm conditions:
Peter Anderson makes a great cast into a bubbling pool:
The end of the beat found a fish for Peter just before lunch:
Pete Tyjas hooks a lump and that flexes his cane rod:
Pete extends to het the line off the water as he guides the duo through a fast, deep pool:
A small fish for me (by accident!):
Pete T throws a nice cast into some very glassy water. Nice loop Pete! Narrow enough for you?
A great couple of days. Thanks to all.
~Dave
Pete extends to het the line off the water as he guides the duo through a fast, deep pool:
A small fish for me (by accident!):
Pete T throws a nice cast into some very glassy water. Nice loop Pete! Narrow enough for you?
A great couple of days. Thanks to all.
~Dave
SIMMS Shootout
Fly Fishing Mystery Theater from RA Beattie on Vimeo.
Simms Fishing Products hosted the 1st Annual Ice Out Shoot Out video competition. Four groups of film makers were invited to Bozeman MT and given a deadline of 2.5 days to shoot, edit and deliver short film, (6 min max.) The rules - Must stay in MT, everything had to be shot within the two and a half day window, and it had to include the special prop, a shot glass with the classic Simms logo.
Aside from the handholding grabassery, an amusing film worthy of wasting 6 minutes on.
Islamorada Salt Water Fly Fishing Legend...
Billy Pate passes on at age 80.
Pate, an Islamorada resident, held the world record for the largest tarpon caught on fly rod for nearly 20 years — a 188-pounder on 16-pound tippet in Homosassa in 1982. He also was the first angler to catch all six of the world’s billfish species on fly rod.
Pate was born Sept. 18, 1930, in Greenville, S.C. Pate's easygoing personality charmed his fellow anglers and guides. Pate was renowned for freely sharing his fly-fishing knowledge at seminars, fishing clubs, and on videos.
They don't make many like that!
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/
Pate, an Islamorada resident, held the world record for the largest tarpon caught on fly rod for nearly 20 years — a 188-pounder on 16-pound tippet in Homosassa in 1982. He also was the first angler to catch all six of the world’s billfish species on fly rod.
Pate was born Sept. 18, 1930, in Greenville, S.C. Pate's easygoing personality charmed his fellow anglers and guides. Pate was renowned for freely sharing his fly-fishing knowledge at seminars, fishing clubs, and on videos.
They don't make many like that!
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/
employing your vision
It is always the same when I close my eyes:
The popper bounces along.
chug.
The sun is bright in the southern sky and I can feel my skin burning an outline around my sunglasses. The line feels thick and heavy, tacky between my fingers.
chug.
There should be fish here. There should be fish everywhere and maybe I have caught a few but maybe I have just arrived. I can't be sure.
chug.
I don't hear wind, breathing, water, birds. All is silent. There is no soundtrack, no special effects, no foley.
chug.
Sometimes I manifest a take, a splash, a tight line that sends little diamond sparkles when it stretches taught away from the surface.
Other times I don't and the popper just floats, over and over through the same ripples and the same dancing sunlight through the same three of four seconds of river. Three or four seconds is not a lot of river when you think about it. It would be asking quite a bit for a willing fish to reside in those seconds. But all it takes is one. One second of flowing water to make a difference. Sometimes you wait days, months, years for that one second.
Sometimes it never comes. But on the good days it does.
chug.
Maine Saltwater Fishing Reports With Capt. George Harris & Super Fly Charters
Maine Striper Fishing Guide 2011
Next Month Striped Bass Will Be Migrating Into Maine Waters...Cod will be stacking up on the ledges...Many Other Coastal Species Will Become Active As The Water Warm's...We Will Be Ready For Them All!!! As you can see in the pics, Striped Bass can be ferocious in the way they take a fly...Early last June, this Kennebec River striper took Chris Oliver right to the corks on his G.Loomis GLX 9wt...this would happen many, many times that morning!!! If you would like to give Striped Bass fishing in an amazing setting a try,
Please give us a jingle @ 207-691-0745.
Beginning next month we'll be on the water night & day...We'll get the fish dialed in and we'll keep them dialed in. That's the benefit of fishing with a full time saltwater fishing guide...
We are also looking for marina space for the 21 Parker, Most likely this will be somewhere on the lower Kennebec watershed...We will still be offering trips in different regions, that we'll access by taking advantage of the numerous public boat launches that are spread across the Maine coast...We have the choice of two boats that we can fish from....
We mostly fish from the 21' Parker "Super Fly". Without a doubt, it's the most versatile fly & light tackle skiff for fishing the rugged Maine coast...When the need arises, we'll also be fishing from a smaller, lighter 17' hybrid flats skiff equipped with a poling platform...
We have some availability next month for "Trash Can Tarpon" aka Carp fishing on the pristine flats of the Merrymeeting bay estuary, These brutes range over a wide variety of habitat in the Kennebec system and can be targeted using a variety of fly & light tackle techniques. I also have some late May dates open for early season Striped Bass fishing. For the bottom bashers out there...Cod fishing begins to heat up next month, which directly corresponds to the spring Herring runs...As the herring move into the tidal rivers, Hungry Striped Bass won't be far behind!!! Some of the largest wild life migrations on the planet occur each spring and fall as staggering numbers of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and sea birds move up and down the western Atlantic seaboard...We feel truly blessed to have been able to carve out our own place in this migration path..If you are interested in joining us as we chase the tide & work our way up through the food chain, please give us a call for more info.
Maine' Premier Saltwater Fishing Guide Service
Super Fly Charters
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
Super Fly Charters Facebook Page
www.superfly-charters.com
Please give us a jingle @ 207-691-0745.
Beginning next month we'll be on the water night & day...We'll get the fish dialed in and we'll keep them dialed in. That's the benefit of fishing with a full time saltwater fishing guide...
We are also looking for marina space for the 21 Parker, Most likely this will be somewhere on the lower Kennebec watershed...We will still be offering trips in different regions, that we'll access by taking advantage of the numerous public boat launches that are spread across the Maine coast...We have the choice of two boats that we can fish from....
We have some availability next month for "Trash Can Tarpon" aka Carp fishing on the pristine flats of the Merrymeeting bay estuary, These brutes range over a wide variety of habitat in the Kennebec system and can be targeted using a variety of fly & light tackle techniques. I also have some late May dates open for early season Striped Bass fishing. For the bottom bashers out there...Cod fishing begins to heat up next month, which directly corresponds to the spring Herring runs...As the herring move into the tidal rivers, Hungry Striped Bass won't be far behind!!! Some of the largest wild life migrations on the planet occur each spring and fall as staggering numbers of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and sea birds move up and down the western Atlantic seaboard...We feel truly blessed to have been able to carve out our own place in this migration path..If you are interested in joining us as we chase the tide & work our way up through the food chain, please give us a call for more info.
Maine' Premier Saltwater Fishing Guide Service
Super Fly Charters
Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
Super Fly Charters Facebook Page
www.superfly-charters.com
Patagonia Music
http://www.patagonia.com/us/media/music
Patagonia Music?! What the heck?! A outfitter become a music shop?
well... see what they say about "buy a song benefit the environment..." LINK
Buy a song, benefit the environment. Patagonia has teamed up with a diverse group of world-class musicians to help protect and restore our natural environment. The musicians donate an exclusive song, you buy some great music on iTunes® and non-profit environmental groups receive much-needed funds. See all Benefit Tracks
Hooked
Between Greg Pearson and the boys at Whistler Fly Fishing, they have got me hooked on steelheading. Swinging flies for winter steelhead is very addicting. I am now craving my next trip up to BC to swing some more flies. I was fortunate to land two fish in two day with these guys! Here are the pics from fish number one.
More coming from day two!!