A Good Read:  http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/story?id=4975762

When the fishing is great, the great do whatever it takes to be on the water. This past week the fishing has been great. The famed Blue Wing Olive Mayfly has been hatching daily on a local trout stream, bringing some of the best top water action of the year, as well as producing a hatch of die hard fisherman. With the fishing off the charts I couldn’t sit around until Saturday to get back on the water. Fortunately I have a flexible job and was able to take a couple of half days and fish the river with some friends as well as hit it on Sat.  So with 4 days on the water this week, I was able to witness first hand the majestic beauty that God has giving us to experience and respect. During these days I have learned some great lessons about fly fishing as well as life. So here they are:

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Lesson #1. Know your water-Having consistently fished a river for over ten years, I have come to know the the river on a personal basis. I have grown to understand its flow as well as its spirit. Most people that fly fish haven’t put in the time to understand a water. They just arrive and hope to find a hatch and fish. (Cause they read a hot spot online) Those that respect the water are the ones that are rewarded with knowledge of where the hatches occur, the time to be there, and the flies to use. You can’t put a price tag on river knowledge, period.

Lesson #2. On Tuesday I had the opportunity to fish with someone that I had never fished with or met. This outing thought me a great lesson and one I hope to always keep close to my heart. His name was Jacob Dowse, he is a student of law and fly fishing. From our stream side introduction to our last cast together Jacob was constantly learning and growing. He was excited to gain new incites to fly fishing and would constantly pose questions and then try out what I would suggest. By the end of the day Jacob was on his way to becoming a great top water fishermen. So why do I tell you Jacobs story? Its because we should all strive to be more like Jacob, students of our sport and in everything that we do in life. Never stop trying to learn.

Lesson #3. Saturday was a cold morning, the freezing canyon breeze ripped through our clothing making fishing near crazy. The forecast called for 51 degrees, but by noon it was still a cold day with no sign of letting up or producing any kind of hatch. Knowing the river, I continued to tell myself as well as our large 6 man group that it will happen, just be patient.  Just like it was supposed to around 2pm, the wind died and the midges and BWO’s can out in full force. At one time we had 4 hook ups at once. There were hundreds of fish eating like it was their last supper.  So why do I tell you this? Its because at around 1:30pm one of our group members couldn’t take it any longer. He was mad the hatch didn’t come off on time and thought he was wasting his time and left. Not realizing if he would have just stuck it out a little longer he would have had some of the best dry fly fishing of the year. So from Jordan I learned to be patient, if the fishing isn’t great hangout and enjoy the surrounding and friends, because you never know what you might miss on the water if you go back to the city.

Lesson #4. Be prepared- Lately I have been getting a lot of fly orders. Which is a good thing, but I haven’t sat down to refill my my own fly boxes. Those that know me are probably laughing,(Cause they know of the 1000s of flies I carry around) but when I got to the river last Sat. I needed a size 16 para BWO, which I was out of. I had sizes 22, 20, 18, 14, but not one #16. I ended up using a double emerger setup that worked just fine, but it got me thinking that the next time I go out I need to be prepared, since this is important to me. So that night I stayed up tying, refilling my old BWO box as well as some bigger buffalo midges.  That next time on the river, I was prepared for almost any situation and the fished seemed to like the new flies. So do as you learned in Scouts and be prepared.

Lesson #5. Fish Emergers-Plain and simple. Fish like emergers, better than adults. SO FISH EMERGERS! 

Lesson #6. On Friday I though I would throw out to a couple of buddies that I would be hitting the river in the morning. It turned in to a 7 guy group. I usually don’t like to fish in large groups, (2 or 3 tops) but today it was a great time and half of the whole experience. We had great conversations as well as lots of smack talk. I guess larger groups can be awesome if the situation is right. I might have to try that again. Didn’t hurt that the fishing was epic.

Lesson #7. Do our part- As I walked the river this past week I noticed garbage, pop cans, flip flops littering the banks. Each time out I would pick up the piles I would create and pack them out in my net. I know that this problem will never end, but if we all do our part and pick up any trash we see, we can keep our rivers clean and pristine.  

Here are a few more of my favorite pictures of the week. Can never have too many, right?

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to fish with my two younger bros, Jordan and Gunner. Its always a good time when we fish together, with lots of messing around, trash talk and brotherly competition. This day was special though. We were targeting oversized fish that would make any angler smile. So with that  in mind the trash talking began. I was talking all kinds of trash to Jordan about our last outing, but it wasn’t until I hooked up with a small 26 inch bow on my second cast, that I was able to back-up what I was throwing up. After that my head and mouth grew ten sizes.  It really didn’t matter though, the picky fish were kind to us all that morning and we all had our hands on some of the biggest fish of our lives.

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The problem however was that Jordan somehow landed the biggest fish of the day (I don’t know how?) and now has big head syndrome. This has got to change…next time Gunner and I will change that.

KEY POINTS of INTEREST –>HB 141:

• It is a clear violation of separation of powers, making it in direct contrast to the Utah Constitution Article V Section I and the ideals of our founding fathers.

• It was done in secret, and the substitute bill came out after it passed committee and was sprung on the House for a quick debate.

• Approves a political and controversial process of adding waters to a list that can be access by the public and saying what waters can’t be accessed by the public.

• Negates over 100 years of water law in Utah.

• Flies in the face of 3 Utah Supreme Court decisions separated by over 70 years declaring and defining the public’s easement in State waters.

• Refuses to balance two competing constitutional rights, but unconstitutionally disregards one in the favor of the other.

This bill is unconstitutional….PERIOD!

For up-to-date info & links to contact your Senators visit:  www.utahwaterguardians.org

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2/22— HB-141 is scheduled to go on the House floor at 10am today, February 23rd- This bill needs to be voted down by our representatives. Update or the results will follow

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2/22—HB-80 Fails on the House Floor

Representative Fowlke’s Bill failed to gain the votes need today to pass HB-80 on to the Senate.

HB-80 and its supporters played the right game, stayed true to the right process and unfortunately were out maneuvered by big money and private interests.

Do not let this discourage you, as the fight is far from over. We need to defeat HB-141. This legislation is threat to Utah’s Water Recreation, Utah’s economy and the Constitution.

SALT LAKE CITY – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24^TH  – 7:00pm–TOWER THEATER

Don’t miss your chance to see films by the best in the business. 

 Discount tickets ($12) available at:

 WESTERN RIVERS

FISHWEST

Tickets also available on our website at www.flyfishingfilmtour.com

We have a bunch of stuff to give away. 

COSTA Sunglasses

SAGE Rod or Reel

PATAGONIA Jacket

SCIENTIFIC ANGLER fly lines

FISHPOND Gear

Plus hats, t-shirts, DVD’s, Flies, Fly Boxes and more.

 Everyone attending is entered to win a fly fishing trip of a lifetime – a 10 day trip for two to Patagonia compliments of Yellowdog Flyfishing Adventures and Patagonia River Guides

Everyone attending receives:

$50 off  Patagonia Waders (exchange required) at Western Rivers

 $20 off the purchase of $100 or more at Fishwest

10% off at the Patagonia store (some restrictions apply)

 as well as other national offers from some of our sponsors.

See you at the show.  You don’t want to miss this one.

 More vids below

The only consistent part of this winters weather is that it has been inconsistent. Some days feel like spring is just around the corner and others are just plain cold and full of that white stuff that has made Utah famous. As an avid fishermen and snowboarder I am in paradise every winter. This years weather has given a  nice balance of deep pow and thick midge hatches. 

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This past week has been no exception. I found myself on the mtn 4 days this week and with break from the storm and a bright/warmer Saturday found me and my bro on my favorite midging water.  The scenery was beyond amazing with a couple new feet of snow, the river edges looked untouched and pure. The cherry on top was the steam that rose from the water engulfing us into the river. At times it was so thick that I would loss sight of my tiny midges and hope to hear a slurp as they pasted to the side of me. (That’s actually how I caught my first fish of the day) The hatch was on the whole time we were there (9am-3pm) giving us constant action on top.  At times it would shut off for a few mins, but out of nowhere  it would start back up relveling 50 or more noses breaking through the film. Like most fishing tiny midges with light tippets we quick released more fish than we could count, but were able the talk a few of them to trying our net.  It was great bro time and nice to be out of the inversion and on a stream getting a tan between missed fish and re-tying outfits.

Side Tip: I did learn something this trip. I learned that those that can actually see there midges floating on the surface hook up with twice as many fish as those that fish blindly to a certain area they think there flies are. Being able to see your flies is crucial! If you can’t change until you can. Also pin point casting is so important as most fish won’t move far in the winter to eat a small midge.

This years waterfowl hunt flew by like a Teal through the decoys.  I was only able to get out a handful of times before it was to late.  This season started out awesome with a great opener at FB and finished off with a crazy goose hunt in my backyard. 

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 Like the opener, I spent the last days of the hunt with my hunting buddy Brandon Carter,  his dad (Bob) and friend Rob.  I had gotten word from my little brother that geese had been flying into our families fields every morning, so I had to set something up before we missed our window. The plan was set and at 6:30 the following morning found us out in the freezing morning air setting up goose decoys and fixing our blinds.  The morning didn’t go exactly as planned, we hoped the at the geese would start flying in around 8 am, but by 9 am we had only been teased by 3 loners who didn’t give use the time of day. As the sun came out and the cold January breeze tried to push us out of our blinds and back to our warm trucks, we heard a faint honk that all waterfowlers know well. (And can’t get out of there heads)  Game on I though! For the next 2 hours we were graced by flocks of honkers looking over our spread, giving us the wing and a few locking up.  We were rewarded, but the real measure of success was the experiences that we will each take away and learn from this outing.  I know in the future I will sit back with my hunting buddies and recount this experience and laugh at the birds that turned away and the shots that were missed. Not to mention the ghost geese that come out of the fog when you least expect them. It was a crazy end to a great beginning!

Bling Bling Bling  

This I want to go back to my roots, I want to fish more with dries and an old bamboo rod. I want to spend time with the ones that introduced me to this great sport. I really want to in someway thank those that have given me so much, I cant find any better way then by fishing with them.

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In 2010 my personal challenge is to catch at least 1 trout per month over 20 inches on a dry fly. I might feel comfortable doing this with streamers or nymphs, but to raise a 20+ inch trout to a dry fly takes stealth,  perfect presentation, time, and a lot of dumb luck.   I hope I will have some good stories to tell about each battle.  

The remainder of my goals are places I want fish during this year

1. Wind Rivers, WY- I have wanted to visit these mtns for many years now but they continue to eluded me. I here there’s gold in them mtns

2.  Finish my WY Cutt Slam-Yellowstone here I come

3. Float the Snake River through Teton National Park

4. Catch a Tiger Musky and Striper on a dry fly 

5. Alaska?

5.1  Have a good time with family, fishing buddies and friends

On top of these goals my underlining wish for the 2010 year, is that in some way I can help make a difference and give back to what fly fishing has given to me. I feel I owe it to the sport