FARM STORE FLY FISHING EXCLUSIVE: More from Idaho Photographer Tim Pask
JUNE 2013
New Face in the Fly Shop Great Falls’ Falls’ Denver Denver Rathbun Rathbun Great
Wader Maintenance Rip and and Tear Tear Repair Repair Rip
Handle With Care Fish Handling Handling Etiquette Etiquette Fish
Aquatic Arsenal Streamer Setup Setup Streamer
pg.3
BigRFlyShop.com
CONTENTS
JUNE 2013 • VOL 6, ISSUE 6 bigrflyshop.com
pg.3 FEATURES
5 New Face at the Fly Shop by Rob Guevarra Denver Rathbun joins the Great Falls team
9 Handle With Care by Dustin Bise
Proper fish handling ethics before and after the catch
11 Photographer Spotlight More from Idaho photographer Tim Pask
DEPARTMENTS
7 Aquatic Arsenal by Denver Rathbun Streamer Slayer setup
19 Creature Classic by Denver Rathbun Keith’s Partridge
ON THE COVER & THIS PAGE Photos by Tim Pask
21 Creature Feature by Calvin Fuller Crawdad Intruder
23 Wader Maintenance by Matt Gutzmann Rip and tear wader repair
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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pg 3
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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580P Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
• Best Plastic Lenses Available • Repels Water & Oils • Blocks Yellow Light
pg 4
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
New FACE @ the .......
Fly Shop
Denver Rathbun
Interview by Rob Guevarra
"So far I've had a great experience working in the shop. The staff has been very welcoming and helpful, making the transition a pleasant one. I'm looking forward to a busy season and getting to know the local fisherman and local waters".
pg 5
Streamer Fisherman • Gearhead • Rock Skipper In mid-May, the Great Falls Fly Shop team was made one man stronger with the long anticipated addition of Montana native Denver Rathbun. Long anticipated because rumors of his arrival began drifting around the fly shop right around the time Fred Telleen was preparing to head up to the Kenai River to start his guide season in Alaska. Denver, a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa of North Dakota, was born on the Flathead Indian Reservation in St. Ignatius, Montana. He grew up a stones throw north in Polson, a small town nestled on the southern shore of Flathead Lake with a population of a little less than 4,500 according to the 2010 census. Denver recalls drowning worms to catch fish at the age of 5. His interest in fly fishing began later in high school when he and his friends started paying attention to hatches and tying flies.
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
After graduat age student, he compl a degree in Construct been in the construc estimating, eventuall land, Oregon. When asked w Denver replies "I like current gearhead pro in 1984. He rode it w old enough to ride it about it next time you
tion, Denver migrated to Bozeman to become a Bobcat. An above averleted his tour of the halls of academia at Montana State University with tion Engineering Technology. Most of his previous work experience has ction industry. Mostly grunt work in the beginning, he moved on to ly doing quality control work for a thermoplastics company out of Port-
what some of his other hobbies and passions are aside from fly fishing, skipping rocks, spending time outdoors, and building motorcycles". His oject is cleaning up the Honda Magna that his father bought brand new with his dad when he was a kid but the bike was sold before Denver was on his own. A few years ago, he and the Honda were reunited. Ask him u're in the Great Falls shop. It's a great story.
“Most of my free time while attending college at MSU was dedicated to fishing the surrounding rivers, with a large percentage of that time being split between the Yellowstone, Lower Madison and numerous other locations I am not at liberty to discuss. The spring time has always been dedicated to streamer fishing by myself and my trusted group of fishing buddies. Many long and grueling days were put in to develop the fishing program we stick to today, but when streamer fishing seems to be ineffective or unrealistic to the conditions at hand, I am happy to throw a bobber or dry fly just the same. I'd also like to give a shout out to my trusted group of fishing friends from all over the state and thank a few in particular for sharing their vast knowledge and experience. Those of you who this is directed towards will know.� - Denver Rathbun
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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ARSENAL Denver’s Streamer Rig by Denver Rathbun
Line - Airflo Streamer Max Rod - Echo 2 10' eight weight Reel - Lamson Speedster Spring run-off is hands down my favorite time of the year to fish. With the above mentioned components I am able to effectively fish high, dirty water conditions. The 10' Echo eight weight rod provides plenty of backbone to throw the biggest streamer in your box effectively and accurately for those situations where you need to pick out tiny holding pockets against the bank. pg 7
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
The Airflo streamer max line is a heavy shooting head that gets your bugs down quickly with no need for superfluous false casting. Finally, the Lamson Speedster was designed with an oversized and narrow arbor which makes catching up to fish a piece of cake. The narrow component of the arbor also minimizes the need to guide your fly line evenly on the spool. Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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PESCA PROTOCOL
Handle with
Proper Fish Handling
Care by Dustin Bise
Considerations Before & After the Catch
L
ast summer on a large northwest Montana tailwater I was probing deep pools below powerful waterfalls with double nymph rigs, searching for a taste of native redband rainbow trout, and praying for the slow steady tug of an ancient bull trout. I hooked into a small rainbow sitting in a tailout of the canyon pool. Downstream was deadly whitewater and large cliffs dropping strait down into a raging river. There was no way to chase a fish here, so when my trout decided to head downstream all I could do was apply pressure and hope for the best. The fish swam into an undercut rock bank and wrapped my 4x leader around an old log. I tried my best to free the fish but I was unable to do so without risking my own life, so I eventually cut my line and left the fish to die a slow death, unable to move to feeding lies and at the mercy of any bull trout that would happen upon him. This is the story of the last trout I killed. Fishing is a blood sport; there is no way around the fact. As ethical anglers, it is important to mitigate the harm we cause to fish. The aim of this article is to give you an arsenal of tips and tools to provide the fish with the best chance of survival. Choose Your Weapons Wisely Let’s first talk about the importance of fishing gear proper to the size of the fish we are targeting. Using a rod that is not powerful enough to effectively turn and fight a fish is a great way to kill a fish.
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If you are fishing for 5 pound trout with a 5x tippet and a 3wt rod the battle could last 20 to 30 minutes. Same goes for using a 5wt rod for steelhead; you have no control over the fish and must fight him to the point of exhaustion to land the fish. This is not ethical. Let me explain what happens by relating it to our own bodies. When you go for a run or mountain bike ride and your legs start to burn what you are feeling is lactic acid building up faster than our body can effectively deal with it. The result is a burning sensation in the legs, then DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) that peaks between 24 and 72 hours after the intense exercise event. Fish experience the same thing, but lactic acid build up to a fish can be lethal. Lactic acid issues become more important in water with low dissolved oxygen content (warm water). As lactic acid builds in the muscle tissue, the pH level of the fish changes and can lead to irregular heart rhythms which in turn lead to delayed mortality. The fish can swim away and seem fine, then die the next day (or as long as three days after the release). Because of this, it is important to land all fish as quickly as possible, which means fishing gear on the heavy side. Save the 3wt for small trout, even if it is more fun to fight a 20 inch fish for 30 minutes. Landing Nets Now that you are understand why it is important to land fish quickly and efficiently, let’s talk about what to do when you are actually landing the fish. First and foremost, a net is a VITAL tool for successful catch and release angling. There are a variety of nets on the market, but the best nets are coated in rubber. The rubber coating helps preserve the protective slime on the fish. They are also ideal for not catching the hook point into the net, which helps avoid a fish with leader wrapped into its gill plate. The WORST option would be a knotted net, which effectively acts like a cheese grater on the fish’s protective coating and removes scales at the same time.
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
No Net? No Problem If you are going to land a fish without a net, position yourself downstream of the fish, turn his head and drift the fish into your legs and grab the fish by the tail. For smaller fish, grab your leader and guide the fish into your hand, supporting it around the belly. Always make sure to wet your hands before handling any fish, to help preserve their protective slime coating. Grip and Grin Now that you have your paws on the fish, it is time to take a quick snapshot. While your photographer prepares, keep the fish’s head in the water so he can breathe. When you’re ready to take the picture, quickly lift the fish from the water supporting its body horizontal. The fish only needs to be out of the water for five seconds or so
WORST
The worst option for landing nets are those of the knotted variety. They act like cheese graters on the fish’s protective coating and remove scales.
while the image is taken then return it to the water immediately. If multiple photos are needed, repeat the process. Do not hold the fish high above rocks, over the boat, or on shore because if it slips from your hands you want it to gently land in the water, not take a six foot fall onto a rock. Clear Water Revival When it comes time to revive a fish, simple hold it gently in the water until it is ready to swim off on its own. Never throw a fish back into the water. In lakes, it may be useful to keep your boat in gear and hold the fish alongside the boat till it is revived. When the fish is ready, it will swim off on its own. Avoid pulling the fish back and forth by the tail as this is not a proven technique for aiding in fish revival.
BETTER
Fine micro mesh nets with rubber coating are a great alternative. Chances of getting a hook caught in the mesh is greatly reduced.
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
BEST
Thermoplastic rubber nets are always the best bet for catch and release anglers. Good luck getting a hook caught in one of these nets.
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TIM PASK O
nce again, Tim Pask graces the pages of our eMagazine with another breathtaking sampling of his work. What’s he up to now? “SitPHOTOGRAPHY ting at home with a bag of ice on my "good knee", while my plane heads off to Baja, where I had intended to chase roosters on the beach for 6 days. My youth is coming back to haunt me”. Get well soon, Tim!
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Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
Char on the American River
TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY
Grayling on Notellum Creek
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY pg 13
Grayling on Notellum Creek
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY
Rainbow on Funnel Creek
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY pg 15
Rainbow on the American River
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY
Rainbow on Funnel Creek
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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TIM PASK
PHOTOGRAPHY pg 17
Grayling on Sosecret Creek
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
TIM PASK
Char on the American River
PHOTOGRAPHY Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
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Denver Rathbun
CREATURE CLASSIC
Keith’s Partridge D with Denver Rathbun
enver Rathbun, the newest face at Big R Fly Shop in Great Falls is behind the vise this month in our newest fly tying segment called Creature Classic. This section will demonstrate a field tested, trusted pattern that we carry in our fly bins, tied with no variations or modifications. Follow the video link to the left if you’d like to watch Denver tie the Keith’s Partridge. Materials: Fl Orange Ultra Thread 70, Dai-Riki #070 Size 14, Brown Squirrel Spikey Dubbing, and Natural Partridge pg 19
Big R Fly Shop | May 2013
STEP 1: Start with a size 14 Dai-Rik thread behind the eye and wrap dow
STEP 2: Wrap back up to 1/8” be spikey squirrel to build a thorax.
ki #070 in the vice. Begin the wn to the point of the hook.
ehind the eye. Dub on the
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5
4
6
STEP 3: Stop to leave 1/16� for the head. STEP 4: Attach the partridge in front of the thorax, tip end first.
Big R Fly Shop | May 2013
STEP 5: Using hackle pliers, make 2-3 turns with the partridge. Persuade the feather fibers back as you wrap forward. STEP 6: Secure the partridge, make a few more thread wraps to build up the head, then whip finish.
pg 20
CREATURE FEATURE
Crawdad Intruder with Calvin Fuller
onderay Store Assistant Manager Calvin Fuller is back on the vise for June’s Creature Feature. This month he ties his Crawdad Intruder designed to be swung down low throughout the year. Materials: • Hook: TMC 9395 Size 2 • Trailer hook: #2 Stinger • Rabbit Strips Crawfish Orange • White Amherst Feather • Gray & Brown Ostrich • Ice Dub UV Hot Orange • Copper Flashabou • 30# Fire Line
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Big R Fly Shop | May 2013
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Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
pg 22
WADER MAINTENANCE
RIP & TEAR
REPAIR in your WADERS by Matt Gutzmann
What’s inside the kit One of our intrepid shop guys put a nice “V” shaped rip in the inside thigh of his Gore-Tex waders while hopping over a barbwire fence. It gave us the perfect opportunity to use Gear Aid’s Wader Repair Kit ($7.99)
Inside the kit you’ll find two Tenacious Tape® patches, an application brush, and a tube of Aquaseal
Make sure your waders are clean and dry of warm water mixed with isopropyl alco
Allow the Aquaseal to set and become tacky. About a minute will do.
Trim the patch large enough to cover the
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Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
2
3
y. We used a spray bottle ohol and a wash rag.
Turn your waders inside out. We roughened up the surface of the rip with sandpaper to give the Aquaseal a good grip.
Place a paper towel underneath the area you’re working on. Apply a thin layer, approximately 1/2� around the entire rip.
e entire area
Place the patch over the rip, pressing firmly to ensure good adhesion.
Allow the patch between 10-14 hours to fully cure.
Done!
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Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
pg 24
GET YOUR BUFF ON
WICKED PRINTS
available @ your
Big R Fly Shop
pg 25
Big R Fly Shop | June 2013
Photo by Tim Pask
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Great Falls, Montana 406 761-7918 4400 10th Ave S
Ponderay, Idaho 208 255-5757 477181 N Hwy 95
Omak, Washington 509 422-9840
Photo by Tim Pask
1227 Koala Dr
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Big R Fly Shop e-magazine is a free monthly electronic publication bringing the latest perspectives, events, blogs and products related to the sport and art of fly fishing. This e-magazine is published online @ www.bigrflyshop.com every month. To receive email notifications when new issues are released, enter your email address HERE. All email addresses will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used for purposes connected with Big R Fly Shop. Š Copyright 2013 CSWW Inc., dba Big R Stores. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.