The Underwater World of Trout - 3 Volume Set Trailer

The Underwater World of Trout Series is an informative video collection, that every angler should own. Don't take my word here's what Lefty Kreh, Gary Borger, Jay "Fishy" Fullum, and Ed Jaworowski said.

“Not just trout fishermen but any fly fishermen stalking fish (bonefish, redfish and more) should buy and absorb what Ozzie has so well presented“.  - Lefty Kreh

“For most of us, this DVD by Ozzie Ozefovich, will provide a highly informative view of the world through the trout's window—a view that we all need to understand, but one that few have seen. Be certain that you see this DVD, it will make you a better angler“. - Gary Borger - Trout Vision & Refraction

“After viewing Feeding Lies,I plan to take a second look at stretches of water I passed up in the past. I will also re-think some of my presentations to the fish residing in these areas.” - Jay "Fishy" Fullum - Feeding Lies

“Feeding Lies will revolutionize trout fishing…no more guessing or imagining what goes on in the trout’s world.The most important trout video to date.”  - Ed Jaworowski - Feeding Lies

Wendell "Ozzie" Ozefovich has been filming and videotaping for more than four decades, so he has the skill and equipment to produce a quality experience. He is an accomplished fly fisherman who looks at a river not just as an angler, but also as a filmmaker. He asks the same questions you do—sometimes finding answers, sometimes finding more questions to ask.

There are no staged aquarium shots; these trout are in their natural environment. There is also footage of sea-run rainbow and brown trout. There are wild fish and stocked fish, fighting fish and spawning fish. You will see beneath the surface as trout feed on drifting invertebrates and surface flies, and how a trout views an angler through its window.

There is a segment on electrofishing and stream bank restoration, which will show that anglers, together with private conservation organizations and government agencies, can work together toward a common goal. This is one of the few presentations that almost everyone from rank beginner to crusty old cuss walks away having learned something!

For information please contact: underwateroz@comcast.net or visit http://www.underwateroz.com/index.html

In full disclosure I was hired be Ozzie to do the motion graphics on "Trout Vision and Refraction." I'm not receiving any compensation for this post or sales of his videos.  Ozzie gave me permission to post this clip, which is copyrighted © 2013 Underwater Oz Production.

Signs of Fishing Pressure...

No matter where you go, there's always fishing pressure on our streams. We all want the rivers to ourselves.  Let’s face it, that doesn’t always happen. We have to share. While out fishing last week, I had a good day Czech nymphing.  However, I did come upon signs of another fisher working the water ahead of me.

This very stealthy character should have been heading south. Yet, like the geese, it's now a resident fisher in NJ. You might have guessed by now. I'm referring to a Great Blue Heron. I'm seeing more and more these days, well into the winter. It seems they'll stay as long as there's open water and food.

The Great Blue Heron is a marvelous fisher and we can all learn from them. You can increase your catches if you simply wade and dress like them. While they are great fishers, they do miss some from time to time. Here's a freshly wounded rainbow (ouch!). Maybe too big or too deep...but this one got away. Mind you, it kept on feeding and took my anchor fly.

Freshly wounded Rainbow.

Looks like it just happened (less than a day).

Fishing with Matt

Finally, after juggling our schedules, Matt Grobert and I final got out fishing this past weekend.


You may know Matt from the The Star Ledger's Fly Fishing column.  His work also includes:
Fly Fishing New Jersey Trout Streams, published in 2008; Caddis Chronicles, a blog -  "A celebration of the well-chewed fly."  He's also ties patterns at the International Fly Tiers Symposoum, the Fly Fishing Show (NJ), Shannon's Fly Shop in Califon.  He's also featured on video at Tightline Productions.

Matt chronicled our trip in his Short Report post of December 4th.  I don't have much to add other than the photos and comments below.

It was a cold morning, but warm for December - low to mid 40's.  It always feels colder when your feet are in 42-degree water.  It was even colder for Matt.  He left his thermals home and his waders had a leak.  (It's safe to say Matt's leg and foot never warmed up until he got home.)

The water was high, clear and cold, but fishing was good.  Matt took his fish with a bead head Bird's Nest, LaFontaine Sparkle Emerger, and one on Walt's Worm.  I, on the other hand, was Czech nymphing and took most of my fish on a my "big and ugly" variation of Hans Stephenson's "Bomb".   It was a good day; we both got into fishing.

Matt fishing down and across.

Mat with an nice bow.

Fish on.

To the net.

Czech rig and bow.

"big and ugly"

Good day with Fly and Fin

Fishing with "The Jersey Angler"

While I haven't been posting regularly this spring, I've managed to get out an wet a line.  Here is a little video I shot on one of the few sunny days we had this spring.  I was fishing across for "The Jersey Angler" so I put down the rod and shot this footage.  Enjoy.

Opening window between storms.

Here in New Jersey we've been hit with a lot of rain this past week. As you can see from my "Finally a Day on the Water - NOT" there was a lot of water in our system. Here is a graph from the USGS of the stream I frequent.

Now I typically monitor several streams I fish to determine which has the best water so I can have a better fishing. Factor in time of year and temperatures you'll have a good chance in predicting hatches with this information. Cabin fever is a funny thing. Normally don't fish this river when it's above 7 feet, because is wading is hell, but the fever had me in it's hold so I went for it.

The best that could happen is I get a few fish, and the worst is I going for a swim and bouncing down stream. Neither happen. What transpired was a unbelievable day . Once I found the fish it was hard keeping them off off. The sad note was I lost two 24" fish. A rainbow that shot out to fast water and took off down stream (I could do nothing unless I want to go for a swim), and a brown I lost at the net when my point fly got hooked the net, and the brown broke off. No regrets like I said it was an incredible day. The top producer was a black rubber leg stone fly. All the fish were in great shape thanks to all the snow and rain this winter.

Here are a few photos.

This Bow took the UV Chewee Rock Worm.

This Bow took the Black Rubber Leg.

Healthy brown.

Another on a Black Rubber Leg.

A healthy Rainbow.

This Bow took the The Gubbler.

My Green Rock Work worked this time.

The Release.

Yet another on a Black Rubber Leg.

Break in the weather.

We finally had a break in the weather, a little rain and cooler temperatures (65˚F in the evenings) So I decide to go out see if the water temperature fell as well.

When I got to the stream around dinner time and took temperatures reading and the water was at 71˚F so I sorted my gear had a Cliff Bar which took about an hour. The water temperatures dropped to 70˚ F so it was time to fish.

I was determined to fish on top so I took out my 8' 6" Orvis Super Fine 5 Wt. so I wouldn't be tempted to fish the bottom.

Bloody hell, a nice little native Brown, but water on the lens.

Cleaned the lens and took this bow on a Parachute Adams.

The Release (I had to crop because the camera strap was in the way).

Circa 1870 Tenkara Scene - "American Sporting Scene - Trout Fishing "

This is another print from the Library of Congress's digital collection that I found while doing my Tenkara research.  As you can see it is a 19th century scene showing men and women on the bank of a river "Tenkara" fishing for trout.  This lithograph is circa 1870 by John Walsh & Co..  The original measure size D (roughly 14" x 20").  I did clean up the image removing the patina.

Enjoy

A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.

So the saying goes "A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work."

Well this was just bliss.

Nice.

Still Nice.

Still just nice.

Okay Nicer.

Nicest.

Opening Day and Pentax W90

This year I decided to purchase a Pentax W90 to take with me while fishing.  I love my Nikon D200 and Canon G9, but it's a lot to lug around.  I used the G9 with a underwater housing, which works great, but it's bulky.  So far the W90 is turning out to be a good light rugged fishing camera, the noise level is acceptable but no where near my other cameras.  On the plus side it shoots 720p video which looks good.

It was a good opening day and the camera performed well.

Rainbow taken on Jersey Anglers "Pink Czech Nymph".

 Underwater shot with the Pentax W90

Rainbow taken on a "Tan UV Caddis."

 Brown taken on a "Ice Pheasant Tail."

 Smile for the camera.

  Smile for the camera take 2.

 Smile for the camera take 3.

FIN

Good afternoon with fly and fin.

The northeast was hit with another snowstorm on 2/26/10, which dumped about 12" on top of the 24" from the last storm in my area of New Jersey. After digging out on Friday, I'd promised myself to do something nice on Saturday.  So I went out on Saturday to wet a line.  It was a great day, air temp was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the water temp was 38 degrees Fahrenheit with cloud cover.  The water was high but crystal clear, and the trout were hungry.  I only took two Browns who took the Green Rock Worm, the rest of the trout were Rainbows and they took all three the Rock Worm, Tan UV Caddis and CDC Purple and Orange dropper.



This was the first time I fished the CDC Purple and Orange and the bows slammed it.

 

Water was high but wade-able.

 

The Point.

 

The Anchor.

 

The Dropper.

Took the Green Rock Worm.

  

The Release.

 

Another on the Rock Worm.

 

On the dropper.

 

The Release.

 

The Fight

 

And Release

  

The last fish of the day.

Cure for Cabin Fever

Fly fishing show came and went, then you start to feel the on set of a fever.  You prescribe dose od single malt tie a bunch of flies.  You only feel better for a short time.  Snow blankets the Mid Atlantic and more on the way due mid week.  Your achy and burning up.

Only one thing can break this fever.

Drop off he kids to school, answer email in the morning, seek off during lunch,  turn off phone and go fishing.

 

I think the fever is starting to break. 

Take one Rock Work and add water.

Not feeling better take another.

Still not better take add a Ice Pheasant Tail

Fever Broke.