Henry's Fork Rainbow

Here is a short video from my trip out west this year. It's the first shot with my new GoPro HD camera while using the chest harness. The Rainbow took a double bead black stone fly nymph. The current was moving and the trout used it well.

Enjoy.

Dam Removal, always a good thing.

Here in the east we have a lot of small Dams, some which date back to the colonial era and others to the industrial revolution, and some like the Calco Dam are recent.  All dam have an impact on the streams environment, while large bottom release Dams create cold water habit for trout these smaller top water release Dams have major negative impact trout and migrating species.

It's a always a good day when one of these dams is taken down and fish migration is restored.  It will only take a short time for the Shad to re-establish themselves upstream and soon there after the Striped Bass should follow.

Return of the Old Style Guide Wader by Simms

 

Simms is re-introducing it's Guide Wader to the market.  While I could not go the International Fly Tackle Dealer IFTD show in New Orleans this year I been keeping my eye out for news on new gear.

I was happy to see that Simms is bring back it's popular Guide Wader, which hasn't be available since 2006. The main reason for my excitement is my old pair of Guide Wader which I purchased some time before 2006 are starting to show signs of wear.  Matter of fact, I was going to replace them this year but just couldn't see me ponying up for Simms G4 Pro Wader, so I'd repaired my old ones.

There's nothing wrong with the G4 they look to be good wader's.  I won't buy another brand, because my Simms have given me many years of service.  Before purchasing Simms I was in to new waders almost every year (every other if I was lucky).

In short this camper is glad to see the return of the old style Guide Wade.  I like the design and I don't need all the bells and whistles of the G4.

Damsels, Trout and Grayling

In Yellowstone country there are many great rivers to fish for trout, but there are many great lakes, other than Yellowstone Lake. These lakes require you to hike in a few miles, most have well groomed trails, but make sure you have your bear spray while in the back country (see The Jersey Angler's post "Brookies and Bears").

These high mountain are have many insects, Callibaetis, Damsels, as well as Caddis.  The hatch can be tremendous, and if your there at the right time you'll have a glorious day.  Well that's just what happen on our hike to a undisclosed lake in Yellowstone country with Grayling. (There is only one lake in Yellowstone country with Grayling*.)

On pattern that worked splendidly, was my K.I.S.S. Damsel, it's simple, extremely fast to tie and works everywhere there are Damsels.

K.I.S.S. Damsel



Hook: Nymph hook 4x long (200R*)
Size 8 - 12
Thread: Olive
Tail:Olive Marabou
Body: Olive Marabou
Rib: Gold Wire
Head: Tungsten Bead sized to hook
* I've found 200R hooks with a bead ride hook point up.

Slide bead on to the hook and attach thread.

Tie in wire rib.

Tie in Olive Marabou and form a short tail.

Wrap the marabou forward and tie off.

Counter wrap your wire forward and secure with several wraps.

Whip finish and your Damsel nymph is completed.

While in West Yellowstone we (Jersey Angler, Rick and I) would tie up some of the patterns we would use the next day.

Tying session in the cabin.

This Rainbow smashed the K.I.S.S. Damsel

Greyling takes the Damsel

*The undisclosed lake is name at the end of the video.

Feather-Craft New Giveaway

Here is new give-a-way from Feather-Craft Fly Fishing.  For the this giveaway 3 individuals will receive their choice of a UV Buff (click here to see choices) and get to pick out a book and a two DVD’s from the list below:

Pick one of the two.

• Charlie Craven’s: Charlies Fly Box (autographed copy!)

• Pat Dorsey’s: Tying & Fishing Tailwater Flies (autographed copy!)

Pick two DVD’s from the choices below.

• Musky Country: Zero 2 Hero
• Night of the Hex
• Soulfish 2
• Black Tailed Devil 

To enter go to http://flyfishinggiveaway.com/blog/2011/07/21/new-giveaway/ and  scroll to the bottom of the page and let them know how your Summer fishing. Where have you been? What are you catching? Any good fishing stories?

CDC UV Caddis - Caddis, Caddis Everywhere...

Caddis are abundant on most rivers, but the Madison and other rivers in Yellowstone country there can have blizzard hatches.  Never leave home with out a caddis pattern in your box. Here is one that is quick, easy to see, and floats like a cork.

CDC UV Caddis

Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 10 - 10
Thread: Tan

Body: Hairline Tan UV Ice Dub
Under Wing: Natural CDC (3-4 feathers)
Wing: Elk or Deer Hair

This is a another pattern which follows the K.I.S.S. rule. It's simple, fast to tie and works everywhere. You can variety the color of the body to match the caddis in your area, the UV dubbing adds some nice sparkle to the pattern, you can also substitute the UV dubbing with an Anton blend for similar results.

While fishing in Yellowstone country this past July this was my go to caddis pattern if I wasn't throwing large Salmon Files.

It caught selective trout in the Henry's Fork, Brook Trout, Rainbows and Grayling in the park.

Attach your thread.

Dub the body.

Tie in the CDC under wing.

Tie in your Deer hair.

Trim Deer hair and whip finish.

 Below are some of the trout taken with the CDC UV Caddis.

Yellowstone Brook Trout

Henry's Fork Rainbow

Madison Rainbow.

Bugger Off

If your like me you have a collection of fishing cloths. If you've purchased some in recently you may have the brands treated with insect repellent, some which may last 40 washings. It goes without saying these treated cloths cost 2 to 3 times there non-treated counter parts.

So what's one to do if you don't want to buy all new fishing cloths with the insect repellent. Well you can do it yourself. This DYI project won't last as long as the brand named cloths, but it works. I've been doing this for several years and it works.

Caution must be taken this repellent is nasty stuff. Avoid contact with your skin, eyes, and lungs and do not apply to the interior of your clothing. Read and follow the instructions.

Apply the repellent outdoors on a windless day and wearing gloves.

You can pick-up this or other brands at your local camping/hunting store. One can will treat 4 garments.

Two cans treated 3 shirts, 4 pants and 1 hat. Now all my fishing cloths are treated for a fraction of the cost. I find I only have to do this once a year especially when I going to fish where there a ton of blood sucking insects.

I'd say that this works for 95% of the places I fish, but there are those places where you do have to supplement the your DYI "Bugger Off" cloths.

I'd purchase the Ben's at my local EMS and this post is not a recommendation for one product over another. You can find others brands at you local camping, fishing or hunting shop.

Performance:
On my recent trip to Montana's Yellowstone country I can tell you my Bugger Off clothing performed brilliantly. While my buddy Rick was being attacked on our way to Grebe Lake I was virtually untouched. The only insect bites I received were on my hand, which was untreated.

Fly Casting with Bob Jacklin

We rolled in to West Yellowstone set up base camp at Sleepy Hollow then walk over to Jacklin's and talked to Bob and his guides.

Every Sunday at 7:30pm Bob conducts a free casting clinic behind the Police station. We went once to lend our support. The Jersey Angler and I volunteer our service and helped Bob out with the one-on-one instruction.

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Three Sisters

Idaho view of the three sisters.

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Gone Fishing.

On my way to Montana and Yellowstone country with "The Jersey Angler". As you can see he's not a morning person.

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