FARM STORE FLY FISHING
MARCH 2014
ALWAYS FREE
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
with Calvin Fuller
STEELHEAD on the OP
with Denver Rathbun
SHOP REPORTS
from our Field Ops
+
FLY TYING Employee of the Month
Christmas Island Bonefish Fly
Creature of the Month
Hickman’s Skiddish Smolt
CHECK OUT GREAT DEALS ON LOOP TACKLE ON PAGE 3
MARCH 2014 • VOL 7, ISSUE 2 bigrflyshop.com
CONTENTS FEATURES
14
Christmas Island by Calvin Fuller A First Timer’s Perspective
DEPARTMENTS
3
Deals of the Month: Loop Tackle
4
From the Shops
10
Hot Flies
12
Fly Rods and Reels at Great Prices
• Great Falls: Olympic Peninsula - Denver Rathbun • Ponderay: F3T Announcement - Dustin Bise • Omak: Ice Off Lake Fishing - Greg Bennett
Leeches, Minnows & More
Fly Tying: Christmas Island Bonefish Fly Plus Hickman’s Skiddish Smolt
20 Tip/Maintenance with Fred Telleen Carry Some Zap-A-Gap
ON THE COVER: Photo by Kate Taylor/Frigate Adventure Travel THIS PAGE: Photo by Alfonso Martinez
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DEALS of the MONTH Loop Tackle With innovative designs and quality products, Loop Tackle is at the forefront of y rods and reels. Big R carries a complete line up at great prices, from the acclaimed Cross S1 rods and Opti reels, to the more modest, yet uncompromised, Xact and Multi series rods and reels. Take advantage of these great deals on Xact rods and reels, Multi reels, and Incite combos.
PLAY
FLY REEL XACT SERIES 5-8 LEFT 557645/XACT5-8L
$15 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase FLY REEL XACT SERIES 2-6 LEFT 557642/XACT2-6L
$15 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase FLY REEL MULTI 3/6 867449/LOOPML3-6L
$30 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase FLY REEL MULTI 6/9
FLY FISHING COMBO INCITE 9FT 5WT 557699/IKIT5L
$40 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase FLY ROD XACT 9FT 4WT 557612/XACT2-490-4MF
$40 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase FLY ROD XACT 9FT 5WT 557615/XACT2-590-4MF
$40 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase
867452/LOOPM6-9L
$30 BIG R GIFT CARD with purchase p.03
SHOP REPORTS GREAT FALLS
Ben Dow and Andrew Grillos with Uncle Buck
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Olympic Peninsula Denver Rathbun
I recently had the opportunity to fish the Olympic Peninsula on Washington’s coast. The dates were set and weather conditions were shaping up for what we hoped would be a successful trip. During the winter months on the OP, weather conditions can change on a whim and inches of rain can fall in an evening, rendering most rivers unfishable. These events can be difficult to gauge, especially from Montana - so all one can do is hope for the best and make due when conditions change. I arrived at SeaTac around 7am, happy to be off Horizon’s bumpy little plane and that much The exact moment I realize a bright hen has flossed me closer to my final destination. Once on the on a submerged log and broken off ground, I sent my girlfriend towards the University District to visit her brother in strange smelling, little cab with a talkative/shifty, little cab driver. Minutes later, Andrew Grillos was pulling down the arrivals lane, boat in tow. We wasted little time getting out of the city and heading west towards the coast. Once on the Peninsula, the weather turned from wind and rain to blue skies and sunshine. The Olympic range was in plain view as we cruised west and three and a half hours after leaving the airport we had arrived in Forks, WA. Forks is a small logging/fishing town famed for its association with the popular vampire novels in The Twilight series and its lack of fast food joints. Our pit stop here was quick as we planned to meet Joe Pombrio on the Hoh for a half day float. We found Joe swinging a run in the Hoh and quickly wrangled him up to position our vehicles for the float. After all the morning’s activities, we still managed to be on the water by 1:30PM. It took literally ten seconds for Joe to hook up from the back of the boat but came unpinned just as quickly. That would be the only fish we’d see that evening, but were blessed with great weather on my first encounter with an OP river. That evening Ben Dow showed up to join the mix and we spent the next two days on the Hoh fishing from the boat and swinging water we deemed suitable. As those accustomed to these rivers might tell you, swinging flies in February can be tough and one might spend days on the water before feeling any sign of a fish. Our experience definitely gave credibility to that statement but we did manage to stir up 2, 3, or 4 fish a day using a variety of tactics. I managed to be the first on the board with a little brat which would turn out to be my only fish to hand the entire trip. I would manage a disappointing 1 – 4 success rate during our stint on the OP and each lost opportunity was like a dagger to the heart. With those crushing losses also came an onslaught of sleet, rain and freezing temperatures. The remaining days on the coast were cold and wet but the rivers remained intact and fishing consistent. Despite my inability to land a fish, Ben and Andrew managed a handful of beautiful wild specimens with relative ease. Andrew pulled two fish from the same piece of water ten minutes apart while Ben and I were swinging through some water below him. As he’d fight a fish, I’d be reeling up my gear and running towards the boat to grab the camera and net. Ten minutes later, when I had just stripped out enough running line to start casting again, he was hooked up and I’d have to start the whole process over again. I suppose that’s the least a guy can do for somebody who spent 4 days working his butt off to get you into fish.
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Olympic Peninsula con’t After fishing the Hoh we redirected towards the Sol Duc and Calawah rivers for a change of scenery. These rivers are smaller, faster, and certain stretches are tough to float, especially in a hard boat. The action is a little faster in these rivers when you’re fishing from the boat and there are innumerable boulders and pockets for fish to be hiding in. We continued to see a handful of fish each day despite the cold, snowy weather. It was snowing hard enough for a while that watching your line on the water in-between the large flakes pouring down made you feel disoriented and off balance. Overall we had a great trip and I was happy to experience the Olympic Peninsula. The fish were amazing, the landscape was impressive, and Andrew and Ben showed me a great time. The O.P. lived up to expectations and validated its reputation for having unbelievably wet weather and strong native winter steelhead. I won’t make it back out there until next season but you can bet I’ll be looking for redemption.
OMAK
“Ice Off”
Greg Bennett When the ice first comes off the lakes, I’m ready to hit the water with my pontoon boat and fly box full of leaches and balanced leaches. Typically, I tie these on #12 and #14 jig hooks in light olive, dark brown, and black, and fish them under an indicator. I also work the weed edges with a #12 or #14 water boatman. As the fish cruise the shallow water looking for food, remember to keep your presentation small until the hatches have time to develop. These patterns are great for producing fish on my favorite lakes – Big Green Lake for ‘bows, Rat and Omak Lakes for browns, and Blue Lake for cutties.
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PONDERAY
Big R Fly Shop to Host Sandpoint Film Fest 2014 - Dustin Bise Trout Unlimited and Big R Fly Shop will again be hosting the 2014 Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) and the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) on April 25th and April 26th respectively at the historic Panida Theater in Sandpoint, ID. Each of these festivals will showcase a wide variety of fishing films from around the country and around the world. These two shows represent cutting edge film making, exotic fishing destinations, as well as highlighting important conservation issues. On Saturday, April 26th we will be hosting a Demo Day at Big R Ponderay with legendary special guest instructor Tim Rajeff. Doors open at 6pm with the show starting at 7pm. There will be cold refreshments on hand and raffle prizes as well. Proceeds for this event will benefit Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Pend Oreille Water Festival. Tickets are available in advance for $12 at Big R Fly Shop, Eichardt’s Pub, and $15 at the door. If you have any questions, stop in at the shop or call (208) 255-5757 for details. Eichardt’s Pub 212 Cedar St, Sandpoint, ID (208) 263-4005
Here is a look at some of the films I am most excited to see. Tributaries This film looks to have some absolutely amazing cinematography and time lapse scenes from three of the worlds most renowned fishing destinations. Tributaries is a journey to uncover the commonality among different cultures, people and water. It explores the contrasting experiences of three diverse guides; a Bahamian flats-drifter, a Patagonian trout bum and a Viking-blooded Icelander. http://www.flyfilmtour.com/tributaries-trailer Alaska-la-frontera The result was an expedition into the heart of the Alaskan bush. The crew revisited an unknown and largely untouched river system explored by RA Beattie and Alaska guide Mark Rutherford almost a decade earlier. Their intention? To target sportfish primarily with topwater. To learn more about this film please visit the official website for more videos, photos, reports and a full tour schedule: http://alaskafishingfilm.com or http://www.flyfilmtour.com/alaska-la-frontera
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HOT FLIES
OMAK
Check out these hand selected patterns for each shop’s local waters.
BH
Vogt’s
Blue Gentleman
Speckled Double Bead Stone Black
GREAT FALLS
Semi Seal Leech Black/Red
Coffee’s
Galloup’s
Miller
Ish’s
Articulated Sparkle Minnow
Dungeon
PONDERAY
CH Sparkle Minnow
Wilson’s
Jumbo
JuJu Chironomid Olive #6 p.10
Time Rainbow Trout
Swinger Craw Tan
Use Them. Catch Fish.
Repeat.
Hot
DB Stone Black
OB
Squirrel Leech Red/Black
Hickman’s
Telleen’s
BB
Dolly
Skiddish Smolt
Franks Flashy CN Purple
Polar Minnow
Llama Olive/White #2 p.11
EMPLOYEE of the MONTH
Christmas Island Bonefish Fly tied by Calvin Fuller Materials List: Hook: Size 8 Bonefish Fly Hook Thread: UTC 140 Fl. Orange Body: UV Crystal Flash Orange Eyes: Small Silver Bead Chain Wing: EP Stream Brush Fibers, trimmed.
PLAY
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CREATURE of the MONTH
Hickman’s Skiddish Smolt tied by Fred Telleen Dai Riki #700 size 4 Streamer Hook 210 Ultra Thread - White Hareline Brass Cone Head - Nickel - Large .035 Lead Wire V-Rib - Small - Red Pearl Flashabou - Extra Limp Silver Flashabou - Extra Limp Olive Ostrich Plume Ice Dub - UV Pearl
PLAY
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FEATURE REPORT
Christmas Island
From a First-Timer’s Perspective - Calvin Fuller
First off I would like to extend a huge thank you to my good friends Justin Crump and Kate Taylor with Frigate Travel Adventures for helping me with this trip. They were extremely professional and helped me prep for the trip and really helped during the trip. Without them, I could not have made this trip happen. I would also like to thank my good friend Tim Pask for prepping me for the trip. He has knowledge of the island and the fishery better than anyone I know. Thank you guys for all your help! Trip preparation and anticipation is a hard thing to explain when you are travelling to a p.14
place you have dreamed and read about for most of you fly fishing life. I first heard of Christmas Island when I was 18 years old working at “The Guides Fly Shop” in Bellingham, WA. We had several customers that had been there and told me stories of endless bonefish and huge trevally that were nearly impossible to land. 14 years later my dreams became a reality. Big R Fly Shop and Frigate Travel teamed up to host a trip to Christmas Island. A very close friend of mine, Tim Pask, had been to the island several times had has even written articles on the island is various magazines. Tim, Justin, and Kate helped me prep for the trip
by pointing me in the direction for gear and expectations. Tim kept saying Giant Trevally are “Butt Kickers” that will fly through a fishermen’s gear until everything is broken. TRIP PREP Gear was the first thing on my mind. I wanted to make sure I had enough tough and reliable gear so I wouldn’t run out. At the same time, I didn’t want to pack too much stuff and get charged the $107 for and extra bag on Fiji Airways. I chose to bring Loop Cross S1 Rods in 7 WT, 10WT, and 12WT as well as a back-up 12WT. For Reels, I went with the Loop Opti Speed Runner for my 7WT and Loop Opti Mega Loops for my 10 and 12. When fishing for GT’s, the Mega Loop drags have to be adjusted tighter than they come from the factory. This can be done, but be sure to be very careful with the allen screws on the drag knob, they seem to strip out if you are not careful. GEAR For Giant Trevally (GT) gear I ran 65# Power-Pro for backing, Rio Tarpon floating fly line, and a straight 60lb Fluorocarbon leader about 9 feet in length. Looking back on what happened during the trip, I should have run heavier backing and heavier leader…at least 80lb. Flies that worked very well were mullet style flies tied with fish masks or similar UV cure heads. I also noticed that the mullet on CXI don’t have the black tails like mullet elsewhere. Their tail is grey (rather than black) and their pectoral fins have black on them. I would recommend tying flies in tan and brown and bring a sharpie with you to add black where needed. For bonefish, I used my 7WT and fished a floating bonefish line with a 12’ tapered
leader that was down to 16lb fluorocarbon for tippet. Flies that really worked for bonefish were small Tan, Peach, and Orange tied on size 8 hooks and hair slightly longer than the hook shank. Calf tail, craft fur, and Steve Farrar Flash Blend made good wings. These flies worked really well for the inside lagoon area. On the outside flats flies could be fished bigger up to size 2. Small bead chain eyes worked the best however be sure to bring some that have heavier eyes for windy days or deeper water. Black eyes worked the best for me. TRIP IN MOTION Waking up at 3 am and leaving Sandpoint was not hard to do. It was 17 degrees the morning we left and I knew we would soon be in 85 degree weather. The weather is almost the same everyday on the island due to its proximity to the equator. We flew into Honolulu, HI and went to the international terminal the next day to board our flight for Christmas Island. Once in the terminal we purchased our libations for the trip in the duty free store near the gate. This is the cheapest and easiest way to transport liquids to the island. The flight was a short 2 hours and 45 min. Once we landed on the island we were expected to pay $50 US cash for our fishing license. After that you simply walked out the door to your lodge truck that was waiting. It was about a 40 minute car ride to our lodge, the Ikari House. Once at the lodge, we had plenty of time to get our gear in order for the next day’s fishing. The Ikari house offered spacious rooms with plenty of large tables to lay out your gear. American style electrical plugs were available for charging cameras and computers. Wi-Fi is available at the Ikari house, but it is slow. So be prepared to be detached from the world for a few days. p.15
There is no cell service on the island and no land lines. Satellite phones are not readily available, but can be tracked down. IKARI HOUSE The lodge itself was set right on the ocean near the mouth of the lagoon. The staff and guides were so ready to please you that it was important to re-phrase your questions to get answers sometimes. If you gave them a yes or no option to answer the question, the answer was always “yes.” One very nice thing about the Ikari house is it is literally located 2 minutes from the boats. Most other lodges have to drive 30-45 min every morning to get to the boats. The boats at the Ikari house are top of the line for the island and use new 140hp Suzuki engines for a fast safe transport to the flats or blue water fishing. Most other boats were outrigger style boats that took 45 min to get to various fishing spots. Lunches were packed for us every day and kept on ice. Bottled water, beer, and soda were available to put into the coolers as well. A large grease board was set up and water, beer, and soda were marked down on an honor system for purchase. Items ran between $2-3. Every day after fishing we were met with large amounts for fresh Tuna Sashimi, chips and salsa, and sometimes chicken wings. Dinners consisted of fish, pork, or chicken (the only animals on the island). There is very little fresh fruit or fruit juice available on the island, but canned juice can be purchased at one of the local stores. There is plenty of Tang..in fact, the guides live off the stuff. All the guides at the Ikari house are very good and spot fish very well. They mostly point their rod to the fish and try and give you a broken description where the fish is. This turned out to be a challenge for some anglers due to the communication barrier. p.16
FISHING In 2010, the native population of the island stopped netting bonefish for subsistence. They realized that bonefish anglers provided their primary source of income for the island. Now there are steep fines for any possession of a dead bonefish. Within the last 4 years the numbers and sizes of bonefish have exploded. We have several shots a day at double digit bonefish and many bonefish over 5 pounds were hooked and landed. Last year a 36” bonefish was landed on the island by a good friend of mine. They are definitely on the rebound and sizes should increase each year. Some anglers caught more than others, but it was very easy to get countless shots at fish every day and hook 10-20 fish on average. Of those fish landed about half were good size “big bonefish” according to the guides. It seemed there were three “types” of bonefish, according to the guides. “Bonefish” was usually something up to 2 pounds, “Big Bonefish” was usually 3-8 pounds, and “Huge Bonefish” was over 8 pounds. The guides definitely got excited to see “Huge Bonefish.” The flats on the inside of the lagoon are very easy to walk and are usually between 6-12 inches deep in most places. They are white with some orange mixed in and fish are very easy to spot. Along the edges of the flats it drops off into beautiful blue water and GT’s are often cruise these edges in search of any prey. Flats on the outside of the island are typically rockier and the fish appear blue rather than white/grey. Bonefish were easier to spot on the outside and the average size, for us, was larger on the outside flats. The outside flats are much harder to walk than the lagoon flats, but for me, it was my favorite part of the island.
DAY 1 The first flat we were dropped on, turned out to be my favorite place of the trip. Its name….I can’t let that information out. It was a place where the lagoon met the open ocean and you can walk all the way out to the huge breakers during low tide. We started fishing it as the tide went out. Walking the rocky coral bottom turned out to be harder than I expected. Be sure to bring neoprene socks and good flats boots. As we walked out to the end of the flat we spotted several smaller GT’s and I blew my first 3 shots landing the fly too close to the fish. I asked the guide “to close” and he kept saying “yes.” I then asked him how far he wanted me to lead the fish. He said “6 feet”… not 7 or 5, but “6 feet.” We had several shots and smaller Bluefin trevally, which we landed. Then I saw it. The shape I had been looking for. At first I thought it was a dolphin or some other sort of sea creature, but it turned out to be a GT around 80 pounds. When I cast to the GT, I must have landed the fly “6 feet” in front of the fish because the second the fly landed it turned instant to my fly charged and ate. I will never forget the head of that fish pushing water, its huge eyes looking what I thought was right at me, then eating my fly. “Strip, Strip, Stop!!” Chomp. It was epic, everything I had dreamed of and I had only been there an hour. After hooking the fish I quickly gave Nathan (my guide) a high five then tightened my drag and went to work. 250 yards of backing later my reel starts making a terrible sound and I see that my backing has somehow wrapped under itself. I begin running towards the fish, but it is too late. My 60lb leader snapped like a blowtorch through butter. I was a little heart broken, but I fed a big GT and that was good enough for me. More high fives and laughter and we p.17
rod back to Nathan and started scanning again for GT’s. DAYS 2-6 ..Went by in a blur. We fished outside flats hooking and landing GT’s, Bluefin Trevally, and bonefish up to 7-8 pounds. The larger bonefish would wrap you around coral so you literally had to hold your rod as high as you could and run after the fish as it dodged and weaved through the rocks. The guides always got a good laugh at us idiots making complete fools of ourselves.
re-rigged and continued our search. A few more shots at GT’s with no luck because I must have been landing the fly 5.5 feet in front of the fish, instead of 6. Walking back we started throwing to bonefish. They were everywhere. Big blue beautiful bonefish. After hooking several, I handed my bonefish
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We managed to get about 3 hours of blue water fishing in trolling for Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi and whatever else was out there. We hooked up right out of the gate when we were setting our first line. The fish straightened a rather large split ring that Crump had no faith in…I really should have listened to him and put bigger split rings on. After that Scott Brow landed a 40 pound tuna, we then hooked three wahoo, a nice mahi mahi and then Scott tied into a Tuna pushing 100 pounds. 50 minutes later the big tuna was landed and we were all wiped out. We did manage to chase some birds and watch tuna fly out of the water chasing bait, however it as too inconsistent to get them on a fly. We decided to go look for more GT’s.
THE FUTURE Overall I am excited for the future of Christmas Island and the future of the Ikari House. The bonefishing is coming back strong and will soon be, once again, one of the best accessible bonefishing destinations in the world. As for the Ikari House, their staff and plans for expansion will offer a first class lodging experience on Christmas Island, which you won’t find anywhere else. GEAR LIST Bluewater Trolling 40# mono Count Down 30 Plugs most colors 100# Bite Wire 2-3 feet in length attached to the lure Rods/Reels heavy enough for 100+ pound Fish Bluewater Jigging Butterfly Jigs 80-100 pound Power Pro Giant Trevally (Fly Fishing) 10-12WT rod Large reel with good drag Mullet style flies in brown, tan, Green, or those colors mixed Fish Masks with eyes or UV cure with eyes (eyes are important) Black Sharpie
Scissors for trimming flies 65-100# Power Pro Spectre backing Full floating tarpon taper fly line 60-100# fluorocarbon leader Knot Connections: Arbor knot to reel Double bimini from backing to fly line Non-slip mono loop or equivalent for Leader to Fly Line Non-slip mono loop to fly Bonefish 7-9 WT rod. Saltwater reel Flies ranging from Size 2-8 with bead chain eyes Tan, peach, orange, white and green flies tied short (just longer than the hook bend) 9-12 foot tapered fluorocarbon leaders. 15# tippet Trigger Fish 7-9 WT rod Saltwater reel Crab Flies weighted tan, white, or peach. Small orange or peach bonefish flies 20# Fluorocarbon
Photos by Justin Crump and Kate Taylor/Frigate Adventure Travel
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SHOP TIP Carry Some Zap-A-Gap Fred Telleen
Whenever I go on a fishing trip, I always carry some Zap-A-Gap. It has many uses for both emergency repairs and general maintenance. I have used Zap to fill in cracks or cuts in fly lines. I have repaired splits in thread wraps on fly rods. I have saved some tattered fish catching flies with a little spot of Zap in the correct place. With a little thread wrapping or a nail knot of mono, you can quickly create or repair tattered loops in fly lines or tips. If your fly rod tip top should come loose, some Zap will end that problem. Zap has saved more than one pair of broken sunglasses. I have even done some emergency rod tip repair splices with a little Zap on a hook shank threaded into both ends of the broken tip. Got a line cut on your stripping finger? Zap can fill that too. I once filled the hole a 5/0 hook left in my hand after getting tugged on by a 30# King Salmon. Often, things come apart and Zap can put them back together and save the day.
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{
Missouri River • Montana Fish Perspective
Photo by Alfonso Martinez
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Yellowfin tuna caught by Scott Brow Photo by Don Helms
Great Falls, Montana 406 761-7918 4400 10th Ave S
Ponderay, Idaho 208 255-5757 477181 N Hwy 95
Omak, Washington
www.bigrflyshop.com
509 422-9840
1227 Koala Dr
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