Redfish on a Tuesday night.
BULLS ON TOP from SHALLOW WATER EXPEDITIONS on Vimeo.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Reel in a Cure
During the spring of 2008, I had the good fortune of obtaining one of Ross' Reel in a Cure specials from my local fly shop. Due to limited production and high demand, I wasn't sure what pink beauty would join my family of fly reels. And, frankly, I wasn't even guaranteed one would come my way. A few weeks later, after placing my request, I received a call from the shop saying a 1.5 Rhythm was ready for pick-up.
Rated for a 3-5 weight line, the Rhythm was a pin-up among fly reels -- one of the most aesthetically pleasing pieces of fly fishing tackle I've ever owned. Engraved with two breast cancer ribbons, Reel in a Cure inscription and a "35th Anniversary" notation, this reel seemed more like a collector's item than a serviceable, every day fly reel.
With this thought in mind, I decided to donate/auction the reel, with the proceeds benefiting Casting for Recovery. It took a few years to find the appropriate venue for my Rhythm, but over the fall, I was able to connect with CFR's online Holiday Auction. Valued at $185, the reel sold for $270 to a fly fishing gal from Arlington, Virginia. What a great success!
On a sad note, A&N Outfitters, the fly shop in Milford, Ohio where I purchased the Rhythm, is no longer in business. I would like to publicly thank owner and friend, Steve Waak, for helping me secure this reel. You rock man.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Ghosts of Colorado
There is something about the Golden Ghost. The name itself conjures images of a faintly discernible fish, acutely aware of its surroundings and ready to flee at the intimation of danger. One errant step, bad cast or misjudgment on the angler's part can abort the success of a ghost "stalk." Generally the only remnant of the carp's presence is the lingering mud cloud left in its fleeing path. For all the exciting moments we have when the Golden Ghost eats our flies, there are even a larger set of experiences where the Ghost gets the best of us. This is the stuff of hunting carp with the fly rod. And I damn well love it.
My introduction to Colorado carp came from pursuing the multitude videos on YouTube and chatting with friends on Twitter. Being from the Midwest, I cut my fly fishing teeth on warm water species and learned very quickly the challenges of taking carp on the fly. But there was something intangibly intriguing about these Ghosts of Colorado. Perhaps the habitat was a little better, the fish a little bigger, and, just maybe, the experience a little better.
I hooked up with my Twitter buddy, Dave Maynard, for an afternoon of stalking the Golden Ghost on Denver's mud flats. Armed with a 7 weight Sage, 2x leader tapered to 3x fluorocarbon tippet, and some Backstabbers, I set out to stalk and battle some of Colorado's finest.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at feeding carp, I found another fish "locked in" rooting. I made the cast well past my target and stripped line until the fly was in the carp's field of vision. A short twitch of the rod tip, marabou and hackle undulating, was too much for the Ghost to ignore. He charged my Backstabber and sucked in the fly. I strip struck and the rod bowed. The fight was on.
Palming the reel during runs and working the rod to subdue the fish, I eventually landed my first Colorado Golden Ghost. What a great feeling!
During the rest of the afternoon, Dave and I continued to work the mud flats, putting our flies in front of as many active carp as possible. Some spooked, some were ornery, but some just ate.
In my journey and development as a fly angler, I haven't fished the saltwater flats yet. After systematically working the mud for carp, though, I have a greater understanding and appreciation for this type of sight fishing. The flats engender a whole range of emotions -- frustration, accomplishment, irritation, joy, disappointment, satisfaction. But, quite frankly, it's becoming one of my favorite places to be.
My introduction to Colorado carp came from pursuing the multitude videos on YouTube and chatting with friends on Twitter. Being from the Midwest, I cut my fly fishing teeth on warm water species and learned very quickly the challenges of taking carp on the fly. But there was something intangibly intriguing about these Ghosts of Colorado. Perhaps the habitat was a little better, the fish a little bigger, and, just maybe, the experience a little better.
I hooked up with my Twitter buddy, Dave Maynard, for an afternoon of stalking the Golden Ghost on Denver's mud flats. Armed with a 7 weight Sage, 2x leader tapered to 3x fluorocarbon tippet, and some Backstabbers, I set out to stalk and battle some of Colorado's finest.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at feeding carp, I found another fish "locked in" rooting. I made the cast well past my target and stripped line until the fly was in the carp's field of vision. A short twitch of the rod tip, marabou and hackle undulating, was too much for the Ghost to ignore. He charged my Backstabber and sucked in the fly. I strip struck and the rod bowed. The fight was on.
Palming the reel during runs and working the rod to subdue the fish, I eventually landed my first Colorado Golden Ghost. What a great feeling!
During the rest of the afternoon, Dave and I continued to work the mud flats, putting our flies in front of as many active carp as possible. Some spooked, some were ornery, but some just ate.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Simmies
If I told you I needed new waders, I would only be partially right. My current pair of breathable White Rivers are still serviceable and have performed admirably since my introduction to fly fishing. Sure, they're patched and sealed, but that's to be expected from years of use. But after borrowing a pair of Simms last year in Montana, I realized that I need to take my waders to the next level -- or in the case of Simms, maybe four or five levels.
When I first began fly fishing a number of years ago, I didn't know the role it would play in my life. What became merely an extension of my fishing hobby has turned into a bone-fide passion. Such a passion, in fact, that I hope to make it part of my livelihood one day. With this ambitions in mind, I decided to add of pair of Simms G3 guide waders to my arsenal of fishing equipment. The fit is near perfect, with enough room to negotiate challenging wading situations, but still comfortable.
Those G3s will make their debut at Ohio Casting for Recovery's annual retreat at the end of September. I'll be volunteering as a river guide, helping women attending the program enjoy a day on the water and hopefully catch fish. Then it's off to Colorado to break in those G3s on some trout and carp.
When I first began fly fishing a number of years ago, I didn't know the role it would play in my life. What became merely an extension of my fishing hobby has turned into a bone-fide passion. Such a passion, in fact, that I hope to make it part of my livelihood one day. With this ambitions in mind, I decided to add of pair of Simms G3 guide waders to my arsenal of fishing equipment. The fit is near perfect, with enough room to negotiate challenging wading situations, but still comfortable.
Those G3s will make their debut at Ohio Casting for Recovery's annual retreat at the end of September. I'll be volunteering as a river guide, helping women attending the program enjoy a day on the water and hopefully catch fish. Then it's off to Colorado to break in those G3s on some trout and carp.
Friday, August 12, 2011
First Light Gear Does Yellowstone
How many of us would jump at the opportunity to spend 9 days fly fishing in Yellowstone? Yeah, I think all of us. The dudes from First Light Gear recently made the trek and shot a video. Watch it.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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