Flyfisher Magazine Fall-Winter 2019

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COMMUNITY

WARMWATER TACTICS FOR ALL SEASONS

CASTING BASS BUGS

5 DRAGONFLIES THAT SLAY

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Board of Directors Tom Logan Chairman of the Board Patrick Berry (Non-Voting) President and CEO Tilda Evans Secretary Expo Committee Chair Jim Maus Treasurer Finance Committee Chair Jim Schramm (Non-Voting) Legal Counsel Dutch Baughman Executive Committee Education Committee Chair Keith Groty Executive Committee Senior Advisor Dave Peterson Executive Committee Conservation Committee Chair Burr Tupper Community Development Committee Chair NEC President Kuni Masuda International Programs Chair Tim Papich Communications & Marketing Chair David Paul Williams Fly Fisher Editor-In-Chief Board Members Marnee Banks TRCP Liaison Bruce Brown Dave Boyer Glenn Erikson Carole Katz PHWFF Liaison Geoff Mullins Dennis O’Brien Jen Ripple Richard Ross

FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL 5237 US Highway 89 South, STE 11 Livingston, MT 59047-9176 (406) 222-9369 flyfishersinternational.org President and CEO Patrick Berry | pberry@flyfishersinternational.org Operations Manager Conservation Coordinator & Webmaster Rhonda Sellers | operations@flyfishersinternational.org Membership Coordinator Kat Mulqueen | membership@flyfishersinternational.org Fly Fishing Expo & Fly Tying Group Jessica Atherton | fair@flyfishersinternational.org Casting Coordinator & Merchandise Nikki Loy | casting@flyfishersinternational.org Clubs & Councils Coordinator Presidents Club & Donations Lindsey Webster | clubs@flyfishersinternational.org Administrative Coordinator & Receptionist Alex Williams | admin@flyfishersinternational.org Bookkeeper Sharon Cebulla | bookkeeper@flyfishersinternational.org Museum Information (406) 222-9369 | museum@flyfishersinternational.org Flyfisher Editor-in-Chief David Paul Williams | editor@flyfishersinternational.org Flyfisher is the official publication of Fly Fishers International, published two times a year and distributed by mail and online free to members.

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GROUP ART DIRECTION TERRY PAULHUS

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR KIM CARRUTHERS

DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTORS

CONSERVATION DAVE PETERSON

FLY TYING JERRY COVIELLO

CASTING JEFF WAGNER

FLY FISHING SKILLS JEN RIPPLE

CONTRIBUTORS BRYAN HUSKEY DAVE MCCOY CHAD MILLER JEFF WAGNER DAVID PAUL WILLIAMS



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CONTENTS 4

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CHAD MILLER

JEFF WAGNER

The “rock trout” Roosevelt described were brook trout, but not just any brook trout. The brook trout of Lake Superior eventually became known as “coasters”, for they were caught along the shoreline of the lake and its many islands. It is a fish that has proved difficult to define. Just as all steelhead are rainbow trout, but not all rainbow are steelhead— all coasters are brook trout, but not all brook trout are coasters.

Bass are the most popular sportfish in North America, accounting for nearly twice as many fishing days as the second most popular fish, crappie. Even panfish and catfish beat out our fly-fishing favorite, trout. They fight hard, often jump, and can be caught near or on the surface.

This all suggests that bass were made for the fly rod.

WARMWATER TACTICS

On the cover: David Adams Thompson

Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

BASS: MADE FOR THE FLY

Contents: Dave McCoy

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FOCUSED ON THE FLATS DAVE MCCOY

Warm salt explorations through the flats of Belize, Bahamas, Cuba, Honduras & Tahiti. Guides and anglers collaborate to land some of the most beautiful predators on the planet, in arguably the most stunning water to be waded.

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FALL STILLWATERS: BIG FISH IN SHALLOW WATER DAVID PAUL WILLIAMS

DEPARTMENTS:

Spring is the time of young fish in shallow water.

Fall is the time of big fish in skinny water. Like bears pigging out to pack on the pounds necessary to get through their long winter’s nap, fall fish are known for their gluttonous behavior. Fall fishing can provide the well-prepared angler the best fishing and fishing experience of the entire season.

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President’s Message Conservation Casting Fly Tying Fly Fishing Skills Streamside Q&A Community Photo Contest

Contents

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I PATRICK BERRY Patrick H. Berry has been named as the organization’s new President and CEO. Berry brings over 27 years of experience within the environmental conservation field, having come to FFI from the Vermont Community Foundation where he served as vice president of philanthropy. A former commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Berry is recognized as a visionary conservationist and is widely respected by his peers

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n my time guiding I recognized that the goal was to ensure my clients enjoyed their experience. It took me years however, to realize that to accomplish this goal, I first had to identify what it was that each client desired out of a day of fly fishing.

Some wanted a conversation, a psychologist or a marriage counselor. Others wanted the chance to take some photos and enjoy the landscape. A few looked to build on their skills and learn a few new ones. In most cases there was a desire to catch some fish as well. Evidently, fly fishing isn’t just about catching fish. It’s an art, a science, a philosophy, a meditation, a technical challenge, and an adventure. Many times people don’t realize they are moving through the countless disciplines that are required in fly fishing while they simply try to catch a fish. There’s no other sport like it.

As I start on my own journey with Fly Fishers International, I see this as one of the great strengths of the organization. Some are attracted to fly tying, some to fly casting, some to fly-fishing instruction, entomology, photography, conservation, or to the sense of friendship and community—or to all of it. FFI assists in navigating a path that suits each individual’s fly-fishing journey. There’s no other organization like it. So how do we capitalize on these strengths?

First, we need to celebrate our collective interests in fly fishing. Together, our passions, experiences, and areas of expertise make us greater than the sum of our parts. You may not know how many turns of oval silver tinsel are needed for the rib on a Green Highlander or how to make a curve cast, but you will be delighted to know that there are people in FFI who are experts in those disciplines. The expertise and institutional knowledge among our members regarding fly fishing for “all fish in all waters” is beyond compare.

Second, we need to build strategic partnerships that capitalize on our history, expertise, and focus areas of conservation and education. Last year alone, FFI engaged in 50 conservation actions in the waters where our members live and fish, partnering with and supporting countless organizations whose conservation ethos aligns with our own. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an organization whose mission is “to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish,” has become one of our most valued conservation alliances, and we look to strengthen that relationship in the years to come.

In the realm of education, our partnership with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) provides a notable example of FFI’s important role in the world of fly fishing.

PHWFF is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active-duty military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing. This remarkable organization has been closely tied to FFI since PHWFF’s inception. FFI certified casting instructors teach PHWFF volunteers who will ultimately work directly with disabled military personnel. At the 2019 FFI Expo in Bozeman, almost 80 PHWFF members from around the country were mentored by FFI’s members, culminating in an exciting casting competition and a collective sense of camaraderie among all involved.

Third, we need to expand our community to include the diverse and evolving constituencies in the world of fly fishing. Women, for example, represent the fastest growing demographic in the sport. FFI is in the process of launching Women Connect, a dynamic new program that has already been successful in cultivating connections among women and fly-fishing related entities that support women fly fishers. Ultimately the goal is to create a community of women fly fishers where learning and sharing experiences provide a launchpad for developing more leaders among FFI’s councils and clubs and the fly-fishing industry at large.

Lastly, we need to build on our strengths by assessing our ability to grow as an organization and by asking ourselves some important questions: Are we honoring and celebrating our varied interests in fly fishing? Are we providing our members the services and benefits that keep people excited about supporting the organization?

Are we providing our councils and clubs the tools they need to help us achieve our mission? Are we communicating in a manner that speaks to a younger, more diverse demographic base of fly fishers? Are

we offering our education programming in a format that is exciting and accessible? And, what are we not asking ourselves?

Let’s make the tent as big as possible. Let’s ask ourselves what we can do as individuals to build on our storied history and strengthen FFI. Let’s make sure we look back one day, perched from the shoulders of a strong and relevant organization, knowing we are achieving our mission to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters. The next chapter starts now.

President’s Message

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Warmwater Tactics Chad Miller

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

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s a guide I know good preparation is crucial to the success of my upcoming season. And what’s good for the guide is typically good for the angler. You may not be a professional guide but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare like one.

Having an idea of what to prepare for could be a mystery to some anglers. If you are new to fly fishing then it’s important to find out what techniques and tactics you will try and apply to your fishing. If you are an experienced angler you may already have some idea about what patterns and techniques you’ll use when your season begins. You may even know how your whole season will layout. I prepare as if my whole season is mapped out. Things like what water I will visit or what tactics and techniques I’ll use are important to my preparation.

I’ve been guiding smallmouth bass on the waters of my youth since 1996. In that time my techniques have grown and changed and so has my preparation. The way you prepare in the offseason can apply to any species of fish. You tie flies, build leaders, map when and where you’ll fish, and most importantly put the system together that you will use over and over again throughout the season.

Thinking through your season should influence how you specifically prepare for each tactic or technique. My season is essentially broken up into periods or events that I know are going to happen. It begins in March during the “prespawn” part of the season when smallmouth are just coming out of the winter doldrums. It then transitions into spawning season and that changes the way I fish. I no longer target all smallmouth, just certain ones. Once smallmouth are done with the spawn they transition into the “summer baitfish binge.” Poppers and streamers then rule for a significant part of summer.

As the water levels recede and the weather gets hot the crawdad molt occurs, and that means there are lots of soft, vulnerable crawdads to eat. Smallmouth get very focused on crawdads. As mid-summer transitions to late summer the weather gets dry, hoppers and beetles start showing up and smallmouth terrestrial season begins. That runs into the “fall baitfish binge” which leads into late fall and winter.

So why break the season down like this? Because you can’t prepare for your season unless you understand those periods and events. Smallmouth aren’t the same fish in spring that they are in late summer. They adjust and adapt, and you need to do the same thing. All warm-water sport-fish are generally

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more complex than the fly-fishing media or anglers give them credit for. I’ve heard it said that smallmouth will eat anything. That may be true but that’s also what makes them complex and sometimes very frustrating.

Trout guides and anglers have hatch charts; they know when certain bugs appear. There is no hatch chart for a predatory fish like smallmouth or largemouth - or panfish for that matter. You may not have the time a guide does for prep in the off-season but if you have time to fish during the season you surely have about the same amount of time to prepare in the off-season. So let’s take a closer look at each period and event and put the whole thing together. I’ll use smallmouth as an example.

Winter or pre-spawn fishing means higher flows and bigger water. When I was growing up I was taught that you use small flies in the spring and big flies in the fall. The thinking was that new, young baitfish were small in the spring and grew bigger through the year. What I could never understand was if there were small minnows in the spring, weren’t there big minnows spawning then too? Of course there are; the old theory is a myth. What influences the size of the fly a smallmouth will eat has a lot more to do with whether they can see the fly and how often they eat.

In high and perhaps off-colored water it’s tough for a smallmouth to find and eat a small fly. Larger flies are important for a sight-predator in high water, but also because smallmouth eat only so often in colder spring water. Low

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water temperatures mean low metabolism rates in all warmwater species. Specifically, it means smallmouth will eat only when they need to eat. It’s nature’s way of balancing forage and predator existence.

In high spring-flows larger baitfish are important, and getting the imitations down is equally important. In spring rivers and creeks may be have 10 or 20 times the flow they have in late summer. Smallmouth can live in several different levels of a river during this time. They are in the deepest holes or tight in cover, both of which present challenges to the fly fisher. It takes two different type of fly lines and two different types of flies to effectively reach pre-spawn smallmouth.

The warm-water angler typically uses one floating line for everything, which is woefully inadequate in the pursuit of smallmouth especially. Different rivers and different flows make choosing the right line important. I use a 24-foot, 200-grain sinking line for most of my spring fishing. It gets the flies down into those holes that a floating line will never reach, and because of its length creates a more consistent and manageable connection to your fly. In higher flows, a sink tip with its floating belly, can create a disconnection to the fly.

All fly anglers possess a standard floating line and that’s important for spring fishing as well. Floating lines are used around tight cover. There are times when smallmouth get high against the bank in high water to get out of heavy current.

Floating lines and swimming flies are really effective then for fish that hold tight to cover.

Streamers that sink very slowly can be cast into heavy cover and can find fish where fast-sinking flies can’t. By swimming flies I mean patterns like the Murdich Minnow or Bunker-style flies.

Making sure you have your lines and terminal tackle sorted is critically important; you have the off season to study lines and make sure you have invested in the right ones.

Fly tying is the most common off-season pastime or preparation exercise. I’m not terribly fond of fly tying but I do enjoy problem solving, and that’s what fly tying is to me.

Tying the right flies for each of those periods or events should be the priority.

There are very few flies an angler really needs for each season. I prefer lots of colors for different conditions but really the only streamers I tie for pre-spawn fish are the famous Half & Half and my Wildcat Streamer. Then, for tightcover fishing I use the aforementioned Murdich Minnow and Bunker-style flies. There are other swimming flies on the market but I stick with those two. I keep the flies around four to five-inches long to follow the dictum of using a bigger fly in bigger water. Keeping it simple it will pay off.

Spawning season is an important time for smallmouth.

I don’t fish to spawning fish, which are mostly males. The males make the beds and the females only spend a day or two spawning. It is, coincidently, the best time to fish deeper holes for big pre-spawn females. When the males are on the beds you can bet the holes near them have large females waiting for their time. There is nothing ethically wrong with fishing for a fish that is not spawning.

Sinking lines or sink-tips are important here as spring flows remain high. I continue to use the same flies I used during the pre-spawn, but poppers can come into play

during this time, depending on water temps. Even in early April smallmouth will eat on the surface here in the lower Midwest. Picking times when they are likely to work is very important. If water temps reach into the upper 50’s or low 60’s, smallmouth will eat on the surface.

Poppers are very important for the rest of the season. I’m a deer-hair guy; I love tradition and for the most part believe they are superior to anything else. I know I will get push back from anglers who like hard or foam poppers, but I’m okay with the push-back. I understand why some people don’t use deer-hair flies. Most deer-hair poppers are not tied well, even those purchased in fly shops. They don’t last long or float long. Instead of tying better deer hair flies anglers sometimes take the easy way out and use foam or hard-body poppers.

Without the benefit of video it’s difficult to explain why deer hair isn’t used well. There are two things you need to know and they pertain to one issue with deer-hair poppers.

First, if you have to treat your deer hair poppers with floatant or desiccant, you don’t have enough hair on the hook. Second, if you have trouble making them “pop” properly then…well, they don’t have enough hair on the hook. You should work on creating very dense deer-hair poppers.

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Spring gives way to summer and the “summer baitfish binge.” You have already been tying swimming flies and other heavier baitfish flies as well as poppers. Both types of patterns work as water temps rise and the fish’s metabolisms go way up. Consequently, smallmouth eat often most days.

Water levels are now down as it rains less often and the early runoff is over. When the metabolism of a warm-water fish goes up, its strike zone increases. Smallmouth specifically get very happy in hot water and they move and chase bait.

It’s an exciting time as the water really comes to life. Fish can be found in all sorts of places, but cover is still important.

Summer smallmouth will chase, but the difference is they now hunt from cover, and their “strike zone” in clear water can be as large as five to eight feet wide. In spring it may only be a foot or less wide. The flies you have been tying to this point will be just as valuable in summer as spring.

The summer crawdad-molt is an event most warm-water anglers know about. It’s the time when smallmouth turn their attention to eating crawdads. Sure you can catch smallmouth or any other warm-water species on crawdads all year long but mid-summer crawdad-molt is special. There are several different types of crawdad flies, and of course color can vary

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because there are hundreds of different species of crawdads.

There are two types of crawdad flies I tie, and they require several fishing techniques. I strip flies to cover water and mid-river structure, bounce crawdads to work holes, drag crawdads through runs, and dead drift them by high sticking or using a bobber.

The crawdad-molt gives way to my favorite of all smallmouth events, which is terrestrial season. Terrestrials work during late summer for all warm-water species, but for smallmouth it is a very special event. It is when the water is low and you can actively stalk big smallmouth with hoppers and beetles.

The hoppers and beetles are best tied on large-gap, oversized hooks. Traditional trout hooks don’t work well for this fishing. Hooks like the TMC 8089 in small sizes like 10 and 12 do the trick. Buggy legs are always good for warm-water flies and are critical for this type of fishing. You’ll be fishing low water, so be very careful in your approach, whether wading or drifting in a boat or kayak. Big smallmouth in low water are fair, but they aren’t forgiving. Work on your casting and accuracy in the off-season. It will really pay off.

The off-season also a good time to start making leaders.

Smallmouth terrestrial leaders don’t exist at your local fly shop. The basic leader is four feet of 40-pound, four feet of 25-pound and four feet of 13-pound, which is usually 1X. Fishing near trees and heavy cover requires a heavy tippet.

Smallmouth are not leader shy, but they are fly-line shy; you have to get the fly away from the fly line.

Last but not least, the “fall baitfish binge” happens when the water temps drop, and it triggers one last go-round with baitfish. After the temps get down into the 50’s the chasing becomes fairly rare. It’s important to understand that during this time water can still be low and on bigger rivers smallmouth may work together in herding baitfish. It’s common to see this in the middle of the river. Sink-tip lines can certainly come back into play if the water has risen as sometimes happens in fall.

It’s impossible to explore all of these events and the techniques that apply to them in one article. Each tactic and technique is complex, but what we have gone through should get you thinking about how to break down a season and how to prepare.

I believe that fishing is a process, and that process is easier to understand when put into a system. Thinking systematically about fly fishing for warm-water fish should make understanding the process of fishing much easier.

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CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE You’re lucky. You’ve had the chance to experience what fly fishing can bring to your life—the stories, the quality time outdoors, and the friendships forged.

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ALL FISH, ALL WATERS /// DONATE TODAY

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Warmwater Tactics

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Bass on the Fly

Š Photo David Holmes

Jeff Wagner

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ass are the most popular sportfish in North America, accounting for nearly twice as many fishing days as the second most popular fish, crappie. Even panfish and catfish beat out our fly-fishing favorite, trout.

Fishing (conventional) in general represents over $100 Billion (yes, that’s with a B) in economic impact, and bass fishing accounts for the majority of it. Popular tournaments like the Bass Master Classic award as much as $300,000 in winnings, which includes a new truck and boat package worth over $100,000. It’s said that plastic worm sales alone represent more dollars than all of fly fishing. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised; bass are now found in all 50 states. Even Alaska has a state record.

Of course largemouth bass represent the majority of these fishing days, with smallmouth coming in second, followed by a variety of other species like spotted bass, shoal bass, and Guadalupe bass. In fact, there are nine species in total belonging to the Micropterus genus, with some potential subspecies. This genus is often referred to as black bass and should not be confused with striped bass or white bass which are temperate bass of the genus Morone.

What draws anglers to black bass is their accessibility, aggression, fecundity, and size. Largemouth bass can be found anywhere from clear, cool, large reservoirs to small, turbid, golf-course ponds. They relate to shallow-water structure in water less than two feet deep, or off deep points in 50 feet of water. They can be found in still water and slowmoving rivers and streams. All of this puts them where most anglers, whether wading or in a boat, can access them. Their aggression creates a willingness to eat a variety of flies and lures; their high reproduction rates can create high daily catch rates; their maximum size reaches the low 20-pound range. They fight hard, often jump, and can be caught near or on the surface. This all suggests that bass were made for the fly rod. In fact, according to Paul Schullery in American Fly Fishing, A History, “Bass were one of the primary species caught on fly rod in the US.” Bass have a defined annual pattern of behavior that revolves around seasons and spawning. We will explore the annual cycle of bass and look at their behavior, location, prey, and presentation at each stage.

Pre-Spawn After winter, when water temperatures begin to rise, bass start to move into shallower, warmer water. Their activity

increases in response to the rising water temperatures and begins to accelerate after the water reaches 50 degrees F. The pre-spawn period generally occurs between 50 degrees and low 60-degree temperatures. As the bass move into the shallows they begin actively and aggressively feeding. They are working to increase their calories and put on some weight after a long winter and in preparation for the spawn. For the fly angler this is the period of greatest opportunity. The timing of this gets later the further north you go. In Florida this could be February, but in most areas of North America it ranges from March to May. Given the aggressive feeding behavior in the early season, fish are more willing to take a chance on potential prey, and anglers can catch fish on anything from crayfish patterns to top-water poppers. The key to finding fish is usually through shallow-water searching, and focusing on structure that holds prey like baitfish and crayfish. Bass hold near structure of all kinds - weed beds, points, snags, and rock outcroppings. All are good bets and usually can be observed visually. Focus on these areas with searching patterns like small Deceivers, Clouser Minnows or even Woolly Buggers in a variety of colors. Once fish are found, narrow the search to determine how they are oriented to the structure and how they respond to different colors. For example, one of my favorite places is around new emergent reed growth in shallow-water lakes.

Bass move into these areas as the water warms, as insects and leeches become more active around the new vegetation.

As with any other species, barometric pressure, sunlight, and water clarity all have an impact on bass’s feeding behavior.

Triggers such as flash are important in the flies, especially in early spring during pre-spawn time.

Many fly fishers resist any connection with conventional anglers but I highly encourage learning from them. There is a plethora of information available on all aspects of bass fishing. You’ll find many of the lures are bigger, brighter and have more flash than anything in the bin at your local fly shop. Learn from this, and apply conventional anglers’ concepts, especially during pre-spawn when bass are ready and willing.

Spawning occurs from March in the south to June in the north, when the water reaches about 65 degrees F. Bass pair off in shallow water and create circular “nests.” After the female lays eggs the male fertilizes them, and both continue to protect the eggs and fry until they are about an inch long. It’s common to find anglers in tournaments catching bass on beds, as many populations are supported

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by stocking. I avoid fishing for spawning fish even though it’s very tempting as they are usually in shallow water, easy to see, and quite aggressive.

Post-pawn bass fishing can be tough. After not eating for a period of time and undergoing a great deal of stress protecting the eggs and fry, bass generally move into deeper water. Their goal is to find protection, cooler water and food.

This recovery period generally lasts a few weeks. Given the variety of water temperatures that can be found in many bodies of water, bass can be at various stages as they recover and move. During this period it’s possible to find some fish further into the post-spawn period than others and more willing to eat a fly. In general, successful techniques for post-spawn fish are searching deeper areas outside of weed beds, at major points, and near rock and tree structures.

In reservoirs that have summer draw-down periods, take photographs when the lake is at its lowest level to provide clues where to find fish the following spring when water levels rise. I prefer leech patterns and Clouser Minnows in a variety of colors during this time. I use them on on sinkingtip or full-sinking lines.

Summer can be a mixed bag for bass and is heavily dependent on the specific body of water. In general bass feed aggressively as long as water temperatures stay below 90 degrees and oxygen levels stay high. Bass are tolerant of both heat and low oxygen levels, and many anglers are surprised when they find bass in two feet of water in what appears to be a stagnant backwater in July. That being said, as water temperatures grow uncomfortable and oxygen levels decrease, bass move to deeper water or moving water. In very shallow-water lakes with abundant vegetation, fly fishing can become difficult. With conventional gear we often fish heavy jigs that punch through the surface mats of vegetation to less dense areas below. For fly fishers, being selective about the time of day can be important, with early morning or evening hours being a top choice as fish move just beneath and to the sides of the mats in search of prey during cooler periods.

During this time it’s possible to fish top-water poppers, frog and mouse patterns around and over the weed mats. In larger bodies of water with more depth, look in areas adjacent to where fish were caught earlier in the year but toward deeper water or more structure. One reservoir I fish for smallmouth has large sandstone boulders. Early in the year the fish can be found just out of sight in two-to-three feet of water on the large boulders where they will eventually spawn. In the summer they move into three-to-six feet of water just off the

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edges of the boulders on secondary ledges where the water is slightly cooler and where more baitfish can be found. As with many species of fish, during the dog days of summer fishing early and late in the day can be more productive because of cooler water temperatures, baitfish moving into shallower water, and low-light conditions making the fish less skittish.

Fall/winter sees fish moving into temperature-stable water as overall water temperature declines and the difference between daytime and nighttime temperature increases. This usually means deeper water. Fish still feed actively but this can be a tough period for the fly fisher. In contrast to early spring when the fish are aggressive and less discriminating, fall can mean fish that are more picky about presentation and pattern. As the water temperature drops, concentrate on slower presentations, flies that are smaller and more natural in appearance. This is also a time to investigate the primary food source of the bass. There’s a big difference between the behavior of bass feeding on shad and bass feeding on bluegill.

Shad are less temperature tolerant and move to deeper water, whereas bluegill may remain in relatively shallow water near structure. As insects, reptiles, and amphibians become less abundant during cooler periods, bass rely more on fish and crustaceans. Whatever the case, understanding these movements and the quarry will pay dividends.

Equipment Rods for bass fishing can vary greatly but the most effective fly rods are shorter than the standard 9-foot trout rod. Good bass rods are 6 and 8-weights, 7 1/2 to 8 1/2-feet long, with quick recovery, soft tips and stiff butt sections. They can react quickly and are forgiving when casting heavy and windresistant flies, especially from a boat. Longer rods often have an appeal for anglers wanting to cast farther, but 10-footers are best used when casting seated in a kayak or other singleperson watercraft.

Where an investment can be made for warm-water fly fishing in general and bass specifically, is in fly lines and spools. Too many anglers fish only with floating lines, 9-foot leaders and sinking flies. This isn’t adequate on most rivers, let alone in lakes or reservoirs where fish can move from water a foot deep to water over 30 feet deep. Twenty five feet is about my maximum fishing depth. The limited amount of time that a fly remains in the strike zone in 25 feet of water and the time it takes for the fly line to sink to that depth makes fishing in deep water impractical. Fly fishing is most effective in water less than 15 feet deep.

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Given this, my standard warm-water setup includes a floating line, sinking lines in Type III and VI (or faster) as well as sink-tip lines in several sink rates. For ease in switching, have two or three identical reels with four to six extra spools. The reels don’t need to be expensive, but they do need to be durable. Several rods can be rigged with different fly lines and flies to fish various water depths and structure types from a single position. In general, shorter fluorocarbon leaders with an aggressive taper are preferred. There are times when bass are more wary and delicate presentations are needed, in which case longer leaders and smaller flies are preferred.

Reaching fish is not always easy, especially bass on the outside of heavy riparian vegetation where muddy conditions may exist. Wading is certainly an option, however the investment in an inexpensive kayak or pontoon boat is invaluable. No expensive accessories are required, just a few basic pieces of equipment. A good anchor - or better still, two - is critical. With two anchors it’s possible to hold

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

an exact position while presenting a fly. With a kayak they only need to be around 1 1/2 pounds. A stripping basket is beneficial to manage fly line and reduce tangles. Another good piece of equipment is a rod holder or two. I prefer two so that I can have up to three rods rigged and ready to go (assuming multiple rods are legal). Don’t get caught up in the need to use sonar units (fish finders) and other electronics. While they can be immensely valuable and I rarely go fishing without them, you can become dependent on them (like using a GPS unit instead of your eyes). Basic observation, thinking like a fish, and learning the fish’s behaviour through good old-fashioned experience cannot be overlooked.

It’s likely that you have bass closer to you than almost any other species. And the local lake, reservoir or warmwater stream might be less busy than your nearest trout fishery. Explore the options, find local lakes and try some bass. You won’t be disappointed and you might even find a new favorite species.

meet patty lueken, a 1000 steward “I became a member of 1000 Stewards to help support the legacy of fly fishing and all it has to offer. I particularly support FFI’s partnership with key conservation organizations to help projects and advocacy initiatives in a manner that leverages limited resources and maximizes the impact of my contribution. I like that concept.” help MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

flyfishersinternational.org/ffi1k

You have a unique opportunity to invest in the sport you love.

FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL’S

1000 Stewards program

asks dedicated fly anglers to donate $500 PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS (a total of $2500.)

FFi1K

join the

stewards Bass on the Fly

19

Focused on the Flats

Dave McCoy

Top: Putting minds together for the fly of choice while staying out of sight of nearby flat and cruising GT’s.

Bottom: GT highway on Anaa Atoll. Giant Trevally entering the lagoon will pass through these channels in the island making for an exciting game of cat and mouse.

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Top left: The result of fishing a fly with a hook weaker than your tippet!

Top right: Stepping into a sea of blue on Anaa Atoll.

Bottom: The prettiest of the trevally family, the Bluefin are absolutely stunning to admire and voracious predators in their own right.

Focused on the Flats

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Left: Ornate coloration on a bonefish pectoral fin.

Right: The focused intensity of a flats guide in Belize.

Bottom: Kate Taylor gently admires a giant sea star of the island of Guanaja in Honduras.

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Top: Refreshment stand in Havana, Cuba.

Right: The last piece of Bob Rohde’s first ever Grand Slam on Abaco.

Bottom: Tools of the trade for those chasing GT’s on Anaa Atoll in Tahiti.

Focused on the Flats

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Top: Eric Johnson making his offering to a cruising bonefish on Abaco Island.

Right: On the edge. Casting to cruising GT’s along the reefs edge will test every skill in your fly angling quiver.

Bottom: Bonefish are most anglers point of entry into the warm saltwater world and the Bahamas is the perfect location to pursue them.

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Top: Dylan Rose makes some last casts before the sun disappears in Belize.

Right: Dylan panning the evening flats in Belize in search of permit, crab at the ready.

Bottom: Star gazing the universe from the back deck of the lodge in Honduras.

Focused on the Flats

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Fall Stillwaters: Big Fish in Shallow Water David Paul Williams

W

e couldn’t believe our luck.

A brilliant warming sun, slight breeze rippling the water, mountain scenery that welcomed and distracted us while gearing up, and only three boats on the entire 1,000-acre lake. We came here to experience the lake’s famous fall fishing, which didn’t disappoint; the solitude was the cherry on top.

Would autumn stillwaters by any other name be as sweet? Rainbows and cutthroat trout patrol lake shorelines, eagerly awaiting rafts of adiabatic wind-

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

blown beetles, ants and other terrestrials. Brook and brown trout cruise the outside edges of weedbeds, eating most anything smaller. Kokanee, those green-headed, red-bodied landlocked sockeye salmon, arise from their deep-water summertime haunts seeking to spawn in moving water, but settling for rocky shallows. In the natural order where bigger things eat smaller things, apex predators like bull trout and lake trout that spend the warm months in the cool depths, follow the kokanee into the shallows.

Some big fall fish spend their days in a tedious orgy of sipping size 22 blue-winged olives. But most of the big

guys forego that endless task, preferring instead to sit down to a shallow-water steak-and-potatoes meal conveniently served up by Mother Nature. All those young-of-the-year fry have grown from being simple hors d’oeuvres into dinnersized entrees for their piscivorous brethren.

And if the prospect of catching big fish in shallow water is not enough to entice a fly fisher out of the house and onto the water, most other trout anglers have swapped out their rods for leaf rakes and storm windows - so the pressure-filled days of summer with the water littered with angler-filled boats are a dim and fading memory.

Autumn is the time of intense color changes. The fall spawning trout - browns and brookies - transform into stunning showcases of red, yellow, olive and gold; each male wearing vibrant colors designed to attract females. In counterpoint to their spawning dress, the males develop a pugnacious attitude revealed by a fierce alteration of their skulls and teeth.

Autumn is also the time of changing weather patterns. The dog-days of summer melt into cool nights and bright days.

Heavy overnight dew, plus the occasional pre-winter storm, gets tossed into the mix. Cooler water stimulates fish out of their summer doldrums into a feeding binge that lasts until the lake ices over.

The weather vagaries, especially on mountain lakes, may explain the autumn solitude we experienced. After one day of shirtless sunny weather, the next morning was ushered in by teeth-rattling wind and downward spiraling temperatures that bottomed out well below freezing. The lake, mirror-pond flat the evening before, was lashed into cresting whitecaps.

No way could we launch our boats, so we cast from the beach into the wind, stopping only when we could no longer manipulate the line with our numbed fingers.

We loaded the boats and drove around the lake to a sheltered launch spot. Coming off the lake at dusk, the temperature plummeted so, ice formed on my wading boots in the few minutes it took to break down my pontoon boat. And yes, the fishing was worth the cold. We caught more brown trout than could be counted on our chilled fingers.

Trout, particularly fall-spawning varieties, are programmed to feed aggressively in the weeks leading up to the spawn so they can withstand both the rigors of spawning and the low oxygen in the water over the winter months.

Bugs and Beyond Damsels and dragons, backswimmers and water boatmen,

shrimp and scuds, leeches and chironomids all fill the trout’s underwater larder. There’s plenty of topwater food as well.

What trout can resist a nice juicy terrestrial struggling along the surface film, having landed in the water by a miscalculated leap or unexpected gust of wind? Terrestrials, those land-based insects that inadvertently find themselves afloat until they somehow paddle themselves to shore or, or more often than not, get nailed by a fish, are high-calorie trout food.

Hoppers provoke slashing strikes from unsophisticated high-mountain trout and well educated lowland-lake fish alike. Fall hoppers are late risers. When these night-chilled creatures finally stir and start feeding on the shoreline vegetation, they become prime midday trout food.

There are 8,800 named species of ants in the family Formicidae, known for the pungent and perhaps tasty formic acid coursing through their segmented bodies. If there is one bug that trout like better than grasshoppers, it’s ants. Some entomologists speculate that trout actually prefer ants over other food. There’s no question that big black carpenter ants, medium-sized ants and tiny winged ants all get gobbled by trout. Impressionistic black and brown ant patterns in size 14 to 18 work wonders, particularly on waters bordered by ponderosa pines.

Beetles are the terrestrial most ignored by anglers, but when used, almost always catch fish. To paraphrase Henry Ford when he was discussing the color of his cars, you only need one pattern: a black size 16 Foam Beetle.

Fall is the time of downsizing as the big hatches of big bugs are a thing of summer. The fall dry fly box should include itsy flies (#14-16), bitsy flies (#18-20) and itsy-bitsy flies (#22-24) to take advantage of the fish that are conditioned to seeing insects of this size. Of course there is an exception to every rule. Here the exception is the size 8 October Caddis.

Fish Eating Fish To catch big fish, use big fish-food. Roderick Haig-Brown, the dean of Western fishing writers, wrote, “Fry imitation is somewhere on that ragged edge of respectability in the flyfisherman’s world.” Living on the ragged edge can be a ton of fun.

Science says that fish strike for one of four reasons: hunger, anger, curiosity, and play. Hungry fish will eat anything that smacks of food, but no angler always always casts to hungry fish. Something is needed to trigger strikes. A chironomid suspended off the bottom isn’t going to provoke an anger-

Fall Stillwaters: Big Fish in Shallow Water

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colors and flash can be varied to match the most available and abundant food-fish. Flies tied with materials such as marabou, rabbit and soft synthetics offer life-like movement that imitates the natural.

Don’t get stuck thinking all forage-fish are small. Twentypound lake trout tracking through shallow water in search of foot-long kokanee call for stout rods and big, big flies - eight inches at least - in colors matching the prey.

Crawdads

strike from a big fish. It won’t evoke curiosity, as the fish has seen chironomids all year long. Nor is it big enough to play with. On the other hand, flies that imitate forage-fish produce big fish because they check all the boxes.

Forage-fish vary widely in color, shape and size as well as habitat. Some hang out in the weedbeds, nibbling small bits of plankton. Some, like sculpins, are bottom huggers; their coloration allows them to blend into the bottom. Some have long, narrow bodies. Others exhibit wide heads and narrow tails. Still others have relatively short, wide bodies.

When you encounter forage-fish wearing bright colors, common sense dictates using bright flies. Samuel Slaymaker created a series of highly effective streamer flies, such as the Little Brook Trout and Little Brown Trout that imitate brightly colored minnows. These flies have a slim silhouette with bits of red, yellow and silver that imitate the color palette of fall forage-fish.

Forage-fish are predominately spring and early-summer spawners. Fall forage-fish present a profile with less distinct coloring than the egg-filled females and gaudy spawning males of spring. Again, common sense means selecting a fly that more closely resembles the shape and color of the available food.

Bob Clouser’s Deep Minnow patterns are highly effective baitfish flies. The tying style with the dumbbell eye lashed on top of the hook, making the fly ride point up, presents an irresistible jigging motion. The combination of dark over light

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Crayfish, well known to the bass angler, are another big fish food overlooked by fly anglers but not by the fish themselves.

Water temperature and duration of sunlight primarily determine when these nocturnal crustaceans roam the lake bottom. Fish stomachs are not so regulated; crayfish patterns will catch trout even during bright sunlight. Crayfish search for food in the interstices of rock cobble and seams where the cobble meets broken rock. They avoid solid rock, rock with smooth faces and unbroken rock areas and so should the angler.

Crayfish colors vary during their spawning and molting life-cycle. Size varies during the year but by fall, crayfish will have completed molting for the year. Most will have reached maturity so the fish expect to see big specimens best imitated on weighted size 4 or 6, 3XL hooks. Since crayfish are bottom dwellers the fly needs to be bounced along the bottom like the natural.

Find The Food, Find The Fish There is a simple answer to the question of where the fish are. The fish swim where their food is abundant and available. Grasshoppers and other terrestrials are abundant in the grasslands and fields surrounding lakes but only become available as fish-food when they leave land. Damsels, dragons and the other water-dwelling trout morsels become more available as the weedbeds die.

Those weedbeds provided food and shelter all summer long for the forage-fish, but come autumn several forces combine to make the forage-fish more available to trout. As the weedbeds break apart, they provide fewer hiding places for the baitfish. That could explain why fall forage-fish have muted colors - those sporting bright colors were easily spotted and quickly eliminated. Falling water temperatures bring toothy predators into shallower water while longer periods of lower light conditions mean those predators cruise the shallow water for more hours of each day.

All these events occur every year in the shoal and dropoff zones in every lake. These areas, typically water between 5 and 20 feet deep, are prime hunting areas for wading or boating fly fishers. Find those areas and the fish will be there.

And if a weather or water-temperature disturbance has put the fish off those prime hunting areas, don’t keep hammering away. Most anglers spend time swapping out pattern after pattern, when a change in depth and presentation - slowing or speeding the retrieve - will pay higher dividends. Don’t get stuck in the rut of fishing the same fly at the same depth using the same retrieve in the hopes that the fish will change how they’re feeding. That’s not going to happen. Get them to bite by giving them what they’re eating at the depth they are eating it.

In fall you’ll find small areas with high concentrations of fish and conversely, large areas with few or no fish. Trout congregate near lake inlets and outlets, awaiting that primal spawning signal. Water welling up from underwater springs may harbor concentrations of fish. Cast and move until the concentrations are located.

When working pods of fish, using the proper strike technique can result in more hook-ups. Most anglers, especially dry-fly fishers, strike by quickly raising the rod tip to set the hook. If the fish is missed, the dramatic upward movement draws the fly out of the strike zone. A better way, favored by saltwater anglers, is to use the strip-strike where a simple pull on the line with the stripping hand sets the hook.

When that movement hooks the fish, the battle can begin.

If the fish is missed, the fly stays in the strike zone, having moved only a few inches, and the stripping motion followed by a pause, may trigger another strike.

To catch more fish, as a general rule regardless of the time of year, match the fly size to the size of the most abundant and available food at the time. Start the fly pattern size progression with large flies in the morning, moving to small flies during the day when the hatches take place, then back to large ones as the light falls. This coincides with the general abundance and availability of food and the timing of insect hatches.

Line Up, Line Down The myriad fly line choices available to the stillwater angler boggle the mind. If the productive water is up to 20-feet deep, carry floating, intermediate, sink-tip and full-sinking lines.

Dry-fly anglers wedded to floating lines may shudder at the thought of casting a Type VI sinking line. Fly fishers who use that line swear by them.

Spring is the time of young fish in shallow water. Fall is the time of big fish in skinny water. Like bears pigging out to pack on the pounds necessary to get through their long winter’s nap, fall fish are known for their gluttonous behavior. Fall fishing can provide the well-prepared angler the best fishing and fishing experience of the entire season.

Who can resist sunny days and willing fish amidst nature’s changing colors? Besides, the leaves can always be raked by headlamp after dark.

Fall Stillwaters: Big Fish in Shallow Water

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CONSERVATION

Conservation Programs at Work

DAVE PETERSON Fly Fishers International Conservation Chair Contributors to this article include Emily Dean, Nicole Watson, Rick Williams, and David Philipp

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

W

hen speaking to fellow fly fishers about joining FFI, you often hear the question, “What will I get for joining FFI?” One big benefit of FFI membership is being a part of an organization devoted to “biologically sound conservation of our wetland and fishery resources (that are) fundamental to our present and future angling experiences…”

Conservation of fisheries and their habitats has been a core value of Fly Fishers International since its founding in 1965.

FFI pioneered the practice of “catch-andrelease” in North America and since has

been a leading organization in the advocacy and practice of conserving “All Fish in All Waters” (FFI Conservation Policy Plan).

To carry out this mission, FFI and its Conservation Committee have developed a number in interrelated programs that are expanding FFI’s “footprint” and increasing its national relevance among anglers and the many other organizations devoted to fisheries conservation. The three initiatives described below illustrate the diverse ways in which FFI works to protect our angling resources.

Conservation Scholarships Each year, FFI awards scholarships to outstanding students pursuing degrees in fisheries or closely related fields. In 2019 two outstanding young scientists who represent the future of fish conservation received the scholarships.

Emily Dean is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. Her research interests and career goals are “to promote the conservation and protection of stream fishes… as I grew up fishing the rivers, streams, and lakes of Michigan and beyond with my Dad.” She plans to use her scholarship to assist in funding a project focused on the conservation of migratory gamefish species in the Great Lakes region. This project is part of a broader effort to evaluate ecological and economic tradeoffs of dam removals from Great Lakes tributaries, including how those removals might affect production-potential

of key fisheries. Emily’s research will evaluate stream-habitat suitability for migratory gamefish species using stream-habitat data collected from tributaries in Michigan and Wisconsin.

The field work component includes the collection of data from over 60 streams across 14 watersheds in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan and Wisconsin.

In addition to her academic responsibilities, Emily is a member of her local FFI club and serves on the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Council of FFI, where she is both newsletter editor and a member of the Conservation Committee.

Upon receiving her scholarship, Emily said, “I am very grateful to the organization for their support of my research. I am excited to continue supporting the goals of Fly Fishers International.”

Nicole Watson is also a Ph.D. candidate at Michigan State University in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. She says, “Native fisheries conservation and restoration is a primary passion of mine. As a fly fisher I strive to focus on how my work can expand our understanding and appreciation of native, wild trout. I am interested in the linkages occurring naturally between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems…each piece of the system plays a role, from the sportfish to the spider. Arctic grayling have long been my favorite salmonid. I am enthralled by the uniqueness of each fish and their history in Michigan and North America.”

Nicole’s research involves young Arctic grayling, brook and brown trout, and is part of a larger effort by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and many partner groups,

including FFI, to reintroduce the Arctic grayling to Michigan streams where it once occurred naturally. Her studies aim to clarify the uncertainties to successful grayling reintroduction.

Each spring, her research takes her to Alaska to transport grayling eggs back to her lab at Michigan State University.

Her multifaceted study will examine predation of grayling fry by resident brook and brown trout; competition between grayling, brook, and brown trout; and grayling imprinting to home waters at early life stages. Her work also addresses “alarm cues, physiological development, predator avoidance and predator cue recognition by juvenile grayling.”

Conservation Grants FFI’s Conservation grants provide funding for grass roots conservation projects ranging from local stream restoration efforts to advocacy projects like Conservation Hawk’s film on climate change, In the Heart of the Rockies, to projects in saltwater including the preservation of bonefish and their habitat.

One of our recent grants supported an international effort to protect a rare species, the threatened golden mahseer.

The grant supported Dr. Rick Williams’ attendance at the First International Mahseer Conference in Paro, Bhutan in December, 2018. Dr. Williams, one of FFI’s Senior Conservation Advisors, gave a presentation on using native fish conservation areas (NFCAs) to protect keystone native fish species and their aquatic habitats. This conservation approach was developed in 2011 by FFI in collaboration with partner scientists from the Fisheries Conservation Foundation (FCF) and Trout Unlimited (TU). Dr. Williams’s presentation

focused on how establishing one or more NFCAs in Bhutan could create an effective conservation strategy for mahseer and the large rivers in southern Bhutan.

The golden mahseer (Tor putitora) is the most iconic fish in Bhutan and across the southern Himalayan region.

It has cultural, religious, historical, and economic significance to the Bhutanese people. Today, native populations of mahseer are under great threat from overfishing and loss of habitat - particularly their breeding grounds due to the construction of hydroelectric dams. With many dams already being constructed across the Himalayan region, wild mahseer populations are likely to continue declining, with some populations at risk of local extirpation.

Bhutan came to the Fisheries Conservation Foundation in 2014 for advice and help on this issue…and the Mahseer Research and Conservation Project was born.

The Mahseer Research and Conservation Project was launched in March 2015 as a partnership between FCF, World Wildlife Fund - Bhutan, and the Bhutan Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF). Initial research

Conservation

31

included a radio telemetry study to assess movement patterns of mahseer throughout the year. It documented that adult mahseer overwinter in deep pools within the rivers near Bhutan’s southern border with India and in the spring migrate upstream up to an elevation of about 1000 meters, returning to their natal streams for spawning. In the fall, adults migrate back downstream to their overwintering sites. These movements put them in serious threat from both hydropower and illegal fishing.

Bhutan’s First International Mahseer Conference brought together scientists from 11 countries. It resulted in formal proceedings that provided recommendations for Bhutan to move forward in developing a more effective conservation strategy for mahseer and large rivers in general within Bhutan.

Those recommendations included establishing one or more Native Fish Conservation Areas, based on the presentation by FFI’s Rick Williams and his collaborators.

Finally, after the conference, Rick joined David Philipp and Julie Claussen from FCF and representatives from the Bhutanese partners, to raft 60 km down the remote Sunkosh River to assess where mahseer may be overwintering and if/how a radio telemetry array could be constructed to help assess the potential impacts of a proposed large hydro power project on the golden mahseer in the river.

Fighting Mining Threats Mines have been infamously linked to myriad harmful effects on our fisheries. These include the release of harmful particulate matter into the air, destruction of habitat, and pollution of waters by acid mine drainage,

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

metal contamination and excessive sedimentation, among others. FFI is active in coalitions opposing a number of mines that threaten pristine habitats.

Pebble Mine Today, one of the most visible efforts is to try and stop the the construction and operation of the Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay in Alaska.

FFI is a partner with many other like-minded groups in the Save Bristol Bay Coalition. The Coalition describes the issue: “The Bristol Bay watershed, an area roughly the size of West Virginia, is nestled between two national parks, and the nation’s largest state park. The area hosts three active volcanoes and Lake Iliamna, the 8th largest lake in the United States. Bristol Bay and its watershed are famous for their beauty and bounty of fish and wildlife. With wild salmon runs disappearing from the planet, Bristol Bay is a place of international importance because of the salmon runs and the economies they support. All of this is risked by the Pebble Mine and large-scale hard rock mining on adjacent public land.”

FFI has written or signed on to numerous letters to legislators and governmental agencies fighting the Pebble Mine. We have also used our social-media presence to highlight the mine with our members and encourage them to take action. FFI will continue to be a partner in this crucial fight to preserve one of our last pristine salmon habitats.

Paradise Valley The Paradise Valley in Montana is home to the mainstream and tributaries of the Yellowstone River.

A proposal to start a new gold mine in the headwaters of the Yellowstone threatened this iconic river.

FFI was part of a coalition opposing the mine. Among other actions, FFI

authored letters advocating for the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act, a federal law authored by U.S. Senator John Tester, which outlaws gold mining in the Paradise Valley. In a rare victory, this legislation was signed into law in 2018 and gold mining is now outlawed in the Paradise Valley.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula FFI’s advocacy for responsible mining is not limited to cold-water fisheries.

For several years, FFI’s Conservation Committee has participated in a coalition trying to stop the establishment of the Back Forty Mine, an open pit sulfide mine on the banks of the Menominee River, a famed smallmouth bass fishery in Michigan’s upper peninsula. FFI has provided a conservation grant to fight against the mine and supports efforts to publicize the impact an open pit mine could have on this watershed.

Boundary Waters Wilderness FFI is also an active member of Save the Boundary Waters, a coalition of outdoor sports groups devoted to stopping sulfide-ore copper mining on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. The BWCAW is America’s most visited Wilderness Area, encompassing 1.1 million acres of pristine woods, lakes and streams.

FFI has advocated protection of this vast wilderness through letters to policy makers and creating awareness of this threat among FFI members and followers though social media.

Fighting mining in fragile habitats, funding innovative conservation projects and supporting the conservation scientists of the future… these are just a few of FFI’s conservation priorities. Be assured that we will continue to advocate for healthier habitats and fisheries for generations to come.

CASTING

Casting Bass Bugs

JEFF WAGNER Jeff is Director of Sales Strategy and Analytics at SmartWool, Fly Casting Field Editor for Fly Fusion Magazine, Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor and most importantly husband and father of two.

O

ne of the attractions of fishing for trout is the seemingly effortless casting.

Presenting a size 18 dry fly to a sipping trout at 30 feet in minimal wind is idyllic. Compare that to fishing for bass in an exposed lake where winds are common. There are new challenges: The wading can be deep, the flies are big and often heavy or windresistant, the rods have larger grips and are heavier, and the fly lines are heavier. Add to this the fact that most bass anglers work hard - too hard - at getting line out. A lot of bass casters false cast repeatedly until they finally have enough weight out of the rod tip to make a delivery. Then, the shoot is often cumbersome with fly line wrapping around the fighting butt. The fly lands with a ton of energy and a splash, but not accurately.

Then the first several strips of the line simply pull in the excess slack and all this effort ends in a minimally fishable cast.

Sound familiar? This can lead to frustration and fatigue, and when viewed by an outsider, reduces the likelihood that they’ll want to try fly fishing for bass. The goal, as in all fishing, is to keep the fly in the water and present it with minimal effort.

Rarely do I start a casting conversation with equipment, but this is a logical exception. Let’s start with flies and fishing situation. The first consideration when choosing the weight of rod is not the size of the fish or the distance to cast, but the size, weight, and wind-resistance of the fly. Any rod can cast a size 18 dry fly, but few rods can effectively cast a size 2 leadeye crayfish. Factor in the fly line and you have a lot of mass and wind resistance. The

larger and heavier the flies, the heavier the line should be. We need more mass in the fly line to offset the weight and resistance of the flies, and we need a heavier-weight rod to effectively control the heavier fly line. A good caster can deliver a big bass bug with a soft 4-weight. Question: If that statement is true, why do we need expensive rods and textured half-weight heavy fly lines?

Answer: to make fishing easier, to create mechanical advantage, and to have more fun catching more fish.

My warm-water rods start at 6-weight for small poppers and unweighted streamers.

I use an 8-weight for weighted crayfish patterns, larger Clouser Minnows and sinking lines. Don’t be afraid to go 9-weight or even a light-in-the hand 10-weight if you’re fishing extremely heavy or windresistant flies or sinking lines. For bass, an 8-weight will suffice in most situations while pike and muskie may require a 9 or 10-weight. An 8-weight is a good all-round choice for warm water. The best rod is likely not the fastest and stiffest rod on the market.

A rod with a softer tip, deep deflection, and quick recovery-rate will be best. This allows for some shock absorption at the end of the stroke, and damping with a faster recovery rate for a quick delivery and reaction to power adjustments. Also, be mindful of the grip. As part of a recent rod review we noticed the largest range of handle sizes in recent memory. Be sure the handle fits in your hand easily and comfortably for an entire day. If it’s too skinny or too fat and it will cause hand strain.

I like to cast as far as the next guy, but using heavy flies and sinking lines will take a greater toll on you than casting to bonefish on the flats. Be reasonable about

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the range you are fishing. Put yourself or your boat in a position where you can make repeated casts at nearly the same comfortable distance, rather than stretching your limit.

With your flies selected and the relative range determined, let’s look at lines and leaders. A proper combination will make casting and fishing these larger flies much easier.

I’ll be the first to tell you there are too many fly lines on the market and

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

people just need to learn to cast. But for bass fishing with large flies a good fly line can be worth its weight in gold. I prefer one of the many “bass tapers” or “big bug tapers” with a shorter head, a short and aggressive front taper, and a rear taper that quickly gets into the running line to make shooting easier.

These lines turn over the larger flies and are often a half-weight heavy to offset the weight and wind-resistance of the flies.

To match the fly line you’ll need a leader that will also help turn the fly over. Here, choose a bass or pike type of leader. These have larger and stiffer butt-diameters that match the end of the fly line. They’re also made of stiffer mono and have a fast taper. to help hold and turn over the heavy or windresistant flies. This isn’t the place for supple, namby-pamby tippet material.

Trilene XL or XT in 10-pound test (or heavier) is fine.

Now that we have our gear, lets talk casting. As the FFI mantra goes: longer stroke, easier cast. All things being equal, this is true, especially here. Remember that these heavier outfits require more energy to hold, move, and flex. This also means they are harder to stop. All that starting and stopping requires more energy and also puts more wear and tear on you. A long casting stroke makes it easier to get the rod to maximum acceleration.

Most of the strain on you comes from decelerating the rod rapidly, but in this case it’s not necessary. Once you have that mass going, especially with a denser sinking line, the weighted fly and heavier fly line will continue to travel to the target without a hard stop of the rod. Slow the rod down enough to cause loop formation, and control the line as it falls to the water, concentrating on making an accurate cast.

Hauling will help immensely. As we all know, two hands are better than one, and hauling allows us to impart energy to the stroke with both hands. In the case of heavy bass rigs, the haul can be even more important, as we can add even greater energy and speed to the cast than we might with a lighter weight line. In so doing, keep everything smooth. Those longer casts with additional mass and windresistance will only be made more challenging if the casts and hauls are jerky or overly aggressive.

Let’s go through a casting sequence, but start by defining our desired outcome. We’re making a 40-foot cast with an 8-weight rod, using a 7’6” bass leader with a bass line, and fishing a size 6 popper with a dropper below.

We know the fish are sitting just off of the bank as the water quickly deepens

less than 10 feet from the bank. We’re fishing from a boat and cruising parallel to the bank. Here’s what should happen: 1. With the fly near the bank, make a few strips until the flies are out of the strike zone (away from where we believe the fish to be).

2. Retrieve until the fly within 15 feet of the boat. Don’t try to pick the fly up when it’s 20 or 30 feet away. That would cause a ton of resistance and put more strain on your arm and shoulder, and there is a greater likelihood of spooking fish with the excessive noise and disturbance if you try to pick a popper up at that distance 3. Start the cast one of two ways.

With the rod tip low and the hauling hand near the first guide, begin the stroke and accelerate smoothly up and high behind, using a long haul and a long, smooth casting stroke. Or, use a roll-cast pick-up. With the line extended out as in step 2, perform a hard and slightly above-thewater roll cast so the fly line unrolls over the surface of the water. As the loop is aerialized and unrolls forward make the backcast with a long haul.

4. As the loop has formed and is unrolling behind, shoot additional line into the backcast, keeping the line in the hauling hand. Allow as much line to shoot as possible, likely five feet or so.

5. Drift by reaching your casting hand and arm back in the same direction as the unrolling loop, to extend the length of the next casting stroke. As you are drifting, reach toward the stripping guide with your line-hand to give

maximum effective length for the next haul.

6. Give the loop just enough time to straighten (important with l arge flies to allow them to turn the corner).

7. Begin the forward stroke with no creeping, smoothly accelerating, aiming just above the target and stopping high enough above the water that the fly reaches its full distance before hitting the water. This prevents the fly from slapping down on the water.

8. As the fly line is falling, follow the line toward the water’s surface with the rod. Keep the line in the hauling hand during the forward cast.

9. When the line hits the water, the tip of the rod should be at the water’s surface and the line should be straight from the rod tip to the fly to eliminate slack.

It’s very common to have fish eat as soon as the fly hits the water and it’s critical there is no slack to insure a quick connection with a striking fish.

10. Retrieve and repeat In general, short casts are best and if you need more distance, shoot line.

As noted earlier, casting with these rigs does require a bit more strength.

That is not to say you need to be “strong,” but it is not the same as casting a 4 or 5-weight. So be sure to practice. I recommend not only casting the same rod with the same line, (a practice version preferably), but also the same fly (cutting off the point at the start of the bend). Spending time with this equipment in your hand will create strength, muscle memory, and familiarity that will go a long way the next time you’re on the water.

Casting

35

FLY TYING

Release the Dragons

S

JERRY COVIELLO Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group Chairman Jerry is serving on the FFI Education Committee, newsletter editor for Delaware Valley Fly Fishers an Affiliate FFI Club in Bucks County PA. Fly Tying Demonstrator at the FFI Fly Fishing Fair, International Fly Tying Symposium, Edison Fly Fishing Show and the Fly Fishing and Wing Shooting show.

Fly Tying Instructor at Project Healing Waters in Coatesville PA. Member of the Dyna-King Vise Pro Team and Solarez UV Resin Pro Team Member

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

eems no matter where I go I always run into dragonflies, whether my backyard or on the stream. These large flyers are buzzing all around, and there are over 5,000 types of dragonflies. With amazing flying skills they can catch their food in mid-air, but did you know they start out as aquatic nymphs? The adults lay the eggs on a plant or mud under the water in a pond, swamp or backwater of a river or stream.

When it grows out of the egg the nymph stage begins. The nymphs can take up to four years to mature. They feed on mosquitos, mayfly and caddis nymphs and even small

fish. They breathe through gills and swim by taking in water and expelling it in a type of “jet propulsion.�

Once the nymph stage is complete, the nymph crawls out of the water onto a plant or rock and splits its nymphal shuck to become an adult dragonfly.

Dragonfly nymphs make great food for trout and warm-water species such as bluegills, perch, and bass. Common colors are olive, tan and brown. When you cast these flies you want them to sink, using either a floating line with a sink tip, or weight on the leader. You should retrieve in short four to six-inch bursts, using a slow hand-twist retrieve to imitate the way they swim.

The Foam Dragon Bluegill Slayer

Fly designed by Clark “Cheech� Pierce Hook: 2XL nymph hook, #6 - 10 Tail: Olive/tan/brown marabou Body: Olive/tan/brown dubbing fur Overbody: 2mm foam (olive/tan/brown) Legs: Sili Legs, Crawdad Pumpkin

With three layers of foam this fly floats like a cork and can be used for top-water bluegills, but will imitate a dragonfly nymph when fished under water.

Floating Dragonfly Nymph Hook: Daiichi 1720, or other 3XL nymph hook, #6 Thread: GSP 75, white Tail: Pumpkin Flake Sili Legs Abdomen: Spun natural/olive/brown deer hair Legs: Pumpkin Flake Sili Legs Thorax: Olive/tan/brown dubbing Eyes: Large black mono eyes or 4mm cylinder foam Wingcase: 2mm tan/olive/brown foam

Note: While this fly floats because of the foam and deer hair, it is meant to be fished subsurface.

Furry Foam Dragon Phil Rowley

Hook: Daiichi 1720 or other 3XL nymph hook, #6 - 10 Thread: White 3/0 Overbody: Tan/olive/brown Furry Foam Body: Spun olive/tan/brown deer hair Legs: Sili Legs Head: Same as body

Gomphus Dragonfly Nymph Hook: Daiichi 1710 or other 2XL nymph hook, #8 or 10 Abdomen: Spun deer hair Legs: Sili Legs or hen pheasant-tail fibers Head: Spun deer hair

Fly Tying

37

2 Cut marabou fibers and tie them on the shank of the hook.

3 Wrap the marabou butt fibers back over the tips as shown.

4 Continue stacking the marabou fibers around the shank of the hook.

Tying Steps for the Fowler’s Magic Dragon Hook: 2XL nymph hook, #6 - 10 Thread: 6/0 brown Abdomen: Olive/brown marabou, stacked around hook shank and trimmed in a triangle shape

1

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Legs: Sili Legs (optional) Wingcase: Brown Swiss straw Thorax: Olive/brown dubbing Eyes: Medium mono dumbbell eyes

Secure the hook in the vise and tie in thread behind the eye. Wrap thread to the bend of the hook.

5 Cover three quarters of the hook shank with the marabou fibers.

Trim the marabou body in the shape of a triangle. Cut the bottom flat. When wet the abdomen will be the shape of the dragonfly nymph abdomen.

6

7

Umpqua Dream Stream PLUS 7-Piece Tying Tool Kit Tie in medium black plastic dumbbell eyes. Glue them onto the hook shank.

8 Tie in the Swiss straw wingcase and wing pad. Turkey tail can be used in place of Swiss straw.

9

Dub the thorax, then add the second rubber legs behind the eyes. Dub over and between the eyes with the dubbing fur.

11

Fold the Swiss straw over the wing pad.

Tie in the first section of the rubber legs on each side of the hook shank.

10

I’ve been tying flies for pleasure and profit for more decades than can be counted on one hand. Over those many years, the basic tying tools—scissors, bodkin, hackle pliers, hair stacker, bobbin, threader, and whip finisher—are found on every tying table. What differentiates acceptable tools from good tools or exceptional tools is the quality of workmanship and materials and attention to detail. The Umpqua Dream Stream PLUS tools check all the boxes.

The kit comes in a plastic travel case, held closed by two secure snap fasteners. The vibrant diamond teal and stainless steel tools are a delightful departure from oldschool plain tools. Nestled in black foam with finger-sized divots that make it easy to remove the tools, this kit contains all the basics—bobbin, bodkin, threader, whip finisher, hackle plier, scissors and hair stacker. All the tools save the fiveinch scissors have textured grips so each is easy to grasp and manipulate, and there are no rough edges on the working ends. The generous finger-holes on the scissors make them easy to manipulate, and the blades’ fine tips come together properly to make delicate cuts with ease. Umpqua added a neat touch to the threader, bodkin and whip finisher—there’s a stop on the shaft of each tool that prevents them from rolling off the tying bench.

I teach introductory and advanced fly-tying classes and understand that new tyers are often hesitant to spend money on materials and equipment until they are certain they want to pursue the craft. I always encourage students to get quality tools from the outset, as they make learning to tie so much easier. The Umpqua Dream Stream PLUS tool kit provides quality tools at a reasonable price.

The kit is available now through the Umpqua dealer network and retails for $43.99.

Pull the wingcase over the thorax and secure behind the eye. Whip finish and add a drop of head cement or Solarez UV Bone Dry for the head.

Fly Tying

39

FLY FISHING SKILLS

The Overlooked Skillset Six Things to Consider When Taking a New Angler Fishing

T JEN RIPPLE Jen is an FFI Board Member and Editor-in-Chief of DUN Magazine. A sounding board for women in this currently male-dominated sport, Jen has created a home base for women worldwide to connect and engage in the art of fly fishing.

Photo © Jessica Haydahl

he other day I met CCI Susan Thrasher at a Nashville park to test for my Gold Fly Casting Skills Challenge. About halfway through the challenge, I noticed that a man had stopped to watch us. When we decided to take a short break and get out of the sun for a few minutes, he approached Susan. It was obvious she taught fly fishing, he said.

It was always something he had wanted to try, and did she have a business card?

How many times have you been approached by someone on the river, or by friends and family, who want to learn to fly fish? My guess is that if you’ve been fishing for any length of time, it’s more than once.

I remember the first time I was approached.

I had been teaching myself to fish for only a few weeks and was wading the Huron River

when a man approached me from shore and asked if I could teach him. I told him I was new to the sport too, but I would be happy to teach him the little I had already learned. We quickly made plans to meet the following Saturday. What I recall of that day was disastrous. His dog ran into the water and got tangled in the line - more than once. My new reel fell off the rod and into the water. The weather was anything but perfect. To say we didn’t see a fish all day would be a gross understatement. We both left the river that fateful Saturday exasperated. If he picked up a fly rod again, it wasn’t because of me.

I learned a valuable lesson that day.

Taking a new angler fishing requires a skillset I had yet to possess. Many of us spend countless hours honing our own skills as a fly fisher, only to overlook the skills needed to successfully introduce others to our sport.

Here are six things to take into consideration when taking a new angler fishing.

1. Pick the Right Fish There are a couple of reasons why this is imperative. It’s easy to get hung up on teaching someone to cast, and rightly so. We all love to make that perfect loop. Making a beautiful cast is an eventual goal, but for a new angler catching a fish is paramount.

That’s what will keep them coming back to the water. Give them that opportunity. Take them to a place where there are hungry fish that love to eat flies. Consider that while we all love to fish for those beautiful trout, perhaps finicky trout may not be the best species for a newbie. Often a local pond with a healthy population of bluegill is the best

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

place to hook both a fish and an angler especially if that angler is a child.

2. Find the Right Location I was recently on a guided trip fishing high-mountain streams in North Carolina. This was “crouch down under a big tree and make a long cast in front of a boulder” type fishing. While I thrive on that kind of challenge, this is not the kind of place to take a beginner. Line management is difficult enough for a new angler without adding technicality to the mix. Getting caught on everything around you is no fun for anyone, new or seasoned. Your location should be an open area without overhanging trees, and with no bushes to catch a new angler’s low backcasts.

In addition, walking four miles to your secret spot may also not be the right choice. Consider your angler’s physical abilities, and don’t forget that the first place you take them is probably the place they will go back to on their own.

3. Choose the Right Tackle You can bomb out a long cast with that 8-weight H3, but this isn’t about you.

Unless you decide that sight-fishing to bonefish at 50 feet is your plan (please see #1 above), a lighter-weight rod with a well-balanced reel is the ticket on beginner days. Not only will this be much easier for your new angler to cast, it will allow them to be more proficient and reach their target. In addition, this is not the time to bring out that ultra-fast nextage rod or that one-of-a-kind handmade bamboo rod. Choose a setup that you won’t be heartbroken over if a mishap occurs. New anglers will most likely try to be careful with your gear but will not be aware of how to walk with a rod, handle a rod, or wrestle with a fish. Remember the golden rule: if it can happen, it will.

4. Grab the Right Fly I love to fish with a dun, it is after all the namesake of my magazine. Nothing seems more magical than seeing that mayfly sitting on the water drying its wings. But, fishing a dun requires the perfect dead-drift, something a lot of seasoned anglers have yet to master, let alone a new fly fisher. Choose a fly that doesn’t need to be presented perfectly for your new angler will most likely present the fly in a less than perfect way.

If there are terrestrials around, they are always a great choice. Think about a grasshopper swept off the shore by the wind and into the water. It lands with a thud and thrashes around. Fishing with a terrestrial allows your newbie to be harsh in their presentation and erratic when stripping, yet still be successful.

A caddis also makes a great beginner’s pattern since a caddis naturally skates across the top of the water. And while you may be okay with a triple nymphrig and a tippet ring, nothing about that style of setup says “beginner.” Not only will you spend your day fixing bird’s nests, your new angler will never be confident they can do that on their own. Remember the goal is to instill confidence and empower them to go it alone next time.

5. Select the Right Day Seasoned anglers think nothing of braving the cold to fish for steelhead, but chances are your new angler is not yet a diehard. Extreme temperatures make for a difficult day on the water.

You want your newbie to be successful, so give them the upper hand. If possible, pick a beautiful day that’s not too cold or too warm. Comfort is key. After all, if they are too focused on passing out from heat exhaustion, or unable to feel their fingers, they won’t be able to

concentrate on the real reason they are there – to have fun.

6. Bring the Right Attitude (And a Net) In today’s fly-fishing world, it is easy to get up on a soapbox about whatever topic is currently trending. We want to save Bristol Bay. We need to kick plastic.

We know that fish need water. But, if your new angler shows up riverside with a single-use bottle of water from Kroger, let it go. A positive attitude will make for a better day. And just as important, remember that we all want to treat the fish with respect.

Acknowledge the fact that this might be the first time your angler has ever held a fish, and fish can be slippery. Bring a net. Catching your first fish on a fly is a huge accomplishment and something you both should be proud of — no matter the fish. Proof of that accomplishment may be the single most important aspect of your outing. Your new angler will be anxious to show off their catch to everyone they know, which will help bring new anglers to our sport. Having a net will not only encourage proper fish handling skills, it will allow both the fish and the angler time to relax so you can get ready for that photo.

Remember, taking a new angler fishing can be a challenge. Honing your newbie skillset will allow you both to be more successful the first time out.

When you look back at that picture of someone holding their first fish and see the huge smile, you’ll know it was worth it.

As for me, I passed my Gold Challenge that day. As for that man in the park, I know he is in much better hands than the first poor soul I tried to help on the river. I have no doubt he will be catching fish on his own in no time.

Fly Fishing Skills

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STREAMSIDE Q&A

Bryan Huskey David Paul Williams: In the flyfishing world Bryan Huskey is perhaps most noted for his filmmaking and photography, but there are a whole lot of other things that don’t get publicized.

Who taught you how to fish?

BH: Like a lot of kids I grew up fishing with my father. He wasn’t particularly skilled in fly fishing, but he did dabble in it. But primarily I grew up fishing with a spinning rod, and on occasion, a fly rod here and there.

DPW: When did you actually drop the spinning rod and move to the fly rod?

BH: At about 18 years old when I moved out of the house and moved in with

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friends. A friend of a friend showed up at our doorstep. He was going to be our new roommate. As it turned out, he was a fishing guide on the Deschutes River.

We hit it off and became great friends right off of the bat.

He introduced me to what I would call “proper fly fishing” - really learning what fly fishing involved in all the elements from casting to the equipment.

The entire culture of fly fishing really took over my imagination. We spent a lot of time traveling throughout the West together, fishing and exploring.

DPW: It sounds like the trout bum career started relatively early.

BH: Yeah. But, I was actually much more of a steelhead bum. My first fly rod was a ten-foot, 7-weight.

DPW: At some point, you included or transitioned into warm-water fish.

What prompted you?

BH: Two things. The appeal of more solitude. The trout waters in this area have become very popular for good reason - because they’re fantastic. But, just by nature, when I’m outside I enjoy the solitude - the solitude and all of the untapped opportunity to fish and learn new waters.

All of that was very appealing. Then my good friend, Ben Romans, who had

been telling me for some time that I should spend a day with him fishing for smallmouth bass. He certainly opened my eyes to a world of new opportunity.

Then, to be honest, the third and important component also was the fact that I was a new father. Well, I’m still a new father. But, at that time, my son was very young. I had the realization that if we were fishing out of a small boat, I could take my wife and our son fishing. The more things that I was able to do with them along, the more I was going to be able to do, period.

DPW: What was the most difficult thing for you to learn, coming from being a steelhead bum to learning how to catch warm-water fish?

BH: The biggest challenge was living and accepting the seasonality of the warm-water bites. There’s a lot of time when water is cold. I’m hard-headed enough to be the guy that’s out there in November or February.

DPW: If you were talking to an experienced trout angler who wanted to fish smallmouth bass, what would be the most important thing for you to communicate?

BH: Make friends with a tournament bass angler. Go fishing with him, because learning from other people is the same as the concept of hiring a guide. If you can get time with somebody who’s willing to share, that’s certainly helpful.

DPW: Do you read water for smallmouth and other warm water fish?

BH: That is probably the strongest thing that carries over. It has been very helpful as I’m trying to learn about warm-water fish and particularly smallmouth. I can tell by looking where the gravel is going to be. I can tell by looking where the soft water is going to be. That ability that has been

developed over years of trout fishing and steelhead fishing. I can tell what’s going to be murky, muddy, and soft and what’s going to be scoured gravel.

DPW: What’s your favorite warmwater fish?

BH: It really does have to be catfish so far. Just because it’s so bizarre. I don’t know anybody else that is out there targeting catfish the way that I’m doing it.

DPW: How are you doing it?

BH: It’s surprising for many people to learn that in large rivers like the Snake River here in southern Idaho, there are places where the water clarity is quite good. People don’t realize you can be out in a small boat in water that’s chest deep or less and read and see the bottom very clearly.

I visually hunt for these channel cats in those shallow water locations on the river. I cast a streamer type pattern that’s heavy enough to sink to the bottom. Whether my fly drifts in towards the fish or whether the fish is moving, if I can get that fly down on the bottom before they see it, I twitch it as if it’s limping away from them once it’s in their field of view.

You can read the reaction from the fish.

You can tell whether it’s triggering the response to pursue that fly, and eat it just like a predatory fish would eat a prey fish.

It appears to me that these catfish in the right circumstance will chase down and eat minnows that are wounded and, or for one reason or another, are on the bottom. They are opportunistic predators.

DPW: What’s the goofiest thing that you have ever done while fishing?

BH: I like to take a fried chicken for lunch. I often take my flies, soak them, squeeze them, and sponge them up

with a bunch of that fried chicken.

I haven’t actually seen it produce the way that I imagined it would. But, I have tried that. That’s a little bit goofy.

DPW: What makes the fly work, the size, color, the presentations, chicken juice?

BH: Yeah. I wish that I could say that I had cracked the code in the fried chicken. I’m going to have to probably start with some other flavors. Of course there are plenty of retail things available specifically for catfish lure.

But, I think it’s more interesting if I find something that I’m pulling out of my own cooler that I’m going to eat.

I really think that the movement of a fly is most important. That movement is tied to the material that it’s made out of. Then, when it comes to presentation, I’ve found it rather odd but the catfish don’t like to see the fly sink. They want to encounter it as if it has been on the bottom and they are spooking it out.

DPW: What impact do you think organizations like Fly Fishers International has on angling?

BH: I think it has a great impact.

I think that the formal learning structure is crucial to keep planting and rejuvenating true professionals in the ranks of a fly-fishing community.

You have so many people that are learning on their own. That is terrific, of course, but there are key elements in, for example, the casting certification.

I don’t know that many people would learn on their own in regard to the teaching of casting, but also in regards to awareness of conservation issues, and education on these issues. If FFI didn’t exist and didn’t provide those tools for the people that are receptive to it, I think fishing and fly fishing would be worse off.

Streamside Q&A

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COMMUNITY

Awards FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service Carl Johnson Len Zickler McKenzie Cup Twin Tiers Five Rivers Dallas Fly Fishers

FFI Award of Distinction This award is Fly Fishers International’s highest honor, presented for many years of service to the organization. FFI is proud to recognize two recipients for their commitment to service and excellence to and for FFI over an extended number of years.

Fly Fisher of the Year Dutch Baughman

he served on the Board, and as an officer.

Len has provided outstanding leadership as FFI enlarged its role in conservation, education and building community.

Through the rebranding, marketing and communication efforts guided by Len, FFI has established a new and expanded presence in electronic media and at fly-fishing shows and regional events.

Membership services have improved, fund raising has increased, and a clearer strategic direction has evolved.

Buz Buszek Fly Tying Award Gretchen Beatty Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award Peggy Brenner FFI Conservation Award Dave Peterson Leopold Award Dr. Peter Moyle Robert J. Marriott’s Scholarship Grant Peyton Horst Fly Fishing Skills Education Award Fanny Krieger Oregon Council of FFI Don Harger Memorial Award Terry Cummings Lee Wulff Award Simms Fishing Gary LaFontaine Scholarship Award Alexander Orfinger

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Carl Johnson, a Life Member and President’s Club member of FFI, has tirelessly served the Washington State Council since 2004; first as treasurer and then as President for 12 years. He continues to serve as Chairman of the Washington Fly Fishing Fair. The many letters of nomination tell of his leadership during his presidency, but also point to the less visible support Carl generously gives to individuals and FFI with his time and financial resources. He found new ways to raise funds for the Council’s activities and other organizations the Council supports. Through his leadership and commitment the Washington State Council is strong and has accomplished many things for the State and FFI. Len Zickler has served FFI at the local and regional levels as well as Chairman of the Board and then President/CEO. His involvement in the Washington State Council led to chairing the 2012 FFI Fly Fishing Fair in Spokane. From 2014-2019,

Fly Fisher of the Year

Recipients of this award have demonstrated unusual devotion to FFI and made outstanding contributions that have provided great benefit to the national and international organization.

The word leadership sums up the skill and experience our awardee shares with all of us regularly. Dutch Baughman’s

service has been as large as Texas, the state he calls home. Dutch is the goto person if you want something done and done well. Under his leadership, Dutch and his team have developed the Learning Center where people can go for high-quality educational materials about our sport and its resources. This year FFI had its first Leadership Development Workshop for club and Council leaders and potential leaders. Production of the workshop is just one more outstanding contribution of Dutch Baughman, our Fly Fisher of the Year.

Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award

This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the art of fly tying. For many years this has been the “gold seal” of fly-tying accomplishment.

Gretchen Beatty is a talented and dedicated fly tier who has co-authored over 800 magazine articles, 20 books and 35 videos, including bronze and silver instructional tapes for the FFI Fly Tying Program. She has taught at all levels of FFI, including at international teaching events in Holland, Denmark, Norway, and England. Gretchen has been fly-tying cochair for four Conclaves, and, along with her team, was recognized with the Fly Tyer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction

Awards Lifetime Achievement in Casting Instruction Simon Gawesworth Chris Korich Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award Christopher Rownes Floyd Franke Contribution to CICP Bruce Williams

Maxine McCormick accepts the award on behalf of Chris Korich.

The Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Instruction award is presented to individuals who have made significant long-term contributions in casting instruction, innovations in casting techniques, writing, motivation and in development of the Casting Certification Program. This year, we were honored to present this award to two individuals.

Simon Gawesworth, of Battle Ground WA, is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on spey casting. He has taught and demonstrated spey casting around the world. He is a past United Kingdom casting champion and is now the pied piper of spey casting in North America. Simon has written three books to date. His first, Spey Casting, was reprinted in a second edition. Simon Gawesworth is a living legend who brought the world of twohanded casting to the United States and the world.

Chris Korich, of Oakland CA, has trained, or trained with, nearly every great American fly-casting instructor of the last forty years. He has been a mentor to some of the United States’ best competition casters, including

Jay Gammel for Fly Casting Instruction Award John L. Field Keith Richard Governors Mentoring Award Dave Barron Brian McGlashan Dennis Otsuka Bob Young Governor’s Pins Bill Higashi Mark Huber Tim Lawson The Council Award of Excellence Eastern Rocky Mountain—Paul Boals Eastern Waters—Kirk Klingensmith Florida—Ron Bloomquist Great Lakes—Gary Lindquist Gulf Coast—Jeff Ferguson Chesapeake—Frank S. Bowne North Eastern—William Ciaurro Oregon—Dale Zemke Southern—Mike Tipton Southwest—Michael Schweit Texas­—David Reichert Upper Midwest—Todd Heggestad Washington—Kuni Masuda Western Rocky Mountain—Bud Frasca & Duane Marler

Community

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COMMUNITY Interview with FFI President & CEO; Patrick Berry

world champion Henry Mittel, national champion Rene Gillibert, and MCI John Field - all current or former presidents of the American Casting Association. He coached Maxine McCormick to her first national and world championships in trout-accuracy casting by age 13. To quote Maxine, “He always narrows it down to the details so I can understand it.” Chris Korich is very deserving of this award.

Fly Fishing Skills Education Award

The Fly Fishing Skills Education Award recognizes individuals or groups that have made an extraordinary single contribution or continuous prominent effort promoting comprehensive flyfishing education. Both a group and an individual were recognized with this award this year.

Fanny Krieger has dedicated a lifetime to continuously and prominently promoting fly fishing, especially with women and children. She formed the Golden West Women Fly Fishers in 1983, produced the first International Fly

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Fishing Festival for Women in 1996 and the Club in 1997. The Club has produced around 30 rendezvous and festivals in several countries over two decades. Many of the approximate 1,800 attendees have become fly-fishing mentors and professionals as guides and casting instructors. In 2010 Fanny produced a flyfishing instructional video for young people that in 2011 received the Kudo Award from Fly Rod & Reel magazine.

Congratulations, and thank-you Fanny for your many educational contributions to fly fishing.

For over 30 years, the Oregon Council of FFI has sponsored the Northwest Fly Tyer and Fly Fishing Expo. Started in 1989 by Skip Hosfield and Keith Burkhart, the Expo now teaches fly tying, casting, fishing, conservation, safety, youth education, fishing etiquette and equipment use. The Oregon Council Board of Directors have contributed thousands of hours to bring this event to life. FFI recognizes the Oregon Council for its skills education events.

David Williams: I am talking with Patrick Berry, the new President and CEO of Fly Fishers International.

Where did you grow up?

Patrick Berry: I grew up in Maryland, and my first memories were fish or fishing. You know how memories are almost like a photo in your mind? I have a photo in my mind of a huge fish, but it turns out it was just a bluegill on the bottom of an old tin boat. I would fish for anything, anywhere. When I got to college, I really started to get a lot more into fly fishing. I was your classic trout bum. I left college, lived in the back of a truck for months, and drove around to all the rivers in the Rocky Mountains that I had read about. I found that the community aspect of fly fishing cannot be fabricated. It’s just there. Sometimes I’d pull over on the side of the road and trade flies for beer or food. The number of people who saw me beating the water into a froth on some river and offered to help me out, give me some flies and show me some techniques was really transformative for me. It became part of my philosophy about the fly-fishing community.

David Williams: What would you say is your favorite fishing style?

Patrick Berry: I like it all, but I will tell you this. If I’m in a boat and there is somebody else in the boat who can get their flies where they need to be, I prefer to just row and let somebody else catch fish.

I don’t think I invented this thought process, but when you first get into

photo credit: David Thompson

it you just want to catch a fish, and then you want to catch a lot of fish, and then you want to catch a big fish, and then you want to catch a lot of big fish. And in the end you just want to go fishing.

David Williams: What do you envision is the future of the organization?

Patrick Berry: The future will be built on our history. FFI was founded for purposes of bringing together and coalescing people who cared about fly fishing to work on conservation and to educate those who wanted to learn and build that sense of community.

I don’t think those things will change. We need to reflect the future in our PR and marketing, in the makeup of our board and volunteer structure, offering membership benefits that are reflective of the changing demographics, and providing support to our clubs and councils to keep a cohesive organization that is all about our members and volunteers.

David Williams: There are several conservation challenges facing this country, like oil and exploration in Alaska and the proposed Pebble Mine. What do you think is FFI’s role in addressing those challenges?

Patrick Berry: I think we are going to play a dedicated role in partnering with like-minded conservation organizations where we see alignment on these advocacy issues. If you look at survey results from our members, conservation is a really, really important part of the organization.

At times, it may be working with a huge coalition of conservation partners to protect Bristol Bay or to conserve the Everglades, and

sometimes it will take on the role of providing a grant for a watershed restoration project or conservation education.

David Williams: How do you see FFI fulfilling the international side of things?

Patrick Berry: There are some really important proposals that we need to look at, including making key pages within our website multilingual. While that has some challenges, it’s a critical part of how the international community views our value.

David Williams: What do you see is the greatest challenge facing FFI? Patrick Berry: FFI is not an office in Livingston, Montana. FFI is the membership and the volunteers around the country and parts of the world. We need to make sure that we are providing our clubs, councils, and members with what they need to most successfully help in the areas of conservation, education, and building their community, while also making sure that we evolve as an organization into one that

is more reflective of the changing demographics of the sport. We need to make sure that we are not just resting on the laurels of our history, but asking what we want to look like 10 and 20 years from now, how we get ourselves to reflect that vision, and what we need to be doing to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters.

David Williams: So, If you could change anything about the current state of fly fishing, what would that be?

Patrick Berry: I think there is an inclination for anybody in any sport to want to make their tent small. For instance, I just love tying small flies for fishing on high-mountain lakes.

Another person might love red-fishing on the gulf coast. Neither one of us has the market cornered on how awesome the sport is. The flyfishing community will be kept strong to the same degree that we respond to, respect, and support all members of it - that being all fish, all waters.

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COMMUNITY First Annual Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Challenge

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Special thanks to Jim Ferguson, Gene Kaczmarek, Chuck Collins, Mike George, Al and Gretchen Beatty, Tom Logan, Len Zickler, the Board of Directors and the late Frank Johnson

for their input and fly-tying knowledge, and for helping to start our first Fly Tying Challenge. Also thank you to Dave Klausmeyer of Fly Tyer magazine for sponsoring our first Fly Tying Challenge and supplying the first place overall prize with the Land of Enchantment Guides at the Quinlan Ranch in New Mexico.

Dry Fly

Nymph

1st Place Greg Liney Chum Creek, Victoria Australia

1st Place Marc Baker Williamsport, PA

2nd Place Bill Hammons Carson City, NV

2nd Place William Hughes Riverton, WY

3rd Place Marc Baker Williamsport, PA

3rd Place Steven Arenholz Brighton CO

Wetfly

Streamer

1st Place Greg Liney Chum Creek, Victoria Australia

1st Place Marc Baker Williamsport, PA

2nd Place Nicole March Highland Lakes NJ

2nd Place William Hughes Riverton, WY

2nd Place Andrew Thatcher San Antonio, TX

3rd Place Marc Baker Williamsport, PA

3rd Place Steven Arenholz Brighton CO

3rd Place Aaron Culley Cle Elum, WA

Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Overall 1st Place Kyler Ries Woodinville, WA

Cuttcatch Project Recognizes Species Diversity The Cuttcatch Project is part of an effort

by FFI to express the value of species diversity in fisheries. The project is designed to help flyfishers appreciate diversity of native species in general and, in this particular case, value the many subspecies of cutthroat trout.

Learning to value these cutthroat in

Peter O’Reilly Peter O’Reilly was born at Maudabawn, Co Cavan, Ireland. He learned to fish on the river Annalee, and later ran a fly fishing school near his home in Navan, Co Meath. Peter served as a game angling officer with Ireland’s Central Fisheries Board. He began writing for Trout and Salmon magazine in the 1980s and went on to write a series of bestselling books; Loughs of Ireland: a flyfisher’s guide (1987), Rivers of Ireland (1991), Flies of Ireland (1995) and Flyfishing in Ireland (2000).

In order to gather information for his books, Peter spent two years travelling throughout Ireland speaking with local anglers and fishery managers.

One book in particular required that he walk an average of eight miles per day to cover over 800 waterways and

their native range is a critical first step for their recovery.

To accomplish the task, the Cuttcatch Project encourages the flyfisher to collect memories of the different species caught and released. Those FFI members who successfully catch four subspecies of cutthroat trout will receive an FFI hat and certificate in recognition of their accomplishment.

Congratulations to Cuttcatch Award Recipients!

Patrick M. Rowland, James Gruetzman, Robert Brehm, Paul K McIlwee III, Wayne Parmley.

establish the correct fishing rights.

His publisher Merlin Unwin told The Irish Times he was “without doubt the most knowledgeable man in Ireland” about fly fishing.

“He was a meticulous, tactful and perceptive author, generous with his fishing and fly-tying advice and, throughout the 35 years of our author/ publisher friendship, he was always a delight to work with.”

“Peter always reminded us that the Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the Earth. Whatever he does to the web of life he does to himself...

Respect, preserve and protect it; every part is sacred.

President & CEO of The International Federation of Fly Fishers, Executive Director of Trout Unlimited, Executive Director of American Wildlands and Publisher of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Magazine.

His love for cold water fisheries continued throughout his life as he served philanthropically as both Member and President of the Board of The International Federation of Fly Fishers and President of the Trout Unlimited Colorado Council.

Richard Peter Van Gytenbeek Richard Peter Van Gytenbeek was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He played baseball and football at Princeton University before going on to serve in the United States Army as an infantry officer and then retired as a Captain in the US Army Reserves.

After completing active duty, Pete and his wife Elizabeth moved to Colorado to work and raise a family. Included among the many, many titles Pete held throughout his 60 year career were

Community

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COMMUNITY The Battle Over Clean Water Marnee Banks Chief Communications Officer Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

one that would leave wetlands and headwaters without critical protections.

Down in Florida, the EPA’s rule could leave at least 4 million acres of wetlands throughout the Everglades even more vulnerable to destruction. The state has already lost more wetland acreage than any other in the lower 48. Now, this rule would make it easier to drain, develop, or pollute wetlands, which provide critical waterfowl habitat and flood protection, while filtering out harmful pollutants.

If wetlands aren’t filtering the flow of harmful nutrients into the Everglades and surrounding waters, this could mean more toxic algal blooms, red tides, fish kills, and beach closures that negatively affect recreational fishing opportunities in one of the top sporting destinations in the U.S. In the prairie pothole region—Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas—biologists

photo credit: Everglades National Park

In the 1950s and 60’s, the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland was so polluted by the steel mills along its banks that the water literally caught fire, multiple times. In 1952, sparks from a passing train turned into flames that billowed five stories high, causing $50,000 worth of damage, destroying a bridge, and halting rail travel. The 1969 fire became a national media event that spurred Congress to pass a series of landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, to clean up and protect America’s water.

Americans didn’t just want to protect

large rivers that can accommodate barges. We wanted a comprehensive national program that preserved places like the Cuyahoga River in the east and the smaller headwater trout streams in the West.

Since its inception, the Clean Water Act has been wildly successful, resulting in the restoration of hundreds of thousands of miles of rivers and streams that are now safe for fishing and swimming. The Act has helped to hold polluters accountable and prevent 700 billion pounds of toxic pollutants from entering our nation’s waters each year.

Unfortunately Environmental Protection Agency is weakening its responsibilities under the Clean Water Act by redefining which waters are protected.

This administration has repealed an important rule and is replacing it with

50

Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

photo credit: Rick Bohn

estimate that losing vulnerable wetlands could result in a 40% decline in breeding pairs of ducks and other waterfowl.

Wetlands not only produce world-class hunting opportunities, they also buffer communities from flooding and sequester carbon, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

America’s Duck Factory and the Everglades are just two examples of remarkable destinations that will feel the immense pressure of changes to Clean Water Act protections. The impacts will be realized from the Missouri River to the Louisiana coast—and they are impacts we can’t ignore.

Some claim the Trump administration’s proposed clean water rule is simply undoing what the Obama administration put in place. But in 2015, the Obama administration protected an additional 5% of streams under the Clean Water Act. Now the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are undoing far more than that. The new rule

would eliminate protections from more than 18% of the nation’s stream miles and more than 50% of our remaining wetlands, including critical habitat for fish, ducks, and other migratory birds.

The administration finalized its repeal of the 2015 rule in September and it’s already being challenged in courts across the country. When it issues the new rule, legal experts expect it to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, there is ambiguity and confusion about which laws and rules apply, and where.

The chorus of people who are outraged by recent attempts to roll back the Clean Water Act’s reach is diverse. In a time of partisan rhetoric and political division, a recent poll showed that 80% of sportsmen and women said Clean Water Act protections should apply to headwater streams and wetlands and 92% believe that we should strengthen or maintain current clean water standards.

According to the Bureau of Economic

Analysis, outdoor recreation accounts for 2.2% of the U.S. GDP, generating $778 billion in gross economic output and supporting 5.2 million American jobs. It’s irrefutable that rolling back clean water protections will threaten the health of our families, jeopardize our fisheries, and hurt our economy.

This overwhelming support has spurred groups like Fly Fishers International, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited and others to work together to ensure our outdoor heritage and economy is preserved for future generations.

As we look at where federal water policy is heading, we must reflect on the past, learn from our mistakes, and acknowledge these safeguards are in place for a reason.

Going back to the days before the Clean Water Act, when the Cuyahoga and other rivers burned, would be a mistake we can’t afford.

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COMMUNITY

Council Presidents Chesapeake Pete McCall/Dianne Tidy pete.mc@verizon.net Eastern Rocky Mountain Bruce Brown colo.bruce@gmail.com Eastern Waters Sam Decker samfishes@hvc.rr.com Florida Tom Gadacz thomasgadacz@yahoo.com Great Lakes Dennis O’Brien dennissueob@aol.com Gulf Coast AJ Rosenbohm nolaflyguy@att.net North Eastern Burr Tupper nhflyangler@gmail.com Northern California Mark Rockwell mrockwell1945@gmail.com Ohio Jeff McElravy jmcelravysr@cinci.rr.com Oregon Sherry Steele steelefly@msn.com South Eastern Dick Handshaw dick.handshaw@handshaw.com Southern Ron Knight ron79580@gmail.com Southwest Steve Schalla president@swcffi.org Texas Jerry Hamon president@texascouncilifff.com Upper Midwest Ralph Johnson rjpar@aol.com Washington State Bill Wheeler wwheeler48@hotmail.com Western Rocky Mountain Dave Londeree dlonderee@roadrunner.com

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

North Eastern and Eastern Waters Council As 2019 slips away, fly fishers eagerly await the beginning of The Fly Fishing Show season. Things kick off in Marlborough, MA January 17-19 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel.

Members of the North Eastern Council, led by President Burr Tupper, will have a booth strategically located next to Project Healing Waters. Show attendees will be introduced to the Learning Center. Council volunteers will demonstrate their fly-tying skills and provide casting instruction for those needing a quick tune-up. A fundraising raffle will round out the booth.

The show is an opportunity for fly casters to gain casting instructor education and certification.

The Fly Fishing Show then moves 200 miles southwest to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison January 24 - 26. The Eastern Waters Council, headed by Sam Decker, is set to make a big splash. In addition to the Council booth, complete with flytying demonstrations and extra vises for anyone wanting to try their hand, the Learning Center will be featured.

Master certified instructors and certified instructors will be on hand to help fly casters sort out casting errors.

Saturday morning starts with the President’s Breakfast where all North Eastern, Chesapeake, and Eastern Waters club presidents are invited.

Saturday afternoon features a meet-andgreet reception with FFI Chairman of the Board Tom Logan and President and CEO Patrick Berry headlining the event.

The words Grande Ronde River evoke thoughts of summer steelhead in a stunning setting, and now fly fishers have an opportunity to preserve fishing and camping access on the river. A privately owned eight-acre parcel on the river has been a public fishing access easement for over thirty years but now the landowner needs to sell his property, which covers nearly 2,000 feet of prime river-front.

The owner first contacted the

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Already facing a budget shortfall, WDFW turned to the Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club.

The club and the Wild Steelhead Coalition forged an agreement to buy the land, and each contributed $2,000 towards the purchase. The Washington State Council kicked in $2,500. Another $2,000 was contributed by an anonymous donor and more donations are needed to close the deal. The Wild Steelhead Coalition will serve as a the non-profit transfer agent

making it possible for private donors to receive tax benefits for their contributions. Purchase donations should be earmarked “Grande Ronde Land Acquisition� and mailed to Wild Steelhead Coalition 117 E. Louisa St. #329, Seattle, WA 98102.

Once the sale is closed, the property will be transferred to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will maintain the property as a fishing and camping access site.

photo credit: Rob Giannino

Washington State Council

Community

53

Texas Council

Alliance were instrumental in creating a restoration plan. Much of the river flows through private land so the rehabilitation work is limited to publicaccess sites and places with landowner permission.

Barely six months later, 17 volunteers from Texas Council clubs were hard at work at two sites on the river, planting grass and sedge seedlings purchased with a $1,500 grant from the Fly Fishers International Conservation Grant Program and rebuilding trails and building erosion-control check

photo credit: Fotoluminate LLC/Shutterstock

October 2018 saw the Llano River, home to the Texas state fish, Guadalupe bass, white and largemouth, and winterstocked rainbow trout, scoured by a 100-year flood. The river, a favorite of anglers and other recreationists, needed restoration help so the Texas Council, prompted by Conservation Chairman David Reichert, partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Division and the Llano River Watershed Alliance.

The Parks and Wildlife and Watershed

dams.

Vegetation planting was halted during the hot Texas summer but the work parties and planting will resume in the winter when larger vegetation will be planted. Efforts will continue into next spring. Texas Council work is not limited to just digging in the dirt. Volunteers are set to participate in the local festival event in December when rehabilitation work is planned for the morning and education outreach to the community at large is set for the afternoon.

ME WA

VT ND

MT

MI

MN

OR

WI

SD

ID WY CA

UT

CO

MI

IA

NE

NV

NY

IL

MD WV

KY

MO

KS OK

NM

AR MS LA

TX AK

HI

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

AL

VA NC

TN AZ

NJ

PA OH

IN

NH MA CT

SC GA FL

DE

RI

Chesapeake (PA-WV-VA-MD-DE) Eastern Rocky Mtn (WY-CO-NMAZ) Eastern Waters (NY-NJ) Florida Gulf Coast (LA-MS-AL) Great Lakes(MI-IN) Northern California (CA-NV-HI) North Eastern (VT-NH-ME-MA-RICT) Ohio

Oregon South Eastern (KY-TN-NC-SC-GAAL) Southern (NE-IA-KS-MO-IL-OK-AR) Southwest (CA-NV) Texas Upper Midwest (MN-WI-IL) Washington (WA-AK) Western Rocky Mtn (UT-IDMT-NDSD)

FFI GUIDES & OUTFITTERS / BUSINESS LISTINGS Fly Fishers International has expanded the Guides Association to include Outfitters and is now offering additional benefits, including an insurance plan offered through ESP Specialty Insurance. Visit flyfishersinternational.org for more info.

ALABAMA

Deep South Outfitters fishdso.com Sims & Keith Herron, Guides simsherron@gmail.com

ALASKA

Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge boardwalklodge.com Damond A Blankenship, Guide damondent@gci.net Dave Rocke, Guide info@familyairtours.com Double Haul doublehaulflyfishing.com Pete Paquette, Guide paquettepete@yahoo.com Possibilities Unlimited Alaska possibilitiesunlimitedalaska.com

ARIZONA

JB Fly Fishing jbflyfishing.com

ARKANSAS

Berry Brothers Guide Service berrybrothersguides.com Ozark Troutfitters ozarktroutfitters.com Stonefly Nets stoneflynets.com

CALIFORNIA

Clay A Hash, Guide clayhash.fft@gmail.com Ernie Gulley Guide Service erniegulley.com Fly Fishing Western Wyoming LLC flyfishingwesternwyoming.com Fred Nugent, Guide nugent.fred@gmail.com Guy Jeans Fly Fishing Guide Service kernriverflyfishing.com His & Her Flyfishing Shop hisandherflyfishing.com Jack Trout Fly Fishing International Inc. jacktrout.com Jay Clark Fly Fishing jayclarkflyfishing.com Jeffrey Wolk Company, Inc 925-377-6610 Jon Hart, Guide kernrivertenkara@gmail.com Kittredge Sports kittredgesports.com Marriott’s Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com Pat Patman, Guide pat@sourcemeat.com Sierra Pacific Fly Fishing joelibeuflyfishing.com Tenkara Tanuki tenkaratanuki.com The Fly Shop theflyshop.com The Trout Spot thetroutspot.com Tiger T’s Guide Service tigertsguideservice.com

COLORADO

Drifthook Fly Fishing drifthook.com Eleven Angling elevenexperience.com GEAR Colorado Fly Fishing LLC gearcoloradoflyfishing.com James C Phillips, Guide skifishvail@gmail.com Jeff Powles, Guide jeffp@fishoncolorado.com Jonathan Walter, Guide j_walter@msn.com Michelle Edwards, Guide changdout@gmail.com Montrose Anglers montroseanglers.com

CONNECTICUT

William Lanzoni, Guide millriverflyrods.com

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Alex Schenck aschenck@hbstrategies.us

FLORIDA

Arthur H. Ferber III, Guide evergladesflyfishingcharters.com Beyond Catching evergladesflyfishingguide.com Bonefish & Tarpon Trust bonefishtarpontrust.org Capt Michael Rehr, Guide captflyrod.com Captain Chip Smith, Guide captainchipflyfishing@gmail.com Captain Ray Markham captainraymarkham.com Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters flatsfishingtrips.com Chaos Theory Charters flyfishbonehead.com/fly-fishing-guides Charles Levi 321-302-6204 Grassy Flats Charters LLC grassyflatscharters.com Gulf Coast Fly LLC lisalowmanflyfish.com Hitena USA LLC hitenausa.com Lion’s Tale Adventures lionstaleadventures.com Mangrove Outfitters Fly Shop mangroveoutfitters.com Metalfab Inc. metalfab-inc.com Pete Greenan’s Gypsy Guide Service floridaflyfishing.com Rick Ruoff, Guide simmsfishing.com/content/guide/rick-ruoff Saltfly Pioneer facebook.com/comeflyfish Saltwater Adventures of Central Florida saocf.com Steve Hancock, Guide stevenmhancock@netzero.net The Anglers Mark theanglersmark.com

GEORGIA

Captain Brent Butler, Guide brentbutler115@gmail.com Fly Cast Charters of St. Simons Island GA flycastcharters.com James Long, Guide froghollowflyfishing.com Oconee On The Fly Inc. oconeeonthefly.com Spring Creek Anglers Fly Fishing School springcreekanglers.com

IDAHO

Ballistic Flylines/Snake River Outfitters ballisticflylines.com Cognito Brands fincognito.com Double R Ranch - Northwest Beef snakeriverfarms.com Dreamcatcher Entertainment LLC 208-772-9838 Float Alaska floatalaska.com Henry’s Fork Anglers LLC henrysforkanglers.com Rob Orsini, Guide orsalak@aol.com Salmon River Fly Box salmonriverflybox.com The Cast & Blast Coach castblastcoach.com The Idaho Angler idahoangler.com

ILLINOIS

Les Sutherland, Guide lessutherland@icloud.com

IOWA

Driftless Fishers LLC driftlessfishers.com

KANSAS

Sodie Sodamann, Guide sodie6390@gmail.com

LOUISIANA

J.P Morel, Guide captjpmorel@gmail.com

MAINE

Blue Heron Fly Fishing blueheronflyfishing.com Chick Hill Guide Service chickhillguideservice.com Fox Carlton Pond Sporting Camps & Campgrounds foxcarletonpond.com Gillies & Fallon Guide Service mainestripers.typepad.com/fishing_reports Magalloway Guide Service LLC magallowayguideservice.com Mona & Harold Brewer, Guides flyfisher.me Rangeley Region Sport Shop rangeleysportshop.com Scott R Whitaker, Guide bucktailguide.com Wild River Angler wildriverangler.com

Community

55

FFI GUIDES & OUTFITTERS / BUSINESS LISTINGS MASSACHUSETTS

Adam Aronson, Guide a.d.aronson@gmail.com Chris Ryan, Guide cjryan93@yahoo.com Gypsy Soul Guide Service cuffs1980@yahoo.com Juro Mukai, Guide juro02@gmail.com

MARYLAND

White Marlin Outfitters whitemarlinoutfitters.com

MICHIGAN

Current Works current-works.com Great Lakes Flyfishing LLC greatlakesflyfishing.com John R Kluesing, Guide jtkluesing@gmail.com Kevin & Joan Morlock, Guides indigoguidekevin@gmail.com Mangan’s Cast a Fly manganscastafly.com True North Trout Guides truenorthtrout.com

MINNESOTA

Dan Brown Guide Association brownstroutadventures.weebly.com FlyDog Fly Fishing flydogflyfishing.com Moose Track Adventures moosetrackadventures.com Riverwood Design riverwooddesign.net Striking Possibilities minnesotaflyfishing@gmail.com Twin Cities Flyfishing twincitiesflyfishing.com

MISSOURI

Adam’s Adventures catchadam.wordpress.com Rudder Fishing ebay.com/str/lurespro

MISSISSIPPI

Capt. Sid’s Fly Fishing Guide Service amzilovelincolnhomes.com

MISSOURI

Adam’s Adventures catchadam.wordpress.com Rudder Fishing ebay.com/str/lurespro

MONTANA

Bighorn Trout Shop bighorntroutshop.com/guides Breakline Optics LLC breaklineoptics.com Captain’s Green Anchors captainsgreenanchors.com Chris Strainer, Guide crosscurrents.com Diana Jo Abbott, Guide dianajoabbott@gmail.com Elizabeth Donahue, Guide donahue.elizabeth@gmail.com Elk River Books elkriverbooks.com Fins & Feathers of Bozeman finsandfeathersonline.com First Interstate Bank firstinterstatebank.com Hatchfinders Fly Shop hatchfinders.com Hooked Outfitting hookedoutfitting.com Jacklin’s Fly Shop jacklinsflyshop.com Jan D. Axtell, Guide janaxtell@msn.com Linehan Outfitting Company fishmontana.com Livingston Chamber of Commerce livingston-chamber.com Madison River Outfitters madisonriveroutfitters.com McKinnie Fly Fishing Outfitters of Montana mckinnieflyfishingmontana.net Montana Angling Company montanaanglingco.com Montana Troutfitters troutfitters.com Nick Smith, Guide smithcountry30@gmail.com Nick Spencer, Guide njsconst@gmail.com Sweetwater Fly Shop sweetwaterflyshop.com Tom Morgan Rodsmiths tommorganrodsmiths.com Yellowstone Gifts & Sports facebook.com/yellowstonesportinggoods Xstream Adventure Tours xstreamadventures.com

NEBRASKA

SEVENWT LLC sevenwt.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Grid North Guide Service, LLC gridnorthnh.com John McKernan, Guide grnleech@yahoo.com Ken Snelling, Guide ksnell46@gmail.com North Star Guide Service LLC northstarguide.com Sea Run Charters searuncharters.com

NEW JERSEY

Woodz’s Guides Service woodzsguideservice.com

NEW MEXICO

High Desert Angler highdesertangler.com Just Drifting, LLC justdrifting.net Thomas F Harper, Guide tharper@thomasfharper.com

NEVADA

Kane Klassics Fly Rods Inc kaneklassics.com

NEW YORK

Damon Newpher, Guide newpherd@gmail.com Eastern Caster Guide Service easterncaster.blogspot.com Fisher Guiding fisherguiding.com Genesteo Flies genesteoflies.com Mike Lane, Guide weedrift@aol.com Patricia (Sam) Decker, Guide samfishes@hvc.rr.com River Bay Outfitters riverbayoutfitters.com Tony Ertola, Guide tonyertola@gmail.com

NORTH CAROLINA

Highland Outfitters highlandoutfitters.com Tuckaseegee Fly Shop tuckflyshop.com

OHIO

Lapel Pins Unlimited LLC lapelpinsunlimited.com Scott Davis, Guide scott.davis2@cabelas.com Semper Fly Rods LLC semperflyrods.com Tall Man Outfitters flyfishlocally.com Tight Lines Jewelry tightlinesjewelry.com

OKLAHOMA

Checkurfly Guide Service checkurfly.com Scissortail Outfitters scissortailoutfitters.com

For more information about FFI Guides & Outfitters Association and Business members, please visit flyfishersinternational.org 56

Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

FFI GUIDES & OUTFITTERS / BUSINESS LISTINGS OREGON

Bamboo Pursuits bamboopursuits.com Bert’s Guide Service bertsguideservice.com David Roberts, Guide oretroutbum2@gmail.com Fair Flies fairflies.com Jim Ulm, Guide Jimulm9@msn.com Moriston Rod Co./Tyne Reels jsrods.com Stillwater Adventures stillwateradventure.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Dusty Wissmath Fly Fishing School dwflyfishingschool.com John Wallace, Guide jepwallace@icloud.com Ronald Nimitz, Guide rlnsailor@comcast.net

SOUTH CAROLINA

Hilton Head Fishing Adventures hiltonheadfishingadventures.com Redfish Charters LLC sc-redfishcharters.com

TENNESSEE

Ben Bush, Guide bbush626@bellsouth.net Crossing Creeks Fly Fishing crossingcreeks.flyfishing@gmail. com JLB Outfitters jlboutfitters.com Tennessee Outfitters and Guides tburthn@gmail.com

TEXAS

Eric Jackson, Guide bikedog3@gmail.com Capt. Stacy Lynn, Guide saltyflygal@gmail.com Dan Cone, Guide llanoriver@gmail.com Fly Tyer/American Angler/ Gray’s Sporting Journal Magazines americanangler.com Ironhorse Outfitters ironhorseforge.net Mark Machado, Guide missionarymgm@sbcglobal.net Metro Anglers metroanglers.com Mountain Hideaway themountainhideaway.com Phil Dopson, Guide phil@phildopson.com Shean Phelps, Guide sheanphelps@ymail.com Uncle Tom’s Adventures LLC uncletomsadventures.com

UTAH

VERMONT

Catamount Fishing Adventures catamountfishing.com

VIRGINIA

Arthur Franklin Conway, Guide caconway@vcu.org

WASHINGTON

Atomic Glow atomicglow.net Bruce and Walker North America bruceandwalkernorthamerica.com Dennis Pearce 206-931-9945 Emerald Water Anglers LLC emeraldwateranglers.com Foggy Mountain Angler cleelumtrouthead@yahoo.com LPJ’s Guide Service lpjsguideservice.com Snake Brand Guides snakeguides.com Thornton Outdoors LLC thorntrout@tds.net

WISCONSIN

Flying Musky Guide Company theflyingmusky.com/guided-trips Jacquish Hollow Angler/ Anglers Inn jacquishhollowangler.com

WYOMING

Mike Kaul, Guide mikekaul@wyoming.com Pioneer Anglers pioneeranglers.com

ARGENTINA

Sur Outfitters suroutfitters.blogspot.com.ar

AUSTRALIA

Fly South Guiding flysouthguiding.com.au James Murray, Guide murrayjames8@gmail.com Driftwater Tasmania driftwater.com.au Jonathan Burgess, Guide flycastingseqld.com.au High Country Fly Fishing highfly.com.au Brenda Galey, Guide msguidedff.com.au

CANADA

Chinook Wind Outfitters chinookwindoutfitters.com Clarence E Button, Guide cebutton@gmail.com Dave Burns, Guide goldengillie.com Giovanni Natale, Guide giovanni_natale@icloud.com Kenauk Nature kenauk.com NaturAventur naturaventur.com Pat Johnson, Guide paddy.johnson65@gmail.com Total Gate Manufacturing Inc. totalgate.com

GERMANY

Pure Flyfishing pure-flyfishing.com/author/admin_pf-com

INDIA

Ajoy Eric Lal, Guide ajoyericlal@gmail.com

ITALY

Battistella Mauro, Guide s.salar.mauro@gmail.com

JAPAN

Fly Fishing Shop Nagomi nagomifish.jp MindCreators Japan Inc mindcreators.jp

MALAYSIA

Ping Anchorage (Terengganu Fly Fishing Outfitters) pinganchorage.com.my

NEW ZEALAND

Edd Greenwood, Guide edd.greenwood@googlemail.com Matt von Stumer, Guide saltflyfish.co.nz

SWITZERLAND

Toms Fly Fishing Academy flyfisheurope.ch/thomas-luescher.html

UNITED KINGDOM

Alex Adams, Guide alex.adams1969@gmail.com Bob and Vera Carlson Fly Fishing Tuition flyfishingtuition.co.uk EDIP Fly Fishing edipflyfishing.co.uk Jonathan Mackereth, Guide jonathanmackereth@hotmail.com Jon Bond Game Angling and Angling Serendipity jonbondgameangling.co.uk

Park City Outfitters and Lodge parkcityoutfitters.com The R&R Life Hold My Line holdmyline.net

For more information about FFI Guides & Outfitters Association and Business members, please visit flyfishersinternational.org Community

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

Bryan Huskey

59

Photo Contest Fly Fishers International invites the amateur and professional photographers in the fly fishing community to participate in our annual Fly Fishing Photo Contest.

We encourage creative and inspiring images that tell a story with special consideration given to FFI’s three key pillars; Conservation, Education and Community as well as Keep #1 Chase Jablonski

Em Wet® policies. Participation is simple; post your image to Instagram or Facebook with an interesting caption and #flyfishersinternational between May 1 and June 15. Images can also be emailed to photocontest@ flyfishersinternational.com.

All images are judged by a panel of qualified FFI members. The top 25 entries will be displayed prominently at FFI’s annual Fly Fishing Expo for voting by attendees.

Following are the top 10 images selected from the hundreds of entries we received this year. The top three of which received gear packages from TFO, Fins & Feathers, Breakline Sunglasses, Simms and Yeti!

Special thanks to our 2019 judges, David Thompson, Brian O’Keefe and Janie Osbourne.

So, grab your camera and a buddy and head out on the water; May 1st is only a few months away!

#2 Luis Alvarado

#3 Vicky Petrauskas

#7 Jan Eckmann #4 Andrea Tsakrios #6 David Kearford

#5 Brenda Galey

#10 Mark Kolanowski

#8 Jerry Audet

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Flyfisher Fall/Winter 2019

#9 Monica Camille Wall

DENVER, CO JANUARY 3, 4 & 5

LYNNWOOD, WA FEBRUARY 15 & 16

MARLBOROUGH, MA JANUARY 17, 18 & 19

PLEASANTON, CA FEBRUARY 21, 22 & 23

EDISON, NJ JANUARY 24, 25 & 26

LANCASTER, PA MARCH 7 & 8

ATLANTA, GA JANUARY 31 & FEBRURARY 1

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Fly Fishing is NOT part of the show

IT IS THE SHOW!

flyfishingshow.com Community

PHOTO COURTESY OF LANDON MAYER

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