Al's Rat

If you fish tail waters or spring creeks with selective trout you need to they this pattern by Al Miller. The materials list is dead easy black thread and muskrat fur.

This pattern works well on the Little Lehigh Heritage section in Allentown, PA and is a good imatation of tricos, and BWO when tied with olive thread.

I've found it a great patter to use as a dropper off a Griffins Gnat.

Click on the link below to see  “Ozzie's” video of Al Miller tying the "Rat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngSraA6whFM

The Bank Robber Fly Rods – Co-Developed by St. Croix and Kelly Galloup

Photo Source: Angling Trade

Kelly Galloup is a well known for his tying innovations such as the Butt Monkey, Zoo Cougar and other streamer innovative. He is a well-known fly designer, outfitter, writer, and owner of the Slide Inn on the Madison. Now he can add rod designer to his resume.

St. Croix and Kelly co-developed the new Bank Robber series of rods for pounding the banks. Currently there are only two rods in the series: 9′ 4-piece rods for 6-weight; and 7-weight lines. The rod blanks are built on high-modulus/high- strain SCV graphite blanks and reinforced in lower sections for added power.  These are the first St. Croix rods to use 3M Matrix Resin, a new Nano resin from 3M.  The big advantage according to St. Croix is added strength without the add weight.

The Bank Robber series is handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, and are protected by a lifetime limited warranty backed by St. Croix’s Superstar Service. No time frame was announced for availability but I sure it will available at the winter fly-fishing shows. I’d like to get my hands on one to give it a try.  I own two St. Croix Legend Elite rods, the 7'9" 3 weight and 8'6" 3 weight. I love them both and can’t wait to try the new Bank Robber.

Fall is the best time of the year.

While the Spring holds visions of mayflies on the wing and warmer days, I love Fall fishing for trout. The air and water is cooler and while the hatches are smaller the trout are hungrier. Whether it's to bulk-up for the winter or to have the energy to spawn they want to eat and are aggressive.

While out several days ago I hook up quite a few Brookies, Browns and Rainbow during the hour leading in to evening. My top produce was by far my CE Crayfish (Close Enough) followed by my The Modeled Leech. Both are great deep pocket water patterns, I fish them Euro-style casting up stream and lead them down stream with a tight line. I do impart action to the flies twitching my rod tip, jigging the flies across the bottom.

This Brookie smashed the CE Crayfish

Bulking up for the winter.

This Bow hammered the Modeled Leech.

Modeled Leech any one...

Autumn's Colors

The change of the leave means scenic fishing and brightly colored trout.  This plus crisp weather, and reduced numbers of fishers on the water make it my favorite time to be out.

Rainbow taken on my Tan UV Caddis Jig.

A nice wild Brown Trout.

Spawning Brook Trout

I was shocked when I brought this Brookie to the net, because I was where near water that I think she would be cutting a redd. It doesn't look like state breeder (more like a hold over) to me since the other fins look fine, just the tail is worn from cutting a redd.

The International Fly Tying Symposium: Save the Date November 20th & 21st

Save the date: The International Fly Tying Symposium will be held on November 20th and 21st, 2010 at the The Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ.

I've been going to this event since it's start and has become a fly tiers home coming of sorts.  While there are some deals the main reason to attend is to catch-up, swap patterns and fishing stories.

There are some great free programs like Ozzie's“Underwater World of Trout - See Flies from the Perspective of the Trout, not the Angler” on Saturday @ 10:00 a.m. Sunday @ 11:00 a.m.

Beside the free programs in the Catch room and Release room,  there are a host of classes with well know tiers (last year I took the class with Johan Klingberg from Sweden on tying Czech nymph).

The 2010 International Fly Tying Symposium - Special Limited Classes

Classes on Saturday are availbe with Dick Talleur, Eric Stroup, Gary Borger and a free Fly Tying Class only between 1:00-2:30 P.M. for Scouts, "What they need to know in order to earn their merit badge."

On Sunday Bob Jacklin, Marc Petitjean and Enrico Puglisi are on the slate.

Bob Jacklin with my boy's at the Fly Fishing Show 2010

Classes are $70.00 which includes entrance into the show, I can say it's well worth the one-on-one instruction with these well know tyers.  I've learn new techniques every time I've attend.

Finally there are tiers from around the world here is a small sample:  Theo “Goldbead” Bakelaar, Don Bastian, Dave Brandt, Peggy Brenner, Bob Clouser, Kevin Compton, Jay “Fishy” Fullum, Aaron Jasper, Paul Little, Charlie Meck, Chris Reeves, Paul Rossman, Dave Rothrock, Bill Skilton, and Steve Thornton only to name a few.

I'll be there most likely for both days since it's in my back yard.  I be posting on twitter and taking photos and video. I hope to see you there.

Swinging wet flies with the Jersey Angler

This weekend I managed to head out and fish (which has become a rare event) weekday seem to be the only time I can get out these days. By chance I hook-up with The Jersey Angler and group of friends who where doing it "old school",  fishing cane and swinging wet flies.  I joined then but without my cane for fear of getting wrangled in to yard work.

Here is The Jersey Angler breaking in his new cane rod built by Art Port a 7'9", 5 wt with a Garrison taper.  Despite the long line release on the first fish, the day was very productive, go to his Bamboo Day post to see the sweet bow he landed.

He handed me the rod at the end of the day and it cast's like a dream.  Here are two fill I took in the film.

This one took the a Black Starling

Here the Partridge and Orange Soft Hackle

TU's Great Big Inventory Liquidation

As an active TU member,  Director  for Central Jersey Chapter and former TU National Leadership Counsel for NJ I get a lot of email from TU National on many cold water, trout and salmon topics.  So it's nice to pass this one along, no doom and gloom nor contact your congress person.  TU is liquidation it's inventory of gear to raise money and in the process you get a Tax deduction.

If your in the market for some new gear visit TU's Great Big Inventory Liquidation and see it there is something you can use...

My personal favorites are:

Cliff Super Days Worth Fly Box

...yours for a gift of $25 (retail value: $24)

Bulldog Regal Fly Tying Vice

...yours for a gift of $175 (retail value: $225)

St. Croix Legend Ultra Rod - 8', 5 Wt., 4-piece

...yours for a gift of $300 (retail value: $320)

It must be football season.

While we have to stock our NJ streams it's always nice to see and catch stream beard trout. Our water because of summer stream temperatures favor Brown Trout, but we do get natural reproduction of our native Brook Trout, Browns and Rainbow. Mind you we need colder temperatures for the Brookies and Rainbows.

So why it must be football season (American Football for those across the pond.), well the photo below should explain it all. This Rainbow one possible two years old that managed to survive predation and anglers. It's been a while since I caught one of the beauties.

Wild NJ "Football" Rainbow.

How about "Take a Kid Stocking."

We all know the phrase and organization "Take a Kid Fishing"  how about "Take a Kid Stocking."

Beside taking my boy's fishing I also take them to stock trout.  While we have good hold over and native populations the realty is we have to stock our waters.

Stocking is fun and teaches them stewardship and it's a great way to spend a few hours with your kids. Make sure if you do this to bring a change of cloths, because the trout are not the only creatures that end up in the river.  This time my boys stayed dry.

Here is my youngest stocking some trout in a unnamed New Jersey river.

Umpqua's Black Fly Larva

Here is another new pattern from Umpqua Feather Merchants, I think it will be a winner. If you've been bitten by Black Flies in the spring while fishing (like I have) than Black Fly Larva are in the water you're fishing.

I like it for two reasons: 1. It's a simple tie following the K.I.S.S. rule; and there are plenty of these buggers in the rivers.  I think this will be a winner.

Here is the recipe as I see it.

Umpqua's Black Fly Larva

Size – 18-22 Nymph Hook
Thread – 8/0 Olive
Gills – White CDC Fibers
Body – Midge Larva Lace Clear or Olive

The Source : New Zealand by Gin-Clear Ltd.

Here is a destination video by Gin-Clear Gin-Clear Ltd. This is the second in the series, the first being "The Source - Tasmania".

"The Source – New Zealand captures those special moments that define a fishing trip and through these we get a glimpse of what the Kiwi experience means to each of the featured anglers. For some, it means casting size 18 emergers to delirious brown trout during a blanket hatch, for others it's catching a 10lb + fish on a dry fly, for others it's a jet boat ride into a remote fiord!"

- Gin-Clear Media

Making of The Source - New Zealand :

Umpqua's Scuba Nymph

At the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show Umpqua Feather Merchants unveiled their new flies for the 2011 season.  Here is one of the flies that caught my eye and will be very easy to tie.  Here is the recipe as I see it.

More to come...

Scuba Nymph

Size – 12-18 Grub hook
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Brown
Head – Tungsten Bead
Legs – Rubber Legs Mini
Thorax: Peacock or Peacock Ice Dub
Body and Tail – Pheasant tail
Rib – Copper wire
Back – Crystal Flash

Always Travel with a Fly Rod

While out in Denver the Jersey Angler and I had some time to kill before our flight back east. So we went on walk down to the REI and to see if we could find some feeding Carp on the South Platte. Well we found them...

Feeding Carp on the South Platte in Denver

In all we counted about 8 but only one was actively feeding.

 

Of course we were both kicking ourselves for not have packed at least one travel outfit.

Diablo Paddlesports

What do you get when you combine a stand-up paddle board and a kayak? Well you get a devilish creation call by Thomas Flemons of Diablo Paddlesports the "Sup-Yak".  A hybrid of two great ways to get around on the water a stand-up paddle board and kayaking.

The Adios is 12.5' long and 36" wide has all the confront of a sit-on-top kayak with the stability of a stand-up paddle board. Weighting in at 69 pounds it has the ability to support over 400 pounds!

The Chupacabra  is10.5' long, and 37" wide and weighs 56 lbs.  Similar to the Adios the Chupacabra is nibbler version of it's bigger brother.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Tom at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show and he ran down the feature and design of both vessels.  He sold me on getting one (maybe even two).  I'm just torn between which one. The Adios seems to be the most versatile for the local reservoirs and Raritan Bay. The Chupacabra is smaller and lighter which make it ease loading on an off my Element. Also I believe the Chupacabra is an decedent of the Jersey Devil (the stories of the Chupacabra are far to similar to our beloved NJ Pine Barrens resident).

I'll just have to take Tom up on his offer to try out both next time I'm in Texas, by chance his operation is not far from family in the Lone Star State.

3M's Scientific Anglers Buys Ross

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but on September 30, 2010 – 3M announced it acquired
Ross Reels USA/Ross Worldwide Outdoors of Colorado.

I have nothing against 3M or Scientific Anglers, I use and like there products. It's the loss
of a independent designer/manufacture of quality reels and and now rods.

I enjoy my Ross reels and they have never let me down, and the New F1
is to die for.

At the IFTD Show I got the chance to look one over and it is SWEET.

Ross F1

The drag uses breaking technology from Formula 1 race cars.

I don't know what Ross Worldwide will look in a year or two after 3M takes over, but I know I pick up my F1 very soon.

Also I got to try out the New RX Fly rods, this fast action, progressive taper rod was a pleasure to cast.  I was very taken with the rod and had to cast it everyday I was at the show to make sure it wasn't a dream.

Ross RX