der Biss: First Trout of the Year.

A few weeks ago, on a Friday at 3:00PM, I felt the familiar buzz of my iPhone in my pocket. We were blessed to be experiencing a unusably warm day for January in the Amish Country, and I didn't even need to look at my phone to see who it was. Three O'Clock on a Friday... It's gotta be Beach with a fishing report directly from the bank of the Lil' E.

"Fishing is on!!" he exclaimed.

I ran through a timeline and determined that I could be on the river by 4:45PM if everything went perfectly in my plan. I check my watch to see what time the sun was going down... 5:27PM. I hate January. I would have to adapt my timeline to the next day. I needed to tie some bugs anyway. 

Saturday was a warm but rainy day. I had a box full of bugs and high confidence in my rig as I climbed into the icy waters of the Little Elkhart.  The rain picked up to the point that I was forced to pull my raincoat out of my pack and made methodical rig changes. I'm always amazed by how much the river changes throughout the year! New runs are constantly being created and old holes filled in. The river is truly a living being. 

After thirty or so minutes of fishing, what I thought was just another snag turned out to be a spunky little brown. First fish of the year is always sweet! I went on to catch five more over the next few hours and miss a few in the process. 

The weather began to change and the winds began to swirl, and with that, the bite was off. I check the barometric pressure  on my watch. The pressure had been falling though out the day, but now the chart looked like my last EKG, bouncing up and down. Usually not great for fishing.

I made the long hike back to the troutmobile, and striped off my rain armor. Luckily, the Gore-Tex had done it's job and I remained dry and warm underneath. I went home and sat by the fire, enjoying a PBR has I reflected on how lucky I was to be catching trout in January. 

REPORT:

Conditions: River is cold and slightly elevated. Very fishable. There is some ice ledge coming off the bank, so be careful on entry and exit. Spikes recommended.

Flies: Smaller dark streamers. The bugger is never a bad choice! Try hanging a green nymph off the back. If you have runoff conditions through rain of melting stone, try a pink or blood red San Juan Worm. I know fishing worms is like riding a moped or kissing your cousin... but desperate times call for desperate measures!

2016 Tie-A-Thon

Ten years ago, Tim Scott and Terry Wittorp had an idea to have an event where fly tiers would come together and tie flies for a TU youth camp in desperate need of flies. 

The response was epic. 

Tim commissioned me to create a logo for the event, and has done so each of the following 9 years. It's a privilege to be apart of such a wonderful event. Tens if not Hundreds of thousand flies have been tied and donated to worthy organization in the past decade by tiers all around the world.

If your new to tying, or a seasoned tier, this is an event you need to be apart of. For more information, check them out on Facebook at Tie-A-Thon.

This is the logo for 2016... T-shirts available soon!

It's Not That Cold!! - Gearing Up for Cold Weather Fishing

Winter fly fishing can be extremely productive for both steelhead and trout in our local waters. Keeping warm and safe is by far the most important part of your fishing day. Here are a few things to keep in mind to stay safe and warm on your next winter excursion.

Layering 101

When choosing cold weather clothing, remember mama’s advice and layer up!  I think of my attire in three different layers:

Base Layer: This is by far the most important, and easiest to ignore. Your base layer needs to be made up of wicking underwear and socks. These substrates are designed to take moisture away from your body on the off chance that you start to sweat. The quickest way to get cold quick is to sweat in cold weather. These fabrics feel great against your skin and will keep you comfortable all day. Personally, I wear wicking socks, long johns, and a long sleeve tee. Mine are all Patagonia, but all the major companies are making them (Simms, Cabelas, Under Armor, Etc.) and they are readily available at your favorite fly shop.

Warmth Layer: This might as well be called the “fleece” layer. Depending on the weather forecast, one may choose a micro fleece, polar fleece, or for extreme cold, you may choose a wind proof / water proof fleece such as Simms Wind Stopper®. Be careful, don’t over do it. You don’t want to sweat, or even be “toasty”... just comfortable.  I like fleece pants with stirrups, especially designed for waders. Stay away from jeans, they tend to get clammy and will cause excessive wear on your waders. I wear a thick pair of wool socks to finish things off.

Protection Layer: This layer protects you from the elements. Now may be a good time to pull out the Wind Stopper®, but I prefer the new soft shell jackets. They are waterproof and windproof, as well as being breathable and they stretch! Once again, all the companies are selling these jackets, and they are worth the money! If freezing rain is in the forecast, I will throw my rain jacket over everything, just for a little insurance. Fingerless fleece gloves are bothpractical and functional. Wearing full finger gloves or mittens over your fingerless gloves is also a good idea in between fishing stops. Depending on the weather, choose our hat wisely. Keeping your head warm, without sweating is essential. I usually carry a couple of different options with me consisting of everything from a headband to a sock hat to a Wind Stopper® fleece cap. Changing your hat can often keep your comfort level where you need it for hours.

Quick Tips for Winter Fishing:

1. Stay Dry

Sounds simple, right? Fact is, if you fall in, your day is done. Slime on rocks can be slick, imagine ice! 

2. The Buddy System

Fish with a friend. Find someone crazy enough to wade in freezing water and go fish! 

3. Stay out of the Water

Whenever possible, fish and walk on shore. This does not give you permission to trespass, but maybe there is snow was covering the sign!

4. Pack like you plan on falling in.

Always keep a change of clothes, towelsand blankets in your vehicle.

5. Choose your days wisely. 

There are no extra points for fishing in sub-zero temperatures. Look for those winter days when the mercury climbs into the upper thirties and forties. Fish the third day of a three day warm up and expect to catch some fish.

6. Know when to quit.

When you can no longer feel your feet and your shivering so profusely you can’t get a decent drift, it’s time to call it a day.

Keeping some of these ideas in mind can make your winter fishing adventures much more enjoyable. Or, you could head south and chase permit and bonefish around... A boy can dream, can’t he?