kype magazine, volume 5, issue 2
DESCRIPTION
Trout, Salmon, Steelhead and other types of Fly FishingTRANSCRIPT
This photo was taken in Knutson Bay on Lake Iliamna in Alaska. In
July through mid August this bay is stacked with Sockeye Salmon,
Rainbow Trout and Arctic Char. The lodge I guide for, Rainbow Bay
Resort, gets its name because of the abundance of rainbows like the
one you see here. On this particular day, we had a double rainbow.
The first rainbow was extremely vivid - it felt like it was right on top
of us. I told the client to hook into a fish and I’ll get him a photograph
that will have him standing under the rainbow. The beauty in Alaska
can be so extreme that it feels surreal.
~ Ken Baldwin www.seasonontheedge.com
Ken Baldwin is the host, writer and creator of the travel, fishing and
adventure show, “Season on the Edge.” Season One aired on NBC
Sports with re-airs on The WFN plus in 7 countries world wide.
Publisher’s Cast...................................................................4
Swimming with the Fishes.....................................................6
Seeing Red..........................................................................14
Trout Dreams: Interview with Brian L Schiele.........................16
Row More, Fish Less...........................................................22
Good Times in the Heart of Steelhead Alley..........................24
Kype Vise: Hairwing Ramblings............................................28
Fishpond’s Cyclepond: More Than Just a Name.....................38
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff - Unless it’s a Stream...............44
My Conversion to the Fly.....................................................50
Leaders Simplified...............................................................54
Rules, An Appeal for Order: Fly Fishing Etiquette..................58
Kype MagazineBoise, Idaho
www.KypeMagazine.com
Kype StaffPublisher: Aileen Lane
Cover Design: George Douglas
Editor: Joseph Ostrom
COPYRIGHT
Kype Magazine
© 2014 MKFlies LLCAll Rights Reserved. No part of this
publication m a y b e c o p i e d o r
reproduced in any way wi thou t
the written permission from publisher.
Kype Magazine
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2, 2014
What is a Kype?A kype is a hook that forms on thelower jaw of a male trout, salmonor steelhead, during spawningperiods. This is their badge ofpower and dominance, that isunique to only these species—asign of a warrior. From thismark of strength comes the title ofour magazine, KYPE.
of Fly Fishing...
Bio:Publisher of Kype Magazine
Fly Tier & Owner of MKFlies
1/3 of the Trifecta of Fly Fishing
Ventures
Pro Staff Tier for Deer Creek
UK
Type of Fishing:Fly Fishing
Location:Boise, Idaho
Websites:KypeMagazine.com
MKFlies.com
Flyfishingv.com
Contact Info:
4
I often reflect on why I enjoy fly fishing so much. What makes me think about it
all the time, what brings me back to the river? The most obvious answer may be
those beautiful browns I am blessed to land in my net from time to time. However,
I realized that even those days where my friends and I got skunked were filled with
such joy and laughter. It’s about taking in the beautiful scenery—making your sens-
es more aware of your surroundings, seeing a fish feed, watching a hatch explode
in front of you, feeling the cool waters rush between your fingers. And most impor-
tant, surrounding yourself with good company—friends who can turn a day of dif-
ficult fishing into a day full of smiles, jokes and laughter until your belly aches. But
having good company isn’t always a necessity for a great day on the waters. I also
fish alone sometimes. Those are the days when fly fishing becomes my form of
meditation. A day of reflection. Being alone on the river, I find myself in awe with
all the beauty that surrounds me. I realize that the best moments fly fishing does not
always include fish. It’s not the numbers game. It all boils down to the heart of fly
fishing —fish don’t hang out in ugly places. And for the most of us, I believe as fly
fishers, it’s the love of the outdoors that bring us back. Being one with nature. From
time to time, we may find ourselves caught up in the numbers game. That’s when
we need to stop, take a deep breath and open our eyes.
My goal for Kype Magazine is to share some of the beauty we find in fly
fishing. The people we meet, the places we go, and yes...even the fish we are
so blessed to land in our
nets. I have met so many
talented people in our
industry who have so
much knowledge to
share. And, I am very
pleased to be able to
share their talents with
you. KYPE
The Trifecta of Fly Fishing Ventures
Photo by Grant Taylor
by Aileen Lane
Best Moments
by
A couple of times each spring, I grab my waders
and fly rod, fire up the truck and head up to
Stanley, Idaho to take in the beautiful scenery of the
Sawtooth Mountains.
With The Fishesby Tim Baldwin
SWIMMING
The gin-clear water of the upper Salmon River runs through a picturesque valley
resembling a setting one would expect to see only on a calendar or in a magazine.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough - I have the privilege of fly fishing for steelhead in one
of the most beautiful places in the world.
Last season, after hearing reports of steelhead being caught on the river, I called
my fly fishing buddy Dan on Friday to make plans to hit the road early Sunday
morning for a two-plus hour drive. As usual, we saw hundreds of elk on the morning
drive, wintering along the river. I always stop and admire the elk but then remind
myself of the miles still ahead, and hopefully some steelhead anxious to take a fly.
As we reached Stanley and the beautiful snow-capped peaks of the Sawtooth
Mountains, the thermometer in the truck verified how cold it looked outside: 26
degrees. We drove a few miles down stream, hoping for warmer temperatures by
the time we hit the water. The morning was beautiful but after fishing a couple of
holes, getting cold fingers, and ice forming in our fly rod guides, no fish were
hooked yet.
In the afternoon, we found a nice pocket of water that looked like it might have
held a few steelhead. On my second cast I struck gold (or steel, in this case). Each
time I hook a steelhead on a fly, I feel an incredible adrenaline rush as the powerful
sea run fish causes line to scream from my reel, sometimes seeming like they are
going back to the ocean - and the fight begins.
This fish did not disappoint.
A fter several strong runs and even a jump showing his beautiful red sides, the
fish was brought to net, admired and released. A couple more fish were
hooked, and one of them landed. Even if I hadn’t landed another fish, it would have
already been a great day! My cup was full... or so I thought.
We were driving up river towards Stanley and stopped at a spot which had yield-
ed some nice steelhead in the past. No fisherman were there.... let's give it a shot, I
Bio: Born and raised in
Idaho, Tim Baldwin has
been fly fishing for 41
years. He went to high
school and college in
Lewiston
Type of fishing: “I started
fly fishing for steelhead
around ten years ago. From
the first trip, I was
“hooked.” One of my great-
est thrills is the strength
and fight of a steelhead on
a fly rod”
Local waters: South Fork of
the Boise , Middle Fork of
the Boise, and the Owyhee.
Favorite fly water is the
North Fork of the
Clearwater for West slope
Cutthroat trout.
Location:
Tim and his wife, Marie moved to
Boise, Idaho in 1990 to start their
careers and raise a family.
Contact:
6
”I was completely
on my side in the
fast current being
swept away doing
a solo synchro-
nized swimming
demonstration.”
~Tim Baldwin
thought. The best run was on the other side of the river, so I knew wading across
would be required. With a little higher flows than the last time I had waded across,
I was a little concerned about wading against the strong current. I asked Dan what
he thought. He said he was game, so we put our fly vests on, grabbed the fly rods
and started across. I am taller (and heavier) than Dan which can help with wading
the current, and I waded heavy currents quite often. I suggested we wade in tandem
with me on the upstream side. A good part of the current force would be broken by
me and make it easier for Dan to stay vertical. We started to go into the river each
with a walking stick in hand. And hey - worse case scenario, after you fall and get
swept down stream, you can shout to people on the bank to save you as you rush
by in the swift current, screaming, "For God's sake, grab the stick!"
Just less than half way across, Dan on my left side stumbled and looked like he
was going down. I did NOT want him to fall in the icy river so my reaction was to
kind of jump pivot to my left (facing downstream) and grab him before he went
down. So, instead of having three solid anchors, at least two in contact with the river
bottom at all time, my right leg and walking stick were in motion and I spun on my
left foot and reached for Dan. Much to my surprise, and to Dan's as well, my right
leg continued swinging with the heavy current and my left leg couldn't hold. It was
happening and this is going to be cold! SPLASH! TIM IS DOWN! I was complete-
ly on my side in the fast current being swept away doing a solo synchronized swim-
ming demonstration. Thankfully, I managed after a 6 foot drift, to make it back to
my feet and secure two solid feet on the bottom. I stood up soaking wet, water pour-
ing off me. I think I could tell by the sound, some of the water had turned to icicles
as they splashed in the water. Maybe it was the water in my ear, not sure. My upper
body was drenched and I could feel the water making it past my wader belt running
down my legs and feet. If you have never experienced the feeling of 30 degree water
soaking your clothes and filling up your waders, I don’t recommend it! With my
Photo by Tim Baldwin
7
body in a cold shock, I waded my way back to the bank, where we
started.
I looked out at Dan and said - trying not to shiver as I spoke - that I
was going to change into dry clothes. It had been a few years since I
had taken an icy plunge, but when fishing in cold temperatures and
wading on slippery rocks, I have learned to take a complete set of
extra clothes and waders. Dan took a couple more steps out, paused
in the heavy current, and thought better of it as he turned around and
very carefully waded to the bank. I’m pretty sure that was a good deci-
sion.
Dan went down stream and fished on the roadside for a while. I was
now set with dry waders and clothes and needed to finish what I had
started; that river could NOT beat me, not with my full attention and
faculties on high alert! I had to cross that river. I plodded very careful-
ly across the current, with each step and walking stick finding a secure
hold before proceeding forward. The trek across was a little challenging and my heart was beating fast, but I stayed
upright and made it without any more “America’s Funniest Home Videos” moments.
I now needed to make my icy bath and tedious wading across worth it. I fished my way downstream and
through the spots I had landed fish before, but no action. The water looked promising down a little farther so there
was still hope. After around 15 minutes of covering a beautiful blue/green run, I felt something solid. I set the
hook, held tight to see if it was moving or another rock. I felt a hard pull and my line started running upstream.
FISH ON! After a good fight of ten minutes or so, I landed a beautiful wild male Salmon River steelhead. I took
a knee in the shallow water, gripped the fish in front of the tail and tried to absorb this moment to its fullest. I dis-
lodged my barbless hook from the fish, held it by the tail in the cold water for an hour (okay, more like 15 seconds)
and off he went back into the beautiful blue water from whence he came.
We had an hour of daylight left. I finished up that run and Dan and I had another spot or two we wanted to
hit on the way back up to Stanley so we agreed to head up to the truck. Sigh..... it was time to wade across
the river again! I did not pack a 3rd set of dry clothes so I needed to stay vertical! I made it back across to the truck
as planned..... dry, warm and smiling!
So yes, wading the river was well worth it! Attached is a picture of one of the day's steelhead I caught and
released back to the icy waters we shared (literally) on that beautiful day on the Salmon River. KYPE
8
“I’m no purist when it comes to fishing. I go with what the fish are taking at that given time.Just recently, I picked up a switch rod and started steelhead fishing. They say once you landyour first steelhead on the swing, your life is over - that’s all you think about.”
Mike Raymondi, Boise Idaho Rugged Creek Fly Rods Boise Rep.ruggedcreekflyfishing.com
Arthur Balluff Photography
Photography of Arthur Balluff
www.arthurballuffphoto.com
A.J Swentosky
A.J Swentosky
“I was initially inspired to pick up the camera by the sparkling vibrance of trout. After fishingand shooting over 100 days a year, I’m becoming increasingly eager to capture the minutedetail of aquatic insects, the breathtaking drama of fishing related landscapes and the skiesabove them, and the actions of casting, setting the hook, rowing a boat, tying on flies, etc.”
A.J. Swentosky, Alpine WY www.thefrogwater.com
A.J. SwentoskyA.J Swentosky
by More Than What Meets The Eyeby Alan Bithel
Bio: Production fly tier,
demonstrator, instructor
and sometime fishing
author, scratching a living
in the Highlands of
Scotland, so I can spend as
much time as possible on
the water fishing. Yes in
other words a trout bum!
Fly tying: Well, I lash things
to hooks and tubes, not to
mention the odd wadding-
ton. The results have, occa-
sionally, been known to
bear some resemblance to
what I intended when I
started. Some of you may
have met me at various
shows others read my occa-
sional musings in print or
elsewhere online. For my
sins I am a member of the
very disreputable Deer
Creek Pro Team, and work
with Virtual Nymph.
Website:
www.crackaigflies.co.uk/
Anger, aggression and adrenaline are what usuallymakes a person see red. I’ve been there once,
and I don’t intend to go back. Many animals exhibitthe same behavior; for fish, however, it is a uniquenatural survival mechanic.
Recently I discovered that my local trout see red for very different reasons, and
in a very interesting way that can become advantageous for you if your intent is to
capture them.
The lochs in my part of the Highlands are acidic; this is from the peat that blan-
kets this part of the world. There are still people who cut and dry this for household
fuel.
Aquatic insects find it difficult to extract oxygen from the water if it is acidic. To
counter this their hemoglobin has to be more efficient. As it
becomes more efficient it also becomes more red.
Just the other day a friend compared the insects in his
garden pond to the insects in his water butt. His pond is
more acidic, therefore the insects from his pond are dis-
tinctly more red than those from his water butt.
This explained the choice of which flies we use.
Tradition has us using lots of flies with red in them.
My approach to the traditional flies has been to ask, “What is it that makes this pat-
tern successful?” Then to look into how modern materials enable me to tie flies with
more of what makes them work.One great example of this is a fly we call a Cardinal
Palmer. The starting point for this fly was the traditional Soldier Palmer. Pulling a
Soldier Palmer through the surface of a loch has always been an effective method
to attract trout.
Two things struck me about this fly: the
14
Seeing Red
My approach to
the traditional
flies has been
to ask, “What is
it that makes
this pattern
successful?”
Soldier Palmer is basically red and bushy. So the obvious course of action was
to make it more red and bushier.
More red was
easy. First replace the
red wool tail with Glo –
Brite No. 4; that’s about as
red as red gets. Then, replace
the red game head hackle
with a dyed red hackle.
Bushier isn’t difficult
either. The traditional fly has
about 6 turns of natural red
game cock hackle
along the body. Mine have around 20 turns of red game
(brown) dry fly saddle hackle. That’s how the Cardinal Palmer
was born.
Other flies received similar treatment. If you look in my
loch fly box you will not find any flies with the traditional red
wool tail. Glo – Brite No. 4 has replaced them all. You will,
however, find a few Soldier Palmers with the traditional six
turns of hackle. Sometimes the fish want the fly a little lower in
the water, usually during the colder months of the season - that’s why I still carry a
few of these.
Here’s a selection of other flies that have this important red feature. All of them
are, or are based on, traditional loch flies.
Of course red isn’t the only colour that helps in this way.
Orange can be equally and sometimes more effective. The
orange of Golden Pheasant tippet adds a tint to the fly that
can make a huge difference. Often when a Williams
Favourite will not produce, a Black Pennel will. The only
difference is the addition of a tail of GP tippet fibres.
It may seem extreme (at least, it does to me), but
the Orange Rough Fly has proven to be one of our
most reliable producers.
Another is the Dunkeld, which is given
its orange from the palmered hackle. Next
time you set out to fish a new water it will
pay to find out before hand what the pH of
the water is. If it is lower than 7, red and orange
should be used in your flies. KYPE
15
An Interview with Brian L. Schiele
D reamy. Unique. Beautiful. Open the pages of the
book, Trout Dreams by Brian L. Schiele, and
you will no doubt agree.
Kype: Which came first- photography or fly fishing?
Brian: Photography was first, by a long shot. My photographyexperience began nearly 30 years ago when I took my first pho-tography class in junior high school.
My fly fishing experience began nearly seven years ago. I caughtmy first fish ever, a small brown trout, at the age of 37. I wasa late bloomer!
Kype: Tell me about your photography-what makes it unique,what influences you? Do you create the scene or does it find you?
Brian: My camera choice is the first thing that makes my pho-tography unique, at least when it comes to fly fishing photogra-phy. I can’t say I have seen anyone else use a Hoga when it comesto fly fishing photography before. Because of my camera choice,I would say that the dreamy and timeless qualities that I getfrom it is also unique as well as the format of my photographs -
square shape. My photographs are exclusively black and white.
A few years ago, I attended a lecture given by a photographer,and the one thing that stuck with me from that lecture was,“Don’t just take photographs, be taken by them.” This is trueabout a lot of my photographs. That being said, a good number
16
by Aileen Lane
Bio:
Publisher of Kype Magazine
Fly Tier & Owner of MKFlies
1/3 of the Trifecta of Fly Fishing
Ventures
Pro Staff Tier for Deer Creek UK
Type of Fishing:
Fly Fishing
Location:
Boise, Idaho
Websites:
KypeMagazine.com
MKFlies.com
Flyfishingv.com
Contact Info:
Trout Dreams
17
of my photographs manifest themselves in my head and are justwaiting to be taken, especially the double exposures and the“Holgaramas.”
I have a photography journal that I write in and doodle on thatI hold some of the photographs that are waiting to be taken.Some of those ideas are made and some of them even see theirway to my blogsite.
18
You can’t call yourself an artist and not be influenced by justthose that participate in the same medium that you do. Influenceand inspiration are everywhere! You just have to be open to see-ing it and embracing it when you find it or it finds you.
Kype: What are your favorite subject matters when taking pho-tographs of fly fishing?
Brian: I enjoy photographing all the different aspects of fly fish-
19
ing, from the more scenic landscapes, to close ups of fish or flies,to capturing a moment of being on the river fishing.
I just want to capture the whole fly fishing experience. I just wantto do it in a way that captures the timelessness of being on theriver.
Kype: Tell me about your book. What made you publish it, what
are your goals, your dreams?Brian: I have always wanted to do a book of my photography.But up until this point in my photographic experience, my pho-tography consisted mostly of single photographs so I never reallyhand any kind of work to do a book. As I got more and moregood photographs, a theme developed. And the next thing Iknow, I thought the natural thing to do was a book. Goal wise, I want to have an exhibit. I think what I have so faris the thematic and artistic work I havedone and I think it would lent itself wellto a gallery exhibit.
Dream wise, I would really love
to see one of my black and
white, square photographs on
the cover of a fly fishing
20
magazine. I would also like to
do some photography for a fly
fishing company catalog or ad
campaign.
Kype: Do you have any projects
you are currently working on?
Brian: I am still continuing on
with the Trout Dreams theme,
using my square format Holga.
But in 2013, I got a 6 x 12
Pan Holga Camera that I am
really liking and have had
some
great results with. I have had a
lot of successful photographs of
Tenkara Fly Fishing, so I may
doing a book using the Pan Holga camera about that.
Kype: Thank you Brian! We look forward to seeing more of your
beautiful work!
Check out Brian L. Schiele’s website at www.mtbbrian.com KYPE
Fly Only Zone Fly Fishing & Tying
Fishing Blogs
www.thejerseyangler.blogspot.com
www.anglergang.com
Fly Only Zone Fly Fishing & Tying
www.unaccomplishedangler.com
by Fish Lessby Kirk Werner
Row More
Bio:
Kirk Werner is a freelance
graphic artist, keeper of the
Unaccomplished Angler
blog and author of a series
of children’s fly fishing
books: Olive the Little
Woolly Bugger, Olive and
The Big Stream, and Olive
Goes for a Wild Ride.
Type of fishing:
Trout and steelhead in mov-
ing water
Location:
Wet side of Washington
state
Website:
www.olivethewoollybug-
ger.com
www.itchydogproduc-
tions.com
Contact:
Unaccomplishedangler@gm
ail.com
Apopular metaphor amongst many previous andsoon-to-be-previous boat owners is that a boat is
little more than a hole in the water into which onepours their money.
It seems these jaded and financially broken individuals have fewgood things to say when reflecting upon their former or soon-to-be-former boat ownership experiences. They’re also quick to proclaimthat the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day they buyit, and the day they sell it.
In my estimation these contemptuous assertions pertain to expen-sive, complex vessels involving motors, hydraulics, electronics andexpansive teak surfaces. But when it comes motor-less boats intend-ed for drift fishing rivers, the aforementioned proclamations holdless water than a self-bailing raft. That said, even with regard tothese simple craft, naysayers abound and the mere mention thatyou’re thinking about getting a drift boat is sure to bring this cau-tionary response:
“When you get a drift boat you’ll spend more time rowing and lesstime fishing.”
Despite or perhaps because of that I recently acquired my firstriver boat and from my perspective what I fail to see in this laststatement is, how can more rowing and less fishing possibly be a badthing?
To understand my perspective one must first consider my anglingtrack record. I do catch fish, but most of the time when I’m fishingwith friends I’m the guy who catches the least—by far. This occursalmost without fail, and in fact the lingering smell of a skunk is thenorm rather than the exception with regard to my angling prowess.Just ask anyone who has ever fished with me—I’m the guy thatmakes other anglers feel rather accomplished.
Next, let’s take a look at what I would, by default, call my homewater: the Yakima River. Due to a good PR team, the Yakima tendsto get top billing as a trout stream in Washington state. There are other statewide rivers that likely offer equal or better
22
Just ask anyone who
has ever fished with
me - I’ m the guy
that makes other
anglers feel rather
accomplished ~ Kirk
Werner
catching, but none of them have gained the widespread notoriety thatthe Yakima has. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a marketing term used by mostlycommercial outfits that earn their living by taking clients on theriver, but Blue Ribbon is a far stretch at best. Yes, the Yakima has afair number of trout, but she’s a finicky minx of a river. Unless onefishes it with great regularity she can reliably be expected to turn acold shoulder to most anglers. It’s like being the underdeveloped kidat a Junior High school dance all over again. Don’t get me wrong—the Yakima produces some 20+ inch trout (and whitefish) from timeto time, and plenty of 12-15 inchers. Just not when I fish it. For methe Yakima River is more of a Participant’s Ribbon trout stream.
Enter into evidence a catch-challenged fisherman and a riverfilled with antisocial trout. Take that combination and you begin tosee why spending less time fishing and more time on the oars can-not, in my case, be considered a bad thing. Nay, from my perspec-tive, rowing is a savior. Your river mileage may vary, but before youdismiss my position on the matter ponder the many widespread ben-efits of spending time on the sticks:
Good rowing is good for you. If you’re doing a decent job of rowing, you’re in constant motion;back-stroking to slow the boat in the current. The people in your
23
Rowing is Good
One should play the
fish quickly and effi-
ciently and keep it in
the water, and talk
nicely to it. Or, stay on
the oars where you’re
no threat to the well
being of the fish what-
soever. Zero impact.
As the oarsman, your
limit is none.
~Kirk Werner
boat—you know, the people actually fishing—will appre-ciate your efforts as their flies enjoy a nice long drift. Andthe fitness benefits increase with the flow of the river.Add to that a bit of a downstream wind and there’s sure tobe a very good workout in store for the oarsman.Conversely, fishing from the boat offers very little physi-cal fitness benefit. When was the last time your chest,back and shoulders were sore after a day of casting? (Flatsfishing in the wind with a 12 weight doesn’t count).
Rowing is good for productivity.While a painfully slow day of not catching fish can causemany to question their decision to spend an entire day onthe water, being on the oars makes for a completely grat-ifying day. When fishing, you cast, mend, cast some more,tie on a new fly, cast and mend, and repeat. If you’relucky you may also play a fish (although highly doubtful
when fishing, say, the Yakima River). If you don’t hook a fish yourday has been incomplete because face it—catching fish is the goal offishing. The goal of rowing is to row. A good day wasted, saidnobody with regard to a day spent on the oars.
Rowing is good for the soul. Just being on the water with oar grips in your hands is a good thingin my book. You’ll spend all day basking in the glory of the out-doors, relaxed and unburdened by the anxiety that comes with wor-rying whether or not there are any fish in the water. You’re just row-ing, connected to the flow of the river. Nothing more. Enjoy being inthe moment—being one with the water.
Rowing is good for the ego.If one of the folks in your boat catches a fish, the oarsman can (andshould) take a fair amount of the credit for the fish. The angler didn’tput themselves on the fish, after all. However, if they didn’t catch afish, it wasn’t the fault of the oarsman—it was likely due to inferiorangling skills. Rowing is a win-win proposition.
Rowing is good for the fish.As conservation-minded anglers we owe it to the resource to leaveas little impact as possible. We know full well that even catch andrelease brings with it a certain, albeit small, level of fish mortality.It’s physically traumatic for fish to be hooked, played and handled,and some don’t survive despite our best intentions. Those that dosurvive have to deal with the emotional fallout (PTS). One shouldplay the fish quickly and efficiently and keep it in the water, and talknicely to it. Or, stay on the oars where you’re no threat to the wellbeing of the fish whatsoever. Zero impact. As the oarsman, yourlimit is none.
It is also said that a bad day of fishing is better than a good day atwork, and while that may be true there’s no such thing as a bad dayof rowing. Unless you flip your boat.
Good fishing rowing! KYPE24
25
by In Steelhead Alley Ohioby George Douglas
Good Times
Author / Publisher
Steelhead Guide
Fishing Hall of Fame
Inductee
Contact:
Arustic sportsman’s lodge situated above a onehundred foot cliff cascading over the Grand River
is occupied by a dozen or so local “Outdoor Writers.”I was lucky enough to be invited to this lodge. Drivingdown the long wooded driveway towing a seventeenfoot drift boat, I begin to see the group of guys sittinginside around the dining room table. .
Handshakes went around around as I introduced myself - after all, I was the
“new guy” for this annual event. The crew was loose, with cans of beer cracking
and some great fishing stories floating around. Chiming in, I give the guys an
update on the river conditions on the Grand River. “High and muddy guys, but
they’re in there...and we’re gonna get’em tomorrow.” A few guys thought it
would still be too high, while a couple others argued back that it was on the drop.
The disruption started to fade, and I interrupted, “Who’s with me? Leaving at
4 am and gonna float it down in my drift boat, so I can only take two.”
No hands raised, followed by a very loud, “4 am??!!”
Chatter escalated around the table once again of who was in and who was out.
Double- Header: George and
Phil Hillman.
Photo by Mike Mainhart
26
Two guys paired up and stepped forward. One was Phil Hillman, an Ohio
Fisheries Biologist / Manager, and the other was Mike Mainhart, an Outdoor
Writer and Photographer for several publications.
I went outside with Phil and Mike to start preparing the boat, getting it ready
for the next morning. That’s when Bob Ulas, the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau
Director, pulled up and offered to take the whole crew to Debonne Vineyards -
one of the local wineries.
We all hopped in his truck and had a couple of other vehicles head out to the
winery. Not all the guys were big drinkers, but each glass of great local wine
made 4 am seem less and less practical
The sportsman’s lodge has a big kitchen, so while we were at the winery, a
couple of the wives came in and cooked us all a great meal. Coming back from
the winery to steamed windows and the smell of a home-cooked meal got every-
one riled up with more fishing tales and razing -- the wives quickly exited
Overall, we had a great time!
4 am came quickly, and we launched the boat into the big river. I power-
rowed directly to the prime steelhead water where I thought the fish would be.
High and muddy it was, but it didn’t matter. Multiple hook ups and double-digit
fish were landed -- even a double-header with Phil and I. Lake County Fishing
comes through again!
It is a destination that should be on the bucket list of every steelheader, even
if you are from out of state. The Cleveland Airport puts you only a half an hour
away from some of the best Steelhead waters in the entire Great Lakes system -
- after all, it isn’t called Steelhead Alley for nothing!
A great alternative to the mighty Grand River is the Chagrin. It’s a champ with
miles of great fishing. Be sure to stop in at the Backpackers Fly Shop - one of
the best fly shops around. www.backpackersflyshop.com
The best time to fish in Steelhead Alley is during the spring. March and April
are a home-run nearly 100% of the time. The fall isn’t bad either, but not as good
as the spring run. The fishing pressure here is very low, which was one of the
It is a destination
that should be on
all steelheader’s
bucket list....it’s not
called Steelhead
Alley for nothing!
Floating the Grand--Photo by Mike Mainhart
27
most appealing aspects to me personally. Sometimes I will float nearly ten miles
and only see a dozen or so anglers. So, you pinners and swingers will have no
problem covering great distances without having someone plunking over your
line.
Egg patterns are the ticket during the morning hours, but as soon as the fishing
slows down, switch to traditional trout nymph patterns in natural colors. Be sure
to tie these flies on strong steelhead hooks, not trout hooks.
For those of you who have a lot of patience and want to land that steelhead on
the rise, throw some skaters in brighter colors. I accidentally discovered success
of this technique after my strike indicators were continually attacked.
A special thanks to everyone that contributed to this great event, and I hope
to join all of you once again. The lodge we stayed in is available to the public,
hosted by Lake Metroparks. They have two eight-bed cabins at a great price, and
one of the most comfortable accommodations around.
The restaurants, breweries and wineries in the region are plentiful, which is
refreshing to see after spending a lot of
time in tiny fishing villages that usual-
ly have a few greasy spoons and dingy
taverns.
Check out this link to book your
next trip at Lake County Sportsman’s
Lodge. Trust me, you’ll be coming
back every year! ~George KYPE
Multiple hook ups
and double-digit
fish were landed --
even a double-
header with Phil
and I. Lake County
Fishing comes
through again!
Photo by Mike Mainhart
Photo by John Hayes
http://lakemetroparks.com/parks/
facilities/cabins.shtml
RamblingsHairwing
I’ve been tying and fishing
since the late 70’s. Blessed
to travel and fish all over
but my heart lies with the
small wild fish of the south-
ern Appalachians. I fish
waters big and small every
chance I get from coast to
coast and across oceans,
but my soul sings best in
those small wild waters I
grew up on. I fish mostly for
the Salmonids but hit warm
water now and then as
well. Specks (Brookies) are
my true love. I’m a bamboo
and dry fly guy mostly but
my purist rants are made
with my tongue firmly in
cheek. I make my home
near Nashville, Tennessee
(no I don’t sing or play gui-
tar).
I’ve been tying and fishing more or less my wholelife since 1978 when I decided I wanted Dad and I
to be fly fishermen.
Always a good sport, Dad was involved and even funded my start in
tying despite knowing the “saving money” bit for the sales pitch it was. He
hauled me to conclaves all over when I started demo tying before I could
drive. In the last decade or two tradi-
tional flies and tackle have for me
come to maximize the joy I get being
totally disconnected from life while
on the water. I can’t fish every day
but I can turn off the smartphone and
computer, put on some music, and
like a Zen master fly in my mind to
streams far away filled with rising
fish as my fingers flutter over the
vise. The Zen of casting and tying
have helped me keep my sanity (more
or less) in so many far flung places
and jobs that it’s hard to put into
words how much I love our sport.
Marty’s Rules of Fishing # 7: Fishing only with store bought flies is like
trying to talk to a pretty girl through an interpreter. It works - sort of - but it
will work far better if you learn the language and tie your own flies. It is
more satisfying and more effective.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for attractors. In a big city living
in a downtown condo, I made friends with a gentleman in his 80’s named
Art. A T&T midge in its tube on the elevator led to a conversation and friend-
ship. Art’s wife wouldn’t let him fish alone anymore. The memory of him
just downstream fishing a Royal Coachman in every single hatch makes me
smile every time. Art would just get the size right, cast away and out fish me
5:3 no matter how much more “correct” my fly was. I can still see those
by MARTY HEIL
28
Marty’s Rules of
Fishing # 7. Fishing
only with store bought
flies is like trying to talk
to a pretty girl through
an interpreter……
hunched shoulders shaking in silent
laughter as I madly changed flies.
Finally in full surrender I’d ask what
size he was fishing. I fully expect to
see Art casting one of his Royals at the
home pool on the River Jordan some-
day, eyes twinkling as I ask what
they’re taking...
Enough rambling, and I’ll try to
come to the point about hair wing
dries. Of all the classic flies I teach and
demonstrate, traditional dries seem to
intimidate people the most. Catskills
style dries are perhaps a bit out of fash-
ion but still incredibly effective and far
easier to tie than one might think. The
Wulff style Hairwings (and others) are insanely durable, float like a cork,
and catch the snot out of fish all over the world.
In the fall of 1929, Lee Wulff changed the face of popular dry fly fish-
ing forever. His Wulffs are durable, deadly, and easy to tie. Most modern
tied Wulffs ignore the innate bugginess of the original patterns. Nowadays
we want to get every fiber stacked just perfect but Lee just evened the hair
a bit by hand (he also tied sans vise). The original 3: White, Grey, and Royal
were his; the Black, Grizzly and several others came later from other tiers.
The Black and Grizzly I know were by Dan Bailey (a contemporary and
friend of Lee). Dave Brandt’s Minonipi is another superb variant (I tie it in
smaller sizes for every olive mayfly, not just the big burrowers Dave
designed it for).
Some argue that Lee’s Wulffs were an outgrowth of Rube Cross’ Quack
that he tied for Leonard Quackenbush of the Beaverkill Trout club in the
early 30’s. Others argue that the Thunderhead of similar vintage from
Bryson City, NC came first. I’d humbly suggest that you read the old books
for yourself and decide. In the pre multimedia era of the 20s and 30s I’d say
it’s most likely that the 3 big hairwing innovations happened independent-
ly-ish. It is utterly irrelevant to fishing or tying but fun for fly fishing his-
tory nerds like me (we should probably have a gorgeous argument about the
real origin of the Yallerhammer in some future issue). Before you go out in
print with your newest invention, I’d humbly suggest that most innovations
are really variants of things done before. I for one tend to keep to the tradi-
tional dressings (other than color to suit my fish). Of course tie and fish
however you have the most fun but don’t be surprised when a grumpy old
fart like me pounces and points out that it was done 50 years ago and isn’t
new at all.
Gray Orange Grizzly Wulffs
29
Marty’s Rules of Fishing #33: your
“new” fly you invented is not new. If
you do some research you’ll find that
you’ve rediscovered something
already done in the 300+ year modern
history of our sport. There are excep-
tions to this but they are rarer than
honest politicians.
Lee originally used bucktail for
both wing and tail. I've used Kip for
the wing as he did in his later ver-
sions; the spiky tips make for a
deceptively sparkly translucent wing. As is true of hackle and other natural
materials Kip (calf) tail varies widely in quality. The best possible thing for
you to do is go down to your local Fly Shop and look, touch, feel and pick
the best material out of the onhand stock. Necks, saddles, bucktail, kip and
every other natural material varies so widely even from the same supplier
that there is just no way to be 100% sure you’re getting the best for your
tying when you order off the internet or from a catalog. Picking the shade of
Dun that works best for the flies where you fish will both increase your pro-
ductivity. Plus, it’s just fun to paw through piles of materials! If you don’t
support the local fly shops they won’t
be there in years to come, and a cup
of coffee at my laptop while shop-
ping just doesn’t match a good kibitz
down at the fly shop on a nice (non
fishing) morning.
Okay! On to the tying:
Wulff’s are fat buggy flies inten-
tionally and I find they work out best
on a 1x long hook. Tied properly they
float like battleships, and since they
can take the weight, I use a 2x heavy hook. Twice last year, I had 1x light
standard dry fly hooks straightened by big fish on the local tailwater, so
when I can get away with a heavy hook I do. I prefer the older (no longer
made) Mustads, but the TMC3761 are terrific and widely available. They are
high quality and proportioned pretty well. When a hook says it’s 1x long that
means it is the length of one hook size larger; i.e. a 1x long size 12 has a
shank the same length as a size 11. A hook that is 2x heavy uses the same
diameter wire as one that is 2 sizes larger; i.e. a size 12 2x heavy uses the
same diameter wire as a size 10. This is a very good thing when you tangle
Minonipi Wulff
Quack and Thunderhead
30
Marty’s Rules of
Fishing #33. Your
“new” fly you invented
isn’t. If you do some
research you’ll find
that you’ve re-discov-
ered something
already done in the
300+ year modern
history of our sport.
with a big fish! Wulffs are also widely used for salmon and are superb when
tied on a low water salmon #8 (my favorite Atlantic Salmon pattern and a
great gift for a friend, which you can put in a wine cork on their desk).
There are many ways and methods to do each step in tying a fly. 50 good
tiers (I may or may not be one of those depending on who you ask) will do
things 68 different ways on any given day. Learn and observe as many tiers
as you can and work out the techniques and methods that you like best. This
is the way I’ve learned to tie over the last 35 or so years ,you may find a way
that suits you better.
1. Keep in mind this is a DRY FLY it
floats so keep the thread wraps to a
minimum. Lay a base of thread for the
wing from 1 hook eye back on the
shank to just in front of the point. For
general tying I mostly use silk but use
your favorite thread. I’m not a fan of
the 14/0 and smaller threads for gener-
al tying as they can cut materials and
encourage overwrapping (they’re awe-
some for midges etc. but 6/0 or 8/0 is
better for dries down to #20).
2. Pick a pinch of hair and even it by plucking at the
tips. Lee didn’t use a stacker and the tips on original
flies vary. This is intended to be a buggy fly not a
groomed display piece.
Length of the wing is 1 and a half times the hook gap
and it should fall a few hook eyes or so forward of
the mid point between the point and front end of the
shank.
3. Lay the hair on your side of the shank at approximately 45° downward
angle; use the wraps to position the pinch of hair on top of the shank and
wrap forward 3 or 4 turns. Using wraps to final position materials is often
difficult at first. It’s easier if you can remember that the tension on the thread
is not even all the way around; rather, you wrap gently and only apply pres-
sure straight down. Even pressure all the way around with the bobbin tends
to spin your materials on the shank.
4. Stand your wing up by using 4 or 5 turns hard right at the roots of the
wing in front. Divide the hair more or less evenly. (No need to count fibers,
eyeball it.) Take one turn between the wings front to back and one turn back
to front. Figure 8 the thread around the wing once holding each wing in your31
fingers and applying down-
ward pressure at each side.
Finish with a wrap behind the
wing so that the next steps
don’t torque your wings out
of place. This is far easier
than it sounds and I’ll be
happy to show you in person
sometime. A key point on the
wings is to not get carried
away with the thread. It takes about 1/10th of the wraps you think to get a
perfect wing. And remember, it’s meant to float so keep the weight down.
Finish by trimming the butts perpendicular to the hook shank as close to the
wraps as you can.
(This leaves what looks like a huge bump but trust me it will help make an
even perfect body in a minute). A lot of books will tell you to trim at a 45
degree angle and wrap it down but that adds bulk and makes it harder to get
a nice body.
5. Lay a single layer of touching thread wraps back to the end of the shank.
Stop at or just before the hook curves usually just above the barb. Make 2
or 3 wraps right at the end to make a little bump to help the tail position.
Standard length for the tail is shank to bend. I even the natural brown calf
tail by hand but use a stacker if you like.
6. Tail fibers should be
about the length of the hook
shank or a tad more. Even
them a bit and at a 45° angle
lay the tail on your side of
the shank and use the wraps
to position it.
Wrap forward until it meets
the butts of the wing. See
how the butts of both wing and tail now make a nice level base for your body.
7. Some tiers eschew wax nowadays but I firmly believe it makes dub-
bing a lot easier. This is muskrat underfur but you can use any grey you
like or even mohair rabbit yarn. You can also deviate here and use any
color you like to match any bug (it’s probably not exactly a Grey Wulff
anymore but we’re ultimately trying to catch fish after all). Whatever
you use, remember you need A LOT less dubbing than you think.
32
Keep in mind this is a
DRY FLY it floats so
keep the thread
wraps to a minimum.
When putting it on the
thread, roll it in one direc-
tion only until it’s nice
and tight. Then make an
even, tapered (but in this
case fat) body.
Stop your body about a
hook eye behind the wing.
You can also find mohair,
muskrat, and rabbit yarns
for dry bodies if you don’t like dubbing the old fashioned way…..
8. The heart of any dry fly is the hackle. Those “packs” are the
worst possible way to buy feathers. On a per fly basis it is unbeliev-
ably expensive. Buy the best necks or saddles you can. The initial
cost is more but a good neck can tie hundreds if not thousands of
flies. Originally, the Grey Wulff called for dun (light and dark). I use
a medium dun and grizzly. You can if you like, use just one feather.
There is a nearly 100 year old debate about shiny vs. dull side for-
ward. You’ll have to decide for yourself which you prefer. I almost
always mix colors on dries as it really adds to the bugginess. And it’s
also tradition. Use a gauge if you like but I just eyeball about one
and half time the hook gap fibers. Pick your two feathers and lay
them together. Shift the top feather about 1/32 of an inch forward and
tie them in on the under side of the shank at a 45° angle behind the wing.
I use 2 wraps behind the wing and 3 in front. (Shifting the feathers
keeps the second from throwing barbs till you’re into the hackle collar).
The instinct here is to over- do it; I make 2 turns behind the wing and
3-5 in front. When you tie off your hackle, do so on the opposite side of
the eye (on a down eye hook, tie the hackle off on top). This helps you
keep the eye clear. No need to build a huge head ,just whip finish and
apply a drop of head
cement or spar varnish.
I tie most traditional dries
with white silk. Notice
how it just about disap-
pears to the color of the
underlying dun hackle
when the cement is
applied.
33
Everybody knows
recipes are for
cupcakes so here
are the patterns:
The first three are Lee
Wulff’s originals and the
others are some of my
favorite variations but there
are many more.
Grey Wulff
Thread: I use white or
black silk for most of my
tying but use what you
like. (White silk really dis-
appears with head cement
going neutral grey.)
Wing: White kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown buck tail
Body: Muskrat underbody
or whatever grey you prefer
Hackle: Dun (I mix with grizzly)
White Wulff
An all white fly (great for
the coffin fly and other
pale duns and very easy to
see really early and really
late in the day). In bigger
sizes this is a killer for
Atlantic Salmon. You’re
missing a bet if you don’t
skate one of these in the
gloaming on a summer evening.
Thread: White
Wing: White kip
Tail: White buck
Body: Pale fox or snowshoe hair or any white or pale cream you like
Hackle: White
34
It’s easier if you can
remember that the
tension on the
thread is NOT even
all the way around.
Rather, you wrap
gently and only
apply pressure
straight down.
Royal Wulff
A great fly! You make
it a TN Wulff by sub-
bing lime or high-
lander green for the
red. Yes, this is an
attractor but find a
picture of a caddis
hatching and you’ll
see the nymphs use a
bubble to help them
reach the surface. The
proteins on that bub-
ble shine in sunlight in exactly that iridescent
green of herl so there’s more to the effectiveness of
Lee’s Strawberry shortcake than just gaudiness.
Thread: Black
Wing: White kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown buck tail (Many versions use golden
pheasant and fish love it. It just doesn’t float quite
as well.)
Body: 3 turns of peacock herl, a band of red silk
and then 3 more turns of peacock
Hackle: Furnace
Dan Bailey’s Grizzly Wulff
Thread: Black
Wing: Brown kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown buck tail or moose
Body: Yellow silk (the orange Wulff just substi-
tutes orange silk and is my personal go-to in the
mountains.)
Hackle: Black and Grizzly
Dan Bailey’s Black Wulff
Thread: Black
Wing: Brown kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown buck tail or moose
Body: Pink silk
Hackle: Black and Grizzly
Dave Brandt’s Minonipi Wulff
Thread: Olive-brown
Wing: Brown kip (calf tail)
Tail: Woodchuck tail guard hairs
Body: Olive brown beaver or seal
Hackle: Medium Dun and Grizzly
Fran Better’s Ausable Wulff
Thread: Hot orange
Wing: White kip (calf tail)
Tail: Woodchuck tail guard hairs
Body: Rusty orange dubbing (Australian possum)
Hackle: Brown and Grizzly
Beartrap Wulff
Thread: Black
Wing: Brown kip (calf tail)
Tail: Black bear guard hairs
Body: Black bear underfur
Hackle: Furnace and Grizzly
Rube Cross’ Quack
Thread: Black
Wing: Brown kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown hackle fibers or golden pheasant tip-
pet
Body: Peacock herl and red silk
Hackle: Brown
Thunderhead
Thread: Black
Wing: White kip (calf tail)
Tail: Brown & grizzly hackle fibers, mixed
Body: Muskrat (or Possum)
Hackle: Brown and grizzly
You may or may not have noticed that flies are get-
ting harder to see on the water. I often substitute
dyed kip for the wing and get a very traditional fly
that is also easy to see.
I’d like to think Lee would heartily approve.
Tight Lines
-m KYPE
35
More Than Just a Nameby Aileen Lane
Fishpond’s Cyclepond
Bio:
Publisher of Kype Magazine
Fly Tier & Owner of MKFlies
1/3 of the Trifecta of Fly Fishing
Ventures
Pro Staff Tier for Deer Creek UK
Type of Fishing:
Fly Fishing
Location:
Boise, Idaho
Websites:
KypeMagazine.com
MKFlies.com
Flyfishingv.com
Contact Info:
As we all know, gear plays an important role in fly
fishing—functionality, comfort and cost. But,
there’s one more factor we should consider— environ-
mental responsibility.
Fishpond continues to provide environmentally-conscience products with
their new line called Cyclepond by recycling commercial fishing nets.
I had the opportunity to test their new lumbar pack made from
Cyclepond, as well as interview Fishpond’s Founder and Co-Owner,
Johnny Le Coq. I was very pleased and impressed with how quickly Mr. Le Coq took the
time to respond to my questions.
Kype: I commend Fishpond's part in addressing the need for environmental
protection by using recycled fishing nets for their 2014 line. How did you
come up with the concept of using commercial
fishing nets?
Johnny: When people ask about what we do at
Fishpond, we tell them we are in the business of
conservation. Although we make what we feel are
the most innovative fishing products in the world,
what we really make are products to promote the
values of the places people go fishing.
It is not about the fish, and more about the envi-
ronment that fishing takes the angler.
In our branding material in the last 16 years, we
have never shown someone holding a fish, or for
that matter, shown people fishing at all. It has always been about the beauty of
our land and water. The light. The seasons. Simply, it is about the environment.
38
...we have never
shown someone
holding a fish, or for
that matter, shown
people fishing at all.
It has always been
about the beauty of
our land and water...
~Fishpond
At Fishpond, we believe that
every individual should embrace the
ideals of sustainability. Our brand
was born from the shared goals of our
customers who are passionate about
our wild lands and water, and as
friends of ecological balance, we
encourage every person to engage in
a cause that makes a difference. None
of us can do everything, but each of us can do something.
Our fabrics are either 100% recycled water bottles, or in Fishpond’s line
of vests, chest packs, luggage and gear bags, an industry and worldwide first
of using recycled commercial fishing net that is gathered from trawlers and
large fishing operations that otherwise would discard this valuable nylon
material.
This is an industry first, and something Fishpond is very proud to have
developed for our products. As a fishing products company, using recycled
commercial fishing net just made sense. Because nylon is the strongest
material from which technical fabrics are made, we searched very hard for
a fabric manufacturer who could source discarded nylon materials, and
found a great partner who has developed a process for using this net material.
Kype: What has been Fishpond's history with being environmentally con-
science? What is their mission?
Johnny: Our company depends on the health and sustainability of our
watersheds and open lands, and we promote the shared connection we all
have to our fragile ecosystem.
It is vitally important for us as an outdoor recreation company to have
critical public lands and protected species preserved as much as possible in
perpetuity through acts of legislation such as the LWCF, Wilderness desig-
nation, or through the Endangered Species Act. The vitally of our country,
the very heartbeat of our core values, in my opinion, rests on the vast and
diverse natural resources we all currently live with in all of our backyards.
As a company that offers outdoor products, it’s important to us that we
use our business to spread the word on issues that revolve around the envi-
ronment and places people recreate. We didn’t start the company this way,
but it became who we are because of the big impact that protecting our out-
door resources has on the success of our business. Responsible stewardship
simply means good business, not only for us, but also for communities
across our nation!
Our nation’s recreational and natural resource heritage is a part of the
American persona. It is the core or heartbeat of how we are perceived by the
outside world. Our ecosystems, so vast and differentiated, are our valuable
39
assets to help grow our economy,
and through the recreational out-
door industry, which generates
$646 billion in revenue on a year-
ly basis or $70 million dollars
through taxes to our federal and
state governments, it is this
important landscape that we must
preserve and protect for many
future generations.
At Fishpond, we believe in the power of purpose. We encourage our con-
sumer to engage in a cause that directly affects their heart and passions. We
call this the “Ripple Effect”- the collective impact of individuals performing
in an environmentally conscious manner and leading to lasting change -in
thinking, in deeds and in results.
Conservation of our natural world is not something we leave to govern-
ment in Washington to change on its own. It is in all of our hands to partic-
ipate in the process.
Under the cloud of government shutdowns, economic instability and
worldwide political turmoil, we seem to have lost the fundamental frame-
work that our great country was founded upon.
Americans need to remind themselves that the word FREEDOM is not bun-
dled into the context of values that serve only humans, that now number
more than 300 million in our country alone. Freedom in America is also
about the open space of our wild lands, the complexity of our eco-systems,
and liberty of our animals, plants, birds and fish to live as they’ve had for
millennium.
It is our RESPONSIBILITY as a country to look deep into the beauty of
our public and wild lands and to protect the values we derive from them on
a recreational basis.
A wild America is a free America, and although many will never see or
experience the places we need to protect, just knowing they are there brings
us all a perspective of majesty and connection.
Kype: I am impressed with the Yampa Guide Pack. What percentage of
each gear from the Cyclepond line are made from recycled materials?
Johnny: The percentage of recycled materials within the Cyclepond line
varies with our main body fabrics from 40-100% recycled commercial fish-
ing net nylon. For our interior fabrics, 100% of the fabrics are recycled com-
mercial fishing net nylon.
Kype: Is there a higher expense with producing Cyclepond fabric compared
to virgin nylon yarn?
40
The consumer has a
choice, and we
have learned that
our core customers
really cares about
our natural world
and wants to make
choices based on
those companies
that embrace a sus-
tainable future.
~Fishpond
Johnny: Yes, we pay a very large premium for recycled fabrics compared
to virgin nylon, but maintain price points very competitive within our market
sector.
The consumer has a choice, and we have learned that our core customers
really cares about our natural world and wants to make choices based on
those companies that embrace a sustainable future.
Kype: Does Fishpond plan to make all future line from Cyclepond fabric?
Johnny:Yes! Fishpond is moving all of our cut and sew products to recycled
materials, and with every new season, more and more of our products are
using our own Cyclepond fabrics.
Kype: Thank you, Johnny!
And now....the test.
Fishpond’s Cyclepond:
Yampa Guide PackSince I get out on the river at
least weekly, I had plenty of
opportunity to fish with Yampa
Guide Pack—one of Fishpond’s
new lumbar pack.
Here are the specs:
It has two main zippered compart-
ments and their signature molded,
drop down fly bench and interior
pockets. Two exterior pockets to
hold water bottles. Structured air mesh back panel to keep anglers cool
and comfortable. Option to wear as a lumbar or a sling pack.
Functionality: Since I spend long hours on the river, it’s important for
me to have a gear bag that can accommodate a couple of fly boxes,
water bottles, snacks and lunch. The Yampa Guide Pack did just that.41
PRODUCT REVIEW
Yampa Guide Pack
...I hardly noticed it
on my waist. I
fished for 11
straight hours
while wearing the
(Yampa Guide)
pack.
~Aileen
Not only was I able to carry
everything I needed, all the items
were easily accessible and organ-
ized.
I have a bad habit of not staying
hydrated enough. Having two
water bottles within reach was
very helpful.
Comfort: Initially, the Yampa
Guide Pack appeared too large for
my frame. However, I hardly
noticed it on my waist while fly
fishing. The wide and padded
straps added to the comfort. I
fished for 11 straight hours while
wearing the pack. Not once did
the Yampa Guide Pack slide down
nor cause any discomfort. I most-
ly wore the pack on my left side
and happily, the pack did not get
in my way. And, if I wanted to
wear it in the back, it was quite
easy to slide around without
unbuckling the straps.
Cost:Yampa Guide Pack retails
for $119.95.
Conclusion: I was very pleased with Fishpond’s Yampa Guide Pack. It
was comfortable, roomy without bulk, accessible, carried all my essen-
tials plus more, and aesthetically pleasing. I felt the retail cost of
$119.95 to be reasonable and well worth the investment. KYPE
42
The Small StuffUnless it’s a Stream
by Joe Kayafas
Don’t Sweat
I love to fish and tie flies
for inland and lake-run
trout and salmon.
Whether it be a wild
brown on a #22 trico or a
baetis nymph, a brookie
on an Ausable Wulff in a
tiny mountain stream, up
to swinging a large
intruder on my spey rod
for steelhead, I enjoy it
all.
Dry fly fishing is the
what I concentrate on
when possible. The thrill
of watching a trout come
up and eat my fly is unre-
al.
In the past I have taught
fly tying classes, and fly-
fishing lessons, and I cur-
rently tie flies for shops. I
also help out with as well
as host my own charity
events for Project Healing
Waters Fly-Fishing. Even
talking about fishing gets
me pumped. I have a
motto and it's: Live to
fish, and fish to live...
Contact:
First of all, I would like to start by saying “I lovetrout”, whether it be a 30” kyped-out lake run steel-
head, a wild inland brown, or a little brookie from a tinymountain stream.
With that said, I would like to talk about the latter. This past weekend we headed
to the mountains in PA to take some of the Project Healing Waters Vets on a big out-
ing to a selection of the state’s wild brown trout streams. Unfortunately, there were
other plans in Mother Nature’s itinerary.
We planned to get there Friday, but on Thursday there were torrential downpours
all day. It rained 4 inches and blew out every stream down to the tiniest trickle to
flood stage. There were road closures and massive floods everywhere. Needless to
say, this changed the plans for the outing drastically, from fishing to instead tying flies
and telling stories.
Luckily, by Saturday morning all of the waters started to drop, and the tiny moun-
tain waters were down enough to fish. We split up into a group of 3 and a group of
2, then ventured into the mountains and up two different small streams. They weren’t
in the best shape at all due to the flooding, but it was what we had to work with.
Walking up these streams, one feels a great sense of peace and tranquility that can-
not even be described. Mountain laurel, pine trees, and moss covered rocks lined the
water in this Heaven on Earth. The stream steps down the mountain and plunges into
nice little pools.
As you creep up on a small
eddy or undercut, your heart
races. Hiding behind a tree, or
kneeling down stealthily, you
pull back the flies on your dry
dropper rig, bending your rod
tip and fling! You “bow and
arrow” cast right into the tiniest
pool. Split seconds feel like
hours as you wait for some sign
44
In every episode we fish, we travel, we hang out with people that are prettycool if not a little crazy. We invite ourselves into their best drinking establish-ments, food places, barbecue joints and honky-tonks. We fish some more,talk a lot of trash, walk the edge if it helps us catch big fish, walk the extremeedge if it helps us catch bigger fish. We explore the culture of each locationespecially if it means more good food and drink, sometimes we even findgood music (the chances of that increase if we’re talking Blues or Country).We wrap it all up by fishing some more. Let’s just say every show is a heckof an adventure.
Follow us on Facebook
“Season on the Edge” airs in August on the World Fishing Network.View a short video here:
As you bring the
fish to hand, you
see the colors that
this nutrient rich
water has brought
out...
~Joe
of our finned friends. Then suddenly……..BAM! a little brookie just slams your dry!
As you bring the fish to hand, you see the colors that this nutrient rich water has
brought out. Time seems to sit still for everything is perfect at that moment, and you
are right where you should be in life. There is no better feeling, in my mind. Bigger
fish, and bigger water are undoubtedly fun, but THIS is my zen.
I would rather be alone fishing tiny mountain trickles, than be surrounded by a mil-
lion other people. Even though the fish may not be big, the scenery and the experi-
ence is. And, in the long run, that’s what really matters to me.
Regardless of where you like to fish, and what fish you like to catch, please don’t
ever take these small streams for granted. They will open your eyes to a whole new
world of fly-fishing.
- Joe KYPE
46
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“I quit guiding because I could notstand watching others fishing. It
was like going to a gold mine without a shovel.”
~ Len Harrislenharris.blogspot.com/
Photography of Len Harris
Pursing Tigerfish in S. Africaby Luke Saffarek
MyConversion ToThe Fly:
Born and raised in northern
British Columbia, Canada - a
fly-fishing destination of note
– Luke began fishing at the
age of 3 and fly fishing from
the age of 13. With a deep
passion for the sport of fly
fishing it was only a natural
choice to pack a fly rod when
he moved to Botswana
(southern Africa) in 2006 to do
volunteer work.
During his time in southern
Africa he learned to fly fish for
many different species, includ-
ing Tigerfish on the Okavango
River in northern Botswana.
During his first trip to the
Okavango he met two guides
from South Africa and by the
end of the week was offered a
job guiding with them during
the next Tigerfish season. A
dream come true, Luke
jumped at the opportunity
and spent 3 seasons on the
Okavango guiding for Tigerfish
among other species.
In 2012 Luke made the move
back to Canada to have the
first of two hip replacements.
It was not easy to leave
Botswana, but it had to be
done. Now with his hips
being sorted out Luke is set-
ting up shop in his home
town of Smithers, BC,
Canada.
If you are an avid fly fisher, you'll know what I mean
when I talk about that moment of conversion. That
one day you truly experienced fly fishing and said to
yourself "This is the only way to catch fish!"
I like to believe that most of us who have had that experience can remember it.
Whether it was at a young age watching someone fly fishing, or later on in life when
you experienced it for yourself and your inner skeptic swam off like a freshly
released fish. I remember my conversion very clearly, and oddly enough I had been
fly fishing for a number of years before it...
I grew up in a small town by the name of Smithers, nestled in the beautiful
Bulkley Valley in northern British Columbia, Canada. World-renowned for it's
steelhead fishery, Smithers also boasts a number of excellent trout fishing lakes, and
several salmon fisheries within just a couple of hours in driving distance. This little
piece of paradise is where I learned to fly fish, but oddly enough, not where my con-
version took place. It took place 16,000 km away from here in Botswana, Southern
Africa.
I left Smithers in April 2006 to spend a year volunteering with a small organiza-
tion in Botswana. Of course the first thing I did when I decided to go was to see
what kind of fishing they had there. My Google search produced something that
grabbed me and wouldn't let go – Tigerfish! This piqued my interest, to put it lightly.
So, I left for Botswana and spent a year there volunteering with the organization,
enjoying the work so much that after a few months back in Canada I decided to head
back for another couple of years.
During my first year I had an opportunity to fish for tigerfish on the Okavango,
but the opportunity fell through. Another one came up shortly after my return, but
fell through again. However, in October 2008 situations and circumstance brought
me to a place where I needed to get away from everything and just take a holiday.
I jumped in my 1994 Toyota Venture and drove 1200 km across the Kalahari Desert
to chase my dream.
The timing of this could not have been better, because this was peak tigerfish
time on the Okavango. Receding flood waters every October force trillions of bait-
50
I remember my con-
version very clearly,
and oddly enough I
had been fly fishing
for a number of
years before it...
fish off of the floodplains and into the main channels. This concentra-
tion of feed and rising temperatures set off a phenomenon known as
the Catfish Run (or Barbel Run). The sharp-tooth catfish form runs of
thousands and thousands of fish swimming up stream, feeding on
these bait-fish hiding in the structure. As the bait fish try to escape over
the catfish to get out into the main channel and downstream of the cat-
fish runs, the tigerfish pounce on them. Birds and crocs join in on the
frenzy and it can be utter chaos, but incredible chaos to witness
nonetheless, and even more incredible to fish!
Catching Tigerfish on the fly has become my dream and I was finally going to
do it. What made me even more determined to catch a tiger on the fly were the var-
ious people I had met during my time in Botswana that told me how impossible it
was. They shared stories of the misery of having your palm burned while palming
your fly reel on a running fish. They cautioned against the difficulty of getting the
hook set in a fish with such a bony mouth. These stories and warnings only made
me want to accomplish it even more.
The day I arrived on the banks of the Okavango, I had driven about 400 of the
1200 km, so I just had the afternoon to fish. My thoughts were to get a feel for these
fish on the spinning rod before I try for them on the fly. You know - find out what
I was up against. The camp I was at had a guide free for the afternoon, so I rigged
up my spinning rod and went out on the river. I was excited beyond measure just to
see the environment that is the Okavango! This was my first time there and it was
an awesome experience to drive along these channels walled in with 10 foot tall
papyrus and reeds. We passed by islands covered in palm trees with African Fish
Eagles calling from them - more variety of birds than I had ever seen in one place.
It was paradise and I hadn't even wet a line yet!
My guide brought me to a corner of the river near the mouth of a lagoon. We
dropped anchor and I started fishing. It took only a few casts with my big spinner-
bait before I hooked into something solid. My medium/heavy action rod bent over
as I set the hook. The head
shakes were incredible, so fast
it was more of a vibration.
Then it jumped... Really?! It
felt like I had hooked onto a
passing freight train, but what
was on the end of my line was
only a couple of pounds. Soon
it was in the boat and I was
astonished that a fish of that
size could pull so strongly! I
51
caught a few more that afternoon and just couldn't get over how strong they were -
and these were just small fish of up to 3 pounds! Every fish I hooked felt to be at
least double - if not triple - the size it actually was.
As we headed back to camp I couldn't stop thinking about hooking up with these
magnificent fish with a fly rod. As I stepped off the boat, I was greeted by a gentle-
man by the name of John Van Den Berg, a fly fishing guide from South Africa who
I ended up hanging out with each evening that week. He and his partner were guid-
ing clients and offered me some advice on catching tigers on the fly. I was very
appreciative of their help, but also encouraged to see that my research before my
trip had been done well, and I did have the right gear.
I can't remember if I slept at all that night. I was so excited. I was up early rigging
my fly rod. I remember clearly that weird feeling of tying on a steel leader to the
end of my tippet for the first time. I was ready to go and made my way down to the
boat launch to meet my guide, Smally. Smally grew up on the banks of the river and
knew the river well. He was an experienced angler, and as I later found out, knew
how to guide fly fishers thanks to John. As we pushed the boat off from shore I was
confident I was going to get a tiger on the fly today!
9 hours later, I was exhausted and skunked.
I knew catching a tigerfish on the fly was going to be a challenge, but really?
Nothing all day? We found a good catfish run and I had so many hits, but noth-
ing. But I wasn't going to give up on the fly, especially since Smally wouldn't let me
touch my spinning rod. With a number of years experiencing guiding for tigers he
had seen first hand how much more exciting it was to catch tigers on the fly and
promised me it would happen the next day..
I slept better that night. I think mostly because I was exhausted and a little defeat-
ed. But, by the time I woke up that next morning my determination was back.
Smally took me to the same area we had fished the previous day, where again I felt
the hard hits of tigers, but never hooked up. It was after about an hour and a half of
trying that Smally was 100% convinced the fish in that area were just too small and
thus wouldn't commit or stick to the 2/0 hook of my fly. But he had a trick up his
sleeve (as any good guide would). He knew of a small catfish run beginning to form
downstream that no one else seemed to know about.
Smally took me down a secondary channel past some of the most beautiful
scenery I had ever seen - islands, floodplains, and birds of every shape and colour
all around. Eventually the secondary channel re-joined the main channel and it was-
n't long after that Smally put me onto this small Catfish run. It didn't look like much
at all compared to the one we had just been at, but after watching it for only a couple
of minutes we began to see bait fish being smashed on the surface by monsters with
bright orange fins. This was what we wanted!
52
I knew catching a
tigerfish on the fly
was going to be a
challenge, but really?
Nothing all day?
I got up on the bow, cast my fly inches from the papyrus, and started stripping
like heck. Two strips and the line went tighter than tight and audibly cut through the
water toward the main current as the tiger on the end of my line jumped in the mid-
dle of the river. I was on! It felt like my body released every last drop of adrenaline
into my veins as I realized I had a tiger on the fly! Its speed was mind blowing,
power was awesome, and acrobatics heart-stopping. I got the fish to the boat where
Smally landed it and we were all smiles and high-fives. After a quick photo we
released the 6lb tiger and I got back in the game. The very next cast I hooked up
again! And that was it - the moment of conversion. "This is the only way to catch
fish!"
I pulled 5 tigerfish on 13 casts out of that small catfish run. Nothing bigger than
6 lbs, but each fish so rewarding. Things clicked that morning, and I was catching
tigerfish on the fly every day for the rest of that week; I didn't even take my spinning
rod on the boat after that. It was an unforgettable week and the trip of a lifetime. As
we drove back to the camp after my last day of fishing, I was so grateful for the
opportunity to be there and experience the beautiful Okavango panhandle and the
mighty tigerfish. That week was the most satisfying fishing trip I'd ever been on and
if I had never returned, it would have been okay with me. Little did I know that
evening John would ask me to return the following year to guide with them. But
that's another story for another day.
I sincerely believe that God designed tigerfish specifically for fly fishing. To feel
their power, experience their agility, and awe at their acrobatics while hooked up
with them, line in your hand, is an experience like no other. Since that moment I've
had this experience over and over with many different species. Whether carp, bass,
salmon, steelhead, trout, tigerfish, etc. there is something about fly fishing that
seems to connect you to the fish allowing you to experience them in a way that is
more true to their design. For me, it is the only way to catch a fish. ~Luke KYPE
53
SIMPLIFIEDby Michael Bantam
Leaders
Michael and his wife,
Patti own and operate
DreamCastIdaho.com, a
fly fishing and casting
school, and
DreamCastAdventures.co
m located in Boise,
Idaho.
Michael is a 25-year fly
fishing veteran, with 15
years of teaching experi-
ence. He fished much of
the western states for
trout, steelhead, and his
beloved bonefish, permit
and other saltwater
species in Mexico, Belize
and Hawaii.
Michael is a certified
International Federation
of Fly Fishers casting
instructor, and current
President for the IFFF
Rocky Mountain Council,
covering five western
states.
Ever wonder why leaders come in so many differentlengths, sizes, and materials? In this article we will
cover some of the basic ideas on how to select a leader,their lengths, X factor, and the materials used to makethem, so you will have a better understanding of theirapplications and presentation methods used in your flyfishing arsenal.
A leader is the connection between your fly line and the fly you are fishing. This
is the business end of your cast, and fly presentation. Whether you’re casting dry
flies, nymphing, or throwing streamers, the importance of selecting the right leader
applies to the way your fly is presented, the drift, and the swing of your fly
Leaders can be found in three types: knotless, knotted, and braided. They all have
one thing in common: the taper. The “Butt Section” closest to the fly line, tapers in
thickness (diameter) to the “Tippet Section” where the fly is tied. This taper provides
the “Rollover” of your leader and fly as the line speed slows down at the end of your
presentation cast.
Leaders are available in four types of materials: nylon, monofilament, fluorocar-
bon, and thread. All have applications suited for different presentation methods and
the way you fish your fly. Nylon and monofilament leaders are commonly used for
dry fly fishing presentations. They are very supple and have a lot of stretch, making
them useful for fighting big fish. They also float on or in the surface film keeping
your dry fly on the surface for a longer drift. Fluorocarbon leaders have the unique
quality of reflecting light, making the leader invisible in the water. The most common
applications for fluorocarbon leaders are nymphing and streamer techniques. Braided
leaders, whether made of nylon, mono or fluorocarbon have great rollover qualities
making them effective for streamer and bigger fly patterns. However, they can spray
a lot of water when casting over easily spooked fish. Braided thread leaders reduce
this effect and can be used for dry fly and streamer techniques depending on the float-
ing or sinking agent applied to them. Another benefit to the braided thread leaders is
their simplicity; just attach the desired tippet size and length to the end of the leader.
So how do you go about selecting the right leader? First you will notice they
come in varying lengths, with 4 to 15 foot leaders being the most common. The “Butt
Section” of the leader is designed to roll over the fly beyond the end of the fly line.
The “Tippet Section” is designed to provide slack near to the fly to provide a natural
landing and the longest possible drift.
For small to medium size dry flies, I like as much distance between my fly line
54
To select the appropriate
strength of leader, first
ask yourself what size of
fish do I expect to catch
most often.
and fly. For these sizes, a 9 to 15 foot leader works well. This length also depends on
many other factors like casting room, clarity of the water, accuracy, and being able to
make the leader roll over the fly in a slack presentation. For larger flies, like hoppers,
salmon and stoneflies, a shorter leader in the 7½ to 9-foot length is recommended as
it makes for greater accuracy and presentations close to banks, moss beds, and under
willows.
For Nymphing, select a leader in the 7 ½ to 9-foot length. These shorter leaders
will turn over weighted nymphs and a strike indicator with less chance of tangling,
as well as provide better control of your drift.
For Streamer presentations, choosing a short leader turns big bulky flies over bet-
ter than a long leader, and are much easier to cast. Fish taking streamers aren’t very
leader shy, allowing shorter leaders to give you much better mending and line control
A common rule for me is: the bigger and heavier the fly, the closer I want it to
the end of my fly line, with a larger diameter (X Factor).
So what do the “X Numbers” mean, and how do you select the right one?The X
number defines the diameter of the last 18 to 24 inches of the tippet end of the leader.
It is the weakest section and determines the breaking strength of the leader. This “X”
factor covers a range of breaking strengths, and diameters range from 0X through 8X.
The bigger the X number, the weaker the tippet section, meaning that a 3X leader is
stronger than, say, a 5X leader. This information is found on the leader packet. The
X number also provides a guideline for the size of flies which are recommended for
that leader. To select the appropriate strength of leader, first ask yourself: what size
of fish do I expect to catch most often? For example, if I am targeting steelhead in
the 10 to 15 pound range I will select a leader in the 0X to 2X range. If I am targeting
2 to 4 pound trout I will select a 5X or 6X leader. Below is a chart found on most
leader packets:
55
0X .011″ 15.5 lb.
1X .010″ 13.5 lb.
2X .009″ 11.5 lb.
3X .008″ 8.5 lb.
4X .007″ 6 lb.
5X .006″ 4.75 lb.
6X .005″ 3.5 lb.
7X .004″ 2.5 lb.
8X .003″ 1.75 lb.
Now that you have selected the
appropriate leader, as you start
tying on fly after fly you will
notice it getting shorter. Long
before this occurs you will
want to extend the life of, and
the length of, your leader with
tippet material.
So what is the purpose of
using tippet? You will notice
“Tippet” materials come on
spools and have the same “X Factor” as leaders. The only difference from a leader
and tippet material is that tippet has one diameter size (thickness) also denoted as
an “X” Factor. Most often it is used to replace the portion of material you have cut
off by changing out your flies. Each time you change a fly out you lose a few inch-
es of leader tippet section. Leaders are more expensive than a spool of tippet;
therefore, instead of replacing your leader because it is too short, it is more eco-
nomical to replace the tippet section. Also, tippet materials allow you to change
the length and taper of your leader to meet varying fishing conditions and presen-
tations. For example: if you are fishing a 9-
foot, 5X leader and find the fish are shying
away from taking your size 18 fly, you may
want to add a foot or two of 6X tippet to the
end of your 9-foot leader. This will give you a
smaller diameter (harder for the fish to see) to
tie your fly to and extra slack to carry a longer
drift to your presentation.
Selecting the right leader is only one part of
your fly fishing system allowing you to catch
more fish. The fly line, the rod choice, and your
casting skill level are all tied together.
Nonetheless, the choice you make when selecting
your leader can have a profound effect on the way
your fly is presented and fished. I think of my
leaders and tippet choices as tools in a toolbox -
each has a specific purpose. There are many other
considerations in the selection of leaders and tip-
pets used for different situations, but I hope, by
understanding these basics, I have cleared up
some of the confusion and opened some new pos-
sibilities for you to try on your next fly-fishing
excursion.
“Don’t let fly fishing be just a dream – Dream It –
Do it!'
~Michael KYPE
56
15-year-old Aaron Stevenson
with George Douglas
Mike Mainhart in
Lake County, Ohio
Fly Fishing Etiquetteby Mark Patenaude
RulesAn Appealfor Order:
Originally From: Adams,
Massachusetts
Currently Resides: Cary, IL.
Email:
fishes-with-fly @comcast.net
Affiliations: Federation of Fly
Fishers, Trout Unlimited
Pro Team:Deer Creek Fly
Tying Products
Pro Staff:Trout Line Fly
Fishing and Fly Tying, LTD.
Preferred Waters: East Coast-
Deerfield River, Housatonic
River, Hoosac River, Millers
River Midwest -Driftless
Area, Southwest Wisconsin,
Root and Pike Rivers
(Salmon, Steelhead, Lake Run
Browns)
Fishes For: Brown, Rainbow,
Brook Trout (inland)Steelhead
(in rivers only) King and Coho
Salmon (in rivers only) Lake
Run Brown Trout (Lake
Michigan) (in rivers only)
Note: fishes barbless only
and practices strict catch and
release.
Favorite Fly Fishing Quote: “I
love fly fishing and fly tying
more than a fat kid loves
cake"
Rules. Rules are applied to virtually everything inour lives. Rules exist to ensure that the outcome,
not matter what the process is, is arrived at fairly andin the correct way.
In fly fishing we also have rules. These rules are in two basic categories: per-
formance rules, which govern everything from where you place your thumb on the
rod grip to how to properly execute a stack mend, and behavioral rules ,which gov-
ern the conduct of the fly fisher while engaged in their pursuits. These rules are com-
monly and collectively referred to as Fly Fishing Etiquette.
Etiquette, the words conjures up visions of a group of ladies sitting around drink-
ing tea from expensive china, while collectively ensuring that their pinky fingers,
while drinking, are standing at attention. When we apply this word to fly fishing, it
could easily be substituted with the words, "acceptable behavior." Over time, these
rules were established, refined and continue to be modified as the various behavioral
situations dictate. However, you don't want to run out just yet to find the book that
contains a detailed description of each rule, because you won’t find one. It couldn't
be that easy. In fact the rules, not unlike the oral traditions of our past, have been
passed over time from person to person. So unless you have been fly fishing for
some time, you probably aren't aware of them.
Fly fishing is known as a one of the "quiet" sports. I have also heard to it referred
to as a "gentleman's sport", I apologize ladies. However, some of the behavior that
I have witnessed, couldn't be further from being quiet or gentlemanly, and to be
quite frank, it was downright disgusting. I can say with a high degree of certainty,
that the vast majority of you have either witnessed or have been directly involved
in what I will politely call an “on-the-water conflict." With hindsight being what it
is, 20/20, I’m sure that after cooler heads prevailed, we could have deduced that the
entire situation could have been avoided if two very simple aspects of acceptable
behavior were adhered to; respect and the use of common sense. I know that right
now some of you are saying to yourselves something like “but the guy was a com-
plete idiot...", but ask yourself, did you give consideration to the fact that the person
58
People newly intro-
duced to our sport
are at a distinct dis-
advantage, unless
they have an experi-
enced fly fisher
mentoring them
along, who will
eventually make
them aware of prop-
er fly fishing eti-
quette...
may not have been aware they did something wrong? People newly introduced to
our sport are at a distinct disadvantage, unless they have an experienced fly fisher
mentoring them along, who will eventually make them aware of proper fly fishing
étiquette, and without this help, the only way that they eventually find out is the
“hard way", which seems rather unfair to me.
Additionally, each one of us has a "hot button" rule, a rule that if breached, will
for lack of a more accurate phrase, really piss us off. For many, it's the blatant dis-
regard for laws and regulations, for others it's "low holing", for some it's seeing
someone "shuffling", and the list goes on. I don't intend to list and describe each
rule as this information already exists with you veteran anglers. What I do want to
do is to appeal to all experienced fly fishers to make a concerted effort to commu-
nicate our rules to other fly fishers at any point where the opportunity presents itself.
In doing so, you will be serving both the inexperienced angler by helping them to
avoid potential issues, as well as the experienced anglers by helping them to more
thoroughly enjoy each fly fishing outing.
All of us wish we could spend more time on the water. We have family, work
and many other life responsibilities. Some of us may have to drive several hours
to get to some decent fly water, and all of us want to maximize our time fishing and
to enjoy every second we are on the water. Finally, to situationally illustrate the "bot-
tom line" of this article, let me leave you with this. Most of the on-the-water con-
flicts that occur involve both wading and the position of a fly fisher who in essence
has already claimed their spot. Before you enter the water, look up and downstream
to determine if anyone else is there. If they are, do not enter the water below them.
Move upstream of their position and begin from there. At no time should you
attempt to crowd them or fish through water they haven't reached yet. The rule of
thumb is to stay at least one hundred feet from the nearest person. I know, I said I
wasn't going to detail any of the rules, but in my humble opinion, this particular
scenario accounts for a very large percentage of the total on-the-water conflicts.
T o wrap things up, I want to remind
you that we have chosen to pursue
a sport that is unique among sports, one
that borders on a form of "technical art."
A form of mystique exists as well as a
perception by others that what we do is
very special. Shouldn't we all conduct
ourselves with a level of respect and use
of our common sense that is equal to the
level of awe that one feels when watch-
ing a master level caster throwing tight
loops with seventy-five feet of line and
laying it down, feather-soft? KYPE59
