tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80653466079234609812024-03-13T23:15:49.018-07:00Living Fly LegacyThis blog is primarily about fly fishing for trout, carp, steelhead, and just about any other fish that can be caught with a fly, that I have access to. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-48934929327474148072019-08-19T22:20:00.002-07:002019-08-19T22:20:59.098-07:00Go-To Euro Streamers - Two Squirrel Streamer Tying Tutorials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are so many benefits to euro-nymphing. While the draw was obvious to me as I first witnessed a successful euro angler firsthand (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/gilbertrowley/?hl=en" target="_blank">Gilbert Rowley</a>), it has been a steep learning curve. Many of the rivers I regularly fish are larger, with deep water and fast currents. It was daunting taking a short-game approach when confronted with so much water, but all the failed attempts have slowly payed off in the form of lessons learned. Success has come, but slowly.<br />
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Before picking up a whippy flippy euro stick, I was mostly drawn to fishing larger mouse patterns and streamers with an 8wt rod. While many fish can be caught with smaller nymphs, larger fish are caught with more regularity on larger fly patterns. True, smaller nymphs can catch larger fish, but I'm more inclined to think that this is the result of a numbers game. Fish are just more likely to put in extra energy to chase something down with a bigger energy payoff. They'll usually let the small stuff come to them.<br />
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Most bigger fish didn't get that way by eating zillions of tiny bugs. Don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean that a whole chicken and rabbit have to be tied onto five gaping B10S hooks to draw the attention of a big fish. I've caught some of my biggest fish on nothing bigger than a Wooly Bugger. It doesn't have to be a large streamer to do the trick.<br />
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While I still throw larger streamers on my euro setup on occasion, I have found more success in more situations with smaller streamers. I've toyed around with Dolly Llama streamers, Slumpbusters, and even my own <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2015/02/fly-tying-skullcracker-streamer.html" target="_blank">Skullcracker Streamer</a>. All are excellent patterns, but can be a bit unwieldy to throw on a lighter rod, once enough weight is added to get it down. All the rabbit leather and hair keep these patterns from sinking as fast, and as a result need more weight to compensate.<br />
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I have tied lead jig streamers for quite some time now, but a buddy of mine, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/big_t5050/" target="_blank">Tim Davidson</a>, came up with a simple way to paint the jig heads using just nail polish and clear Gorilla Glue, and put me on to using squirrel strips to minimize current drag for fishing them on a euro setup. It's been pretty downhill from there.<br />
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The following tying tutorials show two of the main few patterns I use with my euro setup. The Squirrel Leech is essentially the same pattern Tim ties, but the Squirrel Sculpin is a variation of a pattern tied by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justin.aldrich/?hl=en" target="_blank">Justin Aldrich</a>.<br />
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Two of my favorite things in a fly, simple to tie, and extremely effective. If you're not into the euro thing, these also fish well under an indicator. Tie some up and give them a whirl.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Squirrel Sculpin</span></b><br />
<u>Hook</u>: <a href="https://www.fishusa.com/Wapsi-Fly-Tying-Jig-Heads?quantity=1&L-Weight=314&L-Color1=12309" target="_blank">Wapsi Super Jig Head</a> (1/32oz, 1/16oz or 1/8oz)<br />
<u>Jig Coating</u>: Your choice of nail polish color (<a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS812US812&biw=2560&bih=969&tbm=shop&ei=xnxbXbSjD8Ha9AOCxbuwBw&q=olive+nail+polish&oq=olive+nail+polish&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0.46889.49344.0.49559.17.9.0.8.8.0.95.660.9.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.17.670...0i10k1.0.Z2EPLaClqz4" target="_blank">Olive </a>--> Sally Hansen 838 Ever Green) (White --> Sally Hansen 300 White On) + <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-4500104-Clear-Glue-1-75/dp/B06WD6R96X" target="_blank">Clear Gorilla Glue</a><br />
<u>Body</u>: Dubbing of your choice to match/compliment your squirrel color (I recommend cream colored, or a tan/white ice dub)<br />
<u>Tail and Collar</u>: Squirrel Zonker Strip (color of your choosing, but Sculpin Olive is used in this video)<br />
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If you don't care for explanations, you may want to skip to <a href="https://youtu.be/-CAEON89cpg?t=205" target="_blank">3:25</a> on this one.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Squirrel Leech</span></b><br />
<u>Hook</u>: <a href="https://www.fishusa.com/Wapsi-Fly-Tying-Jig-Heads?quantity=1&L-Weight=314&L-Color1=12309" target="_blank">Wapsi Super Jig Head</a> (1/32oz, 1/16oz or 1/8oz)<br />
<u>Jig Coating</u>: Your choice of nail polish color (Black --> Sally Hansen 880 Black Heart) + <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-4500104-Clear-Glue-1-75/dp/B06WD6R96X" target="_blank">Clear Gorilla Glue</a><br />
<u>Body</u>: Dubbing of your choice to match/compliment your squirrel color<br />
<u>Tail and Collar</u>: Squirrel Zonker Strip (color of your choosing)<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-77631443265511068742019-03-21T17:22:00.002-07:002020-08-10T23:10:30.735-07:00Make What You Have WorkI often find myself behind the vise into the late hours of the morning, trying to anticipate what the fish will fancy the next day. I’m burdened with an overpowering sense of being unprepared or missing that one niche pattern that could be a game changer. The problem is, I already have boxes of disorganized prep sessions. Many of the flies tied in these frenzied fits never touch water and as time passes I feel a growing need to better utilize what I have and simplify my approach. The truth is, the simple go to patterns will usually work and work well when utilized correctly. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
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One thing that I have learned over time, and euro nymphing has emphasized this, is that compensating for the limitations of your gear is paramount to success. <br /><br /> One of the big draws and advantages to euro nymphing is that it gives the angler the ability to change depth by how the rod is held, not by how an indicators depth is set. Let’s say you are fishing a regular indicator setup, and you don’t want to change the depth of your indicator. Rather than changing something with the gear, the angler can simply adjust their cast and their drift. Cast further upstream to get deeper. This would allow more time for the rig to sink before getting to the prime zone of the drift. Another option is to use a tuck or pile cast, which allow the rig to sink straight down without any extra drag from the current. In this same vein, if an angler finds their rig going too deep and they are catching the bottom, there are ways to compensate without adjusting the indicator. Simply land the cast with the indicator leading the flies. This will cause some drag between the flies and the indicator, which will not allow them to sink as fast or as deep. It’s these minor alterations that can be made on the go that separate a good angler from a great angler. <br /><br /> There are many examples to illustrate this point. When mousing at night, much of what determines success is not as much what pattern you fish as it is how that pattern is presented. The right pattern can make the whole process easier for the angler, as there is less to compensate for, but a great angler could catch a fish with a chunk of wood with a hook on it simply by mimicking the right movements in the water. I've even had success skittering a streamer or nymph across the surface of the water, making a v-shaped wake, which has induced fish to bite when they were actively looking up at dusk. It's all a matter of making the gear/fly/tackle do what YOU want it to do, rather than being at the mercy of what the gear naturally does.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKpVbdorypIuJlk_hyZ2X6CIXAOLto-gofEKAKP1V4B9TjFjkiGoP_RF5dmFq2fTEkrjvPfYIq0ojJejjkP0GKcyMq_1gQ-d-8V0P0jFRniROmBJt9OuFhuoEWpCjxJqpfV5qPnEIAoE/s1600/DSC_0773-2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKpVbdorypIuJlk_hyZ2X6CIXAOLto-gofEKAKP1V4B9TjFjkiGoP_RF5dmFq2fTEkrjvPfYIq0ojJejjkP0GKcyMq_1gQ-d-8V0P0jFRniROmBJt9OuFhuoEWpCjxJqpfV5qPnEIAoE/s640/DSC_0773-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /> The thing is, we have come to place in the world of fly fishing where a lot of stock is placed in the gear itself. Some considerable improvements have come along in the technology. But, if we are being honest, it always comes back to the competence of the angler. I can catch just as many fish on a Walmart fly rod and line as I can on a fancy G Loomis and Airflo line. One is far more pleasant to fish than the other, but ultimately it’s me doing the catching, not the gear. So to those thinking "if only I had that or this," remember, you probably have a rod, the line, or the flies in your box that will do the trick. <br /><br /> As for myself, there's no need to stay up so late tying that perfect pattern. I really should use what I have, and just try to think through the fishes behavior and perspective and do what I need to to match it while on the water. On the other hand, I'm a glutton for punishment, screw the extra sleep.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="yj6qo" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-28671588970610877862018-03-27T17:37:00.002-07:002018-03-28T11:46:52.717-07:00Fly Tying: The Ichabod Artimouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can one think too much about mousing for trout? Maybe. If it is possible, I'd be more than guilty. As I spend most of my time mousing nocturnally, and the visual aspects are not the same as daytime, it has made understanding night-time trout behavior a slow process. To add to the difficulty, trout in different locations and different times of year behave differently enough that on more than one occasion I have been forced to question the meaning of life... or just my current tactic. I kid, but seriously, what else does one do when casting and retrieving in the solitude of the stars. And, just when I think I am starting to figure things out, some new idea or view comes to my attention. It's quite the process, but I love it.<br />
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Along this journey of piscatorial exploration fly patterns are like way-points. People who prefer to tie and fish their own patterns rarely stick with a particular pattern indefinitely. This may even be the case when a fly has proven effective. As new patterns emerge, those left behind serve as tangible glimpses into their designer's past. Many fail to see it, but both the tyer, and often their close friends recognize the memories held in one little fly. I see some of my own history through those little creations. It's a history of learning, and I often find myself wanting to tell people that "I used to tie it that way, but now I do it this way." When that urge arises, I often want to include accompanying explanations as to whys.<br />
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Well, here I am again, doing just that.<br />
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This post --> <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2017/12/mousing-hookup-problem.html" target="_blank">Mousing: The hookup problem</a> is a precursor to this post, and pattern. It presents some of the problems faced when mousing at night, many of which I try to address with this pattern.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fly Tying: The Ichabod Artimouse</b></span><br />
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Fortunately, the Ichabod Artimouse is a relatively simple pattern to tie. Unfortunately, that does not make it a fast fly to tie. The following is a list of what you will need to tie one up.<br />
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
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<b>Hooks</b><br />
-Size 2/0, Gamakatsu Fine Wire Worm Hook<br />
-Size 4, Gamakatsu B10S Stinger Hook<br />
-Size 1/0 Matzuo Baitholder Offset Straight Eye Hook (you could use a wire shank here)<br />
<b>Head</b><br />
-Foam head (old/cheap flip flop, large double barrel popper head, foam shop mat, or layered foam)<br />
-Tube fly tubing (clear pen tube with a pipe cleaner, or any other <a href="https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fly-Tying-Tubes-Rigid-Tubing-Tube-Flies-Tying-Material-Available-In-4-Sizes-Clear/32362059199.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.11.AVtnmQ&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3_10152_10065_5000015_10151_10344_10068_10130_10345_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_51102_10546_10340_10341_10548_10545_5130015_10609_10541_10084_10083_10307_10610_5690015_10539_5080015_10312_10059_10313_10314_10534_100031_10604_10603_10103_10605_10594_5060015_10142_10107-10610,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=b0be0cf5-1338-4007-962f-5477c8700de5-1&algo_pvid=b0be0cf5-1338-4007-962f-5477c8700de5&transAbTest=ae803_5&rmStoreLevelAB=0" target="_blank">sturdy fly tube</a>)<br />
-2 or 3mm foam sheet<br />
-UV Glue<br />
<b>Body</b><br />
-<a href="https://www.hobbylobby.com/Yarn-Needle-Art/Yarn/Deep-Night-Yarn-Bee-Gilt-Eyelash-Yarn/p/35394" target="_blank">Yarn Bee Gilt Eyelash Yarn</a> (I use black when using this material) <b>OR</b> -Rabbit Strip, like the original Artimouse (whichever color you prefer)<br />
-Ice Dubbing (again, I use black for my night pattern, but you could definitely mix it up. A bright color may even somewhat resemble the classic Hemorrhoidal Mouse if put in the right area)<br />
<b>Legs</b><br />
-Medium Round Rubber Legs (I prefer medium because when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL_gXzSoD74" target="_blank">furled</a>, the knots usually hold. The larger doesn't without a speck of super glue) (whichever color you prefer)<br />
<b>Tail</b><br />
-Rabbit Strip (for this pattern, I used black, but you can mix it up)<br />
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The two following videos are both tutorials for the mouse pattern, but the first is a very succinct version, for those who just want that. The second is longer, and has much more commentary on the different parts. After the videos, I have included the reasons why I came up with the pattern in the first place.<br />
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When I first shared the Artimouse, it was fascinating to behold the changes that occurred in the world of mousing for trout. I've noted many people and patterns influenced, many of which I'm sure have no clue. That's just the nature of the internet. Now I see angled, large foam floating heads, and furled legs on mouse patterns all over. It's cool to see such a ripple effect and I definitely love seeing the resulting beautiful fish from people using the pattern. People all over have since added their tweaks and personalized parts, which has also been fun to witness. But, I digress, so, back to the main idea. If the original Artimouse works, why change anything? I'm so glad you asked. The following video addresses the topic.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-15889708524780410462017-12-11T16:41:00.001-08:002017-12-11T21:15:50.376-08:00Stoked about Confluentus: The Merging of All Things I only thought that the next post was going to be about the Ichabod Artimouse. What I didn't realize was that it would be, but only indirectly.<br />
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I'm pleased to share with you, the culmination of a lot of work, and some serious talent on the part of <a href="http://captureadventuremedia.com/" target="_blank">Gilbert Rowley</a> and <a href="http://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/" target="_blank">Devin Olsen</a>, our film, Confluentus: The Merging of All Things, or as Devin might call it, A Love Affair With Bulltrout. :)</div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-87863589859238632682017-12-05T15:52:00.002-08:002017-12-16T21:00:09.471-08:00Mousing: The hookup problem<i><span style="font-size: large;">This post is a precursor to my new artimouse pattern. It has been affectionately dubbed the "Ichabod Artimouse". Its creation was to try and deal with some of these issues. Now, let's get nerdy.</span></i><br />
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Hookups and mousing sometimes feel like antonyms. It's as if they are the same poles of two magnets that we try to force together. For anyone who has dedicated time to mousing at night, they can attest to the low hookup to blowup ratio. This is not based on any scientific studies, but my experience leads me to say that in general only about 20-30% of mouse-takes at night result in a hookup. This number varies some according to location, retrieval direction and type, timing and speed of the set, size of fish, and the fly being used. I have had magical nights where everything fell into place and my hookup to miss ratio was much greater, but as a rule, I hook far less fish than I hear or see splash at my fly. But, why?<br />
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It is an issue that has been swimming around in the cerebral juices of my mind for the past few years. It does not help that the questions only multiply with added contemplation. Is it just part of mousing, and as such, is an un-fixable problem that mousers must live with? How often are real mice missed in the wild? Is it all about retrieve and set style, or can fly design alter the outcome? Where to begin?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Problem #1 - Messy Takes</span></b><br />
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First and foremost, a mouse swimming in the water is a potential thanksgiving meal for an ambitious trout. The protein payoff is great, but the effort required to engulf and swallow such a large offering hardly matches the effort it takes to sip a small caddis. The angle of the take is a bit more vertical than a regular rise, as is evident by the toilet bowl flush/splash sound one hears in the darkness of night. It is usually violent. A fish that has committed to eating a poor amphibious mouse is out to kill, to drown, and often to eat. It's not pretty, and it's not clean cut. I think the fish that we hook are those who opt to eat their quarry whole and living, without the fear of being prey themselves. I guess we could call them raptor browns (think <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UQv2JUZoU" target="_blank">Jurassic Park raptors</a>). With this carnal energy, combined with the angle of attack, it is not always easy for a trout to connect with the target. Items floating amid the waters surface tension act/react differently from items that are fully submerged. One moves out of the way easier than the other. It's worth thinking about. We can actually witness this whole messy take phenomenon in the following clip:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jYa4JVOmSWo?rel=0&start=1330" width="560"></iframe>
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The fly is pushed out of the way, whereas if the same fly were subsurface it would be less likely to be pushed out of the way. I think this air-ball effect is often what is happening in the darkness of night, where both human and fish cannot see as well. We just aren't able to witness the fumbles visually. This brings up more questions. Does a smaller fly produce more hookups, or does a larger pattern?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #2 - The Drowning Tail</b></span><br />
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This issue may well have been placed with the previous, but recent discovery of this video illustrated it so well that I thought I should give it separate attention. Often browns, especially those in slower waters, will try to drown the fly before consuming it. Often the tail is used as the tool. This also results in a very loud splashy noise, and if you are fishing in the dark of night, it's hard to tell the difference between a mouth-take and a tail-slap. So, naturally, we set on these tail-takes. We often feel the fish, but set only to find absolutely no resulting pressure. Because of this behavior, it can be very effective to cast the fly right back to where you felt the set, and let it linger there for a moment, occasionally adding very minute tremulous movements. The attacker may simply be hunting around in the darkness to find it's drowned victim. The following is a video that demonstrates this behavior exceptionally well.<br />
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<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8WIqElhLxE?start=104" width="560"></iframe>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Problem #3 - Big Fly, Little Fly</span></b><br />
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Flies, both big and little miss fish. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. To be honest, I'm still not decided on the matter. Small flies can certainly fit into a gaping brown trout kype with greater ease, and may leave hooks more exposed with the lesser amount of material used, but the target is harder to see (especially at night) and draws less attention in disturbed water. Smaller patterns can also be easier and less tiring to cast, but are also easier to push aside during an up-swelling take.<br />
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Larger patterns are easier to see in the dark, push more water, and can draw more attention. If they are articulated, their attraction factor increases with the extra jointed movement. This can add to the appeal and realism of the offering. In some circumstances I have done better with smaller patterns, but in my experience, this has only been evident when it is smaller fish doing the taking. Larger flies that hold more water are less easily pushed out of the way, but the fish has to hit it at the right angle, as there is more to fit into the mouth. They can also be more difficult to cast with the greater wind resistance. I always start out with an artimouse type fly simply because it is my confidence pattern, and has proven itself again and again.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #4 - Hook Placement and Type</b></span><br />
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With a larger pattern, where it presents an option, it seems that fish either go straight for the head, or nip the butt, or sometimes the tail of the fly. If the fly is presented right, in relation to how a fish is oriented in the current, the fish T-bones the fly (the best scenario for hookup in my opinion). Because fish generally go for the head or butt of the fly, hook placement can be the difference between a fishless night or one spent tussling with trout. If the hook is too far back (at the end of the tail), you can snag the fish, if it is too far forward, it doesn't usually stick. I'm not opposed to placing a hook at the end of the tail, but I rarely choose to do so. This is not for lack of experiementing and trying. If it has worked for you, cool beans, keep it up. Another issue with stinger hook placement is distance between the two hooks. Place them too close together, and it can cut your hook penetration power in half (much like a bed of nails distributes and lessens the pressure of any individual nail). I have found great success with only using the stinger hook (I prefer mine just after the butt of the fly). I think clipping off the front hook can not only maintain the available pressure/force, but also allow more momentum to build before the hook makes contact, which can result in greater penetration. Gotta love physics.<br />
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One issue that a friend of mine brought to my attention, in regards to stinger hooks was the way they behaved due to their design. With a stinger hook, if it has a short shank, the hook can easily turn away from the thing you are trying to stick it into. The eye of the hook, being closer to the bend of the hook, allows more movement away from the intended target. Also, the angle of the eye sets the hook point further out of the way. For this reason, I now place some tubing on my regular octopus stingers to keep the hook exposed and in the line of duty. Or, I simply use a longer shank-ed, straight-eyed hook. Because these are difficult concepts to explain and visualize, I created the following video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kggPxGEvLCM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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One more thing that can reduce hookups has to do with the size of the hook itself. People often tie mouse flies on larger diameter wire hooks. The finer the wire of hook, the easier the penetration. I think misses and lost fish can occasionally be attributed to this factor. I prefer my hooks super sharp and my wire fine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #5 - Fly Mass</b></span><br />
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No matter what kind, or how much material you put into a mouse fly, it will not match the mass of the real deal. A real flesh and blood mouse has a greater mass, and therefore, is not moved or pushed away from the trouts mouth as easily as an imitation. I suppose we could make a pattern that weighed as much, but no one would want to cast it. Maybe I would on a spinning rod, but on a fly rod the thought isn't at all appealing. This is one area it is difficult to address with a fly. I often wonder how much it affects the outcome. Larger flies or materials that retain water may be less susceptible to this problem.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #6 - Big Fly Heads</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW2nxfp6uJNzWA-tyIs2xMGVOMacrJs6tfIOCnJcCtclkMjm6m6TrzbGVJegOQ2-f6COH5iIfZoTXPha8U7ZrM2v_nRG1yAi_GuG0JqNQ5Mq3hz4KWZqiz6a6240SSi2NEv_jOBV82WY/s1600/Artimouse_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW2nxfp6uJNzWA-tyIs2xMGVOMacrJs6tfIOCnJcCtclkMjm6m6TrzbGVJegOQ2-f6COH5iIfZoTXPha8U7ZrM2v_nRG1yAi_GuG0JqNQ5Mq3hz4KWZqiz6a6240SSi2NEv_jOBV82WY/s320/Artimouse_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fish commonly go for the head of a fly. Sometimes having a large foam, cork, or deer hair head can prevent the hookup. The fish often get the fly in their mouths, tension is felt, the angler sets, and then the fly comes flying back at the angler, without the fish in tow. Here is what I think is happening. Once the tension is felt and the angler sets, the big head forces the fishes mouth open. The jaw pops open because there is so much force placed on the fly and the fish doesn't have time to clamp back down on the hooks, which follow right behind the fly's head. I think this is one reason some anglers prefer the smaller flies. A smaller pattern usually has a small enough profiled head so as to not impede the hookset. With the bigger patterns, I think this downfall can be, at least partly, overcome by proper timing on a set.<br />
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Another problem with large foam heads is the water resistance they have. It's like attaching a large thingamabobber an inch or so from your hook. There's bound to be issues with the hookup and fight. I see three obvious problems it presents.<br />
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Firstly, when a fish takes the fly, the angler has to set hard enough to force the hook into the fishes lip. The force necessary is magnified considering the angler is pulling a chunk of foam through the water as well. The big head's ability to push water makes the mouse pretty irresistible to fish, but it adds a degree of difficulty in setting the hook. Two edged sword I suppose.<br />
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Secondly, water resistance and a large foam head also, in some cases, I think, cause the hook to work out once the fish is hooked. When a fish is thrashing around under water, the head has buoyancy force pushing it upward, making it want to float, as well as the force pushing it in the back and forth water resistance. It's no wonder it can pop out during the fight.<br />
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Third, and lastly, some sensitivity is lost. When a fish comes up and takes the fly from anywhere but the head, the fish must pull against the floating head for the angler to even feel something. Not all mouse takes at night are loud and splashy, in fact, I think the bigger the fish the less splashy and noisy a take is. If a big fish "sips" in your fly by the butt end, you aren't likely to even notice, and by the time you move to set, the fish has already let go.<br />
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These are some of the primary issues I have tried to address with my most recent mouse pattern, the Ichabod Artimouse (Ichabod Arti for short). Its tying tutorial will be put up shortly after this post.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #7 - Setting Struggles (Timing)</b></span><br />
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On multiple occasions, I have found myself mousing right alongside a friend. One is hooking fish and the other is struggling to connect. Both fishing the same fly. Both fishing the same water. Both getting takes. Only one connecting. The difference? At least in part, it is the timing of the set. I once heard that in New Zealand, guides encourage their clients to say "God save the queen" before setting on their dryfly takes. This is to allow the fish to turn away, causing the line and in turn the hook to press against the fishes lip, so as to increase the chance of connecting with the hook. I have tried applying the technique to my mousing, and it makes all the difference. I used to be a big proponent for only setting once you feel tension. I have since changed my opinion of the matter. I now treat my mousing takes like a big fish dry fly take. Listen to the take, wait a moment for the fish to turn, then strip set hard (I often also add a rod set to this action). On one trip this year with a friend, who was in the exact same scenario I mentioned a moment ago, he finally got the extra pause down, and proceeded to hook up and land fish the rest of the night.<br />
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I think sometimes anglers think a fly does not work because they are struggling to hook a fish. They sometimes switch to a different mouse pattern and start having more success. There is nothing wrong with this, but I think the change in fly is more successful because it better matches that individual's technique rather than the fly itself being any more or less effective. Cast, retrieve, and even setting are all affected by the patterns we choose to fish. Go with your confidence fly, but remember there is always more to learn with other patterns, which leads me to the last problem.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Problem #8 - Impatience</b></span><br />
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Sometimes all we want to do is catch fish. I often find myself gravitating toward the places I have already known success. But, I also know the gratification of fishless nights of discovery and learning. Sometimes I want one, and sometimes I crave the other. Success is always sweeter with the latter. It is earned, and I always come away wiser and with more ideas. People don't have to enjoy the same things, or approach them the same as myself. I'm grateful that most do not, despite my liberal giving of information. For those who are interested in having more success with mousing, to you I say, do not give up. Limit yourself to only fishing one mouse pattern for the whole night. Try it for a whole day even. And don't give up on a specific location. Try it from different angles, different water levels/time of year, and with different retrieves. I have fished the same waters that others have pounded to death, only to find success from approaching it differently. If you keep getting blowups, but aren't getting it to connect, try slowing your retrieve down, waiting longer after the take, or set even when you don't feel tension. Success will always be hidden from the impatient, both in mousing and in life.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Final Thoughts</b></span><br />
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No matter what an angler does or fishes differently, I still think there will be plenty of missed fish, especially when chucking a mouse at night. Much of the missing, I think, is the nature of the beast. We anglers miss plenty of fish even in broad daylight. But, just like during the day, we can make adjustments to our technique and our gear to increase our odds. Once an angler gets these things in line, I'd dare say the hookup rate improves to around 80%, and 80% is a pretty epic night of mousing.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-54211461666438741662017-08-28T22:57:00.000-07:002017-08-28T22:57:17.346-07:00Fly Tying: The Night Rider StreamerIt is silly sometimes the things we put off. Usually it is the simplest of things too. I'll chalk it up to human nature. Either way, multiple recent requests to either tie or give instructions for the this fly have motivated me to finally film a tutorial. I apologize for it's length. It really is a simply fly to tie, but you never know how long it takes to explain a simple pattern, and your reasoning behind it, until you try. The simplicity of this pattern makes it easily customizable, so don't feel the need to do it exactly how it is shown. Good luck if you give it a whirl, and I hope it helps you do some damage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif63ZyiLDblCTSe3EK6t5AKJVySNVX15j5IB2sdOFIVTyssdIS84mitJdIyYY8JkPcZns8baap-8p-RIieXvTAsdaE3szvMunnppcb5CAjI2dUYB6te89hCB3UW9uOTkaE8zlcVU7bg_o/s1600/Night+Rider+Streamer.jpg.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif63ZyiLDblCTSe3EK6t5AKJVySNVX15j5IB2sdOFIVTyssdIS84mitJdIyYY8JkPcZns8baap-8p-RIieXvTAsdaE3szvMunnppcb5CAjI2dUYB6te89hCB3UW9uOTkaE8zlcVU7bg_o/s640/Night+Rider+Streamer.jpg.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fly Tying the Night Rider Streamer</span></div>
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I looooove brown trout. In any given day they are generally my favorite fish to chase. I love their primal predatory instincts, aside from their buttery mother-lovin' exterior. Hunting a hunter is a bit of a thrill. Careful, I'm not saying you should go chase someone in an orange vest during hunting season. That could end very badly. </div>
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Brown trout are all about the ambush. They prefer the nocturnal darkness of night to chase down unsuspecting minnows, leeches, and even rodents. Because of their hunting prowess, they are often found in the same areas as their quarry at night. This means big brown trout waddle up into those shallow areas we walk right through to get to the deeper lies during the day. Fishing these shallow areas can be tricky with a heavier fly at night. Also, fish are notorious for short-striking in the darkness. Swatting at silhouettes is tricky business. For these reasons, I developed this pattern early on in my night fishing explorations, and it has remained an effective staple fly in my night fishing arsenal, even to this day. </div>
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The artificial material gives the fly buoyancy, the natural materials add a seductive movement, and the stinger hook helps seal the deal. Don't be fooled by it's simplicity. I am a firm believer, born of experience, that the simpler patterns are often the deadliest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfcm5mSjd6XZoR4Hyo8TpiCLj7FnTQHqDd6FpILu3nGmDn0C1l2eSo4DR-ue72x4lWXTusXrrcpr_8CAdxfQXaUwXKYaUQcw8Yn8Z6Q-ccE6q45rONWBFMeKuiuCLbh1YJYrmnQo1Di0/s1600/NightRiderStreamer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfcm5mSjd6XZoR4Hyo8TpiCLj7FnTQHqDd6FpILu3nGmDn0C1l2eSo4DR-ue72x4lWXTusXrrcpr_8CAdxfQXaUwXKYaUQcw8Yn8Z6Q-ccE6q45rONWBFMeKuiuCLbh1YJYrmnQo1Di0/s320/NightRiderStreamer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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-4x size 2 streamer hook</div>
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-Size 4 Gamakatsu Octopus hook</div>
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-65lb Braided Fishing Line (Spider Wire)</div>
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-Beadalon (optional)</div>
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-4mm plastic beads (in whatever color you want to tie - black and clear are my go-to colors)</div>
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-Marabou (whatever color you want to tie in - again black is my most common)</div>
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-Rabbit strip (you choose the color)</div>
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-Polar UV Chenille (or another similar chenille of whatever color you prefer)</div>
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-Rubber legs (usually black), or glow flashabou<br />
-Other optional additions: Bead or cone head, dumbell eyes, deer hair head, fish eyes, etc.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KfPHc61h2-Q" width="560"></iframe>
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A few victims, who went for a night ride:<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-71601444291017542992017-07-18T09:13:00.000-07:002017-07-18T22:02:34.629-07:00The secrets of your water<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I am haunted by waters."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>-Norman Maclean</i></span></div>
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When Norman Maclean wrote this iconic phrase, I wonder if he realized how immortal it would become. The words mean different things to different people, but all anglers feel some bond, or connection to them.<br />
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For myself, the idea conjures up an image of an angler, on a warm summer morning, standing in a clear-watered freestone river, the sun dazzlingly adds a soft glow to the dense cloud of mist, rising in softly webbed sheets from the water. It's a place I want to be in the very heart of. It's a place I want to feel, to experience, to attain. It embodies all that is good and hopeful with creation. It's an ideal most anglers spend their days trying to realize. We all seek after those magical moments. It bedevils our subconscious dreams, and we are left with an urge to be in a place where nature cleanses our souls. These words, and those that precede them, are so simple, and yet so powerful. They resonate with a desire held deep in my bones. Their author knew, as many who read them know.<br />
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All waters, no matter their location, or the size of fish, hold promise and possibility. A perfect timing for a perfect hatch, where all the elements align and the fish feed with reckless abandon and you can do no wrong. A perfect moment where the light and firmament combine to give you a glimpse of God's creations in their eternally unmatched beauty. It may just be a moment on the water with someone you care about, where you make a kindred-spirited connection, or a peaceful day spent pondering similar relationships. Whatever it is, the stars can align, and that elusive moment can be experienced, usually in a once-in-a-lifetime manner, but it leaves us, well, haunted, wanting more.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Secrets of Your Water</b></span><br />
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The diversity that fly fishing offers is what keeps me coming back for more. It is why I love it. Just when one avenue starts to lose its thrill and interest, another opens up, and often from a place I had not foreseen. The techniques and methods of fishing can be mixed and matched in an almost infinite amount of ways, and I am not one to draw boundaries around what I will and will not include in my angling. The locations we fish are not excluded from this blessed diversity. That doesn't mean we have to travel to all corners of the earth (though with the money and time, that would be nice). It just means that we can search for new approaches to the water we already know and love.<br />
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I get excited about figuring out my waters. All waters hold their secrets, often in the form of bigger fish, more fish, or new methods to catch the same fish we are familiar with. Whether you are trying to catch a bunch, or the biggest one of that bunch, it can always be done better, differently, more often, or in a way to get that fish of a lifetime. In smaller waters, it may just be a matter of catching more fish, or catching some amount in a different way. This is often why people use lighter weighted rods, such as a 3wt on a small stream. The challenge increases, even if the fishes size does not. On the other hand, in the moderate to larger waters, it usually has some connection to finding fish with increased size.<br />
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While I don't know the secrets of your waters, I do know the secret to finding them out. One of my favorite lines in the old movie "Better Off Dead," embodies the main idea.<br />
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Okay, so maybe it's not the best illustration, but here is the trick, start from what you know, and do something different. To get the results we have never seen before, we have to do things we've never done before. For a fly fisherman, this may mean using not only a different fly pattern, but a different type of fly altogether. From dry to a nymph, from a nymph to a streamer. From small to large. From low-profile in color to flashy and flamboyant. From slow, methodical retrieves to fast and erratic. It could be as simple of a change as fishing at a different time of day, or year, or in different weather. The whole point is to do SOMETHING different than how you normally do. And, once you have made a change that gives you a taste of success, you'll want to keep looking for other changes that could possibly result in more or better pay dirt. This approach is the key, aside from learning everything you can.<br />
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Coming to know your water is critical (and I don't mean just fishing it the same way over many days, in the relatively same locations every time you go). Truly learning about your water means learning about the water temperature and how it may be affecting the fish, learning the terrain, finding out about all the species that live there, and identifying potential forage like insects and their life cycles, and gaining an understanding of the times of day the fish seem to be most active. Learning about all these elements will lead to more success. Timing and location are probably the two main elements, and they frequently dance together, presenting opportunities as varied as the seasons in Idaho. All these aspects, and more, will allow you to make more educated guesses and changes, and the more deliberate the adjustment, the quicker the road to success.<br />
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The idea of delving into all there is to learn can be daunting. I think that is why many never take the plunge, striving to be content with the patterns of fishing they know. This is one of those areas where social media is a phenomenal resource. Most anglers aren't super excited about giving up locations, but many are willing to share general knowledge, and observations they have made. Just ask. Those who have made an effort to learn already practice this, and on a regular basis, especially in the beginning to build a base of knowledge, and to hone the skill of knowing how to generate more reliable information. This information and knowledge lead the learner on a path to cracking the secrets of the water that haunts them. Not only is this approach more polite and ethical, it is also far more fun. We place far more value on the things we discover ourselves.<br />
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I am a firm believer that in most larger waters, there is usually far more high quality fish than most anglers would like to admit. Admitting it is to admit that we are spending most of our time not catching the bigger fish, and I don't know about you, but my pride and ego don't like that thought too much, even if it is the truth. That being said, certain waters simply do not have the biomass, size of living areas, or have too much pressure to produce large fish. The fish size versus fish bowl size concept seems an appropriate analogy here. Also, what is small in certain waters could be considered a trophy in others. In this case context matters, and I am not so ignorant as to think all waters hold 30" trout. If the biomass and size of water is there, chances are there are fish to match. Please do not be insulted. More than anything, I am making the point that there is usually more to the water than what we casually see.<br />
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The fact is, your water has secrets, and not like the Victoria kind. Everyone knows there isn't much to hide there. Rather, these are those little nuggets of gold that only the persevering and observant angler gets to uncover. That very same water you have fished as a wee lad or lass has a treasure chest of success, only hidden from the unwilling. The question is, are you willing to create a map to find it? Time is the great enemy in this endeavor, but with persistence, and some degree of consistency, one can find gratifying success. I know I get excited at the prospect of better learning the secrets of my own waters, even after all I have learned.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-57720323452334908652017-06-21T13:45:00.001-07:002017-06-27T21:51:20.641-07:00More Lessons in Mousing for TroutHow boring would our sport be, if there were not room to do things differently, to learn from our experiences, and to explore new ideas. I'm thankful the only thing keeping me from making more of my experiences is myself.<br />
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I wanted to take a moment and share a few things I have learned, or that have been reinforced over the past year concerning mousing for trout. I mostly fish mice at night, and I primarily target brown trout, so that may be something to take into consideration with the following rambling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIb69sSCj1JH0GFP-FIGtkIVvg_OmHAxgZmqZ1GhbGeTwo_n2R1wfx4yV13yZ6y7l-JAxHbu-YSrfNC4FhtMsX6i9W4iZhGgK8sjG4NOS95fBAr8R-9Efzmy_aRmxDnY5kfUvvxLwlC4/s1600/File+Jun+19%252C+4+55+27+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIb69sSCj1JH0GFP-FIGtkIVvg_OmHAxgZmqZ1GhbGeTwo_n2R1wfx4yV13yZ6y7l-JAxHbu-YSrfNC4FhtMsX6i9W4iZhGgK8sjG4NOS95fBAr8R-9Efzmy_aRmxDnY5kfUvvxLwlC4/s640/File+Jun+19%252C+4+55+27+PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Trying It</span></b><br />
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The first thing I always tell someone when they are looking into mousing for trout, is to simply do it. It seems redundant, but I cannot emphasize this enough. When I first transitioned to fly fishing I had a hard time leaving the spinning rod and garden hackle at home. The doubt I had in my fly fishing potential pushed me to lean on my old ways, and they became a crutch, crippling my growth. It wasn't until the day I convinced myself to leave the old gear home that I started to see how it had held me back, and distracted my focus from where it needed to be in order find improvement with the alternative method. I remember going through the same process with steelheading. I knew I could catch them with the good old bait-caster. Even then it was sometimes a trial. It took time, but eventually I made the transition. That doesn't mean I don't use spinning rods anymore, but when I do it is not from a lack of confidence like it used to be. I went through the same process with streamers and European nymphing. The moral of the story is, sometimes we have to leave the things that keep us from growing behind. In the case of mousing, that may mean leaving all our other flies at home, and only taking the mouse pattern or patterns we have chosen to experiment with. The risk is that nothing may be caught, but by the end of the day, or night, we will have a much better feel of how our flies look in the water, and how they react to our retrieve.<br />
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Not everyone is willing to spend a whole day or night fishing and not catching, and that is okay. We are all at different stages in our angling, and one stage is not better than another. They're just different, and all are enjoyable for their own reasons. If these musings apply to you, cool, if not, don't sweat it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Stripping</span></b><br />
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In <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2014/09/tips-night-fishing-part-2-mousing.html" target="_blank">previous articles</a> I recommended stripping the line in slowly, trying to make the fly look and swim as natural as possible. In many cases I still feel this is most effective, but what this past year's mousing has taught me is that making a ruckus can really induce bites. The trick is to try multiple retrieves. I did really well with short chugs, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, and found that in one place one approach worked better, but on the same water, in a different location, another approach was better. I learned to mix it up, and not be afraid to make some noise with the fly. I also found that the more natural disturbance there is in the water (from current, wind, or rain) the more "noise" you have to make with the fly to get a fish's attention.<br />
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If you are primarily a pm mouser, I highly recommend a stripping basket. You're line will last much longer, and you will have far less frustration pulling your line out of tangled weeds. A DIY stripping basket tutorial is in the works. Still testing the one I put together to see if it's worth recommending.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hook Set</span></b><br />
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Initially I said that in setting the hook you should wait till you feel the take. While you can't go wrong with this approach, over the past year I found that setting on the sound of a take sometimes produced a hookup. This leaves me to recommend that you do whatever the heck you want. Two things that I found helpful though, were waiting a moment when hearing the take before setting (in New Zealand I have heard they say "God save the Queen" before setting) and then doing a super strip set when it is time to do so. Be sure to close your eyes/wear eye protection/duck if this is your approach, and be ready to clean your line out of the bushes or hook into a monster.<br />
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I have done a lot of searching for a preferred pair of protective glasses, and gone through multiple pairs. One of the things I routinely struggled with is that most protective glasses have some degree of UV protection, which in the pitch black of night decreases the amount of light coming through to the eye. Finally I have found a pair that I really like, which do not have any UV, light reducing, coatings. They are the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/HEAD-988067-Impulse-Protective-Eyewear/dp/B002LG5HH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1497991122&sr=1-1&keywords=head+impulse+protective+eyewear" target="_blank">Head Impulse Protective Eyewear racquetball glasses</a>. And they have a strap, which makes them easy to take them on and off, are comfortable (to me), and are only around $10.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Current Direction</span></b><br />
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This may not apply on other waters, but all those I fish have appeared sensitive to this. Knowing the down stream current direction matters in the moving waters I fish, even with slow current. I still have found it true that a fish is 95% (Abraham Lincoln said this percentage was accurate, and that the internet tells only truth) more likely to take a mouse if it is moving the direction of the current, not against it. Unless you're in Alaska, or some other place where this doesn't apply, then all bets are off. Maybe just pay attention to which direction you are bringing your fly when you get your strikes more, or if you don't seem to be getting any strikes, try approaching the water from downstream moving up.<br />
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Also, with current direction, I have found my hookup rate is much higher when I present the fly so the fish hits it from the side, in a perpendicular/T-bone direction. Often this just means I hook up more fishing from the side of the run, with a slight swing downward toward the end of the retrieve, or casting diagonally upstream or downstream, versus casting directly upstream or downstream. I think it is largely to do with how the fly goes into the fishes mouth, and what it does when the angler sets.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hook Issues</span></b><br />
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Generally speaking the hookup rate when mousing seems to be about 20-30%. That means for every 10 takes, only 2 or 3 will stick, and even if those do, they don't always stay. I have my theory on why this is, which I'll address in a different post sometime, but with such low odds an angler wants to do everything he/she can to increase catch rates. Having a super sharp sticky hook is an obvious aspect to this, but what is less obvious is keeping that hook clear of fly tying material. A little bit of fur in the way is all it takes to prevent that sharp tip from doing it's little job of grabbing, and if it doesn't grab, there's nothing for the hook to penetrate into when we do our epic strip sets. To check this I place my fly in water long enough for it to absorb the water and move it around to check if fur is covering the hook. I then take scissors and trim the small parts that may be laying on the hook. I'm not positive this is a game changer, but I feel on some occasions it has prevented hookups before I noticed it.<br />
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In terms of which hook is more valuable in an articulated mouse fly, I feel the back hook takes the cake. AND, after extensive testing, I really feel that this back hook is best placed at the butt of the body of the fly, or just a bit (roughly half inch) behind it. Hooks in tails have not been at all effective for me, though this may just be from the wheres and how I fish. They also seem to tangle more than without.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Location location LOCATION!!!!!</b></span><br />
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The more time I spend mousing at night, the more I have come to realize that where you mouse is critical to your success. This could be general water, such as a particular river, lake, stream, or pond. It could also be where in any given body of water you are fishing. In my experience, the closer to cover you get, the better. Bushy trees that overhang the water are my favorite places to focus on, and mostly because I think fish hang out near them hoping for something to drop. The closer to the bank you can get, the better because that is where land-dwelling morsels originate. Also, foam lines/seams where things naturally are pushed in the water are an excellent place to focus on. These aspects of location are not without complications. The first location concept means that to find success, one has to explore, and risk having plenty of fishless nights. The second aspect of location is tricky because one cannot see the bank or tight spots in the dark, at least not in any great contrast so as to tell where the bank ends and water begins. The more you know your water during the day the better off you'll be at night. Timing also adds a tricky element to location. A place may not produce even a single blowup one night, but then be ridiculously productive two nights later. This could be a factor of light, hatches, water temperature, spawning times, etc. The fact of it all is that location is a critical part of mousing. The nice thing is that once your find a productive area, it tends to remain a productive area.<br />
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These aren't exactly earth-shattering tips or realizations, but some I thought worth mentioning. Good luck if you make it out to give it a try, and don't be afraid to dedicate a day (or night, though a night dedicated usually results in the following day dedicated to sleep, so same-diff right?) to it.<br />
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For other night fishing, or mousy posts, check out the <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/p/tips-and-tactics.html" target="_blank">Tips and Tactics section</a>.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-47468043265783382922017-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:002017-05-16T10:46:40.177-07:00DIY Shake Fly Floatant<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I don't often fish dry flies, </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>but when I do, </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>I sure as heck want them to float.</i></span></b></div>
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It's no great secret. I am always looking for ways to save money, while still feeding the addiction. Fly fishing is such a small niche in the world of angling. With any small, specialized market, there tends to be a pretty high markup on products. The more unique the product, the more expensive it tends to be. For this reason, many fly anglers seek out inexpensive resources. Craft stores are often a fly fisherman's best friend. I always feel a bit odd wandering around the toll paint, yarn, and beads. This doesn't mean I don't fund my local fly shop, because I feel that is important too, but, where possible, I will try and save money. The funny thing is, in all my efforts to save money, I think I probably end up spending more. Oh well, at least I enjoy the effort.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">DIY Shake Fly Floatant</span></b><br />
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Some years ago I stumbled upon an online forum where two people were talking about purchasing the same stuff used to make <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ANGLERS-ACCESSORIES-Frogs-Fanny-Floatant/dp/B000QU8DJ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493141576&sr=8-1&keywords=frogs+fanny" target="_blank">Frog's Fanny</a>, and other similar silica based powder fly floatants. I found it interesting. I ended up purchasing some of the material myself, and came up with my own little shake style floatant container. It has worked great ever since, and though I do not fish dry flies very often, when I do, I appreciate having it. For this reason, I thought I would take a moment and share the ideas.<br />
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The material is called fumed silica. It is a common additive in epoxies as a thickening agent. It is remarkably hydrophobic, and can even be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Acquiring this main ingredient is the first step in creating your own shake fly floatant. I have provided a couple links where this can be purchased. It is usually around 10-25$, which may seem expensive, but this will probably last a lifetime.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eplastics.com/m/mobile.html?item=31822" target="_blank">http://www.eplastics.com/m/mobile.html?item=31822</a><br />
<a href="http://epoxyproducts.com/silica.html" target="_blank">http://epoxyproducts.com/silica.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.epoxyusa.com/category_s/4.htm" target="_blank">http://www.epoxyusa.com/category_s/4.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://www.king-cart.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?store=epoxy&product=..Thickeners/fillers/additives&cart_id=49194.37678&user-id=&password=&exchange=&exact_match=exact" target="_blank">Another Seller</a><br />
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<img alt="Image result for fumed silica" src="https://www.flexicon.com/Materials-Handled/images/Fumed-Silica_LG.png" /></div>
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The fumed silica is a very fine powder, and should be handled with care. Once you are ready to open it, and start working with the material, make sure to wear a breathing mask, and protective glasses. Because of its hydrophobic nature, it can cause all kinds of problems in both lungs and eyes, which require copious amounts of moisture. Make sure to keep it away from your kids.<br />
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The next thing you will need is some Silica Gel (balls). This is usually easy to come by if you know where to look. When I first created my own shake fly floatant, I was working as a satellite technician for Dish Network. Electronics are often packaged with silica gel packets to keep moisture out. I grabbed a few from the many receivers I worked with. I imagine you could talk to a local store that sells electronics, and they could dig some up. Another option, if you don't want to be social, and don't mind spending money, is to purchase some online.<br />
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Amazon has them available in bulk --> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Cotton-Silica-Packet-Pack/dp/B0038N30OY" target="_blank">Silica Gel Balls</a><br />
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<img alt="Related image" height="262" src="https://s.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/legacy_thumbnail/1028x675/format/jpg/quality/85/http%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fhss%2Fstorage%2Fmidas%2F76502c07f7f2df84f51c7456f60d5c41%2F204147169%2F542965178.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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The last thing you need is some type of container. I chose an old film canister. It was the perfect size. I had some laying around the house, but if you don't, or don't know someone who does, you can either ask your local photo processor, order some online, or use a different type of container. Non-childproof pill bottles could work as well. It would be easy to request one from your local pharmacy. Who knows, it might be worth it for the looks you get on the river. There's something fishy about an angler messing with a white powdery substance in a pill bottle out on the river.<br />
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More from Amazon --> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Canisters-Black-Scientific-Activity/dp/B01HUQ385U/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493140004&sr=1-5&keywords=film+canister" target="_blank">Film Canister</a><br />
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<img alt="Image result for pill bottle" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDQxNg==/z/z74AAOxyOlhS-oZe/$_35.JPG?set_id=2" /></div>
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Once you have acquired your fumed silica, your silica gel (balls), and a container, all that is left to do is fill your container around half to two thirds full of the silica balls. Then, carefully transfer the fumed silica into the container. I used a plastic spoon for this part. It also doesn't hurt to wear rubber gloves, since the powder can dry your hands out quite well. Once you have a couple spoonfuls in your container, place the lid on and shake it up. Then, slowly remove the lid, place some more fumed silica in the container, and repeat the previous step. Once you are satisfied with the amount you have (I prefer a decent space open so it shakes well) you are good to go.<br />
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When using, simply place your fly (attached to your line) in the container, hold the lid on with your finger, and shake it around. This allows the silica balls to force the fumed silica into your fly. Then, remove your fly, place the cap back on your floatant and resume fishing. It is stupid simple, but it has saved me money. I'm not sure I'll have to ever by this powdered floatant again during my lifetime. When necessary, I simply add more fumed silica to the container. In between fillings, make sure to save your silica in a safe and dry location. It will suck up moisture from the air, and become far less effective if it is not stored in a sealed container.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xi4uGW4ihLvBewFqdSrPQZDqIaFy3GkDR2e78G7YY6KxJUkOyEDaHN5l0JuQ1_sN1hMxEh8sHdcEXouHFXu2ixn6lAWg1_pE3LzVvGTMIJFQj8H_-Sk31XZHaOjPsYT0x-PpB1pcEUA/s1600/sPhoto+Apr+28%252C+2+15+51+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xi4uGW4ihLvBewFqdSrPQZDqIaFy3GkDR2e78G7YY6KxJUkOyEDaHN5l0JuQ1_sN1hMxEh8sHdcEXouHFXu2ixn6lAWg1_pE3LzVvGTMIJFQj8H_-Sk31XZHaOjPsYT0x-PpB1pcEUA/s320/sPhoto+Apr+28%252C+2+15+51+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4+ years of use.</td></tr>
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One last thing to mention. I used tape to attach a key ring to the container. I then attached it to a small carabiner. You could probably come up with a better system, but this redneck setup works for me for now. Hopefully this is helpful, and good luck if you give it a try. And, as always, if you have some recommendations to add, feel free to do so in the comments.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-44482283967315087002017-04-13T13:11:00.000-07:002017-04-13T13:11:30.653-07:00Stupid fliesI spent at least an hour on that dang thing. Two virginal casts, and it was gone. Another sacrifice to the gods of rip rap and underwater snags. Somewhere down in that dirty green hued abyss lay a beautiful fly. I had poured love, attention, and detail into that thing. Maybe I should start carrying a wet-suit and goggles, I thought to myself. Should I throw caution and comfort to the wind and make an exploratory dive to salvage that little work of art? The thought was a tempting prospect at the moment. It is painful to lose something created with such care and attention to detail, and only after the second cast. In a grumpy funk I tied on another pattern. This time it was one I could fish and lose without the same agony I had just experienced. Two times in a trip would be more than I could take. I made the switch, cut my loss, and slowly drifted into a focused state. Without the risk of lost artwork, I could dedicate my attention to the reason I was there; to fish.<br />
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I try not to think about how often this scenario has been revisited. It's a natural following for someone who loves to create and experiment with fly patterns. The flies that are most pleasing to the eye are often the hardest ones to lose.<br />
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Anglers are left with two options: 1- they can fish beautiful flies, enjoying the confidence they induce, but all the while stressing over the potential snag and loss, or 2- they can fish a basic bread-and-butter fly that took a fraction of the time to tie, is far less painful to lose, is cheaper to make/buy, and induces a different type of confidence born of consistent success. Each scenario has unique consequences.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What <i>is</i> a stupid fly?</b></span><br />
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Beautiful and complex flies can create a confidence that is remarkably valuable, but also often results in a distracted angler, who gingerly fishes the fly in a superficial manner, and only hits the sweet spot zones here and there. This confidence is a result of seeing something that resembles the real thing to the angler. It may not move or really look like the real thing at all to a fish, but out of the water it may resemble, at least with the help of our imaginations, what we're trying to mimic. For one of these more artistic, many-materialed patterns, fishing it slower, deeper, or tighter to cover is to risk losing that little labor of love.<br />
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Bread-and-butter, or what I like to call "stupid flies," can be fished with a reckless abandon. Sometimes they are ugly. Sometimes they don't actually have an apparent relevance to a living thing. These patterns are stupid because they are often extremely simple to tie, and are made of relatively inexpensive materials. They let the angler probe the deepest depths, toughest cover, and snaggiest riffles to get to those sweet spot zones rarely reached by the cautious fly guys. This is one reason the tried and true woolly bugger is so amazing. Simple, cheap, and easy to tie, and probably one of the most effective patterns out there. Usually boring, always effective.<br />
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Confidence is a crucial element of success in the world of fly fishing. We work a run differently when we have some degree of faith in the catching. A fly that has so much attention to detail that it truly resembles what it is trying to mimic, or at least gives us that impression, is phenomenal for inducing confidence, but the pain of losing one of these flies is considerable. If the resulting success is substantial, we usually endure the pain. Whether bought or tied, this can be hard on the pocket book.<br />
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To summarize, one confidence comes from an impressive looking fly, but another type of confidence comes from fishing a fly that just plain works, even in it's simplicity, and can be lost without much remorse. With this kind of confidence an angler fishes the deeper, slower, faster, and snaggier runs, and covers those sweet spot zones better and longer. Anglers who tend to fish the stupid flies are generally more effective. They fish without fear of loss, which is to say, they are far less distracted.<br />
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Stupid flies are for anglers who like catching. Fancy flies are for those who like to tie, or admire what has been tied on top of the attempted catching. So, if you like catching fish, I highly recommend identifying your stupid flies. If you're nymphing, these could include Pat's Rubber Legs, Glo-bugs, San Juan worms, or mohair leeches. If you are throwing dries, these could be Parachute Adams, Chubby Chernobyls, or Rusty Spinners. If you are throwing streamers, these could be Wooly Buggers, Circus Peanuts, Peanut Envys, or any other glorified, articulated woolly bugger-like streamer. For myself, I always have woolly buggers/leeches, Skullcrackers, and Skullchasers, in my box. These are all flies that are relatively easy and fast to tie, and don't break the bank. I can fish them with confidence, and without fear of losing a fly or two in the process.<br />
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It isn't stupid to like the nicer flies, to enjoy purchasing or tying them. Sometimes that is just one way to find more enjoyment in the sport. It really all depends on your goals, and what stage of angling you are in. In fly fishing, we all have different things we consider stupid. For some it could be a view that someone else's methods are unorthodox, or not really fly fishing. For another, fishing is stupid when there is no catching going on, or the catching is not easy. For me, it's probably because on the end of my line you will usually find a stupid fly. They work, and that's why I love them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the others, but you'll never find me without my stupid flies.<br />
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I am curious, what are some stupid flies you would add to my lists?<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-30711832655310185832017-03-20T11:24:00.000-07:002017-04-26T10:16:10.706-07:00Neascus trematode: It's a Dam Shame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Who doesn't love catching a big beautiful trout. Their large and small spots make for unique artwork on the canvas of life. Unfortunately, these are not the only spots that can decorate a trout's side. During one of my busier semesters this past year I had been spending my scant fishing time on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River, and what I encountered had me somewhat conc<span style="font-family: inherit;">erned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Diversion dams litter the landscape here in Idaho. It's how we water all those potatoes. It's not altogether a bad thing. It often presents excellent fishing opportunities, but the fact is, they are not natural, and often prevent nature from taking care of business. The situation it creates is similar to the plaque that builds up in a human artery. Poor circulation ruins health and prevents cleansing.</span></span></div>
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The main culprit fueling my concern is a parasite called N<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">eascus trematode. And, while fishermen often like worms, these little guys are a pain in the side, or neck, or whatever other fleshy surface they can sink themselves into. The process can ugly up a trout in a hurry.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Neascus trematode is a type of flatworm, called a fluke. These parasites burrow into the flesh of a </span>vertebrate (trout in this case), after which the host encapsulates the parasite in melanin, creating a little black cyst. The fluke lays dormant inside of the cyst, waiting for its host to be consumed by some type of fish-eating bird. Once the fish has been consumed by a bird, the parasite matures and lays eggs inside the bird's digestive tract. The eggs are then scattered in the birds droppings. Once in the water, the eggs hatch, and the babies look for a host to mature within. In this stage they only have a short while (roughly 24 hours) to find their next victim, which, in this ecosystem is a snail. Once in the snail, the parasite matures. Then they leave the snail, looking for a fish to burrow into, and the cycle begins all over again.</div>
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Now, I'm no official biologist (though I do aspire to teach biology), but the proliferation of the parasites seems to be dependent upon how many hosts are available, for any of the given stages. In many river systems snails are a normal part of the ecosystem, but the quantity is kept in check by a lack in standing, silty water. Here is where the dams become a problem, especially on beautiful freestone rivers like the Henry's Fork. When the parasite is present, and silt and still water allow for snails to reproduce in copious amounts, the result is a spurt in parasite population. This is exactly what I have observed on the lower Henry's Fork in places that have not previously been affected by the parasite. To see it down lower, where the water meanders through silty farm fields is to be expected, since the Teton river is rampant with the parasite, but up further, on some of the water that is classified as world-class fishing, it is a frustrating find. </div>
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In 2008 the Fall River Electric Cooperative was given <a href="http://www.localnews8.com/news/kifi-top-story/chester-dam-nearly-done/57699131" target="_blank">the green light</a> to install a rubber bladder system on top of the already constructed Chester Diversion Dam. The bladders added height to the dam, to further divert water into their little power-plant by increasing the water depth. This created even more of a lake than there already had been. Now, I'm not sure that the bladders made things worse or not, or if the increase in parasite population has been a direct result of warmer temperatures, but I had not noticed any fish infections before their installation. I feel they have slowed the flows enough to cause greater silt collection (more breeding ground for snails), and warmer water. The combo is hard on the fish. Warm water, and parasites! This past summer the vegetation in the water was incredible, which is definitely a correlation to warmer water. Now, I'm not sure how big of a role the dam changes play in this little equation, but it seems to be the straw that broke the camels back. It has the potential to be a tragedy for those who love the big feisty beautiful trout of the lower Henry's Fork. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Neascus trematode Teton River victim</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another Neascus trematode Teton River victim</span></td></tr>
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I wouldn't be too concerned if I had only noticed it on one or two fish, but I noticed it on every brown brought to hand, and I have seen just how bad it can become. Also, by way of note, this is not likely to become a concern much higher in the system, as the water maintains a decent flow. It is just frustrating to see it taking such a hold in the lower stretches. </div>
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For those concerned about human health: The black spots (cysts) that result from the infestation have not been found to be fatally harmful to the fish, or even to anyone consuming the fish, though it is recommended that those who choose to eat the fish will do so after thoroughly cooking the meat.</div>
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I wish I had some kind of solution for this problem, but when money is involved, I worry that much can be done. Is it a large enough cause to rally behind? Is it even a real issue, or maybe a spike in the natural ecology? Is fish and game aware? Do they even care, or do they have bigger fish to fry? (Pun extremely intended).</div>
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At this point, I feel the best thing we can do is to keep an eye on it. With this winters snow pack, it bodes well for the coming year bringing a good flush. Who knows, if we have multiple winters like this one, maybe it will succeed in cleaning the system up as well as providing plenty of cool water for the fish throughout the warmer months. Let's keep our fingers crossed.</div>
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-49076874689696505802017-03-07T10:28:00.002-08:002017-04-26T10:17:33.197-07:00This One's Personal: Looking ForwardI was getting tired of opening the blog and seeing the eulogy to my father. Not that I don't miss him, because I do, very much so. It is more that I have trouble seeing the same thing over and over again, and life does not stop, so neither should we. There are some exceptions in needing to see different things though, like my wonderful wife; I'll never get enough of that. And, my rambunctious children, who drive me quite crazy at times, but who I would give heaven and earth to remain with. Their love and companionship is not something I'm in any hurry to change. That being said, variety in most things in life is desirable and often healthy. Here's to moving on and looking forward!<br />
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I was once told that our greatest joys are found in our greatest suffering. I thought it an odd idea at the time. In the midst of trials, it is remarkably difficult to see any joy, as most people who have experienced this little hoohaw we call life can attest to. Much like the traveler who stands at the foot of a lofty mountain, sometimes imagining the view to come is not an easy task, especially when the wanderer has not climbed that particular mountain before. Often the only thing that keeps us going is knowing that we still can, or knowing that we have climbed other difficult mountains in the past with success. I think the latter tends to be more motivating, but sometimes the former is all we have.<br />
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I am better coming to understand the concept today. The joy usually comes after the suffering, though sometimes the two can be experienced simultaneously. It is quite possible to be happy for someone else while being sad for ourselves, and vice versa. Like a bittersweet treat, opposing elements throw one another into sharp relief, and the contrast helps us better appreciate the differences.<br />
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If there are constants in life, change and trials would probably top the list. It's amazing how things can all fall apart in one moment, only to fall into place the very next. Money troubles, disease, loss, broken relationships, job problems, and even unwanted consequences from our poor decisions plague us day to day. But among all the messes are the little nuggets of bliss and joy, which can put our whole existence into perspective and give the suffering meaning.<br />
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The past 8 years have not been easy, and for more than the obvious reasons. Watching friends and acquaintances, many younger than I, buying homes and settling into the patterns of life traditionally expected at my stage of life. In some ways I still envy those who enter college knowing what they want of life and occupations. I have spent the whole past decade trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my occupational life. I had graduated college, intending on furthering my education, with the final destination to teach at a university. Shortly after graduating though, I became uncertain, and started to think that income needed to be more of a priority. After some initial plans fell through, I set my sights on becoming a physician assistant. Having a BA degree in history was far from the required prerequisites needed to enter any medical profession, so I went back to school.<br />
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It was a tough transition, going from the philosophical views historians work with, to the cut-and-dry, matter-of-fact approach that the sciences utilize. It was eye opening, and stretched me far more than I had ever been stretched, academically speaking. I needed some type of medical experience. Eventually I was offered a position as a psychiatric technician at a local behavioral health center. I worked there while still working as a satellite technician. The stretching continued. It was an eye-opening experience. A revelation really, in the messiness and difficulty of life. It was an education in love and trauma, and helped me to see the good in even the seemingly worst of people. I learned to judge people's actions through their circumstances, rather than who they are themselves. I learned the value of true teamwork, and depending on others. I learned how to better communicate, and how important it is to show love in the process. It was an education I never thought I needed, nor wanted, but now consider invaluable. It changed me.<br />
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The application for PA school (CASPA) is beastly. I applied two years in a row. The first attempt resulted in an "interview waitlist" response from one school, and a bunch of "we're sorry to inform you" letters from all the others. The second application cycle produced two interviews. I accepted the invitations to attend both, and felt each went quite well. I was hopeful, though things did not feel quite right. Eventually the "we're sorry" letters arrived, along with feelings of frustration and confusion. I was at a point where I had to decide whether to redouble my efforts and keep pushing for something that made sense in my head, but did not feel good in my heart. As a side note, I had prayed routinely that God would not let things fall into place if it was not meant to be. This left me in a slightly confusing situation. Be careful what you pray for, and how you ask for it! After some serious soul-searching, and trying to grasp the message I was being sent, I came to the realization that becoming a physician assistant was not my mission in life. It was a hard realization, and hard to let go of the benefits I saw accompanying the occupation.<br />
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The thought of income can be both motivating and terrifying, all at the same time. Some may say that it matters, and maybe it should to those people, but I came to realize that for me and my family, it was not the priority. Money is only a means. So I let go of the means, and embraced the goal, which was to provide for my family, and place myself in a good environment that would push me to be a better me through helping others. I let go of my aspirations to become a PA, and oddly enough, turned back to my original plan, to become a teacher. And you know what, it felt right.<br />
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I searched for a certification program that would best fit my needs. Eventually I entered an accelerated program through ISU. I am currently student teaching and loving it. It is hard, but overcoming the difficulties, and knowing that I am helping others make it all worth it.<br />
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I am confident that our trials work to our betterment, and that God is mindful of our difficulties, dreams, and hopes. Sometimes things end messy in this life, and I still feel that things will work out when all is said and done. Sometimes though, we get to see things work out in this life. I know divine providence has played a large role in where I am today. Let me explain why.<br />
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I would not change my focus in college for anything. Learning about history, peoples, and cultures was enlightening. The world became so much bigger, and I grew to see people and their differences as amazing and wonderful. I also learned that certain things are better for the health of societies, and we can learn from others' actions. The history degree did not prepare me for a vocation. It prepared me for life. It prepared me to be a better human being, and gave me a desire to contribute.<br />
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The money and years I spent learning about sciences, the body, and general biology after college were not wasted either. I became fascinated with the natural world, both the living and non-living things. I consider both history and biology fascinating because they teach us about what it is to be human, on multiple levels, and isn't that what we all want to know? What makes you, you, and what makes me, me are questions we spend our whole lives trying to answer.<br />
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I had only intended on certifying in world and US history when I entered the secondary education certification process, but when time came for me to declare what my focus was, I counted up all my credits and realized I gained enough biology to certify in that as well. Thinking that I would be far more marketable as a teacher, I requested to include it and was given a green light. I then prepared for, and passed both Praxis tests for both areas. At this point I was still thinking I would be teaching history. As part of an observational (pre-student teaching) course, we were placed in a situation that was the opposite of our main focus. For me, this meant that I was placed in a middle school (7th grade) biology class. To my surprise, I found that I really enjoyed teaching biology, perhaps even more than history.<br />
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When the time came to request a school for student teaching placement, I had intended on a school further north. Surprisingly, things didn't feel right about requesting my originally intended school. I couldn't make sense of the feeling, but decided to follow it. I asked for the only other thing I could see mattering; proximity to my home. When the announcements of our placements came, I was placed in the school I had requested. We weren't supposed to contact our cooperating teachers just yet, but I looked her up to see what I could learn. I was surprised to find that she only taught science/biology. I contacted my supervisor via e-mail, and she said that she would let me know what to do after contacting the principle. I was supposed to have been placed with a history teacher, since that was my emphasis. To my further surprise, I received a phone call from my supervisor. She had spoken with the principle, and had been urged to place me in the class anyway, as long as I would agree to it. This was to be the cooperating teacher's last year, since she was retiring. My supervisor asked if I would be interested in doing my student teaching in biology instead. I jumped at the opportunity, and here I am.<br />
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There is no guarantee of a position with the school, though, if I am honest, I do feel I am in a good position. I am loving the environment, and am excited for what the future holds. I may have chosen to be a poor teacher, but things feel right, and I know the Lord takes care of those who listen and try to follow. It gives me so much confidence in my decisions, looking back and seeing how much has fallen into place. Each step along the way has given me different tools, even when things did not seem like they were working out. I still feel things are unfolding, and my experiences have helped me to see that I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me and my family.<br />
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Through all the suffering and trials, I am seeing joy. I have climbed a mountain that did not seem climbable at times, and know I now I can. The view up here is hopeful. I know I can't stay at the top, but that is okay. I know the next mountain has a view worth the climb. Life is not meant to be only mountain tops or valleys. Like an EKG shows, life is all about the ups and downs. It would not be living without the contrast. The rests in music. The white-space in a painting. The black that surrounds the stars. The trials of life. All give definition and place things in some type of gratifying relief.<br />
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Change truly is constant, and is the irony of life. One of those changes that I hope happens before too long though, is that I get to go fishing! Student teaching has me crazy busy. Here's to looking forward.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-4394686945356314132017-01-18T15:31:00.000-08:002017-01-24T12:10:50.859-08:00Goodbye DadMy father died yesterday (1/14/17). Sixty three is too soon. You hear it said often, that nothing can prepare you. I think it's a fair assessment, even for a person with failing health and an overall diminishing quality of life. Dad was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease about four months ago. He had been through multiple surgeries over the past few years to take care of his back, knee, and shoulder. He fought for lucidity so hard that most couldn't see his struggle. I think his personality helped him hide it. He was in a considerable amount of pain, despite the operations and medications, but he wouldn't hesitate to jump up to help, to participate, or to just show you he cared, even through all the pain. He was the last person to think of himself or ever put himself first. We all knew he hurt, but he refused to let it stop him from loving and serving. He was a broken man, and yet one of the most whole people I will ever know.<br />
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I can't remember a time when he wasn't serving. People; serving and loving them was his life. He had every reason to turn inward, but he never did. And it can't have been easy. He grew up in a small town, with alcoholic parents who struggled to show love. As is common with those situations, he followed suit at a young age, drinking, living without bounds, delving into drugs and living a life that matched.<br />
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Then he met Mom. They dated, married, and even partied together for about five years. Once children came my mother began to see how much her little family needed stability, and divine help. She started going back to church, and Dad kept on a rocky downward path. One day Mom caught me taking a small baggy of cocaine off of a windowsill, being the curious toddler I was. It was the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. She realized that things were too dangerous to keep children in that kind of environment and began to make plans. She opened up a new bank account, went back to school to refresh her nursing skills, and prepared to move in with her mother. Dad found her journal and learned what she had been planning.<br />
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He loved her. He truly loved her. Not that shallow, if things are difficult I'm out kind of love, but that messy, I'm not going anywhere, no matter what kind of love. And she loved him back. It's the kind of love this world could use more of. He loved her, more than anything in this world. How do I know? It's simple really, he changed.<br />
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I can still remember attending N.A. meetings with him, and spending time at the Friendship Club that he volunteered at to support others dealing with drug addictions. The alcohol and drugs were the first to go, then the smoking, and eventually even the coffee. The anger and temper took longer, but eventually even they went. The fear and resentment I had as a child has given way to forgiveness, respect, and even admiration as an adult.<br />
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Age has a habit of stripping away our pride, and refining our perceptions of what truly matters in life. I have felt the process in my own life, and recognize its refining effect in my elders. I thank Heavenly Father that I lived to witness my father treating my children with the very love and tenderness that he missed showing to his own children. There is healing in that, in heart and mind, for both my father and his children.<br />
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My father's life reminds me of the movie "Big Fish." If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend taking the time. Dad never really met a mermaid, giant, or worked with a circus, but the sentiment is somehow very reminiscent of my father. Much of the movie the son is trying to comprehend his father's life, and what it really meant, and in the end has to let his father go, being left to decide whether or not to believe his father's stories. The movie ends with the son symbolically letting go of the negative judgement he had toward his father, and accepting him for what he was, a dreamer doing his best with what he had, who was able to accomplish amazing things with his vision. My own father always dreamed bigger than life, and he was so concerned about others having meaningful experiences and creating lasting memories, that it was hard to see the man behind it all. I think that's how he wanted it though, all about others. It was he who taught me that some of the best experiences and moments of life are created, not just happened upon. I don't think most people who enjoyed the things he organized realized the attention to detail and the amount of work that went into the orchestration, and that's how he wanted it, all about the experience.<br />
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My dad taught me to serve, to repent, to create, to serve some more, even when it was hard, and most importantly, to love with a love more fierce than death or addiction. All the difficulty and sorrows of the past are swallowed up in the goodness of his life, and his lasting legacy.<br />
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Like a big and magnificent fish... I had to let him go too.<br />
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But don't think the tone of those words is hopeless or even really sad at its core. I know because of Jesus Christ I'll get to be with him again, but next time it will be without the limitations of mortality, and I have no doubt it will be such a happy reunion that the weak words we use now could not ever truly describe it. Till then Dad, keep on the lookout for some good water, and keep the rods rigged up. In the meantime, know I love you.<br />
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For those interested in reading the obituary: <a href="http://www.coltrinmortuary.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1904840" target="_blank">In Loving Memory of William Theadore "Ted" Cutler</a><br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-58060962869307047192017-01-07T00:25:00.000-08:002017-01-07T20:56:02.366-08:00DIY Automatic Hook Setter (JawJacker) 2.0 Simplicity is a wonderful thing. I like simple flies, simple techniques, and simple gear. The more simple a thing is, the less time and focus it requires, which allows more time for actual fishing.<br />
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A little while back I thought up a simpler way of creating an automatic ice fishing hook setter. I liked <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2013/12/diy-ice-fishing-automatic-hook-setter.html" target="_blank">the previous version</a>, but it was a bit of a pain to put together with all the wire bending. I have been fishing this newer version lately, and it works great, so, I decided to put together a tutorial on how I put one together. This time I made a video, instead of taking pictures. It is long, so skip past the parts you grasp. You can even skip to the very end, just to see how it works.<br />
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So why go through all this, instead of making one of those <a href="https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS721US721&espv=2&biw=1536&bih=686&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=homemade+ice+fishing+hook+setter&oq=homemade+ice+fishing+hook&gs_l=img.3.0.0i24k1.43814.48972.0.50008.25.13.0.12.12.0.117.1134.11j2.13.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.25.1185...0j35i39k1j0i67k1.NCUYd9KB8vs" target="_blank">simpler designs</a> that has a wire hooking into the eye of the fishing pole? Well, sensitivity. This setup can be made far more sensitive to bites, requiring the fish to pull less before it goes off. This means a fish is less likely to swallow the hook, and when they bite lighter, they can still be caught. This setup also keeps the wire away from your line, and not able to mess up your rod tip.<br />
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Materials:<br />
-PVC Pipe: 1 1/4" (or bigger) schedule 40 pvc pipe (cut to roughly 31" section, or longer depending on what rods you plan on using with it)<br />
-Fiberglass surveying stake (or any other sturdy material that could be used as supports, such as wooden dowels)<br />
-Wire Hanger<br />
-Empty Deodorant Container<br />
-Thick Rubber Band<br />
-Spiral Rod Holder<br />
-Clip<br />
-Duct Tape<br />
-20lb+ mono <br />
-Plastic Beads for spacers (optional)<br />
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Tools:<br />
-Dremel, with cutting bit (to cut PVC and Deodorant Container)<br />
-Wire Cutter, or pliers with wire cutter<br />
-Needle-nose Pliers<br />
-Drill<br />
-Chop Saw (or some other saw to cut the Survey Stake) <br />
-7/16 or 1/2" drill bit<br />
-Drill bit to match Survey Stake size<br />
-Drill bit to match Wire Hanger size<br />
-Super glue<br />
-Sharpie (Permanent Marker) <br />
-Safety Glasses<br />
-Straight Edge<br />
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These materials and tools are not a set-in-stone list. Many could be substituted, but this is what I had access to. I'm sure there are better ideas, so please feel free to share any in the comments.<br />
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Here are some closeup shots and additional tips with the different parts.<br />
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If you set it off a couple times to check how well it works, make sure to look at your line to make sure the deodorant plastic line catch does not have burrs that are scraping it. If you have already sanded the line catch part, and it is still hurting your line, you can always put a couple layers of nail polish on it to smooth things out.<br />
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If you don't want to mess with the clip, or worry about the extra elevation, you can cut the rod holder shorter, and only drill the top hole in the PVC.<br />
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If you find that your setup falls over when going off, you can re-drill the support post holes at less of an angle. This will bring the whole setup closer to the ice, and more stable when it goes off.<br />
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Also, other materials could be used for the support stakes, such as wooden dowels. I like the strength and durability of the fiberglass myself.<br />
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If you find finish the project, and find that your rod holder holes are at a different angle than your trigger system, or you need additional rod holder holes to match a larger rod, you can simply cut the PVC in the middle, and place a simple PVC coupler in the middle. They are often less than a dollar at the hardware store. This allows you to change out the back rod holding section. It also allows you the freedom to adjust the angle of the rod holder. When I do this, I do not glue anything together. Simply press the PVC together firmly.<br />
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Thanks for having a look, and let me know how it works out for you if you make one!<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-52385103055181370092017-01-05T11:00:00.001-08:002017-01-05T11:00:27.380-08:00Video Killed The Radio Star... and a video worth watchingI recognize that the tone of my posts as of late have been heavy. I do not apologize. This blog is all about the journey of an angler trying to find balance, while enjoying the passion of fishing. It's not all cupcakes and rainbows. And, for those who take the time to read, I hope you get something for your time.<br />
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I recently stumbled on a video by a gentleman named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Sinek" target="_blank">Simon Sinek</a>. He's one of those guys who has keen insight on how things work, and what is going on in our society, in relation to people. I have watched the video a few times now, and have really come to feel that what he has to say is at the root of our social media woes concerning fly fishing. </div>
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I highly recommend that you take the time to listen to what Simon has to say, and think about how it relates to you, to those you socialize with, and the big picture. I see connections, but I wonder if other people will.</div>
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-34993348969049618422016-12-20T00:13:00.000-08:002016-12-31T19:23:47.920-08:00The Rule of ThreeTo the best of our knowledge, this world functions on a basis of laws. Or, at least that is how we have come to classify the naturally occurring events. These laws fascinate me. The law of conservation of mass, the laws of motion, and the law of conservation of energy are a handful that readily come to mind. Their implications produce a fun little game I like to play with myself. I am always, often unconsciously, looking for things that act the way they do as a direct result of one of these laws.<br />
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For example, think about the law of the conservation of energy and an angler's cast. Ultimately what places the fly on the very end of the line at that far distance is a direct result of the energy from the sun. I'll bet you have never thought of your casts as a result of solar energy. The sun heats the earth, and transfers energy into plants. The plants convert that energy into a form that can be consumed by the plant. The plant is eaten by animals, carrying that same energy into the animal, and we get the energy by either eating the plant or another animal that ate the plant. That energy is then used by our bodies, allowing our hearts to beat, blood to flow, and muscles to move. Our magnificent creation of a body then takes that same energy, which originally came from the sun, and thrusts a flexible, whip-like rod backward and forward in the air, allowing the energy to transfer from our arm to our wrist, then down to the tip of the rod, and into the line, which pulls the fly along, eventually placing it delicately (or not so for streamer chuckers) on the water. Multiple laws could be referred to in the whole process, and I find the connections fascinating. Ain't no harm in nerding out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeking Summer Solitude</td></tr>
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Laws are much easier to observe in the physical world. The thing is, there are laws that concern people, but with the malleable nature of humanity, the laws are much harder to see and prove. So much so that the sciences that surround these studies are often referred to as soft or pseudo-sciences.<br />
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In a nutshell, it's hard to know our influence on other people, or theirs on us. These kinds of things require long-term studies, which are impractical, unwieldy, and often lack enough control to be consistently accurate. But, we can make some assumptions, form some opinions, and identify some overall trends, which can be just as interesting to explore. Sometimes it is enough to be able to see or sense a thing, but not be able to explain it. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Rule of Three</span></b><br />
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A good friend of mine introduced me to this idea, and through my little personal game of looking for validation of laws, I have come to believe it as an accurate assessment. I guess I would even go so far as to call it the law of three. It is that, for every person you show a fishing location to, they will show it to at least three others. They may not spread it at first, but by and by it will be spread. I have to interject here, that this rule applies to those who are actively pursuing angling, not really those who go once or twice a year. The implication is that exponential growth will eventually follow. The real question is, is this a bad thing? I found myself asking this question as I stood in the river, fishing for trout in a run alongside 10 other anglers, who had all walked up while I was already fishing the run. I marveled for a moment, that I was in Idaho, trout fishing, not steelhead fishing, and in moments it had become a "combat fishing" scenario. I casted for a bit longer, and then called it a day. <br />
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There is no doubt about it. Social media has changed the game. Many people's definition of exploring new water is scouring the internet for new pictures and information of areas that are already known to other anglers. Pictures motivate and give little clues. It is much less of an independent boots-on-the-ground endeavor. It makes me somewhat sad to see, but just because it is not my approach does not mean it is wrong, or that I have not or will not benefit from the process. I have found my fair share of help from google earth, and I have some pretty sharp friends who do quite well at the game. The internet tools we have are powerful, and not altogether bad. What does bother me is the bartering I occasionally see happening. The "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" approach. I consider myself a pretty nice guy, who is pretty slow to anger, but this approach gets under my skin pretty quick, especially when it involves waters that I care about, and frequent. I struggle to find balance with these issues. I can't even say that the "bartering" is a wrong way to go about it. I just don't personally like it because of <a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2015/11/scarcity.html" target="_blank">my own scarcity mentality</a>. Who gets to be in the "circle of trust" and who should be left out? How many people fishing an area is too much? If I had my druthers, I would never see another angler fishing the water I have chosen to fish in any given outing. I like my solitude. Its one reason I have become a much more nocturnal angler. But, even that is losing its solitude. In many ways I blame myself.<br />
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Social media has created a new baseline. It is taking a lot of the "blood, sweat, and tears" out of the exploration, and making it more of a "pay to play" endeavor. My hands are not clean in the process, as I have learned, and it has led me to seriously reconsider my involvement on social media as of late. I still hold to the idea, as I have mentioned in previous posts, that many of the problems with social media are a symptom of individuals' lack of respect. It's the same argument that surrounds gun control issues. People kill people, regardless of the guns, but a gun can certainly make the process easier. People ruin the solitude and quality of a location, but social media certainly makes it easier. There will always be those who use social media because they love to fish, and would go on happily fishing even without cameras and Instagram posts. But, I wonder who wouldn't be seen on the river if there were no cameras. Think about that one for a moment, it goes more than one way.<br />
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Social media speeds the process presented by the rule of three, but the rule really comes into play with in-person interactions. When a person is personally escorted to a location, shown specifically where to fish, is given effective tools to do so, and is then shown how to, they have now been given a gift. It is a gift born of someone else's exploration and effort. The thing is, everybody has friends, or at least acquaintances with similar interests, and we cannot, or will not, always be fishing with the same people. So don't be surprised when you run into other people fishing your regular haunts, and find that you have a common friend, because, well, the rule of three. It's just as much of a law as any other.<br />
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This brings up questions: Do we not share? Is social media more of a problem than a benefit? If someone chooses to share a location with someone, how do they do it responsibly and respectfully? Is it all just a river etiquette thing? Will the rise in pressure eventually die away? Is less more, or is more less? What do you get out of fly fishing versus what someone else might get out of it? Is one wrong while the other is right? In the end, if the rule holds true, I just might see you on the river. Who knows, maybe I already have.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-39716296453897687162016-11-30T07:59:00.000-08:002016-11-30T07:59:29.226-08:00Gear Review: Umpqua Tongass 1800 Waterproof BackpackGetting lost in the elements is what fishing is all about. There's something so soothing about standing in the middle of a river, rain pouring down, rod in hand, soaked on the outside, but warm and dry on the inside. In those instances I feel like less of a spectator in the symphony of creation, and more like I am a part of it. This is reality entertainment as it should be; how it was meant to be.<br />
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What many of my friends and family struggle to understand is how being amidst the elements when they are at their worst is any fun. The secret is that it can be done, while still being comfortable, safe, and able to protect your equipment. It just takes the right gear.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gear Review: Umpqua Tongass 1800 Waterproof Backpack</span></b><br />
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Not only do I have a great passion for being outdoors among my finely scaled friends, I also love capturing the beauty and adventure on camera. For the longest time I used a basic, waterproof, point-and-shoot Pentax Optio camera. I would occasionally take out my DSLR, but it made me pretty nervous having it on the water. Eventually, I upgraded to a nicer Nikon DSLR and became even more worried that it would go into the drink if I took it on wading adventures. I still took it out, even having a couple gut-puckering close calls, but never without a nagging fear at the back of my mind. Then the <a href="https://umpqua.com/products/packs-and-bags/packs-bags/tongass-1800-waterproof-backpack" target="_blank">Umpqua Tongass 1800 waterproof backpack</a> came into my life and that all changed.<br />
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<a href="https://umpqua.com/" target="_blank">Umpqua </a>is a rock solid company that was established in 1972. Their initial mission was to create high-quality flies, and make them available to a wide audience. They were largely responsible for the fly production and sales model that many reputable companies follow today. Quality was and is their call, and in an effort to remain true to that creed they have kept their focus, keeping to the flies of fly fishing, and those products that are directly related. That means leaders, fly tying materials, hooks, bags to hold all those awesome flies, and some other pertinent accessories. What they do, they do well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure who was wetter.</td></tr>
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Over the past eight months I have had the opportunity to put the Tongass 1800 through the paces. It is a relatively simple backpack, but it is tough, and has given me a peace of mind I didn't realize I was missing until I had it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Good</span></b><br />
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It is simple. The pack is composed of two dry bags, both with roll-tops that seal air/water tight. There is one small packet/pocket that can be removed from the inside of the larger bag, but beyond that there is nothing to organize the contents beyond what is placed in the bag to do so. Some people view this as a drawback, and I have to admit that I wondered if it would be for myself in the beginning. However, the more I used the bag, the more I realized it didn't bother me. In fact, I found myself trying to simplify more, and take less.<br />
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The size of the bag doesn't require me to take less; quite the opposite is true, but simplifying just makes it easier to find things and saves my back weight-wise. I am able to place a coat, boat box, some food, a large Ziploc with miscellaneous accessories, and my DSLR in the larger dry bag with ease. I often place all my smaller fly boxes in the smaller dry bag.<br />
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When I bring more than I probably should have, which is most outings (I hate being unprepared to a fault) the pack has a comfortably padded waist belt to help even the weight.<br />
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One nice feature about the pack is that it floats. This is a great feature for two reasons. First, if it falls out of the boat, it can be retrieved without scuba-gear and a miracle. The second reason, and one I found out unintentionally, is that is can serve as a life preserver. I found this out because one trip I had the belt on and tried to wade into some water that was up to the top of my waders. The water was slow and I wasn't swept away, but quickly felt the flotation from the pack. After that I made sure to un-clip the waist belt when wading deep water. This flotation feature could very well save a person's life if necessary.<br />
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There are plenty of tabs to clip carabiners or zingers to. Also, the same clips that hold the dry bags closed can serve as places to secure extra rod cases or even an extra jacket in a pinch. There are also drink/rod case holders on both sides of the pack. For those who find themselves wading flats, away from trees and other potential rod breaking items, they can utilize the reel pockets in the waist belt. These pockets are meant to help an angler carry multiple rods at once, though to be honest I never used them because I was too worried about my rods getting beat up.<br />
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Among the advantages the Tongass 1800 has, I have to say my favorite is the fact that it is truly waterproof. There are no "water-proofed" zippers to stress over. I love that I can place my DSLR in it and wade wherever I want, whenever I want, regardless of the elements. I cannot state how much I value this single certainty.<br />
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I often find myself fishing solo, which makes it trickier to photograph a nice fish. This pack has made the process much easier, because it quickly turns into a flat surface/tripod to place the camera on, and I can set it right in the water at the rivers edge. This allows me to keep the fish in deep enough water to keep it comfortably safe until it is time to lift for the actual snap.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Bad</span></b><br />
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I love this pack, but with most things in life, if given the opportunity we would likely want to tweak some small things, and this wouldn't be an honest review if I didn't mention some things I would change, given the opportunity. The following are a few things to take into consideration when deciding if this pack is for you, though I do not consider them deal-breakers for myself.<br />
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The pack's simplicity is one thing that may deter an angler. It only has two main compartments, which requires the user to do some self organization. Ditty/stuff sacks would be a great addition for someone considering this style of backpack.<br />
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The roll-top system takes getting used to for those who are used to traditional zippers, and can be a bit tricky to access when on the water. For me, this usually means I plan ahead and throw the main flies into one smaller box I can carry in my waders or wading jacket.<br />
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The elastic water bottle sleeves on the sides are small. They will not fit a traditional Nalgene bottle, but require a smaller profiled water bottle. I love my Nalgenes, so I had to find another type that would fit.<br />
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The clips that are used to close the dry bags are easy to get mixed up when closing the bags if one is not already closed. This is easily fixed by putting some matching paint on the clips that go together.<br />
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I would prefer, for my personal situation, to have zipper pouches on the waist belt, rather than the reel-holding system, but this is a minor issue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUuLIHHGwtoghmjs-9kjRShleJXNN1qVgIEMvY8tzHu-bNvfZFGj8nen1bk2PuKoBxS0bpM4cPveEP9MMls99Uh8jlf1PNmb-pDNbjEB3RMSVsPLitBnIYL4ZJqEEDE8rYWZDYyyIFco/s1600/sIMGP0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUuLIHHGwtoghmjs-9kjRShleJXNN1qVgIEMvY8tzHu-bNvfZFGj8nen1bk2PuKoBxS0bpM4cPveEP9MMls99Uh8jlf1PNmb-pDNbjEB3RMSVsPLitBnIYL4ZJqEEDE8rYWZDYyyIFco/s640/sIMGP0009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pack is sitting in the water, with the camera on it taking this picture.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Eqd27C4Kx07Vh8-yuEIgwjXTD2Dhmx5MJSIVY2rpI3RN1NgM4P0bWGDBvaOnQD7QBr4S7ZVfGUlZ0sr0NVKZLzjJZ6CnKI8E8ZyhycUkFsVK4N2tfufu3m56Oc_ZXUTjzIWGSMfj7J4/s1600/sDSC_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Eqd27C4Kx07Vh8-yuEIgwjXTD2Dhmx5MJSIVY2rpI3RN1NgM4P0bWGDBvaOnQD7QBr4S7ZVfGUlZ0sr0NVKZLzjJZ6CnKI8E8ZyhycUkFsVK4N2tfufu3m56Oc_ZXUTjzIWGSMfj7J4/s320/sDSC_0351.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKrWso3equbkGZW4NKa7yJVTGuHC6EeKiD-5xN2sq0ojJcD26vqCvCNs2sVGaBqGJ-WqB9HJlvuEENIjMFCjZPiTL-KUg8sT3PqBq8XsFbJ77lcsHKfuTBxpwsw8vqKcusQKi2dDTLCc/s1600/sIMGP3272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKrWso3equbkGZW4NKa7yJVTGuHC6EeKiD-5xN2sq0ojJcD26vqCvCNs2sVGaBqGJ-WqB9HJlvuEENIjMFCjZPiTL-KUg8sT3PqBq8XsFbJ77lcsHKfuTBxpwsw8vqKcusQKi2dDTLCc/s640/sIMGP3272.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another backpack tripod shot from back in October.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOZL2IK9c9DHdbwTQVstLaiuZ7FbgtEiWXWkHQXDZsbK9L_O2SEBrGO0VHa1iEG1xuNpCPKTkNN_Zb5Zttq1UXNbUEVGM7-ESIuzKLzyEvUUT48hAUrJs5uN1zQEkym_L9seWu9tOWic/s1600/sDSC_0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOZL2IK9c9DHdbwTQVstLaiuZ7FbgtEiWXWkHQXDZsbK9L_O2SEBrGO0VHa1iEG1xuNpCPKTkNN_Zb5Zttq1UXNbUEVGM7-ESIuzKLzyEvUUT48hAUrJs5uN1zQEkym_L9seWu9tOWic/s320/sDSC_0356.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Despite the things I would change if I were designing the bag personally, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and the learning curve and extra planning/organizing is worth the peace of mind I get with this pack. I would highly recommend the investment for those looking to protect their belongings while bushwhacking and wading. No more putting cameras in giant Ziploc's, and opening fly boxes to drain and dry after wading in deep water. As we enter the winter months here in Idaho, snow will also become a large factor, and I look forward to having a high-quality waterproof pack from a solid company that stands behind their products. These guys know what it's like to get in there with the elements.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_bVV1hYYCbUD-i7jGebrL9j2FH3bIe25xf6RD9eyQrbnntL7AEEwq2I-Cw8uZb9t8aYN-PWlVWKqTjw6o5T65jKIBsdZo-S6at87wqMhtoAkFis-pWa8LS6eD9DH6BOwi__lkrAsTKo/s1600/sDSC_0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_bVV1hYYCbUD-i7jGebrL9j2FH3bIe25xf6RD9eyQrbnntL7AEEwq2I-Cw8uZb9t8aYN-PWlVWKqTjw6o5T65jKIBsdZo-S6at87wqMhtoAkFis-pWa8LS6eD9DH6BOwi__lkrAsTKo/s640/sDSC_0292.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Umpqua-Tongass-Back-Steel-35009/dp/B00PDX4JBU/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1480491305&sr=8-2-fkmr2&keywords=umpqua+tongass+1800" target="_blank">Umpqua Tongass 1800 Waterproof Backpack is $229</a> at most retailers. Umpqua has <a href="https://umpqua.com/packs-and-bags" target="_blank">other waterproof options</a> for those needing more or less space than this pack offers as well.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Disclaimer:</span></i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The reviews at Living Fly Legacy are my honest opinion. Often when offered to give a review, if the assessment of the product is more negative than positive, it is not published and the review is kept private between the provider of the product and myself. Living Fly Legacy is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. My independent status may change in the future, but as of the date of this publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.</span></i>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-86122618644621055292016-09-22T08:09:00.000-07:002017-03-03T14:39:54.866-08:00An Anglers Evolution<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Information is not knowledge. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The only source of knowledge is experience." </span> </i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Author Unknown (though commonly attributed to Albert Einstein) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIdBLg163df2xO4UaUHIxYQ_9KBZSC0KX3bM2zcKx7mN6L_qzsEcHxYfttLxTkFhhxgOPp7KQScXo1WlzD_uCnaOay0TsAsCOyjf6IRcW6jxrtjEnmur2G1TFQBtHfEfXQXpqRbucM_k/s1600/sDSC_0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIdBLg163df2xO4UaUHIxYQ_9KBZSC0KX3bM2zcKx7mN6L_qzsEcHxYfttLxTkFhhxgOPp7KQScXo1WlzD_uCnaOay0TsAsCOyjf6IRcW6jxrtjEnmur2G1TFQBtHfEfXQXpqRbucM_k/s640/sDSC_0294.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The internet never forgets. We cannot put something on the web without creating some kind of digital footprint. Even deleted material may not really be gone. Blogs are not immune to the idea. This means that a simple internet search can drum up a very old post. With a blog like this, one of the biggest problems is that an old post shows very little about the progression of the angler. To be quite honest, I get bored doing things the same way for very long. I can't even tie more than two of the same exact fly in one sitting. With the impulse for growth and creativity I really have to fight the temptation to edit older posts to reflect my current views. I rarely do it, and I think it is important to avoid doing so. There are a few reasons I leave the old posts alone. Ultimately, this is a personal blog, a journal of sorts, and each post tells me far more about myself than most people care to give any thought to. Reading back through past posts, some make me smile, some make me reconsider a technique, some cause me to think of something new, and some cause me to cringe a bit in embarrassment. It's a labor of love... for the sport, for creativity, and for connection. And, it is always evolving, just like my views, my techniques, and my priorities.<br />
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No angler is immune to the evolution, as long as they keep with the sport. We all meander through different stages (some interesting ideas on the stages of angling <a href="http://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/stages-of-an-angler/article_8d3d232e-dab6-54f2-a029-fdf711e828b3.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/the-five-stages-of-fly-fishing/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://epictrout.com/article/viewArticle/2014-08-12%2023:47:18_1" target="_blank">here </a>too) and grow through the process. Personally, I feel my techniques are often changing (some more drastic than others), my theories on trout behavior are not bound, and my goals are anything but static. What worries me, is that those who stop by this little corner of the web may not take the time to understand what they are seeing, but rather take a single page for the whole of who it represents. Just because I once fished a certain way does not mean I still do. Maybe the idea shouldn't matter, but for some reason, I feel it does. Don't we all want to be able to change? To have the freedom to do so? Sometimes it is hard, because the internet (and sometimes people) never forget. (This is not directed at a person, just a general sentiment and idea.) If there's a deeper meaning to this, that is up to the reader, but one thing I do know, I am not the same angler I was last year. And I sure hope I'm not the same in another year. I hope to be better. A better person. A better caster. A better father. A better husband. And a better friend. An anglers evolution matters, and there's a whole lot more to an angler than fish. I'm grateful for new friends, and old. I'm grateful for the good times, and those that are yet to come. I'm grateful I can look back on bad experiences and say that most have been turned into positive relationships and situations.<br />
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Will I still be mousing at night in a couple years? Who knows. Will I be fishing more or less? Who knows. One thing is for certain though, I will still be fishing, things will be different, and that's okay.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-75581679049059550392016-06-06T11:11:00.003-07:002016-06-06T11:11:50.702-07:00Tips: Feed The Mend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYosUnS-LJqrx5KaeRwGoLqy9wII-gNufYSY-T2HW2IwTPq7ilC0TK72pk670VLHf-44rP7zDQ8kwwLDsUzF3P0uhetFEzlpiqlLYnj4jb5Sxw5dTS-U-gpJq2Hu8L0LVPoAwk14CAq8/s1600/sDSC_8960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYosUnS-LJqrx5KaeRwGoLqy9wII-gNufYSY-T2HW2IwTPq7ilC0TK72pk670VLHf-44rP7zDQ8kwwLDsUzF3P0uhetFEzlpiqlLYnj4jb5Sxw5dTS-U-gpJq2Hu8L0LVPoAwk14CAq8/s640/sDSC_8960.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Water is filled with power. Immense potential just waiting to get the kinetic party started. To be frank, it scares me. It always has, despite my love of being around it, and has created a healthy respect. Sometimes the power is hard to see, especially on calm waters. But, try forcing that water through unyielding canyon walls or down into cascading craggy pockets. The frothing foam begins to resemble the seething slobber of an angry pitbull. <br />
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Physics makes a better friend than enemy. We fishermen deal with physics on a regular basis, even if we aren't aware of it. Forces and energy are always at work, heeded or not. Setting the hook too abruptly can rip the hook from a fish's mouth. Not setting hard enough won't transfer enough force to drive the hook into place. Pulling too hard can break tippets, bend hooks, and even snap rods. Wading upriver against the force of the water is a chore, if not impossible in some situations. Learning to befriend and work with the physics at work is a great way to become a better angler. Understanding the mechanics of casting, setting the hook, and using the rod to fight the fish will result in saved gear and more fish landed.<br />
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So much of fly fishing is conceptualization. Often artists picture an image in their mind before even taking a single brush stroke. On top of that, learning to use their brushes allows them to better bring their mental creations into existence.<br />
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Casting, mending, setting the hook, and fighting fish are only few aspects of our art, but visualizing the underlying mechanics and then learning to work with them adds to the result and beauty of the whole experience. <br />
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It is said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. If that is the case, there are a lot of insane fishermen out there. The problem is, we learn by trial and error. Unfortunately, it is easy to develop a "working" technique that does enough to catch some fish, which causes us to become complacent and unwilling to stretch. It always comes back to the 80/20 (<a href="http://www.livingflylegacy.com/2015/11/scarcity.html" target="_blank">80% of the fish are caught by 20% of the anglers</a>). The real satisfaction comes when we work for it, and that means practice and trying to understand the underlying theory. This doesn't mean we have to go fishing all the time. It just means that we explore and improve in the time we have. Who knows, you might find yourself catching more and better fish because of it.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Feed the Mend</span></b><br />
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Casting is hungry work. What better way to satiate that hunger than to feed the mend. Mending is part of the casting process, often done just after the initial cast, but other times done simultaneously. The idea is to keep the fly in the optimal zone as long as possible once the cast places it there. Mending prolongs the presentation. It takes practice and can be quite frustrating at times. Different lines and rods mend differently. Wind or fast moving water can add to the struggle.<br />
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There may be a more technical or regularly used term for this tip, but since I learned the principle through experience I will refer to it as "feeding the mend." This applies to the mend that is done post initial cast.<br />
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Picture yourself having just made a diagonal cast upstream to begin the drift. A second after the current grabs the line and begins hustling it down river is when most guys throw in a first mend. Once the line is straight in front of the angler or just a bit downriver from him is when the second mend is often placed. In both instances, a common problem we run into is that by mending the fly/indicator/line is pulled from it's prime landing spot. So how to fix this? Feed the mend.<br />
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It's a simple trick really, and maybe most people do it already, but I was slow to catch on. The idea is that as the line is pulled up and rolled over for the mend, you let some additional line out. It has to happen as the mend is occurring though, mid-mend if you will. This will allow the mend to occur by taking line from you, rather than pulling the fly-tipped end back and out of the zone. I usually let my line go as I mend so it can take as much as it needs. The extra line you let out can quickly be recovered as the drift continues, allowing you to retain your hook-setablity. Applying this simple little tip will let your nymph or dry or even swung streamer to stay in place far longer, which will result in more hookups. It takes practice, but is well worth the effort. Give it a try. <br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-144751756317180822016-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:002016-03-09T20:38:37.702-08:00It's easy to forget what it was likeThe more time we spend dabbling in any given interest the more our interests shift. It's easy to forget our humble beginnings as our focus moves toward specializations. All sportsmen move through stages, though there are different interpretations on what these stages actually involve. One thing most commentators agree on is that the first stages surround a simple idea of success. For an angler this means catching a fish, any size or species. The what and how don't matter all that much, as long as something is being caught. When young, I think most of our childhood is spent in the simple catching stages. Kids could care less about what is caught, just that there is catching going on. In fact I have come to believe that kids prefer catching multiple manageable-sized fish over many big ones. Too big of a fish and it turns into work.<br />
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<i>"Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. </i></div>
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<i>But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young...." </i></div>
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<i>Albus Dumbledore (OP37)</i></div>
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<i>"The world will never starve from want of wonders, but only want of wonder." </i></div>
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<i>-G.K. Chesterton</i></div>
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As my children grow I find myself being reminded of the simple reality that joy is a result of gratitude, accompanied by a strong sense of discovery and creation. It really does not require much for a child to be happy. Love, attention, and something wholesome to do go a long way in a child's world. A handful of trout only help.<br />
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Will and I spent the day putting riverrock under foot, chatting about the things we saw in between fishing holes. He went on and on about some obsidian scattered on the riverbank, asking all sorts of questions I had no answer to. He was assured when I convinced him that we could look up the answers at a later time. <br />
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His sense of wonder and faith in the things around him and his own abilities often causes me to question what exactly smothers those qualities out of adults. He kept asking to cast in places I was fairly certain there would be no fish, or were too difficult for him to manage a snag-free drift. Maybe we just get used to people telling us "no, it won't work there," "there's no fish in that spot," or "you'll only get snagged if you cast there."<br />
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As the day wore on we moved around and continued to cover the water. Will had made a bunch of casts in one often productive run, missing one good take, and not hooking anything. He took a short break to warm up his hands and rest. I took the opportunity to cast some, hooking a couple fish. I think seeing a couple fish caught increased Will's desire to fish enough to overcome his desire for warm hands. After a couple minutes he picked up his rod and wandered back to the waters edge. I prepared to stop fishing and begin helping him once more but he simply said "Dad, I'm just gonna cast over here." Inside I thought, "he probably won't catch anything right there, but it probably won't hurt anything." Not even a minute later he began shouting, and I turned around to see a very bent rod and Will in the thick of battle. It was a brute trout that showed no mercy for his youthful adversary. I quickly hurried over to help, preparing the net, feeling like Christmas had just come. The fish peeled line off the reel. After a great tussle, Will finally managed to pull the trout shallow enough for me to scoop it into the net.<br />
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Will was nothing but smiles, and I'm sure my face was a mirror image. His faith paid off, despite my experience-induced doubt. This is becoming a recurring theme on our outings. The effect of his raw faith and persistent effort produces fish where they, as viewed by an experienced mind, should not be. <br />
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Some people choose not to have children. I don't blame them. They are work. They eliminate options. They are not always fun. They break things. They cost money. They cause worry and anxiety. BUT. They give you someone to serve. They make you love. They help you have faith. They bring you true and lasting joy. They become your lasting friends. And, they help you remember the hope and wonder you once had in the world, and they help you have it again.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-31234689363186896132015-12-29T08:42:00.002-08:002015-12-29T08:42:36.168-08:00Mousing For Trout: An enlightening lieLearning to mouse for trout has been quite the experience. Like
fishing at any other time of day, there are so many factors that play
into it. Lighting, weather, temperature, time of year, water levels, and
location are just a few factors to reckon with. With so many factors
dancing about each other, it makes for a slow learning process. It's
funny how our outlooks or previously held ideas morph and change with
time and experience. Life is dynamic, with very few static elements. If
we aren't learning, we are only getting dumber. Needless to say, I
still have a lot to learn about mousing for trout. The following is a
concept that has slowly formed in my mind, and may not be entirely
accurate, but it seems correct so far. It may be helpful, but maybe not.<br />
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Here it is. I'm going to say it. Mousing for trout is a sham. A farce. Utter
foolery without Tom as the instigator. Mousing, as many of us have come
to think of it, is not in fact truly "mousing" with many of the
traditional mouse patterns we use.<br />
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Deception is the
basis of fly fishing, but that deception can go two ways. Normally we
try to fool the fish, but sometimes end up fooling ourselves in the
process. This doesn't necessarily lessen our enjoyment of angling, but I
think there is some benefit in realizing the distinction, which
pertains to mousing for trout. It may even change the flies you choose
to fish, or how you fish the ones you're already using.<br />
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In
life we often superimpose our ideas and views onto other people,
assuming they see things as we see them. We can't be blamed. All we have
to go on is our own perception of reality. Our whole world is viewed
through this personalized lens, even our fly fishing.<br />
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As
it pertains to fishing, things that look a certain way to us in our
out-of-the-water world, may look completely different to a fish in the
water. Full deer hair mouse patterns are notorious for this. They are
tied to look just like a mouse that is sitting still, out of the water,
eyes, whiskers, ears, and tail to match. An angler looks at one and
thinks, "man that looks just like a mouse," failing to ask themselves
what a mouse actually looks like in the water, and what parts of a
floating fly can actually be seen by a fish. The funny thing is that
people catch fish on these flies. Naturally, we assume a fish has taken
the fly as a mouse because it looked like a mouse to us out of the
water, before we even fished with it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Spectrum</b></span><br />
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In
fly fishing we often fish with "attractor" flies. These are patterns
that work because they have elements that resemble the real deals, or
just generate curiosity from the fish. Some examples could include:
Stimulator, Rainbow Warrior, Royal Wolf, Chubby Chernobyl, Chartreuse
Glo Bug, Purple Haze, and Parachute Adams. The list could go on and on.
Some of these patterns mimic profile, colors, movement, and water
displacement, while others have no similarity at all, and yet they all
still catch fish. Imagine a spectrum with one side labeled "natural" and
the other "attractor." All flies that are used, or have ever been used,
would fit somewhere on this spectrum. If we're being super literal, all
flies would be classified as attractors, but what I am referring to
moves beyond that assumption and allows flies to assume varying degrees.
Where a fly falls on our imaginary spectrum depends on what aspects of a
fly we choose to focus on. Factors that would cause a fly to move up
or down the scale could include color, movement, profile, or any other
specific trait. For example, a Parachute Adams is a common mayfly
imitation that most dry fly anglers are familiar with. It is remarkably
effective, but I doubt it is because its body color matches many real
mayflies. For body color I think the pattern would fall closer to the
"attractor" side of things, but for the profile it presents I would say
the pattern is closer to the "natural" end. Patterns like this are wonderful go-to's because they can mimic multiple insects. You just have to match the size.<br />
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I have come to
realize that some of the staple flies used while mousing fit better on
the "attractor" end of the spectrum. Full deer hair mouse flies, the
Morrish Mouse, or any other fairly short mouse pattern are examples of
this. The fact is that they work to catch fish, but I truly wonder what
the fish thinks it is rising to take. I doubt many baby mice fall into
rivers, and even if they did they would be small, skinny, and pink. I may be
wrong but most mice are at least two to three inches long (<a href="http://www.thefunmouse.com/info/daybydaybabies.cfm" target="_blank">roughly three quarters length</a>)
before they leave the nest and start exploring, which is generally when
they are about three weeks old. This length is referring to a
non-extended, walking, out-of-water mouse. A sitting mouse is even
shorter. The distinction is significant because when a mouse falls or
crawls into the water it instinctively begins "doggy paddling," which
causes the body to extend, adding more length to the profile.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse flies that mimmic a "sitting" mouse, not a "swimming" mouse.</td></tr>
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Most
of the original mouse patterns are shorter, stiff haired, and pellet or
"A" shaped. As I've already mentioned, these patterns work to catch
fish, but I have come to the opinion that most work because they tap
into some "knee jerk" reactions deeply embedded in a fishes' primal
nature. In the water a mouse is longer than shorter. I tend to think of deer hair patterns that move a decent amount
of water as better resembling frogs than mice. Their silhouette certainly better matches a frog kicking around. With the smaller "mouse" patterns I sometimes wonder if the fish aren't thinking they are rising to a giant caddis or other insect struggling in the water or skimming on the surface. The movement alone may induce a bite because the motion is similar to how an injured baitfish would act on the surface, even if the profile is different. I'm not sure the fish even
really cares what they represent. Just like most human beings would run
to an injured and abandoned crying baby, a fish will at least
investigate something struggling on the surface. For those who have
"moused" with the traditional patterns before, you may have noticed that
nighttime takes often occur shortly after the fly hits the water. For
these attractor mouse patterns it is all about the water they move and
the wake they make, and when something splashes in the water it
instantly kicks the fish into "easy-big-meal mode." I think a bass/frog
popper would get the same results in many cases. Heck, we catch fish
skating streamers, leeches, and even rubber-legs, many of which work
when waked upstream, against a swift current. Nothing in nature does
that! The only thing I can think of that comes close is a caddis laying
eggs.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Lie</b></span><br />
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Much
of what we call "mousing" is a farce then. Just because we call a fly
something, and it catches fish, does not mean the reason it is catching
fish is because it resembles the real deal. Our powerful human brains
can fill in the gaps between suggestion. We dream, we philosophize, our
brains make sense of flawed information, we assume, and we deduce, and
what do fish do, they eat, runaway, and reproduce. Now, #fishlivesmatter
too, so don't be offended, and that's why we #keepemwet, but the fact
is that a fishes' reasoning is very basic and primitive.<br />
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In
the end, most mouse flies fool fisherman and fish, but not in the same
way. One thinks it's a mouse, while the other eats something that is
moving.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why It Matters</b></span><br />
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So,
what is the take-home message here? Well, there are a few things we can
gain from this observation. First of all, I think it opens up our
thinking so that we can focus on one of the key elements of
topwater-trouting; water movement. Second of all, if you want to catch a
fish and say you caught it on a mouse, fish a pattern that at least
resembles a mouse to the fish (old, long held ideas die hard). Either
add some body length to those age old patterns so it more accurately
fits a mouses' profile, or fish one of the newer articulated patterns
that are cropping up more and more now that people are paying more
attention to what a mouse actually looks like in the water. Thirdly,
realize that confidence has more to do with fly fishing than the "right
fly" in a lot of cases. And lastly, get creative. I really think we
could have some fun developing crazy "attractor" patterns to fish at
night, ones that focus more on increasing hookups, or adding crazy
movement.<br />
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I'm not trying to rag on anyone who feels they
have caught a fish with a "mouse." More than anything I am pointing out
an area in fly fishing where we are progressing in terms of
understanding and fly design. If you are doing something that is working
for you, by all means keep doing it and keep enjoying it. In the end,
all we fishermen are fooling ourselves, telling lies and making up
stories, but isn't that part of the fun. Sometimes it causes me to
wonder though, between the angler and the fish, who is fooling who. <br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-42233068427144603312015-11-18T20:05:00.000-08:002015-11-18T20:05:51.025-08:00Scarcity<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Scarcity</b>: [skair-si-tee] <i>noun</i> - the state of being scarce, or in short supply; shortage. </span></div>
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For those who lived through the Great Depression times were tough. People had to use what little they had. Most lived by the saying "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."<br />
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In our current day we have more access to abundance and richness than has ever been seen in history. We live better than most kings did. Our modern curse is not a lack, but a glut. So why do we still suffer from a mentality of scarcity? We worry if there will be enough room, food, leisure, money, toys, time, jobs, resources, friends, etc.... The list goes on and on. Some mild feeling of scarcity may be healthy, but taken to excess it is ugly and creates greed, jealousy, and even hatred. Scarcity itself is a result and companion of selfishness.<br />
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Lately I've been trying to understand why the things I view as positive and enjoyable draw so much negativity from some. I'm well aware that in life it is nearly impossible to please everyone. I just wish we could all get along. In the fly fishing community we all have a common joy, so why does there have to be so much judgement and criticism. As I see it, we are all still learning and trying to become better anglers to better enjoy our sport. I know I for one would much rather fish next to someone trying to learn, improve, and be a better person in general, than an angler who is ignorant and selfish and trying to hog the water. I would much rather be someones friend than their object of criticism and scorn. <br />
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From what I can tell much of the negativity found in the fly fishing community springs from hidden feelings of scarcity and selfishness. I see it in myself and others. We worry there won't be enough space to comfortably fish, enough solitude, enough good fish to catch, or any fish to catch in general. We worry about the impact many people will have on the fewer resources. And even if we realize there is enough to go around, we simply just don't want to share. We humans like to think we're original and that our "secret" spots are only ours. There is great satisfaction in finding or figuring out a place all on our own, so when we make a breakthrough the new-to-us knowledge is fiercely guarded from people we don't want to know. We resent others when we realize the secret is not exclusively ours. We tend to resent it even more when unintended people learn information that we did not give willingly.<br />
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The irony of this whole predicament is that we too were once ignorant to the places we like to fish, many of which were shown by a friend or acquaintance, or were discovered because someone else eluded to those places in picture or story. One moment we are standing on the outside of information regarding a desirable fishing location, wanting to know. The next moment we find out about the place and realize the potential for good fishing and immediately turn into the "this is mine and I don't want anybody else fishing it" angler. We ignore the fact that we were once ignorant of the place and either had to discover or be shown it ourselves, and if there were someone like us already fishing that spot and they had it their way, we would not now know how cool that fishing location is. Who is to say that we, ourselves, are not the "one too many" angler that we dread. And if we were in some miraculous way to realize we were the "one too many," would we be willing to stop fishing that place? The whole situation is quite silly really, and smacks of hypocrisy and yet we are all guilty of it to some degree because of those deep-seeded feelings of scarcity and selfishness.<br />
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I don't claim to have the answer to this dichotomy that so truly is a part of our human nature. But because I see it in myself, and I loathe the negativity it generates, I'm always looking for a way to balance. Oftentimes the best way to deal with a negative situation is to examine the motivation behind the actions that brought the situation about. In this case, selfishness and scarcity would be the motivators. When I accept that, and try to replace it with the opposite motivation of generosity, I find that my actions change, but my resulting experience is no less. As best I can see it, the answer is to SHARE! That age old lesson we learned in our days of yore. Now I don't mean listing GPS coordinates with specific tactics. I don't even mean that we have to tell people any details about where and how we are fishing, at least not on the open internet. What I do mean is good river etiquette. I have found on many occasions that simply striking up a conversation with a stranger on the river results in a much more comfortable situation where you can at the very least fish around each other and not impose. It's a lot like driving in our cars. When you feel that spark of road rage for the person in front of you who is clearly driving stupidly, does it change your feelings if you were to realize that person was your grandma? Connection and communication (sharing in a sense) changes a lot. <br />
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I love fishing so much that when I don't make an effort to keep it in check my family suffers. Also, because I am so passionate about angling I find myself doing everything possible to surround myself with it; reading about it, talking about it, dreaming about it, writing about it, taking pictures of it, developing new-to-me ways of doing it, looking for new places to do it, and making new friends who also like to do it.<br />
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I get flack because I maintain a presence on social media. Some is from complete strangers, some from acquaintances, and a little even comes from good friends, because I choose to share pictures, stories, and other information online. The flack from strangers and acquaintances usually trickles through the grapevine till it reaches me. Rarely do these people seek an open discussion about the topic, which is unfortunate considering that some of my best of friends have differing opinions on the matter and we are still great friends. Instead many choose to let feelings of resentment and disapproval
fester, chewing on the negative criticisms again and again among
their "friends". Maybe it doesn't come across this way, but I do make an effort to not openly share most locations I fish on the internet. I try to respect these places by not inviting the masses with extremely telling pictures or stories. Those who know the places I fish, can tell simply from the fish themselves though, and I make no effort to deceive. <br />
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I'm well aware that the internet has turned us all into takers. It's the sad truth. So much information is free that we have come to expect everything to be free, without even thinking to thank those who provided it. We are all guilty of it. In this setting people worry, myself included, about the impact Instagram, Facebook, and other forums have had on fishing locations. Especially when those posting make an open invitation to fish a place that could struggle from excessive pressure. It comes back to the struggle of balance between sharing and respecting a location, with scarcity and selfishness hiding somewhere in the mix. The internet has certainly changed the face of the fly fishing world. Google Earth itself has made what was once a tedious exercise in exploration, as easy as click, click, zoom. We have powerful tools of exploration at our finger tips and sloughs of motivating media in pictures and videos of beautiful fish that push people toward waters that were hitherto only known to locals. I can't see this changing anytime soon.<br />
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As much as we want to blame social media for diluting our fishing experiences, I still think the biggest problem is from person to person interactions. Be it in the moment river etiquette or from information given to a fishing companion. Two of the times I was the most frustrated with a person, and how they treated a given area I fish, came because of a disrespect for the information that had been given. The frustration was not because the person I showed was fishing the places, but because that person used the good fishing location and techniques I showed them as a bartering chip. It was clearly a means for getting attention from other people. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours" or "I'll show you this awesome place to fish so you will think I'm cool." Sadly, there will always be people who fail to respect our resources, but social media is less the cause than the outlet for such issues. There will always be bottom feeders in the fishing world, with or without social media.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Midnight Mouse Trouncer</td></tr>
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Fortunately, those who still want solitude or excellent fishing can still have it. Those two things will always be protected by a firm barrier of work and effort. They say that 80% of fish are caught by 20% of anglers. That is partly because only 20% are willing to walk that extra mile, or stay that extra hour into the twilight, or go when the temperatures drop below freezing, or stick with a singular technique until they find success in it. You don't have to be a pro. Heck, you don't even have to be that good. You just have to be persistent in solving the puzzles fishing presents, and many aren't willing or want to do that. The 80% would rather spend time catching than fishing, which ironically keeps them in the 80% category. <br />
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In the end I think the networking power of social media is an overall positive thing. Literal and proverbial dams come down when we work together. When we fight, how cool would it be if it were for our sport, not amongst our sport. Let us learn to rejoice in other people's catches and opportunities to fish. Tearing others down simply because we want more to ourselves or want to be first will only lead to a pretty miserable existence. Holding grudges and harboring those bad feelings is a lot like taking a drink of poison and hoping it will kill the other guy. I think we all would rather be someones friend instead of their enemy, and fishing is a pretty silly thing to make enemies over. So if you see me on the river, or around town, or just on social media, don't be a stranger, there's plenty of water and kindness to go around. <br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-10987482405942586282015-11-09T09:33:00.001-08:002015-11-09T09:33:14.461-08:00Tips: MovementMovement is a principle of life. Stagnation yields disease and decay. Movement means growth, organization, improvement, productivity, and cleansing. As it is in life, so also in fly fishing.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the
heavens? </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the
Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty..."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">D&C 121:33 </span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Tips: Movement </span></b><br />
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A little movement can mean the difference between a good day on the water, and a great day. Sometimes the difference comes from what is moved, sometimes it is in how a thing is moved, and at other times it is in how long the movement lasts. Whether it's the fisherman or the fly, motion can be a game changer.<br />
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Streamers: When fishing a streamer it never hurts to consider what the fish might be taking it as. Does it look like a baitfish? Perhaps a large leech? These questions are good to consider because they may change how you move the fly, if you are moving it at all. Leeches wiggle, shrink, expand, and pulse through the water column. As a fly, this would result in smaller movements, pauses between strips, where the fly covers less distance, but may still be repeatedly abrupt or jerky. A baitfish is more likely to dart or have a continuous swimming movement. One of the big differences is from the amount of water they cover. An injured baitfish may fall to the river bottom only to dart back up into the water column. One of my favorite retrieves when fishing a baitfish streamer is a short fast strip, followed by a longer slower strip, and then a moments pause. This approach has coaxed many otherwise unwilling fish to bite, making them think that their potential meal would be easy-pickings. Trying different stripping techniques is a quick and easy way to switch up our approach and worth trying before we switch to another fly or move to another run.<br />
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Nymphs: When fishing a nymph we often think that a smooth, unaffected drift is best. I think this idea results from an issue dealing with depth and bite detection. Whenever we mend our line in a way that our indicator moves, it lifts our flies out of the sweet spot, requiring more time on the drift for the flies to sink back into the zone. Good mending usually helps us avoid pulling our flies too much out of the zone, but we often miss out on an aspect that could increase our catching; the movement. To add movement to an indicator/nymph rig the answer is found in adding more weight either to the fly or to the line. This allows us to twitch the indicator intermittently, causing our flies to dance, all the while still allowing our flies to stay deep in the zone. Adding movement can be especially beneficial when fishing a hatch where bugs are emerging or fishing nymphs that resemble a leech, baitfish, or crayfish. If you aren't using an indicator, you may already know how deadly a slow stripped tandem nymph rig can be. Swinging soft hackles is another effective approach. With a single handed rod and floating line, an upstream cast, with a generous amount of line/slack, allows the flies to sink down and run lower in the water column. Then when your line reaches the end of the drift and comes tight, the flies that sank on the drift, rise in a "hatching" motion. The takes are usually aggressive.<br />
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Dries: Nothing looks more delicious to a hungry surface-feeding trout than a struggling terrestrial. Now, this does not mean skating a mayfly, though that technique slays with caddis. In most cases though, the drag-free drift is the way to go with dries. But just because you are keeping it drag-free doesn't mean you can't make that chubby shimmy. Ants, hoppers, mayflies, spiders, wasps, beetles, bees, and many other topwater tasties struggle once they find themselves stuck in a watery mire. Little twitches can conjure up the unwilling trout, much like the right movement with a streamer will do. Indeed, two anglers can fish the same water with the same fly, but one can outcatch other other 3:1, and this is usually their secret to success. Adding movement to dries seems to be easiest with larger, more bouyant patterns like hoppers, chubbies, salmonflies, and caddis, but does not need to be restricted to them. The trick is to make the fly have movement, but not move the fly a great distance in the water. Much easier said than done, but a worthy technique to master.<br />
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Fly Construction: Not all materials are created equal. This is a hard concept for many to accept. I hear ice dub has even made an appeal to the supreme court because hare's ear dub is claiming that ice dub is not natural. Rabbit strips say it won't go anywhere, and most saddle hackles don't want to get involved. I say, why can't they all accept their differences and get along. Together they could make a pretty sweet fly. All kidding aside, knowing what a given material does in the water can be helpful. Some materials have inherent movement and require less work on the anglers part to make the fly look alive. Other materials require the angler to compensate. Some are better for a swinging fly, while others do better stationary or stripped in. Rabbit hair flairs out and pulsates with minimal added movement. Buck tail is more ridged and maintains a fuller body. Marabou feathers slick down and keep a narrow profile when in the water. Ice dub, as a synthetic, loops and has a brushy velcro effect that can catch on a trouts teeth. These are good things to be aware of because you know what your fly can do and what you need to do to help it look alive. Mixing different kinds of materials to construct a fly can also add or take away movement. A good example of this is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNMONDokgA" target="_blank">Kelly Galloup's Sex Dungeon</a>. The large deer hair head pushes water and, much like air pressure and airplane wings, creates a negative pressure behind the head. This results in a stationary head and an erratic swimming tail. Even if you do not tie your own flies, it doesn't hurt to understand something about how they are made. If nothing else, play with them in the water close enough to you that you can see how they act and react to your movements with the rod.<br />
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Two Flies: One thing I often do, which has helped improve my catching considerably, is to fish two flies at the same time. This is one technique that a lot of anglers avoid because of the extra hassles involved. The reason I mention this in an article aimed at movement is that whenever a second fly is added, the attached line and dragging fly affect the lead fly. This can hinder hookups and movement on the first fly but can also make it look much more desirable. I'll often tie on a white trailer because it gets the fishes attention. I honestly think that they see the white more easily, and then register that it is chasing another thing. In the spur of the moment this creates a momentary thought of scarcity for any fish seeing the chase. "If that little fish is focused on what is chasing it, it won't see me coming to chomp it from the side!" is what a fish might say. On a side note, I have also noticed that fishing a heavy lead fly and a weightless trailing fly lets me fish deeper but helps me avoid getting snags because the trailing fly helps pull the lead fly up away from the bottom. <br />
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The Angler: Sometimes we linger when we should move to fresh water, while at other times we walk right through what has the potential to be a productive lie. For this I have no great advice to give because it has mostly to do with preference and personal experience. I will say this though, when given the choice I usually choose to move. If I move around and have not found success with what I expected to work, I then change up my tactics and cover the water again. Just don't give up too quick or you'll rob yourself of some good learning opportunities that will likely result in some stellar fishing.<br />
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With most things in life, moderation enriches. In your adventures with adding movement into your fishing, don't forget to pause every now and again. Sometimes the fish want it slow or not moving at all. Sometimes we need to stop moving to appreciate what is right in front of us. Sometimes we need to stop talking and start thinking. Sometimes we need to stop clogging our eardrums with noise and start listening to the beautiful and reverent sounds of creation. Like any magnificent and moving arrangement of music, there's a tempo, there's notes, there's rests, and there's a rhythm. Good luck creating yours, and remember, sometimes a little movement makes all the difference. <br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-23275242512019501782015-09-23T22:28:00.000-07:002015-11-11T20:15:45.031-08:00Gear Review: Hillsound Freesteps6 CramponsFast water and snot rocks, what a terrible mix. As the heat of summer spurs on the growth of biofilm, anglers can find themselves doing a bit more mid-river impromptu dancing. Although the fly guy disco has turned into a sweeping sensation among the underground rave crowd, it is still somewhat of an inconvenience to fishermen who wish to do more fishing than swimming. With the big push to produce more eco-friendly materials more and more people are using rubber soles on their wading boots. While this has been great for stopping invasive species, it causes the fisherman to sacrifice some stability. (I don't care what they say, in my opinion felt still holds the high ground where traction is concerned.)<br />
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To remedy this newly risen problem many companies have produced screws or bars that insert into the soles of wading boots. While this fixes much of the problem it also creates a couple more. When referring to the screws, they are not easy to insert or remove when the need arises. This can result in pretty scratched up boats. Once the screws are sufficiently worn out they are especially difficult to remove. This isn't an issue if you have enough money to buy multiple pairs of wading boots that can be used in different situations. My experiences with sole screws left me thinking that there had to be a better way. I have toyed around with the idea of getting some crampons for some time now, so when the opportunity to try some was presented I was pretty excited.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gear Review: Hillsound Freesteps6 Crampons</span></b><br />
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I love when gear is simple and effective. The <a href="http://hillsound.com/hillsound-product/freesteps6-traction-device/" target="_blank">Hillsound Freesteps6 Crampons</a> are just that. They are made of tough stainless steel spikes and chains that are held to the soles your boots by a resilient rubber collar. The simplicity is awesome. Just slide the front part of the crampon over the front of your boot and pull the back upward. They are a pretty snug fit, and can need a little coercion to get on, but it's no deal breaker. Initially I was a bit annoyed with the snugness, but quickly realized how important a good fit was. Throughout the year I scrambled over boulders, rocks, hillsides, and dead fall, all of which was made easier with the Fressteps6 on. And they never slipped around on my feet, not even once. <br />
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I still wear felt boots, but toward the end of summer even the felt is no match for the slime coating many riverbeds. These crampons have given me much more confidence, especially when navigating the faster sections of snotty bottomed rivers. The Hillsound Freesteps6 Crampons are available at quite a few online stores, most of which <a href="http://hillsound.com/hillsound-stores/" target="_blank">sell them for around $40</a>. The versatility they provide make the purchase very much worth it too. <br />
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An added (but not intended I'm sure) bonus to these crampons is they have protected my wader boots from wear and tear on the sides. Everyone has "hotspots" on their wader boots that wear out faster than the rest of the boot. For me this is usually on the sides, though this doesn't seem to be the most common spot for most guys I know. I think I have a tendency to rub the sides on rocks more than other guys. This must be an odd result of the the way I walk I suppose. Either way, these crampons have added an unintended protection that has improved the longevity of my boots. (I usually get one season out of a pair and these are going strong.) This added bonus may not apply to everyone, but I thought it worth mentioning. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5_ALbQ9ou3YzMzMQmBX099BdZQKwMEYGznONFNTRj_9iKYFTV45X61VFjvBEBMdEAOaSNYnT9xfx2fWNO7p_X8SnvPmKMQNIvamGZUM2ikap_9B1SZpvGySUPxMEYg1v5qhMGPCEc_Y/s1600/sDSC_0983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5_ALbQ9ou3YzMzMQmBX099BdZQKwMEYGznONFNTRj_9iKYFTV45X61VFjvBEBMdEAOaSNYnT9xfx2fWNO7p_X8SnvPmKMQNIvamGZUM2ikap_9B1SZpvGySUPxMEYg1v5qhMGPCEc_Y/s640/sDSC_0983.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm just crampon this rainbow's style.</td></tr>
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While there are mostly pros to these crampons, there are a couple cons that need mentioning, and these are not exclusive to crampons. One drawback about any kind of metal traction system is that they make far more noise when getting around the river. They have a tendency to grind on stone. This can result in spooked fish. When I want to put the sneak on and am worried about scaring fish, I just slip them off and hang them from my pack with a carabiner. That is one reason I love these crampons. <br />
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One other drawback about metal traction systems in general is that the angler has to be careful about stepping on their fly line because the metal can severe or damage the line. Think it's painful losing a fly or leader, try losing half your fly line. Yikes.<br />
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I'm pretty stoked that these are so simple and so versatile and that I can use them this coming winter too. Between wading rivers and traversing a frozen lake to ice fish, the Freesteps6 crampons are a good investment and tool to add to your angling arsenal. Because they are so awesome Living Fly Legacy will be doing a giveaway for a free pair beginning next week. The details will be announced then.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclaimer:</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The reviews at Living Fly Legacy are my honest opinion. Often when offered to give a review, if the assessment of the product is more negative than positive, it is not published and the review is kept private between the provider of the product and myself. Living Fly Legacy is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. My independent status may change in the future, but as of the date of this publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established. </span></i>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8065346607923460981.post-47780475814646994922015-08-02T21:48:00.000-07:002015-08-02T21:48:35.002-07:00Another Yellowstone Adventure<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Caution: There are a lot of pictures in this post, more so than writing. So, if you came for rapier wit and blossoming prose you may be disappointed... </i></span><br />
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Part of me misses those lazy days of summer, where my young mind strained to think of activities to fight the boredom. I remember telling my mother "I'm sooooo bored." She would quickly respond with a generous list of chores and productive activities. I eventually learned not to ask. <br />
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Now I find myself on the parenting end of that situation and I know firsthand the exasperation such a comment can induce in a busy adult. If there were one word to summer-ize this time of year, it would be "insanity." The beautiful weather and surrounding country demand to be enjoyed. It is easy to lose sleep. Fish, hike, camp, cook, date, harvest, play, serve, exercise, spend time with family, travel, and swim are only a handful of the things we try to fit into our summers. There is simply not enough time to enjoy all that this time of year has to offer and as an adult all this leisure time has to be squeezed in between work and other responsibilities. When you have limited time it can be tough choosing among so many satisfying options. If I had a choice I still would take the pronounced four seasons over a mild weather that lasts all year, despite the frantic planning the summer induces. The 2-3 months of summer now feel like a few weeks; much shorter than it used to feel. But I think the lessened time leads to a greater enjoyment and satisfaction. Having so many demands on my time makes me appreciate more, savor more, and even anticipate more the times I get to break away.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Yellowstone</b></span><br />
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More than once I considered cancelling our plans to escape and hike into 7 Mile Hole for a day. Things were feeling crazy and I could tell Bita was pretty stressed out. I'm not sure how it is for other parents but there always seems to be a certain degree of anxiety that accompanies the thought of leaving our kids for more than a few hours. The plan was to head up to a campground outside the park, right after I got off of work. Not knowing when I would be off could have meant leaving town around 9pm, which seemed a bit late to be heading out on a camping trip.<br />
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Amazingly I made it home by 5pm, but with my uncanny ability to control time (read: my horrific inability to be on time for most things) we made it out the door and through the grocery store around 9pm. Honestly I didn't mind leaving so late in the day. I find driving at night relaxing, especially after a long day at work. We decided to camp a bit farther from the park than most people would, so we could avoid a full campground, and we pulled into the site around 11pm. We quickly set up in the dark and then enjoyed the stars for a bit before settling in for the night. I stayed up a bit longer than the others to snap some photos of the beautiful night sky.<br />
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The initial plan, at least what I had in my mind, was to get up very
early, eat on the go, and be at the trailhead as the sun was coming up.
At least, that was what the angler in me wanted to do. Bita and I were the only two who were going to be fishing, and she is not nearly as driven by the idea of fishing as I am, so I decided to take it easy for the sake of my three companions. We awoke to the wonderful sounds of nature, and a soft glow produced by the rising sun and morning mist. After packing up the tents we cooked up a delicious premixed omelet and then hit the road. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLr_aUMFliwnhhQga-Bns5ttLm4Ans3afkZOHvuABNUeXLQ3ZBdGKntAn4p0xuRmW_3FeqUoJG3zdFLMEAnu2u0YNZ1DJ5ra-JluTZtxp1Su-QCUNSLy7V6rzyncaOxeZItezIq1IsEQ/s1600/sDSC_8576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLr_aUMFliwnhhQga-Bns5ttLm4Ans3afkZOHvuABNUeXLQ3ZBdGKntAn4p0xuRmW_3FeqUoJG3zdFLMEAnu2u0YNZ1DJ5ra-JluTZtxp1Su-QCUNSLy7V6rzyncaOxeZItezIq1IsEQ/s640/sDSC_8576.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary just saying good morning</td></tr>
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As I enjoyed the beautiful scenery the other three whipped up our lunches for the days hike, during which Nik and I had a pretty amusing argument as to whether it was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU" target="_blank">Bobby Mcferrin</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo4OnQpwjkc" target="_blank">Bob Marley</a> who sang "Don't Worry, Be Happy." It turns out both Nik and I were right. For the record I was rooting for the former artist.<br />
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After fighting hordes of tourists and their leisurely traffic, we made it to the trailhead. We geared up quickly and began the 5-ish mile hike into this small corner of paradise. The first 3.5 miles provide a mellow meander along the rim of the canyon. It makes for some stunning scenery. The last 1.5 miles you drop roughly 1200' to the base of the canyon. That is the most intense part of the hike and a bit of a journey coming back out. <br />
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The trail ends by running perpendicular into the Yellowstone River, and presents the hiker with crystal clear water surrounded by colorful canyon walls. Once at the end we rested in the shade, cooled our feet off in the river, and munched on some food. As we sat there the beautiful water was just too tempting and I had to rig up. <br /><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bita cooling her feet after the hike in</td></tr>
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I fished the whole time we were down there and Bita joined me just about an hour into the fishing. She did great once she got the hang of casting the short distances. Sometimes it's hard to cast shorter than it is to cast longer. Once she got the hang of things again she began picking up fish without any help from me. I loved watching her enjoy the takes and fighting fish. She's a trooper to not only put up with my fishing, but to try and find some joy in it herself when it wouldn't be her first choice of recreational options. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the doubles of the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish-Flopping like a BOOOSSSSS</td></tr>
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The fishing was not as good as it had been on the last trip. The water was a full foot lower than when I was there last, and even then I was told it was low. Despite the circumstances, the fishing was fantastic. We threw mostly chubbies to mimic both golden and regular stones. Watching fish come up from the depths through the clear/greenish water, to slowly sip a large foam dryfly is a hoot. I also threw a small sculpin pattern that picked up fish even faster, but eventually went back to the dry for the enjoyable takes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bita did a bit of bank dancing... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk8Rd383OCr1ML8Mj7hoUbDk2nJb-EOwFDKefmR1HidspJ10Vk_aAan3BRVa3J6KoOvxwqyuFCNUclZBVK9-lIa-VmpbEamUup1yD-e-JvbkqRPqDr61SS5uCXii_dAi1q_m-D9g9oz4/s1600/sDSC_8965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk8Rd383OCr1ML8Mj7hoUbDk2nJb-EOwFDKefmR1HidspJ10Vk_aAan3BRVa3J6KoOvxwqyuFCNUclZBVK9-lIa-VmpbEamUup1yD-e-JvbkqRPqDr61SS5uCXii_dAi1q_m-D9g9oz4/s640/sDSC_8965.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely you can see the rising fish, just below the fly.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSH4emXXxL1FJS-T67HslcQoNfms8iMl8fGhkVAbQzDCG-ZPzF8WkQVSXxP4s7qbZQD3hnO6Uaa-bPsOZ26Q1xjVtgjcSkxWGOltzyH6wBahoUi2cSU-rV1I174IPX5W50g9f82BJzWEk/s1600/sDSC_9006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSH4emXXxL1FJS-T67HslcQoNfms8iMl8fGhkVAbQzDCG-ZPzF8WkQVSXxP4s7qbZQD3hnO6Uaa-bPsOZ26Q1xjVtgjcSkxWGOltzyH6wBahoUi2cSU-rV1I174IPX5W50g9f82BJzWEk/s640/sDSC_9006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbrKQTtwxYdT9H5soCp3DAetcxUbb-6daYO7DviKMkTCA4yDYAItBeXzapW-5ToSqf4GLOL7TLytnIOWBrJh9WWEpgj001SEt7eps6oRd0r0VKH0WSu3JW2b4idNkHcOinB3YbhyAlDo/s1600/sDSC_9179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggbrKQTtwxYdT9H5soCp3DAetcxUbb-6daYO7DviKMkTCA4yDYAItBeXzapW-5ToSqf4GLOL7TLytnIOWBrJh9WWEpgj001SEt7eps6oRd0r0VKH0WSu3JW2b4idNkHcOinB3YbhyAlDo/s640/sDSC_9179.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The love of my life</td></tr>
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After fishing for a few hours the clouds started rolling in and the sky began to dim. We thought it wise to hit the trail. A little over halfway out we spotted a small blackbear on the path. We had our bearspray safety's off and passed cautiously, making plenty of noise. It moved over to let us pass and then proceeded to slowly follow us about 15 yards away, with a curious air, stopping here and there to look for bugs in the decaying trees. The dusky light made it difficult to get a clear picture. It was almost pitch black as we were nearing the last leg of the hike out. We couldn't have timed it better. <br />
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We quickly threw our gear in the van and headed to a nearby lodge for some supper. After enjoying some hearty burgers we hit the road, once again in the darkness of night, headed home to our showers and comfy beds. <br />
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As I crawled into bed about 2am, sore, stiff, and dead tired I thought to myself how great it had been to get out and I felt a bit bad for all the people who don't take the time or make the effort to see such beautiful places. I thought about how grateful I was to have spent the time there with my wonderful wife, her sister and her sister's husband. As I began drifting into sleep I thought about what a whirlwind trip it had been and how I would do it again in a heartbeat. Now I just need to find some more time. As busy and hectic as things get, I just can't help it, I love this insanity we call summer.<br />
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11345525951989674732noreply@blogger.com0