Some Added Perspective

Fly fishing at the base of Glen Canyon Dam at Lees Ferry adds a perspective that is difficult to match. The forces of nature and a manmade engineering marvel create an atmosphere that draws on a variety of emotions. One that struck me was awe. The monumental size of the shear canyon walls and the BIG water that over time, carved the canyon we now fish in. What an experience.

Sage Fly Fishing School

Fly fishing gear manufacturer Sage announces that it has partnered with our friend Steve Parrott at The Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen, CO to offer The Sage Fly Fishing School - Rocky Mountain Region. From their press release:

Through multiple class options, Sage hopes to share with the public its passion for fly fishing while helping to increase participation in the sport. This partnership will offer new and seasoned anglers the opportunity to learn from experts.

“We want to share our committed passion for fly fishing with the public and part of that passion includes creating excitement about the sport,” comments Chris Andersen, Sales Manager for Sage. “Offering world class fishing schools is a great way to share our excitement for fly fishing with new and experienced anglers. Sage has selected The Blue Quill Angler as the site of our flagship fly fishing school because of the experience and talent they offer.”

The classes will have something for new and experienced fly anglers alike:

Sage Fly Fishing School courses include:

Fly Fishing 101: Students will spend two weekday evenings in the classroom and one full day on the water. Class size will be limited to six students with one instructor. Classes will be held weekly starting mid-April through September.

Fly Fishing 201: Students will spend one full day in the classroom and one full day on the water. Class size will be limited to eight students with two instructors. Classes begin May 14th and run through September 18th.

Advanced Casting School: Experienced anglers will spend one day with a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF)-certified fly casting instructor to focus on their technique. This is a full day class with 8 students.

Classes begin April 17th and are held through September 4th.For more information on any of these classes or to schedule a date, call 800-435-5353 or send an email to sageschools@bluequillangler.com You can also visit their website at www.bluequillangler.com

Steve is a fellow North Carolina Expat and an excellent fly fisher so if you find yourself heading to Colorado and need to know what flies are working be sure to stop by The Blue Quill and say hello.

High Quality CDC

I have recently acquired some high quality Cul de Canard from Romania - superb plumes with beautiful full and mobile barbs. With such a high quality product, it seemed a good idea to go back to basics and apply it to the CDC Loop emerger. These two versions hopefully epitomise the simplicity of the pattern - just thread, hare dubbing and CDC make up these two examples. I plan to have this CDC with me at the Swedish fly fair where I'll be suggesting some neat, simple ways to use this material to its full.



Hook: Varivas 2200BL-B #16
Thread: Hends Grall, tan
Abdomen: Hare, light natural
Thorax: Hare, dark natural
Wing: CDC, tobacco



Hook: Varivas 2200BL-B #16
Thread: Hends Grall, tan
Abdomen: Hare, light natural
Thorax: Hare, dark natural
Wing: CDC, grey- blue smoked

~Dave

Fat guys miss people too

Grandma, we will miss you. After years of fighting with Alzheimers, we are sad to see you go. We know it is for the better. I love you Grandma, you have done so much for this family, and never to be forgotten.

Hazel Kelly Deneen
June 2 1920- February 27 2010

Kyle- who really needs to hit a lake or a river

McCloud River Brown

The McCloud River may be famous for a pure strain of Rainbow and for its planting around the world. But the McCloud has a population of Browns that are also impressive.

Bugs of the Underworld

I have just been sent a copy of Ralph & Lisa Cutter's DVD 'Bugs of the Underworld'. It covers all the main groups of flies that we fly tiers are concerned about: Diptera, Trichoptera, Ephemerella, Plecoptera and Odonata (Zygoptera). The footage is simply superb and gives a real insight into, not only the lifecycle of these insects, but also their behaviour.

There is a link on youtube to give you a taster (although it's not my upload):


The more you can learn and experience of entomology (without a specific degree in it!), the more informed your fly tying can be. I am not suggesting that you have to know the classification names for each family or genus, but understanding the food of the fish you are trying to catch, realising how they behave under certain conditions and what this must look like from persepctive of the fish sould certainly further your success - both at the vice and the river.

The DVD has me asking some questions and confirming some answers. Simple, suggestive tying is definitely the key; but it has me pondering about colour of dry flies, translucency of shucks and the bouyancy of nymphs. Food for thought.

~Dave

Maine Striper Fishing 2010: Dominican Republic North Shore Report

Dominican Republic North Shore Report

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Lately the fishing in the D.R. has been getting alot of press....I recently had the chance to spend some time exploring the fishing around the north shore of the Dominican Republic...I spent 8 days fishing with a local panga Capt. and mate out of Sosua Bay...Sosua is conveniently located only 10-15 minutes east of the Puerto Plata airport.
It was my first trip to this area so this trip was largely exploratory...We fished mainly bluewater as the edge of the drop is in quite tight to Sosua. Dorado were the primary target and boy were they willing to eat...The locals have set up an extensive set of F.A.D's...under which the Dorado loved to gather...so thats where we mostly focused our efforts. Each day out we had a solid pick of Mahi between 30"and 50" also a few wahoo each day and as a bonus some "football" tunas on light tackle. One day we also had the treat of sight casting to smallish tripletail on the weedlines and flotsam.

The next trip...we'll focus on the inshore fishing and around some river mouths and the extensive reefs that line the coast....Snook, Tarpon, Jacks etc....stay tuned!!!



Call us today to plan your trip


Capt. George Harris
207-691-0745
www.superfly-charters.com

Beaver Ponds

It's amazing how a few beavers can alter and in many ways destroy a fishery. The Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, near Lake City, CO has been in constant flux from year to year. There are areas that have been forever changed due to the effects of these nocturnal rodents.

This is panorama we faced this morning...

Deep, delicious snow.

It's a bit deeper here than in the illustration.

If snow were bacon, mmmm....

Tough Day At The Office

Jared Griswold after a long day of catching trout.

Guidebeard of the Month: Kevin Lowe

Our latest award for Guidebeard of the Month goes to Kevin Lowe of Hatch Hunters Guide Service. It makes its appearance at the 19 second mark in this video. The Hatch Hunters have recently relaunched their website and can hook you up if you want to try for big brown trout on Tennessee's South Holston River.

Do you know a fly fishing guide who would be a candidate for Guidebeard of the month? Send your photos to us via editoratflyfishmagazine.com (replace at with@). Guides selected for this woolly award will receive a some free publicity and may be entered into some sort of yet to be determined facial hair "face off."

Pebble Mine Developers Fined for Improper Water Use

The developers behind the Pebble Mine Project in Alaska, will be paying a $45,000 fine for improper use of water at their drilling sites. Permits have been suspended. However, it probably won't last very long. The Anchorage Daily News reports:

The settlement followed a state-led investigation that began after the Pebble Partnership last fall reported using water from unauthorized locations. The settlement required the companies to pay $1,000 for each of 45 violations over the past three years.

The Department of Natural Resources wrote to the mining companies on Jan. 14 that the violations were "at a minimum, a trespass against the state's property and resource interests." While the violations didn't appear to cause environmental damage, the partnership breached state rules and its land-use permit.

The Swedish Fly Fair is fast approaching and I have just taken delivery of some superb CDC feathers which I'll be using at the fair. I'll tie some examples soon and show some photos.

~Dave

The Final Day

This photo is the epitome of what it is like on the final day of a week long trip, fly fishing in Colorado. Photo courtesy of Sean Wallentine. Well done!

Small Scenery

Some of the smallest things along a river are the most scenic.

Codename "Kitchen"

It pretty much speaks for itself.

The stimulus project is rapidly approaching its conclusion.

Total jobs "saved" 100, (6 direct and 94 indirect, ie. truckers, cabinet makers, glazers & etc.)

A glimpse of Spring?

The heavy rain forecast for today failed to materialise, so this afternoon Tim and David had an hour on the River Lyd trying for grayling. Tim had a beauty of 36 cms, plus a brace of unseasonable brownies, while David had a smaller grayling and another brace of trout. All were taken on deeply fished nymph patterns. The sky cleared and the air was noticeably mild, and with the pussy-willow breaking we thought it could have been a Spring day.

Even The Little Ones Are Fun

Beautiful Squaw Valley Creek Rainbow. Check out the par marks.

Found in the Urban Wild: Orvis Sighting

Sighted on Google Street View and rumored to be Orvis' PR Guru, James Hathaway unleashing his inner Easy Rider in Manchester VT. Since we are using him for blog post fodder we should probably include a link to the excellent Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast.

Blue line Lunch

Guide Profile

We had the opportunity to fish the Yellowstone area with fly fishing guide Brian Berry. We booked our trip through Bud Lilly's Trout Shop. Our day was spent learning the Madison River in the park. We fished the Barnes area and a few spots near the Madison Junction campground. Thanks Brian, we had a great time. Here's a pic of Brian with a beautiful Brown he landed while fishing a streamer late in the day.

A beauty from the Wylye being released:



... and gone!



~Dave

Headed to the dam....

April in Arizona can be unpredictable. We battled the rain and cold on our way to Glen Canyon Dam at Lees Ferry. It all paid off!

NC MFC can't see the forest...

... due to all the trees wearing rubber boots that keep jumping up in their faces. The Marine Fisheries Commision voted 5-2 AGAINST the gill net ban proposal that the Director of DMF, Dr Louis Daniel, had put out there. This will open up a whole can of whoop ass on NC commercial fishing. The gill netters have been catching turtles for years and not reporting, the state faces a lawsuit from turtle protection people, the Endangered Species Act mandates that the state do something about it. Dr Daniels proposes closing gill net fishing from May to December as something to placate the federal regulators. The commission votes it down. Can you see where this is headed? Don't be surprised if the National Marine Fisheries Service comes in to NC, takes over management of our fisheries and SHUTS DOWN all flounder and/or gill net fishing entirely. Way to be short sighted people. You've made your bed, now go cut down the trees...or something like that.

Capt. Gordon

http://captgordon.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/nc-mfc-messes-up-again/

Date Change?

Hey guys at the West Branch Resort; What up with this?

From the Fly Fishing Film Tour Schedule:

River Run Restaurant, Independent Show
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
SIGN UP FOR THE DRAKE TO RECEIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR DATE AND TIME CHANGES.
Doors Open: 6:30PM
Show Starts: 7:00PM
150 Faulkner Rd
Hancock, NY 13754

Link:  http://www.flyfishingfilmtour.com/Schedule/

Hill's Discount Flies

Here's a plug for Hill's Discount Flies. They are a great online source for flies and it's been my experience that orders can arrive within 4 to 5 days after placing an order.

Friday Bacon IPhone App.

You can almost smell the bacon...



I can't stop watching!

Should Felt Soles Be Banned?

Click here on Felt Soles to read a Field and Stream article about the possibility of banning felt soled wading boots. If this is the case, does anyone need a pair of worn Chota wading boots? CHEAP!

True Love

Even though Valentine's Day is past, love is still in the air for this fly fisher and a Conejos River Brown Trout.

VFG Bulletin Board

In addition to all the daily posts to the Virtual Fly Guides Blog, there is a VFG Bulletin Board. This is where fly fishers can post reports by region, watch podcasts, and stay up to date with what's happening in the fly fishing world. By posting reports, videos, and/or photos, fly fishers can become a Virtual Fly Guide and share their experiences like a guide would. Our motto is "Fly fishers guiding each other by sharing their personal reports". Also, the VFG Bulletin Board allows all visitors to login and create their own profile.

Join us and become a Virtual Fly Guide!

Click here on VFG Bulletin Board to visit us now.

Limited edition fly lines coming soon...

A limited range of lines will be available from the hotel from early March. Made in the UK and tailored to fishing small rivers, the lines have evolved from many prototypes used and abused by the hotel instructors and regular rods last season.

Our particular favourite is the 'PR Sink-Tip'. PR stands for 'Peal Remover' and - in our view - it's the perfect night sea trout line for small rivers. It's a white floating line that features a 4ft neutral-density tip (dark-olive coloured) to get the fly down a few inches deeper and avoid any wake which can and will spook fish on our westcountry streams. Unlike many sink tips, it turns over very smoothly without the noticeable clunky 'hinging' of some; this both gives a more stealthy touchdown on the water and aids all-important accuracy. At the same time, the tapers have been tweaked to handle our usual size 4 to 8 wet flies, as well as bulky 2-3 inch surface lures. The thicker-than-usual running line allows for more efficient mending and easy handling (ie little tangling!) at night.
Most importantly, (and without wanting to waffle on with the usual maketing man's jargon) they do the job they were made for, and we're happy with them.
Bring on those jumbo June sea trout.

The PR Sink-Tip will be available in WF 6 and WF 7.
Olive-coloured, floating river lines will be available in WF 4 and WF 5.
A white-coloured, 'standard' floating line will be available in WF 6.
The price is likely to be around £30 per line.
Orders are being taken now, and only 20 of each line (in each line rating) will be available for the time being.

Arizona Apache

Arizona Apache Trout

Fly Fishing with Darth Vader

Check out the review via the DC Register.

Johnny Spillane

From Steamboat Flyfisher:

Johnny is a patient, fun and tremendously knowledgeable guide. He catches fish in areas where most wouldn't even try, as he is a creatie and thorough angler. A Steamboat native, Johnny is very familiar with the vast fishing options in Northwestern Colorado. When not on the river or bow hunting in the woods, you'll find Johnny training for his "day job", leading the Nordic Combined US Ski Team. Soon to be a four time Olympian and a past World Champion, Johnny is a driven athlete with a passion for the outdoors.

 

His silver medal in the Nordic combined normal hill event Sunday marked the first time the Americans had ever climbed the Olympic podium in the sport dominated since its inception by the Europeans.

 

Spillane is wearing bib #4

Not bad for a Yampa fishing guide?

I was making my way through some photos when I came across some from a trip to the Dorset coast a few years back. Enjoying a pint in the pub, we noticed white-bait being chased into the shingle beach - a sure sign of mackerel shoals. A quick run back to pick up a rod, and the excitement commenced, searching for the fish.





Not long before they showed themselves again, a quick cast through the gusting head wind, followed by some fast retrieving, it was not long before I hooked a fish. They may be small, numerous and easy to catch, but on light tackle they can provide some great sport. This could be the best way to get someone into fly fishing.





What's more, it gave a few fish for the barbeque - and they don't get fresher than that!

~Dave