FOCUS One of the best parts about not traveling long distances to chase fish has been more time on the water with friends. These friendships have come about because we share a love for fish and pursuing them in wild places.
© Photo Derek Olthuis
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The Soul of Fly Fishing
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TACTICS FOR TROPHY STILLWATERS Jordan Oelrich Chasing rainbow trout over 10 pounds in still water is a challenging game. It is not by accident that the same anglers who are willing to fish through 10 consecutive fish-less hours on a lake are also those with albums full of photos of gargantuan rainbow trout they have encountered over the years. With these tactics in hand, you’ll be one step closer to landing that double-digit rainbow of your dreams.
THE SECRET RIVER Gary Borger Many anglers barge right into the stream looking for fish, without paying attention to the water along the bank. It’s tempting to leave the shore behind and get those waders wet, but that’s not always the best idea. After a lifetime of angling all around the world, Gary Borger shares what he calls The Secret River, and its location just might surprise you.
QUIET CORNERS Wesley G. White Hidden far from the overflowing parking lots of Montana’s most famous rivers, there are still places that lack crowds and the only noise is made by flowing water breaking over the rocks. Highways here see few travelers, most of whom are traversing the long distances between each metropolis. These tucked-away gems are still filled with a welcoming silence and plenty of eager trout.
FLY LINES IN FOCUS Jeff Wagner We spend a lot of time thinking about how to look at fly lines. With the number of lines on the market, it can be overwhelming. And with all of those lines and so many applications, is there any way to really compare them or call out which might be better than another? In this Fly Line Review, we attempt to demystify fly lines and provide you with as much information as possible to make finding the right line for you a lot less frustrating.
INSIDE 12 42 46 50
Stream Lines Profiles Long Lines Wandering Currents
54 58 64 66
Stillwater Secrets On the Vise Water Marks End of the Line
© Photo Derek Olthuis | © Subscriber cover photo: Curtis Hall; newsstand cover photo: Faceless Fly Fishing
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STREAMLINES
The Dog Days
Derek Bird I’m always willing to share a few fly-fishing secrets. My favorite fly, for example, is the one the trout are taking. My favorite season is the one when trout are biting. My favorite stream is the one where the trout are plentiful and the anglers are few. © Illustration Tyler Hackett wanderingbluelines.com @wanderingbluelines
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The Soul of Fly Fishing
I
don’t know if I ever thought I’d admit this, but I miss menial conversations about the weather. With all the craziness of 2020 came much discussion in the public arena, and with media being what it is, it’s easy to get caught up in the popular topics. It seems that everyone I meet wants to weigh in on the sensitive matters of the moment, and those discussions even spilled over into “on the water” conversations. So I want to go on record and say that I miss talking about the weather. If you study any type of communication theory, there are lots of reasons why we talk about the weather, but one of the most obvious is that it’s difficult to have a disagreeable conversation about clouds, rain, and sunshine. I say “difficult” because I know it’s not impossible, especially since climate change is always one degree of separation away from any discussion. In an effort to create a safe zone for meaningless conversation, which in the long run is actually very meaningful, I’d like to discuss ways to keep meteorological discussions trending toward a favorable forecast. As a baseline let’s picture obvious candidates for a harmless weather conversation: two farmers standing beside a fence after a long day of haying. One looks up and says, “I reckon those clouds gonna bring rain.” The other responds, “I reckon a little rain’s good for the crops.” I reckon if this is going to work then it’s best to start at the most adverse place regarding weather in relation to fly fishing in order to show that all can be redeemed. If we discount hailstones the size of tennis balls and lightning, then wind is likely the fly anglers’ worst enemy. But think of this as you fight a strong wind the next time you’re floating down a stream wishing you’d purchased the low profile drift boat: this is a fantastic opportunity to adjust the trajectory
of your casting plane in order to use the wind as a force for good. Head wind—no problem—just tilt the plane of your casting triangle forward so the wind can help load the rod on the back cast, providing extra power to cut under the wind on the forward stroke. Just like that, your fly is inches from the bank. What? You say the wind changed direction on you. Of course it did. Wind can be unpredictable like that. Stay positive. Just tilt the plane your casting triangle in the opposite direction. A low back cast helps cut through the hurricane behind you and then watch as the extra force delivers your fly to exactly where you want it to be on your high forward cast. You’ll likely gain some distance in this case. See, wind is your friend. So as not to create a false sense of confidence, like a school kid who knows how to solve one math equation and then goes away only to find that all the variables on other textbook questions don’t fit his newfound understanding, you’ll need to also understand the positive nature of inconsistent wind in relation to casting a fly. The gusts that come at you from unpredictable directions—they can be tricky. I won’t waste time explaining the facts. Who wants to know that the when there’s not enough energy or an uneven amount of energy in the casting stroke the top leg of the loop drops below the bottom…blah, blah, blah. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of wind knots in your line—you were going to tie one as part of your non-slip mono loop knot anyway. And don’t even get me started on the money you’ll save on piercings because of the hooks through cheeks and ears when fly fishing on windy days. You don’t want anymore piercings you say? Umm. Did you know blustery autumn days help oxygenate lakes so as to help the trout avoid winterkill? Oh, you’re not a stillwater angler. Umm. Did you hear the
joke about the kid who broke wind in church? He had to sit in his own pew. Oh, you heard that one before? Yes, I heard that methane adds to the warming of the planet. Interesting. Where was I…winterkill…right. Winter storms add to the snow pack, which is great for fish. And any time Mother Nature wants to help by providing lots of snow so that the rivers stay high and cool through the summer months, she’s always welcome to do so. What about high snow pack coupled with a rainy spring? If she helps out too much then the fisheries quickly become unfishable. Umm. That’s a tough one, but extra high sustained run-off allows for dormant mosquito eggs from the past 10-15 years to activate into larva, which can help the trout pack on the pounds. Every angler loves larger trout. That’s a fact. No, you’re right that statement is unverifiable so it’s more of an assumption. What? You hate mosquitoes. Umm. Maybe you need to learn to toughen up. Sorry, that was harsh and a bit of a personal attack. I’m sorry. You make a good point. It’s tough to enjoy the serenity of fly fishing when you’re breathing in those pesky little buggers. I have a suggestion. Go out and buy some repellant, take a mosquito pill (yes, they really exist), and buy a Buff. You might even consider wandering down the essential oil route. I assume there’s some type of oil that’ll help with mosquitoes. With all your purchasing power from the money you saved from the free piercings, you’ll be able to inject money back into the economy. A rejuvenated economy means more money in your pocket, so you can take a trip to a warm place where there are no mosquitoes. What’s that? You’d like to do that but you can’t because of all the travel
bans. Umm. Umm. More and more I’m feeling like I want you to be able to take a trip too. Pardon me? Yes, you’re right. Maybe it is time for a serious conversation. I reckon the clouds are going to bring a little rain. What’s that you say? If we grab our coats and fish through the rain, there’s usually a pretty good BWO hatch afterwards. Yes. An afternoon of autumn rain will likely bring on a good hatch of blue-wings. That’ll produce a crop of big trout looking to feed. You’re hoping for that? Me too. I reckon I am too.
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