A couple of months ago, Howard Films went back to Key West and once again let Andy Mill loose on the tarpon there. The results air on Friday (1O:30 PM EST) and Saturday (1:30 AM EST), September 21-22 ("From Dusk 'til Dawn") and Friday (10:30 PM EST) and Saturday (1:30 AM EST), September 28-29 ("The Tempest") on Versus. "'Andy's Return' features 5-time Gold Cup winner Andy Mill returning to Key West, Florida to continue his chase of tarpon on a fly rod. Mill returns to take care of some unfinished business. The two-part series features all the things that made Chasing Silver one of the most popular fishing shows to date: Hi-Def aerials, underwater and powerful on-boat footage."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In response to a question about why it took Joe Brooks 42 minutes to land his world record 29-pound striper and three-and-a-half hours to land a 65-pound tarpon, Lefty Kreh delivers a short but interesting history lesson on Dan Blanton's bulletin board: "Anyone who has fought big saltwater fish with bamboo knows that it really deforms the rods, putting a serious curve in them. To straighten the rod we would attach it for a few days to a warm pipe that fed steam to a radiator used to heat our home. This is one reason that Joe took so long. Bamboo taught you not to place too much strain on the rod when fighting a fish. When fiberglass came along Joe at first applied this fighting technique to what he always knew."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fly fishing guide Randal Sumner turns a question on its head and asks, "Who makes a perfect fly fishing client?" His answer says a lot about what you should expect in a great guide. "The real trick in my job is to match the client's skill level with the fishing conditions on the day they have chosen to come fishing with me. Sounds simple, like making contact with the Mother Ship with my Tommy the Spaceman decoder ring. My perfect client is a person who is a student of the fly-fishing game -- maybe not the greatest caster or angler, but interested in learning, moving their game up a notch or two."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bigger water flows have had the largest impact on this popular fishery just one hour west of Denver, but biologists are also paying more attention to the fish themselves and even considering introduction of Whirling-Disease-resistant rainbows. "Largely absent during periods of low flow, mysis once again are fattening fish in a place with total public access and further enhanced by a recent stream improvement project that made more space for fish and fishermen." Charlie Meyers in the Denver Post.

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

Perhaps it's something that comes naturally to most fly fishers, but even we sometimes forget the importance of leaving behind no reminder of our presence in the out of doors. And it is harder than it sounds. An article by the Associated Press mentions the non-profit group Leave No Trace, formed in the early 1990s with the goal of teaching the low-impact experience. "Camping too close to water is a common mistake people make. Campsites should be at least 200 feet from streams and lakes. Otherwise, streambanks and lakeshores can become trampled and eroded. Human waste and food from dirty dishes can pollute water sources."

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

As the final installment of MidCurrent's essential fly fishing tips, we've collected 42 Fly Fishing Strategy Tips. They cover fly selection, approach, presentation, and landing and releasing fish, and we hope you'll find an example or two of clear thinking about common challenges.

To get you started:

Size Matters When choosing trout flies, the relative importance of fly characteristics in your selection, in order, should be: size, shape, color, and action (for stripped flies). In saltwater, action is often more important than exact size and shape.

Dropper Flies or Tandem Rigs Dropper flies are a trout angler's secret weapon. A simple dropper rig can be made by tying a small nymph onto 14-18 inches of tippet material tied to the bend of a dry fly. If the trout takes the nymph, the dry fly serves as your indicator. Nymphs can also be tied in tandem, enabling you to find out which nymph is working better.

(If you haven't read our other tips, you can find them here: Fly Fishing Gear Tips and Fly Casting Tips.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Abel's new Super 12X combines a 4.450-inch diameter spool with a 2.480-inch arbor to deliver very fast line uptake with Spectra and other Gel Spun backing. Smartly, they also decided to make the new frame and spool interchangeable with the Abel Super 12 or 4.5 reels, so anglers get a couple of new combinations to work with if they already own earlier models. ("Earlier" is relative, of course: I still fish my first Abels from the 1980s.)

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

August 24, 2007

NEWEST ABEL SUPER 12X EXTREME LARGE ARBOR REEL REDEFINES TARPON, TUNA, SAILFISH, WAHOO ANGLING

CAMARILLO, Calif. – A new reel specifically targeting tarpon, large tuna, giant dorado (mahi-mahi), sailfish, wahoo and other saltwater speedsters is now available from Abel Quality Products.

The Super 12X, an extreme large arbor reel for 11- and 12-weight lines, provides anglers rapid line pick-up capabilities. The precision ratio of spool size to large arbor (hub) makes the reel unique in the fly-fishing industry, announced Don R. Swanson, Abel vice president.

The Super 12X – designated X for the extra fast line pick-up – was engineered to use Spectra or similar backing. It utilizes Abel’s oblong ported ventilation design, providing full strength and rigidity – critical when recovering hundreds of yards of backing under extreme fish-fighting pressure.

The newest addition to the Abel arsenal of nearly 40 models and styles of reels has a diameter of 4.450- and a spool width of 1.125-inches with an arbor of 2.480 inches; the reel weighs 9.7 ounces.

Constructed from cold rolled 6061-T aircraft quality aluminum and anodized against saltwater corrosion using Abel’s proprietary metallurgical process, the Super 12X is fitted with a double pawl system for increased reliability and what has been described as a “high tech sound.”

The spool and frame are interchangeable with either the Abel Super 12 or 4.5 reels, enabling anglers to have two distinctly different reels at the cost of about one and one-half.

The Super 12X is available in standard high gloss Black Coral or non-reflective matte black finishes. Fish graphic and artistic graphic anodized finishes are available at additional charges.

Capacities:
WF11-weight with 350 yards of Spectra
WF12-weight with 300 yards of Spectra
Specifications:
Spool diameter 4.450 inches
Spool width 1.125 inches
Arbor (hub) diameter 2.480 inches
Weight 9.7 ounces
Price:
$880; extra spool $390

------

BENNETT J. MINTZ PR/ADV.
22370 Mission Circle
Chatsworth, California 91311
818.718.8566 718.1958 Fax
bjmintz@socal.rr.com

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't know about you, but I will be very happy to see the day when my son outfishes me with a fly rod. Apparently it is a source of consternation for writer Nick Provenza. "But what was sobering that day was running into a guy who was camping along the river. He told me two things I really didn't want to hear: (1) He had caught a 20-inch rainbow earlier that day on a dry fly (Yeah, right!) and (2) My son casts better than me." In the Seattle Times.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday Associated Press writer Lisa Rathke wrote a good summary of the perils associated with the spread of didymo algae into numerous North American waters. "In New England, it has turned up in the White River, Connecticut River and the Batten Kill, a trout fishing mecca in southern Vermont that's famed for its hard-to-catch fish. Quebec is grappling with it in Matapedia River in the lower St. Lawrence."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The Bighorn speaks directly to Americans' capacity for singularity of purpose. Fishing is the reason anglers have driven here from New York and California and states in between. Fort Smith, Mont., is ground zero for these activities, and its small gathering of buildings suggests not so much a town as an outpost. You can purchase flies here, hire a guide, rent a drift boat. But this is the Crow Reservation and there is no alcohol for sale. All is acceptable in the name of big trout." Dennis Anderson continues his journal on fishing Montana's Bighorn. In the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

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

A federal judge in Montana is forcing the U.S. Forest Service to accelerate its study of a fire retardant commonly dropped from planes to fight forest fires. His demand comes after 18 months of delay on the part of the agency, which was asked to study the chemical after it dropped a thousand pounds of the retardant in Oregon's Fall River in 2002. "[Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Mark] Rey defended the agency’s use of the retardant, which contains ammonium phosphate, as a necessary tool in fighting wildfires. But he acknowledged that some endangered fish have been killed as a result of its use." Keith Chu in the Bend, Oregon Bulletin.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every couple of months it seems that another female journalist takes to fly fishing and rediscovers the quirky appeal of the sport. First it's Fiona Sims in London's Times Online getting the straight talk from instructor Jim Williams: "'You can’t catch what you’ve just scared sh**less.'"

Then new fly fisher Bonnie Sitter stumbles upon the thing that makes good fly fishers out of bad ones: organization. "With his four-ounce rod, he carves out the most amazing knots, the kind of knots my mother dreamed of untying while watching Dallas when I was a child, knots that are twisted and turned and dangerously equipped with a hook, a puzzle even Houdini himself couldn't get out of-- and it took one cast and less than a second to create." On ParadisePost.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The entire Whitewater system, Rush, Gilmore and Trout Run creeks, Garvin Brook were particularly hard hit, said Steve Klotz, the area's top Department of Natural Resources trout manager." John Weiss in the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently had to stop drinking coffee in order to help my internal plumbing recover from years of excess caffeinated pleasure. I know this is temporary, and somehow that makes it easier. Still, I fantasize about the French press. And even a whiff from an open coffee bean bag would send me into delirium. I know plenty of fellow fly fishers who would also find quitting coffee harder than ditching cigarettes or alcohol, so a hilarious piece by Matt Suddain on Greatreporter.com made the cut for this morning's news. "Factoid: Coffee was discovered by goats. True story. According to legend, an Abyssinian goat-herder saw his herd acting frisky after they’d eaten red cherries from a shrub. He tasted the fruit and was later spotted dancing with his goats. When challenged by local monks he said only 'A man gets lonely.' Movie idea: Dances With Goats?"

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We don't read a lot of true journal writing anymore. It's almost as if "journalism" has gone the way of "liberalism" in the American lexicon. Dennis Anderson, though, shows it can still be done, and well, writing about a trip to fish the Bighorn River in Montana. "But as with my friend in Montana, the Chief wants primarily, always, to discuss subjects that have only indirect human dimensions. The 'natural world' is one way to say this. So over dinner he and I talked about birds and fish, prospects for the migration, the hurricane, and particularly about the growing presence on world markets of crocodile skins." In the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

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

According to the National Park Service Web site, all temperature-related restrictions on fishing Yellowstone were lifted yesterday. "Cooler temperatures allowed Yellowstone National Park officials to lift mandatory fishing restrictions from all of the park’s rivers and creeks, effective at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 22. Biologists will continue to evaluate conditions and reinstate restrictions if necessary." Restrictions were originally imposed on July 21 after high water temperatures caused a number of fish kills.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Craig Hayes, owner of Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize, told us yesterday that the eye of hurricane Dean passed only 70 miles north of their outpost early Tuesday morning. At one point the waves were reaching the top of the dock house, but the final impact was minimal and they will reopen right away. "I thought the entire dock was going to go about 1:00 AM Tuesday morning when waves were hitting near the top of the dock house -- the waves actually picked up the dock house and moved it about a foot to the North. In the end we did OK -- the dock needs some repairs and the grounds are a big mess but we will be open by Saturday." From personal experience we can say that Turneffe Flats is a great place to go not just for the fishing but for the ambience -- it sits on an ancient Mayan camp site next to the reef that lines the outer edge of Turneffe Atoll.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"This area of Florida is also known as the 'Space Coast' because of its proximity to the John F. Kennedy Space Center, and I could see the NASA shuttle facilities from where I stood in the shallow water. It was a surreal scene as rising fish began leaving circular ripples everywhere around me." Writer Will Rice catches his first redfish wading the shorlines of one of the premier U.S. east coast fisheries, Mosquito Lagoon. In the Denver Post.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arkansas guide John Berry discovered that the same techniques used for drag-free nymph presentations are surprisingly effective for fishing dry flies of all sizes. "You make an effective presentation by just flicking the fly up stream for a soft landing. Since there is nothing touching the water except the fly it is easy to achieve a perfect drag-free drift. With this method, you can easily deal with complex currents. The shorter line enhances line control because you can easily set the hook at any part of the drift since there is no slack in the line." In the Baxter Bulletin.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Bill Curtis began guiding in south Florida in the middle of the last century, there wasn't anyone around for him to follow, or to imitate, or to dislike. He made a lot of stuff up as he went, stuff that later became doctrine for flats guides. He got tired of standing on his engine, so he came up with the first poling platform. He introduced the Bimini Twist to south Florida. He probably did dozens of other things that he never got credit for, and as with so many pioneering saltwater guides he wore a take-me-as-I-am countenance with him wherever he went.

This week we're happy to publish an excerpt from Tideline, an easily overlooked but beautiful book that came out of Willow Creek Press in 2004. The first chapter is a profile of Bill, and it contains extraordinary photographs of Captain Curtis in his last years of guiding. The writing, by Andrew Steketee and Kirk Deeter, is awfully good too.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chuck Robbins highlights several terrific but relatively unknown brown trout waters in the Rocky Mountain states, including those in Arizona's Mogollon Rim White Mountains country, the Pinnacles Canyon section of the Conejos River in Colorado, and Wyoming's Encampment River. "Don't spread it around, but it was Ray Bergman who first put me onto the Encampment River's brown trout. Innocently enough, the Encampment flows north out of Colorado into Wyoming along the eastern flank of the Sierra Madres. At Entrance Falls, its mood suddenly changes as it drops into an 18-mile-long pocket-water canyon infested with brown trout." In Rocky Mountain Game & Fish.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Punta Allen and Ascension Bay, in the heart of some of the best flats fishing on the southern Yucatan coast, were in the path of category 5 hurricane Dean this morning. The last major storm to hit the area was Wilma, on October 21, 2005; Wilma was a category 4 when it reached the area. Ascension Bay is home to Casa Blanca, Pesca Maya and Ascension Bay Bonefish Club, all resorts known for their excellent permit and bonefishing. "Among the places most at risk: Chetumal, a bayside city of 215,000 people that sits on the border with Belize, and the towns of Tulum, Punta Allen, Mahahual, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Los Limones." David Ovalle, Jacqueline Charles and Martin Merzer for the MIami Herald.

The Associate Press reported at 7:35 this morning that "The eye of the storm made landfall about 4:30 a.m. EDT near Majahual, a popular port with cruise liners located about 40 miles east-northeast of Chetumal and the Belize border, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center."

Late reports from Ambergris Key, south of the landfall and home to El Pescador lodge, were that the although power was mostly out, the storm surge was only about 3 feet.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Travis Rummel and Ben Knight recently wrapped up 60 days of couch surfing and bushwhacking to begin several months of editing on their upcoming film on the impact of the proposed Alaskan Bristol Bay mine project. "Starting in June, the two and their project coordinator, Trout Unlimited's Lauren Oakes, camped at the Peter Pan salmon cannery in Dillingham and in villagers' houses. They spent days with fishermen -- in their boats and homes. They floated next to belugas feeding on salmon near Nushagak Point, and two months later, hundreds of miles upstream, they stared down in amazement at tens of thousands of spawning sockeye." Elizabeth Bluemink in the Anchorage Daily News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ray Sasser watches Dan Blanton and Rick Pope demonstrate the proper rod angle for pulling on big fish and finds that even a 90-pound kid can learn the angles. "'The rod’s power lies in the rod butt, not the rod tip,' coached Pope. 'As the rod angle goes toward 90 degrees, the amount of pressure you’re exerting declines. You’re working just as hard when the rod is vertical, but the rod is not working for you and you’re bringing very little pressure to bear on the fish.'” On LJWorld.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In The New York Times, Pete Bodo gets rematerialized in the midst of a Newfoundland salmon fishing camp replete with caribou meat and a cooler full of beer. "'What should I fish?' I asked Kelly. 'A bug,' he said, stabbing a finger at a small, size 8 Bomber — this one tied with orange hackle and white calf-tail fore and aft, which are part of the special Newfoundland options package (see your dealer for details). It is a tribute to the Bomber, the greatest of all dry flies for salmon, that in places as far flung as the Humber Valley it is simply known as the bug, much like Vince Lombardi was known to many as, simply, Coach."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Frankly, it's not the wild beasts that might scare the dickens out of me on a trip like this, it's the folks in the hot-tub-equipped wall tent next door. But for those who like to raise their kids thinking that a private bathroom is an inalienable right, there are a growing number of upscale outdoors experiences designed to answer their every need. The phenomenon has been labeled "glamping" (we're guessing by the P.R. agency), another way to say "glamorous camping." "'It's not about experiencing what Lewis and Clark did,' said Milton Pedrazza, chief executive of Luxury Institute, a New York-based research company. 'It's about enjoying nature and all the comforts that come with the luxury lifestyle. They see it as one big seamless, wonderful experience.'" Kimi Yoshino in The Los Angeles Times.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Vests tailored for a woman's figure and wading shorts with a bathing suit bottom sewn inside are just a couple of the items being introduced this year by River Chic, a clothing company focusing on women fly fishers.

Read the full press release in the extended entry.

River Chic, Fashion on the Fly
Because a Woman Wants to Look like a Woman (slogan)

River Chic, Fashion on the Fly, produces feminine fly fishing apparel that’s both functional and attractive. River Chic is the direct result of owner Julie Quinn’s frustrating personal search for a fly fishing vest made especially for women.

While attending the 2007 Gulf Coast Fly Fishing Conclave in Lake Charles, LA, Quinn visited with other women about fly fishing apparel; most expressed a desire for sportswear that would both improve performance, by eliminating bulkiness, and enhance personal style.

River Chic’s premise is “A Woman Likes to Look like a Woman” and the premiere line stays true to its intention with four items critical to successful fly fishing. The signature piece, a vest streamlined for a woman’s body, features sport-specific prints and only the necessary pockets. Rainbow trout, hand tied flies, assorted fresh water fish and creel baskets are just a few of the fly fishing print themes.

Quinn has received an excited response to her innovative wading shorts that are styled in the cargo tradition. The UV/UPF 40+ wading shorts have a bathing suit bottom sewn inside! The shorts are offered in black, dark khaki and true navy.

A traditional fishing shirt, UV/UPF 40+, is trimmed with a striped material on the placket, collar and sleeve tie-ups. This stripe, one of two available styles, coordinates across the entire line. The shirts are offered in khaki, periwinkle blue and white.

The generous under-brim of a UV/UPF 40+ fishing hat is black to counteract any glare off the water. The sun hats, like the shirts, come in khaki, periwinkle blue and white. They are trimmed with a sash woven around the brim and extending down the back. This sash is offered in the two stripes.

River Chic’s upscale logo is monogrammed on each piece of apparel. Every piece in the line is coordinated for retail up-sell.

Contact:
Julie Quinn
18815 Evergreen Falls Drive.
Houston, TX 77084
713-818-2404
juliefuelling@sbcglobal.net
www.riverchic.com (to be activated prior to 9/10)

Fly Fishing Retailer, Booth 783
Denver, CO
Sept. 16-18

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Ever since I had first looked on the rugged peaks that define the Greek landscape, I was seized with the romantic notion of catching a trout in an ancient mountain stream, home to some of Homer's woodland nymphs. It seemed a preposterous notion at first, but finally my journey was rewarded in Epirus, about 180 miles north of my starting point, in the northwest corner of Greece." In The New York Times, Lou Ureneck delights his inner classicist in the freestone and limestone streams of Epirus, described by a local guide as "the Montana of Greece."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bill Graves overcome the odds to fish the legendary river and found that hot weather sometimes means hot fishing. "My luck on the yearly lottery ran about the same as my good fortune drawing a moose permit, all bad. Getting a foot in the door for even a day or two of salmon fishing on the captivating Cascapedia was like trying to slip daylight past a rooster, not likely. Nonetheless I kept the lines of communication open and my fingers crossed." In the Bangor (Maine) Daily News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Allowing a bag limit on brown trout and permitting motor-less boats on Idaho's famed Silver Creek drainage has many anglers ringing alarm bells about proposed changes to the state's fisheries management plan, which is up for review in November. "Picabo resident and author John Huber, whose writing credits include the 'Flyfisher's Guide to Oregon,' said the Silver Creek rule changes could radically transform what he believes is one of the most unique fisheries in the United States, if not the world. He said standardizing fisheries regulations may be appropriate elsewhere, but not so on such a renowned and special fishery as Silver Creek." Jason Kauffman in the Idaho Mountain Express.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ed Dentry points to at least two examples of low-trauma fish release practice in his conversation with Colorado angler Chuck Obermeyer: not taking the fish out of the water, and cradling the fish in a rubberized net. "'The net isn't even touching the fish,' he said. 'He'll swim out on his own when he's ready.' One after another, his trout revived that way, untouched. Each fish finned gently in the open net and departed looking hardly the worse for wear." In the Rocky Mountain News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"By first light we had risen far enough out of the valley to catch a glimpse of the cobalt Pacific sparkling on the western horizon, waves lapping on palm-fringed shores. We turned off the main road at Cerro de la Muerte, the height of land along Costa Rica’s harrowing continental divide — a spot that, on the rare clear day, offers views of two oceans." In the New York Times, Dave Sherwood writes about fly fishing for the wildly beautiful rainbows transplanted from California's McCloud River to Costa Rica's Rio Savegre Valley.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The very same judge who in 2001 opened the door for lobbyists to challenge salmon protections ruled yesterday that " his previous ruling 'does not require NMFS to treat natural populations and hatchery stocks equally.' 'We're horribly disappointed,' said Sonya Jones, the Seattle-area Pacific Legal Foundation lawyer arguing the case for property-rights advocates." Robert McClure on SeattlePi.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To many of us, it seems unconscionable that 25 years of natural gas resources might provoke a state to give up 75,000 acres of wilderness, but the debate over whether drilling should occur on Colorado's Roan Plateau focuses on that very proposition. What's very clear is that, without historical use of the Plateau by hunters and fishers and hikers, the argument wouldn't even be taking place, given the money being lobbed at the issue by drilling advocates. Associated Press writer Judith Kohler offers a good summary of the situation. "Industry officials say that makes the plateau important to cutting the country's reliance on foreign fuel. A Colorado-based industry nonprofit called Americans for American Energy is launching a campaign to lump the Roan with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as symbols of thwarted attempts at energy independence."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As something of a segue to Tom Chandler's expression of concern that fly fishing competitions miss the point and France's victory in the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships, we noticed a mention by James Martin, travel writer for About.com, that GourmetFly.com offers fly fishing and haute cuisine in several regions of France. They even have a testimonial from Guy de la Valdène on their homepage ("You will not be disappointed.") Meanwhile, Martin notes that "GourmetFly.com is ready to send you trout fishing in France to places where the streams are so full of of Veuve Clicquot bottles chilling that there's hardly room for the fish -- and when you come up empty you can get yourself all dolled up and spend your meal times chowing down on some of the best food in France."

What I want to know is: first, can I come, and second, would Jim Harrison be willing to go one-on-one with me in a friendly competition (no product endorsements) on a French stream? I forfeit any potential prizes for eating.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

When tying loop-to-loop leader systems, there are only a couple of knots that make good sense. One is the Surgeon's Loop -- which can be tied with 2 or 3 turns, depending on tippet diameter and desired strength -- and another is the Perfection Loop. While the Surgeon's Loop is very strong and easy to tie in light monofilament or fluorocarbon, it makes a large and uncomfortable knot in the thick stuff. That's where the Perfection Loop shines.

Watch MidCurrent's new video on Tying the Perfection Loop.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since the most popular article on Smithsonian magazine's Web site is "A Brief History of House Cats," it's a welcome surprise to see them provide this long and excellent history of the redistribution and management of trout species in the U.S. There's a ton of info here -- in fact it's the making of a book -- and if you care at all about trout conservation we suggest reading Robert Poole's piece, which covers everything from brown trout on steamships to Robert J. Behnke's rediscovery of the greenback cutthroat to TU and modern conservationists who are looking at trout management as more than a question of species survival.

If you have an interest in "genetic imperialism," you may also want to check out Paul Schullery's "Imperialist Trout" on MidCurrent; it takes a more cosmopolitan look at the efforts of various countries to colonize the world with their favorite fish.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It wasn't an outright gift, to be sure, but the decision by the Van Rensselaer family to offer one mile of property along the North Platte to The Conservation Fund at less than market value means important public access for anglers. "'It prevents residential or commercial development,' said Luke Lynch, Wyoming field representative for the fund. 'It's an important riparian corridor and wetlands area.'" In the Billings Gazette.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who would guess that you can catch trout in 1,000 different North Carolina streams? Retired textile executive Bobby Kilby kept count as he ticked off the locations where he's caught trout in the state, proving that the streams everyone talks about only hint at the possibilities. "Kilby's quest has taken him deep into mountain coves and dells, clambering across rocks and ducking under rhododendron to fish remote waters as small as 2 feet wide. Some bear colorful names such as Sweet Heifer Creek, Tear Britches Creek and Ugly Creek. 'I feel very comfortable there may be 50 streams I have fished that I question any human being has fished before,' Kilby said." Jack Horan in the Charlotte Observer.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A blogger on BostonNow.com thinks he may follow role model Barry Bonds in pursuing feats of fly fishing that are impossible without a little chemical boost. "Soon I’ll be making 500-foot casts with my five weight. Next fall, I’ll be able to wade West Virginia’s Gauley River when it flows at over 3,000 cubic feet per second. My casting will be so accurate that I’ll land #28 gnats inside of a hummingbird’s ear."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Chris Scoones over on Washington Fly Fishing reviews the Simms River Sandal, noting they are no protection against sharp grass or sunburn, but do a better job than most footwear in providing traction. "As for it's performance on the river, traction was solid and not just due to newer felt. The felt is only in the middle while rubber on the outside grips well too, especially when jumping boulders. I've found other rubber soles with standard traction lugs to suck pretty bad but it wasn't the case with these. It's small slits are similar to siping a tire for usage in snow and ice, an application of optimal traction, not durability or mud traction."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tom Stienstra, outdoors writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, has been writing a long series on hiking through the California Sierras and the Golden Trout Wilderness for the past several days (see his route here). Collectively and individually, these are good reads. Makes us want to go look up the latest in light rods and backpacks. You can find the first in the series here, and then click on the items in the right sidebar to reach successive entries. Part seven can be found here.

"The most remote river canyon in the Lower 48, the headwaters of the Kern runs through this mountain cradle. A trek here can reveal the towering canyon rims, ancient virgin forests, pristine lakes and creeks, waterfalls and hot springs, and wildlife for which each visitor is a curiosity, not a threat. The trout fishing in the remote Kern can be the best of any in the American wilderness."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The U.S. Youth Fly Fishing team came in seventh in an event dominated by the same European countries who compete so well in the adult championships. "After a strong final day of fishing, Team USA 1, with 132 points, finished just one point out of the medal standings. France took the gold medal with 90 points, the Czech Republic (91 points) earned the silver medal and England received the bronze with 131 points." Mark Nale in Pennsylvania's CentreDaily.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Our friends the Vermillion brothers are not your average stay-at-home kind of guys. That's one reason they were able to help establish Mongolia as a destination for fly fishers chasing taimen. Mark Freeman mentions Dan Vermillion and Jim Andras's upcoming presentation at the Rogue Flyfishers Association in Medford, Oregon, in his discussion of these oversized trout. "Some populations of taimen in Russia are anadromous, while those in parts of Mongolia are resident fish. Taxonomically, they are trout, making them a virtual tourist trap for anglers looking to experience catching the largest resident trout in the world." On Oregon's MailTribune.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A 140-pound Homasassa tarpon earned Webster Young a trip to California, where he'll watch the craftsmen at Abel make a fly reel of his choice. Abel's tournament, which is the first that we know of to be based on an honor system, also gave out some nice prizes to Tim Mahaffey (second place), Michael Greve (third) and Jeff Ferguson (fourth).

Read the extended entry for the press release and full results.

August 9, 2007

CHICAGO FLY-FISHER WINS ABEL TARPON TOURNAMENT

CAMARILLO, Calif. – Webster Young, a Chicago fly-fisher, is the grand prize winner in the Abel “On Your Honor” Tarpon Tournament. It’s the only fishing tournament with no entry fee conducted when and where the angler wants to fish – with no ceremonies, no weigh-in – operated strictly by honesty and trust. Young caught and released a 140-pound tarpon on June 7 while fishing with Capt. Dan Malzone in the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Homosassa, Fla.

The tarpon was caught on an Abel Super 10 reel.

The winner and a guest will be flown to California, hosted by Abel, and given the reel of his choice. Young will watch the progression of his personal reel being precision machined, anodized and finished. Value of the prize is approximately $3,000, according to Don R. Swanson, Abel vice president.

First runner-up is Tim Mahaffey, Miami, Fla., fishing on May 21 with Capt. Rick Murphy in Islamorado. Mahaffey’s tarpon weighed 130-pounds. He was using an Abel 4.5N model reel. Mahaffey will receive a gold anodized Abel pliers/knife combo set valued at $500.

Second runner-up is Michael Greve, Odense, Denmark, fishing with Capt. Capt. Bruce Pollock from Islamorada, Fla., on June 4. The fish weighed 99.53 pounds and was caught on an Abel 12W reel. Greve will receive a pair of silver anodized #4 Abel pliers valued at $225.

Third runner-up is Jeff Ferguson, Bozeman, Mont., while fishing with guide Aaron Snell at Key West, Fla. His 70-pound fish was caught on June 18 using an Abel Super 10 reel. Ferguson will be awarded a pair of bronze anodized #4 Abel pliers valued at $200.

Complete Abel On Your Honor Tarpon Tournament Results

Tarpon Tournament Champion

Webster Young
Chicago, Ill.

Guide

Capt. Dan Malzone

Tarpon Weight and Size

140 pounds
78 inches long
38 inches girth

Date of Catch
June 7, 2007

Reel Model Used
Abel Super 10

Location of catch
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Homosassa, Fla.

1st Runner Up

Tim Mahaffey
Miami, Fla.

Guide
Captain Rick Murphy

Tarpon Weight and Size
130 pounds
72 ¼ inches long
38 inches girth

Date of Catch
May 21, 2007

Reel Model Used
Abel #4.5N

Location of Catch
Islamorada, Fla.

Gold anodized Abel #4 Pliers/Knife Combo set. $500 value.

2nd runner up
Michael Greve
Odense, Denmark

Guide
Capt. Bruce Pollock

Tarpon Weight and Size
99.53 pounds
65 inches long
35 inches girth

Date of Catch
June 4, 2007

Reel Model Used
Super 12W

Location of Catch
Islamorada, Fla.

Silver anodized Abel #4 Pliers. $225 value.

3rd runner up

Jeff Ferguson
Bozeman, Mont.

Guide
Aaron Snell

Tarpon Weight
70 pounds

Date of Catch
June 18, 2007

Reel Model Used
Abel Super 10

Location of Catch
Key West, Fla.

Bronze anodized Abel #4 Pliers. $200 value

Bennett J. Mintz PR/Adv.
22370 Mission Circle
Chatsworth, California 91311
818.718.8566 718.1958 Fax
bjmintz@socal.rr.com

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When you think about who is involved in helping wounded veterans try to return to some kind of normalcy after being overseas, you don't immediately think of folks like the artist WAMdesigns. Stodgy she is not, and we'd guess that political correctness is not the first thing on her mind. But Ozarks Fly Anglers noted recently that she is donating 10% of all of her sales to Project Healing Waters of the Ozarks. Project Healing Waters (www.projecthealingwaters.org), in case you hadn't run across them, teaches wounded soldiers to fly fish as official rehab therapy via the U.S. military and the Veteran's Administration.

For more on Project Healing Waters, see "Project Healing Waters on NPR" and "Project Healing Waters Two Fly Tournament."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"As any fly-fisherman who hasn't had his head in a bucket the last 20 years knows full well, Barr is the most successful designer of commercially distributed flies in the world. His Copper John, and its variations, is the most widely distributed fly in the contract tyer market, among a couple dozen other creations listed in the catalog of Umpqua Feather Merchants, the nation's leading fly distributor." Charlie Meyers writes about John Barr's new book, Barr Flies (Stackpole Books, August 2007, 188 pages), in the Denver Post.

Barr Flies on Amazon.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dave Buchanan fishes Anthracite Creek in Dark Canyon, where there seems to be no shortage of water or fish. "The beauty of fishing small streams is the fish usually are eager to hit any sort of fly pattern, and most attractor patterns seem to catch fish. While a Stimulator was working for Morris, another angler downstream was tossing a Royal Coachman with fair results, while his partner was using a House and Lot Variant, the pattern preferred by former President Eisenhower when he’d fish Colorado in the 1950s." In the Grand Junction Sentinel.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It would be hard to think of a fly pattern that is more versatile than the Muddler Minnow. Most of that utility, of course, comes from the fact that spun deer hair can be crafted to produce almost any profile of any prey that fish eat, from frogs and crabs to caddisflies and sculpins.

But it's also no secret that spinning deer hair is considered a secondary skill by most fly tiers. It's enough unlike other skills in fly tying that many of us never try it, which is a shame because it is both easy and rewarding. This week on MidCurrent John Likakis gives us a head start on deer hair flies and the Muddler in particular. In "Muddlers Made Easy," he tells what to look for in materials and how to tie both basic and streamer-style versions of this classic fly.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think it was John Gierach who said that no one under the age of 30 can qualify as a trout bum. Well, Dutch Holland, USN Retired, has held the credentials longer than most, according to Randall Sumner in the Seattle Times. "He'd had five wives, he said, 'and had bought more washers and dryers than Sears.' He said that he was still mostly friends with his exes, except the last one who wanted his canoe. He cut it in half with a chain saw and left her half on the yard of his last real house in Las Vegas."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vermont state officials announced yesterday that didymo algae was found in the upper Batten Kill late last week, adding to the list of northeast U.S. rivers where the invasive algae has been discovered. "The Batten Kill discovery last week follows similar discoveries of the algae in the Connecticut and White rivers earlier this year. State officials have posted signs in the area that the algae were discovered in last month, including in the towns of Royalton, Bethel and Stockbridge." Daniel Barlow of the Vermont Press Bureau.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Mark Nale writes about the various members of the U.S. Fly Fishing Youth team, which is competing today, tomorrow and Wednesday in central Pennsylvania. Among them is Heather Seitz, who, besides having a black belt in Kung Fu, is the only female on the team. "'I'm delighted to be on the world team because it is an amazing experience and an opportunity to meet other anglers who have the same love for fly fishing as I,' said Seitz. 'I greatly enjoy dry fly fishing; however, nymphing has grown on me since I started to work with the coaches. They taught me how to truly nymph, and I have become successful by using the techniques that they have shown me.'" On Pennsylvania's CentreDaily.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we first noted in early July, the invasive algae didymo -- which has the texture and color of wet green cotton -- was discovered in the Connecticut River by a fishing guide (see "Didymo in U.S. Northeast"). It's appearance in the White River now has anglers even more alarmed, and the concern is that the algae may more adaptable than once thought. "The algae have preferred high-altitude, low-nutrient rivers but now are showing up in other places, raising questions about whether they have mutated and what triggers their growth. New Zealand, Poland, Canada, and northwestern states have been battling didymo and now Arkansas and Tennessee have large populations." Lisa Rathke of the Associated Press.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Montana relies heavily on the media to push fly fishers its way during the summer months, but this year the news is not the friend of fly shops and outfitters, some of whom are complaining that the state is going overboard with closures. "Fly-fishing businesses are largely reliant on tourists who come from all over the world to fish Montana’s legendary trout streams in the summer, and as Kris Kumlien, manager of Bozeman’s Montana Troutfitters explains, misperceptions about the situation are only making things worse." David Nolt in New West magazine. (Thanks to reader Grant Carter for this link.)

Reality is that even this summer there is enough good, cold water in Montana to hold ten times the anglers that good PR could send its way. Start with spring creeks, then hike up to mountain streams and high lakes that aren't noticeably affected by the warm temperatures. And do what we do, which is go fishing when the naysayers are huddled in their hotel rooms.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Boy, read about the life cycle and behavorial details of bluegills, and you start realizing that gender ain't all it's cracked up to be, especially in nature. Eric Sharp explains why "sneakers" turn into drag queens to get the job done in a bluegill pond. "Eventually they're as big as mature females and normally would draw attacks from bigger males. But then something amazing happens, says Brian Neff, a researcher at the University of Western Ontario in London. The sneaker's body produces a big jolt of estrogen, and it takes on the color of a mature female." In the Detroit Free Press.

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

"'They're messing with heritage here a little bit,' Kilgore said of a species protection bill for native trout, aquatic and amphibian species moving through the Legislature. 'Do people forget what put California on the map? It was the independent miners and the discovery of gold.'" That comment by a commercial gold dredger gives you some idea of the rationalization behind a business that requires sucking huge amounts of silt off of stream beds. One thing the miners seem to forget: there is no longer an endless supply of public land and water available to private interests for commercial profit. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Greg Thomas of Field & Stream takes Cloudveil's Jeff Wogoman on a backcountry tour of some incredibly beautiful bull trout habitat. "We can't tell you exactly where we went, but here's a hint: try the Clearwater River system and its abundant tributaries. Some other top Idaho bull trout streams are the Selway and Lochsa rivers, the North Fork Clearwater River, St. Joe River, and Kelly Creek."

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

France will be there in their yellow jerseys... err, golden jackets. "Teams from the United States -- including Pennsylvania -- the Czech Republic, England, France, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Canada will kick off official practice today, followed by three days of competition. Spain was not able to make it for the opening ceremonies but was expected arrive for practice today." Sara Ganim on CentreDaily.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How ironic is it that the same chemical spilled by a U.S. rail company into Portage Creek in Pennsylvania is the same chemical responsible for the poisoning of Canada's Cheakamus River? "CN Rail is facing a mix of federal and provincial charges after a derailment two years ago sent tens of thousands of litres of toxic chemicals into a river north of Vancouver, killing more than 500,000 fish. The company was charged yesterday with five counts stemming from the August, 2005, spill of caustic soda - also known as sodium hydroxide - near Squamish into the Cheakamus River." Ian Bailey in the Globe & Mail.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The best part about brook trout creeping has been the departure from commerce. There are no guides working the high-and-brushy, no fly shops. There are no fishing tournaments, no book signings or seminars, no angling celebrities with funny hats and sponsor patches quoting into video cams." Ed Dentry writes about what makes the hunt for brook trout in streams no wider than a shower stall so maddeningly addictive. In The Denver Post.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As expected, the Pacific Legal Foundation, a poorly cloaked developer and business rights lobbying group (see Sourcewatch), yesterday appealed the recent decision by a federal judge that prohibits the counting of hatchery-raised salmon with wild fish when determining the health of U.S. west coast salmon populations. "Mark Taylor, president of the Washington council of Trout Unlimited, was not surprised by the appeal, but he was confident his side would prevail. 'I think Judge Coughenour's decision will be upheld and it should be. All the science is on our side,' Taylor added." Article by the Associated Press.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fly Fishing Trade publisher Joe Daniels -- who also publishes Wild on the Fly, a magazine for destination fly fishers -- has agreed to an acquisition of his three-year-old trade magazine by Angling Trade, which will print its first issue just before the Fly Fishing Retailer show in September. Angling Trade will be edited by former Fly Fishing Trade editor Kirk Deeter. We're guessing Deeter, whose name some may recognize as the co-author of two very well done books out of Willow Creek Press, Tideline and Castwork, will bring a boatload of skill to the new publication.

For more information and the full press release, read the extended entry.

ANGLING TRADE MAGAZINE ACQUIRES FLY FISHING TRADE MAGAZINE

Boulder, Colo., July 30, 2007 – Angling Trade magazine and Fly Fishing Trade (FFT) magazine today announced an agreement under which Angling Trade will acquire Fly Fishing Trade. FFT has been the independent voice of the United States fly fishing industry since its inception in 2004.

Kirk Deeter, editor-in-chief of Angling Trade and former editor of Fly Fishing Trade, notes that the deal consolidates coverage of key issues and trends in the North American fly fishing industry under one title.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to build on the efforts of Fly Fishing Trade and pledge to continue a tradition of fair, balanced coverage of the fly fishing market in North America,” said Deeter. “We understand that we are working in an often turbulent business environment, and we will continue to bring to bear attention to key issues that only a U.S.-based magazine, run by writers and editors who embrace fly fishing as a personal passion, can deliver.”

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, however both parties acknowledge that a fair and equitable transaction was reached. The agreement also ends a growing level of competition that both parties acknowledge had become confusing to advertisers and ultimately unhealthy for the industry.

“There really isn’t room for two trade magazines in a marketplace the size of fly fishing. Ultimately our goal is to insure that a viable business publication exists to serve the needs of our industry. To that end, we are excited to ‘pass the torch,’ and I feel confidant that the new Angling Trade will be published with appropriate energy and focus on a market that desperately needs high-level reporting to serve the business needs of its constituents,” said Joseph E. Daniel, publisher of Fly Fishing Trade. “It’s been an honor to serve the industry in this capacity for the last three years and I hope we’ve made a positive difference to the fly fishing community. We wish Angling Trade well. We support their efforts, and I will personally continue to contribute my perspectives and efforts to ensure quality coverage of the key issues that impact this market.”

The final issue of Fly Fishing Trade will be published in early August 2007, in advance of the Fly Fishing Retailer World Expo trade show in Denver. The first issue of Angling Trade will debut in early September 2007, also in advance of the FFR show.

# # #

For more information:
Kirk Deeter, Editor, Angling Trade, 303-838-8708, editor@anglingtrade.com
Joseph Daniel, Publisher, Fly Fishing Trade, 303-442-8857, joe@wildonthefly.com

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It sure is nice to see a company whose brand is only newly visible in the fly fishing market step up and support something as worthwhile as the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing team.