Oh Gross!

If there is one nymph we are never without in our nymph box it is the simple maggot fly. We know what your thinking. Why would you carry a maggot pattern? The simple answer is we find large dead stuff in the water almost every season.

We learned the value of the maggot in Alaska. Decomposing salmon were everywhere. Flesh flies and maggots were staple patterns. The next season we came across a bloated moose pinned in Ripogenous Gorge on the West Branch of the Penobscot. The maggot fly ruled if you could stand the stench when the wind shifted. We've fished below dead cattle in Wyoming and Montana. Just this season we found a late winter kill deer in The Forks. Alas it was too cold for a good maggot hatch and all the fun that goes along with it.

Scud hook sizes 10-16. White larva lace. You can add weight to the hook if you wish. This is not a technique or skill for the fly fishing purist. If your one of those, ignore this post. If you're ready to go to the dark side, just follow your nose.

Cafe Mocha.

Water levels are up everywhere we have been this week on our scouting runs. Snow melt from the higher elevations has finally started in earnest. Water temps still have not hit the magic mark. Clarity was relatively good earlier in the week. By yesterday most moving waters were looking like a barista was large and in charge. Zero visibility.


We actually look forward to dirty water. Not the water you see in these photos. Keep an eye out for the dropping levels. The water we seek is dirty but has between sixteen and twenty four inches of visibility. Trout that have been hunkered down in protection lies during the spate, are now finding feeding lies instead. Big, dark flies with a bit of flash are go to patterns during this transition. Don't give up just because the water is off color.

Future Ride?

Being a guide I spend a large amount of time in a boat. Whether it's the drift boat, the Sharpe, raft or a friend's rig. The quest for the perfect boat never ends. At times it feels like Monty Python's Holy Grail. Just silly. Then your eyes see something you have been looking/lusting for at last.

It happened recently in Montana. The folks at Adipose Boatworks showed up with a couple of sweet rides. These are made and designed by guides. The layout was the best I have seen in awhile. Components were solid. The craftsmanship was evident in every detail. Everything from the rod racks to the trailer was kick ass.

I've been thinking the last few years of a newer drift boat/skiff. The Flow is now on the short list. Talking with other owners about these boats was a great resource for us. First hand information from working guides goes along way when you decide to pull the trigger. Talking with the staff from Adipose was more like a conversation at a take out than an industry event. Really solid dudes that Adipose gang.

How solid? Take a look at the boat pictured below. It was made for Project Healing Waters. They donated the boat and their vendors donated items for completion. These guys went all out on the rig. A brilliantly designed wheelchair bow angler system. It can acutely swivel from left to right by having the rower move it with their foot. Way cool graphics also.

How many boats does a guide need? I don't know, but help a brother out and book a trip so we can find the answer.

Trip Rental.

Renting a vehicle for any trip can be one of the most stressful times during your stay. We've all heard or have experienced some unacceptable service in the past. This last trip was a much different rental formula than before.
How would you like to rent a vehicle that actually is designed for a fishing/outdoor activity? How about an owner that is an experienced fly fisherman/outfitter? If you said yes to those two questions, continue reading below.

• Small independent and locally owned rental company. Not some big box franchise. Shop and rent local!

• No hidden fees, unlimited mileage and no additional driver charges.

• Free advice. Hatches, flows, restaurant/bar recommendations, guides. These guys will go out of the way to make your trip that much better. Guide books, field guides and Delorme atlas included.
  

• Car camping options. Rent gear for deluxe or backcountry style trips.

• Choice of vehicles. Chevy Suburban or a Subaru Outback wagon. What more do you need?

• Tow strap, jumper cables, toilet paper, GPS, Thule or Yakima rack with box, tools, rubber floor mats, etc. When did your last rental have any of that stuff?

• Airport pick up.

• Seasonal specials.

• One of the most laid back professional services we have ever used. I wish this type of service was available in more areas.

Do yourself a favor and get away from the standard rental B.S. and go local. Contact us for more information on this service or contact Will at Phasmid.

Snow Flies.

When I started the fishing aspect of this trip I set the bar pretty low. Folks at the Ice Out event asked me where and what I was going to fish. My reply was I hoped I had could catch a few whitefish. If I caught anything else it was just gravy. Mark Raisler from Headhunters agreed that was the best attitude for any trip in any season. Having Mark on the same page as me was a concern though.

We packed up sink tips and floaters at the trail head in a steady snow fall. After a bit of hiking we came to a likely looking eddy/run. The first rise of the day showed and it was bliss after that. Morning midges from 22-16. That's right. Size 16! Cluster patterns were the bread and butter flies during this hatch. We moved quickly from run to run, finding fresh risers at every stop. The best part of this day was that we never waded above our shins to get into fish.

The midge hatch slowly ended and then the bwo hatch began. Steady rises and willing eaters made for a memorable afternoon of fishing. The sun broke through later in the day and the snow ended. With more than our share of the goods we called it a day and made the hike back to the car.

This was my first time in the Rocky Mountain west in the spring and having done trips in every other season my experiences are varied. I will say I probably won't ever do another summer trip in the west again due to crowding and pressure. Winter was o.k. Though the skiing was excellent. Autumn is king everywhere, especially here in Maine. Spring in the west is my new favorite time for now. Below are a few reasons.

• Very few fishermen, drift boats and tourists. We had enormous stretches of river to ourselves.

• Cheaper lodging and availability. If you're a total dirtbag, campgrounds are vacant.

• Guides are available at a special Spring rate.

• Fly shop employees are not burned out and are actually happy to see you and answer questions.

• Dry fly opportunities are available.

• Special rates on some spring creeks.

• Fish have not experienced a ton of pressure.

• Migratory bird life abounds. Wildlife sightings were very common on our trip.

• If fishing in a variety of conditions appeals to you, this is nirvana. We had snow, sleet, heavy wind and everything in between.

• It's pre run off season.
  

Give us a shout with any questions you may have about a spring trip here or in the west.

La Escoba De Dios

Day one after the Ice Out event found my partner Bob and our fellow guide Barry gearing up in a windswept valley. Gusts in the twenty to twenty five mile an hour range were predicted. Luckily for us the prediction was wrong. Gusts were much stronger and steadier. If anything hatched it would be in South Dakota by noon.

Armed with 200-300 grain lines and a DC 6 we all got down to business. Literally. Breaking the code came fairly quickly. Large rubber legged stone fly type flies pulled fish up from the river's depths. Everyone caught really nice fish in the range of 12"-19". Considering the conditions we did really well. I've always thought if you wait for the "just right" situation you would fish probably three times a year.

This river was a favorite of Charles Brooks. He mastered the technique of nymphing with a high density line in very fast water. It's known of all things as "The Brooks Method". It's an easy method to learn and very effective. The one aspect of this technique that stands out is the ability to nymph in high winds. It's much easier casting a heavy sink tip with junk than a standard indicator rig.

With wind burnt faces and hands we called it in late afternoon. It had been a great day spent in tough conditions and amazing landscapes. I thought of Mr. Brooks and silently thanked him for all his writings. Old school rules for wind blown fools.

Ice Out.

The second annual Simms Ice Guide event was one of the best fly fishing events we've ever been to. Simms put on a show that was very impressive on all fronts. Here are some highlights.

• Factory Tour: Walking the factory floor is a eye opening experience. Twenty two people are in the process of making one pair of Simms waders. Everyone of them is dedicated to quality, craftsmanship and performance. When you see waders being made here, along with the amount of research and development that goes into them, you begin to see the bigger picture. Simms is dedicated to making the best wader in the world. Everyday, week, month, season and year.
  

• Catch Magazine Film Presentation: Held at the beautiful Ellen Theater in downtown Bozeman. Great images from Brian O'Keefe along with some short films by Tod Moen. This was the first time I met Brian. All I can say is the rumors are true. He is one of the funnest human beings you will ever meet.
  

• Seminars: Talks on guiding issues, entomology, fly selection, casting cures and fixes were all well attended and informative. Really knowledgeable speakers like Dan Vermillion, Zach Mertens and Brant Oswald were on hand for questions and advice. We had a great conversation with Dan Lahren. Dan did a presentation on river lunches. This man's venison was superb. What was really interesting was what Dan and many others are seeing with outfitting and guiding in Montana now. It was an eye opening talk from people who have spent their life there.

• Guide Olympics: Pure mayhem. Trailer backing comp, casting, anchor toss and rod rigging events kept everyone entertained. Held at the awesome Copper Springs Ranch.

• Feed Back: Simms wanted it and they got it. Put twenty or more guides in one room and you will hear what works and what doesn't. You'll also know wants and desires for new gear. The female guides were heard loud and clear about women's issues on fit and fashion.
  

• Ice Out Shoot Out: Amazing films. Shot and edited in two days. Way cool event.
  

The cocktail events were well attended (shocker). The boys from Big Sky Brewing are now my favorite brewers, RoughStock Whiskey is as smooth as it gets. A little too smooth actually. Hanging and yapping with some really great like minded folks all weekend was just what we needed to psyche up for the season.

A big thanks to Simms for putting on the event and treating the guides incredibly well. I've dealt with a number of manufacturers in the past. None has worked with guides at this level. Simms knows how valuable and important guides are to their business and the industry as a whole. There will be some catching up to do for other companies in the future in this regard.

All said and done, it was a great experience. Now if I can just get rid of this hangover.

Outta Here.

I've talked to friends who just left for Nepal. Friends who have just returned from Chamonix and Baxter State park. And friends that are making plans this season for the Gaspe, Cape Breton and New Brunswick. Enoughs enough. I'm going to the Simms Ice Out event this week, held in Bozeman, Mt.

Seminars covering guide business strategy, entomology and new products. Film festival and slide show by Catch Magazine. Networking with other professional guides. Major manufacturers in attendance. Product feedback opportunity. Short film competition. Local micro brews. New skiffs from Adipose Boatworks.

Oh yeah. There's some pretty good fishing around that area also. If you need to contact us, we'll be back next week. Unless of course the fishing is really hot. Then all bets are off.

Mud Season

Gumbo, ooze, muck, gunk, dirt soup, axle compost. Whatever you call it, Maine's fifth season is in full swing. Put enough early seasons in and you'll wish you had a Hi-Lift jack in your arsenal. Everywhere we've traveled we have seen them in use or stored within the gear kit. Mighty handy this time of year. Pretty convenient during the other four seasons also.

Since 1905 this jack has stood the test of time in pure function and durability. Twitching blow downs off the road, jacking up camps, make due put ins and take outs. It's the Lego of tools. As a friend of mine once said " There are very few things a chain saw and a Hi-Lift can't fix."

Great gift. Mother's Day is right around the corner.

The List.

It's here. The season. Time to get crackin. Being proactive now rather than later saves you time. Here's what needs to be done by now.

• Clean all the lines. Cut off last seasons or months leader. Tie on a new one and while your at it check the backing knot. Haven't ever seen your backing knot? Make it a 2011 goal.

• Restock and organize fly boxes. They look great for about a month and then all bets are off.

• Buy plane tickets sooner than later. Same with the rental car issue. Reserve campsites, hotels, B&Bs and couch space soon. Get this painful event over with quickly.

• Replace laces and foot beds in your wading boots.

• 2011 license? Yeah, that may come in handy.

• Clean out the mystery objects in the coolers.

• Build some real leaders.

• Stare at maps and contour lines endlessly for new places to fish.

• Clean out dry bags, packs and boat bags. If you spent last season living right, you'll fill a small fly box with "lost flies".

• Replace that old tippet and line. When in doubt throw it out.
  

• Wash and treat your waders and rain gear. Dry is cool. Wet is not.

• Start planning a guided trip. Talk your buddy, wife, boyfriend or pet monkey into coming to split the cost. Booking your guides now helps everybody involved.

GIDDY UP!!!!!!

April Conditions.

"April is the cruelest month"
T.S. Eliot
Quite the start of the season these last few days. Over a foot of snow ushered in Opening Day. It either turned into a great ski day or brutal conditions for standing in a river. Either way quality soft goods. a thermos and four wheel drive, help with your idea of fun. Here's the scoop:

• Water temps: COLD. Mid thirties. Maybe a degree or two rise midday.

• Clarity: Excellent. Run off hasn't started as of today. Looking at the forecast, that will change this week.

• Volume: Great to pushing it. Don't ruin somebody's day by having them rescue your sorry ass. Bumping up a little during the afternoon due to the melting snow pack.

• Techniques: Nymphing or streamer techniques. Big stones, micro mayfly nymphs, sculpins and buggers are today's special.

• Gear: Hand warmers, snowshoes, skis, tow straps, flask, avalanche shovel and homemade heads of T8.

Get out there for the start of the fishing season or for that last ski.