There’s no doubt about it that some of the best fly fishing in California is located in the northern part of the state. The Sierra Mountains provide some great scenery as well as some great rivers and streams where the fish are plentiful and the weather is great. Because the California weather is quite static, year-round fly fishing is available to the fisherman. Located above Crowley Lake, the Owens River is one of the best places to fish for trout in California. The river is one of a kind with a gentle current that flows through a glacial valley between mountains that are 9,000 feet tall or more. At one time, the Owens River provided water and power to Los Angeles. When they converted the gorge, much of the fish died out. With a restoration of the river back to a fly fishing destination, you can now find some beautiful brown or rainbow trout at any time of the year. The McCloud River is one of California’s premier trout fisheries. This River feeds Lake Shasta and was the breeding ground for rainbow trout that was shipped all over the country to stock other rivers and streams. You can find big brown trout as well as rainbow trout in plentiful supply on the McCloud. In Northern California, the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River provides some great fly fishing for some excellent trout. This river is one of the few places designated as wild trout waters by the state. This area receives a lot of fishing, so it’s a good idea to get there early in the morning to stake out your spot. Besides the normal species of trout, this river also boasts a hybrid variety of rainbow and golden trout with bright orange sides. Hat Creek is another great place to fly fish in California. These, too, have been designated trophy wild trout waters, and you will find plenty here. This creek is very well-suited to both beginning as well as experienced fly fishers. The banks are laden with heavy brush that provides some great hiding places for brown and rainbow trout. Much of the creek is heavily stocked, but there is some natural reproduction that takes place making Hat Creek a very easy place to fish. If you are looking to go fly fishing in California, you have a lot of options available to you. Much of the best fly fishing would be in the northern part of the state, but you can also find many other places where fish are plentiful and challenges about. You can’t go wrong with a fly fishing vacation in California.
December 26, 2009
Let’s Go Fly Fishing In California
Let’s Go Fly Fishing In Colorado
Some of the most spectacular fly fishing in the United States can be found in the state of Colorado. In fact, when many people think of fly fishing, they automatically think of Colorado before anyplace else. It is true that Colorado has some amazing fly fishing places that have some trophy-sized fish in them. The Frying Pan River is well-known as one of the best fly fishing rivers in the entire state. This is a beautiful river with easy access. Located just outside of Aspen, the Frying Pan is host to a variety of trout including rainbow, brown and cutthroat. There are year-round hatches making fly fishing in any season possible for the avid fisherman. Another great river in the Aspen area is the Roaring Fork. This diverse river varies from small and calm to large and mighty in places. The river is classified as wild trout waters and is easily accessible down the Rio Grande Trail. As with the “Pan”, year-round fishing is available. You will find mostly wild rainbow trout in the Fork with an occasional wild brook trout. The North Platte River was once used by pioneers to traverse portions of the West. Indians hunted buffalo along its shores, and its fish population has made it a legend among fly fishers. It is located in Northwestern Colorado and has been rated a gold medal river by experts. You will find many trout in the waters of the Platte and be able to enjoy some beautiful scenery at the same time! In the Vail area, you can fish the Colorado River which is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a river that is mostly wide and deep with a gently moving current. Cottonwood trees line the shore providing many hiding spaces for the brown trout that are abundant in this water. The Arkansas River is located in the southwestern portion of the state and provides some great trout fishing for anglers. Mid-winter is a great time to fish the Arkansas for trout as is the spring time. Around Mother’s Day every year, many fishermen descend on the Arkansas for the annual caddis hatch which is huge. Brown trout feed on caddis and they come “out of the woodwork” for this hatch. These are only a few of the places where fly fishing in Colorado is plentiful. The countryside is gorgeous and the fish plentiful. There are also lots of great lodges that accommodate fly fishermen on a year-round basis. Fly fishing in Colorado might be the piece de resistance for many fishermen. Check out this great state and enjoy your adventure!
December 23, 2009
Let’f Go Fly Fishing In Montana
One of the best parts about the sport of fly fishing is experiencing the scenery and calmness around you as you are trying to land your big fish. Montana is a great place to find some solitude while fly fishing. In fact, the vast expanses that surround the rivers and streams in Montana can provide you with some of the most relaxing solitude anywhere. Montana fly fishing is legendary. Anglers from all over the world travel to Montana to experience fly fishing the blue ribbon trout rivers and pristine mountain lakes. Whether an angler seeks to battle trophy sized wild rainbow trout on the Yellowstone River or to experience the solitude of a high mountain lake, Montana provides fly fishing experiences like no other place can. Montana provides such an abundance of opportunities that visiting anglers frequently have difficulty in deciding where to start their fly fishing adventure. There are so many beautiful places in the hills of Montana that can provide both solitude and great fishing, many people might be overwhelmed. But so many choices provide for some amazing chances at bagging that championship fish! For example, Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park is a beautiful spot for fly fishing. Flanked by mountains, this lake is not only a beautiful place to catch fish; it’s also an amazing spot for reflecting and relaxation. Of course, the Yellowstone River is the longest river in Montana. It is free of any major dams, and its flow is not regulated in any way, so you can find an abundance of fish in the solitude of the mountain air. In fact, the Yellowstone River is internationally known as one of the premier trout rivers in the United States. Even though you can expect to catch a variety of trout including rainbow and brown, you will also find whitefish and sturgeon aplenty. Even though the Yellowstone River is quite well known for its fly fishing in Montana, it is not overtaken by so many fly fishers that you can’t find a spot. It remains a beautiful secret available to those who are looking for the solitude of the Montana countryside. Finding solitude while fly fishing in Montana is a relatively easy proposition. All you need to do is a little bit of research and ask around. Those who are proud of the fly fishing waters in Montana are always more than happy to share the beauty of their state with people who are wanting to fish the waters.
December 19, 2009
Choosing Lodges For Alaska Fly Fishing
Alaska is well known for its incredible fly fishing, but it’s also a great place to go for a fly fishing vacation in a rustic lodge setting. You can find all kinds of lodges in the rustic country of Alaska that can make your fly fishing vacation a real adventure. This article will outline a few of these great destinations. The Alaska Rainbow Lodge claims to have the finest, most centrally located accommodations in Alaska. A short flight from Anchorage will put you in the middle of prime fly fishing territory. You can fish for rainbow trout and salmon and stay in a gorgeous lodge with all the amenities. They offer float planes to their guests that will take you to some of the most remote fishing areas where you will find quality fishing in any season. They can be found online at www.alaskarainbowlodge.com. Wilderness Place Lodge offers some excellent fly fishing accommodations along with some terrific amenities. They have guides that will lead you to the best place to fly fish for salmon or trout and boast riverside cabins and a 1:1 customer/guest ratio to insure excellent service during your stay there. They also offer classes to their guests on topics like fly tying and effective casting. They can be found online at www.wildernessplacelodge.com. The Lake Marie Lodge is another option for your fly fishing vacation. They specialize in rainbow trout and salmon fly fishing as well as sight fishing and surface fishing. Their experts offer fly fishers the opportunity to catch huge salmon and they fish all sorts of rivers and streams that are accessible to them only. They average about 14 guests at a time which allows them to provide the utmost in service. Their web address is www.lakemarie.com. The Alagnak River is known for its excellent fly fishing, and if you’re looking for a quality lodge located on the river, you may want to look at the Katmai Lodge. They have single, double, or private cabins that adjoin a common area where you can gather to share “fish stories” after a day of angling. They also offer Orvis sanctioned fishing expeditions that are led by some of the most experienced guides in the area. Research them online at www.katmai.com. When you are considering an Alaskan fly fishing vacation, you will want to find a lodge that can comfortably accommodate those in your party. The choices are many, and you will want to do your research before you book your trip. But most of these Alaskan lodges are committed to making your fly fishing trip the best you’ve ever had.
An Introduction to the Art of Fly-fishing
Fly fishing differs from regular fishing because you don’t use a heavy lure and a light line. Instead, using a fake fly on the end of the line, you cast out a heavy line with a thinner leader on the end. Often a color of ribbon, thread, or fur is tied to the fly. This gives fish the impression that what they see is a bug that they eat. Fly fishing lines are much heavier than regular fishing line, but are often designed to float. There are two types of fly fishing. Dry fly fishing involves the fly remaining on the surface of the water. Wet water fly fishing involves sinking the fly down into the water. Both methods are very effective. The use of the techniques is up to the person fishing and the circumstances on “fishing trips.
Fly fishing is practiced throughout the United States and Canada. The most common states for fly fishing are Montana, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, California, and Alaska. This is because of the amount of fish flowing through the Rocky Mountain area. West Yellowstone is considered the major hub for great fly fishing. More fish are caught here than any other location. Areas of Canada including Alberta as well as other water areas throughout the world are great locations for fly fishing.
Fly fishing is a great sport enjoyed by fisherman all over the world. This method of fishing requires artificial flies, and a rod that is very flexible. The sport of fly fishing has been around since at least 200 A.D. The first knowledge of the sport is found in books written during that time period. Today the sport remains very popular. Most people fly fish for trout, salmon, and bass.
This sport of fly fishing continues to be very popular, with no sign of letting up any time soon. Fly fishing enthusiasts spend lots of time and money fly fishing. They buy the best equipment and travel to the best fishing locations, hoping to be lucky enough to catch that great fish swimming upstream.
December 13, 2009
Information On Fly Fishing
The sport of fly fishing has been around for years and years. In medieval times, anglers fished for food, but the sport has evolved over the years to become a real test of skills. Anyone who has become involved in the sport of fly fishing knows how addictive in can be – but in a very good way! Fly fishing is markedly different from regular fishing. With plain fishing, you use lures and often live bait to bring fish to your line and hook them. When you are fly fishing, you use a fly that resembles a real insect that the fish feed on naturally. The line is longer and you mimic the movement of the fly or insect on top of the water so that the fish thinks they are biting at a real insect. Casting is constant in fly fishing. You put the fly out in the water and then draw it back several times so that the fish thinks the fly is landing on the water and then taking off again. With regular fishing, you cast your line and let it rest until the fish bites making the bobber sink into the water. You can catch some pretty hefty fish using either method, but when you are fly fishing, you have the opportunity to “battle” the fish for survival. This can be extremely satisfying as man battles nature for the top position. Flies are made out of natural materials in fly fishing while regular fishing utilizes latex and plastic lures made out of man-made materials. Many avid fly fishermen say that the fish are much more attracted to the natural lure rather than the man-made ones. This, they say, makes fly fishing an amazingly satisfying sport. You can fish just about anywhere – a local pond, a lake, or even a reservoir. When you are fly fishing, you will want to go where the fish are most plentiful. That means traveling (perhaps) to rivers and streams where fish like trout and walleye are known to live. The challenge in fly fishing lies in making the fly look real to the fish below water. Fly fishing in remote places like Alaska and Canada are great vacation getaways. You can plan a fly fishing trip to many different spots including Mexico, South America, and even Russia. That can be a great adventure – much more so than just fishing your local lake or pond. Chess has been called “the sport of kings”, but many avid fly fishermen consider fly fishing to be the real sport of kings. It takes skill, finesse, and a lot of patience to get good at fly fishing. Thousands of anglers couldn’t agree more. When you’ve been fly fishing once, you’ll want to go back over and over and over again. May the fish bite well for you!
December 9, 2009
Tips on Fly Fishing
There are thousands of live-bait anglers, who are excellent sportsmen, but the fly fisherman can practice better conservation from the beginning.
Basically, fly fishing is not only one of the fastest growing sports; it is one of the foremost forms of conserving natural resources as well as providing aquatic recreation.
Fly fishing is, very simple when three things are right: you must have a suitable rod; you must get a line to match it; and you must learn correct casting technique.
For people who wish to know some tips on fly fishing, here is a list of some pointers that could help anglers harness their fly fishing skills:
1. Material of the rod
For one of moderate means, and especially for the beginners, hollow glass is advised since it will require less care than bamboo and will not take a set if improperly handled or stored.
2. Line
Your fly casting skill will not progress with a mismatched rod and line. About 99 times in 100, the troubled fly caster has a line much too light to bring out the action of his rod.
That is why it is important to know that on any given rod, the fly fisherman should use the same size line for anything from small trout and bluegills up to the largest sea fish.
In choosing the size line, anglers should get a C level, an HCH double-taper, or a GBF three-diameter. This choice is based on the fact that a high percentage of fly rods bought nowadays are hollow glass, and that a great majority of these works best with lines of those sizes, almost regardless of lengths or weights.
3. The correct casting technique
In casting, it is important to get about 20 feet of line out front. Anglers should always remember to cast a straight line. Avoid jerky movements even if it is on a faster mode in order to do so.
Best of all, the angler should be relaxed because taunt muscles will ruin his casting.
Boiled down, there should be no reason why you should not learn the fundamental principles just as easily as those who now enjoy fly fishing.
Probably, the best and surest way to learn to cast successfully is to spend a day on the stream with some fisherman who is a competent caster.
Lessons learned on the stream are the best tips you can acquire anywhere in your quest for learning fly fishing.
December 1, 2009
Fly Fishing Equipment: What You Need for Success
Fly fisherman have tackle boxes and closets dedicated to their equipment. And while a person can list dozens of ?necessities? for a fishing trip, a fisherman really only needs a few essentials.
Obviously, everyone needs a fly rod if he plans on fly fishing. A good rod will be anywhere from 6 to 10 feet long. New fisherman should note that no other piece of equipment is more important than this rod, so if you have a liberal budget, give this road financial priority.
Ironically, while some will tell you that you cannot fish without a reel, you can. Many a successful fly fisherman has landed a nice fish without the mess of a reel. He just knows how to move his line. A reel does come in handy, though, for those seeking out the larger fish. This is especially important to warm water and saltwater fisherman.
Fly line comes in a variety of strengths but in a standard length. You will usually find it in 90 foot lengths but with weights depending on the pounds you are planning on landing. Fishermen rate their line according to grain, with 7000 grains equaling one pound. You can cast a heavier line farther and obviously land bigger fish, so this works best for those windy days. Lighter line obviously costs less and can work well on calm days when searching for smaller fish. You can even buy line in two styles: level and tapered.
Fishermen searching for Moby Dick utilize backing: an extra line that will give you more than the desired 90 feet of line. Though some might tell you that you really dont need this extra line, one reel will cost you only a few bucks, and it gives fishermen the security of knowing that if they do catch a big fish, they can land him with ease thanks to their extra line.
To affix your fly to your line, you will need a leader: a piece of transparent material that attaches to both elements. The leader will be as short as 6 feet and as long as 15 feet, just depending on what youre looking for. They have ratings based on a variety of things, from the diameter of the line, to the lines breaking point, to different business classifications.
Finally, no one can fly fish without a fly. Flies are basically artificial bait for the fish. Though no fly is alive or ever was, a good fly fisherman tries to either create or pick a fly that looks alive, because no fish wants to eat a dead bug. Flies will range in style from mimicking frogs to shrimp. Creative fly fishermen create their own flies from scratch using felt, wire, and even feathers.
So we can see that really no one needs a big closet for his fly fishing materials. In the end, fly fishing shouldnt take over the whole house but should still make its owner smile.
November 30, 2009
Canada Fly in Fishing
Canada Fly In Fishing
For some reason fly in fishing is still somewhat of a secret. I don’t personally know anybody outside of our fishing party that goes on Canada fly in fishing trips.
When I stop to think about it I have mixed feelings. On one hand I think it would be awesome to share fly in fishing stories. On the other hand I know the lack of fishing pressure is part of the reason fly in fishing is so fruitful.
Then solitude is another reason I enjoy fly in fishing. I don’t dislike people but it’s nice to totally remove myself from civilization sometimes. This definitely adds to the experience too. You feel so remote and justifiably so. The plane ride in lets you see exactly how remote you are. You may see an occasional cabin on an occasional lake but for the most part civilization disappears almost as soon as you take off, often before.
The scene from the air is not only remote but totally beautiful. Countless huge lakes and river systems cover the landscape. Huge boulders can be seen on the bottom of certain lakes from the air. Islands, mountains and trees of different color splash the live canvas and you realize no artist could ever dream of the view that beholds you.
It’s funny but most outfitter brochures don’t mention this part of the experience. Maybe it’s because they take it for granted or they don’t think it’s important enough to put to print. Whatever the reason they are missing out on a selling point if they don’t mention the plane ride.
Of course the fly in is just the beginning of the fishing trip but it gets me stoked every time I experience it.
Now days we fly in to a cabin. We used to camp and rough it in tents but camping life takes a lot more effort than staying in a cabin. This gives us more time to fish and get proper rest in a real bed. Having a refrigerator, gas range, wood stove, sink, fresh well water, lights and a bed makes a big difference now.
When I was younger I loved a fly in fishing/camping trip. If you are into camping then your skills will likely be challenged in northern Canada. Not having refrigerator and keeping food fresh for a week is tough. Staying dry is tough also. The cost to camp may exceed the cost to simply get a cabin. You usually have a 100 – 150 pound weight limit and are charged more for additional weight. 50 cents and up per extra pound should be expected.
If you want to go on a fly in fishing/camping trip don’t do it to save money because you likely won’t. Camp because you like camping and enjoy a real challenge. Don’t attempt camping in northern Canada unless you are experienced with camping in a remote wilderness. Seriously. If you want to find out more information visit my website: CanadaFlyInFishingReview.com. You will find just about everything you need to know about Canada fly in fishing. What to expect and how to prepare yourself for the entire trip.
Once you settle in to your location it’s time to hit the water and catch some fish. I like to fly in and be there for the spring walleye opener or the week after. The fishing is killer and the bugs usually aren’t real bad yet. Whatever you do don’t forget to bring insect repellant. You will want something good and strong, I like pure DEET and Deep Woods Off. Put the Pure DEET On your clothing and spray the Deep Woods Off on your skin. If things are bad I just use the pure DEET on my exposed skin, I don’t like to but sometimes… Make sure not to get that stuff on your fishing line or tackle. Fish don’t care much for it.
I usually go to a lake north of Nakina, Ontario. I’m not going to give the name but it’s killer for walleye and huge northern pike. We usually fish walleye in the morning and evening and hit the pike waters during the day when the walleye go deep. Trolling the shoreline with Johnson Silver Minnows is almost always productive in the spring. Silver Minnows are a weedless spoon and the weedless works as good or better than any other “trollable” weedless pike lure I’ve used. getting up near and into the weeds where you get that spring pike action. Bring lots of twister tails also. Tip the Silver Minnow spoons with a twister tail when the fishing slows down. Sometimes it’s all that’s needed to turn pike on when the barometer gets funny. A bad day of fishing in Canada blows away my best days fishing back home. You may find those days when pike slow down are the good days to latch into those lunkers. I don’t know why but it certainly happens. The biggest pike I ever saw was caught mid day on one of those off days. My dad was fishing while the rest of us were taking a nap around the camp fire. He taught us all a good lesson that day.
The walleye fishing is phenomenal. It can seem like it’s too easy sometimes. I like to jig fish in the mouth of or a inlet river. Usually a jig head with a yellow or white twister tail does the trick. Jig it just off the bottom. I also like to use a lure called Mimic Minnow. They work nearly as good as live minnows when they get tired of jigs. Remember though if they don’t hit your jig change the twister tail to a different color. The color of the jig head usually isn’t as important. Mornings and evenings are great times to catch walleye. If there is a hole near camp try to get out there just before dark, anchor up, set up a lantern and jig away. Rock and sandy bottom areas work good too. Just be careful moving across the lake in the dark. Don’t try to venture out too far especially if there are rocks near the water surface.
After catching northern pike and walleye all day a fishermen tends to get hungry and there’s nothing like fresh caught walleye to fill his belly. Eating fresh fish every night for a week is heaven to.
A Canada fly in fishing trip gives me a shot of energy like nothing else, I feel like a kid again. All that fresh air, excitement and visual stimulation overloads my sensory station and I go on a natural high that takes weeks to come down from.
Then all I can think about is getting ready for my next Canada fly in fishing trip.
Two Keys to Fly Fishing Success
Fly fishing is a spectacular hobby. Very few pastimes combine so many interesting features. From physical dexterity to a knowledge of biology to a mastery of area entomology, fly fishers are able to explore so many exciting topics in their quest for those thrilling moments when a fish leaps and takes a fly in his mouth.
As with so many worthwhile pursuits, however, it isn’t always easy. In exchange for the fun, fulfillment and excitement offered by the hobby, one must put forth a genuine effort. Fortunately, much of the work is fun. Any angler would enjoy reading more about the hobby and the game he or she will be pursuing. Anyone with the slightest interest in fly fishing won’t mind practicing his or her cast until the body’s muscles have memorized each element of the motion.
Successful anglers should be role models for all of us. They have combined three powerful traits that can help anyone to live a better and more successful life. Consider the two keys to fly fishing success. While you do, think about how those lessons might apply to anyone’s life and how fly fishing just might be something of a microcosm of life.
Patience is a virtue. That sentiment has been expressed so many times that it has almost lost its meaning. Clearly, the message has been lost by many of us as we move through our hectic lives at warp speed, rarely even stopping to catch our breath. Those who fly fish, however, have acknowledged the importance of patience and have made it part of their lives.
A day of fly fishing may feature scores of struggles with potential trophy fish. A day fraught with that kind of excitement, however, is no more likely than a day spent with only a single nibble. No-catch days are common, yet the fly fishing master will still stand in that unmistakable posture, casting again and again, waiting patiently for his opportunity.
Those who don’t practice patience find themselves switching casts, flies and locations so often that they rarely have a line above the water. The only successful anglers are those who have patience.
Knowledge is power. That’s another old cliche many of us disregard. We jump in headfirst without knowing exactly what we are doing and without the information necessary to successfully confront a challenge. An angler, on the other hand, comes to the stream with knowledge. He or she understands the equipment, the stream, the weather, the fish likely to be swimming about and a host of other factors.
Those who attempt to fly fish without that kind of knowledge are far more likely to have their patience tested than the well-informed, who are able to maximize their chance of success. Those who fish with a box full of tackle and a mind full of data are the ones most likely to leave happily at the end of the session.
Does all of this mean that those who fly fish are somehow superior to those of us who don’t? I am sure a few fly fishing advocates might argue that is the case, but that really isn’t the point. The crucial thing to recognize is that fly fishing encourages both the development and use of a few mental habits from which we all could certainly benefit.
Fly fishing is an object lesson in the value of patience and the power of knowledge. It shows us that taking those two concepts to heart can be the difference between a fulfilling experience and frustration. That’s an important lesson no matter how it is taught.
Imagine how peoples lives might be improved if everyone committed themselves to being knowledgeable and found it within themselves to be a little more patient. It’s hard to argue that the world wouldn’t be a better place. Will fly fishing make you a better person? Not necessarily. Then again, it may remind you and those around you of the value of those two key attributes. Fly fishing is patience and knowledge in action and the result is really quite amazing.