SPRING 2021 | VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2

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FOCUS We floated through cascading canyons of red rock, we fished murky fast-flowing water, catching some trout here and there.

© Photo Jessica Haydahl Richardson

Publishing Team Chris Bird Jennifer Bird Managing Editor John Van Vleet Editorial Team Derek Bird Gary Bird Group Art Direction Terry Paulhus Circulation Consultant Scott Bullock Office Administrator Kim Carruthers

Department Editors Derek Bird Brian Chan Dana Harrison Jim McLennan Derek Olthuis Jeff Wagner Contributors Lee Barbee Brian Chan Brent Gill Christian Graham Shauna Jasken Jordan Oelrich Paula Shearer Ryan Sparks Lucas Utrera Jeff Wagner

Websites Breeze Web

Fly Fusion is published quarterly by Fly Fusion Ltd, a division of Bird Marketing Group Inc. 111, 7 Avenue S, Suite A, Cranbrook, BC V1C 2J3 1-888-435-9624 info@ flyfusionmag.com flyfusionmag.com The current issue of Fly Fusion can be found across North America in specialty fly shops, sporting goods stores and retail outlets for $8.99. One-year subscription: $28.95 Two-year subscription: $49.95 Three-year subscription: $69.95CAD Add $12.00 shipping and handling per year for international subscriptions.

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© Photo Ryan Sparks

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

CONTENTS 14

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SUPER TIPS FOR ALL YOUR TRIPS Jordan Oelrich, Brian Chan, and Ryan Sparks From time to time, we like to revisit some tips and tactics tailored to the beginning angler. We turned to our experts, Jordan Oelrich, Brian Chan, and Ryan Sparks, to bring you some of our favorite tips for saltwater, stillwater, and general trout angling.While you may know some of these tips by heart, we hope that others will cause you to raise an eyebrow and will hopefully provide you with some helpful advice for your next fly-fishing outing.

REDEFINING ADVENTURE Jessica Haydahl Richardson Does your definition of adventure involve near-death experiences, trips to international hospitals, and altitude sickness in Peru? For Jessica Haydahl Richardson, that was definitely her definition—at least until she went on a relaxing, recharging float trip on Montana’s Smith River with a group of eight other women.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FLY-ROD REVIEW Jeff Wagner Not every fly-rod review is built the same. Especially this year. In light of current limitations on supply chain and inventory, our fly-rod review features a wide variety of fly-rod weights, lengths, and applications rather than a bevy of similar models. Department Editor Jeff Wagner tackles these diverse rods with his trademark attention to detail and technical mindset.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE TYING GAME? Dana Harrison Fly Fusion’s resident fly-tying master Dana Harrison takes a look at several new fly-tying products on the market for 2021, highlighting his favorite gadgets, materials, vises, and more. If you spend more time daydreaming about your next new pattern than you do about what to have for breakfast, this is for you.

INSIDE 12 44 46 50

Stream Lines Profiles Long Lines Wandering Currents

54 58 64 66

Stillwater Secrets New and Noteworthy Gear Watermarks End of the Line

© Photo Paula Shearer | © On the cover: Christian Graham

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STREAMLINES

On Fishing In Camera

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 Shauna Jasken @definedlinepainting

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U

p until a few months ago, Jim (my Fly Fusion TV co-host) and I never actually fished together on a non-work-related outing. In other words, it’s accurate to say that I’ve only fished with Jim on camera and not in camera (meaning not with cameras). Being this is a column more closely connected to entomology than etymology, I’ll pull myself back from that rabbit trail leading away from the river. Suffice to say, on multiple occasions Jim and I both commented that we needed to fish together in… without cameras.

But whenever I drive the 15 hours back to my hometown in the Kootenays, the last thing I feel like doing is hopping back in my vehicle to travel for another two hours to meet Jim at a halfway point (he lives four hours from my hometown and if we both travel at the speed of 100km per hour…sorry, I digress again). This is especially true because all the streams I want to fish are less than an hour from the back door. But unforeseen circumstances caused lengthy delays between work trips and Tennyson was right when he wrote, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” So I contacted Jim to let him know I’d be back in the Kootenays in late June and wondered if he’d be interested in fishing together. It wasn’t long before we decided on a stream and a day.

This particular time I planned my annual summer Kootenay trip to coincide with the start of the stonefly hatch on a few of my favorite Rocky Mountain streams.

Unfortunately, as 2020 luck would have it, an unseasonably late snowmelt mixed with heavy rain laughed in the face of our plans. When I arrived, the rivers looked like a torrent of chocolate milk, not at all the normal flow or color for that time of year.

I let Jim know the river was not cooperating, so he did some digging and found a stream on his side of the Rockies that was running seasonably high, but not so high it was unfishable.

Once we adjusted our plans, Jim told me the name of

the fly shop where we’d meet. Because of the distance for both of us to drive, we decided to meet at 9:00 that morning.

The day came and I got to the fly shop 10 minutes early, which was just enough time to go in and talk to a local expert who assured me the river was in great shape. Then I went outside and waited…and waited. No Jim. Was he one of those guys who’s 20 minutes late for a fishing trip? I asked myself.

That didn’t seem like him. Was non-work Jim different than working Jim? I called him but didn’t get an answer.

I waited 10 more minutes and then called again. He picked up. “Where are you?” he said.

“I’m waiting in my vehicle outside the fly shop. I’ve been here since ten to nine,” I said with an air of superiority knowing that I’m usually the one who’s 10 minutes late. I got out and looked around for him. “I don’t see you. Where are you parked?”

“I’m in front of the fly shop. I don’t see you either. Are you at the right fly shop?” he asked.

“This town has a population of 10. There’s more than one fly shop?” I questioned. “I’m at the one you said to meet you at—the Crowsnest Fly Shop.”

Jim chuckled. “You’re at the Crowsnest Café and Fly Shop. I said to meet at the Crowsnest Angler Fly Shop. The section of river we’re fishing is in this direction. Drive here and then you can follow me to the river.”

After my initial misstep, the day went as planned. Jim arranged to fish a secluded section of river in front of his friend’s ranch. To say Jim is connected is an understatement.

I’ve had enough meals with him in restaurants to know that it’s tough to make it through an entire burger without someone coming up to the table saying “Jiiiimmm” or a “Are you Jim McLennan?” But after walking through the fields along the river, it’s also safe to say he is well connected.

He’d fished this stretch before, so he started the day by methodically casting dries into a deep cut bank as he moved his way upstream. I chose to nymph in a riffle just downstream. We both fished for about 20 minutes without a

bite before I caught up with him. Not long after, he changed from a dry to a streamer.

A few casts later he was into his first trout—a chunky 18-inch rainbow that jumped a number of times before it came to the net. After releasing it, Jim reached into his fly box and handed me one of his “magic” streamers. We fished the same run—he at the top and me below. I cast across to the far bank into a seam break that looked promising and stripped quickly. A large trout ambushed my fly after two strips and I fought the fish for long enough that Jim reeled in and walked downstream to net the fish. He arrived in position just in time for me to lose the trout, which incited a lightly sarcastic, “Seriously? You couldn’t have lost it before I walked all the way down here?”

Later we fished a number of promising runs up higher that produced nothing on streamers. This sent me scrambling for my fly boxes again and eventually back to streamers before I decided to cross the stream and fish the opposite bank. I found a riffle that was too good not to hold trout, so I stood there and changed flies until I got it right. I pulled streamers through the riffle and got nothing. I drifted large dries with the same result. Then I went back to the way I started the day. I nymphed a large stonefly through the run and found a portly 18-inch rainbow on the first cast and one that looked larger just a few casts later.

Not long after that, I like to think I saved Jim’s life. A large black bear lumbered down the hill just a few hundred yards behind him. Obviously he heard Jim was in the area and wanted to drop by and see the fly-fishing legend for himself.

Regardless of the bear’s intentions, I yelled to Jim telling him to grab his bear spray. I’m not sure how much he could hear across the stream, but my flailing and yelling proved to be enough to communicate that he was in some sort of danger. He pulled out his spray just as I lost sight of the bear in the undergrowth. Apparently my fussing about caused the bear to change directions, thus saving Jim’s life. A life for

a streamer, perhaps? You may think Jim’s indebted to me, but you haven’t seen Jim’s streamers. I’ll need to save his life at least once more before we’re even.

At the end of the day we stood at our vehicles chatting about writing and life. The time in conversation passed in the same way the day on the water passed… far too quickly.

Driving home and reflecting on the day, I realized something new about Jim. Jim is the same person he is on camera as he is in camera. Being that I’m from British Columbia, I assume he’s what the ranchers and farmers of the prairies call “good folk.” Jim is Jim. He’s a far better angler than I am, but he never makes me feel inferior. He’s far more knowledgeable than I am, but he never uses his knowledge to construct any type of hierarchy. He embodies all the qualities a person looks for in a mentor and friend.

Sorry Jim. No…not for getting sentimental. I just realized I have unknowingly made our trip yet another work trip by writing about it. It’s therefore no longer in camera.

Sigh. Looks like we’re going to have to meet again the next time I’m back in the Kootenays. I can live with that.

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Super Tips for All Your Trips

by Jordan Oelrich, Brian Chan, & Ryan Sparks

O Jordan Oelrich Following a few years as a professional musician, Jordan decided it was time to retreat to his more traditional, socially acceptable, career path in the fly-fishing industry.

He spent multiple years guiding grizzly bear photography, and once caught the same rainbow trout three times on four casts. © Saltwater Photos: Jordan Oelrich

ne thing we hear from time to time is that we don’t feature enough how-to articles that cater to beginners. As we all grow in fly fishing, we constantly learn and evolve, and that can lead to all of us overlooking some timeless tips for a variety of angling situations.

We turned to some of our favorite experts, Jordan Oelrich, Brian Chan, and Ryan Sparks, to help us bring you some excellent beginner tips for saltwater, stillwater, and general trout fly fishing. Some of these you may know by heart; others will likely cause you to raise an eyebrow.

Whatever your reaction, we hope that these expert tips and tricks can help you make the most of your next excursion.

Five Tips for Your Perfect Saltwater Adventure

By Jordan Oelrich Nearly five years ago, I booked my first flight to a tropical destination—Belize, to be exact—and began the painstaking six-week countdown before departure. Some days it almost felt as though time were moving backwards; I would spend every night at my vise learning to create shrimp and crab imitations while watching videos of tailing bonefish and giant tarpon cruising in knee-deep water.

The moment I felt the line come tight on my first bonefish, I knew I’d been bitten with an irreversible bug.

From that moment forward, I knew I was going to have to find a way to do this as often as possible. So began the journey of saltwater fly-fishing obsession, one that I don’t think I could give up if I tried. I still spend countless hours in an hypnotic trance while I research new fly-fishing destinations abroad.

Saltwater fly fishing is undoubtedly one of the ultimate tests in the entire sport. The conditions can be brutally challenging, the odds are often stacked well in your opposition, and you are relying on fish with keen senses of smell and eyesight to close their mouth on a clump of fur and feathers attached to a piece of tippet. Crazy, but the moment we board the plane home is the moment we start thinking about the next trip.

I’ve compiled a short list of five things to never forget if you’re venturing to the flats, and they are as follows: Seek Professional Advice I don’t mean you need to see a psychiatrist in preparation for your first saltwater trip (although you might when you return), what I mean is that the best money you can spend in preparation for a saltwater trip is to receive professional fly-casting instruction. Oftentimes, the situations require lightning-quick delivery of the fly, and the capability to drop the fly on a dinner plate from great distances.

A professional fly-casting instructor is going to teach you how to generate immense line speed, tighten up your loops and your casting stroke, and deal with a variety of situations that you will likely encounter in salt water. Fall into the cycle of learning, implementing and repeating, and you will undoubtedly enjoy your saltwater adventures to a greater level.

Simplifying Fly Selection If you’re tying in preparation for your trip, it is best to focus at least 50% of your time on researching where you’re going, the species you’re fishing for, the time of year you’re going to be visiting, and any other fine details. Surfing through online forums, blog posts, Youtube videos and books will allow you to sift out the right information.

Once you have the intel you need, load your box with

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

a solid number of flies that you know you can count on, rather than buying into the urge to tie two of every pattern under the sun. I can distinctly remember catching my first permit on a fly that I only had one of (instant confidence booster), and being in Central America without a single tool or material to replicate it.

Tie Knots, Tie Lots Reaching a level of unconscious competence in your knottying is mission-critical for any saltwater trip. Even if you’re going to be fishing with a guide, it is vital to know what knots are applicable with different materials and situations.

This might mean carving out 30 minutes each night before bed to practice knot tying; there are ample free resources available on the internet that will shorten your knot-tying learning curve. The knots used in salt water can be slightly more advanced than those we use trout fishing. On top of this, try to have as many leaders pre-tied as possible. There is nothing worse than watching a school of rolling tarpon and trying to remember how to tie the Slim Beauty knot to marry your class and bite tippets together.

Your Equipment is Your Lifeline Fly lines, backing, tippet, flies, sunglasses, sun gloves, reels, and fly rods… what do they all have in common?

They are absolutely not things you want to find yourself without on a destination fishing trip. Of course, we never plan on breaking a rod tip, losing our sunglasses over the side of the boat or having a monster bonefish shred our backing on a coral head; this is why it is vital to plan for the unexpected.

“It is better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.” If I had a dollar for every time I heard this growing up I would be on a private charter to the Seychelles, but its validity is especially true in planning

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for a saltwater trip. I would much rather give an extra fly line to my guide at the end of the week, or return home and put it in the closet than find myself in the situation of needing and not having.

Brian Chan Often referred to as “Dr. Chironomid,” Brian has always viewed stillwater fly fishing through the lens of a biologist. Lakes and their inhabitants are always changing–no two days are ever the same–and that’s what Brian finds so fascinating about fly fishing in still water. © Stillwater Photos: Brent Gill

The Expectation Audit Beginning your trip planning process with the end result in mind is exponentially easier than poking and prodding aimlessly around the internet. Knowing your desired outcome in terms of fishing, accommodation, non-angling activities, food, culture, and travel is a critical part of the planning process. Who will you be traveling with (or without)? Is your fishing partner okay with fishing a whole week to maybe not catch a permit, or would they rather spend time at a five-star resort and have fishing as a bonus?

Understanding your expectations, planning ahead both physically and mentally, as well as outfitting yourself with the proper gear will remove so much of the guesswork from saltwater fly fishing. There is a lot to be said in hiring a reputable fly-fishing travel company that specializes in assisting anglers every step of the way. These are people who have dedicated their lives to making your trip easier, and oftentimes you will actually end up saving yourself a ton of money in the long run as most agencies charge nothing on top of the trip price.

Whatever you choose, wherever you go, remember the two most important things: Have fun and don’t trout set!

Five Tips to Improve your Stillwater Fly-Fishing Game

By Brian Chan Unravelling the mysteries of fly fishing lakes can often be best achieved with a mix of learning off and on the water. Together, they will help you put the pieces of the stillwater puzzle together—which equals catching fish and understanding why you were successful.

Learn Where the Trout Live and What They Eat Compared to streams and rivers, lakes can appear featureless, with minimal clues as to where the fish are living. As well, aquatic insect hatches, which are

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

fish magnets in flowing water, are not continually drifting by the boat. Stillwater anglers must understand where trout and their food sources live in the lake in order to be successful.

Anglers will benefit from a crash course in lake ecology and aquatic entomology. Today’s print and electronic resources, including magazine articles, books, online forums, and videos, are easily accessed and will provide a solid foundation for your stillwater fly-fishing journey.

Fine-Tune Your Stillwater Fly Lines Suspending or drifting flies under an indicator is an extremely effective way to fish lakes. Casting an indicator and up to several flies can be a challenging endeavor— especially for the beginning caster. A floating line with a shorter and heavier head section will make it much easier to load the rod and turn over that hard foam or plastic indicator, longer leader, and multiple flies. Keep in mind that indicator fishing is not a distance-casting game. We need to be able to see the subtle takes that often occur with this technique. Short casts catch just as many fish.

Full-sinking lines also play an important role on our still waters. Flies such as Boobies and Blobs have now become mainstream when fishing North American lakes. Knowing where your fly is in relation to the depth being fished is an important aspect of fishing these attractor-style patterns.

Several line manufacturers integrate depth or hang markers at set distances on their fly lines so we know the depth our

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

flies are in the water column during the retrieve. Your local fly shop can help you select the right lines for these two specific fishing techniques.

retrieved. It is also the knot for suspending flies under a strike indicator.

With any knot being tied, remember to wet it with saliva to lubricate and reduce friction as it is being tightened.

Essential Knots for Stillwater Success Losing a big fish is frustrating, but seeing a failed leader or tippet knot as the cause of the loss is even more upsetting. It’s important to be confident in the knots used in building leaders and securing flies to your tippet material. The triple surgeons and blood knots are both good knots to join pieces of leader material together, but the triple surgeons knot is superior when tying monofilament to fluorocarbon.

The improved clinch knot is a tried-and-true knot for attaching flies to tippet material. However, a non-slip loop knot is the knot of choice for fishing any flies that you want to have more natural movement while being

Be Observant Like all other types of fishing environments, Mother Nature provides clues as to what is happening on the water on any particular day. Stillwater fly fishers should be regularly scanning over the surface of the lake, looking for the evidence of an aquatic insect emergence such as chironomids or damselflies. We will see the shucks of those newly emerged chironomids, mayflies, and other insects. Having an aquarium net will allow you to capture live pupae or nymphs just prior to emergence as well as the newly emerged adults. We can then determine size and color of the insects that are most likely being fed on by the trout.

On larger bodies of water, hatches can be quite localized. That’s because water temperatures which drive

aquatic insect hatches are not uniform throughout the lake, and one bay or arm may be warmer than the main lake body. A pair of binoculars can be very useful in spotting swallows, night hawks, or gulls that have found a distant hatch that may not be occurring in the area you are fishing. Always be prepared to move to find those insect hatches.

Three-Fish Rule Early spring and late fall are two times of the season when it can be hard to find actively feeding fish. Aquatic insect emergences are relatively non-existent during these times and fish that are feeding are often hugging the bottom of the shoals looking for staple food sources such as scuds and leeches. At these times, it pays to be constantly looking for any moving fish, ones that may be free jumping or rolling on the surface. If I see at least three fish move in an area, I will pull anchors and head to that spot. Those fish I saw moving may not be feeding, but they are telling me there is most likely a concentration of fish in that area and that a few of those fish may be convinced to bite my offerings.

and observing the world around you. It is tempting to dive in, but embrace the slow down.

Go Against the Current Sometimes the best thing to do is exactly the opposite of what everyone else is doing. On a Montana river with a reputation for crowding, I once walked a half-mile downstream from the most popular boat launch to a spot where a cluster of mid-river boulders forces boats to the other side of the river. I watched an armada of rafts and drift boats pass by, all fishing the same side of the river, while I enjoyed a Mother’s Day caddis hatch all to myself.

Humans are creatures of habit and trout quickly pick up on our patterns. Anglers often approach a hole from the same direction or follow the same worn paths along the river that lead to the same stretches of water. Sometimes

Five Pro Tips for Targeting Trout

By Ryan Sparks Slow Down Most anglers arrive at the river, throw on their waders, walk directly into the water, and start casting. They also spook a bunch of trout. Think tactically about where you intend to fish. How can you approach a run with the least amount of disturbance? Often, the best strategy is to stay out of the water completely. A trout that doesn’t know you are there is much easier to catch than one that saw you coming. Remember that just because you are wearing waders doesn’t mean you need to be in the water. If you can fish from the bank, that is probably your best bet.

Slowing down and observing the water before you start fishing has other payoffs as well. You will notice things such as sparse hatches, fish holding near the bank that you would have otherwise spooked, or single rising fish along the far bank. Fly fishing is about slowing down

bushwhacking to a stretch of water that is difficult to access leads to excellent fishing. Other times, all it takes to have the river to yourself is an extra mile of walking before you string up your rod.

Consider the hours you fish as well. Most guide trips start somewhere around 7:30 in the morning and end around 4:00 in the afternoon. If you are floating, try putting in at first light or drop the boat in the water when

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everyone else is taking out. With wade fishing, you can be more flexible. Fish above or below popular boat launches in the morning and you will have several hours to yourself before floating anglers show up. Wading also allows you to access water that floating anglers cannot.

Ryan Sparks Ryan Sparks writes and photographs the things he is passionate about: fishing, hunting, wild food, rivers, mountains. Dogs.

Ryan works as an outdoor writer, photographer, and editor for a variety of publications including Strung Magazine, The Flyfish Journal, Gray’s Sporting Journal, MeatEater, and many others. After ten years between Montana, Ontario, Iowa, and Nebraska, he now lives in Minnesota with his wife and their two pointers, Tippet and Hiccup..

© Trout Photos: Ryan Sparks

There is More than One Way to Set the Hook Imagine a fly angler hooking a fish and you probably think of them yanking the rod straight upward or what many people call “trout setting.” That might work for upstream trout on a dry fly, but different scenarios call for different hook sets. When streamer fishing, a classic trout set might occasionally hook a fish, but the majority of the time it pulls the fly out of the fish’s mouth. In this instance, a strip set is the better option. A strip set is made by keeping the rod down and firmly stripping the line back towards you.

The pressure from pulling the line is what drives the hook into the fish’s mouth. Once the fish is hooked you can raise the rod and the fight is on.

Trout setting can also lead to lost fish while nymphing.

Ideally, you want to set the hook towards the fish, and with fish usually facing upstream that means a downstream hookset. Instead of pointing your rod towards the sky, sweep it horizontally, keeping the rod parallel to the water’s surface. This pulls the fly into the fish’s mouth and doesn’t require you to rip all the line off the water—which means it takes less energy to set the hook. Setting the hook this way also allows you to transition into a cast if what you thought was a fish turns out to be your flies ticking the bottom.

Go Ahead, Fish Downstream Many people new to fly fishing, and even veteran anglers, fall into the habit of always fishing upstream. Yet fish will eat a fly presented from any angle, and sometimes the best way to catch them is with a downstream presentation. In fact, I don’t know a better way to catch a finicky rising trout. Think about it: when fishing upstream, the fish sees your fly line and leader float past before the fly. With a downstream presentation, the first thing

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

the fish sees is your fly.

Position yourself upstream and, ideally, a bit to the side of the fish. A longer leader helps in this situation because it builds slack into the presentation. On the cast, drop your rod high or make what some people call a parachute cast so the fly lands with plenty of slack in the leader.

Nymphing downstream works just as well. Sometimes fish even prefer to take nymphs at the end of a downstream drift as they begin to swing in the current. Remember, in North America we have lots of public water and don’t have to pay fees to fish certain “beats.” We also don’t have to adhere to arcane rules about only fishing upstream, like in some European waters.

Just Go Fishing The last tip is simple, but might be the most important of them all: just go fishing. It’s easy to stay at home and blame the weather—too hot, too cold, too windy—for poor fishing conditions, but as anglers we must believe that we can catch fish in any conditions. Some days are more difficult than others, but it’s those challenging days that make us better anglers. It’s often when things get tough and our usual tactics aren’t working that we are willing to think outside the box and try something new.

Even during the worst runoff conditions, or in the heart of winter, it’s difficult for a fish to turn down an easy meal that drifts right past its face. You aren’t going to catch any fish on the couch and every outing to the river makes you a better angler.

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Redefining Adventure JESSICA HAYDAHL RICHARDSON

Jessica Haydahl Richardson loves to capture life unfolding in front of her lens. Jessica has worked with such companies as the Vancouver Canucks, Getty Images, and has been published in multiple sport-fishing magazines.

Growing up on the ocean in Vancouver British Columbia; Jessica could be found running boats, sailing and fishing around the Pacific North West.

She currently resides in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

Define the word adventure and you’ll most likely come up with many thoughts and opinions.

Risky, extreme, difficult, or even life-threatening could come to mind.

I’ve been lucky and unlucky enough to have been a part of many adventures over my professional photography career. The adventures have had a varying level of risk, excitement, or even danger—everything from extreme conditions to challenging travel, difficult language barriers, and even near-death experiences. I have had altitude sickness at 15,000 feet in Peru. I’ve been bitten by a poisonous spider and visited almost every hospital in Italy. I have had a friend almost die on me in Greece from an incredibly rare disease.

I’ve had scary helicopter rides, plane rides, bacterial stomach infections, and “split-second decision making” all while traveling out of my comfort zone into risky, adverse, and sometimes scary situations.

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This is how I have always defined my personal adventures. I have never had an adventure that wasn’t challenging or adverse. After my recent trip on the Smith River with a group of eight incredible women, I had to ask myself. Was this an adventure? Eight women floating the Smith River, fly fishing and camping, during a time of pandemic fatigue and uncertainty—a float trip that would turn out to be the most seamless, easy, calming trip I have ever experienced.

We floated through cascading canyons of red rock, we fished murky fast-flowing water, catching some trout here and there. We feasted like queens, danced in the rain with glow sticks, and laughed well into nightfall—all while enjoying warm, crackling campfires and great camp stories. We fell asleep to rain gently rolling off our tents, we hid from a hailstorm, and enjoyed the moments of sun that slightly warmed our days. I didn’t remember ever being too cold or too tired during the Smith River float, but just feeling a sense of calm and peace. Of course, added in there was a bit of a “hoot and holler.” It was a chance to take a deep breath, close our eyes, and be grateful for our beautiful surroundings, while taking in everything that Big Sky country had to offer.

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

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This trip would redefine my idea of adventure and open my eyes to a new understanding: A trip that is easy or hard is adventurous in itself and, having had so many great opportunities to document special trips in very remote places, I am very grateful for all of the amazing adventures that I’ve experienced. To have a chance to laugh and relax, spend time with some incredible women, all while being immersed in nature is exactly the adventure that we all needed. I will forever be grateful to have spent some time with the women on the Smith River.

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

Photo: Todd Field

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Scott Fly Rod Company | Handcrafted at 2355 Air Park Way, Montrose, Colorado 81401 | 970.249.3180 | www.scottflyrod.com

A Different Kind of Fly-Rod Review Jeff Wagner

T

here really is no other way to start this year’s rod review but with a review of supply chain. I started this article many times— often with a beer or two—contemplating the various ways I could begin. But, this year is so different from prior years, therefore this review needs to be different from prior years.

I work in supply chain, importing products from various regions throughout the world. The way that COVID-19 (there, I said it) has impacted us should not be ignored. The rods coming through this year are a testament to the manufacturers that produced them, the people that developed them, and the total effort that went to bringing them to market. It was no small feat.

This year’s rod selections are eclectic to say the least.

In years past, we have had numerous 9-foot 5-weight and 9-foot 8-weight rods we could compare side by side. We had depth. This year, we have breadth to the rods submitted.

I must say I found it refreshing. Rather than thinking about the nuances that make up the difference of 20 9-foot 5-weights and 10 9-foot 8-weights, it was a pleasure to think more about the application of the rods submitted.

If we lean into, for a moment, what went into bringing these rods to markets, that, in and of itself, should drive us to march to our nearest fly shop and pick up a new rod, just to support these manufacturers. If you can find one.

People want fly rods. The fact is, this pandemic has sent people seeking solitude and rest in any way they can find it. What better way What better time to than on a river? What better pick up fly fishing than time to pick up fly fishing than during a time you can’t during a time you can’t be near anyone else? So, be near anyone else? the demand has increased.

With that increased demand, signal manufacturing went up, production went up. At least for a time. Until COVID-19 hit the manufacturers.

Then production went down or ceased altogether. Even now and into next year, until we have vaccines widely available, many manufacturers will be experiencing reduced production amidst increased demand. What an unfortunate juxtaposition for an anemic industry.

Then comes the effort of getting the rods to market.

The first quarter of 2021 will prove to be a challenge. As we work to get product to market, so is everyone else.

Ports are congested, container supply is narrowed and trucking lanes are not as plentiful as normal. If they can then get it to a distribution center or customer, it’s a little slower than normal.

And that is all downstream of design. These manufacturers still had to review designs, test rods, ship rods, provide feedback, and send samples—all while having video conferences and delayed responses from almost every person they needed to meet with, from engineering, to design, marketing, packaging, logistics, supply chain, and customers. And, of course, we cannot forget the fly shops that have worked to stay open, fight the good fight, and protect their business and their customers.

So, while I attempted to write this without mentioning COVID-19 and the numerous impacts felt by everyone, globally, in fly fishing and out, it was impossible.

Additionally, doing so would be to deny the work that went into these rods. In my view, these rods are more than the sum of their parts, more than the words written on these pages; they are, again, a testament to the companies that produced them, shipped them to us, and brought them to market in the midst of a pandemic.

Jeff Wagner When he’s not fishing or casting you’ll find Jeff hiking or biking the back country with his family.

They also volunteer their time to conservation efforts with groups such as Fly Fishers International. Oh, and during business hours Jeff does business stuff. © Photo, Dana Lattery

Methods We kept it simple this year. With such a wide range of rods, our goal was to simply explain each rods’ virtues.

We cast them, fished them, broke them down to their parts, and took copious notes. While in the past, we have done some statistical analysis to show the quantitative and qualitative differences, this year was just an assessment of the rods based on what we think they do best—as well as how they look, feel, and are finished.

As we have said every year since writing this review, there are no bad rods. While we may not “love” every rod we cast, we openly acknowledge that every rod is unique, but every rod also serves a purpose. It has its own unique character and personality. Each rod stands alone; there is no bad rod, just different rods.

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY: RODS

Redington Strike 10-foot, 6-inch 3-weight $299.99 | redington.com

The Strike turned out to be a good all-around long 3-weight. We found this rod best for indicator nymph fishing that can easily switch to small streamers and some larger dry flies. Dry-dropper rigs proved to be a strength as well, pushing water-logged dries up to size 10 with ease, with the occasional tungsten bead nymphs to match. The Strike was solid, especially in short, with true- to half-weight heavy lines. Of note is the unique handle and reel seat. The cork is longer than most other rods by almost two inches and comes in at a total length of nine inches. They extended the Western-style grip shape, but smoothed out the taper, allowing for more hand positions.

Douglas LRS 10-foot 3-weight $289 | douglasoutdoors.com

The 10-foot LRS is an addition to the LRS series, which stands for Lake River Stream. The series is meant to be a do-it-all series in fly and conventional fishing and is the broadest range for the Douglas brand. This rod supports that mission.

The LRS is light in hand and crisp in action. It handles true-weighted lines and can handle lighter lines heading toward competition lines. The bright blue is characteristic of the series and is pleasant, but a bit striking for this kind of rod.

The fighting butt is longer and the grip standard in length which pushed our hand forward a bit compared to the other models, moving the balance of the rod. We found this rod to be truly universal in nature, being good at most applications we threw at it.

TFO Stealth 10-foot, 6-inch 3-weight $299.95 | tforods.com

The Stealth is a bit of a departure from the standard line up for TFO. Our testing team found the Stealth light, crisp, and the closest to a competition stick out of this lineup. The Stealth supported comp lines well and with minimal effort, although it did cast and fish true-weighted lines with ease also. Of note to our team was the recovery rate; this allowed for presentation with power and a deep flex into the rod, quickly returning to a fishable position with little tip bounce. The handle is mostly standard with a bit more of a flared butt section. We found this comfortable when tightening up on the handle near the reel to get a little extra reach and find the right balance. The Stealth can support short-to-long distances with minimal effort and does best with rigs that feature less wind resistance; in other words, more technical fishing sans indicator.

Redington Trace 9-foot 5-weight $299.99 | redington.com

The Trace is the classic 9-foot, 5-weight progressively tapered fly rod. At $299, it will do a bit of everything without forcing you to spend twice the amount. Blank color is a pleasant deep mahogany and the reel seat a subtle and minimalist aluminum. The Trace is a utilitarian tool that will present small dries, nymphs, indicator rigs, and small streamers.

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Sage Sonic 9-foot 5-weight $575 | sageflyfish.com

The Sonic is that rod you pick up and don’t think about the casting. We found the Sonic light in hand, crisp, and light in action. It casts from the tip with ease, and as the distance increases, the flex bends deeper and deeper. The deep green juniper color is timeless and elegant. The handle is the now standard high-grade snub-nose half-wells and the reel seat aluminum and hardwood. Limited tip bounce made the Sonic feel stable and held loop shape, transitioning energy from the rod to the fly with maximum efficiency. What is most impressive about the Sonic is the responsiveness when fishing a wide range of fly sizes and distances. It always seems to just be there when you need it, never collapsing under pressure, like a good friend.

Douglas SkyG 9-foot 5-weight and 9-foot 8-weight $795 & $845 | douglasoutdoors.com

The SkyG is the premium price point among our rods this year, coming in at $795. The action is very nice, a good universal crisp action, and very light in hand. What is most impressive about the G is the attention to detail. The G sports REC recoil guides that bounce back after a beating and the stripping guides have zirconia inserts that reduce friction. The cork is AAAA-grade cork, (rarely found any more), and it is noticeable in hand with a smooth finish. To finish it off, the G has a skeletonized reel seat and low-glare blank finish.

Mystic ReaperX 9-foot 8-weight $269 | mysticoutdoors.com

The ReaperX is a rod great for slinging sinking lines and big flies. It has a mass and bulk that helps offset the weight of heavy rigs. The grip is meant for bigger hands and applying power; the diameter feels larger in hand. The blank is a rich, deep red color and the reel seat a highly polished aluminum. The ReaperX has a slower recovery that compliments a deep slow flex and slower casting cadence. A rod we would certainly sport in the boat those days slinging big pike flies.

Sage Maverick 9-foot 8-weight $575 | sageflyfish.com

The Maverick is a powerful tool at short-to-long range. The handle is notably a very high grade of cork and the reel seat standard machined aluminum that fits well with the deep blue color. The action of the Maverick is a rare blend of medium tip and powerful mid and butt section. This lends to it that magical ability of being able to present accurately at a short range while allowing the caster to feel the load. The Maverick’s sweet spot is also its intended design for saltwater: especially quick casts on the flats. Picking up 20 or more feet of line and quickly extending to 60 feet is smooth and easy while maintaining loop shape, control, and accuracy. What was most recognized in the Maverick is the spring-like unload that seemed to catapult the line to the target while holding the loop shape and driving the fly to the target.

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY: RODS

TFO LK Legacy 9-foot 8-weight

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

$279.95 | tforods.com

The LK series is named after the legendary Lefty Kreh, so it better be good. It is intended to be a big-water trout series that can present flies with accuracy and presentation, but also with power. The 9-foot 8-weight is a great heavy freshwater rod. While the designation is for trout, this rod is great for general freshwater applications. It could as easily be on a boat for carp, bass, or pike as it could be throwing sinking lines for big trout. In typical TFO style, the rods have a bit of mass, somewhat larger features, and slightly medium-action tips with powerful butt sections. The LK can generate enough line speed to drive into a wind while also presenting large dry flies in stillwater applications.

Mystic Tremor SW 9-foot, 3-inch 10-weight $549 | mysticoutdoors.com

The Tremor series is the pinnacle series from Mystic and their premium saltwater series. It is their lightest and strongest series to date. The series ranges from 7- to 10-weights and the only length is 9-foot, 3-inches. The finishes are unique, with a custom reel seat with an integrated hook keeper and titanium guides. The handle is truly a premium-grade cork and the taper of the handle aggressive with a wider diameter. The additional length is barely noticeable and fits well within the parameters of the taper, leading to a natural flex and highly controllable feel. The Tremor does live up to the claims as a solid casting rod that generates high line speed and loads quickly.

St. Croix Imperial 9-foot 12-weight and 11-foot 5-weight $380 & $340 | stcroixrods.com

The Imperial is the classic series from St. Croix. At $250 to $380 for a made-in-the-USA series, the value is high. The Imperial lineup has a “traditional” action with a softer tip and moderately powerful butt section. While it is a no-frills series when it comes to components and graphite technology, they are all workhorses, and most anglers would hardly notice the differences on a rod costing even twice as much when it comes to casting and fishing. The 12-weight, especially, is a stout fish-fighting and lifting tool. The 11-foot 5-weight is new to the series. It is a lightweight switch series and, like most rods in this category, fills a growing niche. Given the forgiving action of the Imperial series we found the rod able to handle a variety of fly lines but most adept at handling lighter switch lines

Mystic M-Series 10-foot, 3-inch 3 weight $499 | mysticoutdoors.com

The Mystic M series is the flagship performance series for Mystic. The 10’ 3wt is a pleasure to fish and cast. The action softer in the tip but stiffer in the butt section with a fast recovery rate. It will handle true weighted fly lines and is also applicable to some Euro nymphing style applications as well. Where the M Series shines most is in the details. The handle might be my favorite in the group with small diameter and excellent grade cork it feels great in hand and when moving up or down on the handle for the proper position and balance. The reel seat matches any other and fine details like titanium stripper guides and blank numbering at each section this rod is a good blend of performance and detail.

What’s New in the Tying Game?

Dana Harrison

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f you’re like me, you spend an unhealthy amount of time looking at fly-fishing gear. Though you may not need that new sealed-disc drag fly reel or the matching blue backing, you still look, nonetheless.

Those of us who tie tend to fall into the same routine, clicking that “What’s New” category in fly tying, to see the latest and greatest in the fly-tying world. We do this knowing we probably won’t deviate far from the Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, and Stimulators that overflow our boxes.

Yet, these days, it seems like there are new products to be excited about; and unlike rods, reels, waders, and boots, fly-tying materials often don’t break the bank.

Over the past few months, I have been lucky enough to sample some newly released fly-tying products to see if they live up to the hype, and I would love to share what I’ve learned. What follows are a few of my favorite new items that have helped me take my tying game to the next level.

Dana Harrison Dana feels that he is not just a fly fisher and tier, but a steward for the streams and lakes we enjoy. He is passionate for positive change in our industry, with a focus on preserving our environment for future generations.

Spawn Fly Heads

From $1.79 | spawnflyfish.com There is nothing worse than tying a streamer that doesn’t sink well. At least when I fish streamers, I want them to be ticking the bottom to get where the big boys lie. This is especially true when chasing early season bulls, when they are sitting near the bottom.

Over the years I’ve grown accustomed to tying streamers with lots of lead and big dumbbells in an attempt to get those streamers down quick. However, this adds more tying time to an already long and tedious tie.

Enter in the Spawn Fly Head. These specially

contoured heads cut through the water and allow for your streamer to sink quickly and efficiently. Plus, they look seriously cool! They are created to look realistic in terms of matching actual bait fish, eyes and all. Different sizes are available for all matters of hook sizes and come in various colors that can match up with the particular color fly you are creating. If you’re not sure what color flies you’re going to tie, they make a basic blank model that you can color yourself. If you are into tying streamers, do yourself a favor and snap up a couple of these pre-made fish heads to add a bit of pizzazz and depth to your ties.

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Griffin Montana Mongoose Vice

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: TYING

$242.76 | griffinenterprisesinc.com

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

Unlike a lot of fly-tying products, purchasing a vise is a real investment. Vises can range from cheaper novice vises for under $50, all the way to super high-end vises that cost over $500.

Though many of us start off on the cheaper vises that someone buys in a fly-tying kit for Christmas, eventually the lack of jaw strength on these vises becomes taxing.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I hate having a

fly shoot off across the room because the jaws of my vice cannot handle the pressure. This leaves you with no choice but to open your wallet and purchase something better.

Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to try many different vises and was happy to have the Griffin Montana Mongoose Vise recently come across my desk. What I like about this vise is that it comes with all the specs a vise needs at a reasonable price.

Firstly, it comes with both a solid base plate and an attachment for you to lock it onto your desk. In addition, it is a rotary vise, meaning it rotates and allows you to spin your materials onto the hook more uniformly. Not only that, but the rotary handle spins effortlessly and is comfortable to use with your non-dominant hand. Last but not least, it comes with a bobbin cradle attachment that easily allows you to have your bobbin moved out of the way when you’re working with other materials such as hackle.

Overall, the Montana Mongoose Vise is a great mid-priced vise with a build like other high-end vises I have used. It’s an awesome choice for those fly tyers who are moving up from their entry level vise into something more professional.

As your fly-tying spaces begin to expand and your addiction grows, you’ll soon find yourself buying more and more materials.

Perhaps you spend a little money on a material, just to tie a single fly you saw online, only to never touch it again. Soon, that desk you stuffed in the corner of the basement with a couple of pheasant tails in a cup gets moved into its own room and your walls get covered in pegboard and more materials.

Gulff Resins

From $14.95 | gulffflyfishing.com If you’re an Instagram user and follow any of the highend fly tyers, you must have seen at least one of them using Gulff Resin products.

These resins have exploded into the tying scene, as colored resins were not readily available before they launched. However, Gulff products have allowed fly tyers to explore their creative side, making ever more colorful bugs to toss into the water. Not only do these resins allow you to create realistic and colored creations, but they use environmentally friendly materials that break down naturally if you happen to break off one of your flies.

The only concern I have with Gulff products is their availability. Only select stores in Canada and the United States carry these awesome resins which makes them difficult to

find. However, if you do get your hand on some, you will not be disappointed.

If you’d like to try out some colored resins to spice up your fly tying, Gulff Resins makes them in hot pink, orange, chartreuse, white, blue, purple, yellow, black, brown, and my personal favorite, motor oil.

UNI PRODUCTS J.G. Cote Inc. 1004 Principale, Ste-Melanie, QC. Canada J0K 3A0 Fax: 450-889-5887 Email: info@uniproducts.com

Tel: 450-889-8054

THE AXXEL-MINI FLASH TINSEL

Toll-Free: 1-877-889-8054

New from UNI

Tied by Michel LeBlanc

Look to UNI Products for Spooled Fly-Tying Material!

www.uniproducts.com

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY: TYING 40

The Soul of Fly Fishing

Loon Infiniti Light

Umpqua Series-X Hooks

At $60 USD, the Loon Infiniti Light seems like a lot of money to spend on a flashlight that wouldn’t work well if your power went out. I have been plagued with having my UV resin chipping off after a few casts or having it turn yellow in my box. I never understood what was happening and just figured that must be how UV resin works—that it does not last.

How nice it was to find out UV resin isn’t supposed to flake off or look like it was rotting from the inside out. As it turns out, not only was I not curing the UV for long enough, but my $20 special light wasn’t cutting it.

When I tell you that the Infiniti Light is a game changer, I mean it. This rechargeable light is so powerful that you only need a quick flash of UV to cure any resin. Furthermore, no more worrying about your light losing power due to a low battery. I found that with my old light, it would take forever to cure UV because my battery power was getting low. There is no way to know when this is happening on a conventional battery-powered light, but with the Infinity Light the power indicator will let you know when you need to charge it.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur fly tyer or tie for Fly Fusion Magazine, this light is a necessity.

Like a lot of fly-tying products, hooks are starting to innovate. New metals, different curvatures, and wider gaps seem to be all the rage in the fly tying world.

The Umpqua Series-X Hooks has all of these things at a price that doesn’t hurt the wallet. I have yet to have a fish bend these hooks, nor have I had one snap. If you are going after fish you know are powerful, you won’t want to regret losing one because of a cheap hook. We have all been through it before and it doesn’t feel great looking down at a hook that’s been straightened out on a fish you didn’t even have a chance to see.

Though Umpqua Series-X Hooks can’t guarantee you won’t lose a fish, they do give you a great chance for it not to happen. They are crazy sharp and, at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong.

So, do yourself a solid. Try some of the new and cool products you’ve been itching to try. You’ll be supporting your local fly shop and hyping your fly tying game. You won’t regret it, but the fish will.

$60 | loonoutdoors.com

From $8.99 | umpqua.com

Check our flyfusionmag.com for bonus patterns using these New & Noteworthy products!

Decisions, decisions.

®

ON THE VISE

Miami Vise Lucas Utrera Lucas Utrera is a fly tyer born in Córdoba, Argentina, currently residing in Miami, Florida. He started fly tying in 1996 at the early age of 12. He dabbled in commercial tying for some years, but later dedicated most of his time to tying special flies for collectors and participating in competitions. He is currently a member of the Ahrex, Gulff, and Semperfli pro teams. @utreraflytying

Utrera’s Parasol Midge

Utrera’s Dun Inverted Parachute

Hook: Tiemco 2499SP-BL, size 18 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, dark green Abdomen: Semperfli Suede Chenille, Wimbledon yellow Wing: SemperFlash, krystal pearl Thorax: Peacock herl Bead: Glass bead, red Parasol: 3X fluorocarbon and orange poly yarn

Hook: Daiichi 1160 Klinkhamer, size 14 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, yellow Tail: Yellow microfibbets Abdomen: Semperfli Magic Quill Wing: Natural gray duck quill Thorax: Ginger super fine dubbing Parachute hackle: Whiting Farms medium ginger rooster Head: Semperfli Nano Silk, 18/0, orange coated with Gulff Thinman

Utrera’s Wiggle Brownie Nymph

Utrera’s CDC Bubble Emerger

REAR PART Hook: Curved nymph hook, size 14 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, orange Tail: Goose biots, yellow Abdomen: Hemingway’s Bug Flesh, brown FRONT PART Hook: Ahrex F525, size 16 Connection: Wire loop Gills: Swiss CDC feather, ginger Wing case: Wapsi Thin Skin, mottled bustard orange, coated with Gulff Fatman Thorax: Semperfli kapok marginata dubbing Antennae: Goose biots, yellow Head: Semperfli Nano Silk, 18/0, orange coated with Gulff Thinman

Utrera’s Emerging Perdigon Hook: Ahrex FW551 mini jig barbless, size 14 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, orange Tag: Flashabou blue Tail: Whiting Farms medium ginger rooster fibers Body: Hemingway’s Bug Flesh, white Air bubble: Antron yarn, yellow Bead: Firehole slotted, tungsten blue

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

Hook: Tiemco 212TR, size 15 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, red Tail: Lemon-barred wood duck Ribbing: Peacock herl Abdomen: Semperfli floss, cream Wing: Swiss CDC puff, blue dun Thorax: Semperfli kapok dry-fly dubbing, March brown Legs: SemperFlash, krystal copper Head: Semperfli Nano Silk, 18/0, red coated with Gulff Thinman

Utrera’s Floating Nymph Hook: Daiichi 1770 swimming nymph, size 12 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk, size 18/0, orange Tail: Lemon-barred wood duck Ribbing: Mono 7X Abdomen: Hemingway’s Bug Flesh, yellow opaque, and Semperfli floss, orange Wing case: Gray foam Thorax: Semperfli kapok dry-fly dubbing, sulphurea Legs: Blue peacock feather Wing: Swiss CDC puff, ginger Head: Semperfli Nano Silk, 18/0, orange coated with Gulff Thinman

RESHAPE THE FUTURE

THE NEW 7X rod series introduces the innovative design and performance advantages of our exclusive and pioneering new heptagonal blank construction process. The technical benefit to the fly fisher is a greater percentage of the rod’s energy is utilised in a positive tracking manner towards the intended target. This results in effortless water coverage when both accuracy and distance is required.

7X FLY ROD SERIES | FIND OUT MORE AT LOOPTACKLE.COM

PROFILES

Tim Romano Tim Romano For over a decade, Tim Romano has been the managing editor of Angling Trade magazine. A talented photographer, his work has also been featured throughout the fly-fishing industry. Tim lives in Colorado with his wife and family. You can see his photo work at timromano.com

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

John Van Vleet: Tim, I know you’ve been in the flyfishing world for a number of years now, doing various things: working for Wild on the Fly, starting up Angling Trade, and of course your photography. What changes have you seen since you’ve been in the industry?

Tim Romano: Yeah, I mean I think growth-wise, it was fairly stagnant for a long time—and I think you and I both know that that was kind of like, “Hey, how do we change this?” for so many years. And I think that’s obviously finally happened with COVID; but I think even before that, it was starting to happen more socioeconomically with a lot more women and younger people fishing, I think which are all good things. Obviously, in the last year, it’s been crazy pants.

JVV: Let’s dive into something you mentioned: the younger people and women coming into the sport. How have you noticed that change happening? What have you seen, and do you think there’s still a lot to be done in that regard?

TR: I mean I still think there’s a stigma of “rich, old white guy’s sport”—and a lot of times, it is, which it’s a tough one, man, because it’s not an easy sport to get into no matter how much we want to think it is, right? I think that this sport, for better or worse, kind of complicates things, and I don’t think it has to be that complicated— that’s not to say it’s an easy thing to get into, I mean I don’t know how many times I’ve taken someone out who’s really excited and they’re just kind of like, “Damn, that’s a lot.” And whether that’s my teaching style or what, I’m not sure. If someone could totally figure that out, I think it would be huge.

But I think it’s become a lot more accessible just with less-expensive gear, people realizing that you don’t need a $900 fly rod to get into it—and not to say you don’t want one later, but I think social media has played a huge role with the younger generation kind of glorifying it, for

better or worse, with certain types of videos, and where you go, and how you do it.

I think more women are feeling more comfortable in the sport—I still think we have long ways to go there, but definitely, I think there are a lot more professional women in the sport and that’s being shown. So, I think it’s made it a little bit easier for women to get into it—all-women’s groups, travel things. I think, in the media, we’re doing a better job of projecting that. I don’t know if you’d agree, but I mean I have quite a few friends that own lodges or are guides and they’ve been doing it for 20 years and they’re women but no one’s really put them on a pedestal, basically.

JVV: You brought up social media. Do you ultimately think that it will be something that continues to bring people to the sport, or do you think it is something that might flame out and cause a backlash to some degree?

Basically, do you think all the social media is a good or a bad thing?

TR: That’s a tough question, man. As an “old” guy, I get I think that this sport, pretty jaded by it sometimes.

I think, used correctly, it for better or worse, kind will continue to be a tool of complicates things, to recruit and engage the and I don’t think it has positive side of it, but I think we have to be really careful to be that complicated— because you don’t have to that’s not to say it’s an know anything—you can come into the sport as a easy thing to get into. guide and pretend you know all that, and be doing everything wrong, and projecting things that aren’t good, how to rake redds—basically, just unscrupulous practices—and it gets glorified, big fish pictures. Yeah, I think it’s both, I don’t think there’s an answer to that—at least, I don’t think that I could answer that definitively one way or another.

JVV: I think it has been good and bad, so I totally see where you’re coming from there. You did mention last year being crazy for just about everybody; but anecdotally, I’ve heard that the industry—the fly-fishing industry— fared fairly well because it seems a lot of people were going outside and social-distancing by fly fishing. Is this something that you’ve noticed as well or talking with other people in the industry?

TR: I think it has been, but I mean it depends who you are. Overall, for the industry, it’s been like nothing anybody would have expected; I think when COVID first hit, everyone was crapping their pants and very, very worried, and I don’t think anyone could have seen what was going to happen in the past year. I think if you’re in the travel industry or related to that side of it, I think it’s been very hard for you, a lot of lodges have gone out of business—guides were hurting in the beginning.

And then I think that the pent-up demand was such that guides started to do really well, but I still think that the travel side of is really not good.

On the flip side, I mean some of these numbers, if I can share with you—I’m not going to give names— but just in the last week, there’s a boat company—I do business with a big boat company that told me that their 2021 inventory is totally allocated: all of it, every single piece. Another company that I talked to—one of my advertisers—told me they have $1 million in backorders right now, like ordered. Ordered.

JVV: That’s crazy, man.

TR: Here in Colorado, we had 90,000 more fishing licenses bought than in 2019, which is insane. I don’t know— I’m sure there are some other numbers from states you can get—and part of that here was there was a new rule that you had to have a fishing license to get into some state lands, but there’s no way that was 90,000 more people. So, yeah, it’s been huge. Whether those people are going to be sticky or not? I don’t know.

I think if we do it correctly and keep them engaged, yeah, I think it’ll be a huge boon for the industry.

S O C I A L D I S TA N C I N G

I N C L U D E D I N E V E R Y T U R N E F F E F L A T S S TAY

888.512.8812

reservations@tflats.com

www.tflats.com

LONG LINES

Big Trips and Practice

Jeff Wagner When he’s not fishing or casting you’ll find Jeff hiking or biking the back country with his family.

They also volunteer their time to conservation efforts with groups such as Fly Fishers International.

Oh, and during business hours Jeff does business stuff.

T

his time of year, and this year especially, we are all ready to get out on the water. To plan a big trip is to hope for the future and work towards a goal. Here are a few tips to help make the preparation for spring fishing more enjoyable.

1.

2.

Watch your loops. The only indicator of how you are doing is the loop and if it is achieving your desired result. If you want to cast 30-feet with tight loops and the loops are tight, you are doing a good job. If not, you are not. It is that simple. If you are seeing wide loops, smoothly accelerate to a stop. If you are seeing tails, smoothly accelerate to a stop.

Literally, watch your loops. In order to know what your loops are doing you need to be able to see them. Front casts can be easy to see. Back casts, not so much. To effectively see the back cast, get the timing right. Make the back cast and stop, then turn and look. Before making the

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

next forward cast, turn and look at your target and then make the cast. Turning while you are making the cast has a tendency to cause rotation and throw open loops.

Watch the video. Watching front and back loops can be tough. Taking video and watching it later can be a great technique to watch your casting.

It is also a great way to track your progress over time. Make sure you keep the videos and label them with the date and the cast.

Make your stroke longer. It has long been said that the longer the stroke, the easier the cast.

There is a point of diminishing return. But, to have a longer stroke than what you do now is a good goal. The challenge is to keep the stroke in a straight line. Use a mirror or video to make sure your loops are good and that your stroke is getting longer, slowly.

Experiment with style. Grips, arm position, stance, and anything you can change without changing your desired outcome is style. Play with those to understand how you move best and to have some flexibility in your stroke for varied conditions such as wind, fishing from a boat, or in tight cover.

Practice with targets. Don’t just go to a place and randomly cast. Cast with purpose and to a target. In fact, often it is harder to hit a random single object like a rock than the negative space of a circular target. You don’t need rings to cast to. Take some soccer cones or just lay out objects such as a rod tube and rod sock.

Practice with a tape measure. First, it is good to know the distance you are casting. When a trip description says you need to cast to 45feet in wind, that is not a random number. It is

shocking to me how often people over-estimate their casting ability. Know how far you can cast with a particular setup in certain conditions.

8. Practice with purpose. Don’t just show up at the park and randomly cast. Have some intention behind what you are doing. Do you struggle with wind? Do you struggle to haul? Go with the intent of working on those things you need the most help with.

9. Practice, practice, practice. While we are on the subject of practice...do it. As an instructor, nothing is more frustrating than fishing with someone that constantly complains about not being able to cast or being bad at a certain type of casting. Casting is a skill that anyone can get better at, but only if you do it. Practice.

10. Don’t practice too long. One common error in casting or working on any skill is punctuated practicing. You notice you have a challenge or a trip coming up and suddenly

motivation kicks in and a person wants to cast for an hour or more everyday leading up to the big event. If your body is not accustomed to that it could end in an overuse injury. Make your practice sessions shorter but more frequent. When fishing, we make a few casts, fish those casts, stop to change flies, move, etc. Rarely are we casting nonstop for a period of time. Try to mimic that while practicing or just shorten the casting session. Thirty minutes a few times a week is usually enough.

11. Use less power. The rod is a tool, use it as such.

It is meant to make your casting more enjoyable and easier. You want to give the least amount of power and work input to get the desired outcome. Practice using less power. Practice reducing the power until your cast fails. Doing this will let you know the lower power limit.

Work to make the rod do the work.

12. Practice max distance. Yes, this has a purpose besides just looking cool. If you can cast 80feet on a lawn with no wind, that might be 60feet with a breeze in fishing conditions. The more you work on increasing the distance, the more efficient you will become and a better angler you’ll be. Yes, this is true, even as I can predict the negative muttering of the skeptics.

Fly fishing requires casting as a skill. The better caster you are, the better you will be at fishing.

13. Practice in bad weather. We love to fish when the weather is good. Practicing is likely the same. But when most people struggle is not when it is calm and the casts unobstructed. It is when the wind is gusting that people struggle, that I struggle, that we all struggle. I generally don’t come home muttering words of not fishing ever again after a beautiful day. It is after a day of 30-mph winds and tailing loops, and retying 5 times. So, on the windiest day in your neighborhood, go grab your rod, head to a park, and play around with the best way to get the line to unroll.

14. Practice with a heavier-weight rod. Most of us probably trout fish and, based on the numbers, probably with a 4- to 6-weight rod. Nothing wrong with that. But we can enhance the experience through some strength gain. If you normally fish with a 5-weight make a few practice sessions with an 8-weight. The extra weight of the rod and the line and generating a little extra power will make that 5-weight rod feel easier to manage and cast and you might even be surprised how much more you feel it bend.

15. Practice with a lighter-weight rod. Along with practicing with a heavier rod, practice with a lighter rod from time to time. Lighter rods make you more aware of your rod bend the power you are applying.

16. Practice with what you fish with...especially if it is something different such as bass bugs or big streamers. The easiest way to do this is to sacrifice a few of those hard-to-cast bugs by

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The Soul of Fly Fishing

17.

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cutting the hook at the start of the bend and using these as practice flies. The bigger and heavier, the better.

Practice off the water. For some reason it has become almost taboo to some fly-fishing circles to head to a park and cast on grass. I just don’t understand why people have that view or where it came from. If you golf, you can go to a driving range. If you shoot, a shooting range.

We have almost entirely eradicated our places of casting practice from the fly-fishing culture.

Practice makes you better and casting when not fishing and at a park (likely the closest place to you) when not distracted… it just makes sense.

Make the haul match the casting stroke. I have heard all sorts of theories about short hauls and long hauls. There is some merit to these conversations. However, the human body is made for symmetry. The more the left and right side can do something similar at the same time, the more efficient we will be. Matching the haul and rod hand in timing, length, and duration will help you become more proficient in your fly fishing. Don’t make things more complicated or more difficult than they need to be.

Stop, then shoot. Remember that during power application the rod needs to bend. Releasing line prior to the stop means releasing line while the rod is bent. Releasing line while the rod is bent means releasing the bend in the rod and this means disrupting the path of the rod tip and this means a tailing loop. Smooth accelerate to a STOP, THEN SHOOT! Have fun! Most importantly, enjoy the time out.

For so many of us, including me, work, family, and just day-to-day life can create pressure.

A casting session that lets you think about something you enjoy, is done outside, and is a good healthy movement is just good for you.

Make it fun. You might even find out that casting by itself is an enjoyable activity when you can’t make it to the water.

NO FRAME FREEDOM

New for 2021, the OSG Clearwater is ready for big water and lots of gear. Using the open oarlock system, perfected on some of our multi-person rafts, it can accommodate longer/ stronger oars for conditions when you need to put more umph into your stroke. The Clearwater has a trampoline style cargo space in front and back for securing lots of gear. It has a 450lbs load capacity but weighs in at just under 35lbs.

The high-back seat rests on inflatable thwart so the rower has great visibility and making it great for longer days on the water and even short expedition trips. Bonus, no trailer is needed and will fit in the bed of pick-up or can be car-topped for easy outcastboats.com | 844.243.2473

transport to your next fishing spot.

WANDERING CURRENTS

A Common Thread

Derek Olthuis Derek loves researching and exploring new places to fish–the more remote the better. He is obsessed with sight fishing; to him there is nothing more enjoyable than stalking a fish and watching it eat a fly.

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he sun slowly rises, casting weak beams of colorful light across the valley. Tree tops are highlighted as the light creeps down the mountainside. I’m lost in thought somewhere between the awe of the moment and an appreciation of those around me. Over the years, something has become more and more evident, fly fishing has produced some of my most important memories and closest friends. It is more than a simple recharge that fills the soul with peace, it is a tool that forges friendships and creates memories with every new day spent on the water.

Sometimes it takes tragedy to reveal the truth that lies beneath the surface—the honest truth, stripped down and seen in its most basic form. This realization, as it pertains to fly fishing, came only after great tragedy. It is an experience that has caused me to reflect time and time again about what is most important in this sport we love so much. It has provided me with clarity and, from hardship, something amazing has happened; it has made each and every day spent on the water a good day.

Driving home after a fishless day spent chasing tiger musky with Dyson and Parker, it dawned on me that the day had been one of my best days out in weeks. We had walked around the better half of the reservoir looking for fish and only spotted three musky. One of the three gave me a look, the other two ignored our flies and did their usual musky routine and casually swam off in a smug display of a fish that knows it’s the apex predator; some silly cluster of feathers is far from his daily meal. The day had been exactly the kind of day I needed, free of pressure, void of expectation, and spent with people who share the same common thread as you and I do.

Stepping back in time, I have to thank Brian and Janet for teaching me how to appreciate what fly fishing really is. The first time I met the couple, it was evident they enjoyed spending time together far more than any other

aspect of the sport. Their kindness was clear from the very beginning. They had travelled across the country on a flyfishing trip in hopes of having Janet catch her first fish on a fly rod. We shook hands, discussed options for the day, and headed out. It didn’t take long for Janet to realize her goal. It was nothing that would draw large amounts of likes or comments on Instagram, but to Janet and Brian this six-inch trout meant the world. From that moment on, we began to build a friendship, one that I have to admit was largely due to the fact that Brian and Janet were such genuine and kind people. They called, sent Christmas cards, and made every effort to show me what real friends look like. Whenever possible, they made the trek out West to fish together and from years of messages, phone calls and time on the water, they had built a friendship that gave me a new perspective on fishing, life, and people.

The truth revealed to me came after they passed away.

That moment, and moments since, reflecting on their incredible lives, taught me the truth about fly fishing. It would be a lie to say that fish don’t matter, that the newest “destination” spot, or trying to catch “dream fish” don’t motivate me, but in the quiet moments it always circles back to what Brian and Janet taught me. Walking around

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a lake for the majority of the day and seeing three fish might not appear to be a good day, but it was one of the best of the year.

Traveling to so many incredible places has reaffirmed this; fly fishing is more than the act of catching a fish. If the only thing that mattered was catching a fish, the sport would be largely unsatisfying. Yes, I love catching fish. Yes, fly fishing in some form is obviously about catching fish.

But at the bottom of it, the true heart of the sport cannot be attributed to that alone. I dare say that everyone that is a fly angler has come here by choice, not because it is always the most effective way of limiting out, but because there is something deeper that drew us here.

There is a community, a challenge, and a passion that connects us to nature and one another. If the success of every fishing trip was how many fish were caught, I might win an award for having a collection of some of the worst trips ever. Thankfully, it is easy to look back and see there has been a lot more to it than a tally of how many fish were caught.

This is the goal, to treat each day on the water for what it is: a chance to catch up with friends, relax without the pressure of work, and just enjoy the simple pleasure of standing in a beautiful place, knee-deep in water. Every day where the goal is the focus seems to yield greater results. Fly fishing, for me, has become a common thread that connects me with people and nature. Finding a quiet place, away from the masses, where friends can chase fish is top of the list. In those quiet moments, quiet not from an absence of words but of noise, fly fishing has become more than the pursuit of fish.

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STILLWATER SECRETS

Brian Chan Often referred to as “Dr. Chironomid,” Brian has always viewed stillwater fly fishing through the lens of a biologist. Lakes and their inhabitants are always changing–no two days are ever the same–and that’s what Brian finds so fascinating about fly fishing in still water.

© Photo Brent Gill

Improve Your Chironomid Success

I

n my mind, the number-one stillwater hatch to master whether you are a complete beginner or a well-seasoned angler are chironomids, or midges.

There is no other food source that offers such species diversity coupled with prolonged and intense emergences. Hatches begin soon after ice-off and can extend almost to the onset of ice cover and, on lakes that do not freeze over, anglers can enjoy the potential of year-round emergences. Like any other fishing technique, one can become totally absorbed (some say obsessed) with mastering the art of fishing the chironomid pupae, which is the life stage most targeted by trout. Chironomid pupal fishing can be as simple as suspending patterns under an indicator, but there are numerous subtle tactics that will determine whether the angler will hook a lot of fish or just the occasional one.

At some point in our angling career, we have all watched as an angler in a nearby boat is consistently hooking fish while many of the other boats in the area are just fellow spectators. The following five tips will help take you from being the spectator to the one busy landing and releasing lots of fish. While some of this advice may seem very basic, it is the sum of all your tactics employed that will create consistency in your chironomid fishing adventures.

Set Your Boat Up for Efficient Fishing Start your successful day of fishing off right by first making sure you can double anchor your boat, or even your pontoon boat. Having a stationary fishing craft is essential to maintaining control of your fly line, retrieve, and detecting strikes. Chironomid pupal takes can very subtle, as the fish are just literally swimming by and inhaling your imitation. Your indicator may not even go down, but just slide a fraction of an inch sideways or, if fishing a floating line without a strike indicator, the fly line may barely move as the fish takes your fly. A boat swinging back and forth in a slight wind will cause you to miss many bites, and a boat moving in a constantly changing wind will see many, many bites go undetected or missed. Next, try and keep the clutter to a minimum in the boat and lay some outdoor carpeting down so that fly lines don’t find places to get tangled when that fish of a lifetime is heading off to the other side of the lake.

Use a Depth Sounder Knowing the depth of the water is so important when fishing this insect emergence—and for fishing lakes in general.

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Chironomid pupae will often stage in large numbers just off the lake bottom prior to making the vertical migration to the surface. Your pupal pattern(s) need to be where the real ones are concentrated. Use the sounder to scan the area you intend to fish so that you can see whether the bottom profile is flat, undulating, or gradually sloping. I like to use a castable miniature depth sounder such as the Deeper Smart Sonar so I can check out the depths all around the boat. It’s attached to a stout spinning rod so that it can be cast and retrieved while watching the sounder display on my smart phone. Your sounder will mark the depths where the fish are concentrated, so use that information—along with the understanding of where trout prefer to feed on the chironomid pupae—to help determine at what depths to start presenting your patterns.

Fish Where the Food is Trout feed aggressively when they are safe from predators.

This usually means the fish are eating their food closer to the lake bottom than the surface. Most chironomid

emergences occur in water less than 35 feet deep, but there are lakes that support deep-water emergences at depths in excess of 80 feet. Without question, the majority of chironomid pupal feeding occurs within a few feet of the bottom, regardless of the depth you are fishing. A good rule of thumb is to start suspending your pupal pattern about 12 inches off the bottom and gradually move up if

and color. We can also further confirm or detect a change in feeding patterns by using a throat pump to sample live pupae from the esophagus or throat of a trout. Using this non-lethal sampling tool can become a valuable addition to your tackle bag. This tool is perfect for sampling smaller food items such as chironomid larvae and pupae, mayfly nymphs, scuds, zooplankton, and damselflies.

Use a Loop Knot

that first depth is not working. There will be times when the fish will feed on the pupae higher in the water column, but that usually occurs when the hatches are coming off in water greater than 20 feet in depth. Don’t guess that your pupal imitation is close to the bottom. A simple way to confirm the exact depth you are fishing is to attach a small lead weight or a pair of hemostats to your fly and lower it over the side of the boat. If your pegged indicator settles a couple feet below the surface, then you know you are that distance off the bottom. Trout are notorious for feeding on chironomid pupae in a very narrow band of depth. For instance, if the hatch is coming off in 18 feet of water, the fish may only be eating the pupae between 17 and 15.5 ft and not higher. Your fly could be just a few inches out of their feeding comfort zone, resulting in far less interest.

Multi-Species Emergences There are over 2,000 species of chironomids that have been identified in North American lakes and ponds. To the angler, this means different sizes and colors of pupae will be found in a typical trout lake. It is not uncommon to see several species being selected by the fish on any given day.

Even with literally thousands upon thousands of pupae in the water column, trout can become very selective as to size and color. That’s why we are always scanning the surface of the lake and using an aquarium net to dip out pupae and newly emerged adults to detect changes in species size

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Your pupal imitation has a lot of competition as it dangles or moves slowly through the water. Chironomid pupae are not active swimmers, but they are constantly wiggling back and forth in a head-up and tail-down vertical position as they stage or ascend to the surface to emerge into the adult insect. Using a non-slip loop knot adds more lifelike motion to your fly—especially if suspended under an indicator. Add a bit of gentle wave action, and your pupal pattern will be dancing just like the real ones. There are plenty of Youtube videos available to learn this essential stillwater knot.

Chironomid pupal patterns can be effectively fished with both floating and various densities of sinking lines and fished in very shallow to very deep water. Regardless of the presentation technique used, these tips will help you enjoy this most prolific stillwater hatch that trout of all sizes feast on each seas

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: GEAR 58

The Soul of Fly Fishing

T

he past year has been unlike any we’ve ever seen. Yet hese obstacles haven’t stopped the fly-fishing industry from moving forward as much as possible. Here at Fly Fusion, we’re also adapting. Normally in this space, you would find our Editor’s Choice Awards, our annual collection of the best of the best released to the fly-fishing public. This

year, we’ve decided to introduce you to a short list of products we’re excited to see, then use as many of the new products on the water and in as many different scenarios as possible over the next few months to bring you more time-tested Editor’s Choice picks. We hope that our reviews at the end of the year will provide you with even more insight and experience with these products than ever before.

Umpqua ZS2 Wader Tote $99.99 | umpqua.com Of all the gear fly anglers accumulate, perhaps none take the beating that waders do. From scrambling up and down rocky banks to bushwhacking in dense cover, our waders absolutely take a pounding. Unfortunately, the wear-and-tear doesn’t end once you take them off.

We’re as guilty as any of simply taking our waders off, tossing them in the back of the truck, and forgetting about them until the next trip. Thankfully, Umpqua has come out with a pretty cool wader storage and transport solution, the ZS2 Wader Tote, to help keep your waders lasting longer. Featuring two mesh panels on the lid

for drying, an integrated water bottle holder, and—our favorite feature—a full-sized 22”x16” fold-out padded standing station, the ZS2 provides ample storage as well as a comfortable place to rest your feet as you get in and out of your waders. We’ve seen other wader bags feature space for standing, but the padded station on the ZS2 takes things up a notch, and, when clipped to the body of the pack, even doubles as a place to stow rod tubes or nets. With 2,800 cubic inches of storage, along with three internal pockets, you’ll be able to carry your waders— and much more—with confidence.

Simms Guide Classic Stockingfoot Waders $449.95 | simmsfishing.com

Ross Colorado $335 | rossreels.com Over the past few years, Ross has reinvented itself with a steady stream of excellent remakes of old favorites featuring innovative new technology. The Colorado is the latest and greatest from the team in Montrose, Colorado, and is a complete redesign of its forerunner, the Colorado LT. For fans of creative design and minimalism, there might not be a better reel on the market. Its lines are unique and thoughtful, with each machined-out section lowering the total weight of the reel while providing a truly beautiful aesthetic. The machined silhouette of the San Juan Mountains is an especially nice touch. This extremely lightweight (just 3.5 oz. in size 4/5) click-and-pawl reel provides plenty of strength, as well as that time-honored unidirectional clicking of the drag. Where the Colorado separates itself from other lightweight click-and-pawl reels is in the details. It features a large arbor for fast retrieval, and its semi-caged frame fits together as snugly as possible, feeling sturdy in the hand. Its bushing is made from a material called Vesconite, a self-lubricating polymer that brings a very smooth feel to the drag system. While the Colorado will likely have many fans that fish 2- and 3-weights in small streams, it has the beef to tangle with bigger fish in larger waters as well.

Simms has brought a few new wader models to the market this year, including the Guide Classic Stockingfoot Waders. The Guide Classics are nononsense, do-it-all waders built for the day-in, dayout grind of guiding clients, yet priced for all anglers.

Many American-made waders can cost upwards of $800, so having a durable, bulletproof option such as this at a lower price point certainly helps the wallet if you’re in the market for a new pair of waders. Built in Bozeman, Montana, and featuring GORE-TEX waterproof, breathable fabrics, the Guide Classics feature a reach-through hand warmer on the chest, a flip-out secure zippered pocket, and anatomically engineered neoprene stocking feet with built-in gravel guards. The main wader material is a threelayer GORE-TEX laminate, with reinforced lower leg areas. This additional reinforcement on the legs will help you crawl over rocks, bash through the brush, and stay dry no matter the situation. While they may have been designed for the rigors of guiding, the Guide Classics will certainly keep you covered, even if you don’t have a guide license.

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY: GEAR 60

The Soul of Fly Fishing

RIO Elite Flats Pro $129.99 | rioproducts.com When targeting bonefish, permit, or tarpon, your fly line needs to be durable, provide enough mass to turn over heavy flies in stiff winds, and allow you to make quick shots at moving fish. The Rio Elite Flats Pro provides all of that—and more. Built on RIO’s low-stretch DirectCore, and featuring its new SlickCast coating, the Elite Flats Pro has all the bells and whistles a top-notch fly line should have.

Its taper design is deadly for the flats; it features a variable length head (meaning it is different lengths for different line weights), a long rear taper (for carrying large amounts of line), and a long-enough front taper to ensure delicate deliveries when needed. These lines are built to do it all on the flats, and with welded loops and the Surefire triple-color line-marking system, you shouldn’t need anything else. The Elite Flats Pro is available in line weights 6- through 12 and is comes in full-floating (F), 6-foot intermediate StealthTip (F/I), 15-foot intermediate tip, and full intermediate (I) densities.

Scott Centric $895 | scottflyrod.com No matter which rod manufacturer you look at, you’ll find a wide range of models, line weights, and lengths available. But at the end of the day, the bread-and-butter models for most manufacturers are trout rods. Many technological advancements in fly-rod design have been made with trout in mind. From gently placing tiny midge patterns on tailwaters to throwing articulated streamers for big browns, trout rods have become specialized in a variety of ways. The new Centric, from Scott Fly Rods in Montrose, Colorado, is a testament to the idea that a good trout rod can, and will, do it all. At the heart of the new Centric is its combination of new tapers and new resin system, which reduces the overall weight of the rod and provides anglers with unparalleled stability and recovery speed. This is the fastest, and most efficient, rod Scott has ever produced, and it’s quite apparent after just a few casts that this is a well thought-out rod, designed to do everything a trout angler could ever need. The Centric is available in lengths from 8-foot 6-inches up to 10-feet, and in 4- through 7-weights.

Scientific Anglers Absolute Tippet Supreme $29.95 | scientificanglers.com

Orvis Bugout Backpack $189 | orvis.com We can say pretty confidently we haven’t seen a pack like this come along in a while. From a host of innovative features to standard Orvis-quality construction, the Bugout Backpack is a solution for those anglers looking for the next great pack to wear on the water.

Designed as an angling pack, but just as handy as a carry-on, the Bugout Backpack offers all the features an angler would need: a backpanel integrated net holder, an external water bottle or rod tube holder with an extended sock to keep rod tubes from going anywhere, and accessory docking stations on the shoulder straps. It also features an internal zippered drop pocket with a removable divider, a tricot-lined sunglasses or phone pocket on the top flap, as well as a padded front pocket that will fit a hydration bladder or a laptop (though ideally not both at the same time.) But perhaps the most innovative feature is the side-entry access. By simply swinging the backpack around like a sling pack, you gain access to the main compartment, which has been a gripe of ours about backpacks for a long time. For those that need additional storage, the Bugout Backpack is also compatible with the new Chest Pack and Chest/Hip Pack.

Fluorocarbon is an interesting material. For starters, it’s nearly invisible under water, it has a higher abrasion resistance than monofilament, and also sinks faster than mono. Fluorocarbon is an absolute must for nymphing or throwing streamers, and especially in salt water. This year, the team over at SA has developed a breakthrough fluorocarbon material, improving the break strength over its previous material by up to 33%. The innovation here begins with the properties of the material: it features a unique dual-layer construction, with a softer outer layer to help knots grip into themselves and a harder core that provides much of the tensile strength. While each 30-meter spool comes in at a hefty $29.95, if SA’s strength claims are true, it will be worth every penny the next time your knots hold on the fish of a lifetime. Absolute Tippet Supreme is geared mainly to big-game and saltwater anglers, and is available in 8-lbs. through 20-lbs., with SA’s patented cutter spool and easy ID tippet band.

Airflo SuperFlo $100 | airflousa.com The new SuperFlo series from Airflo features three different tapers designed for all your trout-fishing needs: the Tactical Taper, the Universal Taper, and the Power Taper. Each is meant to solve a different problem. The Tactical Taper, available in 2- through 6-weights, features a delicate front taper and an extended rear taper, perfect for placing tiny dries on a dime from any distance. The Universal Taper is designed as a more do-it-all line for anglers who may nymph, throw dries, and toss streamers from the same rod on the same day. It’s available in 3- through 9-weights, which should cover a variety of situations. At the other end of the spectrum is the Power Taper, an aggressively weighted line meant to throw far, turn over larger flies, and counteract today’s fast-action rods. It’s available in 3- through 9-weights. Each of the SuperFlo lines is 90-feet long and features welded loops on both ends. No matter where you find yourself in trout country, Airflo has built a SuperFlo line for you.

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NEW & NOTEWORTHY: GEAR 62

The Soul of Fly Fishing

Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair $299.99 | yeti.com Let’s be honest. Does anyone truly need a $300 camp chair? No. But, as always with Yeti, the Trailhead Camp Chair is another example of the company taking a simple product, over-engineering it to the max, and coming out with something that looks great, performs very well, and will stand the test of time. Falling squarely into the “just barely related enough to fly-fishing accessories for us to include it on this list,” the Trailhead is the ultimate camp chair. After a long day of walking and wading, it’s good to know you’ll have a sturdy, comfortable chair waiting for you back by the campfire. This thing is solid. Featuring a lightweight crossover frame that snaps into place with color-coded tensioners and the forgiving Flexgrid fabric, the Trailhead can support up to 500-lbs., yet remains comfortable while sitting for hours at a time. With an included cup holder, and extra-strong feet, there aren’t many things Yeti didn’t think of; speaking of which, the entire chair is UV-rated, meaning it won’t break down in the sun over time.

Outcast OSG Clearwater $1,299 | outcastboats.com The OSG Clearwater, brand new for 2021, takes some of the design elements from Outcast’s multi-person inflatable rafts and transitions them to a sturdy, well-appointed, single-person frameless raft. For gear heads, the Clearwater features trampoline-style cargo spaces in the front and the rear, allowing you to pack up to 450-lbs. of gear (including yourself, of course.)

The open oarlock system accommodates longer strokes, allowing you to really get after it in rough water, if need be, and the high back seat sits on top of an inflatable thwart, allowing for excellent visibility and rowing. The best part? The boat only weighs 35-lbs. and can easily fit in the back of a pickup truck. No trailers required.

WATER MARKS

Characters

Jim McLennan Jim McLennan has been fly fishing and writing about it since sometime in the last century. He continues to indulge his passions for fly fishing, bird hunting, writing, and music, but unfortunately this leaves very little time for the thankless task of keeping Derek under control during filming of Fly Fusion TV.

S

o there I was, working on a bird-hunting article, explaining some of the dangerous things hunters and bird dogs can encounter out there in the woods or on the prairie. Things such as snakes, skunks, porcupines, bulls, heat, cold, or the farmer’s dog can ruin a day pretty quickly. As I considered this, I realized that our sport has some dangers as well, perhaps with more potential for exasperation than bodily evisceration, but threats of their own just the same.

In fly fishing these hazards aren’t animals or acts of God, you see, but instead are some of the folks we occasionally find ourselves sharing the water with, either intentionally or accidentally, and either way, regretfully. So I give you….

The Blabbermouth He or she can’t wait to tell everyone about the great fishing they’ve had, and where they’ve had it. Luckily the “platforms” available for their work are many and varied. Fly shops are great places to hold forth, as are boat ramps, fishing club meetings, and of course social media. They’re happy to give you the GPS co-ordinates of the hot spots as well as a short course on how to use Google Earth.

The Curmudgeon This fellow occupies the opposite end of the spectrum from BM. He not only refuses to tell anyone where he fishes, he exudes something approaching contempt for those who do tell. And if his fishing is bad he blames it not on weather, conditions or the vagaries of fish, but on other anglers and quite likely guides. “The hordes of nutjobs on the water these days have ruined it for the rest of us.” Resist the temptation to point out that he may be one of the nutjobs in question.

The Instructor-In-Waiting This fellow is all enthusiasm all the time, happy to provide information to fellow anglers when requested—and when not requested. He’ll give you a few tips on your casting, even though he seems to have a lot of wind knots in his leader.

He’ll give you some tips on fly selection, even though he hasn’t caught any fish yet. He’s a pleasant and well-meaning sort who never lets the lack of an invitation stop him from giving some helpful advice.

“Let’s Go Together and Buy a Boat” Guy It seems simple at first: “We’ll partner up and split the cost three ways. Bob gets first dibs on it in May because he found the boat, I get first dibs in June, and Chuck gets first dibs in July.” Sure. But Chuck discovers that the boat seems to have developed a leak while in the hands of one of the other partners; or was it that way when Bob found the boat? The repair costs Chuck two hundred bucks, and the week of prime fishing that he had taken time off work to enjoy. It doesn’t stop there, but you get the picture.

The Absent-Minded Tinkerer Here I simply present one of many examples: Grant and Joe were going lake fishing and asked Harold if they could borrow his tricked-out john boat. Harold said sure and thought he would help out by applying some new-fangled

64

The Soul of Fly Fishing

epoxy paint to the bottom of the boat to make it slick so it would slide over rocks easily. Grant and Joe get to the lake, back the trailer into the water and begin to push the boat off the trailer. The boat doesn’t move. They push harder.

The boat doesn’t move. The boys wonder where their strength has gone and push some more. The boat stays on the trailer. They try lifting the boat off the trailer. The boat rises a couple of inches and so does the trailer, revealing that the carpet on the deck of the trailer is firmly glued to the bottom of the boat. It seems that Harold hadn’t let the fancy epoxy paint dry long enough before putting the boat back on the trailer.

The Fly Thief “I can’t believe I left my fly boxes in my truck. Guess I’ll have to use some of yours today. They’re way better than mine anyway.” Note the clever use of passive-aggressive flattery.

Buddy Who Says He Can Row A Drift Boat, But Can’t “Sure I can row. I do it at home in the basement all the time.”

This is always a very pleasant person, someone to whom you

would never speak an unkind or impatient word, so he takes the oars and rows, sort of. You take the front seat and fish, sort of. In silence. With clenched teeth.

Buddy Who Can Row A Drift Boat, But Says He Can’t Remember the last time you got an email from a “representative” of your long-lost uncle in Nigeria? This is a con-job, too: “Yep, ever since I tore both rotator cuffs, I can’t throw a slider or row a boat at all.” Funny, but he still casts pretty good.

Buddy Who Says He Can Row And Can, But Doesn’t “Wow, the day just flew by. I guess I never did take my turn at the oars. Sorry, dude.”

Buddy Who Has to Stop Early But Doesn’t Tell You Eventually he’ll tell you, but will do so about 10 minutes before he has to leave. This announcement corresponds precisely with a sudden uptick in fish activity. You get to leave then too, because you’re driving. But you didn’t really want to catch all those fish anyway.

flyfusionmag.com

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END OF THE LINE

Flies on the Barbee Lee Barbee Lee Barbee has been tying for a few short years for therapy. He finds the outdoors and fly tying to be relaxing. He loves to teach others how to tie and fly fish. You can find him on Facebook as Lee Barbee. You can also find him at The Fly Fishing Show as a demonstration tyer.

BWO Spinner

CDC Wing Sulfur

Hook: Partridge L5A Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Tail: Barred microfibbets Body: Semperfli synthetic peccary Wing: Semperfli floating poly yarn Thorax: Semperfli dry-fly dubbing UV: Solarez Bone Dry Plus over the body

Hook: Partridge SLD2 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Tail: Moose mane Body: Semperfli kapok dubbing Wing: Cream CDC Hackle: Whiting Farms badger UV: Solarez Bone Dry on the whip finish

LB’s Softy @redwhiteblueflies

Hook: Partridge K12ST Bead: Black nickel tungsten Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Body: Semperfli pearl tinsel Backing: Solarez fl. green Ribbing: Semperfli tying wire, black Thorax: Red ostrich herl Hackle: Whiting Farms Spey in black and Whiting Farms Brahma hen in brown Collar: Squirrel dubbing

Quill Body Soft Hackle Hook: Partridge Czech nymph hook Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Body: Caddis green stripped peacock herl Thorax: Orange sow-scud dubbing Backing: Pheasant tail fibers Hackle: Whiting Farms Brahma hen in brown UV: Solarez Bone Dry Plus over the body and on the head

The Horned Ant

Wood Duck Chuck

Hook: Partridge K12ST Abdomen/ thorax/ head: Semperfli kapok dubbing Wing: Semperfli floating poly yarn Antennae: Semperfli Inferno biot, black

Hook: Partridge H1A Bead: Matte black tungsten Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Tail/body/legs: Wood duck flank Ribbing: Semperfli tying wire, black Thorax: Golden yellow ostrich herl UV: Solarez medium over the thorax

Check our flyfusionmag.com for two bonus patterns from Lee!

66

The Soul of Fly Fishing

There’s no such thing

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Some of these plasticizers contain chemicals that are known to adversely impact reproduction in certain aquatic species. So, they for sure don’t belong in your favorite trout stream. And while we admit we want you fishing Airflo, we also don’t want you contaminating your favorite waters. (Hell, they’re probably ours too.) So we’ll give you $10 off every new Airflo line when you trade in a PVC line. We’ll even make sure they’re safely recycled. Just visit your local shop, give them your old line, and get $10 off a brand new Airflo. That’s good juju any way you look at it.

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gloomisflyfishing.com