Cold Feet.

It's that time of year when paying attention to small details bring big results. Cold feet are annoying as well as dangerous. Here are a few suggestions to keep you in the game longer.

• Feed the furnace. Being well fueled keeps the core warm. Add hydration to the mix and you have already stacked the game in your favor. Grazing throughout the day keeps the fire lit. Spicy chili, garlic and wasabi all have their place.

• A two sock combo that provides wicking and insulation is our standard kit. Our first sock is a lightweight Capilene liner sock. We then use a medium thick over the calf Smartwool sock as our insulating layer.

• Using a foot powder or applying deodorant before putting on the sock combo can help with moisture issues. Experiment with this.

• Using a VBL (vapor barrier liner) sock can work for some folks. This sock goes between the liner and insulating sock. It is non breathable material that keeps the insulating sock dry. I've used these for winter mountaineering and late season fishing with mixed results. Again experiment.

• Try adding a 2-3mm neoprene footbed to your wading boots for added insulation. Be sure you have enough room in your boots for this add on.

• Avoid lacing boots really tight (unless your doing some serious wading).

• Turn your waders inside out after every trip. Stepping in to dry waders in the morning is a good thing!

• Adding chemical heat packs work. Using them can be tricky but worth the effort.
  

• One last trick is the simplest. GET OUT OF THE WATER. Nobody says that you have to stay in one place. Move around and cover some water.

Over?

Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Bluto from Animal House

Pictured below is a large hen salmon that was client caught. Spey rod, intermediate tip, size 12 wet fly. High water, dropping temps, dismal hatches the last few days. Adapt and evolve. Want to learn how? Call us before it's over. Leave a message because we aren't sitting by the phone waiting for the "just right" conditions.

Just Go.

It's been a week of predictions gone wrong. I had images of olives for some trips and streamer rigs for others. All hopes were crushed by the unpredictable nature of fall fishing. When Mom Nature deals the cards, you play your hand the best you can. We threw streamers when I thought we would be fishing tiny parachutes. We nymphed where I thought we would rip streamers. It all worked out due to open minds and using multiple techniques.

At one time I predicted the days trip the night before. Some days I was on the money. Most days I was not even close. After many seasons on the water I came to the conclusion that I really don't know shit. Pay attention. Take what the river gives you and be thankful.

Just go.

Midge Fest.

Don't blow off the mighty midge. Frosty mornings that warm up fast can produce some good late season dry fly conditions. Pupa and adult patterns combined with fine tippets only go so far. Presentations need to be accurate and quiet. Read the rise carefully to determine the stage the fish is on. Every take during a midge hatch is pretty cool. When it happens at this time of the season it stays with you all winter. Go build a memory.

Itty Bitty

"Are you serious"?

Baetis Novice.

If there is one hatch we really love it's the fall Baetis mayfly. For many it can be a frustrating experience. With a few tricks the frustrating part can become overcome somewhat. Here you go:

• Good presentation skills beat ten different 'HOT' patterns. Our core patterns consist of Parachute Adams and BWOs, Sparkle Duns and Pheasant Tails. For really picky fish and slow, clear water I'll use a Lawson's No Hackle. Sizes 18-24. Accuracy and stealth get the net wet. DON'T FLOCK SHOOT!!!

• Everyone says use a long, fine leader. Good advice. This is what's left out of that comment: Use the longest leader YOU can control/cast. Learn to wade quietly to get closer to the target. Better yet learn to cast well and accurate.
  

• 5X is standard for us. 6X for slow and clear flow. Again good presentation skills trump most of the crutches.

• Use a "Cheater/Indicator Fly". A hot post Adams or Pheasant Tail parachute size 16 or 18 work great as a lead fly. Tie off the Baetis 6"-10" behind. Watch for any rises within a 12" circle around the lead fly. When in doubt set the hook.

• Tie a nymph behind the dry to cover both stages of the hatch. We use a simple clinch knot from the hook bend. We then use a surgeon's loop knot to attach the nymph.

• When nymphing pre hatch remember these bugs are fast swimmers. Stripping and swinging that rig can get you into fish. Another pre hatch technique is the streamer and nymph rig. Tie on a bugger in size 10-12 and a size 20 pheasant tail soft hackle or nymph. It's a fast way to cover water.

• Go easy on the paste or liquid floatants. Using a dry desiccant keeps them up and doesn't change the pattern's appearance. Change slimmed patterns out after a few fish.

• Don't think it's over at 2:00 p.m. The spinner fall can happen later in the afternoon. Also seek out a foam filled eddy for a lazy sipper.

• Pick up your cast below the rise. Continually casting, splattering line, leader and flies over picky rising fish is a recipe for failure. It puts fish down, causes booger knots and it's ugly. The fish aren't in any hurry nor should you be.

• The best way to learn more about this is to get out there and experience it yourself. One really good book to purchase is Ed Engle's 'Fishing Small Flies'. Read it. Twice. Hiring a guide just to tie the flies on and yell "TAKE" and "SET" is another alternative.
  

Octoberfest.

This month needs to be sixty two days instead of thirty one. Everyday brings something different. Some days are easy. Others you earn and work for every tug. Having more than one trick in the quiver is essential. Think about how many Grey Ghosts that fish above has seen since April. Mix it up.

• Dry Flies: Baetis. 18-24. A daily occurrence on most of the water we are guiding on. Duration can be less than an hour to two or more. Caddis about and egg laying. Morning midges.

• Wets: 50/50. You will know it when they are in the mood. Afternoons better than mornings.

• Streamers: Yep. Change up the retrieve until you find the groove. Dead drifting a thick streamer will produce a take. Apply shot as needed to get down.

• Nymphing: The top producing technique. Hare's Ears, Copper Johns, Prince's and October Caddis as the lead flies. Pheasant tails and Baetis patterns for the dropper. Those patterns will all catch fish.Change the weight not the flies!!
  

That Fat Lady is getting dressed for the final act. Give her the finger and get your priorities straight. We have a few openings left this month. Show her who's boss.

Bliss.

Now. Right now. The folks who get it understand it fully. Step in and find out what it's all about. It's about the light. The fish whose coloration seems too fantastic. The forest that changes hourly. Loose yourself in a run and recharge your soul. Just step in.

Layer Right.

'Baby,It's cold outside'

Frank Loesser

We have entered October and with it, cooler weather. Mornings and evenings can be the coldest part of your day. Being prepared with a clothing system that is functional and light can be the difference between finishing late or packing it in. Clothing at this time of year is a huge part of your gear. Don't overlook it.

• Feet: Wool socks with a nylon blend provide warmth and cushioning. Don't go too thick and risk the loss of circulation. We add a liner sock when water temps drop to the low fifties. For truly cold conditions add a pair of neoprene foot beds into your wading boots.

• Legs: This is a simple trick. The longer the walk the less layering you will require. I prefer capilene from Patagonia as a base layer. Either light, mid or expedition weight. When things really chill down either a mid weight fleece farmerjohn or Regulator tights. Loose the jeans, chinos or whatever else you think will be o.k. for the day. Cotton pants are USELESS once wet and worn under waders.

• Torso: The same weights of capilene in zippered t neck style allow ventilation. A fleece vest is a quick and light way to warm up your core. Keep the Carhartt hoody at home. Softshell jackets and shirts have a wide temp range. They are light, quiet and are a better alternative than wearing your hard shell in not really full on conditions. A synthetic puffy is a great addition. Highly compressible and light. Down is useless when wet unless your a goose.
  

• Head: Wool or synthetic. One note on windstopper fabric used in hats. It will block your hearing as well as the wind. A neck gaiter for truly cold mornings.

• Hands: Fingerless gloves. Two pair. One placed next to your torso (pre warmed). Once you soak the first pair, switch out to the second pair. Wring out the wet pair and place them next to your torso to dry out some.

This is just a basic overview on what has worked for us over the years. Remember to constantly evaluate your comfort level. Add or remove a layer as needed before you become uncomfortable.