Monday, November 26, 2012

Featured Video of the Week: November 26, 2012

  No matter what time of year it is, I've always heard Montana Brown trout love streamers, but I've always known fall is the best time for streamers, Strip'n Trip'n proves this. Here's the video:

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Monday, November 12, 2012

Featured Video of the Week- November 12, 2012

  I'm trying out a new thing. I will have a featured video of the week on every Monday. You can put suggestions in a comment or e-mail me at salmon_marlinfish@yahoo.com. Here it is:
I've always loved everything about the Jensen Fly Fishing videos. Also, check out their website and order one of the DVDs. Here's the link: http://www.flyfishalberta.com/jensenflyfishing/

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fly fishing on the Big Wood River

  At this time of year near Sun Valley, most people are putting the bikes and rods on the racks and getting their skis out, but the day I went it was surprisingly warm. I was there on November 4th, probably one of the nicer days of Idaho Autumn. I was all ready to be casting tiny midges and baetis but I was just unlucky. I always try to avoid stripping streamers in rivers and creeks just because it seems like matching the hatch is more "Sportsman-like", but as usual, streamers are sometimes the only thing that work.
  The most pressured access point is probably Boxcar Bend, but not today. I was the only person there, which was odd. Normally, during the fall lots of people will be chuking streamers for 17" fish. I hiked down and tied on a size 18 midge. After about 45 minuets and no strikes I thought a bigger meal might entice them so I threw on a size 16 hares ear. After another hour of silence I decided to use a streamer. All I know is that it has an orange tail, an olive chennile body with a copper rib, and a wing made out of a sort of speckled dun/white hackle fibers. On the third cast into a deep pool, BOOM! A 13 incher slams onto it. He fought so hard I thought he was 18". After a bit of a tango with some wood and the freezing cold water, I finally landed it. It was a nice cutt-bow, and his colors were so dark it looked like someone had painted a red stripe across the lateral-line. After this, I went to a bit of a riffle, where I caught a 16" rainbow. It was sad because he was badly injured ( not by me) and he was very scrawny. After this I went into town and got a salmon sandwich at the "Burger Grill".
  The grill was right next to LRO so I decided to ask for some advice from a "friend" who works there. He said that my best bet was streamers but big nymphs and some Griffiths' Gnats would work good too. I decided I would just stop at the next bridge. Once I got to the river I saw some 20" fish. I immediately tied on a #8 olive bugger. I only had one hit during the 1 1/2 hours I was there. It was getting late so I decided it might be best to go home.
  The Wood is a really good fishery in the winter, and it had huge midge hatches. Remember to layer up and bring 5mm waders.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Review of Rio Powerflex tippet

  This tippet material is tied-for-first (in my book) with Orvis tippets. Its probably the most popular among trout anglers in the U.S. I love it because it doesn't get crimped or bent when pinched and it comes at a good price. You might think that a $2.00 spool of tippet is the same as Rio's $5.00 spool of powerflex but there's a difference. It comes in spools of 30m and 0X to 8X for the average freshwater fisherman and up to 60 pound for saltwater anglers. If you want to land fish without losing flies then I suggest going with Powerflex.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Review of Sportsman's Warehouse Fly Fishing Leaders

  How much better can they get? The world may never know. My point, these are pretty much the best leaders I've ever used. I believe that they are actually made by Cortland but I'm not sure. They come in everything from 7 1/2'-12' and 0X-7X. The leaders also come at a really good price. I believe most of them are around $2.59. I strongly suggest you order some.