St. Vrain Angler News & Muse August 9, 2005

Greetings!

I hope this finds you well, enjoying this fine late-Summer morning. It is lovely here with a bright blue sky and a few puffy clouds. Welcome to all of you who signed up during the past week to receive this weekly missive. Thanks for joining us.

There is much to discuss today and some of it will be found in the story I wrote yesterday and edited this morning. I've been thinking about several things of late and this story introduces a few of them. As today's missive unfolds I suspect we'll read more. I hope you'll follow the link to the story, which does not have a title of yet. Let me know what you think.

The fishing right now is fabulous! I hope you received the St. Vrain Angler Alert! which was mailed on either Friday or Saturday of last week - I lose track of time. Frank demanded that folks get out fishing. I've received several notes about folks responding and getting out and that warms the heart and pulls at their strings. I'm going to include a few stories from other folks in today's letter so you can share the joy they feel when on the water. There's also one that has more than a tinge of frustration, and rightly so.

Last Wednesday I had the privilege of going on a guided trip with my friend Dave. He's been through some tough times lately and didn't fish much last year at all. We talked one day and he decided he'd like some time on the water with me so we set the time and date and decided to fish the private water I have access to on the Big Thompson. Dave's a busy guy and like many men these days travels often.

We met at the shop about noon as I was finishing a few flies, then headed out. On the way we had to stop for an ice cream cone to tide us over until we got to Drake for lunch at the Stage Stop Inn. After a burger we were ready for what faced us. It was rain.

I really thought the rain and the clouds would cool things off and get the fish going early, but I was wrong. We got wet while we worked on casting, mending, fly positioning and so on. There was one healthy brown trout hanging under a tree between two larger rocks that insisted on coming up to multiple offerings, but we never did hook it. Few bugs were on the water and other than the fish that moved to our fly we didn't see any rise forms. I was glad we had rain jackets and the sense to use them.

Dave wanted to see bugs emerging and fish rising to take them. He was also interested in learning more about mending line and so on. As it turned out - and this is a common thing when I work with folks on the water - the basic casting stroke was not firmly in hand. We talked about it a bit. I've learned that teaching casting is better done apart from teaching fishing. They are not the same thing. While casting is very important and helps in the entire process, getting the fly in the right spot on the water and fishing it is a good thing, too. So, that's what we worked on.

I noticed that there were problems with line control, and we addressed and worked on them. We kept moving up the river, covering water and changing flies. The rain began to lighten. I finally tied on a Green Drake adult, which was actually pretty far down my list. I know the bugs have emerged on the river and I think fish remember seeing them and will still take them. However, I hadn't seen one for some time. I knew we'd be able to see the fly on the water and that the dark color and the shape of the fly were both different than the ones on the flies we had been using.

Wouldn't you know, a lovely trout came and took the fly. We missed the hook set. Another fish took the fly, and we missed again. We finally found a fly that worked; now we needed to concentrate on line control.

What is line control, anyway? Well, that's a complex question and one that I love working on with folks on the water. Part of it is, in fact, casting, including how to hold the line and make it go where it should go. The line will only go where it is told, by the way. The less motion that's made during the casting stroke the more accurate the cast will be, as long as the motion made is within the parameters of the cast that's intended. Too often folks use too much energy for short casts which causes the line to move more that it should, bouncing along rather than traveling in a smooth, gentle motion.

Most of the casting we do around here should be short and accurate. Line control is better and easier to work when casts are short. The next part of line control happens once the line is in the water. (There's another portion that involves the line being in the air, but we'll have to discuss that another time.) Line control has to do with what part of the stuff in front of the rod - line, leader, tippet or fly - lands on the water first. Too often for Dave the fly line landed well before the fly and the current would begin moving the line before the fly was on the water. This can make the fly land in the wrong spot which makes a new cast necessary and cuts into fishing time.

Good line control is about doing more fishing and less casting. In general I think in terms of the cast - for me it is usually one back cast to dry the fly - a mend while the line is in the air, the presentation and then the fishing.

Line control involves looking at the water and knowing where the line should be relative to the fly, tippet and leader. This means taking inventory of current, seams, pockets and so on as well as the prevailing wind. It's not rocket science; in fact, it might be harder than that. But it's lots more fun! Always take some time to look at the spot and make the fly land there first or simultaneously with the fly line. Once everything is on the water, keep the fly rod parallel to the water so the line does not run up the rod. Never allow the fly line to come within the diameter that the rod tip defines around where you are standing; if it does this you are done fishing because the line is not under control.

Stay in contact with the fly at all times. Know where it is, where it should be drifint and how you'll need to move the rod tip to set the hook. If there's lots of slack on the water try setting the hook by moving the rod parallel to the water rather than lifting it. Try it. You'll see that by doing this the line will move the fly quite a distance and that's what setting the hook is about.

On the setting-the-hook-issue, be sure to set the hook as the fish takes the fly. Prepare for a fish to take the fly. While it could happen at any time start to see if you can "call" when the fish eat. Determine where they are holding, how long it will take them to see and follow, then intercept the fly. Know how you'll move the fly far enough to set the point of the hook into the fish's jaw. If the fish takes the fly quickly, set the hook quickly by making a motion that's like a short, fast back casting motion. If the fish takes the fly slowly, take a moment to reflect on the wonder of the moment and gently lift the rod to take out slack before making the quick, upward motion with the rod tip.

Use the rod tip and all the motions you make with the rod in your favor. Don't move the line if the fly is drifting properly. There are times when I see folks making useless mends that work against good fishing. Only mend when it is in your favor.

Never give up; keep trying; practice what works and make it better. Remember that practicing bad habits will ensure bad fishing practices. Learn to do the right thing at the right time. Most of all, have fun. (For more info, please read my booklet Presentation 101, one of the Solutions Booklets available in the shops or online.)

Dave kept moving fish to the Green Drake and hooked several. We were cooking now. All of the stuff we'd done was working in our favor. He was still struggling with setting the hook - that was a line control issue, too - but we were making progress and having fun seeing the fish rise. As we continued upstream we began noticing very small mayflies in the air. I knew they were freshly emerged because they were opaque in color. The first few we caught had red heads, which indicates the males of the species; they emerge first to prepare for the females, which follow shortly after.

The size #12 Green Drake adult seemed a bit out of line considering the mayflies were about a size #20 at the largest, so we looked in Dave's box - he's a good fly tier and like all anglers would prefer fishing with flies he tied. We found a small caddis with a bright chartreuse wing and tied it on. Dave and I are both suffering the beginnings of old age manifested in having a hard time seeing the fly on the water. The bright post was going to help, and did. Within a few minutes several fish had either moved for or taken the fly. As you can see from his smile, Dave was happy about hooking fish on his pattern. The rainbows we hooked were bright and beautiful and the browns were lovely to behold.

The fish continued eating greedily for some time and then the hatch abated. We had to go back to fishing an attractor. But hey, we had an attractor on, didn't we? So, we kept fishing the water rather than fishing to rising fish. And the trout cooperated, taking the small caddis with glee.

Dave wanted to try some new water so we continued upstream and fished several spots. It was beginning to get dark. Several great fish took the fly while other's flashed at it but did not get hooked. On the way back down the mountain after our wet but wonderful day Dave said that he'd enjoyed this very much and had accomplished what he'd hoped to do.

I couldn't ask for anything more than that. I hope we get out again soon.

Imagine my excitement when I opened an email today and found this story. Effie's been in the shop a few times and really wants to learn to fly fish. We'll, here's her story in her own words. I hope to see her soon so I can help even more.

Dale,
   I am happy to report I caught my first ever rainbow trout.  The
unfortunate thing is I don't have a picture of me with it.  Bummer, I
really wanted to be in the next missive, ha!  The only camera I had was
the one on my phone and when I caught the fish the camera was way up on
the bank.  Later, I did get a picture of my friend Tug's rainbow caught
shortly after.  I will try to send it in a separate email as I have been
having a hard time attaching it to emails.
   We caught both our fish on the South Platte Friday.  He took me to Gill
Trail just below Cheesman Dam.  Our fish were about 17-20 inches long and
absolutely beautiful.  I am also sorry to say I can't tell you exactly
what fly we were using other than we were nymphing.  I don't really have
all the lingo down yet, ha!  Tug said he tied the flies so I will have to
ask him.  We did tie two flies onto the tippet, not really sure what this
technique is called.
   I did hook into one other fish but never saw it as the fish ran up stream,
lodged behind a rock and snapped the line.  Dale I was so excited about my
adventure that I almost paid the shop a visit this past Saturday.  I need
a fly rod, chest waders, landing net . . .I need to be able to go out on
my own, ha!  I am definitely hooked (no pun intended).  Will come up to the
shop as soon as I can.
   ps. will also send picture me, my friend Curtis and sockeye's caught on
the Kenai and Russian Rivers in Alaska (not will a fly rod) Hopefully they are not too big, I didn't know how to downsize them.

Effie

Hey Dale,
   How did your trip go this afternoon? I'm sure well. Did you get wet?
   I received my BIIX rod from Winston with my name on it today. Sure is
pretty. Thanks again for the opportunity to be a guide and instructor.
   I was going to wait until Thurs to give it a test run on some water in the
park but I just couldn't wait. I decided to break it in on a stretch of the St Vrain where I caught my first trout on a fly. That was a long time ago. I think maybe 1977.
   The fly was a Royal Coachman wet. I'd subscribed to one of those Outdoor Life book clubs where you promise to buy six books a year and in return you get 6 books "free" right away. I got all fishing books. Some of them were about fly fishing. One was a book written by Joe Brooks called Trout Fishing. His favorite fly was a Coachman wet. I remember reading the book and wanting to be just like Joe, catching trout on a fly. He wrote about all areas of fly fishing and I read it over and over. He was big on a stealthy approach from the down stream side so not to alert the fish.
   The day came early in the season before run off that I decided to go fishing after work. The St Vrain was the only stream I knew of then so that's where I headed. When I arrived at the parking area I noticed just beyond the willows from where I parked trout leaping out of the water over and over. I wanted to catch those fish. So I remembered what Joe wrote about not spooking the fish. I must of started about 50 yards down stream and crawled on hands and knees up to where those fish were. Since it was pre-run off the water was extremely low and I was crawling over the dry cantaloupe size rocks on the stream bottom. This hurt my knees but I was after trout on a fly. When I got to where I thought I could make a cast I stopped and tied on the fly. The Royal Coachmen wet. The favorite fly of Joe. First cast was off target so I retrieved it back. Next cast must have been right on because after the fly sunk a little a trout ate it up. I don't remember the fight but I do remember the fish. A nice rainbow maybe 12 or 13 inches. Didn't matter about the size I was catching trout on a fly. I hooked the fish and fly fishing hooked me.
   So today just like that day years ago I decided to give that same stretch of river a go with my new fly rod. This time I waded instead of crawling starting in the same spot as back in 1977. I fished up the stream casting my EZ Mack fly. Got a few strikes but no hook ups. Tied on a Frank's Flashy BH as a dropper and hooked a chucky little brown on the second cast. I kept looking up stream for the place I had hooked my first fish and finally I was there. Made a few cast and hooked a rainbow. Nice fish again just like 1977. Probably a cousin to that fish long ago. That was it, I decided to stop on that fish and head home. On the ride out I thought about how many times I had been on that dirt road. It still looks the same after all these years.
   There's something nice about that. A place where the scenery is static. A place you can count on.
   The rod is awesome. Truly a pleasure to cast. Let me know how you and Dave did today.
   See you at the shop,
   Frank

It's time for fishing! Wait a minute; it's always time for fishing. The issue is this: will we take time to go fishing? Will we allow the loveliness and grandeur of being outside help us feel alive and renew our frazzled emotions? The choice is ours.

Classes continue. Each weekend that we offer our Casting and First Adventure to Fly Fishing Class I get comments on how much fun folks had and how much they learned in the process. I hope you'll join this weekend's fun fest of fly fishing instruction! Enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded anglers on the same path, learning fly fishing skills. We promise a good time and great instruction and fun!

This is an important week for us, and we need sales. I've really stocked the shops and it must be time for you to come in and get some goodies. What can you get? Here's a list of possibilities - thanks for asking!

We've added the new Ross Cimarron Large Arbor reels and have them in Longmont. This reel looks very good and will offer a mid-priced, fully machined large arbor fly reel. Come by and say hello to your new fly reel. WE also have the Rhythm Fly Reel in stock.

There's always so much more I want to say. I suppose each week adds to what has come before. I know many of you read this each week and I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement you share with me either via emails or in person. Last week was very full and meaningful. I had several very kind comments from you and our friend's daughter got married. It was a beautiful wedding.

I got to thinking about how exciting Alina and Brian must be, starting out as husband and wife. In ten days Shan and I will celebrate 27 years of wedded bliss. I hope this young couple stays together and learns to love in a way not possible when single. I don't mean that singles cannot love, of course; there is just something magic about my relationship with Shan.

Max is doing fine. He's still a chowderhead, but I know several of you have asked about his well-being. He's still a dog, but likes it. I wonder if he knows he's going to get to go chase some doves in a few weeks? He loves being in the field.

Rachel is in San Diego for a Flute Conference. She's gone to lots of these events in the past. Max is going to miss her. They have really bonded. After the trip west Rachel will be back for a few days, and then off to her last year of college in Durango. She's ready.

Brittany is getting ready for a trip to Ohio and hopes to visit her grandparents in Cambridge. My mom might be able to make it down to visit with her, too. She's registered and ready to go to UNC this fall, and excited for that.

Jess is back in volleyball and sore from the early practices. Her school starts soon, too; perhaps too soon for her, but she's ready. She'll get her driver's license this Saturday and has informed me that after that she wants to go fishing! I can't turn that little blond down, so we'll head somewhere and try to hook a few trout! I'll report in next week.

I was talking with Frank last week about teaching fly fishing and how frustrated I am when I see folks on the river trying, but with no avail. They have no chance to hook a fish as they are casting to places fish are not feeding, making casts that are way too long, don't have the proper rigging and so on and so forth. My question, which is one of passion and fullness is, "This is so frustrating to see! I want to help these folk learn more so they can enjoy the time on the water even more. What can I do?"

Frank's answer was this: "They have to go fishing once a week to get it."

I hope you will go fishing this week. Then next week. Even an hour at Pella Crossing, Fairground's Pond, or Golden Ponds is worth the effort, and will be repaid with smiles, refreshed minds and objective perspective that says, "Maybe that wasn't very important, but it sure was fun."

I wish you the best this week. Thanks for reading. I hope to see you soon!

"Fly Fishing is a pleasantly addictive affliction."