"When I get a migraine and still have a job to do, I wear mirrored Gargoyle sunglasses to block out the light, but it tends to freak out the vampires, what with their natural problem with mirrors. So I'm extra careful with known headache triggers around monsters." Don Barone gives hilarious (but scary) advice on how to interview ghosts, goblins, werewolves, and other assorted spectrally challenged subjects, even the ones that appear at fishing lodges. On ESPN.com.

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

Is beauty more enjoyable when it is there for a reason? "The fiery red hues that seem to set forest leaves ablaze in autumn are produced in part as a result of the soil that trees grow in and help protect the trees in the winter, a new study finds." Andrea Thompson of LiveScience.com. (Don't be surprised if "anthocyanins" show up in the next high-priced sunscreen on Walgreen shelves.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has been said that a good writer can write about anything and make it interesting. When a good writer writes about something as close and intricate as the stream of influences running from father to son, though, we should expect more than just an entertaining story. Lou Ureneck delivers it in his new book Backcast (St. Martin's Press, September 2007, 304 pages, hardcover), which we excerpt this week on MidCurrent.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you own a home in south Florida, as I do, but also care about water quality, you are likely ambivalent about the downturn in real estate. Homes may be worth 20% less this year than last, but something had to give, as they say, with non-stop development of Florida wetlands and coastal regions. For the past 70 years, in just about any coastal part of the U.S., the fish have been getting the short end of the stick. As the scientists studying Lake Superior noted in a conference this week, human beings will continue to reproduce almost regardless of the health of their environment. So while worry about the threat of "invasive species" is well-placed, biologists like Mark Ebener of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, suggest that our biggest worry should be about rampant over-development of coastal ecosystems.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

BARNSTABLE, Mass., Oct. 8 -- We are fishing through a lowery day on Cape Cod; drizzling rain, patches of fog, and a gentle southwest breeze that drifts our skiff silently along the marsh-grass edges where striped bass lurk.

Four of us—my wife Martha, son Jason, daughter-in-law Milena, and myself—alternately toss flies or jigs and are enjoying a steady pick of stripers that range from 4 to about 8 pounds. Small silversides and juvenile bunker have followed the flooding tide into the grasses, trying to escape the cruising bass. Today’s fly of choice is a size 4 chartreuse-over-white Clouser Deep Minnow.

In the midst of all this, I happen to notice that a large praying mantis has landed on top of Martha’s rain hat. This is a big bug, perhaps six inches long, and it sits there among the raindrops facing forward as if to watch the action. There is no panic over the new arrival. We collectively decide to leave it alone to see what might happen next.

As the tide begins ebbing, small groups of stripers start breaking water in the growing current between the small islands. I had hoped to help Milena get her first fly-rod striper and the aggressively feeding fish are a perfect opportunity.

I stop the boat at the upcurrent end of a narrow channel, and cut the motor. Some surface-breaking bass obligingly start feeding toward us. Milena casts, a bass takes, and after a little give and take is flopping at the end of a Boga-Grip. Mission accomplished.

Milena’s happy with the fish but not with my fly rod. “That 10-weight is a telephone pole!” she says, shaking her head. “Why do you need such a big rod?”

I explain that a seven- or eight-weight would do fine for the small bass we are encountering, except for a couple of things. First, I sometimes toss big, herring-size flies for stripers, for which casting a ten-weight is essential. Then, too, a lighter rod just won’t cut it when fighting bigger bass of 20 pounds or more. Fish of that size and larger are always a possibility, even in the shallow backwaters of a salt marsh. Should I hook one, a ten-weight gives me ample pulling power with which to land it in reasonable fashion.

Some hours pass. More rain comes and goes. The mantis remains unmoving, even as Martha moves about the boat and lands her share of stripers.

Ultimately, it’s time. We leave the breaking fish and head for the boat ramp. The skiff is hauled out, plugs are pulled, and tie-downs are secured. Our mantis companion still adorns the bright blue hat. Martha takes the hat off and holds it in some bushes. The mantis crawls slowly away, and we start our own long drive back north.

Posted by at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fly fisher David Andelman, who is the executive editor of Forbes.com and the author of the new book A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today, chose his home because of its proximity to Catskill fishing. "His current book focuses on The Treaty of Versailles, a peace agreement between the Allied (France, Russia and Britain) and Associated (United States) powers of the West and Germany. Among its conditions, it redrew borders in Eastern Europe and the Middle East — and, unfortunately, with little regard to cultural, religious or ethnic differences." Howard Frank in the Pocono Record Writer.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sid Evans handed in his resignation at Field & Stream Wednesday and took a job as editor in chief of Garden & Gun, the year-old magazine he describes as the Vanity Fair of the South. "Garden & Gun sounds like another hobbyist title, but it's not written for either hunters or gardeners -- not exclusively, anyway. The name was taken from a bar in Charleston, says Evans, who is originally from Tennessee. 'It's got a little bit of everything,' he says. 'It's about the food, it's about the music, it's about southern culture.'" Jeff Bercovici on Conde Nast's Portfolio.com.

More from MediaWeek.

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

Champion Canadian speedskater Jeremy Wotherspoon set a new national record for the 500 meters in his first race in a year and a half. What's he like to do in his spare time? Fly fish. "With 57 victories, Wotherspoon has won more men's World Cup races than anyone else in the world."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ignore the indecipherable headline and read this pleasant piece on steelhead pool watcher Lee Spencer by Jeff Barnhard of the Associated Press. It includes more than a few gems: a classic Zane Grey quote, steelheading tips, and a little history behind fishing "pointless." Based on watching the fish in Big Bend Pool, he has concluded that the conventional wisdom of steelhead angling is wrong. The fish don't hold on the bottom, but a few feet from the surface, closer when the water is cooler. Dawn is not the best time for fishing, because the fish act like they are asleep."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"'I'd have to say that September, October and early November are my favorite times of the year to fish,' said Willhelm, education coordinator for the Federation of Fly Fishers in Livingston and a master casting instructor. 'For a lot of people, it's about getting away from the rat race.'" Be sure to check out the video that features Wilhelm fishing the Boulder during some classic fall weather in Montana. Brett French in the Billings Gazette.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Think you've seen the worst? Jimmy Kimmel -- who must be a fly fisher to have scripted the subtleties here -- produced this skit lampooning fly shop service. If this reminds you of your last visit to your local rod and feather merchant, you might want to consider shopping in the next county over. (Warning: Adult humor here.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That's what Gary Loomis said to a likely customer while standing in a steelhead stream holding his first homemade fly rod. "'I'll give you $100,' the man said. Loomis stood firm, but the man was persistent and kept raising his offer. Finally, the man said, 'I'll give you $200 cash.'" Also, read through to the end of this article to find out what started Joan Wulff on her amazing fly fishing career: fear of being criticized for her rowing technique. Steve Waters on Sun-Sentinel.com.

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

Moving the show back to September from August appears to have helped attendance at this year's Fly Fishing Retailer show, according to this week's press release. "A total of 3,045 attendees made the trip to the 2007 FlyFishing Retailer show, up 33.0 percent overall from 2006. Total buyer attendance jumped by 18.5 percent from 2006, indicating a distinct business vitality from the retailers that made the trip. Total storefronts attending the FFR show was up as well this year (4.5 percent)."

Read the full press release in the extended entry.

FlyFishing Retailer 2007 enjoys upswing in attendance
and rising tide of youthful energy

A popular return to mid-September dates as well as healthy storefront attendance
helps to boost total attendance figures

DENVER, COLO. (Nov. 23, 2007) – Drawing a dedicated and diverse crowd of fly fishing industry professionals to the Colorado Convention Center, the 2007 FlyFishing Retailer show enjoyed an upswing in total attendance thanks to a popular return to September dates, fresh thinking by show planners, and an influx of new faces and youthful energy.

With compelling seminars and raucous industry parties, FlyFishing Retailer once again proved itself the single most important event on the fly fishing industry calendar. Those making the trip from Sept. 16-18, 2007, were rewarded with three days of active business… as well as a springboard for an early-fall fishing trip in the nearby Rocky Mountains.

“The feel on the show floor this year was far more energetic than in previous years,” said Kenji Haroutunian, FlyFishing Retailer show director. “The increased attendance and appeal to a younger audience kept the show floor buzzing and exhibitor booths full.”

Starting on the right foot, FlyFishing Retailer recorded a close to 50 percent spike in day one attendance over 2006.

The dramatic show start evened out over time, as total attendance for the show indicated an upswing across all channels. A total of 3,045* attendees made the trip to the 2007 FlyFishing Retailer show, up 33.0 percent overall from 2006.

Total buyer attendance jumped by 18.5 percent from 2006, indicating a distinct business vitality from the retailers that made the trip. Total storefronts attending the FFR show was up as well this year (4.5 percent).

“Certainly part of this year’s upswing in attendance was due to the show’s move back to September from late August,” added Haroutunian. “The post Labor Day show dates allowed retailers to take full advantage of the busy summer buying season.

An extra month in the calendar also strengthened the ability of the show and its industry partner, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), to maximize the impact of several new initiatives intended to increase the excitement and effectiveness of the show.

“Each year, FFR presents a variety of great opportunities for attendees to connect with industry leaders and learn more about programs, strategies and issues that can positively affect the growth and direction of their businesses and our industry,” said Robert Ramsay, president of AFFTA. “The key is getting this information to the individuals who are most able to use it.”

Sparking much excitement, AFFTA, with the help of Frontiers International and William Joseph, sponsored multiple giveaways during the show; even cold, hard cash to seminar attendees. The first winner of an exotic fishing trip was selected at random during the heavily attended Industry Breakfast, and went to Peter Crow of Smith Optics. Other program winners took away a vintage motorcycle, new Best Booth awards, and another island fishing adventure.

The 2007 Best of Booth Awards, won by Scientific Anglers and Fisherman’s Eyewear in the Large and Small Booth Categories, was one of the many new features at this year’s show. Each winner receives a free individual booth space for the FFR 2008 event, booked for September 14-16 next year in Denver.

Both during the show and after hours, fly fishing’s increasing appeal with youth as well as the youthful minded was reflected in the obvious surge of digital video surrounding the show. Led by Fish & Fly magazine, the official video partner of the show. New media at FFR covered a wide range of topics including The Drake magazine’s “Five Minutes of Fly Fishing” video awards, Hook.tv’s sponsorship of the Spey Café’s video screens and the ongoing Video Clip Contest, Patagonia’s after hours screening of short films in their Denver store, and the critically acclaimed theatrical trailer of “Red Gold,” a movie highlighting the Pebble Mine conflict in Bristol Bay, Alaska. More information on Hook.tv’s Video Clip Contest can be found online at flyfishingretailer.com.

The New Products Area, hosted by Morris Communications and Adams & Sons, was more prominent than ever before, thanks to a blend of eye-level displays, mannequins, and a totally revised layout and location. Attendees were able to browse the area and vote on the 2007 Fly Gear of the Year Awards, which were won by Hareline Dubbin, Tibor Reels, Cliff Outdoors, and Petitjean Fishing Equipment.

The Orvis/American Angler Casting Cup Finals on Day 3 once again drew a large crowd, with Steve Rajeff and Kathleen Wagner taking the Men’s and Women’s honors. The two winners shared the $7,500 purse with Rajeff donating his half to the Coastal Conservation Association and Wagner splitting her half between Casting for Recovery and Reel Recovery.

“I really felt this was the best show I’ve been associated with since 1998. The crowd was a little younger, the energy was the best I have felt in many years, and the attitude from everyone I met was more upbeat,” said Hutch Hutchinson of Orvis. “We had many more casters participate in the Casting Cup than in past competitions and this is no surprise to me considering competitions are the way that many anglers, particularly younger ones, are getting involved with our sport.”

*Attendance figures gathered and verified by third-party registration management firm.

ABOUT FLYFISHING RETAILER

FlyFishing Retailer is the annual gathering of the fly fishing trade, drawing thousands of manufacturers, retailers, media and industry associates to the Colorado Convention Center. This unique three-day event showcases the passion, innovation and community of the sport, and is the only place to see the world’s best-known and best-loved fly fishing brands in a single location.

To learn more about FlyFishing Retailer and the fly fishing industry, please visit flyfishingretailer.com. For media information, please call 802/583-6070, or send an email to flyfishingretailer@madriver.com.

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

Nautilus reels just announced the new NV 6/7. Featuring the same CCF drag system as its larger 8/9 and 10/11 siblings, the NV 6/7 is very light, weighing in at a mere 6.5 oz. The large arbor NV 6/7 also claims the signature near-zero start-up inertia of the CCF family of reels. The suggested retail price of the new reel is $545, and it's available in black or brushed silver anodizing.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not sure whether this article's photo shows an outdoors experience or a display for Bass Pro shop's new home furnishings department (don't worry, they don't actually have one yet). But it is a sign that perhaps the trend we sighted back in August (see "Glamping in Montana") is continuing. The good news is that the tip money is apparently going to a good cause: "John's using the tip money left by guests to restore the salmon spawning grounds in the Bedwell River. So far he's spent $1.5 million rebuilding the river bed that had become silted following indiscriminate logging of the area." Claire Giblin on Stuff.co.nz.

If that's what it takes to fund stream restoration, we're all for it.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This caught our eye because of a recipe that originated in a frying pan made from an old Maytag washing machine lid, but it also shows what a bunch of folks who love the Yellowstone backcountry can do with fresh trout and assorted camp-style ingredients. "Recipes in the cookbook ($19.95, Riverbend Publishing) run the gamut, from Cross' simple yet elegant Chocolate Pecan Rum Pie, to Superintendent Suzanne Lewis' old-fashioned Brunswick Stew, to an energy-boosting, grilled peanut-butter and chocolate-chip sandwich recipe submitted by Old Faithful Inn bellhop Walter Voeller." Karen Ronnow in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

Yellowstone National Park Cookbook on Amazon.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don't know why, but whenever I think of aviator-style sunglasses I think of Sam Shepard in the 1984 movie "Country" (Jessica Lange might have had something to do with it). The spare, early-tech look has defined cool for a long time. Costa Del Mar is betting that the style still has some of its mojo by introducing a new updated version that is much more durable than aviator glasses of yore. Available in January 2008, the new Leatherback sunglasses will retail for between $199 to $219 and feature an anti-reflective coating to block bounce-back glare, adjustable silicone nose pads, and Megol® sleeves on the temple to prevent slippage on the face.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Smooth Operator: Costa Del Mar’s New Aviator Style Sunglass Available in Time for Holidays
The Leatherback Features Classic Aviator Style with Costa’s Performance Technology

ORMOND BEACH, Fla., – Oct. 11, 2007 – Costa Del Mar®, the company that changed the way people see the world outdoors, is bringing its newest sunglass Leatherback, to retail outlets in December, in time for the holidays. Featuring a sleek yet rugged aviator style, combined with lightweight nickel-silver alloy Monel® construction, Leatherback gives wearers all the performance technology Costa’s known for, with a classic design.

Available with polycarbonate lenses in either gray or blue mirror, the Leatherback frame features an integrated stainless steel hinge which makes for optimal fitting adjustments. Frame color options include the new shiny palladium or gunmetal.

Leatherback’s polarized lenses come with a premium anti-reflective coating to prevent bounce back glare. Adjustable silicone nose pads, and Megol® sleeves on the temple, prevent slippage on the face and provide the ultimate comfort fit.

“The aviator sunglass style is such a timeless, classic look. We used that inspiration, along with all of the performance technology you would expect to find in a pair of Costas, to build Leatherback,” said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa Del Mar. “The sturdy construction, the new frame colors and the incredible performance features give this aviator style an updated look and feel.”

Leatherback accompanies others in Costa’s rimless sport metals collection, including George. All feature a ‘forget-they’re-on’ fit and tough-as-nails durability. Other collection updates include upgrades to George’s frame shape.

The Leatherback retails from between $199 to $219.

Media Contact:
Liza Jones
864-270-0722
liza@paynejonespr.com

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Not all knots are created equal, as anyone who has taught knot tying can attest. First, you have to consider the variability in both the performance and characteristics of materials. Then you have think of -- among other things -- the wire thickness of hook eyes, the diameter of connecting lines, the affect of connections on the way the fly drifts or is pulled, the balance between strength and complexity, the sensitivity of the fish to knot size, and ... well, you get the picture.

The thing that most novice knot tiers don't get is that how a knot is tied is the most important variable of all. The highest-strength knot tied by an unskilled angler is weaker than a "60% knot" tied expertly. That's why it's worth learning knots from the best source possible, and why improving on knot instruction itself is a worthwhile pursuit.

This week we review Lefty Kreh's new book Fishing Knots, which aims once again to help knot tiers stop pigtails before they happen.

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

Depending on your taste, you may think these visual additives from Soho's ultra-trendy Jack Spade store are simply silly or a perfect gift for the fly fisher who has everything. Apparently the designer was inspired by a recent Great Lakes fly fishing trip. "Senior prom was the last time we wore a boutonniere, but a new take on the classic if oft neglected accessory might have us reconsidering. Today, Jack Spade is introducing a limited line of 24, all made by hand from fly-fishing lures—a significant improvement on that wilted carnation we bought at the grocery store." On Style.com.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Fly-fishing means eliminating all the variables — what fly you choose, what cast you make, how you approach — until you solve the single, irreducible event that is happening in front of you: the head of a trout taking a mayfly from the water’s surface. For me there are no variables left. I am no longer up to problem-solving. The cold has reduced me to a single hypothesis, which the trout are now rejecting." In The New York Times, Verlyn Klinkenborg decides that becoming "one with the fish" is not the only reason to cast flies. (Thanks to reader John DeVault for this liink.)

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Los Angeles Times writer Gordy Slack finds a brilliant metaphor for describing the connectedness of seemingly unimportant species to the health of an environment as a whole. "Why care? The species in an ecosystem are woven together like characters in a Shakespeare play. Start pulling them out, and the play's integrity is lost. Removing the delta smelt would be like pulling the ghost from 'Macbeth.' Forever."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Even the most discouraged striper and redfish anglers may finally have something nice to say about the White House. President Bush will announce in his weekly radio address today that the federal government will prohibit the commercial harvest of stripers and redfish in in territorial waters. It will also encourage states who haven't already given the two species gamefish status to do so. While most U.S. states had banned the commercial fishing of redfish years ago, Mississippi still allows it. "The two main sections of the order charge the Secretary of Commerce with encouraging states to declare the two species as game fish in state waters and prohibit the sale of striped bass and red drum caught within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The EEZ extends 200 miles beyond state waters." Jeff Dute in Alabama's Press-Register.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

"Megalops cyprinoides, for those who are unfamiliar, is the Ox-eye or Indo-Pacific tarpon. It is known locally as ikan bulan. While their cousins in the Atlantic (Megalops atlanticus) can reach monster proportions, with some exceeding 100kg, our locals only grow to about 15kg, and even these are rare." Ichtus, writing in the Malaysian Star, talks about the sport to be had stalking the southeast Asian cousin of the Atlantic tarpon.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Everglades City, 6:30 AM. The Road Kill Cafe has decided that they won't open this morning so we head over to the stone crab docks where a few locals are sucking black coffee out of tall styrofoam cups and we swat mosquitos the size of small birds while we eat. Then we put fuel in Whipray, which beyond being stripped of electronics has signs of Steve's trademark tinkering all over it: customized plastic paint roller handle on the electric motor, elegant whipped rope wrappings on the tiller, handmade casting platform, even a tiny clip to hold the head of the Hookout in place. It is warm, with a slight southwest breeze.

We launch from Ted's house on Chokoloskee Bay. His workshop extends from inside to out and a large, patinaed vise dominates the under-awning benches near the ramp. Steve takes us out through the invisible web of ditches that leave the island and continues south for an hour before moving inland and away from the breeze. Every few minutes or so we notice a big tarpon roll as we glide past. "If we wanted to catch tarpon today, we could," Steve says. We are snook fishing, though. Even though we turn reflexively at every big gulp of air, the lure of finding big snook in just a few inches of water -- water so shallow that their eyes are out of the water -- keeps most of our attention on the expanse of still, dusty water in front of us.

We find our first fish in the long wash of a creek as it enters a basin. The snook dot the shore, in twos and threes every 50 feet or so, along with countless mullet. I can't get a bite, so Sandy takes over and casts at snook and the occasional redfish as we wander down the edge into the basin. We move to another spot, where the fish might be more willing, and are suddenly catching fish. Some of them are smallish. But the first miss by a 15-pounder that comes out of nowhere jolts me beyond alert. I convince myself that I will calmly notice the next long, gray-green shadow and deliver a cast that lands in front of, instead of five feet behind, the fish. The longer we wait, though, the less sure I am. Then I know I am fooling myself. "I just realized I've been holding my breath for three minutes."

That is the story of the day. We always see fish, no matter where we stop, but only six or eight places have big fish that want to jump on the fly like they've never seen one before. Perhaps they haven't.

By lunchtime we are tucked back into a long, tannic creek casting at Goliath Grouper (still known as Jewfish in these parts) and watching the broad backs of tarpon lift out of the water and sink with the sound of of an inverted pail releasing bubbles underwater. Steve is having a hard time not looking at happy tarpon circling upcurrent of us, but tells the story of how he and Sandy chased a 300-pound Jewfish up the beach for over an hour one day. "I would pole to get up in front of him and jump down and tie on a new fly. We finally started trying a sailfish flies on him. But he wouldn't go." "Funny how they started coming back right when they changed the name," Sandy says, just as a tarpon tail tips up near the surface just 30 feet from the boat. "He's facing right," says Steve. Sandy casts and the fish begins sinking. Eventually a fish swims under the boat, gets spooked and wakes his way up the creek, calling a sudden end to the burping and gurgling. "We're done," Steve says. "I'm gonna pole out though. I don't want to mess up their house."

Low water shows the carved shape of gators everywhere along the banks, especially in the coves where are catching the most fish. Like statues, Steve says. Two hundred (or more: three hundred, four hundred?) white ibis, herons and roseate spoonbills dabble along the crown of a big flat, feeding during the hour of dead low tide while the water flows out but the tide slowly rises.

By 5:30 the light begins to drop and the mullet and hog-nose rays seem to have muddied every shoreline we try. Big dots of water hit our necks and hands in the sunlight. A dark shadow-line of clouds rises between us and the dock. "Do you want to put on a rain coat?" Sandy asks Steve. "I don't want to get that wet," Steve says. And we are off.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"The goal was to catch cobia on fly. Whether he's after bonefish or sailfish, Stanczyk is an excellent and enthusiastic fly-fisherman. He had no idea who Wulff was and I tried hard not to laugh when he started giving the slender, soft-spoken Wulff instruction in how to cast. Instead of telling off Stanczyk, she smiled sweetly and listened to what he said." A Sun Sentinel columnist tells a funny story about fishing with master flycaster Joan Wulff, who will be inducted Saturday night into the IGFA Hall of Fame, along with Gary Loomis of G. Loomis rods fame, fishing writer Homer Circle, and others.

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

Although the notion of a Boost mode that blasts our surroundings with light for 20 seconds is pretty cool, a headlamp with a lens system that includes red light for night fishing has us thinking about getting out the bass rod and prowling some south Florida canals. Wonder which light shows alligators best? "Unique, interchangeable colored lens are stored in an integrated lens carrier on the headband to provide red light (for night fishing when night vision protection is paramount), blue light (used by hunters for blood trail tracking), and green light (for all purpose night use)." The Petzl TACTIKKA XP retails for around $50.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 4:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Writer Ed Quillen examines the psychology and intent behind giving every natural resource, including hatchery-raised rainbow trout, a dollar value. In the end, he suggests, maybe we are missing the most priceless asset of all: the volunteers who work to preserve the wilderness. "Add it all up, according to the study, and 'every dollar spent on rainbow trout production rises up through the economy fueling $32.20 in retail sales and $36.88 in net economic value.' So that rainbow on the end of the line isn’t just a magnificent creature, or even a tasty main course for a pan-fried outdoor dinner; it’s also part of an economic engine that can drive for the long haul, with the net value of $21.19 per fish." In the Summit [Colorado] Daily News.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 3:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you are just getting into fly fishing now, you might think that we're all a bunch of handycam-toting, YouTube-surfing Emmy-award-winner wannabes. There's little doubt that digital media has moved the focus from away from still images -- just ask the folks who have been making a quasi-living selling fly fishing photos.

But it wasn't always that way. Twenty years ago you couldn't find a film that touched the subject of fly fishing for tarpon. Scientific Anglers tried to remedy that with their "Challenge of Giant Tarpon" series in the late 1980s. But to be honest, the techniques it portrayed seem dated now, and Billy Pate's fanaticism has spread to thousands of anglers, all with different opinions about how to best big tarpon. The sport has matured, and we look wistfully at ninth-generation copies of "Tarpon" -- the Key West film funded by Guy de la Valdene that never made it to market -- and wish someone could translate that magic into a modern setting. The best we have, for that purpose, is Jamie Howard, who is succeeding in finding new ways to capture the essence of the sport.

This week on MidCurrent, David Dalu, who won last spring's Don Hawley Tarpon Tournament in Islamorada, reviews Howard's new "Location X."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Veteran Arkansas fly fishing guide John Berry lists the errors he encounters most often when helping anglers cast to and hook trout. The thing that tops his list: fly fishers who seem to think that the more line they cast, the better. "This is my pet peeve. I see fly-fishers fighting their line all day to try and consistently cast 50 or more feet. I find that they are usually going past feeding fish to reach sterile water. With that much line out they can't see or detect strikes. In addition, they have difficulty setting the hook. If they should hook a fish, they begin the fight with 50 feet of line out and if the trout takes a 35-foot run they are already in the backing." In the Baxter Bulletin.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the New York Times, Adam Clymer recuperates from difficult salmon fishing (903 casts before a hookup) with big, eager brook trout in the headwaters of the Miramichi. "For the next two and a quarter hours— until dark — it was the most action I have ever had on a stream. The brook trout is never a hard fish to fool (Bill insisted fisheries science had shown they were even dumber than cutthroats), but the shortage of real food made easy marks of this bunch. I fished all evening with barbless-hooked Bombers, a dry fly used for salmon, tied with what looked like bunches of stiff pompoms at head and tail."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's fairly well known that Eric Clapton is an avid fly fisherman (it has to do with being a perfectionist, he said in a recent interview). In his new book, he writes that fishing was the context for his final awareness that alcohol was ruining his life. "I was drunk, and I had just about managed to get my gear set up when I lost my balance and fell onto one of the new rods, breaking it clean off at the handle. I saw the fishermen look away in embarrassment. That was it for me. The last vestige of my self-respect had been ripped away. Being a good fisherman was the one place where I still had some self-esteem." In London's Times Online.

Clapton: The Autobiography on Amazon.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Beyond the various correspondences proving that he chased women as eagerly as he chased big fish, many items sold at a recent Massachusetts auction fetched far more than their expected value. "A lot with 25 documents and books, including two copies of Zane Grey’s 1922 Christmas book, The Bonefish Brigade, brought $7280. A single spool of Zane Grey-owned Ashaway Line labeled fishing line, with original box, sold for $1200 to an Internet bidder." David Hewitt in Maine's Antique Digest.

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It seems almost inevitable now that the invasive algae will infest many famous eastern U.S. trout streams. "Samples taken by DEC have confirmed that didymo is present in the East Branch of the Delaware River. In addition, based on samples taken near the Route 191 bridge in Hancock, Delaware County, didymo is suspected to be present on the West Branch of the Delaware River as well." From the Lake Placid (New York) News.

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"Dennis and Polish angler Vladi Trzebunia were returning to Jackson after the final day of the NFFC and in the very early morning hours of Oct. 8, only 40 miles from home, their car went off the road with Trzebunia at the wheel. Reports say their SUV was demolished after rolling twice." Dave Buchanan in the Grand Junction Sentinel.

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Donnie Priest was a top news story 25 years ago when he was removed from a cold Yosemite mountain top by an intrepid team of rescuers, including helicopter pilot Dan Ellison. Priest lost both of his parents in the crash, then lost both of his legs from frostbite. Recently the man who held the helicopter in its precarious hover over the remote rescue site invited Priest up for a week of fly fishing on the Bitterroot, the Clark Fork and the Missouri, in Montana. "Despite offering the invitation, Ellison was a little nervous. He's unaware of any psychological protocol, official or otherwise, for how to emotionally handle the lingering relationship between rescuer and rescuee. 'There's no guidance that I'm aware of, and frankly, I was a little worried about how you have one of these kinds of reunions. I'm not sure how you do this,' he said." John Harrington tells the story in the Helena Independent Record.

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If you pay attention only to what the big manufacturers design for fly fishers each season, it's easy to miss the smaller inventors whose ideas come primarily from personal experience or necessity. Such is the case with the TechVest, which escaped our radar during the annual scan of new products. Les Zuck, a retired Billings engineer and president of Billings' Trout Unlimited club, the Magic City Fly Fishers, came up with the compact, lightweight vest when he was looking for a better way to store and secure tippet material. The resulting design combines a few interesting features that are not normally seen in a minimalist vest: a removable handwarmer, a removable bungee-secured stuff bag on the back, and a rod holder that supports the rod from the handle (unlike most velcro-based tip holders). At $130, it looks like an interesting alternative for those who want to travel light.

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"The trick is learning how to take a graphite rod (around $100 up to $700 or so), a reel ($40 to hundreds), coated floating line (tapered, yellow is nice, about $60), fluorocarbon leaders ($13 for a two-pack) and a teensy-weensy fake nymph with a surprise inside (a couple of bucks, or tie your own - an art form), and through skill and connivance convince a wary 2-pound trout that, to borrow a horse term, the feed bag's on." In the Chicago Tribune, Alan Solomon writes about the experience of taking a fly fishing lesson on Dogwood Creek on Bass Pro founder John Morris's pay-per-use property.

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On the heels of the announcement that Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change, Michael Jamison published this eye-opening piece that traces the link between glacier health and the species that depend on their cold, steady melt flows. "'We have several lakes that seem to be totally dependent on glaciers and snowmelt for fall flows,' [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service native species coordinator Wade] Fredenberg said. 'They're not doing well.' That's not good for bull trout, which unlike other native trout spawn in the fall, and so need strong late-season flows." In USAToday.

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After ranting for a bit about Budweiser and bad sports, Nick Mills relates a hilarious story about an English lord and his Scottish ghillie (or gillie, if you prefer) on MaineToday.com. "The current was relentless. The lord thought he was going to drown. He yelled to the gillie, who was nowhere to be seen, for help. The gillie did not appear."

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Trout Unlimited recently completed a smart redesign of their Web site, which already stood as one of the best conservation information Web sites out there. Kudos to their team for managing to present all of their resources in a logical, clearly organized package. If you go to the site, be sure to let the opening Flash animation complete so that you can take the "Protect/Reconnect/Restore/Sustain" tour.

Also, check out the way TU is facilitating public comment on issues like off-road vehicle use in the headwaters of the Tellico. It's a great example of how folks who care about our resources are using technology to turn up the volume.

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Drive an hour and a half east of Seattle and you can will find fly fishing that rivals that on Montana's best rivers, according to many who fish the Upper Yakima River and environs. While fly fishing participation wanes in some parts of the country, the numbers are growing by leaps and bounds here, according to Mike Johnston in the Daily Record. "Jim Gallagher, of the Yakima River Fly Shop and guide service in Cle Elum, said the general level of activity for his business has gone up 25 to 30 percent this year over last year, the biggest increase since he began the service nearly five years ago."

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The photo in this piece about a club in Florida that collects and restores antique outdoor motors reminded me of the first time I met legendary steelheader Bill Schaadt. It was in Loggerhead Basin -- outside of Big Pine Key, of all places, and Bill had putted out to fish for tarpon with what appeared to be a single-cylinder outboard of about 50 years in age. He had carried the motor and a small aluminum skiff all the way from the west coast on the top of his station wagon. (It also brought back something that Tom McGuane once told me about Bill's techniques, also considered arcane to many: "Bill used to put only an egg sinker on his leader," Tom said, "and after making a long cast out over the water, he felt every steelhead as the leader bumped along downstream.")

In any case, in these days of computerized combustion, there is something strange and delightful about old small engines, whose cylinders sound convincingly powerful and in the hands of a careful owner would probably get the job done just as well in today as they did 70 years ago. "The Water Bug, a 1925 Johnson model, restored to its full glory with parts made from aluminum, brass, copper and cast iron, was displayed by Mitche Lewis who collected nearly 300 antique outboard motors, most of which are restored. The Johnson Brothers began their business back in 1922, according to Mr. Lewis" Nena Bolan on Newszap.com.

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What does this morning's news have to do with fly fishing? Well, for one, fly fishers like to write. Second, getting published is not what it used to be, and even less so than in 1984 when, to prove a point, the already-famous Doris Lessing wrote two novels under a pen name and was rejected by her long-time British publisher. So the next time you are feeling "frankly but faintly malicious" toward a reluctant publisher, remember that their rejection is not always the best comment on the quality of your work.

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The popular consensus is that the Internet is killing journalism, or, alternatively, that print is dead. While neither is true, it seems that every professional journalist feels they must take a stand on one side of that argument or the other. But long-time editor and author John Merwin -- who edited Flyfisherman, helped found Fly Rod & Reel, wrote or edited more than a dozen fly fishing books and is now fishing editor of Field & Stream -- thinks the Internet is good for fly fishing and publishing. John believes that in an era when derision and witticism often get the most play -- both in print and online -- good, well-founded writing that serves an intelligent readership is priceless. "Nothing has changed," John noted recently as we shared a cup of coffee. "A good journalist can't be bought."

We're pleased to announce that John has joined the editorial board of MidCurrent. He brings with him not just a plethora of knowledge about all things fishing, but high standards for journalistic sensibility. We're happy he's cast his lot with us.

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

Why will a trout eat a fly that looks to us like a bare hook? Think “negative match.” John Merwin comments on a trout's willingness to ignore hooks while searching for its food of choice. On MidCurrent.

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Charlie Meyers's summary of the lessons demonstrated by the winners of this past week's U.S. National Fly Fishing Championships includes an astute observation from the winner: "For every public-water fisherman who finds himself hemmed in by angling pressure, the advice of gold medalist George Daniel of Lock Haven, Pa., might be equally precious. 'It's all about time management and strategy' Daniel asserted. 'I try to figure out how to fish the water completely without having to go through it twice, to get the most out of it on that first pass.'" In the Denver Post.

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"Originally tied by Frank Sawyer, the Pheasant Tail Nymph is one of the oldest of modern nymphs. A few good wrinkles have been added over the years, such as the peacock thorax, optional beadhead, etc., but when you peel them away, it's still Sawyer's elegantly simple, generically suggestive, devastatingly effective nymph." Westfly.com delivers the recipe for the very popular and important nymph with typical care and detail.

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National Public Radio includes a couple of interesting podcast interviews in their coverage of the impending construction of a massive open-pit gold mine next to Alaska's Iliamna Lake. More ominous is the paragraph that summarizes the state of affairs in the small communities near the mine site, where Northern Dynasty is already building offices: "The tiny general store in Iliamna already sells 'Pebble Mine' sweatshirts — even though the mine hasn't been approved yet. The sense here is that the mine is inevitable, that it's too big not to happen."

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When I finished Lou Ureneck's new Backcast: Fatherhood, Fly-fishing, and a River Journey Through the Heart of Alaska a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but take a hard look at my relationship with my son. That's the kind of effect Ureneck achieves with precise writing and intense introspection (ever note how rarely these two things coexist?). According to this review by David Mehegan of the Boston Globe, however, his intention in writing Backcast was simply to help himself get over a nasty divorce. To the book's credit, the author doesn't wallow in a winless study of the reasons why he and his wife split, but instead chooses his relationships with his own parents and the evolution of his love for his son as his focus. "The book relates the history of Ureneck's childhood, marriage, and divorce, but its narrative spine is the adventure on the river. Dropped off by float-plane at the source of the Kanektok, father and son inflate and load up a raft and start inexorably downstream through the dramatic landscape."

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At the end of last week three new fly fishing books landed in our office: a new book on knots by Lefty Kreh, John Barr's book on his flies and how to fish them, and Charles Meck's Fishing Tandem Flies (Headwater Books, September 10, 2007, 128 pages). Since they are all important books, we'll talk a little about each this week, starting with Meck's handy little manual on droppers, which qualifies as a must-read for any serious trout angler. Meck covers all the combinations: one dry and one wet, one dry and two wets, two dries, two wets, three wets, etc. and talks connections, casting and delivery for a variety of conditions. There is a surprising amount of info in these 128 pages, much of it based on Meck's considerable practical experience. In short, if you've been looking for an excuse to learn about fishing multi-fly rigs, this is a great place to start.

Fishing Tandem Flies on Amazon.

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The National Fly Fishing Championships ended Saturday, with 15 competitors being tapped as candidates for the US national team. George Daniel took the gold medal in the competition, while Josh Stevens and Edward Pinkston finished second and third, respectively. Dave Buchanan writes about the mental challenges behind the technical ones that the anglers faced during the three-day competition: "There’s the lack of sleep, since you get up at 4:30 every morning to wolf down a quick breakfast and then scramble aboard a crowded van for the 21⁄2-hour ride to the morning venue. You’re already wearing your fishing boots and waders (you’re not sure you even took them off the previous night) to save a few precious minutes for when you get wherever you’re going, so any bathroom breaks along the drive aren’t simple 'hop out and go' pit stops." In the Grand Junction Sentinel. More rankings.

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It's hard to miss Britney Spears these days, especially if you are aiming critical barbs in her direction. So we take exception to the comment from Entertainment Weekly reporter who claimed this week that "I've seen sexier pole work during an afternoon of fly-fishing." Our reply: Surely you can think of something harsher to say.

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Not even a swarm of sacrifice flies could save the Yankees from a bug-infested loss to the Cleveland Indians Friday night. Yankees player Derek Jeter suggested it was an unfair home-field advantage when players began choking on midges as they rounded the bases. "Swarming bugs, millions and millions of them, bombarded the New York Yankees at the worst possible time Friday night, covering and rattling rookie reliever Joba Chamberlain and helping the Cleveland Indians to a 2-1 win in 11 innings and a two-game lead in their AL playoff series."

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Barely two inches of rain have fallen in the Housatonic and Farmington watersheds in Connecticut since August 1, leading to what some are saying will be a dramatic drop in fish numbers as predators feast on trapped trout.

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Driving hours to throw size 22 blue wing olive imitations at difficult fish may seem senseless to some, but not to Chester Allen. "The Yakima River Canyon is the best section of the best trout river in the state, and October is the best time of the year to wade the quiet water along the bank and stalk big, wild rainbow trout rising to mayflies. The trout tip and sip within inches of the bank, and the rings they leave in the quiet water haunt me all year long." In The Olympian.

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OK, from this research we can take: limp fly lines tangle more, as do fly lines that are not confined to small spaces. Further, we may even predict that the next generation of stripping baskets will involve coiling line. "Two physicists used string-tumbling experiments and mathematical models to create a step-by-step recipe for knot formation and determined which factors cause the knottiest knots. Their research, published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on an everyday phenomenon about which little was known beyond the madness it incites." Jeanna Bryner of LiveScience.com.

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Why would someone want to play golf when they could cast flies to some of the biggest, hungriest redfish in North America? Tim McDonald, the national golf editor of MSNBC.com seems to think the links are as good as the wade fishing in this 50-mile stretch of barrier islands south of New Orleans. "Picture yourself wading through warm, gin-clear water off a deserted island. You're holding a fly fishing rod in your hand. You look off in the distance as the sun dancing off the water lulls you: Not a living soul around."

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As Gary Lewis points out, it's not just about cast, swing and take two steps downstream. Here are several tips he's learned from watching expert steelhead anglers who seem to always beat the odds. "Depth, distance, leader length, knot and fly. They're all important, but not nearly as important as delivery. Here's where it all comes together, or falls apart. Make that downstream cast, throw the quick upstream mend and then let it swing. Don't shuffle your feet, don't lower or raise the rod. You'll telegraph to the fly and the fish." In the Eugene, Oregon Register-Guard.

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If indeed North Korea and South Korea are on the verge of reconciling after 50 years of posturing and threat, it may be that the favorite hobby of back-channel negotiator Jimmy Carter planted the seed. "Carter says he and Kim Sr. forged a bond over fly-fishing, opening the way to an exchange that turned the crisis around, at least temporarily, in 1994. Behind-the-scenes dealings also helped persuade erratic Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi to give up his nuclear program in ways the United States wants North Korea to emulate."

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“'The map has changed,' said Naranja in a puzzled voice, staring at the paper in his hand. 'Yesterday this was an alternate beat and I thought, "Man, I’m glad I didn’t draw this one." But here I am.'” That's competitor Anthony Naranja, who also happens to be assistant coach of the current Team USA, commenting on his day one draw of a stillwater lake beat. Naranja is in second place, after Scott Robertson, going into day two. Dave Buchanan in the Grand Junction Sentinel.

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The Yale Anglers Journal, started by James Prosek and Joseph Furia, is a small publication with a long reach. Ten years after its founding, it is publishing a collection of its best essays entitled Tight Lines. "The journal is an undergraduate publication, with a tiny circulation of about 1,000, but it has big-time connections, and it has drawn essays from people like former President Jimmy Carter, former Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson, the Yale professor and poet John Hollander, and author Christopher Buckley." Steve Grant in the Hartford, Connecticut Courant.

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The fact that a bird in New Zealand fed its chick food from the northwestern U.S. shows exactly why protecting coastal fish species is so vital to ecosystem health. "A 2.9-inch steelhead left a Washington state hatchery in 2005 with a tiny implanted electronic tag. In April, Maori hunter Dale Whaitiri on Big Moggy Island off southern New Zealand killed a young sooty shearwater chick and found the tag inside." Article by the Associated Press.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:12 AM |