Nice to see Nick Lyons making his place in The New York Times. Here he talks about the stories that keep his interest in angling literature fresh and alive. "I might suggest to a friend who fished too hard and too often, who thought he would like to fish all the time on a fine piece of water, that he read G.E.M. Skues's 'Mr. Theodore Castwell.' It is the tale of a man who dies, goes to 'his own place,' asks for and then fishes a lovely stretch of a chalk stream that yields a two-and-a-half-pound trout on every cast, fish after fish. Only when he wants to stop does he learn that he ain't in heaven but in the other place."

Further, Nick lists some great sources for memorable and collectible titles.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I always enjoy new perpsectives on "old" techniques, and MidCurrent reader Zach Matthews usually has something slightly different to say when he researches a topic. In "Spey Fishing for Trout" he talks about Spey rods -- their history, advantages and application.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"With one hand gripping a native manuka tree, the stocky yet agile Maori fishing guide swung out over the stream and jumped into the churning water. He grabbed his client for the day, steadying them both and shouted at him to lift his fishing rod higher. The brown trout, seemingly under control and nearly at the angler's feet, thrashed silver and brown on the foaming surface and bolted." Julie Earl-Levine writes in today's New York Times about what many consider to be the trout fishing capital of the world.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One wouldn't normally make the connection, but no doubt the advent of railroads in Britain changed the angling landscape forever and probably helped turn fly fishing into a "popular" sport. Andrew Herd says as much on his wonderful Fly Fishing History site: "Leisure travel was becoming possible for ordinary people, and the railway was to play a crucial role in the development of fishing in the UK. The first track was laid in Britain in 1825, and by 1870, the country had 13,500 miles of railway open." (Thanks to reader Zach Matthews for this link.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Buried in an article about the rising prices of real estate in the Florida Keys is the interesting story behind Cheeca Lodge, which is undergoing a major transformation/renovation. "The lodge, now managed by RockResorts, was built in the early 1960's after a hurricane destroyed its predecessor, the Olney Inn, where Harry S. Truman was once a guest. The name was derived from a merger of the names of the two new owners, Cynthia (better known as Che-Che) and her husband, Carl Twitchell (an heir to the A.& P. supermarket fortune). The resort soon took on something of a celebrity cachet. Frequent guests included Sam Snead, Ted Williams and Bing Crosby. More recently, former President George Bush has often been a guest — so much so that the resort holds an annual bonefish tournament in his honor." Charles Passy in The New York Times. (Thanks to reader David Dalu for this link.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"In reality, the array of feathers, hair, fur, skeins of yarn, and various sparkly, multi-hued synthetic materials stacked in the old Columbia Falls Post Office are ingredients for the 1,000-plus fishing fly patterns sold by the Montana Fly Co. Formed seven years ago by Adam Trina and Duncan Oswald, a pair of former Missoula fly-fishing guides and commercial fly-tiers, the company has grown at an astounding pace to become one of the nation's top three wholesale dealers of flies and fly-tying materials." You can visit the Montana Fly Company site here. Daryl Gadbow in the Missoula, Montana Missoulian.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jake McDonald reports on this relatively new (1997) bonefishing resort on the north end of Andros in the Toronto, Canada Globe and Mail. "Having stayed there with my girlfriend, Ann, for four days, I can now report that the resort itself is the ultimate romantic hideaway. But if a man brings a take-down fly rod, there's nothing to stop him from slipping off midway through the trip to catch a fish or two, if he enjoys that sort of thing."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"New Canadian flies and variations were developed with patterns for specific rivers or lakes, but the majority of both salmon and trout flies used in Canada today can be traced to Scottish or English classical designs." The four patterns featured on the stamps include:

1. The Alevin - created in 1939 by Tom Brayshaw; its red throat hackle is meant to replicate the yolk sac of the alevin or larvae stage of the trout.

2. The Jock Scott - One of the most popular classic salmon patterns.

3. The P.E.I. Fly - Described in detail in the 1860s book Salmon Fishing in Canada, it was originally tied from feathers of the now-endangered red ibis.

4. The Mickey Finn - Created in the 19th century by Charles Langevin and known at that time as the "Langevin". It's name was later changed to "The Assassin" and finally to the "Mickey Finn".

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bob Petti reviews Jim Schollmeyer and Ted Leeson's Tying Emergers (Frank Amato Publications, March 2004, 260 pages) on GlobalFlyFisher.com. "Unlike their massive Fly Tier’s Benchside Reference, the emphasis in this book is on patterns and step-by-step instructions, where the authors tie a specific fly from start to finish. What this book has in common with their magnum opus, however, is the crisp full-color photographs and no-stone-uncovered attitude."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dry of wit, that is. Dave Engerbretson describes coming across a fellow angler in a silk paisley ascot who turns out to be one of fly fishing's funniest authors. On PublicTelevision.org.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"A team of three work best, and it’s a matter of fishing with very little fly line out, plonking flies upstream and following them around intently until directly below you, before repeating the process. It offers an incredibly- efficient way to fish, and becomes hypnotic within a short period. In the first 20 minutes I hooked, and lost, two grayling. Nonetheless, this was a good sign, as locating the fish can be the hardest part. But as grayling tend to shoal, if you hit one you are likely to hit more." Finlay Wilson describes a recent grayling competition on Scotland's River Tweed. On Scotsman.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on MidCurrent, Brant Oswald discusses why accurate casting is so important. "Accuracy is also dependent on the angler's ability to see the fly as well as the target, as the angler needs to see whether the fly is landing in the correct position. One of the keys to spotting the fly (and distance accuracy in general) is to know the length of the leader, so the angler's eye can move to the approximate landing zone of the fly. In flat light, it can be difficult to see a small spring creek pattern, and in windy conditions, the tippet and fly may be blown well away from the intended target. If the angler can't spot the fly at all, there is no way to correct errors in fly placement and there is little chance for success." The first in a two-part series.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MidCurrent contributor Bruce Richards offers this commentary on casting mechanics and the impact of a long vs. short stroke on casting distance and loop size. It's always interesting to note that expert casters can disagree (Bruce and Lefty), at least in terms of the language they use to describe such things as loop formation. From the FlyFisherman board. (Thanks to reader David Dalu for this link.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bill Kiene posted a link on his forum to this page on the Orvis Web site that shows steps for how to tie 8 knots, including the Clinch, Blook Knot, Nail Knot and Non-Slip Mono Loop. (By the way, if you haven't seen the Kiene's Fly Shop site lately, it's worth checking out the new bulletin board; lots of knowledgeable folks post on fly fishing topics there.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Given its nutrient-rich tailwaters and abundant lakes, is it any wonder that the largest brown trout in the world was caught in Arkansas? "Arkansas boasts more than 150 miles of trout-filled streams for fishermen. The White provides more than 90 miles of habitat downstream from Bull Shoals, and the Little Red offers another 30 miles below Greers Ferry Dam. Trout are also found in almost 100,000 acres of lake water in the state. Popular targets include lakes Bull Shoals, Ouachita, Hamilton and Catherine. Short stretches of the Ouachita and Little Missouri Rivers, in the Ouachita Mountains, are excellent seasonal rainbow retreats." Craig Ogilvie in the North Texas e-News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's cold all over now in the northern hemisphere and anyone who considers themselves a fly tier has probably already reached the peak of their production for the winter season. In Maine, Mike Holt, proprietor of Fly Fishing Only in Fairfield, ties some very simple but effective caddis emergers that typify modern patterns. Ken Allen on MaineToday.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Though I still prefer the more accurate and colorful "Skettel" moniker, "Skittal" it will probably be as the latest permit fly pattern is packaged for the general public. Orvis is marketing the pattern and you can see the recipe for tying this new fly on their Web site. For those who didn't catch it the first time around, we reported back in December on the source of excitement over this new pattern, which got started in Belize.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Masterful columnist and outdoorsman Charles Waterman passes away on Wednesday at the age of 91. As this article in Florida Sportsman notes, "Charley did it all, and he did it well. Born in Kansas in 1913, Waterman traveled extensively: as a combat photographer in World War II; as a roving sporting journalist; as a guest instructor on fishing and hunting subjects; and as a passionate outdoorsman, sharing many days afield with Debie, his wife of 60 years." The man will be missed by many.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New on MidCurrent, Tom Rosenbauer writes about how to read the water to find and catch trout. Excerpted from Rosenbauer's modern classic, "Reading the Water" is a great introduction to sorting out the mysteries of current flows and stream strategies.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Erin Ryan reviews Dave Ames's 1996 book True Love and the Woolly Bugger, which Lyons Press brought out again in a paperback edition last summer. "Flipping through the last chapter with peanut-stained fingers, I was filled with the kind of lightness that makes you smile to yourself—like suddenly you’re in on the secret and plan to do something great with the borrowed wisdom. My greatness only amounted to seven scribbled pages that day, but the afterglow from Ames’ wonderful memoir hasn’t faded." On BoiseWeekly.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Craig Mathews is one of the quiet heroes of fly fishing. Owner of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Montana, he's translated his love of angling into fisheries preservation and unique programs that enable businesses to contribute to the environment. This fine bio by Erin Nicholes in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle mentions many of his achievements. Mathews is named "Angler of the Year" in the January/February edition of Fly Rod & Reel.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former U.S. President Carter talks about the beauty of trout streams in his new book Sharing Good Times (Simon & Schuster, $21): "The term 'natural beauty' is almost superfluous in describing a trout stream, because these delicate creatures inhabit only the waters that are pure and cold, most often originating from deep and bubbling springs or from those that descend remote and unpolluted mountainsides." Mitchell Uscher reviews the book in the Middleton, New York Times Herald-Record.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This article in National Geographic contradicts much of the anecdotal evidence we've heard about the 2004 Atantic salmon runs, at least in North America. Author James Owen says that though "commercial fishing, reduced food availability at sea, degraded river habitats, and ecological problems linked to salmon farming" may well be to blame for population decreases, there's been clear improvement in the reduction of commercial netting. On NationalGeographic.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not all bamboo rods are destined to be heirlooms. One of the more popular events at Denver's Fly Fishing Show -- which started yesterday -- is the free cane rod appraisal performed by Mike Clark and Kathy Shulkin-Jensen. "Last year a man brought in his own Gary Howell cane rod, one of a few the Montana rod maker crafted in the early 1970s, after he left the Winston Rod Co. The man told Clark he nearly starved to death in college saving to buy that rod, which cost less than $300 at the time. He has fished with it ever since. When Clark told him the trusty cane was worth $2,800-$3,000 today, the man was horrified." Ed Dentry in the Rocky Mountain News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aaron Adams contributes a new article to MidCurrent this week. "Try Topside for Tailers" describes using gurgler patterns to fool redfish that are hiding in thick sea grasses. Dr. Adams is the author of Fisherman's Coast: An Angler's Guide to Marine Warm-Water Gamefish and Their Habitats and coauthor of Fly-Fishing for Bonefish. Good stuff.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The paddle across Brooks Bay took nearly two hours and along the way we hooked and landed a big king salmon. Kayak fishing has it’s merits, but landing and dealing with a big fish is not one of them. Once you get a fish to the side of the boat and to hand, you haul it aboard. The fish is flopping in your lap with the hook in its mouth and your hand around its tail." Rob Lyon and friend catch king salmon and big waves near the Brooks Peninsula. On WetDawg.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"There are many trout waters in the West that contain rainbow and brown trout in the five-pound range, and many other waters with two- to three-pound cutthroat. But when you're after browns and rainbows of eight pounds and above, and cutthroat over five pounds--what I call big trout--your have far fewer options." Bernie Taylor, author of Big Trout: How and Where to Target Trophies (The Lyons Press, 2002, 288 pages), lists the best places target outsized trout in the U.S. West. On WestFly.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oregon has at least 4 rivers that qualify as good winter fisheries: the Crooked, Metolius, Fall, and Middle Deschutes. "Each January on the Middle Deschutes, Fall and Metolius rivers comes the Capnia Stonefly hatch, also know as the 'Little Winter Blackstone.' Following the Capnia is the March Brown Mayfly hatch in February." Mark Morical on Portland, Oregon's Katu2.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Candus Thomson highlighted an article about the upcoming Fly Fishing Show in Baltimore with a quick bio of Enrico Puglisi, whose novel fly tying fibers introduced big changes in saltwater fly tying. "He finally hung up his apron in 1992, when he opened The Practical Fly Shop in Little Neck, N.Y. About that time, he also began shifting from using natural fibers to plastic-based components that hold up better in saltwater. His waterproof 'EP-Fibers' keep their colors longer and don't wilt under the first good chomping from a feeding fish." You can see the current catalog of EP Flies here. In the Baltimore Sun.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)