Fly Fishing And A Need For The Connection

For me, the moment of connection has all the magic I need.  If you were to go through an entire day on your favorite water there hopefully will be a total of two or three seconds that give that ultimate angling high.

Every aspect of our preparation and execution is based on achieving those few seconds.  Many years ago, growing up in a Northern New Jersey town, I was active in the local fishing Club.  Even as a teenager my dues gave me a part ownership in a cabin with land that lie a very short distance from the finest Catskill trout waters possible.  I saw my first Aurora Borealis  from our front porch.  An amazing movement of greens, reds and purple.  I can close my eyes and still see that mind expanding glow, the river from the porch, the smell of the fire and a feeling of joy from fifty years past.  My point is a bit vague, but real none the less.  


Those moments.  Those moments that time stands still and we are pinned to the memory of our Fathers, and there is no way you can lose it's grip.  No way.  No way.... 
So, during your next day of angling, as time moves between moments, and moments to possible connections, this is the time we must pro actively direct our mind to do what that moment is demanding.   The Northern Lights demanded I stand and watch in amazement.  The river called upon me to stand in it's waters.  The choices made at that moment determines what doesn't happen by chance. 


If one of the many things in your checklist is not perfect then make it so.  Never leave a wind knot in the middle of your leader.  Change the fly, lengthen the leader, change the weight or the line or whatever your mind commands it will take.  Allow yourself to be the master of the level you have achieved.  You have studied and learned and this precious day in your life just might be the one you were waiting for.  The one where your skill moves from luck to ability.  No matter what your, or my, ability there is always, till the day of days, more to absorb.


Tomorrow, I will cast my line with a heightened sense of purpose, as the waters of my youth demanded, and I will hope to capture but a few of those special seconds.


Tight lines......


William

Fly Tying Tip #110

Having bead heads to weight flies creates a front loaded and diving presentation.  Having weight distributed under the tying of a pattern can offer an even presentation or back weighted possibilities, especially on streamers.  Color coding with subtle differences in thread for the head of the fly offers the ability to tell heavy weighted flies from lightly weighted.  Create your code and just stay within a patterns range.  Red head left, Orange head right Aleene's Fusion Grubs.

Salmon River & New York Creek Steelhead In March

(Addendum)  March 20, 2011

When I wrote this post below, earlier this week March 16, it just was not making any sense to the reality of what was happening in New York.  I thought the snow pack and the warm days were changing what I knew from history.  

I wake up this morning checking reports and gauges and exactly what I know to be true is happening.  For safety sake I checked myself and held the post till today.  

During March, as we have seen over the last week or so, the steelhead rivers of New York State often swell with a pre-spring increase in flow.  Most anglers shy away from the big rivers and stay home.

This is a big mistake.  Now before you say how hard it is to fish on the Salmon River with flows in Pineville at 2000cfs and above, please consider the following.

The SR has so many places where islands and sharp turns create back eddies, slow deep holes and moderate flow locations close to the shore.  I emphasize "Close To Shore"  as the Salmon River is a dangerous place and has taken more than one life.  It is not a place to wade or cross in high water. When the multitude of anglers are enjoying a warm fire, and a wee dram, the steelhead are in mass moving to these easy to reach locations.  As soon as you get a falling river you seek out and fish these places. You will be doing a bit of walking and it might not be easy depending on the snow pack.  The trails should be well worn making some places easier than others.   I would not recommend this if it were in the fall.  The reason is simple.  The maximum number of Steelhead that the river will hold, for the entire season, builds during the month of March.  The fish are gathering to spawn and will need to find quite water close to the areas that are best to build their redds.  Bright ones are also coming every day as the river drops.

As soon as the river goes back to 1500cfs at Pineville, and the crowds start to return, you run as fast as you can to the creeks.  The high water creates March Madness in these places and will fish very well so long as additional melt doesn't cause the river to run cloudy.  The run is guaranteed and the pressure is light.  You will see other anglers and a few drift boats, but nothing like the crowds on the big river.  The biggest problem is the possibility of slush ice in the morning should the weather turn cold.  Hit the upper Salmon early if the night has been very cold and then make the drive after 10am.

Creek Steel in March is upon us now.  Don't spend a lot of time in one place and take advantage of this wonderful spate fishery.  You will be back on the SR and the crowds soon enough during early April for drop back season.

William

Fly Tying Tip #109

When I tie dry flies the last step is to soak them in a dry fly solution and hang to dry completely.  I string them on fine wire.  A good one is made by Loon and is called Hydrostop.

The advantage is that each fly is given the time to dry thus eliminating the need to slop on chemical stream side.  My fly change is faster because there is no application of floatant, no rapid waving line to dry the fly spooking fish and no tell tail oil stain around the fly on landing.

Big Atlantic Salmon dries float like corks!!!!

The Restigouche River Life Experience

The Restigouche River between Junction Pool(Kedgwick River)and the mouth of the Upsaquitch is one of the deepest secrets in the world of Salar. All private, very exclusive and for the most part extremely unavailable. Today however, there are a few camps that accept paying sports. Mostly these available times are shoulder dates, but if you try hard you can get some good quality time be it at a fairly substantial price.

Large, and I mean very large bright white salmon start to run the river in middle May. Many of these fish are headed straight to the headwaters. They are a special family of fish that are in every way as perfect as those of the Matapedia’s main tributary called Causapscal. Even some members of ‘The Club’ are now braving the elements at a time that was accustom to seeing only those hearty souls who fish the Kelts. This feast or famine early period is followed by a bit of a pause and then an increasing quantity of fish of all sizes will run from mid June through the weeks of July. So that forty pound white hot beauty is full well possible from mid May through the end of June.

I always believed the secrecy of the Restigouche was that the fishing was so prolific the rich and famous just didn't want to let us know about the rivers bounty. Maybe for fear the public will put extreme pressure on the great province of New Brunswick to open more of the water. Maybe because they just have no need to talk about it. In any case I played in the garden and fell in love.

Starting this past June 19, I had the great privilege to spend six days in "the zone". Our group of three released salmon every day. We were told the numbers of fish were way down and all the usual suspects were to blame. In the face of high water, a late season, nets and cool temperatures, we had some fair to good sport. They came in waves through out the day opening a window of anticipation that could last as little as ten minutes. We found takers in pods that we could get ahead of before they went by. The fish were on the move and were not resting for long periods of time. It reminded me of an October many years ago on the Nashawak River just on the edge of Fredericton, New Brunswick. We fished from the east bank of the Pig Farm Pool. This pool has a sharp bend that flows into a very long glide. Under the right conditions you could sit on the shore looking down river and when you saw them coming you made your casts. When they were past, you took a seat. And it was just that way fishing through the days of the Summer Solstice on the mystical Restigouche. We fished and watched the full moon rise over the waters and the feeling was that our time was passing far too quickly. This the longest lit day of 05’ was the turning point in a thirty six year life with Salar.

It took me until that moment in the week to realize that the true secret of this river of fingers is not only the magnificent fish. For sure pools like The Junction, Patamajaw, Pine Island and Home are some of the best fly water in North America. Put that together with all the splendor of some of the largest fish in North America and the package might seem complete. Yet there is something else that this mighty river offers. Something that relatively few anglers have felt. It is a higher power than mere fishing that the water, hills and sky whispers. Fishing is only one part of The Restigouche Life Experience. Without hesitation, I can tell you that this valley is one of the finest examples of river scenery and abundant wildlife I have ever seen. My experience is based on visits to public and private waters of over fifty rivers worldwide and includes some of the best pools on earth. I am certain the inner peace of this valley is what club membershave been so silent about. It is something more valuable than fish. It is serenity that I paid for.

A growing problem to a very private life.

The Restigouche Life Experience until recently was a very secluded and private adventure. The designation as a Canadian Heritage River seems to have opened the door of availability to many non fishing visitors. Although holding great similarities in the love of sky and water, this has become a substantial issue from the salmon anglers point of view. Over the last ten years, angling in seclusion is no longer a weekend sport. With no restriction of access, canoeing, kayaking and camping takes center stage each weekend, and encroaches increasingly throughout the week as the weather improves in July and August. The general public runs the river with as many as 300 boats that will pass through the hallowed pools on a Saturday or Sunday. The travelers we did see while fishing Sunday night through Friday, were courteous and respectful passing on the directed side. There was none of the excessive noise, oar banging or splashing that we feared. The jet boats and motor traffic is a far greater annoyance. Remember this was early season and the armada had not set sail. This inevitable future will change the angling environment forever. As more and more people realize the splendor of the Restigouche, and outfitting companies make access easier, the result will be less and less private time with the salmon.

If you are looking to catch fish alone, then the lower and upper Matapedia or Bonaventure in public sectors can be just as productive as the majority of the available water on the Restigouche. These and a number of other Canadian rivers in public, private and ZEC waters can offer you that 30 pound bullet you dream about. No need to spend such great sums for mere fishing. There are pools on other rivers that are just as wonderful and available through the November lotteries.

Then again, if your desire is to immerse yourself as I do in a magical playground, and you don’t mind sharing, then The Restigouche Life Experience might just be what you need. You will not be disappointed.

Looking forward, I hope my life will honor me with another trip to the River of White Light. A river that has taken hold of me and I pray will never let go.

Ask about the Restigouche River at flyspoke@gmail.com

Fly Tying Tip #108

Get one of these!!!!!!  It's called an Opti Visor and is made in the USA.  I was talking one day with one of my local tackle shop owners who happens to be a great salt water fly tier.  The discussion went to the Opti Visor and his comment was that after giving the Opti Visor a try he realized that the flies that he was showing proudly were not as high a quality as he thought.  Your tying will improve instantly when you put one on your head.  Get the highest magnification and it will be all you need.

Fly Tying Tip #107

Come on baby, let's do the twist.  Yea, let's think about thread control.  Not just the gauge but the way we use the thread.  First twist counter clock wise and see if you can find where the strand will be fully open.  You will find your thread to be wide and flat.  If you twist clockwise until it is tight you will find the thread to be narrow and taller.

Think about things like making the thread tight at the tail so unraveling can't happen.  Loose and flat through the middle of a body or when dubbing.  Thread can also make a fine looking rib on small flies when twisted tight.

Be creative with the style and size of your thread, there are so many choices to explore. Think floss.............

Are Strike Indicators Fly Fishing Equipment?????

Back in September I traveled to the Great North Woods in search of Landlocked Salmon and Brown Trout.  This is a wonderful time of year to be an angler of the fly in New England.  But a deep seated addiction has kept me from the purity of fly fishing and a solid member in the fraternity.

Just prior to the trip I made the conscious decision to kick the habit, go cold turkey, get on the wagon, put out the fire, face the demons and get straight.  Yea, that's right, I gave up using a strike indicator.  There, I said it.

Not long ago a number of parallel events happened that gave me the feeling that the indicator is just not fly fishing.  I did my best to change the old style of "chuck & duck" by developing a fly line that would have the inertia to propel the indicator and weight thus fitting a proper definition.  My CRO Nymph Line works great and does meet the criteria.  The first was in talking to line manufacturers and a discussion about my line with Jim Teeney.  The next was a video of a western river guide that said " I would rather %^^%  ^## with 50 grit sand paper than watch a bobber float down the river all day and you are not getting in my boat with that thing".  Next it was a conversation with a good friend who told me that the feel of the take is so much more rewarding.  It just all made sense that I was lowering the bar by using the float.  Please do not take what I am saying as a judgment. I am not trying to change laws and regulations.  I am only talking about me.

Some anglers think that indicator fishing is Czech Nymphing.  It is not.  The only indicator used in the Czech style would be a change in color at the end of your fly line.  In some cases though it is more like running line.

I did find myself wanting to step back when hours went by without a hook up.  Lucky that I left my complement of indicators at home and was not able to fall to temptation.  What I found was I needed to be more attentive and far more focused.  Feel was as important as sight, I was successful and I felt good.  So, it seemed, unless some event were to change my mind, I am going to stay with the program.  That event happened.  When the water temperature dipped to below 39 degrees the takes were lighter and hardly detectable.  And when the water hit 36 degrees the catching pretty much stopped.  I did go back to the indicator over the last few weeks with success.  I am now convinced that we should use an indicator as the tool that it is and keep it away when not needed.

William

Fly Tying Tip #106

I recently read a post on a local chat forum about a new product to use as a substitute for epoxy.  I tried it and it performs really well.  Copper Johns and Hard Heads can be finished easily using Aleene's Fabric Fusion.  Dries hard and clear.

No Mixing Necessary!!!!!

Giant Tuna $526.00 Per Pound

I do love the taste of fine quality Tuna.  Maguro, o-Toro, seared or right out of the can in a sandwich.  It has seemed reasonable to me until I saw this photo today.

This hedonistic slaughter is insanity.  There are but a few of these monsters left in the ocean and the numbers are dwindling.  Certainly, it is not necessary for a fish like this to be targeted for profit.  The fish was sold for $396,000.00 and purchased for consumption in Japan and China.  Japan now accounts for 80% of the worlds catch.  A single piece of Sushi smaller than the size of your thumb will sell for $24.00. 

I'm trying to make sense of it all.  Reductions in catch limits have been put in place but I just don't see how the Giant Tuna's demise can be averted.  It seems to be a case of supply and demand in hyper mode.

William

A Day Of Tradition

January 1st has become a day of tradition for me thanks to a dear friend.  It is a day to fish and start the year in good company.  January 1, 2011 was like no other with the high temperatures over the entire Northeast.  I still felt cold even though the thermometer read well above freezing. We arrived riverside in the dark at 6:30am and were not the first kids on the block.  Our number one location was open and we moved in quickly.

Hours went by without so much as a showing fish.  We were about to give it up when my buddy started to throw a few casts into the rapids below the pool.  He has done this year after year without result.  Like I said this was not a typical year.   One, two and three came quickly to hand falling for his Smelt pattern. The largest was a beautiful 21" bow.  The forth came a bit later and took a black leech.

My day ended with two fish hooked and none landed.  Not exactly what was imagined.  Even so, I love January first because it is a beginning of a New Year as well as the start of my twelve month fishing cycle.  I can also reflect on 2010 with great fondness as many of my days were used in the pursuit of the catch.  Much was learned in a sport where the knowledge is never ending.

William

Peace And Good Will

 

On this Christmas Eve, as I approach the start of the second year at FlySpoke.com, I want to thank you all so much for your readership and e-mails.  I am truly blessed and joyfully surprised at the number of you who visit from the four corners of the angling world each day. 

Merry Christmas 

And A Happy New Year

The Midge Fly - So Many Choices

There is nothing like a good midge.  So many colors and variations will work and they are not only for the winter season.  They are simple to tie and use a limited number of materials.  Take a size 18 or 20 wide gap scud hook with a body of thread, a rib of mylar, mono or fine wire and then choose a wing casing or bead and a bit of dubbing.   Try black thread, silver wire and a silver bead.  It's called the Zebra. Be creative as there are so many different Chironomids that it would be hard to be wrong.

Fly Tying Tip #105

There are certain patterns that are our go to flies. They need to constantly be replenished.  Some days, it seems, I lose enough of them to open a well stocked fly shop.  Because I don't ever want to run out, I am forced to the bench.  For those flies, shorten your time by gathering the materials and put everything in a zip top bag.  Label the bag and replenish materials as needed.  Easy start, easy finish.

Is It Winter Yet?

Well, I guess it's time to light the fire, tie up some flies, drink hot chocolate and wait for the rights of spring.   You don't buy that line do you?

Winter is a time to make the most of your rivers by changing the mindset of the approach.  Do you know the sound of  snow falling softly through the trees when the wind is still?  Or the gentle crackle of the hard woods swaying after a sharp freeze?  Some of the most memorable days possible are within your grasp right now.  Everything changes and so will you.

Slow - Not only should your fly presentation slow down, but you should move a bit slower and not take any chances of falling or getting wet.  When water temperatures go down so does the metabolic activity of a trout or salmon. They don't chase and tend to be in the deepest and slowest part of the pools. Your challenge is to hand feed the fish something that they will open their mouth to eat.  The other thing that slows is the rate of any insect activity in the river.  Mostly what will be available will be small larva and midges.

Low- Because the speed of things slows dramatically the fish will congregate in places where any food source will settle and be easy to catch.  Look for the deepest holes in the run and fish as low as possible.  If the fish are there they will eat all winter long.  You have a good chance at the largest fish of the year during these times.

Flow- Mid December starts to bring the snow and ice to the rivers of New England.  The further north you are the deeper the freeze.  Rains turn to snow and the ground holds the flow down.  River fluctuations are rare and you can learn the winter spots to go back to each time.  Even way up north there are tail water locations where the water temps stay in the 40's. 

Big & Small- When making fly choices, I tend to go big with marabou leaches in drab colors like black, brown and olive.  I will use this fly with a bead head in various sizes and weights and then add a very small midge type fly as a dropper.  WD40, Zebra, Brassies and other flies that imitate the family Chironomidae will all work.  As there are over 700 different species of these non biting midges in North America you will want to cover a number of colors.  Red, Crimson, olive, copper, black, brown, chartreuse and green are a few good choices.  Mix it up between thread and wire for the bodies.  Also Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tails and Scuds can be effective at times.  Just for that momentary magical time carry a few midge dry flies in white, grizzly and tan.  I have been told of trout feeding on snow flakes.

Some of us have no problem driving from southern New Hampshire all the way to the Great North Woods.  How about the other direction?  There are rivers in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts that are open through the winter as well.  They have fall stocking programs and receive some of the largest fish at this time of year.  What makes the narrow choice of rivers large is that you will be alone for the most part because so many anglers can not put up with the cold or don't like the winter for fishing.   The peace of the woods is paramount during these shortened days. 

Warm-  Stay warm.  Having layers and a good pair of boot foot waders will keep you in good shape.  If you are feeling really cold you should head for the car.  It is very easy to miss judge how cold it gets when you have a river taking your body warmth down stream.  Shorten your day, be very direct in your approach, travel with a buddy and have liquids, food and fire capability with you.  Never walk on shelf ice.

Fly fishing is a twelve month season in most states.  So long as you can handle the line freeze, the feeling of solitude and the shorter time you will find the wonders of winter.  Just pick your days.

William

I took my own advise today, 12-11-10, and landed this beautiful 20" Brown Trout on a #20 Red Midge.

I Am Haunted By Fishes.....

These are the days that determine our creed. the code of our angling ethics.

Yesterday I ended the Landlocked Salmon season on one of my favorite rivers.  Usually during the last few days, as the season close is the 31st day of October, flow is blown out and swollen with snow falling.  Under normal conditions I am fishing in a more southerly location of New Hampshire for the finish.  This year the rains came early and even with the river still high I hoped it would fish well.  It did not.

Starting high up and working down river proved a casting experience.  I knew the fish were there but, for what ever reason, their jaws were locked.  I then decided to check out a run that always holds a number of fish.  It is heavily angled when the water is low enough to access.  By this time the fish have been there for a number of weeks and seen a whole bunch of flies.

Working down from the top of the rapid I was stopped dead in my boots.  Frozen in time and stilled with amazement as there before me was the largest Landlocked Salmon I have ever seen.  Next to that fish was another that was by Landlocked standards a true monster.  My guess was seven pounds or more.  I had a copper bead headed olive leech trailed by a Stalcup Caddis Emmerger on eight pound tippets.  I have learned that when fishing the new co-polymer leaders, available today, I no longer need to be using very low pound tippets.   Tied with Davy knots I have become very strong with the playing of the fish I hook.  I backed myself up into the bushes and made a cast in a dead drift nymph style.  Three casts later the big one inhaled the leech and I was in heaven.  One strong run up river that included a surface clearing jump and then pulled back to my feet.  I tried with my net and the fish bull dogged forward and away.  Close but not close enough.  Two more times and the same thing happened.  As I was working this magnificent salmon back for a forth try my barb free leech came out and the trailing fly caught in the fishes tail.  Having none of that, with one good tail slap she was free.

Now, I have been professing using barb free hooks as this blog will confirm.  But at that moment I lost a fish of a lifetime and I am almost certain that a barbed hook may have held tight.

"These are the times that try men's souls"  Thomas Paine said that.  "These are the times that make me want to throw in the rod".  I said that.

Later, while packing for the day, I stuck myself deep with a size 8 olive leech.   A moment of panic and then  the point being driven home.  It slipped out of my finger with ease.

Today as the vision of that fish dances in my brain, I have been wrestling with the choice of a possible trip to the hospital verses a photo with the largest landlocked salmon of my life.  This is really a hard one...........