Predictions.

The end of February is when the devoted fly fisher starts the dreaming and scheming plans for the upcoming season. With this years light winter, spring condition predictions are given and speculated upon. While we don't have any magic formula or crystal ball, conditions as of now look favorable for a really good spring.

The possibility of consistent flows, temps and hatches has been a pipe dream for a few past seasons. Will this season be any different? We can't say for sure. One thing we can comment on confidently is that we have fished/guided in unfavorable conditions for many seasons. We have gained a great deal of knowledge and experience dealing with "unfishable" water. We do not fear the imperfect.

Is it dry fly heaven you ask. NO. Is it traditional? NO. Is it better than not getting out at all? YES.

Fielding questions about conditions, information, dates and bookings almost daily. Clients doing their homework. Asking for back up options. Early season lodging availability. Tying lists. Gear recommendations. Gotta love the planning. If you think a guided trip is in your future. The future is now.

I will make one rock solid prediction for the 2012 season. I will master making the smoothest Dirty Martini by summers end.

Droppers.

One fly, two fly, three fly. For some, fishing two flies is totally new and confusing. It shouldn't be a skill that's impossible to become proficient at. It's actually quite simple and effective. On more than one occasion we've tied on another fly covertly onto a clients rig without them noticing. They are quick converts to the dropper system after a few fish. We don't use it just for nymphing. Wet flies, streamers and dry flies all get the double rig throughout the season.

Here are a few to get you started:

• Wets: Pheasant Tail soft hackle and Hare's Ear soft hackle. This combo accounts for an impressive amount of fish per season. Orange and Partridge combined with Olive and Partridge. Yellow and Partridge combined with a Leadwing Coachman. These three are like peanut butter and jelly.

• Streamers: Endless variety. Contrasting colors and sizes are key. Buggers and leeches. Sculpin patterns with bait fish. Two floating smelts of different sizes, spaced closely together. Zonkers in olive and black. Rubberleg concoction with a simple Black Nosed Dace for something completely different.

• Dries: These can be really fun to fish especially in pocket water. Two large, high floating, rubberleg stonefly patterns about sixteen inches apart. Size 10 Cricket Getit with a size 16 Parachute Ant. Tying an X Caddis to a X Caddis and skating them across a run has seen some pretty impressive grabs in the past.

• Hatching Bugs: Parachute Adams and a Klinkhammer. Powerful Juju right there. Size 14 Griffith's Gnat and a size 18 Disco Midge. X2 Caddis with a Last Call Caddis. Money.

• Nymphs: More than enough has already been written about nymph pattern combos to choke a maggot. So with that said here are two more: Bug Eye Dragon chasing a Hare's Ear nymph. Great deep, slow pool offering.. Barr's Cranefly Larva with a purple RoJo Midge. Another set up for often ignored slow water.

Get on the two fly rig game. How else are you going to get a double?

Spring Cleaning.

It's not spring quite yet but that's no reason for not getting ready for the upcoming season. One concern we have is the potential introduction of invasive species. Didymo, whirling disease, mud snails and a host of other unwanted guests can easily crush your favorite piece of water.

Cleaning your gear can be a simple easy affair if you are committed to doing it. Scrubbing and soaking boots in a disinfecting solution is quite simple. Even easier is throwing them in the freezer (making sure to save room for the Herradura) for twenty four hours or so.

Waders can be cleaned as well. Pay close attention to gravel guards and the neoprene sock area. I don't think your fishing partner is going to mind your waders smelling better one bit. The same goes for when you wet wade also. Those socks, pants and shorts should be cleaned before entering another watershed.

There are numerous sites that contain some solid info on the invasive subject. One go to site is the Clean Angling Coalition. Search this site well and you will gain more information then when you started.

We make it a priority to tell clients to clean their gear before coming on trip with us. If someone has not cleaned their gear we have sterile waders and boots for their use. We are seriously looking at the new Waterworks Gear Shower for our field office (truck).

Do your part in protecting what you are a part of.

March Madness.

Plenty of events to keep you occupied until April happening next month. Check at least one of these and help keep the shack nasties at bay.

• 2012 Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Frontier Cafe in Brunswick. March 2nd and 3rd. Hosted by FFIM. Great films, good micro brews and funky setting add up to a great evening.

• March 10th Mike Holt will be hosting another Tie and Lie get together. Mike attracts some really good talent at these.

• Something new this year is the Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo in Bethel. March 24th.

• The annual ASF 22nd annual Maine dinner. Freeport. Contact Cindy Patterson at 207 725-2833 or cindy@asf.comcastbiz.net . Way fun event. March 24th.

• Master wet fly tyer Don Bastian is coming to Maine for a few clinics this month. Always worth checking out.
  

Have some fun this winter and mingle around a few of these opportunities.

2012 Season.

Every season we try to offer something new for the season. This year will be no different. We really enjoy the new stuff. Keeps us fresh and happy.

• Small stream trips. These were well received last season and we've already booked some for this spring. Way fun and simplistic type trips. Due to the smaller nature of these waters we recommend a one to one ratio.

• Drift boat bird watching trip. We love doing these. Plenty of room for cameras, tripods, field guides and optics. Available April through early May. Fill your count.

• Spey casting lessons and trips. These are growing every year. Lessons are half day and very basic. Enough for one to get started on the right foot. Trips are available both half and full for the angler who wishes to fish with either a spey or switch rod.

• Drift boat lessons. Thinking of owning one? Ever wonder what's involved? Try before you buy. Available mid May. Limited to four participants.

• Fly fishing school. Available again this season at the Maine Huts and Trails Grand Falls hut. Dates to be released shortly.
  

• We are going to be working with Greg Bostater of Maine River Guides and providing a two day spey fishing trip. Located on the West Branch of the Penobscot river. Intermediate casters and solid wading skills are required for this trip. Dates to be announced when ever the both of us sit down for a pint.

Our plan is to make the 2012 season as fun as last season. What are you waiting for?

Fly Folks.

One thing this social networking stuff does well is put one into contact with some pretty talented folks. I've been following a few fly designers for awhile and thought I'd share some links to help you stock your boxes for the upcoming season. Also to raise the karma level higher and help keep these folks in the game.

• Mike Schmidt's flies hold a special place for us. MEAT! It's what's for dinner. Check in weekly to his blog for some really creative patterns. Way cool stuff here.

• Michael Decoteau ties one of the nicest featherwings you'll ever lay hands on. What would you expect from a Maine boy? Contact him at mdecoteau@gmail.com.

• Selene Dumaine has more than a few patterns you should investigate. Hex chaser? Fall brookie specialist? Swing for landlocks? Selene has you covered very well. selenetiesflies@gmail.com

• Atlantic salmon in your future? Check out The River's Course for inspiration and some solid tutorials on the nuances of salmon flies. These aren't those full dressed" I'm never going to tie let alone fish that fly patterns". These are what I call blue collar patterns. They simply work.

• We like funky and unorthodox trout flies. Wiley's Flies has more than a few. Check out Wiley's facebook page for almost daily fly funkiness.

This list should keep you busy for awhile. I hope you don't mind the Neil Young tune/image. There was no way I was posting my tied junk next to these A team members.

Sneaky.

The crouch. The sneak. Staying low, moving slow. Using cover to your advantage. False casts away from the target. Paying attention to your relationship with the sun and the shadows that develop. Olive colored lines standard. Stealth camo clothes? Don't scoff. Talk to a Kiwi about camo sometime. Or a whitetail bow hunter for that matter.

This fly fishing gig should be treated as hunting. The approach can make or break the game. Thoughtful approaches equal opportunities.

Summer Thoughts.

Editing images this week for upcoming slide show/presentations. After seeing too many scenes of wet wading, float trips, fish and green backgrounds, I've come to a conclusion. I really miss summer sometimes.

Better go wax some skis and get that monkey of my back.