Steve Rajeff..."I'm coming for you !!"

For the last year I have been utterly obsessed with gaining more and more distance on my fly casts. A couple of days ago I picked up some SA Mastery series Expert Distance 120' fly line. I strung it up to my 9'-0" 5wt Liquid series prototype fly rod in hopes that when I hit that 90' mark I wouldn't have to deal with the tangled backing getting caught up in my guides. BOOM! After a few casts I sent one sailing to about the 105' range. Ha Ha!! Love it!! 20 more feet and I think I'll have a Chance. From here out it will be a slow go to get that extra distance. I think it will be possible to get that extra 20' this summer. I'll need to put in the time though. You can bet I will post if I ever hit this mark!!

Chicken Sized Nymphs For Spring Creeks ?

I have found in the last few years that the conventional wisdom of  the "smaller is better" theory for crystal clear spring creeks doesn't always pan out. I'm fact more times than not I tend to up size my nymphs when the going gets tough. If I'm not trying to match a specific hatch, I quite often go to a larger nymph to trigger some vicious strikes. Look under any rock and you will most always see some larger nymphs clinging to the rocks. I will often step up to a size #12 bead head pheasant tail (yes that's right...chicken size!). The fish in these smaller creeks often cant resist the meat!! Next time the going gets tough give it a try!!

                       Chicken Size?   yes!!!!

The Fishcam Tells No Lies

You can lurk the Midwestern steelhead forums looking for any signs of an accurate stream report.  You can look closely at steelhead blogs to see what might be happening.  You can check stream flows and water temperature to see if they are  there. But what it all boils down to is that ....THE FISHCAM TELLS NO LIES !!

Arizona: Gila Trout Season is Open at Frye Mesa Reservoir

From the Arizona game and fish department:

On February 23, 2011, the first season for Gila trout in Arizona history opened at Frye Mesa Reservoir. The Arizona Game and Fish Department in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Trout Unlimited volunteers, stocked the reservoir with about 800 Gila trout that came from the Mora National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center in Mora, NM.
This is the first known fishing season for Gila trout in Arizona. Gila trout, which are listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act, occupy a small number of streams in Arizona which are used towards recovery of the species. Currently, fishing is closed at all Gila trout recovery streams in Arizona, including Frye Creek above the reservoir. Anglers are able to fish for the Gila trout stocked into Frye Mesa Reservoir because they were surplus fish from the hatchery, primarily broodstock fish.
There is a one-fish bag and possession limit for Gila trout, but it is recommended to practice catch-and-release so other anglers may enjoy an opportunity to catch a Gila trout. The reservoir was previously stocked with non-native trout including brook, brown, and rainbow trout; thus, anglers may enjoy catching a variety of trout species in one location.

Some Great Fly Fishing Stickers and Stuff

Shirts Shirts!! get your shirts!!

Check out the website to get your Flying Pig logo shirts

Overlining a Fly Rod or Underlining

Since I haven't had the chance to get out fishing yet this spring, I figured I would go to my local park and at least work on my casting a little. I took one of our 9'-0" 6wt "Liquid"  prototypes out for a little workout with a few different line weights. I think what most if not many  fly casters never realize is that the line weight rating posted on the fly rod is simply a recommendation of what the manufacturer suggests is the best weight line to use. That day I had anywhere from a 4wt line all the way up to a 7wt and I gotta say they all worked rather nice for the rod. It comes down to personal preference. If you like a slightly slower more relaxed action don't be afraid to overline you're rod a weight or two. If a faster action is what you like, go down a line weight or two. Lets not forget any fly rod will cast a multiple of lines. It boils down to which feels right for you. We can only recommend what we think feels the best to us on a particular rod. That's not to say that others might like a different feel than us and a slightly different performance characteristic. Experiment and find out what feels the best for you. It can make a huge difference in you casting....and catching for that matter.

Deadliest Great Lakes Steelhead Fly

This baby right here in a size #8 called the hellgramite (obviously a stone fly nymph) has caught more Lake Michigan steelhead for me than any other fly in my box. I usually drop it about 1 1/2 feet behind an orange estez egg with a split shot about 2 to 3 feet up. Tick it along the bottom and hang on!! Deadly!!

Will I ever get a chance?

We are heading into week two of the early spring season for the driftless area of Wisconsin. In the last two years I have worked at the most four months. The construction trade aint what it used to be, and the well has pretty much run dry. I've seen $1500 dollars in car repairs in the last week or so, and to top it of I need a new pair of wading boots. The only thing that will save my month is to get out there on my favorite creek, feel the peace of a calm driftless valley, and have a run at a trout ot two. Funny when you need something so bad, its always the toughest to get. Makes me wonder if I'll ever get out there. Right now its something that I need more than ever.

My other job.....

Its no wonder I need the peace and quiet of a trout stream to keep my wits....

My secret streamer for monster early season browns