Is conservation preservation - Part 1

Chase the Rainbow, be the Rainbow

I had a nightmare last night.  One that reoccurs from time to time.  As I'm walking down to a creek that is frequented by many, a young lad approaches me to help him identify a fish he had just landed.  Happy to help, I follow him to a 5 or 6 lb rainbow trout gasping for breath on the shoreline while a large aberdeen hook and attached night crawler hang from it's gaping mouth.  I have this nightmare every-so-often because it was an actual experience.  As we walked to the fish, the kid was explaining to me that he has a large rainbow mounted on his wall and he wanted to mount a brown trout.  He was checking with me to see if this rainbow trout was a brown trout.  He had no intentions of keeping a rainbow, and yet, there it lay.

I hurried the fish into the creek.  It was spring, and the water was ice cold.  I sat holding this fish under water for about 15 minutes, but it seemed like an hour.  I don't recall at what point I lost feeling in my arms and hands.  I don't know how long the fish had been out of water, but I'm sure some damage had been done.  Eventually, the big fish gingerly swam back into the darkness of the hole. I sat and waited, long after the kid had left, to ensure it didn't float downstream or go belly up in the hole.  I didn't see it again, but I had a feeling that it was not going to make it, and it took the wind out of my fishing sales before I even began.

It got me thinking about a radiolab podcast I listed to recently.  The story follows a wealthy businessman in Texas.  Long story short, he bids on an endangered Black Rhino hunt, and a radio producer follows him on his adventure.  What results is a dramatic discussion about conservation and the morals surrounding it.  Give it a listen.  Whichever side of the fence you are on with this topic, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

http://www.radiolab.org/story/rhino-hunter/

Part 2 of this blog post coming soon. Stay tuned...

Doing Our Part

sdleastwanted.com

I am really afraid of invasive species.  While they are all bad, there are none worse than the Asian Carp, and I say that only because I have seen them in action.  The James River has long been (and can still be at times) a trophy fishery.  The last trip I made to the Jim was last year, and the Asian carp were there in numbers.  This scares the shit out of me!  

The scariest thing is that an effort to prevent the spread of invasive species is not for a small contingent of passionate people.  EVERYONE must buy into the idea that they can transport invasive species to their favorite waters.  I don't know what would happen if Asian Carp eventually made it into SD's great lakes, and I don't want to know.  Please, do your part to prevent the spread.  Visit SD GFP's new website to learn about current rules and regs and the species they have been put in place to shut out.   We must hold each other accountable, and be diligent in our efforts.  Together, we can stop the spread of these invasive species.   

http://sdleastwanted.com

Nothin to it but to DO IT!

Here mousey, mousey...

Mousing has been around for a while.  I equate it, in a way, to carp fishing.  A lot of people have been doing it for a long time, just not the people who write or make videos about their excursions.  I've wanted to tie on a mouse pattern for some time now.  Daydreaming of a big largemouth or rainbow crashing the surface for a swimming rodent makes me salivate.  At the tying vise, however, my hesitancy would kick in and I would opt for a pattern I'm more comfortable with.  I was fearful that I could not tie a mouse pattern.  Even with only myself at the table, I feared a blow to my ego and potentially to my tying.

And then I received something that turned everything around.  A gift from my uncle.   Flies he had found when cleaning out my grandfather's things after he had passed away.  There were two of them, large, gaudy, obnoxious.  Thick clumps of deer hair tied on with what looked to be butchers yarn.  Thick white yarn holding on one large, long clump of deer hair.  One of the things I am sure to tell kids who are just starting out with tying is, "there are two types of flies...flies that fish like, and flies that fisherman like".  That is something I had forgotten while tying lately.  Everything has been precise and aesthetically pleasing to me.   I began developing the mentality that beautiful flies will catch fish.

I'm fairly certain that my grandpa didn't tie, so those flies my uncle gave to me must have been tied by his brother, uncle Donny.  They weren't pretty or neat in any way.  But I'm confident they would catch a fish.  My confidence was riding high.  "I can tie a little old mouse pattern," I though.  Turns out, I could.  It was not only easy, it was ascetically pleasing and realistic.  I did work hard to make it that way, but if it hadn't turned out like that, I wouldn't have minded.  They will be tested this weekend in locations where hungry bass and trout call home.  Heck, maybe I'll even try out the flies that inspired my work.  My confidence is riding high.

If you have considered tying a patter that you think will kill it on your local water, but are hesitant to take the jump, I only say this.  You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  If you never attempt to tie a patter, you never will.  Get busy tyin when you don't feel like tryin...

Casting Tips for Beginners

The nice weather has not only allowed for more fishing adventures this spring, but it has permitted the girls and I to take some time for casting practice.  I thought this would be a great time to give some tips on fly casting for anyone who may be interested in getting started.  When I first started, I used trial and error to figure out the best casting style for me while picking up tips and tricks from other fishermen along the way.  There were many frustrating days on the water.  Catching fish and consistent improvement kept me coming back for more.  Here are my tips for becoming a proficient fly caster:

1:  Don't be afraid to fail:  This is going to happen.  Sorry, it's true.  You must be willing to accept that you are not going to start your fly casting career like Brad Pitt from A River Runs Through It.  You will fail and you will learn from your mistakes.  Take the good with the bad and become better for it.

2:  Get out on the water:  I can't say enough about casting in the backyard, or in an open field to get the basics of timing and rhythm down.  It is invaluable.  There are, however, too many intricate details about casting on water that makes it an entirely different game.  When I was coaching basketball we promoted the "practice like you play" philosophy.  Make practice and your energy level as close to game time situation as possible.  I promote the same for fly casting.  If you are not on the water, you are missing a very important element that will greatly influence your casting.  And you won't catch any fish...Get out on the water to practice...

3:  Shake hands with the rod/Keep a straight wrist:   This is a two in one tip combo platter.  When you first hold a fly rod, act like you are shaking hands with it.  That's the grip you want to use.  Also notice how firm your wrist is when you give a firm hand shake.  It should be the same while you are casting.  When you go into your fly casting motion, remember not to break your wrist.  Breaking the wrist will lead to over extending the rod and creating problems for your fly line in the backcast.

4:  10 and 2:  Tip #3 leads into this perfectly and is the next step in the fly casting process.  You've heard it all before in driving and in fly casting.  The old adage of 10 and 2 works, so please use it.   This is especially important if you plan on doing a lot of false casting (where your line is in the air for multiple casts).  Your fly rod is an extension of your arm, so just make sure you stop your arm and wrist  at 2 o'clock on the backcast and 10 o'clock on the forward cast.  This will give you the nice loops in your fly line and prevent tangles.

5:  Slow, accelerate, stop:  Rather than whipping fly line around, I like to consider casting as PULLING the line off the water and PUSHING it back on.  Only the same amount of force used while pulling is needed to push the line back onto the water.  Don't feel like you need to throw it out as hard as you can.  Think of this tip while you are pulling and pushing.  When coming off the water, so it to yourself, "slow, accelerate, stop".  Slowly pull the line off the water while you accelerate (its ok to use a little muscle here) into your backcast and stop abruptly at the 2 o'clock position.  Repeat step one when you are bringing the line forward.  Wait for the line to load (see tip 6) slowing begin bringing the line forward, accelerate into the forward cast and stop abruptly at the 10 o'clock position or laying the fly line out on the water be bringing your rod to a horizontal position.

6:  Slow Down!!:  Out of all of these tips, this and keeping the wrist straight are by far the hardest habits to break.  Whenever someone new gets a fly rod in their hands they instinctively want to whip it back and forth as fast as possible.  Slow down.  Allow the line to load (let the loop straiten out) on the backcast before coming forward with your line.  When you begin your cast, try saying to yourself, "I love South Dakota" before coming forward with your line again.  That is all the time your line needs to load up before you bring it forward again.  Be patient and let the flyrod do all the work.  Again, only the same amount of force used to bring the line back is needed to bring the line forward again.  Let the rod do its thing.  That's what it was designed to do.

7:  We talkin bout practice man...:  The best way to become better at fly casting is the practice the fundamentals.  Get a practice casting rod to start.  Try and do it every day, even if it's for one minute.  The more you practice the fundamentals, the better you will become.  Don't be to high and mighty to ask for help either.  Great painters weren't born good at painting, they're good because they paint a lot.

Everyone's cast is a bit different, and you'll likely find little tips and tricks that help you become a better fly caster.  Take these tips out on the water next time you go out to practice.  Hopefully they will prevent frustration and help get you on top of your game in no time.  Now go fishing!!

Crappies on the Fly

Sauk Lake Crappie

Crappies are pretty easy targets throughout the spring and summer months.  A fly rod offers many advantages to presenting the perfect fly to these delicious little panfish.  Here are 5 tips that will have you hauling in the crappies from the docks like it's going out of style.

1.  Small flies catch more fish:  Crappies love minnows, but they are opportunistic feeders and will sample any bug or aquatic insect that happens their way.  Some anglers tie flies similar to those tied for bass.  While the bigger fish will hammer those large flies, you'll catch both large and small fish on downsized rigs.  I prefer small wooly buggers, soft hackel nymphs (hares ear or partridge and orange) and dry flies/terrestrials when they are aggressive.

2.  Keep the fly in the strike zone:  This requires you to have a good understanding of the environment in which the fish is currently holding.  How deep is the water?  Are the fish suspended, or on the bottom?  Is there structure or vegetation surrounding the fish?  Crappies are always looking up for their meals.  Fish below them, and you won't have much luck.  That's why I rarely use a lot of weight when fishing crappies with the fly.  Even when they are holding on deeper structure, a small amount of weight will get the fly down slowly while allowing you to entice those fish for as long as necessary

3.  Find cover, find fish:  This is fairly obvious, but crappies (along with many other fish species) love cover.  Not only does it protect them from predators, but it offers shade in the summer a perpetual possibility for food.  Overhanging/downed trees, docks, weed lines and underwater structures (manmade or otherwise) all have great potential for holding schools of crappie.

4.  Add movement to your flies:  Adding on to tip number two, a slow sinking fly is made more effective by materials that possess movement under water.  Marabou, soft hackels, ostrich herl, anything that will undulate as it slowly drops toward your target will be very enticing to a crappie.  They won't be able to resist just one bite.

5.  Anchor up:  Once you find some fish, you may be able to stay on them for a while.  Anchor up and start casting.  You'll be surprised at how many fish you can pull out of one hole.  Patience will pay off in this regard.

Remember these tips on your next crappie fishing adventure, and you'll have some nice hero shots and a few slabs for the frying pan.

Yoi Tsuri (Good Fishing!)

Secret Spots

Common Carp from Carp Lake X1-27/b (shhh!  It's a secret...)

Think of that one spot.  You know the one.  The spot where you can go at anytime to fish without finding a soul.  A spot where the well balanced fisherman can seemingly walk across water on the backs of prevalent fish.  A spot where, "fish on!" is heard more often than the occasional expletive.  These spots are not plentiful, but they do exist.  When you find one, you can count your lucky stars, and then catch as many fish as you can.  Enjoy the moment, for you never know when the magic might end.  Some of my favorite spots have become ordinary because of human interaction, harsh weather, or mother nature playing a different card.  Enjoy these amazing opportunities to be closer with nature, over and over again.  You never know when "the spot" might just revert to being "a spot" again.

It's all about the fluorocarbon...

This whitey couldn't resist a perfect clouser presentation on fluorocarbon

Whether I'm fishing clousers in the spring to hungry white/smallmouth bass, chucking big gnarly jointed streamers at bows and browns, or delicately presenting a swimming nymph to a school of carp, my fly will be tied on to the end of a straight up piece of fluorocarbon.  Not only will casting and turning over these gaudy hunks of meat become much easier, You'll have more power and confidence to end the fight as soon as possible and get your fish back in the water to catch another day.

Many fly fishers only use the tapered leaders because that is what's sold in the stores.  I know I did when I first started out with a fly rod.  I thought,"oh, here's a leader they have conveniently labeled for me so I know what I can catch with it."  Blah!  I appreciate the fact that there are certain circumstances when a leader will make or break your day on the water.  To me, it only matters in nymphing and dry fly fishing...That's it!  I was oblivious to just how versatile the sport could be in the context of catching a wide range of fish species with very little learning curve.  With all the possibilities that exist, why would you decide to limit yourself to a leader specific to one species?

This time of year, I only carry fluorocarbon, tie on a 9' leader as needed, and go catch fish.  Here are the six (6) reasons why I use straight fluorocarbon leaders in almost all circumstances:

1.  No knots:  I hate it when things get caught up on the knots in my leader.  Whether it be line, slime or debris, they can be a hassle.  Not any longer!

2.  No tippet:  There is no more need to consistently add more tippet once you've cut it down.  Just put on a new leader after you wear it down a bit and you're good to go.

3.  Easier to cast:  It takes a bit getting used to, but it is much easier for me to cast than with a tapered leader.  I would even argue that my fly casting overall has improved since using it.  Casting a distance and turning over that fly, especially with big flies, is no longer an issue.  I would suggest everyone try it at least a few times to see if you like it.

4.  Stealthy:  It's been said that fluorocarbon line is less visible under water than its mono counterparts.  I'm not a fish, and I've not conducted any underwater visuals to test this hypothesis.  I take their word for it considering I catch a lot of fish.

5.  Fighting power!:  I prefer to fight fish as quickly as possible in order to lessen the stress put on their little fish bodies.  Fluorocarbon gives me the strength and confidence I need to make short work of my adversary and get them back in the water to freedom.

6.  Abrasion resistent:  I started using fluorocarbon leaders on all of my walleye rigs when an influx of hungry northern pike were making walleye fishing a bit of a chore.  You'd hook a northern, and after a few seconds, you'd be tying on a new hook.  Once I started tying my rigs with fluorocarbon, catch rates were up and lost fish went way down.  Then I started using it for big rainbows and northers on the fly, and the results spoke for themselves. Coincidence?  I think not!

Not a flashy tip by any means, but a good one if you want to improve as a fly fishing enthusiast.  Remember, it's ok to try new things, and it's ok to fail.  That's the only way we'll get better at our craft.

Keeping your hands warm in the winter

Glacier Gloves (Ice Bay) aiding in the release of a winter rainbow

In my mind, its hard to argue with the claim that the winter months hold the greatest fishing opportunities around.  Cold weather concentrates the fish in many areas and limits the number of fisherman you will find on the water.  It also makes my fingers very cold!!!

Your hands are by far your most important tool while fishing.  In my case, with appendages that teeter on useless after a short period of time in the cold, a good set of gloves can make or break my winter fishing experience.  That's why I LOVE glacier gloves!!

For years I've struggled to find the glove that fit right, kept my hands warm (or warm enough to function) and were waterproof.  Fingerless gloves didn't work, the one's with the flaps were a pain in the butt, and fleece gloves just sopped up water and were uncomfortable.  That's why I made the investment into Glacier Gloves, specifically the Ice Bay and the Pro Angler series.  Both styles have allowed me to fish longer, in colder temps and catch more fish than I ever have during the winter months.  Fleece lined neoprene provides warmth and waterproofing all in one.  The foldable index finger and thumb of the Pro Anglers is great for allowing quick access without removing your gloves on the water and the durability of both styles is second to none.  I also use the Ice Bays while ice fishing.  No more wet hands for me!  Also great for protecting from rain, sleet and snow.  If you are having trouble finding the right glove for you, I'd highly recommend trying the Glacier Gloves.  One of the best investments I've ever made for fishing the winter months.