Movin On Up.

Recently on one of our trips a client asked a question that had me pondering for a while. The question was simple enough but the answer was not. He simply asked "How do you get good at fly fishing?" I told him the top three things I found that helped me when I was breaking through that beginner/intermediate stage. On the ride home I thought of a few more. Here they are.

• Take a casting lesson from an experienced or even better a certified casting instructor. No matter if you think your cast is good enough. The time and money spent are well worth the investment. Your cast is the foundation of everything you are trying to accomplish. Do it well and the road is paved. Do it poorly and the road is a washed out rutted mess.
• Fish with others that are skilled and willing to share their knowledge. I had and still have mentors that I am forever grateful and in debt to.
• Observe water, fish and other anglers. Time spent watching things unfold will help enable you to break the code. I once watched a guide( from the far bank) on the Henry's Fork show his client how to make a downstream dry presentation. It was a flawless bit of instruction that produced a large rainbow. Later I met the guide at a shop and thanked him for his tutorial. He was Mike Lawson. Considered by many as the dean of the Fork.Today I use that technique on almost every trip. Thanks Mike.
• Fish new water every time you go out. Even if you know the "Honey Hole" will produce a few fish, go explore some place that's new to you.
• Become confident at all types of techniques. Drys, wets, nymphs and streamers all produce results. Being skilled in all of them requires time and dedication. If you only have one strong skill it's like being a baseball pitcher who can only throw a fastball. Sooner or later your going to the showers.
• Fish in all conditions. Rain, wind, sun, dirty water, high water, low water, cold water, snow, sleet. Perfect conditions only mean things are going to change. Be ready for it.
• Expensive gear does not make one better. A $800 rod will not cast better than a $150 rod if the user has not developed a solid casting stroke. Buy good gear and master it.
• Learn some entomology. Study other food sources as well. Develop a solid understanding but don't go off the deep end with it. Nobody likes a Latin spewing bug geek except other Latin spewing bug geeks.
• Learn how to make multiple rigs and set ups. Life would be easy if all you needed was a 8'-3X leader for the season. It ain't easy.
• Hire a guide for a trip with the emphasis on improving skills. Shadow a pro guide for a day and observe their level. I've done it and it's well worth the price of admission.
• Never loose the ability to laugh at yourself when you totally blow it.
  

Expectations.

"High summer on the rebound"

Van Morrison

It's tough right now. There, I said it. You can expect short lived hatches,spooky fish and low flows. These are conditions that will make you a better angler in the long run. Almost anyone can catch fish during prime time. Be ready for a challenging session. One to seven fish per trip has been the average. We are on the morning/night shift until September. Wade trips are the best option.
Hatches are small caddis,midge,Yellow Sallies, Olives and the evening Spinner fall. Don't forget terrestrials. Now until October these bugs will produce. Ants, crickets, hoppers and beetles should all have a match in your dry box. We prefer beetle patterns for a searching dry.
So get out of bed or stay until last call. One thing for certain is you're not going to catch them reading this report. Get out there.

Spinner Fall.

Conditions are tough right now. The big mistake to make during an evening session is to leave early. We don't exit the river when we see Spinners over our heads like the photo above. This event can be the best part of the night. Stay late and reap the reward. Below are a couple of tips to help you break the code.

• Anticipate the hatch. Rig up while you still have a bit of light left and keep the headlamp to a minimum.
• Ramp up on the tippet size. Leader shyness seems to be a moot point the darker it gets.
  
• Take advantage of a back lit area.
  
• Keep false casts to a minimum and cast a shorter length line.
  
• Rely on "feel" rather than the visual image of the take.
• Stay cool if you happen into a big boy. More are lost by angler panic at night than anything else. Control that fish!
• Listen for the slurp rather than the splash. Spinner feeding fish rise just enough to get the job done. Your presentation should mimic the rise. Gentle.
• Don't FLOCK SHOOT!! Pick a target and commit.
• Enjoy every take you get during this event because it's short lived and well earned.
  

High Summer.

"I love the nightlife"

Some disco diva.

We are done with full day trips until conditions cool down. Trips will either be morning or evening sessions. By morning we mean predawn starts and evenings that go until dark thirty. This week we saw evening fishing the most productive. Sulphurs, caddis and terrestrials were available. Evening spinner falls were happening along with a few Hexes coming off. Yes, they do hatch on rivers also. Cover a rise quickly now. If you've got a eater, feed em. Don't worry about a perfect match. A well presented beetle, ant or small caddis will usually do it.

Prepare for an evening or morning trip by being hydrated BEFORE you start. Chuck the waders and wet wade. Bring a headlamp. Carry a thermometer and use it. Actually if you are wet wading you will find temp variances quicker than a thermometer. Ramp up on the tippet size. We never go under 5X. It's surprising how much pressure you can put on that size tippet. Play them fast and hard. Use a Catch and Release Tool for quicker release. Stash a few beers in the cooler for the tailgate celebration. Stay cool.

Trout Camp

Yesterday was the T.U. Trout Camp float trip. This is one trip I really look forward to every season. The kids are great. An eager volunteer staff is dedicated to the students. The Evergreens campground located in Solon serves as the base camp. Hosts Joe and Lorena Albuit are some of the nicest folks you will ever meet. All said this is a pretty cool week.
Sean McCormick of Blue Heron Guide Service, Eric Nielson of Kennebec Drifters Guide Service and myself guided the kids on the Solon section of the Kennebec. The one thing I'm always surprised at is the open mind these kids have towards trying something new. I showed them how to cast a shooting head/sink tip and the results were immediate. They moved and caught fish by working structure and speed changes. Some clients won't even consider working that hard for fish. The highlight of the day for me was one of my students ability to handle a 300 grain Teeny line with a size 2 streamer. Throwing forty to fifty feet wasn't a problem nor was accuracy. After a little coaching and small suggestion here and there. We were a team. Our motto "Fish like a girl".
Thanks girls.