Filed under: How To..., Video — admin @ 10:21 am
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Filed under: How To... — admin @ 9:33 am
Here is a nice piece about improving your fly fishing from Curt Nordrum (aka Bug Ugly of the St. Paul Fly Chuckers angling club in Minnesota). Thanks Curt!
1. Keep a journal.
Success is being at the right place at the right time. The best way to increase your chances of being at the right place at the right time is to keep a record of your past successes and failures. If you found a school of bluegills feeding in a certain muddy bottom bay an hour before first light for instance, then that same set of circumstances is likely to happen again. Water temperatures warm in the spring and cool off in the fall and a number of migratory fish move with these changing water temps. If you know that you caught Northern Pike on April 20 last year when the water temp was 65 degrees, then this year when the water temp is 65 degrees around April 20th the Pike will likely show up again. Keeping a journal will increase your success only if you record accurate information on water temps, location, time of year and what fly you used and then review that information often.
2. Make it a point to learn something new each time you fish.
Whether it’s a new location, a new retrieve or a new fly, try something different. Make it a point to explore new territory every time you go out. If you’re having success at a certain spot try to figure out why you’re having success at that spot and then search for another spot that has the same types of conditions. Increasing the number of spots you fish will increase your success. Change flies, sometimes a different color or different size will make all the difference in the world. If you can match what the fish are feeding on you’re going to have success. Sometimes it’s not the fly but how the fly is moving. Whether it is in or on the water, or at what part of the water column it is in. There are times when you need to slow down and times when you need to speed up. Vary your retrieves until you find what’s working. Now that you’ve learned something new, record it in your journal.
3. Organize your fly boxes.
There are flies that float, flies that sink, flies for panfish, flies for trout, flies for the large lakes, flies for small streams and flies for cold water. How do you know what fly to use when, if your fly boxes aren’t organized. Everybody organizes their flies differently but one of the best ways I’ve found is to organize them by fish species. I have a box that I use when I’m fishing for pan fish, a box for fly fishing largemouth bass, a box for Smallmouth bass, and now a box for fishing big toothies. These boxes might have both top water and sinking flies in them but they’re geared for specific fish and fishing conditions.
4. Be into every cast.
Nothing will improve your success like concentrating on each cast and every strip of your fly line. A bad cast might spook a school of fish you didn’t know was there. A strip of your fly line at the wrong time could send that Largemouth flying. Make every cast count. A great day on the water could be the difference between one fish and no fish. Bob Clouser once told a friend that it is necessary to “cast, then fish.” This will greatly improve having a fun day on the water.
5. Practice your casting.
The time to practice casting is not when your fishing. Take the time before you go fishing to prefect your casting. You don’t have to cast like Lefty Kreh, but you have to be able to cast a least 40 feet. With each ten feet beyond that distance your success will go up. Flatwater fish are very spooky in shallow water and the more distance between you and the fish the more likely you’ll get them to eat your fly. It doesn’t matter how far you can cast if the fly isn’t in front of the fish. Put some targets out at different distances and practice getting your fly to these targets quickly. Also practice in all different wind conditions. Don’t just practice with the wind at your back put the wind in your face, on your right side and on your left side. I can’t remember the last time I had the wind only to my back!
6. Join a local fly club.
This is the place to find out what happening locally. It’s a place to make new friends that are interested in the same thing you are. Fly fisherman are willing to share information and a local fly club is a source of information that is hard to find any place else. They usually have monthly outings and meetings that are not only informative but a lot fun.
7. Read as much information as you can.
Not only are there a number of great magazines and books on fly fishing, but today we have the internet. This is an unlimited source of information. Not only can you find information on any subject but you can connect with other fly fisherman thru forums, email and face book. It’s free and you don’t even have to leave your home.
8. Try new techniques and tackle.
Sometimes we can learn from completely different types of fly fishing. The last few years I’ve been using a sinking line in the river with great success. The method is to have various lengths of sinking line that can be attached to the end of my floating line. The longer the sink tip, the greater the depth of my fly. Using this different technique and tackle has enabled me to catch fish I was unable to catch previously. Trying to catch a new species, such as carp, will require new techniques and tackle. Be open to learning.
9. Learn to tie flies.
This might not be for everyone but it will improve your fly fishing. You will learn why one fly works and another doesn’t. What makes a fly float or sink? What makes it cut through the grass without getting hung up? What makes it ride hook point up? What materials have the most action in the water? But most of all it will give you pleasure when you can’t be flying fishing. And nothing beats caching a fish on a fly that you tied yourself.
10. Hire the top fly fishing guide in the area.
Nothing is like hands on instruction. When planning a great trip to an unknown area, it is best to find a guide that will put you over fish quickly. Nothing is more discouraging than having a long planned trip go dead because no fish could be caught in some unknown water. A guide will know the hot spots, have the right transportation and will provide the correct flies for the present conditions. Remember to record the trip in your journal.
Filed under: How To... — admin @ 2:04 pm
OK, you’ve paid some real money for your fancy fly rod. Next to your children and your wife (debatable) , probably your most prized posession. If you’ve ever broken a fly rod, like I have, you know it’s extremely painful. It’s like someone cut off your hand.
There are a multitude of ways to protect your investment. Here are a few ways:
Short Distance Rod Transport: If you’re spot hopping consider using a device to keep the rods outside of the car for short distance “leap frogging” as you try to pimp the guy in front of you. Consider using a rod carrier like the Vac Pac Combi to keep your rod safe. This system of two magnetic T-bars, offers a safe and solid way to transport your rods, anytime you want to move short distances and don’t want to screw around reassembling your rods everytime you start and stop.
Longer Distance Rod Transport - When you want to keep those rods 
stung up, but are traveling longer distances, check out the Double Haul Rod Case. This is an easily assembled and mounted four-piece, fully-adjustable hard-shell rod case that mounts and locks to most roof racks. This will protect rods and reels from theft, damage, wind, dirt and dust. I’ve used this system when I’m spot hopping longer distances, but still expect to be in and out of the car frequently. Take a look at a video on this unit found HERE.
Filed under: How To... — admin @ 7:29 am
Here’s a response to a recent email I received:
Question:
…how far should a fisherman learn to cast? I realize that most trout & bass are caught probably 50ft or closer and that a person should only cast as far as the situation dictates. However, I am practicing my double hauls (line speed) and trying to keep a 180 degree plane resulting in tighter loops and more distance. I am a firm believer in working on the more difficult executions first…..then, the short casts will be easier.
Right now if I am in stroke I can probably cast around 70ft. How concerned should I be in casting 80 90 or 100 ft. I work on my casting skills almost everyday. I am determined to become a great caster.
I kinda live in an area where fly fishing is not real popular so I have to rely on advice from pros like yourself. Most of my fishing is in lakes and ponds near my home…and I hope to next spring do some smallmouth fishing in southern Missouri.
To achieve the 80ft+ mark does a person concentrate more on shooting the line rather than trying to false cast a lot of line? How far should a person false cast behind them….I mean, is their a certain distance in which a person should not go over? It seems like when I get to a certain distance, the end of my cast kind of tails a little bit.
Maybe I am worrying to much about distance but I am just trying to figure out what myself and my SAGE Z-axis can do.
Answer:
Here are some of the tenets I suggest you consider related to fly casting:
Here’s a quick video I did a few years ago demonstrating a double haul technique. In my view, it’s all in the hand work.
Filed under: How To... — admin @ 2:00 pm
Some clippers and a hemostat is about all you need when going after most trout. For warm water species such as bass, northern, and muskie, some specialized equipment really helps. In the following video we talk about some tools you should consider adding to your arsenal, if you don’t already have them.
Filed under: How To... — admin @ 7:40 am
OK, let’s admit it, everyone gets stuck picking the right fly that works on a given day. When the bass are hitting poppers with gusto, everybody wins.
Watch the video to learn about a great new resource for improving your catch - big time.
Click on the EBook image on the right to learn more.
Not bad, huh?