Roanoke River Spring Shad run.....

It happens every spring......just so happens it happened a little early this year. The annual shad run on the Roanoke River that is, and if you've not gotten in on it it is a hoot for sure. Often called a "poor man's tarpon" by some, these fish migrate from the ocean back to the freshwater rivers from which they were born. In North Carolina, we are fortunate to have several coastal rivers that get them.....the Roanoke, the Tar, the Cashie, the Neuse....just to name a few.

Five or six weight fish they are, and on anything lighter and you have a nice battle on your hands. Some of the larger fish are 2 to 3 pounds, and give an impressive fight even on a stiff rod- - - and if you are lucky some of the better ones you will get a jump or two out of them as well.

I recently went down with two friends, one Rick Trautman, Men's ministry pastor at our church, Westover Church here in Greensboro, NC, and my good friend Brad Ball, also from Greensboro, NC. All in all we guessed between 75 and 100 fish were caught during the day. Rick christened his new fly rod well, catching several nice fish and the largest fish, about a 3 pounder. Brad christened his 5wt as well, catching the first "other than trout" species on it. I, lastly, broke the only fly rod that I had. While fighting a fish, I broke the reel seat and reel completely off and heard the reel and the pieces as they hit the casting deck. I spent the rest of the time with the reel taped to the butt of the rod with first aid tape! It was ugly!!!! but I guess in a pinch you make the best of what you have. I was just happy to be casting some, as the recovery from a car accident and surgery have been on going for the past three and a half months. Catching a fish was a bonus, and well, its just a rod and it can be fixed.

At the present rate you have probably two weeks left to catch the run, after that it will be stripers. . . and tons of them. So don't miss it while its here!

Too Funny not to share.........

When I saw this billboard, it took a second (I know, I am slow) to hit me but then I laughed so hard I almost laid an egg. The fact that there's a moose on the billboard didn't bother me, the lonely moose hardly gets consideration anywhere......even though he is one of the most majestic creatures of the American West. Few things scare him, almost nothing could.

I was thinking if there had been a cutthroat on that sign instead......wouldn't we all have been in an uproar? Or maybe a brown, or maybe a rainbow, or shall I dare say it......a native brookie?

Isn't it interesting how putting a trout on that board, or for that matter any fish we're passionate about, would be a lot different to us because we love them?

It makes me think about a backcountry trip about 15 yrs ago I did with a customer into the Shining Rock Wilderness. It was his invite, him taking me camping and fishing. And it was a great experience. I'll name no names so as to protect everyone. But we hiked in what must have been five or six miles. He was already there, had set up camp, and was ready to feed us when we got there. His wife had met me at the trailhead, as she had also driven up after gettting off work early. When we arrived, we could smell the aroma of something great.......After enjoying about 90%of it, it was brought to my attention that this was brook trout, natives, the kind we rave about......I can't tell you the mountain of guilt and shame that came over me as I thought...."Oh, no, folks at home find out I have eaten a native brookie I am in some deep stuff."
In any case, it was a big deal at the time, but I still think about it.....it must have had some effect --I mean to still be writing about it to this day, even now. My defense was, and there was truth in it, that I had no idea that he had caught trout and that they were native brookies until I almost swallowed all of one. Isn't it funny how we readily let someone else have it and so quickly let ourselves off the hook. As I swallowed the last bite I think I must have been planning my statement of defense.

I must say though, that it was pretty tasty, I imagine a lot like what spotted owls and bald eagles taste like. And no, I haven't eaten those..................

Wyoming Sampler Trip 2008......counting the days!

There's something about having a big trip in the future that you get to plan for. Sometimes it seems the planning for and getting ready for and tying flies for is as much a part of the fun as the trip itself. That's the way I have always looked at Western trips. After a summer off from it, we'll be doing it again this August.

Our trip will begin by arriving in Jackson, Wyoming, one of the great jumping off destinations for many western fly fishing trips. Even the approach when landing at the Jackson Airport is one of those oooohhhh ahhhhhh things where one minute you are looking at bright blue sky and sunshine and the next minute you see the Grand Tetons come into view in such a way that it seems you could just reach out the window and touch the top of them. And that's only the beginning.

Like previous trips, we'll be arriving in Jackson, WY around midday, with enough time to shuttle all my customers and me to put our gear away for the evening, head to town to get everyone a fishing license, grab some last minute grub, snacks, or gear items, then we'll head off to hit either world famous Flat Creek (20 inch plus cutties are the norm), the Gros Ventre River (pronounced Grow Vont--that is French for "Big Belly"), or the wonderful freestone Hoback. After some fishing, we'll head back to town for a nice dinner and turn in. We'll arise the next morning, grab a hearty breakfast, then we'll be off to meet our outfitter /trail guide at the trail head to the Teton Wilderness just north near Moran Junction, which is north of Jackson. We'll horseback into the Teton Wilderness, set up camp, put our stuff away, and suit up with waders and head off to fish the Soda Fork of the Buffalo. We'll fish til sundown, head back to camp, and enjoy a delicious cowboy dinner under the stars by a crackling campfire. Then off to catch some Z's and up early again to a great breakfast by the fire. After breakfast, we'll suit up and head off to fish Divide Lake, a backcountry high mtn lake filled with wild cutthroats and brookies. After a day of fishing, we'll head back to camp, have another nice dinner under the moon and stars, then turn in. We'll get up the next morning, pack our stuff, put on our fishing gear, and head off to fish some more, then we'll horseback back out of the backcountry. From there we'll head back to town for some supplies, then head south of town through Hoback Junction , Bondurant, and to Cora, WY, where we'll be at the Green River Guest Ranch for the night. After getting settled in, we'll enjoy a nice dinner, turn in, and off the next morning for breakfast then a day of fishing on the Green River, the gateway to the Wind River Wilderness and Range. We'll be spending a day and a half on the Green, then a half day on the Greys R - - a neat stretch of fly only water. The next day we'll fish the Hoback River and Granite Creek, and the final day we'll wrap things up with a float trip down the Snake River from Wilson Wyoming down to the 189 takeout, in pursuit of the Jackson Hole native fish- - - the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat. They are a separate and genetically distinct species from all others.

If it is anything like previous trips here, this will be the sixth for me w/a group of customers and it should be a great time for everyone. Great food, great fishing, scenery that has no equal and with folks I absolutely love spending a fly fishing trip with. I can't wait, lets see, 180 days and counting..........

"....now who designed that fly?.......Really?"

I am always intrigued by the names of flies as well as the history behind them. I find it very interesting to know what the originator had in mind when he or she designed the fly. There's always something that seems to make the difference , whether a technique or new material, or whatever, some flies seem to possess a knack for catching fish when other flies fail. But when you consider how many flies are available now versus twenty years ago, the choices are limitless. And finding out some of the information about the original design, the tyer, and the philosophy behind the fly can seem an impossibility. Fortunately, that's not true of all flies, and certainly not of a contemporary nymph favorite, the Copper John. It is the Copper John, isn't it? Well,....despite popular opinion its actually called a Copper Bob. The Copper Bob was first.

The Copper Bob is the original fly, and was developed by Bob White. Bob grew up in Southern Illinois and started tying Flies long before he ever saw his first trout. His passion for fly fishing eventually would take him to Alaska, where he started guiding in 1984. He's guided 27 seasons between Alaska, Argentina, and Chile. In 1988 he was presented with Fly Rod & Reel Magazine's second Guide of the Year Award. His signature Copper Bob series was developed in the late 80's (long before the Copper John by John Barr) and has been designed to meet all the requirements of a "guide fly". They have fooled the wariest trout and steelhead from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Bob now designs fly patterns for one of the West's best custom fly suppliers, Montana Fly Company- -which is owned and operated by well known angler, guide, and fly designer Adam Trina.

So there you have it. The next time the question of who's fly is that comes up you'll have at least one answer.......the Copper Bob. That's a tidbit I am sure Umpqua Feather Merchants would rather not be known.....but its true!

Trips with Friends........

There are lots of times I think to myself......" I must have the best job in the world." I certainly think I have the best customers in the world. And with many I have been serving them since they started fly fishing. Some customers I have known for more than 20 years.

Most customers end up becoming my friends as well. I get the privilege of taking them fishing several times a year, and we get to share a lot of victory moments together. Nothing beats seeing a customer get into a large fish, except maybe landing it of course. With many of my customers we fish often enough to introduce them to fishing under all weather and stream conditions. And many times we have a banner day when it looked like it could have just as easily been the other way. Such was the case on Feb 18, 2008 with my friend and customer Mac Cheek. We had a near perfect day, we quit counting the takes, caught at least 30 or more fish, lost several more, and a near 20" fish and another larger than that on that came off. More importantly it was incredible to just see Mac fish, and to see how good a fly fisherman he has become. It means alot since he and I started from the very beginning almost 2 years ago, with him learning to fly fish, and Mac is solid proof that if you spend time on the water and pay your dues it all pays off. I was not only impressed as I watched him fish, I was stunned!!!! His casting is well, quite nice if you ask me. Line control, impressive. And fishing prowess......well, the numbers speak for themselves. Until next time, we'll enjoy and savor the last trip..........and look forward to the next one.

Great Tying Weather....

Nothing like a fresh fallen snow to inspire the day's fly tying orders. Like a few days ago, when the snow was a total surprise, and certainly not in the forecast. Even to our fishing buddy/meteorologist Austin Caviness. It was fine by me as I had a number of custom fly orders to fill.

Tying with a view like this is special indeed, and even more so with a cup of hot hazelnut coffee to my right and the crackle of a distant fire about. If I were to pick the best fly tying day it would be a lot like this, bluebird sky and all.

If its cloudy though, forget tying a fly. I will be scrambling for my nymph and big ugly box (streamers and all that other stuff I am embarrassed to show my dry fly purist fishing buddies). There are few things like snow and a cloudy sky that are better at bringing big fish out and making them eat. Some of the largest trout I have caught have been under those conditions. I guess its the low light that gives a large fish confidence that it cannot be seen. And some of the best early season hatches, particularly blue winged Olives, hatch in the very dreariest of conditions- - -and often on a river or stretch of water where no one esle is fishing. In any case, snow and cloudy conditions are one of the best times to catch a nice fish. The next time it happens, jump on it and take advantage of it.

The Art of Fly Tying.....

Fly tying from the very beginning was intriguing to me. How different parts of various animals could be blended together to mimic a natural trout food was almost unbelievable....in some ways it still is.

If you tie flies you know what I mean. Its how that one particular feather seems to capture the essence of what makes an insect look or seem alive- -- maybe its the texture, the color, the way it lies flat or the way it bends. Simply put, it is amazing to me that how well certain parts of a bird or beast seem to match exactly an insect body feature or part you are trying to match.

This holds true especially for certain types of materials, like duck wings. The delicate wing quills can be separated into slips that mimic perfectly the wing of a mayfly dun. Or maybe it is the way the hackle fibers can be trimmed close to a stem, the stem knotted, and the end result ends up being a dead ringer for a grasshopper leg. Or the way ostrich herl is wound and then when fished it breathes....giving so much movement in the water that it perfectly mimics the gills on a natural nymph's abdomen. Or finally, the many ways a turkey quill can be sprayed and then trimmed to mimic a caddis wing, hopper wing, even wing pads on a stonefly nymph.

In any case, that is what makes fly tying an art. Just like an artist, a tyer begins working his "canvas" with a vision in mind and begins blending, trimming, tying, adjusting, trimming some more and then finally the end product emerges. And just like most artists, a good fly tyer will tell you that his best fly is one that he has yet to tie.