the steelhead watcher

I originally read this article from a post at Rogueangels.net

This article is from North Umpqua Foundation.

"Lee Spencer is a volunteer at the Big Bend Pool. He spends hours, days, weeks and months guarding the pool from poachers, watching fish behavior and contemplating nature and how humans affect the environment. These journal pages reflect Lee's thoughts on the fish, the river and how our efforts at protection could be improved.
To read some of his diary entries, click here
Steamboat Creek is the main steelhead spawning tributary of the North Umpqua. Fish that spawn in Steamboat account for 30 to 35 percent of the approximately 2,500 wild fish that have returned to the North Umpqua system in recent years. Before the fall rains arrive that enable the fish to return to the upper reaches of the creek to spawn, the fish hold in large pools ­ especially the Bend Creek pool, 11 miles up Steamboat Creek Road.
In the past, these fish have been extremely vulnerable to poachers. An act of vandalism on such a pool (like some hooligan throwing a stick of dynamite, which has happened in the past) could devastate the North Umpqua wild steelhead population. Fortunately, the fish have a protector in Lee Spencer. Lee has been retained as part of TNUF´s FishWatch Program.
Lee lives in a trailer by the river. When he´s not discouraging potential poachers, he´s educating visitors on the lifecycle of steelhead, and the significance of anadramous fish to the larger ecosystem.
During the summer months, Lee says he´s averaged 15 to 20 guests a day. Many are anglers up from the North Umpqua, though some are just curious passer byers. "Most visitors have a remarkable reaction to the fish," Spencer has observed. "The most common comment I hear is ‘Thank you for watching our fish.'”
Lee's connection to the North Umpqua goes back to 1972. “I took some time off from college and hitchhiked along the river. I though it was the most beautiful river I´d ever seen. I discovered fly fishing for steelhead shortly thereafter.” After eventually taking a graduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Oregon, and working a number of different jobs, Lee began his fish watching vocation as a volunteer five years ago. Three years ago, it became a full-time endeavor, mid-May through December. "I´ve always had an interest in natural history,” Lee shared. “If you have a pre-disposition toward this sort of thing, the opportunity to be here is ideal. The things going on in the pool are far more complex than I ever expected.”
To help raise funds to pay Lee´s modest stipend, the North Umpqua Foundation has created a handsome poster of one of the holding pools on Steamboat Creek. For information on how you can help preserve this wonderful river please email us or write to:The North Umpqua FoundationP.O. Box 238Idleyld Park, OR 97447-0238"

article on David James, Salmon, and The River Why

I found this article link on the Moldy Chum blog today... This is worth reading. Very good insight in to the state of the Salmon from a very credible source.

"They wrote a crappy screenplay, filmed in a rush to outrace my lawsuits, used a non-fly fisher to play a "Mozart" of a fly fisher, used a rubber salmon to play a wild chinook, and so on. I wish them the best because at this point, why not. But as for their movie's chances, how to put it?
Read the rest." LINK (Via: 1859)

Scott with a very small sample size over Winston

Only 9 people had an opinion on this...however 100% of those 9 people voted for Scott Fly Rods over Winston Fly Rods. I like both. Evidently Scott fans are more opinionated?

big bermuda bonefish

a river runs through it

I recently received a dvd of the movie "A River Runs Through It" (in my stocking) which I obviously have seen multiple times, however, I have 2 movie covers of this at home and neither have the DVD inside. So I was excited to get a new copy of the movie.

There are mixed feeling on Hollywood trying to capture the mistique of what is a passion to most of us. However, even though there is plenty of critiscm about the movie, I honestly feel they did a pretty good job. I still get excited to go fishing after watching this movie, and I think it was good for the sport. Even if Norman Maclean's novel wasn't fully captured on film, it showed a lot of people who were unfamiliar with the sport, a small piece of what captures all of us. That doesn't mean I am going to start promoting everyone wear a felt hat and a wicker creel.

I simply think that it is a movie to enjoy. It is probably the most successful fly-fishing movie of all time. There seems to be a lot of negativity from shop owners, guides, and previously me on this movie. After re-watching it and realizing a few things, maybe it is actually one of my favorites.

It is Norman Maclean's birthday this month, and although he is not around anymore they have put up a monument to tribute the auther which stands outside the church in Missoula, Montana.

new fly fishing film tour entry from reel escape films

In the Land of the Cutthroats - Trailer from Reel Escape Films on Vimeo.

wow... this is weird

haha

Flomax....flyfishing approved!!

For all those men who thought they could no longer flyfish due to frequent starting and stopping, incomplete emptying, and straining caused by BPH, Flomax now reduces those symptoms in a week so you can get back on the river and slay like these gentlemen. Enjoy!
http://www.4flomax.com/doctor/tv.jsp

hoppey holidays

Thanks Brian!

the fly fishing retailer show will go on

AFFTA Announces a New Industry Trade Show for 2010 And the Hiring of Fly Fishing Industry Veteran Randi Swisher

(Louisville, CO. December 18, 2009) After evaluating every available option and in response to input received from fly fishing industry retailers, manufacturers, sales reps and media, the AFFTA board of directors unanimously voted Tuesday December 15, 2009 to endorse the formation of a new independent fly fishing trade show. The International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) show will debut at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado during the 3rd quarter of 2010.

AFFTA Chairman Alan Gnann stated, "Throughout our careful and deliberate evaluation it became abundantly clear that a general fishing tackle show (ICAST) or a general outdoor show (Outdoor Retailer) would not serve the best interests of the of the fly fishing trade. It was also very apparent that the new found interest in fly fishing by these organizations was not aligned with AFFTA's mission, making the decision very clear." Gnann continues, "The entire AFFTA board is incredibly energized and motivated to make this the best show the industry has ever seen. The support of key exhibitors and retailers for AFFTA to sponsor an independent fly fishing industry trade show has been nothing short of overwhelming. We look forward to hosting the most dynamic and exciting trade show in years; and importantly - the only show focused exclusively on the sport of fly fishing."


In just the past day since initially discussing the show with a small number of potential exhibitors, the new International Fly Tackle Dealer show has already received the endorsement and support of the following manufacturers, media and outdoor travel companies - Scott Fly Rods, Sage, Redington, Rio, Orvis, Umpqua, Ross Reels USA/Ross Worldwide, Scientific Anglers, R.L. Winston, Solitude Flies, Cloudveil, Lamson/Waterworks, REC, Nautilus Reels, Smith Optics, Yellow Dog Fly Fishing, Frontiers International, Fly Fishing in Saltwaters magazine, The Drake magazine, and Fly Fisherman magazine among others. All proceeds from the International Fly Tackle Dealer show will be reinvested into the Fly Fishing industry as for the first time ever, AFFTA will own, sponsor, and operate your industry trade show.

Concurrent with this announcement, AFFTA is also excited to announce the hiring of fly fishing industry veteran Randi Swisher to the new role of Vice President and Director of Marketing. Randi is a lifelong angler and brings to AFFTA over twenty years of fly fishing industry experience in sales, marketing and trade show production; most recently serving as Corporate Account Manager for the International Sportsmen's Exposition (ISE) where his responsibilities included exhibit sales, show management, and retailer / manufacturer partnerships for ISE's 5 regional consumer outdoor shows. Prior to this, Randi worked in marketing and sales roles for Lamiglas and Sage for 15 years, and for 5 years he owned a manufacturer's rep company serving the Rocky Mountain region while representing 8 premier fly fishing brands.. Randi will focus his efforts on the marketing, sales, and production of AFFTA's new trade show. Randi graduated from the University of MT majoring in Business Administration. Randi, resides in the greater Denver area with his wife and daughter.

Four possible show dates at the Colorado Convention Center have been identified with a decision on the final show date to be driven by an AFFTA Retailer Survey that will be launched today. The final show date will be announced on January 4, 2010.

per: AFFTA

fly fishing film festival tickets now available

This is the Fourth Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival. Thank you so much to the film makers, vendors, and attendees for making last year's fly fishing festival a great success. This has enabled us to think bigger for this year with more suppliers, more space, the latest hip fly fishing movies and more.The film festival is managed by the Missouri River Fly Fishers (MRF), a non-profit fly fishing organization focused on conservation and education. The MRF supports the efforts of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers and raises money to protect the water systems we fish, and educate new fly fishers on the fundamentals of the sport.

Purchase Tickets Here

airflo lines win poll by a landslide over SA and Rio

The first Airflo Flylines felt a streams caress in 1982. The lines were the work of Welsh engineer Paul Burgess, who saw limitations in existing PVC flylines that he felt could be overcome by newer plastic technologies. Turning to polyurethane as the chief of those plastics, Paul set Airflo down a path of technological firsts that would have sweeping effects on the flyline industry.
Airflo has never been shy when espousing the benefits of polyurethane. Their tagline, "someday all flylines will be made this way," is ample evidence of the confidence that goes with being a technology leader. They had to revise that tagline recently, however, as they were able to attain a patent for their newest technological innovation, the Ridge Lines. These lines have become the new hallmark of Airflo's innovative ability and are the first "big leap" in flyline technology since Airflo first began using PTFE as a lubricant. And the good news for Airflo is that no-one can copy it!
Currently Airflo’s factory resides on a small trout stream in a national park in Wales, UK. They are distributed in over 25 countries, and manufacture lines as OEM’s for several other flyline companies. With people like Charles Jardine, Rene Harrop, Tim Rajeff and Gareth Jones designing their lines, Airflo continues to lead the flyline industry in innovation and technology advances.

baetis

By: Tom Bie at Drakemag.com (by far the sickest fly fishing print out there)

"Blue-winged olives are sometimes called "drab" - defined by Webster as "monotonous" or "dull". But I think that's a wholly inappropriate term. Winter is monotonous. Waiting for bugs is monotonous. Frozen lakes and rivers are monotonous. Bluewings are the bridge leading away from monotony, not toward it - they're almost always the first real flies to appear, and they look a lot less like lint than midges do. Being the winning mayflies in March and April, they also tend to coincide with all those first trips of the season, when you forget most of your crap in the garage, break off half your fish with that 2X to 6X tippet connection, and celebrate in some still-frozen campground with a couple of friends and an oversupply of alcohol.

In fact, baetis provide the best reason to get off the couch come spring. You can nymph all winter long if you want to, but when baseball's on the tube and tulips are in the yard (or the neighbor's yard, as the case may be), you just feel like trying dries, and since the best hatches come in crappy weather, you have a built-in excuse for not spending the day doing yard work. Besides, if a little parachute adams isn't about best fly to throw, then I don't know what is. It's the fly that allows you, after five months of tying and fishing with an indicator, to reel in, take off that stupid nymph rig you never liked anyway, and finally put on a damn dry fly. Big Horn or Big Thompson, Green or Gallatin, Henry's Fork or Holston, you know theyÂ’re hatching right now. So put down that remote and go."

Per: drakemag.com

Photo: Sam Wike of KK and pet BWO

Christmas Tree

So after a long day of fishing my buddy and I stop at his place to drop off his gear. That's when I see the tip of their Christmas tree sitting outside and i suddenly get the greatest idea "that would look so awesome in the man cave!" so I take it home and as I'm sitting there i notice my tree is bare so I look around for something to hang on it when I run into my old fly box. what I ended up with might be the coolest Christmas tree around (even though its only about 2 feet tall)

new beattie flick... this guy is rad

Stream of Consciousness from RA Beattie on Vimeo.

where are the sweet billboard like this in the funk?

gnar gnar

chicken chalupas turneffe style

CHICKEN CHALUPAS
4 B/LESS CHICKEN BREASTS, DICED INTO BITE SIZE PIECES
1 ONION-MED., CHOPPED
2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER
2 CANS CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP
2 CANS CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
1 SMALL CAN DICED GREEN CHILES
8 OZS. GRATED CHEDDAR CHEESE
2 BAGS CRUNCHY CORN TORTILLA CHIPS
SOUR CREAM
SALSA


Heat butter in skillet, add onions and chicken and sautee until chicken is partially cooked. Add cream of chicken and mushroom soups, green chiles, 1 tablespoon sour cream and 1 tablespoon salsa. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Crush corn tortilla chips and layer in casserole dish, starting with chips, chicken mixture, then cheese. Finish with little corn chips and cheese. Bake in pre-heated oven for 25- 30 minutes until casserole stops bubbling.
Cut into 6 squares, top each square with 2 teaspoons sour cream, and 1 teaspoon or more if desired, salsa.

per: tflats.com

christmas ideas

patagonia in the news

Yvon Chouinard
Patagonia's Leading Man
Throughout his amazing run from self-proclaimed “dirtbag rock climber” to reluctant leader of industry, Yvon Chouinard has always known that the fishing, hunting and surfing for which he lives depends on vibrant natural resources and their life-support systems.
That’s why Chouinard, the 71-year-old owner and founder of Patagonia—one of the most successful outdoor clothing companies in history—has put millions from his company’s sales to work for outdoor causes, such as “1% For the Planet” and “Freedom to Roam.”
A lifelong hunter and admitted obsessed flyfisherman, Chouinard has “goaded legions of me-first corporate chiefs into becoming more environmentally responsible,” says Outdoor Life former Fishing Editor Jerry Gibbs. “He has proven that a low-impact, quality-based business can both turn a profit and keep our wild places from disappearing."
“I support the front-line activists,” says Chouinard. “Today in the United States, small groups of kayakers and fishermen work tirelessly to bring down dams. Duck hunters toil to preserve wetlands. These are the people who do the most to hold the corporations at bay and keep the 
government honest.”

per: outdoorlife.com

huge Taimen...unknown story

This Taimen picture was on the chum today. It's just really large and hard to believe.

per: moldychum.com

favorite mexican beer polls closed

Pacifico Wins!

Pacifico pulled it out by one to edge over Tecate. Modelo Especial, "the Busch Light of Baja" takes third and shines over Corona.

next gen

We haven't always been hardcore troutaholic freaks, we all had to start somewhere. My generation learned fly-fishing, and created a passion for fly-fishing hearing about guys like Lefty Kreh, Rene Harrop, Flip Pallot, Dave Whitlock, John Geirach, Dave Kaufmann, Bud Lilly, guides that we looked up to on the Mo, tiers, and other sticks of that era. Well, while we certainly can't forget those pioneers and all they have taught us, we need something more to inspire the next gen, and to compete against X-Box, Playstation, Warcraft, or whatever ridiculously mindless activity the "Nintendo" craze come up with next. Michael Jordan inspired me to play basketball but he's gone and not on TV anymore... so someone has to take his place (Lebron?).
Most of us probably do not think of ourselves as the ones to step in to that role, and if you see most of us on the weekends that is probably appears even more true. However, we are it. So we need to make sure and step up and be responsible, and get that next trout bum on the water. Get involved in the programs that are available for next gen. anglers because we know how to make the sport appear "cool"...cool enough to put down the X-Box controller for an afternoon. This probably isn't our typical "Mofia" post, however it is probably more important than the general rambling that goes on here.... maybe a little too sentimental... but we are pretty sensitive guys. Not, and we don't want the next gen to grow up being a bunch of panzies that don't know how to fly-fish either.

kaenon sunglasses

Nile Perch Fishing in Nairobi

EXPEDITION FISHING

Kaenon Polarized hunter extraordinaire, Alistair James sent us a recap of his recent holiday expedition in Nairobi which included fishing for Nile Perch. Not something you get to do every day…

“I was in Nairobi on business the first week of November when I met Johnny Chipman, a fellow hunting guide working in Tanzania. He mentioned that he would be heading to Lake Turkana over the weekend to fish for Nile perch and asked if I would like to go along. Always willing to try something new, I immediately said yes. After a few drinks Johnny sketched a map on the back of a napkin to help me find the meeting point for our trip Thursday night.

A four hour drive from Nairobi going north on Thursday afternoon proved the napkin sketch more or less reliable as I arrived on location and met up with Johnny just before dark. There we were joined by four other friends and together we packed two Land Cruiser pickups and had an early night with the intention of starting first thing the next morning.

We had a fourteen-hour drive north to the southern tip of Lake Turkana. The closer we got to the Lake, the more barren and dry the landscape became. The local herders all roamed with Kalashnikov rifles, but appeared for the most part friendly. A couple hours before the lake we stopped in a small mission where a Dutch missionary family told us that a fight had broken out the day before and that everyone was low on ammunition so we should be safe.

As the sun was setting we arrived on the lake shore. Because of the intense thermal winds we set up camp in the lee of a rock formation. I just slept that night on a ground mat with a blanket, but when the breeze died sometime after midnight I wished that I had brought along my mosquito net.

Early the next morning we were up and launched the small aluminum boat that had been carried all the way to the lake on the top of the pickup truck. There were quite a few crocodiles in the lake, so we were on the look out when launching the boat.

We fished for perch in the mornings and evenings by trolling Rapala lures. During the midday heat we fished the shores for a big species of Tilapia that feeds on the algae growing on the rocks in the lake.

We fished all day Saturday and Sunday and trolled briefly Monday morning before packing up and driving back south. The lake is an amazing example of desert and water coming together creating an almost surreal landscape. Highly recommended.”

per: kaenon.com

surf and inshore film

per: moldychum.com

tom bie clears up questions on the fly fishing retailer...funny

By Tom Bie
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 17:46
With the announcement this week by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) that it would “sponsor and/or endorse and/or ignore and/or relocate an Independent Fly Fishing show in 2010,” it came as welcome news to the industry this morning that the trade group has settled on the lobby of the Rock Springs, Wyoming, EconoLodge as the location. “Since nobody could seem to choose between Salt Lake City and Denver, we decided to meet in the middle,” says group spokesperson Tawnya McMend. “Plus, the girls over at Mike’s Astro Lounge are offering free table dances to the first 50 guys not named Cody.” Other local activities available to show attendees include cow-tipping and windmill-watching: Much confusion had been brewing recently over where next year’s Flyfishing Retailer Show might be held, especially after an Outdoor Retailer show director sent an open invitation to all flyfishing companies, asking them to come join O. R. in Salt Lake. However, that invitation was quickly called into question, since the author wrote that “more than 25 percent of Flyfishing Retailer companies already exhibit at Outdoor Retailer”—clearly forgetting to add a decimal point between the 2 and the 5. Thankfully, none of that matters now. But attendees in Rock Springs will need to act fast, as the only date the EconoLodge had available was on Feb 7, from noon til 6 p.m.. Also, though winter fishing will be available on the nearby tailwaters of the Green and North Platte, a scheduling conflict with a local snowmobile club meant the casting pond had to be relocated to this Twin Falls I-Hop: See you all there!!

Per: drakemag.com

10 dollar lift ticket this weekend in case the mo is froze

Just in case this weather holds and you can't get your rod guides to unfreeze. Showdown has got a deal for you this weekend.


Canned Food Drive December 12, five non-perishable items of food get you a $10 lift ticket.

from the mo

worldangling video

Drum preview by WorldANGLING from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.

fly fishing retailer update

Status of the Fly Fishing Industry Trade Show

AFFTA TO SPONSOR AND/OR ENDORSE INDEPENDENT FLY FISHING INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW IN 2010
(December 6, 2009 Louisville, CO.) Press releases issued this week by both the Nielsen Company and the American Sportfishing Association may have created some confusion regarding the status of a fly fishing specific trade show in 2010. To be clear, The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) is not endorsing or partnering with either Nielsen or the American Sportfishing Association to combine efforts at either the Outdoor Retailer Show or ICAST.
AFFTA’s mission is to “Promote the Sustained Growth of the Fly Fishing Industry”. The Board determined that joining the Outdoor Retailer Show, acquiring the rights to the name FlyFishing Retailer show, or combining efforts with our close ally, the American Sportfishing Association at their summer ICAST Show would not viably support the AFFTA mission.
In alignment with AFFTA’s mission, the Board voted to sponsor and/or endorse an Independent Fly Fishing show in 2010. To this end, the AFFTA staff and Board is actively engaged in exploring many compelling options for both show dates and locations. AFFTA looks forward to sponsoring and/or endorsing a great fly fishing show in 2010 now that we are more able to provide what the industry needs.

who remembers steffens on this trip?

trout bum spring break

Here's the original crew. While most of our buddies were drinking mexican cervezas and staying out past their bed times...us guys were tippin drift boats over glaciers on the big hole..sleepin' in the dirt... playing guitar way too late and tying flies under the head lamps. Just glad to not have any classes to go to.

Otter Creek Coal Rally

Otter Creek Coal Rally
Host:
Montana Environmental Information Center
Type:
Causes - Rally
Network:
Global
Date:
Monday, December 21, 2009
Time:
8:00am - 9:00am
Location:
State Capitol- Helena, MT
Description
MEIC, Sierra Club, Northern Plains Resource Council, Northern Rockies Rising Tide, and Montana Conservation Voters will be hosting a rally outside the State Capitol in Helena before the State Land Board Members vote on leasing 1.3 billion tons of coal contained in Otter Creek Coal Tracts. This is the most important decision the Land Board has faced! Leasing this coal will mean that 2.5 billion tons of CO2 will be released into the atmosphere. Private property, valuable wildlife habitat, and water quality will be threatened. Attend the rally before Land Board members vote and tell them to SAY NO to leasing Otter Creek Coal!

The Seychelles

I keep hearing a lot of crazy stories about pirates while fly fishing in the Seychelles. In fact, the latest story came from our friend Doug at Fly Treks fly fishing travel, who is the guy we use when we go fly fishing in Belize. Doug also has contacts in the Seychelles and is going to be hosting trips there in the upcoming season. The latest ship that was taken over, the captain refused to let Pirates take over their fishing vessel and so...the Pirates burnt it to the ground. Wow!...this really happens. So I asked Doug, "Is it really worth it to risk and experience like that for the fishing that is available at the Seychelles?" He replied "Sam, the Seychelles is the best fishing I have experienced...you have to go...if you take fly fishing seriously... you have to go."



Here's the report from Field and Stream:



The Seychelles, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, are considered "flats nirvana" for anyone who's been there. Massive, beautiful, unspoiled shallows, teeming with large bonefish... crystal waters. I've never been there, but I am told it is worth traveling half-way around the world to see and experience.
Problem is, the outbreak of piracy along the coast of Somalia has apparently spread to the Seychelles as well. This report came in last weekfrom Tom Stevenson: "It turns out that The boat I was to board in Assumption Island, Seychelles on the 8th (April), was hijacked about 50 km from Assumption Island on Friday last; Taken to Somalia, where the crew (who had not been heard from since setting off from Assumption Island) were released, and called in on Wednesday; All remote islands in Seychelles have been evacuated of all boats, while the Seychelles government 'cleans up' the problem..."
My friend Rodrigo Salles was in the Seychelles two weeks ago (his photo above). He chimed in: "I noticed that at the end of last week, I got a little bit scared, since we had navigated with a small boat, slept on the dirt on the middle of an isolated island... The Indian Ocean Explorer (the boat with which all the outfitters fish at Cosmoledo, Astove, etc.), was kidnapped by Somali pirates last week. So, the ship has disappeared, and all the operations around Cosmoledo are dead (I think that nobody would go there in a ship for a long time)."
Understand that the Seychelles cover a huge expanse, and some areas are much safer than others. Lodges on islands are, to date, far less vulnerable to pirates than live-aboard boats.
But you have to wonder about chasing fish in the world's hot spots... If anyone has any updates, please let us know.
Deeter
The Seychelles has been gaining a reputation for the best Giant Trevally and Bonefish in the world...as well as for having pirates. Keep this in mind. We are going to need a group of "hard-cores" to come with us on this adventure in the next couple years. I guess if we have to go...then we have to go. They also have a cool looking Permit. Permit are cool.

Montana Blue Ribbon

The Bighorn River, recently featured on the Drift, is one of my favorite blue ribbon rivers in the state to fish. The river sits right below the Yellowtail Damn and flows directly into the Yellowstone River making it fishable year round. I personally think the best time of year to fish the river is in February and March. The weather on the river is always unpredictable, and river is usually empty besides the few locals and die-hards. You can have days in February that are 55 degree and the sun is shining and then 2 hours later have it be 35 degrees and snowing. You have to be prepared for everything that time of year.

The river produces amazing nymph (stones, san juans, sow bugs, etc), dry (midges) and great streamer action in the middle of March. Unfortunately the river sits right in the middle of the Crow Indian Reservation so wade fishing is limited. The best way to access the best parts of the river are from a drift boat.

The river holds thousands of rainbows and brown in the 16” – 20” range. Every now and then might even land the 23”er. So if you are over by Fort Smith take a few day off and see what you can do.

ross reels on the discovery channel tonight

Ross Reels USA -Featured On The Discovery Channel
Take a look inside Ross Reels USA…
See how a Ross reel is manufactured on the Discovery Science Channel “How It’s Made” television series. The episode featuring our reels will air on Friday, December 4th at 9:00 P.M (EST) on the Discovery Science Channel. Tune in and watch the show tonight and let us know what you think.

a winter statistic...

98% OF AMERICAN’S SAY "OH SHIT" BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM MONTANA AND THEY SAY, "HOLD MY DRINK AND WATCH THIS!"

right: walleye on the fly Jan. 1st 2008 on the Missouri River...pretty weird but the largest walleye I've ever caught. Cornfed and the rest of the crew were there watching on the bank

10 Montana Hatches Not to Miss

When I'm not chasing trophy browns with my 8wt streamer setup, here is a list of places around the state you're likely to find me (not including hopper fishing thats for a different blog):

1. Skwala hatch on the Bitterroot and Clarkfork Rivers: This is the first major hatch of the year on the west side of the divide and nothing is cooler than watching huge fish blowup on your size 8 olive stonefly. Its definitely no secret though, with people from all over the world coming to Missoula for their shot at big fish on big dries. The fishing pressure doesn't seem to matter though, because these fish are just waking up from a long winter nap and are eager to eat any well presented pattern you have in your arsenal. Look for fish to be lined up on the rockier banks. Its seems that the skwalas prefer rocks to crawl out on and hatch more than anything else.

#2 Mother's Day Caddis on the Madison River: This too is the first major hatch for this river system that really gets the fish's attention. Yeah they have decent baetis and midge hatches before this, but nothing compares to Mother's Day caddis hatch up here. There are literally blankets of #14-16 dark-bodied caddis flies on the water. They're everywhere. They're on the bushes, all over the boat, they cover your body, get in your mouth, in your eyes and ears, and especially are all over the water. This is a really fun time of year to be on the Madison.

#3 BWOs on the Mo: Again, this is the first and last major hatch for this river and with it

some of the largest fish in the state to the surface. If you can hit this on an overcast day with little wind, you are likely to catch some of the biggest fish you have ever seen eat a dry fly. From the dam all the way to Cascade will produce fish, but the section I tend to favor is around Spite Hill. It is not the easiest of hatches though and requires a well presented fly with nothing larger than 5x tippet.

#4 Salmonflies on Rock Creek: After run-off has peaked and the flows begin to stabilize and clear, a magical time that only last for roughly two weeks begins on Rock Creek, the Salmonfly hatch. When you hear about this hatch, its always the Big Hole or the Madison you here people talk about and more rarely do you hear people talking about Rock Creek. Well that doesn't mean the secret is not out about this river because it definitely is and has been since I've started fishing it six years ago. This river sees a lot of angling pressure during this time of year, but still produces with #4 dries on average much better than any other in the state. Its a numbers game up here though with the size of fish averaging in the 13-17" range with the occasional fish over 20". Fishing from the boat is unquestionably the way to fish this hatch and requires some experience on the sticks.

#5 Green Drakes on the Blackfoot and Bitterroot: This hatch is very hit or miss, but if you

hit it you are likely to have a day or two that you will never forget. Last year I was wade fishing the Blackfoot on the lower reaches and ran into this hatch of #6 giant green drakes. It was easily the best day of fishing the BF that I've ever had on dries, which totaled out to be 33 fish, all on drakes. Most of the fish were in the 12-14" range but several were around 17" and the biggest was a 22" cuttie. The same goes for the Bitterroot, although the hatch seems to be more intense on the upper sections of the river around Darby. Certainly a hatch to fish for anyone who likes to fish big dries.

#6 Golden Stones on the Big Hole: To many, this is considered a secondary hatch to the world renown Salmonfly hatch that hits this area every early summer. But I have found that a fish will almost always take a Golden dry over a Salmonfly on this river. Even more so, I have seen/caught big fish coming to the surface to eat a #8 golden catpuke amidst the shittiest of conditions. I'm talking gail-force winds with sideways rain. Again, if you like to fish big dries, this is another hatch not to miss, but don't expect to have the river to yourself.

#7 Summer caddis on the Mo: This is probably the most dependable hatch that the Mighty Mo sees year in and year out. It begins with the Mother's Day hatch (usually with a two week break after the M.D. hatch is done) and ends with October caddis in October. Even during the warmest months of summer the caddis hatches remain intense and for that brief period right before dusk, you can find some of the best fishing to be had in the state. There have been too many nights after work that Sam and I have fished these hatches and I can honestly say it is some of the easier Missouri River dry fly fishing to be had (just ask Troy Robinson).

#8 Spruce Moths on the Gallitan River: This is one of the more hit and miss hatches in the area, but if its a good moth year this river should definitely be on your to-do list. The moths begin to hatch in the mid-summer up here and last through august. Fishing the canyon section is by far the most productive for this hatch as the Spruce Moths dwell in heavily wooded areas (hence the name right). A #12 or 14 light colored elk hair caddis is all you need for this hatch. Drag it through the buckets and pools (the moths are really erratic when they're on the water) and you will have a sick day.

#9 PMDs on the Beaverhead (I know KK was waitin for this and is pissed b/c of its low ranking): This is one of the more dependable hatches on the Beav. and its angling pressure shows for it. I have only fished this hatch three times over here, but each time has left me wanting to come back for more. It is amazing the size of fish that are in this river that at first glance appears to be an irrigation ditch (the average size fish on the Beav. is around 20"). This is also some of the toughest fishing I have ever done. I have had more fish come up and refuse a well presented #16 sparkle dunn on 5x fluoro. than anywhere else in the state and if you do hook up it doesn't mean you're gonna land it. The Beaverhead is a pretty cool stream that I think demands more respect than its given.

#10 October caddis on the Blackfoot River: This is probably the most exciting of all of the hatches to fish, but its window of opportunity is so short-lived that it lands in the #10 spot.

big bugs begin to appear around mid-september and are a primary food source for fish throughout the hatch, which makes fishing a skated #6 orange stimi chew toy worth while. The hatch is river-wide, but the majority of larger fish taken are on the mid to upper sections of the river.

There are many more great hatches that take place around the state of Montana, these are just a few of my favorites.

worldangling new video...sick

Slam by WorldANGLING fly fishing South Florida for Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.

reno fly shop

Do you know these guys? We have this thing about cool fly shops that don't turn up there nose to dudes walking in with waders, labs, or unshowered river worn faces of trout bum stench. Reno Fly Shop is one of us good guys. They are not so overly "bro bra" that you are like, "whoa dude," you need to get a life and quite trying to impress me. They are just hardcore fly fishing fellas that fish hard, hunt hard, and the type of guys you want to have a beer with on the river. A few of us went to school with Mario who is one of the main shop guys there. Dave Stanley, the owner, equally cool (cooler), still hunts and fishes harder than most of us. The shops main water is the Truckee River and Pyramid Lake and these guys know both areas really well. So if you are in the Reno area, support these guys, they will take care of you.

Sam

favorite mexican beer tecate or modelo

all of us who have fished baja mexico know that corona is really an american beer... and the mexican coast of baja is dominated by modelo, tecate, and pacificos... what's your favorite mexican beer when your steelheading? Please VOTE to the left...

how to fix uv rotted cataract oars...from cataract

Brian asked if uv light has broken down the fiberglass on your oars what you could do about it…here is advanced composites reply…

Brian,
Thanks for the inquiry. Your oars are likely fine structurally but they may
have been long overexposed to UV. Covering oars when not in use for
extended periods is an important way to preserve the finish on composite
materials. There is a pretty simple solution to get some coverage on the
shafts. The easiest way is to rough up the surface of the shafts with a
scotchbrite pad. Just knock of the debris and get them clean and dry.
Next, go to a Lowe’s or Home Depot and pick up a can of Minwax Helmsman Spar
Urethane (Indoor/outdoor/clear gloss). It is available in an 11.5 oz. spray
can. Give the shafts an even coat and allow to fully dry (cure). I
recommend 2-3 coats. The can is pretty good for coverage. If you have some
fiberglass composite savvy and time you can go a few steps further.
Fully
sanding the shafts with 200 grit sandpaper and then brush painting on a spar
urethane coating will give the shafts a richer look and the application will
likely last longer. If doing it this way make sure to wear a long sleeve
shirt, gloves and a dust mask to avoid fiber irritations.
Regards,

Jake Jones

fly fishing retailer merges with outdoor retailer for 2010

What does this mean? More stuff that us guys can find to buy for the shop to fullfill the lifestyle of this generation of fly fishers...long boards...flip flops... hammocks.. and other cool s%$* that our gen actually wants to be able to find at a shop... KK, Wike, and Erik will be headed down to tear up SLC and be at the show promptly at 8am... sunkin eye or not.

Dear FlyFishing Retailer Industry Professional,

First I want to thank you, the fly fishing industry for your support and participation with the FlyFishing Retailer World Trade Expo. During the past 11 years, this show has attracted almost every major stakeholder in the fly fishing industry from all 50 states and over 50 countries worldwide. Even in this challenging global economy, the positive energy that emanated from the show floor in 2009 is proof that even as the fly fishing business landscape shifts, the brands, shops and advocates of fly fishing see a good future when prosperity returns to the economy and the market.

Marketplace Evolves to include ‘Outdoor Lifestyle’
Research indicates that active participants in specialty outdoor activities, and fly fishing in particular, crossover to several outdoor ‘lifestyle’ experiences. As consumers change how they play in the outdoors, businesses are changing their distribution and inventory strategies to both keep pace and stay ahead of this changing consumer behavior. As a result, FlyFishing Retailer is also changing.

Fly Fishing Industry and Outdoor Retailer to Join Forces in 2010
From our 30 years of experience producing scores of specialty-sports tradeshows including 11 years producing FlyFishing Retailer, it is clear that the fly fishing marketplace will be better served now and in the future by expanding it’s reach to include the overall outdoor specialty marketplace. We are convinced that the best opportunity to grow as a market, and build on the core strength inherent in the Fly Fishing market, is to be connected to a larger collection of relevant businesses at Outdoor Retailer. Therefore, the entire Fly Fishing industry is invited to join Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow in 2010 as the Fly-Fishing Retailer Trade Expo will no longer be held in Denver

A Winning Opportunity
Over 25% of FlyFishing Retailer companies already exhibit at Outdoor Retailer, and those that haven’t are now invited to participate in the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 Trade Show. For over 27 years Outdoor Retailer has provided a specialty wholesale watersports culture that thrives on a national and international level. At OR, consistently over 20,000 professional participants advance the sales process not only in their own category but across multiple lifestyle segments within the overall specialty outdoor market. Please visit www.OutdoorRetailer.com now for more information about participating in Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

Product Testing Outdoors at Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market has a thriving and long tradition of providing a watersports focused product demo day in the environment in which the products are used. Over 1200 specialty retailers have consistently attended this demo day each year to test canoes, kayaks, paddles, PFD’s, waders, rods and reels and other specialty equipment and apparel intended for use in the outdoors. We invite the entire fly fishing industry to join this widely popular retail demo day next summer.


Outdoor Retailer Summer Market takes place August 3-6, 2010 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, preceded by our Open Air Demo August 2 at the Jordanelle Reservoir, UT.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

drake mag's Tom Bie makes a sweet post on drakemag.com ...email us if you don't get it

Hemingway rises from dead, joins Temple Fork Outfitters

By Tom Bie

Thursday, 24 September 2009 21:30

DALLAS—September 23, 2009. In some surprising post-tradeshow industry news, Temple Fork Outfitters president Rick Pope announced today that novelist Ernest Hemingway recently rose from the dead and asked to join the advisory staff of Temple Fork Outfitters. “I was shocked,” Pope said. “I mean, the guy died almost 50 years ago, so I was pretty surprised he had a cell phone to begin with. But then he texts me that he wants his own signature series—it’s like a dream come true.” Hemingway, who was awarded the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man and the Sea, said his comeback is a result of seeing contemporaries like Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser score sweet free-agent deals with TFO. “I see these young guns like Kreh getting paid to put their names on a fly rod, and I figured, ‘Hey, I’m Ernest effin’ Heminway—slap my name on one of those bastards.’ Then back in July, when Loomis got his deal, I was like, ‘Shit, he’s just a kid. Sign me up, dammit.’”

jim at Scott fly rods explains...

The Itinerant angler interviews Jim B. the President and head rod designer of Scott fly rods why fly rods are so pricey. Listen to this podcast... jimmy is wicked smart.

Jim B Podcast on Fly Rod Pricing...Listen here

Urban Angling

With the economy being up and down (mostly down I guess, but what would I know I'm just a fish bum/college student) a lot of folks aren't able to get out as much and enjoy their favorite stretch(es) of water. This summer I was really busy with school and found myself with little time to devote to my favorite stretches of water which drove me to explore uncharted waters (for me) within the city of Missoula.

To my surprise I was able to find a variety of different water that held different species of fish all within the city limits of Missoula. I was able to find stretches of water that fished well on dries (caddis and mayflies mainly), on nymphs, and on streamers. I also found a lot of areas that fish well for pike, both on topwater and underwater patterns. So when you're faced between the decision of not fishing because your favorite water is not an option because of money or lack of time and fishing new, uncharted urban waters, choose fishing uncharted waters that are closer to home...you might be amazed with what you find

great falls fly fishing film fest

The Fourth Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival will be Next January 2010. Thankyou so much to the film makers, vendors, and attendees for making this year's fly fishing festival a great success. This has enabled us to think bigger for next year with more suppliers, more space, the latest hip fly fishing movies and more coming your way for 2010. So get you flicks finished for next years festival!

The film festival is managed by the Missouri River Fly Fishers (MRF), a non-profit fly fishing organization focused on conservation and education. The MRF supports the efforts of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers and raises money to protect the water systems we fish, and educate new fly fishers on the fundamentals of the sport.

Tickets and information our available at our local fly shops. We encourage youto support the local fly shops when fly fishing the water near Great Falls. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can make our festival better for next year we would love to hear about it

Wanted films:

All films will be screened by the film selection committee. Films should be documentary or artistic in nature; how-to films are discouraged. For all selected films, entrants will be notified of selection prior to showing. The Great Falls Fly-fishing Film Festival reserves the right to cancel the festival due to insufficient entries.

The Great Falls Flyfishing Film Festival aims to promote the continuation of flyfishing film production by encouraging audience members to purchase films seen at the festival. Please feel free to provide information about how and where your film can be purchased.

Submit your video here

Echo 2 Saltwater sticks

the new scott s4s is argueably the best saltwater fly rod being made right now which was released by scott fly rod Co. this year at the Fly fishing Retailer show in Denver (casted it...it's rad). However, not all of us can afford $700 rods and the problem with many lower end rods in 8-12 weights is that they are too slow of an action to turn over large flies, carry long belly lines, and shoot flat in to the wind, which is needed on the saltwater flats. So if you are spending the money to get to the saltwater and are on a budget, I would recommend making your trip miserable by not having a rod that can handle the situations. Echo fly rods has developed a series of saltwater capable fly rods that are reasonably priced in the $300 range. One of the most gnarly features of this purchase is that they come with 2 tips (supposedly with different actions for accuracy and distance) so if you break one on your trip you aren't out of business. Lifetime warranties are great but don't do you much good with a broken rod on some island in Belize or Bahamas and you have a week of fishing scheduled still. Tim Rajeff in Vancouver who owns Echo rods send the Big R Fly Shop guys some of the larger weight rods for their recent trip to Baja for Roosterfish and Dorado, and they passed the test of Baja which is windy, fast casts at long distances are necessary, and we were throwing big flies. It was a pretty good testing grounds for the rods and they are LIG-iT.

Hang Ten...

Wike

gf tribune mo river update

Great Falls Tribune - Novemver 10, 2009.

HELENA — The Missouri River's reputation as a world-class fly-fishing destination got a boost Monday with the release of a report that populations of large trout continue to climb in the blue-ribbon fishery.

For the second consecutive year, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries survey on the Missouri found that the number of large rainbow and brown trout between Holter Dam and Cascade are up.

State biologists this fall found 3,458 rainbow trout longer than 10 inches near Craig. The long-term average of rainbows that size for that section is 2,917.

"The rainbows in the Craig section were remarkably high quality," said Grant Grisak, FWP fisheries biologist. "About 85 percent of the rainbows were 15 inches and larger, and fish in the 18-inch length group alone represented 24 percent of the total population."

The largest rainbow sampled was 4.8 pounds.

In the Pelican Point section of the river, just upstream from Cascade, rainbow trout were estimated at 1,577 fish per mile, which is higher than the long-term average of 1,494 rainbows per mile.

According to Grisak, 64 percent of the rainbows in the population were at least 15 inches long.

Brown trout populations in the river also are up. The spring estimate of brown trout in the Craig section was 584 per mile; the long-term average there is 578. In the Pelican Point section, spring browns were estimated at 611 per mile — higher than the long-term average of 358.

The 2008 survey estimated there were 1,126 brown trout 10 inches and longer per mile, more than twice the 22-year average of 554 brown trout per mile.

Biologists don't actually count all the fish in the river when they perform the survey. Instead, they electro-shock the water in an area, then count, tag and release the fish. Two weeks later, they repeat the process and use the ratio of tagged to untagged fish to calculate an estimate of the trout population per mile.

Brown trout populations are sampled in the spring and rainbow populations are sampled in the fall.

The report's findings didn't surprise 26-year Missouri River fishing guide Pete Cardinal, owner of Missouri River Angler in Craig.

"That's what happens when you add water to a Montana river. The fish like it. There's more habitat, more food, more space and greater survival," Cardinal said. "It's probably a real reflection of great habitat conditions from the last two years of great water levels."

Trout numbers are healthy throughout the stretches of the river that were surveyed, according to FWP. Additionally, Missouri River anglers reported good fly-fishing for larger rainbows during the late summer and early fall.

Cardinal said he has been guiding on the Missouri since 1983, and he has never seen healthier looking fish than this season.

"The most noticeable difference is the quality of the fish. They're just larger than they've been," he said. "People are really happy with the quality of the fish, and the fish really fight hard. They're so healthy that they just really tear you up when you hook them."

Grisak said Cardinal's observations are consistent with the number of large trout observed during the population survey.

The situation wasn't as rosy on one of Montana's other world-class rivers. According to FWP's findings, trout population estimates in the Smith River show numbers continued to trend down over the long term.

In the Eagle Creek section of the Smith River — a couple miles downstream of Camp Baker — the number of rainbow trout longer than 8 inches was estimated at 371 per mile, which is consistent with a short-term trend, but below the long-term average of 527 such fish, Grisak said

Brown trout in the same section were estimated at 270 per mile, which is less than the long-term average of 315 fish per mile.

"Higher water flows and lower water temperatures in the Smith River this year should provide relief to future trout populations, especially in the wake of a nine-year drought experienced in central Montana," Grisak said.