Game Plan.

The 2011 season will be here shortly. Before it slips past you, get proactive. We have trips booked and planned from April through July already. Some are with old clients some with new. All share the same thing. Planning.

Want to concentrate on nymph techniques? How about early mayflies mid week? Ever fish a midge rise? All these take place at certain times. Some better than others. Planning ahead gives you prep time for tying, hall pass permission or travel.

Having a fishing date on the calender now looks a whole lot better then that tax date in April. Get moving.

Shack Nasties.

This morning, I shot six holes in my freezer. I think I got cabin fever.
Somebody sound the alarm.

Jimmy Buffet

It's the end of February. Spring is coming. So are more cold temps, snow, sleet and possible heavy drinking. Here are a few March events to help keep you going through the end of winter.

• This is a bittersweet event. Mike and Linda of Fly Fishing Only are retiring. They announced this week they are having a retirement sale. I'm sad to lose one of the best fly shops Maine has ever had. But I'm very happy for them. I might even have a chance to fish with Mike in the future.

• James Prosek will be at Bowdoin College on March 10th. This is part of the speaker series by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay.

• The L.L. Bean Fishing Show on March 18th to the 2oth. Located near the big rubber boot.

• ASF dinner in Freeport. March 19th.

• Don Bastian will be in Maine in a number of locations and dates next month. By the looks of his schedule I think he may have toured with The Grateful Dead.

• The 2011 Fly Fishing Film Tour will be in Brunswick on March 4th and 5th. Great food and beer along with cutting edge fly flicks.
  

There. Now buy some tickets or gas and get out of the house.

Got Buggers?

Every conceivable color and size. In tube, spey and articulated styles. Tungsten cones, bead heads and Fish -Skulls. From rubber legs, crystal flash and Schalppen to New Guinea monkey fur. Everything can be incorporated into this staple pattern. Whatever you decide to use just make sure you've got some buggers in the box.

Another fly you have a hard time fishing wrong.

Strapage.

Prep and inventory chores continue through this month and next. One item I'm going to add once again to the line up is NRS cam straps. We have used and abused these straps for over twenty years. Sizes 1"-1.5" from 2'-20'. Multitudes of uses if you get creative.

• Securing the frame onto a raft, pontoon boat or cataraft. More importantly securing the beer cooler to the frame.

• Strapping exhaust to truck frame.

• Wading/pants belt.

• Tying down a drunk first year guide to his bed.

• Used for keeping rear legs of a moose stable while field dressing.

• Keeping the rain tarps tight.

• Quick field leash.

• Holds down tackle bags on pontoon boats.

• Used to help with splinting and immobilization techniques.

• Bundling up the evening's drift wood supply.
  

We've used other straps. Get the best. Throw the rest.

Food For Thought.

The Pebble Mine Project may seem like a far away concern. But how many times have you entertained the idea of fishing or visiting Alaska? Have you ever witnessed a healthy salmon run? When have you ever realized your place in the food chain? What's it like to feel insignificant?

If this project happens, you may never have some of these questions answered. I've witnessed first hand what a magnificent land Alaska is. Unfortunately I've also seen our salmon runs in Maine suffer or disappear completely. Loss of this magnitude is unacceptable.

Ken Morrish put together this image collection along with an essay about the project. Click on this link to see what's at stake: Slide Show. These images are better than any word descriptions I can find.

Get Down.

It's coming. Early season trips require more than one line. Actually almost every season requires at least something other than a floater. Here is what we use depending on the length and type of trip. It's better to have some kind of line to get down than nothing at all.

• Wade Trips: For a river the size of the Kennebec we carry a spare spool rigged with a sink tip line. I prefer a fifteen foot head. This can be trimmed back once wear starts at the head. Type 3-6 for most conditions. Type 8 for early/late season or high water.

• Backcountry Wade Trips/Multi Day: Versi Leaders from Rio. Seven foot in the lighter grains. Twelve foot in the heavier ones. These can be looped to your floating line for an instant sink tip. Lighter than a spare spool and quicker to rig.

• Float Trip: Type 6-8 sink tips. Full sinking line, Deep 6 from Rio (no mending with a full sinker).One Teeny T 300. One clear intermediate sink tip for sunny/spooky conditions. Having the room in the kit for all these options stacks the odds in your favor. There have been days when we have used almost all of them.

• Lakes and Ponds: I really like to simplify this area. AquaLux line. This is a nice intermediate line that casts well and is consistent in different water temps. Very stealthy also. Our other choice is a Deep 7. Seven to eight inches per second sink rate. You can waste a ton of time waiting for your fly to enter the feeding zone. Not with this line.

Remember all these lines can be tweaked to preform beyond their rating. Adding or trimming tippet length, size and material is one way to fine tune a run. Fly size and type of tie are another. The simplest may be line manipulation (mends). Mending allows you to control speed, depth and direction. Cheap too.

ASF Dinner.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation will be holding it's 21st annual dinner on March 19th. Taking place in Freeport at the Harraseket Inn. Guided trips, artwork and gear from major manufactures. Bar opens at 5:30 along with the silent auction. Dinner at 7:00 followed by the live auction. This is a really nice event to participate in.

Contact Cindy Patterson at (207) 725-2833 or cindy@asf.comcastbiz.net for tickets and reservations.

Get Schooled.

Starting this season we will be offering a two day fly fishing school for beginners. Spending time learning basic skills will pay back dividends later. If you've ever toiled with the idea of teaching your significant other fly fishing, send him here. Trust us. Save your relationship.

Lodging and meals provided by Maine Huts and Trails. We are really looking forward to these trips. It breaks up the season and keeps us fresh. Good guiding is teaching in reality and this trip is dedicated to teaching. With both Bob Duport and Bob Dionne as fellow instructors/guides you'll be in great hands.

There are more "new" trips for this season. Stay tuned for updates as details get nailed down.

Winter Kill.

It was five below this a.m. Winter is still strong and will test the patience of anyone. Below is this season's list of reality.

• Two broken snow shovels.
• One snow scoop with one more MacGyver repair in it.
• One dead truck battery.
• One shear pin.
• Two split hydraulic hoses.
• One bent beyond reason roof rake.
• One burnt out headlight.
• One dead headlamp.
• One sled MIA. Last seen flying to Quebec.

So far, we are right on schedule. Instead of bitching and whining about the season do something that will make you feel good. If you have ever been to Alaska and experienced what that place is like you know what's at stake. If you haven't been, get your priorities straight and go. Bristol Bay is home to the largest wild salmon fishery on the planet. Period. The Pebble Mine project is BULLSHIT. Period. Go here to walk the walk.

There now don't you feel better?

Banff.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is one of the best you will attend. What do films about mountain sports, cultures and environmental concerns have in common with fly fishing?
Everything. It' all connected. Coming to Maine at a variety of locations this month. Check it out.

Core Warmth.

This weeks morning temps ranged between zero and fifteen below. One item that's never far from reach is a fleece vest. Keeping your core warm is vital. No matter the season a vest provides a indispensable lightweight layer.

• I prefer Patagonia for a number of reasons. Recycled material, environmentally responsible and a very high quality product. Mine are getting a bit worn but still functioning very well. The R1 vest is on the list due to it's ability to compress into any pocket or pack.

• Vests are multi sport pieces of gear. I've used them for everything from ice climbing to bird hunting.

• Rowing a drift boat or raft becomes much easier to maintain a comfortable body temp with a vest than a jacket. You have much more freedom of movement also.

• Windstopper fabric can sound like a gimmick. It's not. Bombproof material.

• Throw one in your fly fishing vest for summer evening sessions. Light insurance when wet wading.

• Makes a great dog bed or pillow. I've also used one to pad the cure from damage while traveling.

• Great addition for snow pack analysis (shoveling snow).

Wets.

If there is one type of fly that runs under the radar it's the wet fly. Winged, soft hackles, flymphs and fuzzy nymphs all have a couple things in common. They all catch fish and it's really hard to fish them wrong. What more do you want from a fly?

• Sizes from 8-20 in a soft hackle tie are our favorites. Colors range from dull to "Are you kidding"?

• At times you can move up a tippet size. Takes can be down right rude.

• Durability. Last season I used the same March Brown wet for a full day of fun salmon antics.

• Want to introduce a novice to fly fishing? Tie on a wet.

• Check out Don Bastian's site for info on winged wets. He will be coming to Maine next month for presentations throughout the state.

• Drag can be a good thing with wet flies. So can added movement like stripping.

• 'Wet Flies' by Dave Hughes. This is a book you want in your caveman library.
  

• Wet flies used in combination with a spey rod will produce a zen mindset only to be interrupted by a take.

• That frustrating caddis hatch might match better with a wet style.

Don't scoff at those gaudy wet flies you find at the local general store either. Tie a few of those old patterns on just to see what happens. I double dog dare you.