What is a Kype? A kype is a hook that forms on the lower jaw of a male trout, salmon or steelhead, during spawning periods. This is their badge of power and dominance, that is unique to only these species—a sign of a warrior. From this mark of strength comes the title of our magazine, KYPE.
Kype Magazine VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1, 2011
Kype Magazine Castle Douglas Productions.LLC PO Box 2024 Anacortes, WA 98221 360.299.2266 Streamside@kype.net
www.KypeMagazine.com Kype Staff Publisher: George Douglas Staff Editors: Kristen Bailey Lem James
Publisher’s Cast..........................................................4 The Tube Fly Revolution...............................................6 Fly Fishing and Photography..........................................8 A Microphone and Fly Rod, Curt Gowdy.........................10
COPYRIGHT Kype Magazine Copyright © 2011 Castle Douglas Productions LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. May no part of this publication or DVD be copied or reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher.
Bug Week in the Catskills.............................................12 Bully Beatdown on the Kanektok..................................14 Custom Steelhead Rods...............................................16 A Fly for All Seasons....................................................20 Kype Product Reviews..................................................22
T
he fly fishing community has suffered a great loss with the death of Fly Fisherman and Photographer, Rich Schaaff. This issue of Kype Magazine is a tribute to Rich as his photo embraces our cover, and we have also scattered other shots of Rich’s throughout the inside pages. According to his wife, Julie, this cover shot was one of Rich’s favorite photos, which he called, “Sunlight Release.” He was fascinated by the way light and shadows played on water as he captured the lighting just as it was—no editing on this photo. Julie explained that Rich saw beauty in everything, and he could capture that through his photography. Read Rich’s story on page 8, A Journey of Fly Fishing and Photography, written by Kirk Werner.
It’s
Not Easy Being Green
Experience Goes a Long Way by George Douglas
O
Bio: Publisher of Kype Magazine Ohio & N.Y. Fishing Guide Fishing Hall of Fame Inductee Fly Tier Type of Fishing: Fly, Spey, Spin, Pin & Plug Location: 1/2 the Year, Great Lakes 1/2 the Year, West Coast Filming everywhere else Website: KypeMagazine.com Contact Info: Streamside@kype.net
pen your browser, go to Google, and type in the words “green define.” After some of the definitions for the color green, you’ll find descriptions such as not fully developed, unripe, unseasoned, immature in judgment, untrained, inexperienced, gullible, easily fooled, fresh, recent, new—you get the point. As in any sport, you’ll find varying shades of green with anglers and guides alike. In my latest book, Fish Like a Guide 1, is great. He can strike-out batters left I mentioned that I can spot a good fishing and right. He looks great on the surface, guide a mile away. I can tell by the way but what if we find out he’s hesitant as they move, the decisions they make, their to when to cover first base? Or that his technique, and their confidence while defense is terrible? What if, when he fishing (and yes, all guides do fish). gets up to bat, he’s unable to sacrifice Likewise, I can spot an inexperienced the runner to second, because it turns angler and/or guide just as easily. It may out he hasn’t a clue how to lay down a be something as simple as watching bunt? He’s great on the surface, but their eyes look up at the rod after a hook when you get down to the nitty-gritty, set or reaching for their fly line by the you have a pitcher whose weaknesses first eyelet after a cast. It may be the will result in a losing record. way they walk in the river or the gear The same goes for fishing. You can they use, or the way they approach a have an angler whose casting and techhole, the way they fight a fish, what they nique may shine, but if he’s green in do when they’re snagged, or how they other aspects of the sport, he may win a try to avoid that snag the next cast. And battle here and there, but he’ll end up the list goes on... taking just as many skunks, if not more. Someone recently asked me if my book The end result will be an off-balanced had any techniques or flies listed in angler with a losing record. it...The answer is NO. You see, when it It all comes down to the basics. A comes to fishing, most anglers want to weak foundation will stunt our growth dive right into hooking fish. An enormous and prevent us from excelling in the amount of emphasis is put on how to cast sport, for we can’t build too high off a and techniques on how to hook fish. platform that is weak. We must build A good analogy may be an athlete from the ground up with sharpened whose aspiration is to be a pitcher on a skills that allow us to soar as high as we professional baseball team. His delivery desire, by perfecting techniques, adding
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styles and fishing multiple regions. We can seek training to ensure becoming well rounded anglers and overcome the weaknesses that pervade in the mainstream (no pun intended), therefore, when the going gets tough on the river, you will have a solid foundation upon which to fall back on. You’ll have the knowledge at hand to adjust to any conditions you face, and you can place yourself in the highest percentage of fishing expertise as possible. You can approach any and every situation with rock solid solutions with a precise skill set. If you are a bit unseasoned, don’t get discouraged. Your shades of green will morph into bold blues and reds with time and persistence. Learn from resources such as books that teach those concepts and from guides and authorities in the fishing industry who can lead you in the right direction both on and off the river. Right now, I am in Central America writing each day, hoping to have Fish Like a Guide 2 completed by spring. Then it’s off to Steelhead Alley in Ohio for another season of guiding. I’m looking forward to that season, as last spring was amazing with an incredible run of steelhead and a great group of clients. On a more somber note, Fly Fishing Photographer, Rich Schaaff, passed away in early November, 2010. His photography was featured in the last issue of Kype, and in his memory, we included it once again in this issue. His death was an eye-opener for many in the industry, including myself. This is the last email we at Kype received from Rich just before he past away: Live in the moment and enjoy. Talk soon, Rich
From left to right: Mike Nutto, Rich Schaaff, Rocky Maley, Stephen Vance.
There’s so much meaning in such a short message—one that I subscribe to, believe in, and try to practice every day. Life is too short, and something as simple as the sport of fishing can sometimes become convoluted and skewed— to see what I am talking about, just read some of the online forums. This is a wonderful sport, and all of us need to enjoy it as we did when we were kids and crystallize those moments of success! Take the time to look around and appreciate the gift we have of beautiful rivers, trees, animals and all of life that surrounds our sport. “Live in the moment and enjoy!” Embrace those words and what they represent, and pass the positive aspects of fishing on to our children—and, maybe, our sport will have a chance of a bright future. Sincerely, George Douglas Publisher
Photo by Richard Schaaff
Recommended Blogs World Fishing News wis-fm.co.uk/default.aspx Troutrageous www.troutrageous.com Fin Follower www.finfollower.com Fly & Fin www.flyandfin.blogspot.com Gary Engberg Outdoors www.garyengberg outdoors.com/blog/ The Jersey Angler www.thejersey angler.blogspot.com Reel Job Fishing www.kent-klewein.com/ georgia-fly-fishing-blog Fly Fish With Mel www.flyfishwithmel.com Predator Fishing www.predator jocke.blogspot.com BigerrFish www.bigerrfish.blogspot.com
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Tube Flies Join the Revolution... by Chris Lessway
sk any Great Lakes Steelheader if they have ever heard of tube flies and most of them will tell you yes. Ask the same anglers if they ever used them and you’ll more than likely get a different answer. As a fly fishing guide and avid fly tier, I am always on the lookout for something new and different to tie. Although tube flies are nothing new, I began experimenting with them a few years ago and almost exclusively use them for my steelhead endeavors.
A
Bio: Michigan Fishing Guide Fly Fishing Instructor Tube Fly Tier Guide for North Branch Outing Club Type of Fishing: Fly Fishing / Spey Casting Location: Michigan Trout and Steelhead Rivers Website: OutForTrout.com Fullersnboc.com Contact Info: info@outfortrout.com
Tube flies have long been used by salmon anglers all around the world, and have been gaining popularity here in the Great Lakes and throughout the United States. The first tube flies were tied on a hollowed out turkey quill around the mid 1940’s and were credited to Winnie Morawski who worked as a fly tier for Playfair and Company of Aberdeen. Later a doctor, who was a customer of the company, liked the idea so much that he suggested using surgical tubing in place of the fragile quills. News of this new discovery got out and soon tube flies were being tied all over Europe, Canada and the United States. If you are not familiar with tube flies, they are flies tied on small plastic or metal tube. The leader is run through the tube and then tied on to a bare hook. “Why tube flies?” you ask. There are many advantages to using a tube fly. Think about this, how
many times have you snagged your fly on a rock or log and got the fly back, only to find the hook bent or severely dulled? Most of the time you have to throw the entire fly away. That’s not the case with tube flies! Because the fly and the hook are separate from one another, all you have to do is remove the damaged hook and slide the tube fly over a brand new hook. Another benefit of tube flies is that when a fish hits your fly, the tube generally slides up the leader and away from the jaws of the fish. You can also remove the hook from the fish without tearing apart the fly, which in turn Photo by Chris Lessway
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can make your fly last a little longer. Tying flies can be expensive and time consuming, so why not make them last? A common goal all anglers have when fly fishing is to catch more fish–tube flies can help you do just that. When using tube flies, you can tie a fairly large streamer pattern and still use a smaller, short shank hook. The leverage of longer shank hooks can cause the hook to dislodge when fighting a fish due to the bending and twisting of the hook. The shorter shank hooks create less leverage and therefore increase your landing percentage. Have you ever fallen victim to the short striking fish? You’re getting all kinds of tugs but no hook ups? Well, with tube flies you can adjust the placement of your hook near the tail of your fly, creating a stinger like hook. When tying bigger bulky flies, they tend to be heavy and cumbersome to cast. Tying your flies on plastic tubes can eliminate some of the weight and make it easier to cast. There are many different styles and types of tubes available today. They can be made of plastic or metal such as copper, brass, aluminum or tungsten. They are available in straight, tapered or even bottle shaped. All of these characteristics can have an influence on the weight, size, and shape of your fly, something to consider when choosing tubes for the water you are going to fish. Plastic tubing can usually be bought by the foot or in pre-cut lengths. When using plastic tubing you can cut your tubing to the desired length, allowing you to create a fly of any size. You can always add a cone-head to the plastic tubing for added weight. When tying my own flies I like to take a lighter and use the flame to melt the tip of the tube to create a small lip to hold the materials on.
Metal tubes tend to be heavier and work great for getting your fly down in faster currents and deep water. Metal tubes come in different shapes, most commonly the cylindrical shape. This type of tube is a long, straight, cylinder tube that is usually made of copper or aluminum. I have found there are disadvantages to the simplicity of its shape, because there is no lip or ridge on the front of the tube, so there is nothing to hold your thread and materials. Another type of metal tube is called a bottle tube, shaped exactly as the name suggests. These tubes tend to be a little pricier than others because of their shape. The one thing I do like about these tubes is just about all of them come with a lip or ridge on one end. Bottle tubes are tapered in the front, which allows you to tie a smaller head and a more streamlined fly.
Photo by Richard Schaaff
“...cut your tubing to the desired length, allowing you to create a fly of any size.”
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A Journey of Fly Fishing and Photography by Kirk Werner
J
ust before dusk on his first trip to Montana in 1984, Rich Schaaff found himself sprinting downstream along the banks of the Madison River. A widening grin spread across his face as he fought to keep his line tight with one hand while trying to prevent his waders from falling around his ankles with the other. Increasingly farther downstream a big rainbow continued to rip line from his reel.
Bio: Kirk Werner is a freelance graphic artist, keeper of the Unaccomplished Angler blog and author of a series of children’s fly fishing books: Olive the Little Woolly Bugger, Olive and The Big Stream, and Olive Goes for a Wild Ride Type of fishing: Trout and steelhead in moving water Location: Wet side of Washington (the state) Contact: Unaccomplishedangler@gmail.com
The scene played out within view of Three Dollar Bridge, and Schaaff can still hear the echo of uncontrollable laughter from his fishing buddy as the trout attempted to make short work of the man on the other end of the line. That night as the two compadres reclined on the grass next to the river, looking up at stars he never knew existed, Schaaff acknowledged, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” When he returned to his home in Chicago, Schaaff knew that there was something very special about the West. He knew that he would come back again some day. A fly fisherman for most of his life, Rich grew up in Chicago and chased trout on small streams in Michigan and Wisconsin. He fondly recalls the day from his childhood when he caught his first fish on a fly: it was in ankle deep water on a small spring creek, and the brown trout wasn’t much bigger than the fly it had inhaled. “I went running down the bank with that poor little fish squeezed tightly in my hand, screaming to
my brother,” Schaaff recalls. He still feels a twinge of guilt that the little brown “sacrificed its own life in order to bring me such fulfillment.” In addition to fishing closer to home, Rich would often make the 11 hour, non-stop drive to the White River in Arkansas with his brother, who had previously worked there as a fly fishing guide. His brother knew the river well, and the two regularly fished for long weekends. Though the White was teeming with trout, Schaaff acknowledges that after the ’84 trip to Montana everything else paled by comparison. “It was the West that I longed for.” His trip to Montana had apparently ruined him. While he grew up fishing, photography was a hobby that didn’t come along until Schaaff moved to New York City in 1994. To hear Rich tell it, “God only knows why I ever moved to NYC in the first place.” As he reflects back on that period of his life, however, it becomes obvious that his years spent living in Manhattan were good for something. Mesmerized by the lifestyle and architecture that surrounded him, Schaaff purchased a Nikon camera and spent his
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days off “schlepping around the streets of Manhattan shooting roll after roll of black and white film.” The dramatic urban settings provided endless opportunities to study composition and the play of light. He didn’t realize it at the time, but the Manhattan project was preparing Rich for what lie ahead, further to the West. Schaaff refers to his time spent in NYC as “the lost years of fly fishing.” He regrets that probably one of the biggest mistakes while living in Manhattan was not taking advantage of the great Eastern fisheries. “I think I was too busy trying to absorb and balance all the craziness of that lifestyle,” he says. In 1999 he snapped back to his senses. “Go West, young man.” Such was the advice of an Indiana newspaper writer by the name of John Soule, who in 1851 wrote the words that would become a mantra for nineteenth century Americans pursuing their dreams of a new life in a new, unsettled territory. 148 years after those words were first published, Rich Schaaff answered that call to action and headed about as far West as he possible could, settling in the Pacific Northwest near Portland, Oregon. Rich admits that he’d grown weary of wading in a mass of humanity and left New York City “to avoid seeing people talking to themselves on the streets.” He still wades, but now he does so amongst rocks and water. He still sees people talking to themselves on occasion, but the difference is that now these people are usually harmless fly anglers, blurting out a few choice words when a fish throws their hook. The slower pace of life on the West coast suited Schaaff perfectly and allowed him to fully immerse himself in two of his
passions: fly fishing and photography. Exactly when the two hit head-on isn’t clear, but one thing is: “When they came together, I knew I was a goner.” He also knew he was a goner when he met “a wonderful Oregonian gal named Julie” who would become his better half. There was plenty of fishing to be done out West, and those fishing trips soon included a camera as part of the requisite tackle. “I began spending more time taking photos than actually fishing,” Schaaff says without a hint of remorse. He began to see fly fishing differently through the camera’s lens, and a good fishing trip began to be measured not in the number of fish caught, but in how many quality shots he was able to capture. “Two good shots make the trip,” he adds. The more Rich fished, the more photos he took as he immersed himself in his passions. Soon it became clear that his photography hobby deserved an identity, and thus was born East Fork Fly Photography. In order to share his work with friends and
Photo by Richard Schaaff
“I began spending more time taking photos than actually fishing” —Rich Schaaff
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Curt Gowdy A Microphone and a Fly Rod by Lem James
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Bio: Staff Editor, Kype Magazine Avid Angler and Hunter Outdoor Writer Type of Fishing: River fishing for Salmon and Steelhead Location: Steelhead Rivers of Oregon North Umpqua River Contact: Streamside@kype.net
urt Gowdy is an illustrious name in sports broadcasting. Curt’s career spanned radio announcing through the birth and maturity of television. His accomplishments as an announcer and television host read like a who’s who and what’s what of baseball, basketball and football. Passionate about his sports, his life and career, Curt Gowdy was defined outside and later inside his career by his passion for fly fishing. A Fishing Legacy Inducted in to an amazing twenty From 1962 to 1992, Curt Gowdy lithall of fames including the NFL, Baseball and Basketball, Curt’s per- erally was “The American Sportsman.” sonal favorite was the IGFA As the host of the show Gowdy fished International Game Fish Association and hunted in some of the world’s most and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. productive waters and fished with Curt’s fishing life began around the friends, presidents and celebrities. Many age of eight, fly fishing with his father of the most beloved moments of his life in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Curt were in the outdoors during the producdescribed his father as the “best fly tion of the show. Characterized by his fisherman in Wyoming.” Both father Stetson hat and a fly rod in hand, Curt’s and son had free access to many of the constant presence in the fishing world prime fishing and hunting opportuni- led to a list of recognitions and involvements that have had a deep impact on fly ties in the state. Gowdy’s friendship with Ted fishing and the environment. The natuWilliams led to an introduction to salt- ral and polished art of broadcasting that water fly fishing and the Florida Keys. Curt had perfected in sports casting natCurt grew in his love for Florida and urally followed into his personal world eventually ended his amazing life in of sport fishing and outdoorsmanship. that state. Curt was a founding member Just look at these accomplishments: of several fishing and hunting organi- • Board of Advisors for National for Conservation zations including Bonefish and Tarpon Foundation Unlimited. His passion for fishing Environmental Officers spilled into his career and eventually • Chairman of American League of overflowed the boundaries of sports Anglers broadcasting, resulting in The • Trustee on the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association American Sportsman show.
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• Trustee on the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) • Founding member of Bonefish & Tarpon Unlimited • Inducted into the IGFA hall of fame 2003 • Enshrined into the Freshwater Fishing hall of fame 2005 • Curt Gowdy State Park was established in 1971 in Wyoming Curt Gowdy State Park Wyoming, opened Curt Gowdy State Park in 1971. “It has two beautiful lakes, hiking trails, camping, boating, fishing, and beauty,” said Gowdy. “It has everything I love. What greater honor can a man receive?” The state of Wyoming was proud of their native son and continues to recognize his achievements as well as the Wyoming outdoor heritage that was passed on through the rivers and wild lands of his youth. After his death Wyoming also named a post office building after him in honor in his birth city Green River. A Sportscasting Legacy Gowdy’s broadcasting career is also larger than life with 13 Emmy Awards, including 6 awards for The American Sportsman. Gowdy was the first sports broadcaster to win the Peabody Award in 1970. As a sports broadcaster he was present and announcing for many of the notable events in sport history. Ted Williams’ last at bat home run must have been a memorable day for the two fishing partners! A brief list of the seven decades of accomplishments include announcing for: • 16 World Series • 12 Rose Bowls
• 9 Super Bowls • 8 Olympic Games • 16 Baseball All-Star Games • 24 NCAA Final Fours After 7 decades of involvement the list is backed by an inexhaustible list of moments in sports history. A Legacy of Legacies Curt Gowdy’s list of hall of fame inductions speaks for itself and speaks to his prolific and public lifetime involvement with sports and sportsmanship. 1. Conservation Hall of Fame International - 1973 2. International Fishing Hall of Fame-1981
“Gowdy’s friendship with Ted Williams led to an introduction to saltwater fly fishing”
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BUG WEEK In the Catskill Mountains
West Branch Sulphur
by Michael McAuliffe
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s the years spent Fly Fishing become decades, I find myself marking the passage of time not by the days, weeks, or months. Strangely enough, my life’s furtherance is now measured in Fly Fishing Trips. This is also the case with many of the hardcore fly anglers I know. Most of us have an annual series of hatches or trips that we move heaven and earth to fish every year. Of the eight or so yearly pilgrimages to various East Coast fly fishing mecas, there is one that will always be the most significant.
Bio: Owner: Rise Form Studio/Rise Form Fly Fishing Guides NJ Fly Fishing Guide Fly Fishing Instructor Author Fly Tier Type of Fishing: Fly Fishing everywhere Filming everywhere Website: riseformstudio.tv
Bug Week in the Catskills is by far our special favorite. There are a multitude of reasons why we hold this yearly event above all others. The trip’s genesis lies within Fly Fishing, but evolution has taken hold to impart greater weight and meaning. Bug week has come to mean running jokes, campfires, planning sessions, nicknames, lasting friendships, utter hilarity, and beer for breakfast as much as screaming reels and epic hatches. There is a palpable energy that precedes Bug Week. This current runs straight through you until you begrudgingly return to your normal existence. Bug week is a feeling of freedom, hope, adventure, and possibility. Bug Week is more than the quantifiable sum of its parts. The Bugs If you are from the East Coast or Fly Fish in the Catskills, you may already be hip to this Entomological Supernova. If the weather and water are just right you can find fish rising to 11+ different species of bugs on 4 major
rivers and countless tribs and trickles. The major bugs that hatch during the cusp of May and June are: The Dark Blue Sedge - Psilotreta labida Slate Drake/Iso - Isonychia bicolor Sulphur - Ephemerella invaria and Ephemerella dorothea Pale Evening Dun - Epeorus vitreus Blue Winged Olive/BWO - Attenella attenuata Large Blue Winged Olive/BWO - Drunella lata (formerly known as cornuta) March Brown - Maccaffertium vicarium Grey Fox - (formerly Stenonema fuscom) now classified as Maccaffertium vicarium Brown Drake - Ephemera simulans Green Drake - Ephemera guttulata
These hatches take place over the full course of the day on the Beaverkill, Willoweemac, West Branch of the Delaware, and Main Stem of the Delaware. The trick to fishing bug week effectively is local knowledge gathered over decades of fishing these waters. You will have different bugs, on different rivers, at various times of the day. During most seasons you can find rising fish somewhere on each river at any time of the day. Catching these fish is
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another story altogether. The wild trout in the Catskills are notorious for snubbing your fly if it is not just right. Most of the successful anglers I know prefer a downstream fly first presentation. The People I was introduced to the Bug Week phenomenon by my good friend John Kavanaugh. With twenty Catskill years under his wading belt, he always knows the what, where, and when. John is also an amazing Fly Tyer and one hell of a fisherman. He is responsible for my indoctrination into the fold of anglers who abandon all forms of responsibility for a week of fly fishing and related shenanigans every year. If Bug Week is a Circus, John would undoubtedly be our Ring Master. John happily plays host, guide, chef, inn keeper, bartender, designated rower, cheerleader, and comedian for our group of ne'er-do-wells. The personalities in this circus are as crucial as the fishing. Joey Scarengello, Stevie Bufardeci, John Collins, JP Sulley, Rich Outridge, and my humble self make the scene each year. A few of us see each other on a semi-regular basis, but the whole group only seems to converge during Bug Week. The Fishing Most Fly Anglers come to fish the famous Green Drake hatch and subsequent Coffin Fly spinner fall. These are huge bugs, typically size 10 and 8. These large insects can bring the largest and wariest of trout to the surface to gorge themselves with abandon. This can be an amazing event, or an elusive trip wrecker. Beyond the Drake hatch, I am a huge fan of the cornuta hatch in the morning. This is the definition of a
total sleeper deal. From mid morning to early afternoon trout will eat the emergers and duns in a perfect rhythmic fashion. Most anglers are so focused on the afternoon/night time Green Drake hatch and Coffin Fly Spinner Fall to notice this clockwork morning standout. Some years we are fishing from the drift boats and pontoons, other years we are driving, walking, and wading. The water levels and fishing conditions can vary to a huge degree from year to year. The river levels are dictated by more than just rainfall and weather patterns. The East and West branches of the Delaware are tail waters released from Pepacton and Cannonsville reservoirs, respectively. Pepacton and Cannonsville along with the Neversink reservoir represent New York City’s drinking water supply. This huge aquatic resource is managed by the Delaware River Basin Commission or DRBC. New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Federal Government are the decree parties in the DRBC. Most Fly Anglers seem to agree that NYC needs to release more water during the months of June through September to protect the coldwater fishery. I have looked at the data, seen the negative effects of too little cold water in the system, and agree that the current Flexible Flow
The infamous Green Drake Photo by Michael McAuliffe
Bug Week - A Video Companion Piece To view the video that accompanies this article go to: http://www.riseform studio.tv/bugweek.html
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BULLY
Beatdown on the Kanektok
A Day to Remember by Klint Borozan
(Dear Diary, It’s only August, and I have already started marking my calendar, crossing off the days with every passing sunset, until the Chinook opener in Alaska. I think I can keep myself from unwinding by grabbing a few Kings in the Big Manistee as they come up from Lake Michigan. Today, I have 301 days until I need to wax the ferrules on my Spey rod. I stayed up until 2am every night for a week, tying up all of the Stinger Prawns, Big Andy’s, and Tandem Tube Snakes I need for all of next year. For some reason I have five new spools each of Maxima in 15 and 20 lb test. Please, someone stop me!) Bio: Former Fishing Guide SW Montana and Alaska Steelhead & Salmon Fly Tier Outdoor Writer Type of Fishing: Spey Casting for Anadromous Species. Location: Michigan, Alaska, Montana, Florida. Contact Info: klintb@aol.com
The day finally came when I landed in Quinhagak (pronounced Qwin-a-huk) to meet the boat that would take me up the Kanektok River. I spent much of the previous week wondering if Kenai River sport fishing finally collapsed under the pressure it feels from the world landing on it: the ADFG closed it to King fishing because virtually no fish were coming into the system, and it felt like a bad omen. The good news, however, is the Kanektok doesn’t have the same type of commercial fishing pressures affecting the runs as the Kenai. Not only do the Kings run up, but the Chums run in with or follow them, creating a virtual lock on landing some nice chrome, lice laden fish. As I move into the water, the original dose of buck fever wore off, I can see and think clearly again, and I begin to realize why these are my best days. I truly enjoy a spiritual union between the river, the fish and myself, a gift handed down to me by Grandfather William T.
That day while some were still arguing the best fly colors and tip length, I knocked down so many Kings, including one around 35 lbs, I was entertaining thoughts of moving to Alaska. At day’s end, in silent conversation with myself, I rhetorically asked in my head, “How does it get any better than this?” Matt came over and sat down next to me during dinner and asked me to join him and Charles St. Pierre the next day, likely on “Money Bar,” a spey fisherman’s dream of a gravel bar. These guys are the real deal, and learning from them is how you take your game to the varsity level. Matt guides over 200 days a year, is in the Simms catalog, and is himself anadromous (no chrome to speak of, but weird spots all over his back). He knows ultra subtle, technical stuff that regular fishermen just don’t. Charles is really a different animal. He is arguably one of the world’s great fly casters (operates Northwest Spey Casting
OHIO
14
High Tide Tavern Best wings on the strip! 5504 Lake Rd. Geneva on the Lake 440.466.7990
Fish With Jim Outfitters Fishing Steelhead Alley Fly - Pin - Spin 248-252-1277 www.fishwithjimoutfitters.com
King Arthur Courts 2 bdrms w/ kitchenette 4960 Golfview Dr. Geneva on the Lake, OH 440.466.8961
OHIO
School), and is one of the finest people you will meet in your lifetime. Honestly, his casting is like watching Gauguin paint and Seve play golf. His true artistic nature not only comes through in his casting, but his fly designs, like the Hoh Bo spey (the best fly I have ever used on the Deschutes). He catches really big fish too. (Proudly, with little drag on a Hardy Bougle. If you ever meet him, ask him what he thinks about drags on fly reels…) We headed out at 7:30 am and hit the gravel 15 minutes later. I really thought this day would be painfully embarrassing, and my role was to provide entertainment to these guys, but it was so exciting that no one noticed my version of the “The Goofy Movie” perfect cast. Charles immediately hooked up a very big King. As it rolled, we could only clearly see the tail, which appeared to be approximately 11 inches wide, attached to a handle so thick that his hand would not fit around it for a picture, even if he landed it. So big and so in control, there was no stopping it without Marlin equipment. Had it not ripped up the line connections, it likely was an “Old Man and The Sea” event in the making that could have required a boat, two days worth of food, and more patience than Matt had in the tank. Oh yeah, and a much bigger net. My day was similar. I hooked and landed many fish. But strangely enough, without pictures, I seem to only remember the really big ones that got away. I harvested a few of the Jacks for smoking (brown sugar salmon candy recipe), but released the bigger ones that will spawn, as a down payment on my karma for the next year. While I found my success that day at finding fish in different seams in all areas of the run was inspiring, halfway into the day, my back was giving up. My arthritic
Kames Sporting Goods 8516 Cleveland Ave. N. North Canton, OH 44720 Catch it, climb it, hunt it, or ride it, we have it! 800-446-4906
hands were not working anymore unless I cracked my knuckles and took some Aleve—but I just couldn’t stop. Little did I know that when I was at my weakest, the real beat-down lay in wait for me. I worked the run down to the boat where I had the personal regimen of Mountain Dew and ten bags of M&M’s
Briquettes Smokehouse Pork, Chicken, Beef Brisket, & Ribs Dine-In or Take-Out In historic Ashtabula Harbor 440-964-2273 briquettessmokehouse.com
Photo by Klint Borozan
“... an Old Man and The Sea” event in the making...”
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Martinis Restaurant & Lounge Spacious Lounge & Dining Overlooking the Golf Course 440-964-2800 harborgolfclubashtabula.com
Build
Custom Rods For Steelhead
Not as Hard as You’d Think... by Matthew Yonkey
recently completed assembly of the newest steelhead rod in my ever-growing arsenal. This rod, a switch rod, is my new ultimate weapon in the hunt for the greatest of all migratory fish. It’s a reflection of the growing and changing fishing techniques I have evolved through over the years. A long mental evaluation of what I wanted to achieve in my fishing led me to the careful selection of all the components and made me once again remember how great it is to be able to build your own custom fishing rods.
I
Bio: Custom Rod Building Enthusiast Steelhead and Trout Addict Chemist Type of Fishing: Fly fishing Location: Great Lakes Steelhead and Trout waters Contact: yonkscustomrods@hotmail.com
It may sound like a complicated undertaking, but in fact with just minimal instruction and a little practice anyone can make a custom rod. There are plenty of great factory rods available on the market today so it begs the question….why bother? In some cases, it may save you money, or with enough practice you may end up with a better looking rod than the commercial options. Don’t leave out the sense of pride you feel when you complete the project and catch your first nice chromer. In my eyes, though, it all boils down to one thing – performance. Performance is more than just the way a rod casts, which is very important, it’s about whether or not the rod does all the things you want it to. These can be mechanical as well as aesthetics—how the rod looks, the weight, the action of the blank, fish fighting ability, tippet protection and handle comfort. Whether you float fish with a centerpin outfit, back bounce, chuck’n’duck, swing flies with a spey rod, or use a fly rod
with an indicator, all of these performance characteristics are very important. Building your own custom rod allows you to combine your needs and likes as a fisherman and build them all into one specialized fishing instrument. When you build your own rod, you have something very valuable that you can never get from a factory rod: complete control! There are numerous books and online tutorials on the exact process for building a custom rod. Those details are more suited for a longer discussion and further detail than a magazine article can achieve. However, if you do have the desire to build your own custom rod there are some things you should evaluate and consider first before diving in. The first step is choosing the components that will make up the completed rod. There are three basic “zones” to a rod that you have control over: the blank, the guides and the handle. All three deserve significant consideration before
OHIO
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Biscotti’s Restaurant Casual Authentic Italian Dining Located in historic Conneaut Harbor, close to the river! 440-593-6766 biscottisrestaurant.com
Best Western Lawnfield Inn & Suites Great location for fishing the Grand and Rocky River. 8434 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Oh 440-205-7378
Eagle Cliff Inn Cottages & Suites Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 10% off for Steelhead Fishermen, Ask for Lu and mention this ad. 440-466-1110
making a decision because they can drastically affect the final outcome of your rod and how happy you are with it. Look at your current set up and think about what you would change if you could, because now is your chance. Careful evaluation and selection of these components will put you well on your way to having your ultimate fishing instrument before you even start building. The Blank Choosing the proper blank for your fishing needs is probably the most crucial aspect of rod building. Almost all of the major rod manufactures sell the same blanks they build their rods on. There are also manufacturers that specialize in building just blanks and other components needed to assemble your own rod. In fact there are so many choices available for rod blanks that you should be able to match the action, length, line weight, color and number of pieces ideally suited to your situation. Don’t be afraid to call the companies. They can often offer advice and provide you with valuable information that you might not get from looking at a catalog. Consider the return/warranty policies and any associated fees too. The rod blank will more than likely be the most expensive component in your custom rod, so get the most information available and choose wisely. The Guides Stainless steel, titanium, and “memory metal” alloys might sound like construction materials for a NASA project, but in fact are just some of the materials that are in wide use in modern line guides. The ceramic rings used in spinning and casting guides also come in numerous exotic
materials, all with their own purpose and benefits. Many factors should affect your choice of guides for your rod, ranging from choosing a color that is appealing to you, weight, corrosion resistance, intended use, and price. The Handle One of the greatest aspects of building your own rod is being able to tailor the grip exactly to your style. Not only can you modify the aesthetics of the grip by using accent materials such as wood, burl and burnt cork, but you are able to shape the grip to the exact contour and size of your hand. The handle is your direct connectivity to the blank, and a properly made custom handle can be the difference between fishing all day in comfort or pain. If you don’t have the tools or desire to make your own custom handle, there are many pre-made options available; however, be sure to try many different grips before settling on a design that you like. Remember that during the sometimes brutal conditions we find ourselves
Photo by Matthew Yonkey
“...with just minimal instruction and a little practice anyone can make their own custom steelhead rod”
OREGON
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Four Season's Fly Shoppe 10210 Wallowa Lake H.W. La Grande, OR 97850 Specializing in Spey Rods, Reels, and Gear. 541-963-8420/888-819-7299
Bob Toman Guide Service Oregon Sportfishing 503-658-6493 Clackamus & Deschutes Salmon & Steelhead fishing www.bobtoman.com
Bert's Guide Service & McKenzie River Inn Float down the world famous McKenzie River 503-579-8236 www.bertsguideservice.com
fishing in, that you may be wearing gloves. Make sure that your handle is both comfortable with and without your favorite pair of fishing gloves. I mentioned that my newest rod was a switch rod. There is some debate about the exact definition of what a switch rod is, but essentially it is a long (10 to 11 ft) fly rod capable of performing a wide variety of casting techniques. These are typically built with a shortened, two hand grip allowing you to perform some of the basic spey casting tech-
niques as well as typical overhand casting. My preferred method for fishing steelhead is to use an indicator set-up with a floating fly line. The switch rod is the perfect tool for this kind of fishing because the extra length allows for less line on the water and better control/mending while presenting the fly to the fish. In addition, the ability to both one and two-hand cast allows for effective casting and presentation in a variety of scenarios, including fishing tight quarters or areas where a back cast may be hindered due to a brushy or high bank, which is a common occurrence in this sport. With a quick change to a full sinking or sink tip line, I can also be swinging flies with an instrument capable of
shooting large, heavy flies and lines across the river with ease. Knowing exactly what qualities I wanted this rod to excel at allowed me to custom tailor my selection of components and materials to meet those needs. Now that you understand some of the benefits of building your own custom steelhead rod and some of the important aspects to consider, I urge you to go and learn more about this enjoyable craft. There are numerous resources available to the novice and expert builder alike. If possible find a friend or neighbor who has built their own fishing rod, or perhaps seek out advice from custom rod builders in your area. Many are willing to share information and help others learn. Most importantly, just go give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it! KYPE
BOOKS by George Douglas Fish Like a Guide................................. $19.95 The Complete Guide to the Salmon River..............................$39.95 CLOTHING, Kype Waterproof Gear Hats, Beanies, Parka’s, Fishing Shirts and Pants...Inquire by Email GUIDING on the Great Lake Tributaries George Douglas’ Steelhead Alley Guide Service www.SteelheadAlleyGuideService.com KYPE PRODUCTS Fusion, Erupting Fish Scent................$12.95 Kype Subscriptions (without DVD’s)....$11.95 Kype Back Issues...................................$19.95 Castle Douglas Productions.llc PO Box 2024 Anacortes, WA 98221 360.299.2266 Out Latest Website:
www.FlyFishing-Techniques.com
OREGON
Portland Fishing Guide.com Experience Oregon guided fishing at its best! Columbia, Clackamas, Willamette Scott@portlandfishingguides.com 503-730-3392
Brian Silvey’s Fly Fishing Guide Service Deschutes and Sandy Rivers Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing 800-510-1702 silveysflyfishing.com
ALASKA
Photo by Richard Schaaff
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Mack's Sport Shop 212 Lower Mill Bay Rd. Kodiak, Alaska 99615 907-486-4276 SHOP ONLINE! www.mackssportshop.com
A Fly
For All Seasons
Luminous Maximus by Aaron Letera
T
he quest for steelhead often finds you in the middle of large crowds with highly pressured fish. Situations like this force new techniques and new flies that are born out of necessity. One such fly is the Luminous Maximus, a glow-in-thedark fly with a name that conjures up images of a gladiator ready for battle, which isn’t far from the truth. Steelhead will push even the most seasoned fishermen to their limit. When man and fish are locked in a primal struggle in which more often than not, the fish wins. Bio: Contract fly tier (Flies have appeared in Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine) Outdoor writer Pennsylvania Fishing Guide Type of fishing: Fly fishing for steelhead and other great lake species. Location: New Castle, Pennsylvania Ohio and Pennsylvania Tributaries Contact Info: aaron33legend@yahoo.com www.leteras.com Phone# (330)727-0417
The Luminous Maximus is a glow-in the-dark fly that can be all hours of the day. The color combination makes it possible to fish in the day as a regular fly and a glow-in-the-dark in the evening. This fly can also be fished at night when other weekend warriors have retreated to the comfort of their beds. In highly pressured and crowded public areas, night fishing can produce large numbers of fish with a bonus of solitude. The concept of glow-in-the-dark flies is a relatively new idea that few have tried. Fishermen have used glow-in-the-dark spoons for years in the quest for “chrome” and this is the same concept by extending your time on the water. Another feature of the Luminous Maximus is your ability to fish in highly stained water. Even the faintest glow can give you the advantage over other anglers. It comes down to a simple equation. If a fish can see your fly, you have a great
chance of hooking and landing the fish. This fly can be fished below an indicator or bottom bounced. A tandem rig can prove to be deadly as well. Effective fly combinations for a tandem rig are a Letera’s glow-in-the-dark Nuclear Spawn or Letera’s Nuclear Meth trailed by a Luminous Maximus caddis. Always trail the caddis pattern below the egg pattern as the bottom fly. The Luminous Maximus utilizes materials that are new to the market that create an intense glow when charged with a camera flash or a bright LED flashlight (the latter is recommended). The glow-in-the-dark material used in this fly will hold a nice charge and allow you to fish without having to constantly re-charge the fly. This material can only be obtained through Letera’s Fishing/Outdoor Supplier. The three materials that are currently available are as follows: Letera’s glow-
MICHIGAN
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Great Lakes Fly Fishing Co. 8460 Algoma Ave NE Rockford, MI 49341 616-866-6060 www.troutmoor.net
J&J River Guides Inc. Baldwin, Michigan Fish the Big Manistee & Pere Marquette 231-578-0946 MichiganRiverRaiders.com
Jeff’s Guide Service Drift & Jet Boat - Fly & Spin Fishing Muskegon River – Steelhead & Salmon 616-204-4999 jeff@muskegonriverguide.com muskegonriverguide.com
in-the-dark yarn, glow braid and the newly developed thing currently on the market today. The uses for these glow-in-the-dark diamond braid. All of these materi- glow materials are endless. Flies and materials can be als will hold a charge longer and brighter than any- purchased through www.leteras.com.
Luminous Maximus Materials Hook: Tiemco #12 heavy scud. Bead: Letera’s metallic black glass bead. Thread: White. Body: Letera’s glow braid Letera’s purple metallic braid. Wings: White goose biots. Collar: Uv olive-brown ice dubbing.
1) Start by placing the bead on the hook.
5) Wrap Letera’s glow braid around shank of hook twice.
2) Start thread behind bead and wind to hook bend.
6) Wrap Letera’s metallic braid around Letera’s glow braid.
3) Tie in Letera’s glow braid and wind thread forward.
7) Pull both sides down. 8) Repeat steps 5, 6 and 7 until you reach the bead.
10) Tie in two white goose biots behind bead.
4) Tie in Letera’s metallic braid and wind thread to bead.
9) Trim excess metallic braid & glow braid.
11) Wrap collar with UV ice dubbing and tie off.
MICHIGAN
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Fairfield Inn & Suites 3701 North Country Dr. Traverse City, MI Close to the Betsy and Big Manistee River 231-922-7900
Woodland Rivers Guide Service Catering to the needs of the Fly-Fishing Angler on Michigan's most productive waters! 248.608.0908 www.woodlandrivers.com
Staff Report
S
Product Reviews
pey casting has really taken off in the United States and Canada, especially over the last decade. This “spey craze” is here to stay and will grow more and more in popularity as fly fishermen recognize the benefits and witness success on the river from other spey anglers. Every fly fishermen who wishes to upgrade to spey casting must face the difficult challenge of which gear to purchase. In the world of spey, this can be very challenging. There are three different styles of casting: Skagit, Scandinavian and traditional. Within these three styles, there are literally hundreds of different combinations between the lines, rods and reels. In this product review, we will provide a couple good choices for the west coast rivers and the Great Lakes tributaries. The first is a Redington CPX Spey Rod with a Rio
Windcutter II Spey Line. This combination is what George Douglas fishes most of the time on larger rivers. He explained that Will Turek, a professional Spey Casting instructor out of Ohio, highly recommended the Redington CPX series and led him to this great rod. This high quality rod is reasonably priced compared to most other spey rods on the market. The rod is 13.6 ft long and comes in four pieces. After getting his hands on this rod, Douglas agrees with Turek and highly recommends it. The line for this rod can vary as well. Douglas uses a Rio Windcutter II with versi tips, but explained that there are other Rio lines that may work just as good if not better with this rod. He recommends going to the Rio website or calling the company directly to obtain their recommendation. “Rio has superior lines and is great with customer service,” said Douglas. The second set-up is perfect for smaller rivers— Redington CPX Switch Rod with a Rio Switch Line. Switch Rods allow you to single/double-hand spey cast
CALIFORNIA
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Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters 2705 Lake Tahoe Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA Reserve a Fly Trip Today! 530-541-8208
Nevada City Anglers 417 Broad St # C Nevada City, CA 95959 Guided Float Trips on Feather & Yuba Rivers 530-478-9301
waiting to restore me. I was walking up to the top of the run when I realized I needed to re-tie my leader and my fly really wasn’t a fly anymore. Having left my pack in the boat, I asked Matt if he had something. He said he wanted me to put on a Chartreuse fly. I had been working Black and Blue all morning, so he handed me a Stinger Prawn, overdone in marabou, which he lovingly referred to as a “big Canary.” My 700 grain Skagit head delivered the fly handily. Up to that point, most of the 14 fish I caught that day were 25-30 lbs of chrome mustang, covered in sea lice, fresh from the recent tide. I decided to drop a long bomb, mending into a seam much farther out, and I quickly had my spine adjusted by a professional. I hit it back to drive home the 1/0 stinger and we were off to the races. I quickly dipped my rod tip down to the water, fighting the fish down low, and it slowed down about 75 yards away. I brought him upriver again and could see him. A very big tail, and large silhouette that I would estimate at just over 40 lbs. As soon as his belly touched bottom, he showed me who was boss. Again he ran down at least 75 yards, finally slowing down. Again I got him upriver. Lather, rinse, repeat. He did it again for a third time, only now he was really mad. I got him within 15’of T-14 three times, and he still wasn’t done. After that, I started moving up the drag pressure, perhaps a tired move on my part, but it made him angrier still. He found a rock where he could rip the butt sec-
tion from my tip, and it was over. Matt shook his head as though I should have stayed back a grade. I pulled in a nice, cool breath and decided there was nothing to say. I took the walk of shame down to the boat and pounded M&M’s until I was able to walk again, then grabbed a new tip and leader. If I lost another fish like that, Matt would start charging me for the flies. Fighting really big fish is a skill unto itself. My skills needed some work in the big currents. I have spanked more than my share of big Tarpon, with far less drama. I rigged up again, the pain gone now due to the special cocktail of Aleve, adrenaline, and M&M’s, and went back to the top of the run. After a few casts, it started all over again with another hit. This was really getting tiring, and this time, after losing the last fish, I was beginning to doubt myself. I tightened up a little on the drag, hoping to wear the fish out faster this time. It just pulled harder and we had an instant replay of the last episode of “Bully Beatdown.” This time I got him into my tip twice before he hit the root clumps and shredded not only my equipment, but my pride. Again, no eye contact from Matt. Now I was really feeling it. Just lost another fish, likely around 40 lbs. Charles gave me a big smile, offering condolences for my loss, and walked up to fish at the top of the run and did what he does best. I just sat
Photo by Richard Schaaff
down on a log and for a half an hour, watched the grace of his casting and ease in the way he caught fish. I needed to go back to camp and crash. This was one of only a few days in my life when I was content to call it a day and go back to camp. After more tablets of Aleve and a shot of Single Malt, I crazy-glued my cut fingers back together. Feeling so thoroughly beat up by big fish, I was afraid I would fall asleep in my waders. All of this on my second day of the season. That night, I went to bed at 7:30 and almost could not get up the next day to meet the boat. Matt called it an “epic day,” and he was right. But strangely enough, the fish I remember are the ones that got away… KYPE
CALIFORNIA
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Cast River Guide Service Steelhead*Salmon*Trout Fishing N Cali & S Oregon (707) 487-CAST (2278) www.smithriverfishing.com I fish From Dusk’till Dawn
Sierra Drifters Guide Service Guiding Eastern Sierra Year round Drift Boats (760) 935-4250 www.sierradrifters.com
The rear ends of these tubes are usually stepped down in diameter to allow the connection of junction tubing. Junction tubing is softer and more flexible, and used to connect to the tube fly, which helps to hold the hook in place. When looking for junction tubing, I like to use the softest, lightest tubing I can find, such as silicone tubing. Heavier junction tubes can cause the fly to be weighed down and lose some of its action in the water. When choosing a hook to use for tube flies, I like to use a heavy wired, short and straight shank hook, such as a glo-bug or egg style hook. More than often I let the fly dictate what size hook I am going to use. Using a small fly with a larger hook can cause the rear end of the fly to sink. When tying your fly, you also want to make sure it is well balanced, if not, the fly will not swim properly and there is a better chance that if a fish does hit your fly, it could completely miss the hook. After you do a little bit of experimenting, I am sure that you will find what hook works best for you. Tube flies are not a fad and are gaining popularity all around the world for good reason. When getting started, don’t be overwhelmed by all the tube possibilities. There are many different companies out there making tubes. Pick one that you think would best suit your needs and start with that. Soon you will find your creativity flowing. The versatility and benefits hugely outweigh flies tied on conventional hooks. Whether you’re an experienced fly tier or beginner, if your goal is to catch more fish, then why not give them a try? KYPE
Kype Film Tour L
ast year was a fantastic opportunity for Kype to travel and show our films to fishermen around the country. We did seminars at fishing clubs and put on movie presentations at various venues. A special thanks to all those fishermen who attended our functions, the fishing clubs who booked us, the venues who hosted the movie events, and to the hotels who worked with us during our travels. They are listed below and recommended by Kype. If you are traveling to these areas, please use their accommodations. Fairfield Inn and Suites 1528 Commerce Avenue Carlisle, PA 17015 (717) 243-2080 Holiday Inn Express Hotel 3122 Lebanon Church Rd. West Mifflin, PA 15122 (412) 469-1900 Holiday Inn Express Hotel Wheeling-East Triadelphia, WV 26059 (304) 547-1380 Holiday Inn Express100 Civic Center Drive Charleston, WV 25301 (304) 345-0600 Ramada Limited 2261 Elkhorn Rd Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 294-7375
Ramada Plaza Dayton Hotel 2301 Wagner Ford Road Dayton, OH 45414 (937) 278-4871 The Lofts Hotel & Suites 55 East Nationwide Blvd. Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 461-2663 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cincinnati/ Blue Ash 4660 Creek Road Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 985-9035 Courtyard IndianapolisCastleton 8670 Allisonville Road Indianapolis, IN 46250 (317) 576-9559
Guide Service with George Douglas Photo by Dake Schmidt
rlds f Both Wo o t s e B e h T
Ashtabula County, Ohio in the Spring Cattaraugus County, NY in the Fall
Driftboat Trips and Bank Guiding 360.299.2266 www.SteelheadAlleyGuideService.com Streamside@kype.net
OHIO
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Kames Sporting Goods 8516 Cleveland Ave. N. North Canton, OH 44720 Catch it, climb it, hunt it, or ride it, we have it! 800-446-4906
Briquettes Smokehouse Pork, Chicken, Beef Brisket, & Ribs Dine-In or Take-Out In historic Ashtabula Harbor 440-964-2273 briquettessmokehouse.com
Martinis Restaurant & Lounge Spacious Lounge & Dining Overlooking the Golf Course 440-964-2800 harborgolfclubashtabula.com
fishing buddies, Schaaff created a website and began uploading images from his memory cards. Upon viewing his work, it’s obvious that what Rich captures with his lens goes well beyond the average ‘fish porn’ shots. “I try to avoid the typical grip and grin,” he adds, “But I’ll go there if it’s my fish!” During the winter months when he wasn’t standing knee deep in a steelhead river, Rich began experimenting with a light box – a portable device that provides even, diffused lighting for shooting small objects. He saw the amazing artistry in flies tied by his friend Rocky Maley and sought to capture the beauty of the flies by showcasing them with other items of fishing gear as props. His background in interior design helped when it came to staging the shots. Due to his keen ability to capture the subtleties associated with all aspects of fly fishing, after a couple of years, Schaaff’s work began to get noticed. Marshall Cutchin of Midcurrent.com invited Schaaff to be featured in the photography section of the popular fly fishing website. The talent already assembled on Midcurrent was impressive, and Schaaff was humbled by the invitation. Up to this point photography had been simply a personal endeavor. With increased exposure came residual interest in Schaaff’s photography, and his work caught the attention of Korkers, the Portland, Oregonbased footwear manufacturer. The day after a brief phone call to see if Schaaff was interested in shooting
some possible catalog work for their 2011 season (he was interested, by the way), a pair of wading boots showed up on his doorstep and Schaaff got busy with his camera. The folks at Korkers apparently liked what they saw in his proofs and hired him for the shoot. Since then, Schaaff has also done work for Slate Creek Fly Rod Company and Umpqua Feather Merchants. He’s come a long way since schlepping the streets of Manhattan on his days off, shooting rolls of black and white film. As for the big rainbow on the Madison River near Three Dollar Bridge, it’s hard to get a straight answer from Rich as to how that scene finally played out. Without photographic proof we are simply left to wonder. Rich Schaaff lives along the banks of the east fork of the Lewis River in Washington state where he spends the winter months fishing for the elusive steelhead. He’s also been known to chase redside Rainbow trout on the Deschutes River in Oregon, and on summer evenings he waits for the “blessed hex hatch” on an undisclosed small lake not far from his home. Rich’s work can be seen on his website, www.eastforkfly.com.
Photo by Richard Schaaff
A
fter this article was written, sadly, Rich Schaaff passed away on November 2nd after a brief bout with cancer. The love of his life, Julie Schaaff wrote these beautiful words, which are a fitting epitaph for her husband: "During the last few months of Rich's life, so many things had come together in a positive way. He was able to leave a job that was no longer satisfying to him and his photography was becoming something that he could make a living doing. He lived in a place he loved, where he could be lulled to sleep by the sound of the river. We shared a deep and intimate love that gave our life meaning. He wanted to live!! But it became apparent that God had other plans for KYPE Rich." -Julie Schaaff.
MICHIGAN
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Fairfield Inn & Suites 3701 North Country Dr. Traverse City, MI Close to the Betsy and Big Manistee River 231-922-7900
Woodland Rivers Guide Service Catering to the needs of the Fly-Fishing Angler on Michigan's most productive waters! 248.608.0908 www.woodlandrivers.com
3. National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Hall of Fame - 1981 4. Sportswriters & Broadcasters Hall of Fame - 1984 5. National Baseball Hall of Fame 1984 6. American Sportscasters Hall of Fame - 1985 7. Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame - 1990 8. Gold Medal Hall of Fame Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 9. Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 1992 10. Oklahoma Association of
Broadcasters Hall of Fame - 1994 11. Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame 1995 12. American Football League Hall of Fame - 1995 13. University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame - Sept. 25, 1998 14. Florida Sports Hall of Fame 1999 15. Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame - 2001 16. International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Fishing Hall of Fame - 2003 17. Wyoming Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame - 2003 18. Wyoming Outdoor Hall of
Photo courtesy of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
Fame - 2004 19. National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame - 2005 20. Rose Bowl Hall of Fame - 2005 Legacy of Goodwill Curts’ fame as a sportscaster led him into many speaking engagements as well. As an emcee and speaker he was polished and often worked with non-profit organizations to host fundraisers and events. The Boy Scouts of America and the Redbone Celebrity Fishing Tournament series in the Florida Keys for cystic fibrosis were two favorites. Curts’ gravelly voice and warm, unforced style called the game play by play. Curt wasn’t known for catch phrases, or branding himself. By the time that was popular his brand was far larger than catchy phrases. In fact, his easy style and well rounded sporting life led him to be called the “Voice of all Seasons.” Curt is remembered as a Photo by Richard Schaaff
MONTANA
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graceful man who said yes to opportunities as a way of life. His career at American Sportsman consisted of hunting and fishing with celebrities including presidents Carter and Bush senior as well as Jack and Mariel Hemingway. The celebrities loved the interlude from life in the spotlight and were delighted to escape the limelight and into the camp firelight. Curt could flow between the two lifestyles with ease. Behind a microphone or a fly rod, Curt Gowdy truly was “a voice for all seasons.” KYPE Booking Salmon River Trips!
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PRODUCTS
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Management Program needs work. In years past we have experienced phenomenal insect activity and gulping heads almost all day long. This 2010 season was for certain the worst fishing conditions in recent memory. The DRBC and Mother Nature conspired to maliciously lower, and simultaneously super heat, the rivers. This heat not only took 70% of our fishing options off the table, it also made all of the bugs in the North East roll two weeks early. The Drakes almost over, the Isos hatching in water that was too hot to fish, and water so low and clear that the bigger heads were in hiding. I had to resort to different tactics to get a few bigger fish to the net. We were lucky and hit a nice Sulphur hatch and Spinner fall the first night. Sadly, we would only get one more period of nighttime hatch activity for the week. Most of the good dry fly fishing we saw was a morning deal. Between the BWO spinners and cornutas, we had some short periods of rising fish each morning. This was a far cry from what I had signed up for. I wanted 22 inch plus fish gulping Coffin Flies. If
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John Kavanaugh takes a big Brown on Brown Drake Dun 2009. Photo Michael McAuliffe
I was fishing locally, this would have been more than enough fish action to satisfy me. However, I was in the Catskills and wanted a shot at the bigger fish. The Gamble After the second day of marginal fishing opportunities, I decided to switch gears. With low, clear water sending the trout into hiding most of the day, I figured I would get out late and use the darkness to my advantage. Enter the Mice. If you hit it right, big rivers and big flies can equal big fish. I am not going to try and get technical about describing how you go about mousing. Suffice it to say, Chris Lessway did a fantastic job covering all the important details of fishing mice in the last issue of Kype. I have definitely done my share of night fishing over the years, but this was the first time I have targeted big trout in the Catskills under cover of darkness. As I previously mentioned, these are very wary trout. I was not sure if they would respond to a huge pattern slapping down on the water and getting chugged noisily across the surface. The first night there was a super bright
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moon and the fish did not want to come out and play. The second night I got lucky and there was thick cloud cover. My first cast produced a savage strike that startled me so much I forgot to strip set, and blew the deal by setting with the rod. Shockingly, I quickly turned the hook set into a back cast and slapped the mouse back down in the same spot only to get crushed again! The result was an 18 inch wild Brown trout. Three casts later I landed a 21 inch wild Brown trout. These two trout turned my whole attitude and trip around. The following night I returned to the same spot with my video camera and headlamp to see if I could get some footage at night. Once again I was surprised at how willing these notoriously spooky fish would take a giant noisy fly. By interpreting the information the river and trout showed me during the day, I now had added a whole new dimension to my favorite trip of the year. This was the first time I was able to share a new aspect of fishing in the Catskills with my good friends and teachers. It is very gratifying to be able to give back to those who have taught you so much. The contrast of the still Catskill night and the overwhelming
John Collins fools a Main Stem Brown during a Sulphur Hatch 2008. Photo Michael McAuliffe
adrenaline surge when a huge Wild Brown takes your fly down is pretty great too. KYPE http://www.riseform studio.tv/bugweek.html
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The Humble Fly 1183 Sheridan Ave. Cody, WY "home to thousands of lonely trout" 307-587-2757 www.thehumblefly.com
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Aside from the safety aspect, the some more weight on your reel. If waders are built in a superior fashnot, your cast will be hindered. ion. Douglas found them to be very illiam Joseph is one of the comfortable and surprisingly warm best companies in the world in cold water temfor waders and accessories. We peratures with commend them in their effort to great breathability create a pair of waders with a built- for warm temin floatation device. “Safety is one peratures. the most over-looked aspects of When it river fishing, but it should be the comes to first priority,” said George Douglas. waders, these He continued to say, “Fishermen WST’s are a die every year in this sport as they no-brainer as underestimate current strength and the safety feadepth.” ture alone is Here is the text taken from p r i c e l e s s . www.WilliamJoseph.net regarding Upon trying these WST Waders, “As many an on a pair, Angler can attest to, it is a fact that you’ll know deep water and waders equals deep immediately doo doo. This inspired us to devel- that you’re op the new William Joseph WST dealing with a Wader System (wader safety tech- company who nology). The entire upper of this takes pride in amazing new product has an inte- their gear and grated inflatable bladder, which has the betterallows you two options: Safe ment of the Wading Manual Inflation and angler in mind. Emergency CO2 Inflation.” George Douglas Although their device is not and Kype Coast Guard approved, it certainly Magazine highly adds a degree of safety for the r e c o m m e n d angler and could save his or her life. W i l l i a m Not to mention the built-in wading J o s e p h ’ s belt that can help prevent the WST Waders. waders from filling up with water. William Joseph’s WST Waders
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or switch to single hand traditional fly cast. Many anglers prefer the Switch Rod, especially on the Great Lake tribs, as it allows them to use the rod on more rivers ranging from medium to large. Redington CPX Switch Rod is 11.6’ and is a three piece. Douglas uses a line specially made for switch rods, the Rio Switch Line. The line features a long head that shoots the line for great distances. The thick diameter tip turns over large tube flies and works well casting an indicator. Both set-ups are great choices and can be used with a variety of large arbor reels—make sure it’s a true large arbor reel as some companies are unjustifiably calling them large arbor. When choosing your reel, make sure it is heavy enough. If not, many anglers are wrapping a heavy wire leader around the spool to add some weight. The rod should balance correctly with the reel...Use the location where your upper hand holds the rod as the pivot point. If the rod is still pointing down, you’ll need
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