Flyfisher - Spring/Summer 2017

FLYFISHER C O N S E R VAT I O N

$4.95 spring/summer 2017

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8 effective steelhead patterns

the madison

Borger’s

6

Down & Dirty Streamers

Interview

BRUCE RICHARDS Talks Tenkara & Tough Trout

Guide Tips

trout Dry flies and

educated

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

T HE BOR ON ADVANTAG E

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RYAN SPARKS

JEFF WAGNER

The Madison is a wild river. It does not follow any rules or adhere to an agenda. It can run muddy into July, the weather is always unpredictable, and pressured trout can be picky and uncooperative. Successful dry-fly anglers don’t call it quits when conditions aren’t ideal; they adjust and adapt to the water they are faced with. Dry-fly fishing is possible all year long on the Madison; you just have to be a little creative and on top of your game.

The opportunity exists for more anglers to pursue carp on a regular basis than for anglers to pursue trout. Most fly anglers want more people to fly fish. They just don’t want them to fly fish on their trout stream or pressure their water.

This paradox can easily be solved with the popularization and normalization of carp, and probably other species as well. Conservation organizations should pursue carp as an outlet.

CONTENTS

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DRY FLY LESSONS FROM THE MADISON

On the cover: Foundry Fly Fishing Contents: Adam Tavender

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

ON CARP AND CONSERVATION

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LONG FLIES OF SPRING GARY BORGER

Spring is a transition time when rivers still cling to the cold waters of winter, and the trout behave in the sluggish manner of one whose life’s activities are directly proportional to the ambient temperature. Still, they have to eat to survive, and the bigger fish must eat more than the smaller ones. Thus spring becomes a time of long flies: bucktails, streamers, leeches, and the like, fished deep in the cupboards of the bottom.

DEPARTMENTS:

6 10 14 34 40 44 48

Leadership Messages FFI News Conservation Fly Tying Casting Fly Fishing Skills Streamside Q&A

Contents

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE

A DAVID PAUL WILLIAMS

ŠJon Howlett

David Paul Williams is an author (Fly Fishing for Western Smallmouth), editor, freelance magazine writer, writing teacher, lawyer, real estate broker, public speaker, and demonstration fly tyer, who has been fly fishing since Ike was president.

buzz is rippling through fly fishers, fly-fishing clubs and the industry. A buzz about the change coming to Fly Fishers International (FFI). My wife, an exceedingly wise person, has long held the opinion that every few years a person should examine who they are and how they make a living. If that introspection reveals a need for change, they should then reinvent themselves. The same is true of organizations and FFI has done just that.

The mission of Fly Fishers International has always been laudable but was not well known. We recognize the need to do a better job of presenting ourselves to the public.

Clubs across the country that had left the organization agree and have already re-joined our organization; others have committed to re-join. We are reaching out to the incredibly diverse fly-fishing community to expand our base. Industry partners have gotten on board with the directional change.

These organizational changes will be reflected in the tone and content of Flyfisher. The magazine has a new publisher, Bird Marketing Group, creator of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival and well-known in the fly-fishing industry for its highly-regarded Fly Fusion Magazine.

As the new Editor-In-Chief of Flyfisher, I come to the task as an author, editor, attorney and public speaker. For more than five decades, I have fished everything from saltwater beaches to hard-to-reach alpine lakes and all types of waters in between.

My goal is to create a magazine that fulfills the mission of FFI (see opposite page). Each new issue will feature Chairman and President messages, and short pieces submitted by a number of Councils, briefly describing the good work done by their respective members.

For too long, we have kept the good work we do to ourselves. Yet we have this beautiful forum for telling our members, the industry, and the public about that good work.

Expect to see articles on the art and science of fly fishing. Expect to see articles promoting conservation of our natural resources. We will speak with a political voice for organized fly fishing with articles that educate, not pontificate. The magazine will cover the spectrum of coldwater, warmwater, and saltwater fish. We will include articles that challenge common opinion, that examine controversial topics such as climate change, clean water and habitat degradation and that will stir our membership to get involved. While honoring the old guard of our organization, we will engage and entice young anglers into our organization.

And we will be delighted if what you read prompts you to immediately write a thoughtful letter to the editor in praise or opposition.

I am excited to be a part of this organization and the Editor-In-Chief of this magazine during this transition to the future of Fly Fishers International.

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

MISSION The Mission of the FFI is to support, enhance and preserve fly fishing opportunities.

Fundamental to this mission is environmental stewardship and education.

Vision: The Vision of the FFI is to support and promote fly fishing for all fish and all waters. Our core connection is through education. We strive to be the best fly fishing educators in four areas: casting, tying, fly fishing skills and conservation.

FLY FISHERS INTERNATIONAL 5237 US Highway 89 South, STE 11 Livingston, MT 59047-9176 (406) 222-9369 flyfishersinternational.org President/CEO Len Zickler | ceo@flyfishersinternational.org Operations Manager/Conservation Webmaster Rhonda Sellers | operations@flyfishersinternational.org Editor in Chief David Paul Williams | editor@flyfishersinternational.org Education Coordinator Fair/Fly Tying Group/Retailers Jessica Atherton | fair@flyfishersinternational.org Membership Coordinator Kat Mulqueen | membership@flyfishersinternational.org Casting Coordinator/Guides/Merchandise Nikki Loy | casting@flyfishersinternational.org Bookkeeper Sharon Cebulla | bookkeeper@flyfishersinternational.org Donations/Social Media Judy Snyder | education@flyfishersinternational.org Museum Information Cathy Nelson (406) 222-9369 | museum@flyfishersinternational.org Clubs & Councils Coordinator Cathy Nelson | clubs@flyfishersinternational.org Flyfisher is the official publication of Fly Fishers International, published two times a year and distributed by mail and online free to members. Send membership inquiries, fees and change of address notices to the FFI Headquarters at the address listed above. Flyfisher is produced for FFI by Bird Marketing Group Inc. Editorial & Advertising Inquiries: Editorial queries are welcome and should be sent to Bird Marketing Group Inc at the address listed above attention to the Editor. Email queries can also be emailed to dbird@birdmarketinggroup.com.

Visit flyfishersinternational.org for the full writer and photographer guidelines. Advertising inquiries can be directed to jbird@ birdmarketinggroup.com. Visit flyfishersinternational.org for Ad rates and spec guidelines.

Reprints & Permissions All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions, or endorsements. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2017 Fly Fishers International.

Letters to the Editor Send your comments about any aspect of Flyfisher to the Editor at editor@flyfishersinternational.org. We will endeavor to reply to each letter. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Letters published in Flyfisher become the property of Fly Fishers International.

FLYFISHER Flyfisher is published for the FFI by Bird Marketing Group Inc. PO Box 227A Eastport, ID 83826 Executive Publisher Jennifer Bird Editor Derek Bird Copy Editor Jim Mclennan Group Art Direction Terry Paulhus Office Administrator Vinessa Ginther Department Contributors Conservation Tom Logan Fly Tying Jerry Coviello Casting Jeff Wagner Fly Tying Skills Molly Semenik Contributors Gary Borger Ryan Sparks Adam Tavender Jeff Wagner

Leadership Messages

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

I TOM H. LOGAN Chairman of the Board of Directors – Senior Conservation Advisor Tom H. Logan is a retired Certified Wildlife Biologist with 47 professional years in the research and management of endangered and other wildlife. He is a life member of Fly Fishers International, Senior Conservation Advisor, Certified Casting Instructor and Chairman of the Board.

Tom teaches fly casting and tying, writes articles on the Biology of Fly Selection and Fishing and is owner of North Florida Fly Fishing Adventures. tomlogan@comcast.net www.northfloridaflyfishing.com.

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spoke in the last issue of Flyfisher about how unique our organization is, but that we were finding through surveys that many who fly fish don’t know who we are. When we asked what we should do, the answers were clear. We should speak with a strong conservation voice for all fly fishers and become leaders in all aspects of fly fishing education. We thought we were doing that, but it was clear changes are needed to meet the expectations of our members and those of others who we hope will support our organization as members.

So, what does this mean in today’s world of social media, branding and other terms I never thought about until the last couple years? Our professionals tell us we need to improve our “brand identity”. We need to make changes that better define what we do so that when anyone sees our name and logo, they immediately recognize and remember who we are. And, then we hope these changes encourage them to become members to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of fly fishing.

So, what are these changes? Well, you’re reading this article, so many of them are already in your hands. We’ve contracted with a new publisher and the magazine itself is in a new electronic format that opens many new opportunities for communication within the social world for our marketing strategies and to share information about fly fishing. Hard copies are still available, but we know the new electronic format will appeal to the younger fly fishers, and we need them as future leaders.

Have you noticed our name is now Fly Fishers International? Our branding specialists recommended this change to improve recognition and the many ways our name is used to represent our organization. Our new logo is being used for the first time in this issue. Responses to both have already been very positive and we anticipate the same in our promotional and marketing activities.

Environmental stewardship and education remain fundamental to our mission: “To support, enhance and preserve fly‑fishing opportunities.” This will not change, but we are substantially expanding these programs. Our new “Learning Center”, which will debut this August at our Fly Fishing Fair in Livingston, Montana, represents a formalization of curriculums for teaching all aspects of fly fishing. This will include new classes and workshops on fly tying, casting, conservation, ethics, and on‑the‑water applications, all intended to assist any fly fisher improve their enjoyment of fly fishing. Our most experienced instructors in these areas will be teaching these initial courses, but the curriculums and reference resources for each course are designed so that any experienced instructor will be able to use them for local educational events.

Conservation is a crucial focus in our teaching activities. It is very important that every fly fisher have an appreciation that conservation of our natural resources is fundamental to their fly fishing opportunities. It is through this understanding that fly fishers become stewards of fish and their habitats. Our Conservation Committee is very involved with the Learning Center for this reason. But the Conservation Committee is also monitoring emerging conservation issues that have potential to adversely affect natural resources and fly fishing. Committee members are technically trained and qualified to provide biologically sound opinion regarding management decision as provided under environmental laws that apply. Public lands and waters typically are at the forefront of these issues. Please be sure to read about the new Fly Fishers International “Policy on Public Lands and Waters of the United States” I discuss in my conservation article in this issue.

Meanwhile, I hope you find this issue of Flyfisher both interesting and appealing. Watch for other changes and new programs that are intended to improve value of your membership.

Let us know your thoughts. They are important to what our organization does to preserve our enjoyment of fly fishing.

Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

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s we move forward with the rebranding of the organization, the Board of Directors has adopted a new name – Fly Fishers International. Our new name is a reflection of our desire to refresh the organization and recognize the important work we are doing across the United States and internationally. Tom Logan has adequately described the impetus behind our name change and articulated well our expansion of conservation and education programs. I would like to emphasize some of the work we are doing to improve our service to the fly angling community. Please let me share the following: • We have simplified our membership categories, reducing 17 down to seven and expanded our discounted membership offerings to ALL veterans. All memberships now include spouse or significant other. These changes will make access to membership easier, simpler and save costs. We have reinstated the affiliate club category scuttled four years ago. We are getting a positive response from affiliate clubs who want to rejoin. We have also added a college club category with a significantly reduced membership and affiliate club fees.

• We will be expanding our relationship with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. FFI will assist in the formation of PHW Fly Fishing club’s around the United States and will assist in the delivery of educational programs to disabled veterans focusing on casting and fly tying.

LEN ZICKLER Len Zickler, currently serves as President and CEO of Fly Fishers International and Director at Large for the Washington Council of the FFI . He is a member of the Spokane Fly Fishers and Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club. Len is a life member of the FFI and Trout Unlimited.

• We are examining service improvement and lowering costs to all of our clubs. We are also researching lower cost insurance coverage to charter clubs and affordable insurance to affiliates.

• We have recently implemented an ambitious membership recruiting goal and are providing financial incentives to our councils to assist in achieving this goal. The rod incentive program for recruiting new members remains in place.

• We have implemented a new industry partnership program and have recruited, as of this writing, several partners including Orvis, Winston, ECHO, TFO and HMH. The partnership program will allow access to a wide range of fly fishing equipment for fundraising and program purposes. If your club or council is interested in taking advantage of this program please contact headquarters.

• We are implementing a substantial revamp of the Fly Fishing Fair by expanding public outreach and activities for fly anglers of all ages. We are also improving event advertising and public awareness and will be raising funds for a local conservation project on the Yellowstone River.

I hope you agree, we are making significant progress. I often say the proof is in the pudding - we need to make sure our actions match our words. I can assure you, the leadership of FFI is passionate about improving the awareness of Fly Fishers International and service to our members.

Please stay tuned over the next several months as our commitment is to improve service to our members. Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email with your feedback or suggestions.

Leadership Messages

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FFI NEWS

Southern Council

Washington Council

F

rom humble beginnings eleven years ago in the Ellensburg Public Library, the Fly Fishing Fair has grown into a premier event in the Pacific Northwest. Council members and the public at large attend the two-day event now held at the Kittitas County Events Center where they are treated to fly tying demonstrations, fly casting demonstrations and instruction, how-to and where-to seminars and the author’s booth. Held the Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day, the event sparks interest by fly fishers from Oregon, Washington and Idaho and raises money to support Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters and the Northwest Youth Conservation Fly Fishing Academy.

In addition to hosting the Fly Fishing Fair, your council participates in several outdoor trade shows and community events increasing awareness of Fly Fishers International in general and the Washington Council in particular. Council members teach various casting skills, demonstrate fly tying patterns for trout, saltwater and warmwater fish, and give presentations highlighting local fishing opportunities.

In an effort to keep our membership as well as other outdoor-focused organizations around the state informed of pending legislation, fishing rule changes and similar news, your council serves as an information clearing house using the power of the internet. News from a variety of sources comes to our Government Affairs director who passes it on to all interested parties.

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

© Photo Ron Knight

© Photo Jack Whitney

T

he Southern Council Fly Fishing Fair in October is the place to be if you have any interest in fly fishing. We typically have 80 – 100 fly tyers tying everything from big salt-water patterns, to tiny midges to intricate and extravagantly beautiful salmon flies, to quick and easy panfish flies anyone can tie. And these tyers will tell you anything you want to know or need to know to tie any of these flies.

There are programs going on all the time on topics that may cover conservation of fisheries, fishing in salt-water, bass fishing, trout tactics, fishing from kayaks, techniques for use on your favorite waters, new and exotic locations, building your own rod, and a vast array of other topics. You will be entertained while you learn.

There are vendors available to show you the latest in new rods, reels, and everything that you never knew existed and can’t live without. And we have places set up for trying out these latest rods and lines. There are vendors offering everything you can imagine for tying the latest and greatest flies.

But literally the best part of this event is all the people you will meet. People that will help you figure out anything you want to know, and will want to learn everything they can from you. People that will tell you in a factual manner, the wildest fish tales you can imagine (you know they would never exaggerate), and will soak up your adventures as well.

All the proceeds made from all this fun go strictly to promote conservation and education of our sport. And this happens every year!

North Eastern Council

© Photo Mary Weiss

© Photo Florida Council

T

he North Eastern Council (NEC) is responsible for promoting the FFI and providing services to the FFI members in New England, Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

In 2016 the Council, along with the FFI Conservation Committee, provided money to support a salmon restoration project on the Margaree River in Nova Scotia. NEC also provided funds in conjunction with other non-profits to purchase conservation land along Angeline Brook in Massachusetts which supports a sea run brook trout (salters) fishery.

NEC attended the Northeast Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA where it sponsored the FFI Learning Center. This show is the major fly fishing show in New England. In addition, NEC participated in the Fly Fish New Hampshire show which attracts fly fishers from northern New England.

NEC also worked with the VA center in White River Junction, VT to provide tying classes to veterans in that area.

NEC also ran tying and fly fishing skills classes at Bass Pro in Hooksett, NH. The Council ran a joint fly tying fair in conjunction with Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife (MF&W) in the fall of 2016. The show was supported by our tying community and Certified Casting Instructors. The show was very successful and MF&W is committed to having another such program in 2017. NEC also attended shows at LL Bean in Freeport, ME and at the Bears Den Fly Fishing Expo in Taunton, MA. Shelia Hanson (MCI) along with John Lemont and Patrick Gernier (CCI instructors) held pre-certification classes in for members considering the FFI certification process.

NEC is in the process of planning its first major Fly Fishing Fair in the fall of 2017.

Florida Council

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lorida Council Fly Fishing Expo was held on November 4‑5, 2016 at the Plantation in Crystal River. We had a great program that included four featured speakers. Blane Chocklett from Virginia, a Renzetti Legacy Fly Tier, highlighted his innovations with articulated flies. Andy Mill gave us an impressive talk on how to attract, hook, and land tarpon. Jon Cave, a past winner of the IFFF Silver King award, gave several casting sessions. Jon runs one of the oldest fly-fishing schools in the country. Brittney Novalsky from Melbourne, Florida shared her fly-fishing experiences and the advantages for women in fly fishing.

The Council supported Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Casting for Recovery. http://www.projecthealingwaters. org/programs/locations/florida.

Active on the conservation front, we attended and supported the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on bonefish and tarpon regulations, participated in the Snook Symposium, and supported regulation to reduce the redfish bag limit. We supported letters to President Obama to sign the Clean Water Act, to the Florida Governor and State Legislature to enforce Amendment 1 for wetlands protection and specifically to address the pollution of the Indian and St. Lucie Rivers.

We established a grant known at the Skip Mackey Youth Award to support youth fly fishing education and supported fly casting sessions for youths at summer camps and clinics for interested adults. These fly-casting clinics have resulted in the recruitment of many new members.

We awarded an IFFF Conservation grant to Robert Roemer for Catch and Release Practices with Peacock Bass.

We maintain a web site, which provides information on local and national events and conservation actions. Search Florida under the council section of flyfishersinternational.org.

FFI News

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Project Healing Waters

F DANIEL MORGAN

© Photo Ed Felker

A life-long fly fisherman, Daniel Morgan was born and raised in Stamford, CT and attended college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Daniel serves as the Chief Marketing and Strategic Communications Officer for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and resides in Cazenovia, NY, with his wife Mary Kate and their dog Daisy. When not at work, you can find him prowling his nearby woods and trout streams with fly-rod in hand.

ly Fishers International (FFI) has been instrumental in the growth and continued strength of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHWFF) since its inception in 2005.

Beginning as a single program at Walter Reed Medical Hospital in Maryland, PHWFF has grown to encompass over 200 programs nationwide, due in no small part, to the efforts of FFI at both the local club level and nationally. Receiving support and partnering with them was of paramount importance and fit perfectly with the mission and geographic scope of PHWFF programs. To date, 66 FFI Clubs partner with PHWFF to bring fly fishing, its therapeutic qualities, and strong communal bonds to thousands of injured and disabled veterans each year.

Many FFI clubs, members, casting instructors, tiers, and affiliate leaders have made positive impacts in the lives of our activeduty military service personnel and veterans through their involvement. The following are a few examples of this patriotic collaboration and the positive impact it has had.

The Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers have been tremendous supporters and have instituted numerous initiatives benefiting

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the wounded, injured, and disabled veterans participating in our programs.

Their innovation in creating the Evergreen Hand opened new doors for amputees and the partially paralyzed by offering them an adaptive device on which to learn fly tying.

The Fresno Fly Fishers for Conservation established a PHWFF program in 2012 and in a short time the numbers of veterans participating has tripled. Nationally, FFI has been very helpful offering step-by-step guidance and technical assistance in the creation of an affiliate club, PHWFF-NYC. This club is supported by FFI members and casting instructors who volunteer their time and expertise each week at casting sessions in Central Park as well as instruction at monthly fly-tying classes and seasonal outings to the Catskills and Montauk.

The partnership has enabled both organizations to pass on the legacy of fly fishing and to foster continued bonds between the angling and veterans’ communities.

FFI Clubs and PHWFF Programs are collaboratively exposing the sport of fly fishing to thousands of military service personnel and veterans. It directly aides in the continued growth of our sport while serving those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

A member of The Lake Erie Chapter of FFI best summarized this strong bond when he wrote: “Perhaps the most powerful testament of the work we do was made clear when one veteran said, ‘When I came to my first PHWFF session, I was at the end of the rope.

I thought of suicide and now my whole life has turned around.’ That one statement has reinforced my dedication to continue this work as long as I can along with our many FFI chapter members.” Learn more at www.projecthealingwaters.org.

May is for Mentoring

CHUCK FURIMSKY Chuck started producing consumer shows for fly fishing nearly thirty years ago. The popular Fly Fisher’s Symposium began at Seven Springs Mt. Resort in Pennsylvania and is now called the Fly Fishing Show.

Ben, his son, now produces the show in seven cities across the nation that attracts thousands of fly fishers.

Sharing the sport of fly fishing has been a family tradition.

and not a one-on-one mentoring experience, it still created a base experience that started me on a quest to become a fly fisherman.

You don’t have to be a famous flyfishing celebrity to succeed as a mentor.

Please accept my invitation and become a mentor. Pick a day in May and take a child, teenager, cousin, spouse or friend for a day of mentoring that just might change their lives forever. Hatches are happening, water is cold enough for trout and warm enough for bass and bluegills, so select your option.

“May is for Mentoring” is not trademarked.

I want you to steal the idea. Every FFI group, T.U. club, fly shop, manufacturer and fly fisher who wants to pass along their passion for our sport must band together and create a mentoring movement. Share your success on social media with fish pictures and make everyone, everywhere and everyday in May special for the future of fly fishing.

Editors note: Mentoring is currently a very important part of FFI club activities. FFI will work to implement “May is for Mentoring” in 2018 as a great way to highlight ongoing club and Council mentoring activities.

© Photo Kacie Q Photography

F

ly fishing has been a big part of my life and also my main occupation.

For nearly 30 years I have been producing the Fly Fishing Show and the International Fly Tying Symposium traveling around the country introducing newcomers to our sport and also becoming a social hub for others who love our sport. One of the most common concerns heard in the aisles and show booths is “How can we grow our sport?” Some, of course, worry that the rivers are already crowded enough, but the overall consensus is who’s going to pick up our torches and keep them lit for clean water and fish protection.

I recently had this simple idea I titled, “May is for Mentoring”. Many fly anglers, including myself, would never have become fly anglers if someone didn’t take the time to teach us. Perhaps you were lucky enough to have a great mentor. I was. As a college student at Penn State I was fortunate enough to get a spot in a popular two‑credit course Techniques of Fly Fishing taught by the legendary fly fishermen, George Harvey. Just for the record, the course is still offered and is just as popular. Although it was a class

FFI News

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CONSERVATION

New Beginnings

T TOM H. LOGAN

© Photo Tom Logan

Chairman of the Board of Directors – Senior Conservation Advisor

heodore Roosevelt recognized the profound values of public lands when he “applied his presidential prerogatives in setting aside and preserving for public benefit a number of scientific, historical and scenic sites” with his 1903 designation of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge on the east coast of Florida. This was the first of what now comprises vast acreages across our continent that serve the public benefit he recognized. These lands include our National Forests, Grasslands, Parks, Wildlife Refuges and State-managed Conservation Areas. And yes, the values of these lands are further complimented with substantial acreages that remain with private organizations and owners who choose to manage these lands for their natural diversity and the wild species they support. These collective lands, regardless

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

of management responsibility, hold tremendous public value that we must not underestimate or allow to be compromised.

We as members of Fly Fishers International support our organization’s dedication to support, enhance and protect our recreational opportunities to enjoy our sport of fly fishing. This is done in a number of ways, but most importantly through advocacy, demonstration and a strong voice for conservation of our natural resources.

Clearly, conservation of fishes and their habitats is fundamental to our opportunities and those of our children to fly fish. Those habitats largely are the connected waters of the United States, the streams, lakes, rivers and estuaries that must remain clean, healthy, connected and functional. Just as important are the health and wellbeing of the watersheds that recharge, nourish and protect the function of our wetlands.

These habitats—land and water—collectively reside by ownership, law and public policy as public resources and lands. Many are managed and protected by state or federal agencies under environmental law on the public behalf, while others are protected by private interests or environmental organizations in perpetuity as conservation easements. Regardless of ownership or legal designation, they collectively are much more valuable than simply as wetlands, watersheds and fish habitat.

So, what are these values of which we speak? We’ve already discussed their value as places for us to fly fish. But, these lands and waters also are the habitats of a vast array of wildlife, plant and insect species, including those that may be threatened or endangered with extinction across our country. The very fact that a natural

and economic values they represent are now threatened with interests who seek to transfer budgetary responsibility and/or liquidate important parcels of these essential public lands! These proposals typically are focused on single-purpose gain without consideration of the broader and greater economic values that could be lost forever. Laws do exist that guard against such loses, but they sometimes only come into play when a strong public voice speaks on behalf of the greater public value.

Fly Fishers International endorses these public values that were recognized more than a century ago by Theodore Roosevelt and again championed by Lee Wulff in the establishment of our organization. We therefore have developed and implemented a new “Policy on Public Lands and Waters of the United States”. The purpose of this policy is to provide rationale and clear intent to advocate for the essential protection of public lands and waters of the United States for their ecological,

recreational and economic function and value and to endorse as public policy the administration of these lands to include applicable law, finance, policy and management responsibility, as necessary to assure enjoyment, health and other public benefits. It is our position that any proposal to change, transfer or liquidate ownership and or management responsibility of public lands has a significant likelihood to adversely affect the biological health, function and wellbeing of these natural systems and the wildlife species they support. It further is our position that any such proposed action should receive full evaluation for public review and comment in the form of an Environmental Impact Statement under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It is through such Policy and position that opportunities to enjoy fly fishing will endure.

Note: The” Policy on Public Lands and Waters of the United States” is available on the Fly Fishers International website at flyfishersinternational.org.

© Photo Tom Logan

diversity of wildlife and plant species continues to exist on these lands suggests something of fundamental biology that affects our very lives in a critical way.

What must not be forgotten is that these landscapes of minerals, waters and plants are essential to our own quality of life because they also are human habitat. These are the landscapes that grow the plant communities that produce the clean air we breathe. They do this by processing carbon dioxide we exhale back into the oxygen we require. The wetlands that clean and recharge our sources of fresh water through natural rain cycles also are necessary to our lives.

There is no question that these lands must be protected for our recreational interests, but they also are critical to our own quality of life as humans.

Seldom do economics not play into matters of decision, and it certainly does regarding management of public lands. Least discussed but of very significant importance though is the economic value of access to these public lands and waters for study, enjoyment and appreciation. These values now exceed three quarters of a trillion dollars that are returned to our economy each year. Federal lands alone return $650 billion dollars and support an estimated 6 million jobs.

This doesn’t include the dollar value of state wildlife management areas and parks to local economies, nor does it include the value of privately managed landscapes as natural areas. It has been suggested that if outdoor recreation could be consolidated as one business, it would be the largest single industry in the United States.

Unfortunate though, is that our public lands and the biological, social

Conservation

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Dry Fly Lessons from the Madison Ryan Sparks

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half mile outside of Ennis, Montana, a sign reads, “Welcome to Ennis. Population: 840 people, 11,000,000 trout.” Needless to say, Ennis is a trout town. Situated on the banks of the Madison River, one of the West’s most legendary streams, Ennis is a mecca for fly anglers because of the Madison’s impressive hatches and thriving trout population. It was on the Madison, in 1974, where the state of Montana put an end to stocking with the intent of developing and sustaining a population of wild trout. The decision shifted public focus away from stocking numbers and redirected it towards caring for the river—it also transformed the Madison into one of the best wild trout fisheries in the world.

Today people know the Madison as the fifty-mile riffle, and it is a nationally designated blue ribbon trout stream. Perhaps the only thing rivaling the Madison’s numerous trout in reputation are its extraordinary hatches. Clouds of caddis, mayfly hatches so heavy they blanket the water, and the salmonfly hatch, truly one of the epic experiences in fly fishing, give the Madison its reputation as a dry-fly destination.

During the summer, the population swells as hordes of anglers flock to Ennis to get in on the action. People plan their vacations years in advance, hoping to be on the river for a particular hatch. Unfortunately, for them, the river is rarely accommodating. The Madison is a wild river. It does not follow any rules or adhere to an agenda. It can run muddy into July, the weather is always unpredictable, and pressured trout can be picky and uncooperative. Successful dry-fly anglers don’t call it quits when conditions aren’t ideal; they adjust and adapt to the water they are faced with. Dry-fly fishing is possible all year long on the Madison; you just have to be a little creative and on top of your game.

Under Pressure

By Montana standards, the Madison can get a little crowded during peak season.

While it’s far from combat fishing, there is enough pressure to make a noticeable difference in the fish’s willingness to take a dry fly. When this happens, it’s more productive to target individual fish rather than prospecting likely water.

By targeting individuals, you can concentrate on stalking close to them, hunting more and casting less. Worry less about fly selection and focus on your drift.

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

Š Photo Adam Hutchison

Dry Fly Lessons from the Madison

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© Photo Adam Hutchison

Getting a pressured trout to commit to your fly requires a near perfect presentation. The wrong fly with a proper drift won’t spook the fish, but the right fly dragging in the current will. Presentation is always more important than fly selection, and at no other time is it more apparent than when fish have seen a dozen flies float over their heads by noon.

There is more than one way to achieve a good drift, and being adaptable with your presentation will allow you to tackle tricky currents and difficult situations. Under perfect

“Dry-fly fishing is possible all year long on the Madison. You just have to be a little creative and on top of your game.” conditions, whether fishing from a drift boat or wading, my favorite way to present a dry fly is with a downstream reach cast. A downstream reach cast accomplishes several things.

One, it presents the fly to the fish before it has a chance to see the fly line. Two, it builds slack into the presentation, making it easier to achieve a drag free drift. The first cast matters most, so take a moment to observe the fish and get in position. With the first cast, you have the element of surprise, and it could either catch the fish or send it swimming for cover.

The cast itself is simple. Make a normal downstream cast, but before the fly line hits the water, make a hard reach with your rod directly above your target and slightly upstream of where you are standing. With a reach cast, you are mending

the line in the air before it touches the water. When done correctly, there will be a right angle from the rod tip to the fly line.

Often, a well-placed reach cast will not need mending for a drift up to 20 feet, but feeding line into the drift can give you a 40 foot drift or longer. The reach cast is also useful when encountering overhanging vegetation or very fast current.

A downstream presentation is not always possible, especially on the boulder strewn Madison. When targeting fish holding behind structure, position yourself perpendicular to the fish and cast beyond and well upstream of it. Use your mend to reposition the fly into the fish’s feeding lane. When mending your cast, don’t throw an enormous arc into the line. Instead, try moving the rod first and then softly toss the line to mend it.

Mending without moving the fly is sometimes impossible, but with this style of mending, the fly will move inches rather than feet. If you make a bad cast, allow the fish to rest for a bit. It will often return to feeding after a few minutes, giving you another shot.

Sometimes even a good drift won’t raise a fish, and downsizing your tippet or fly could make a difference.

More often though, trout key in on a specific insect or even a particular stage of emergence, and you must figure out exactly what they are feeding on to catch them. Using a twofly rig is advantageous because it allows you to quickly cover a wide variety of patterns, sizes, and stages of adulthood. Most anglers will fish two dry flies by rigging them in tandem, but a common problem with a standard tandem dry-fly rig is the larger fly puts drag on the smaller one. A more useful method is offsetting the flies, which fixes this problem by allowing the flies to drift independently of one another.

To make an offset rig, attach a length of tippet 10 to 15 inches long to the end of your leader with a blood knot. Make sure the tippet is at least one size smaller than your leader and tie the blood knot so that it leaves two tag ends 5 to 10 inches long when pulled tight. Trim one tag end flush with the knot and attach the lead fly to the remaining tag end.

Finally, attach the trailing fly directly to the end of the leader.

A great setup with the offset rig is to pair a high floating dry fly with a trailing emerger that rides in the surface film. Most strikes on the emerger are noticeable, but if there is a subtle take, the lead fly will be pulled under, acting as an indicator. © Photo Adam Hutchison

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

Dry Fly Lessons from the Madison

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Competing with Naturals Few events in nature compare to the Madison’s salmonfly hatch. Bugs in porterhouse proportions and trout with ravenous appetites create more excitement on the river than at any other time of the year. Throw in the fact that meals the size of salmonflies get even the biggest fish in the river feeding up on the surface and you can be sure trout anglers from around the world will take notice.

However, the salmonfly hatch can be one of the most difficult to fish because anglers have to compete so heavily with the real thing. With so many naturals available and the amount of flies the fish see in a day, they can be very difficult to fool.

“Match the hatch” is fly-fishing doctrine, but so often anglers associate this mantra with matching their fly patterns to the naturals on the water and stop there.

Fishing a fly so that it behaves like the real thing is just as, if not more important, than having the right fly pattern.

Salmonflies are rarely still in the water. They flutter their wings and create a large commotion on the surface, and it makes sense that presentations should mimic this.

I have seen many instances of fish rising to a perfectly drifting foam imitation, tracking with it for a few seconds, and sinking back into the water. The fish were shunning the fly because something wasn’t quite right, and more than likely it was the lack of action. For a more enticing presentation, impart the fly with short sporadic twitches, not interrupting the path of the drift, but giving the fly enough action to look like a real salmonfly struggling in the water.

Imparting action to a dry fly isn’t just a technique used for fishing salmonflies on the Madison. Grasshoppers kick their legs and writhe in the water, many species of caddis beat their wings as they lay their eggs on the surface, and adult stoneflies attempt to scurry back to shore when they fall in the water. Conversely, some aquatic insects such as midges, mayflies, and certain species of caddis, drift motionless in the water. Knowing how an insect behaves in the water will give you a better idea of how to match the hatch with both your fly and presentation.

The Madison is also known for the masses of mayflies that can erupt from its surface on cloudy days. With hatches like these, trout don’t have to hunt for something to eat, they just go to the surface and it’s there. In this situation, a trout can be so locked into feeding it begins to rise in a predictable rhythm, sipping its meal and pausing

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

for a moment before rising again. With so many naturals on the water, a trout’s feeding lane becomes very narrow.

In such a dense hatch, placing your fly within this thin feeding zone and timing your cast with the fish’s rhythm is one way to catch them. An alternative strategy is to buck convention and unmatch the hatch. Some anglers will turn to an alternative food source like ant imitations to make their fly stand out. Others will throw a small streamer in hopes of finding a large trout preying upon smaller distracted fish. These unorthodox methods can work well, but a hybrid approach between matching the hatch and standing out often works best.

During the winter, the Madison can have plentiful midge hatches that offer some of the best dry-fly fishing of the year. Still, many anglers ignore the hatch because they are daunted by the idea of competing for a trout’s attention with such tiny imitations. In this circumstance, adding a distinctive feature to the fly can make it stick out from the crowd and grab a trout’s attention. I like to use a #16 Orange Asher. The fly is similar to a Griffith’s Gnat, but with a flashy orange body, and can represent a cluster of mating midges when tied in small to medium sizes. I have often fished it in tandem with a Griffith’s Gnat, and the Asher will usually outperform it. The fly has the same effect as adding a hot spot to a nymph and explains why a mangled trout-chewed fly sometimes seems to fish better—there is something familiar, yet distinctively different about the fly that triggers a response.

Beyond the Madison From a small spring creek to a large alpine lake, these strategies can be used anywhere to be more effective with dry flies. Remember that presentation is key, but getting creative and showing fish something they haven’t seen before can also work. There is no one technique or tip that will always work, but the fun of fishing dry flies is playing around and trying different things until you solve the puzzle. Some anglers measure their success in numbers, but many dry-fly devotees would rather spend an hour trying to entice a stubborn trout to the surface than catch several fish on nymphs. The image of a trout sipping a dry fly is what originally attracts many people to fly fishing, and it’s often what keeps them coming back. Improving their skills at a technique they already love is a way to grow as an angler while becoming more passionate about fly fishing.

On Carp and Conservation Jeff Wagner

C

arp seem to be almost ubiquitous. They exist in all 50 states and in almost any type of water. It is likely that carp exist as the closest catchable species to you, no matter where you live. Cold water reservoirs, warm water ponds, rivers, and lakes are all home to the golden bonefish. What we know as the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is actually one of many carp species that have found their way into waters outside of Asia. They are a non-native species and also invasive, which is an interesting and dubious distinction as some invasive species like didymo are native but invasive. Some non-native species might be only minimally successful and not invasive on a large scale. But the carp we know is a plight on fisheries and a challenge for managers of these resources. The greater question becomes what can we do about it and what opportunities exist for the fly angler.

In 1876 Dr. S.F. Baird said of carp, “Sufficient attention has not been paid in the United States to the introduction of the European Carp as a food fish, and yet it is quite safe to say that there is no other species that promises so great a return in limited waters. It has the preeminent advantage over such fish as the black bass, trout, grayling, and others…” Carp were introduced into North America shortly after in the 1880s as a prospective food fish. Carp populations grew and eventually became prolific throughout much of the Midwest and into Canada. At one time a commercial fishery existed for carp in North America. By 1895 over 150,000 pounds of carp were harvested in the Illinois River. By 1908 a survey showed that 42.7 million pounds of carp valued at over $1 million were harvested through commercial fishing in the US. Commercial carp fishing in the US and Canada since this early peak has declined.

In most places around the world carp are readily accepted as a food fish, North America being one of the few places they are not. Some unique restaurants have started to put carp on the menu but this is met with intense questions about the taste and quality. In a March 2016 article, In-Fisherman Magazine cited a taste test that was done with silver carp (a now common species in the Great Lakes drainage) compared to catfish, and tilapia. Carp won 2 to 1!! While I don’t see carp becoming commercially acceptable food fish in North America any time soon, the decline in harvest has likely led to an increase in population in some areas.

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Š Photo Daniel Morgan

On Carp and Conservation

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What makes them able to compete and grow to commercially viable populations in less than 30 years but be held in check in their native environment is what makes them such an ecological competitor in the rest of the world. Those same attributes when displaced from their natal harsh environment and predation allows them to grow often out of control and take the place of other species. Carp grow fast, live long, and have high fecundity rates. A 5-pound carp can produce almost 500,000 eggs while a 30-pound carp can produce up to 2 million eggs at a time and use a broadcast spawning method around vegetation. They can live to 25 years and can reach sexual maturity within two years and grow at a rate of 12 inches a year. That means a fish living 15 years can produce over tens of millions of eggs in their lifetime. This is a good way to ensure success of the next generation and produce an ecological disaster when it occurs outside of their native range with insufficient predation.

Biologically carp are unique. Small eyes and often turbid water leave them at a visual disadvantage. What they lose in eyesight they make up for in hearing or sensing vibrations.

Carp have a well-developed Weberian apparatus, similar in function to the inner ear of mammals. This is a series of bones, the Weberian ossicles, that extend from the first

“It would seem as if they are in a state of perpetual motion with intense spurts of energy fueled by the snubbing of a wellintended angler’s awkwardly presented fly.” few vertebrae and connect the swim (air) bladder with their inner ear. This gives them a very large surface area to pick up vibrations. Studies have shown that deflating the swim bladder reduces sensitivity of certain frequencies. This is very evident when pursuing carp and trying to get close enough to see them and present a fly. You can be sure that carp will know you are there before you know they are there.

Carp often evade an angler before the angler even knows they missed them. Additionally, carp have a refined taste sensing system. Their fleshy mouths and barbs are covered in taste buds. For the fly angler this simply means being sure that flies are minimally handled and not contaminated prior to use. Carp often have ample time to “smell” a fly and

a little deodorant soap left on the hands of angler can cause repeated refusals.

Being omnivorous means that carp will eat just about anything. They are often thought of as feeding on cottonseeds in late spring from cottonwood trees, but this is of minimal importance. However, they will feed on damselflies, crayfish or other forage. They will also consume aquatic vegetation or feed on small aquatic insects like midges. They are opportunistic and don’t discriminate unless, of course, it is your fly they won’t eat. The opportunism of carp leads to a huge variation in diet based on where they live. Carp living in clear cool reservoirs might lead to a diet rich in crayfish, while carp living in lakes rich in vegetation might have a diet heavy in aquatic vegetation and insects like damselflies.

In many cases this kind of life history gives them the upper hand. Reservoirs go through a process called eutrophication.

This process is natural as the water body increases in sediment, grows more aquatic vegetation and changes in the species it supports. Their rate of aging goes from oligotrophic to eutrophic, or in simpler terms, deep, cold and young to shallow, warmer and older (on a relative scale based on rate of sedimentation).

Carp can grow so dense and their rooting and mudding feeding habits can be so strong that they can actually speed up this process. Their bio-density grows so high that they outcompete almost any other aquatic life. The water becomes more turbid, having suspended sediment, and this gathers more light which causes the water to warm. As the water warms it holds less oxygen and the process self-perpetuates. My home state of Nebraska has several reservoirs that are evidence of this.

Twenty years ago they were full of trout and cool clear water.

As carp were introduced they quickly became more suitable for bass and pike. Years later carp predominate. Carp are certainly not solely responsible as many of these waters are irrigation reservoirs and as such are plagued with other issues. Carp only add to and expedite this process.

The likelihood that a fishery will not have carp in the future, if it currently supports the species, is slim. It is an unfortunate reality that they are here to stay. For example, lakes in the Sandhills region are some of the most isolated lakes in North America. They are on National Wildlife refuge where live bait is not allowed. Several attempts have been made to kill off the carp and despite repeated attempts carp returned. While this may be the biggest fisheries blunder in recorded history it is where an underlying opportunity may exist.

So what? Are fisheries across the globe permanently challenged or is there hope? All of the attributes that make © Photo Daniel Morgan

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

On Carp and Conservation

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© Photo Jeff Wagner

carp such a strong ecological competitor are the same ones that make them such a viable species to pursue with the fly.

They grow big and fast, fight hard, will readily take a fly, and are closer to you than you probably realize. While carp may be jeopardizing so many bodies of water they also, paradoxically, may be a way for us to save some of our cold water resources.

Every day of fishing pressure for carp is a day of fishing pressure off of cold water species like trout.

And, while carp have been written about well before Brad Befus first penned Carp on the Fly so many years ago, we have a lot to learn and a lot to take advantage of.

Conventional tackle angling for the species has exploded in Europe and Asia, with professional anglers and magazines devoted to the species. Even a brief review of a recent issue of an international angling magazine will reveal a plethora of equipment unfamiliar to most conventional anglers let alone fly anglers such as tents used to camp out and conceal

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

the angler from the carp, alarms to indicate the slightest strike, and slingshots to launch copious amounts of chum to lure in their unsuspecting prey. In some of the waters the largest and oldest carp are even cataloged and anglers become familiar with these specific fish.

Fly angling has remained mostly unchanged. What has changed is the commitment of anglers to pursue the species. Guides in Wyoming and Michigan where some of the largest and most prolific carp exist have started using saltwater flats boats. I myself have a modified bass boat with a poling platform. But I also have become quite taken by the technology available to anglers, mostly conventional fishing applications. GPS guided trolling motors make pursuing the species even more capable. Find a pod of carp clooping near the surface, hit the anchor lock button and the boat will hold plus or minus two meters from a GPS waypoint automatically.

Pursuing carp can also be intensely challenging and almost mind numbingly frustrating, at least at times. I have been on waters with ten feet of visibility and large wary carp. One would expect 30-pound carp to be eating machines, needing to consume anything that moves in front of them. After spending a few hours on the water observing carp, one would believe they don’t eat anything. It would seem as if they are in a state of perpetual motion with intense spurts of energy fueled by the snubbing of a wellintended angler’s awkwardly presented fly. Casting often requires long accurate casts that land on the water with minimal disturbance. And the presentation needs to be real but the motion calculated.

Fortunately, carp angling doesn’t require expensive gear, advanced GPS guided location technology, or being an expert caster (although it helps). It probably can be even more primitive than most forms of fly angling. A 6 to 8-weight rod with nine feet of 0x fluorocarbon and a few Woolly Buggers, crayfish, and damsel patterns and you will likely be in business. Casts under thirty feet will suffice and often with flies presented in a less than intended manner.

All of this is the appeal of carp. They are wary and discerning while being indiscriminate. They are active and engaged while being snobby and reclusive. They are frustrating while being overly gratifying all at the same time. This is the reason why this species has so much possibility not only for conservation but fly fishing as well.

The concept is not necessarily new. Kirk Deeter (current VP at Trout Unlimited) in an editorial for Angling Trade

Magazine several years ago had a call to action for the flyfishing community. Unfortunately, little has changed. The fly-fishing industry still has a misguided love affair with everything cold water, much to the demise of the carp’s cold water piscine relatives. Annals of fly-fishing history in the US and abroad do not support the idea of fly fishing being for trout. In Paul Schullery’s American History of Fly Fishing he reinforces this fact and gives many examples of early fly fishing as a pursuit of angling not for a species (trout). This philosophy was adopted by our European brethren that introduced us to fly fishing who, while fishing for trout and salmon, also fished for many other species.

We have evolved the sport into such a pursuit and creating an almost cultish, religious love affair with trout. No doubt, trout are a marvelous species found in beautiful places that are rugged and yet so fragile at the same time. The appeal is to grow the sport of fly fishing but doing it in a way and for a species that has all of the qualities of a sport fish but yet with the added benefit of serving a triple purpose. There is a need to take pressure off of cold water resources, put pressure on a non-native invasive species, and fulfill the need of the angler to be challenged.

The opportunity exists for more anglers to pursue carp on a regular basis than for anglers to pursue trout. Most fly anglers want more people to fly fish. They just don’t want them to fly fish on their trout stream or pressure their water.

This paradox can easily be solved with the popularization and normalization of carp, and other species as well. Conservation organizations should pursue carp as an outlet.

Carp are an excellent, challenging fish to pursue on fly. My appeal is that we all look for opportunities not to support a non-native invasive species, but to help manage our resources.

For more information, please visit the following websites www.fisheries.org/bookstore/all-titles Search Carp in North America

www.valorebooks.com Search Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology www.in-fisherman.com/carp/carp-tast-test

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On Carp and Conservation

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

Long Flies of Spring Gary Borger

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pring is a transition time when rivers still cling to the cold waters of winter, and the trout behave in the sluggish manner of one whose life’s activities are directly proportional to the ambient temperature. Still, they have to eat to survive, and the bigger fish must eat more than the smaller ones. Thus spring becomes a time of long flies: bucktails, streamers, leeches, and the like, fished deep in the cupboards of the bottom.

For the fly fisher, it’s a time to haul out three principle long fly tactics: (1) “Low and Slow” along the bottom with a sinking line, (2) “Jigging” on a floating line, and (3) “Nymphing” with shot and indicator. And while the names of these techniques certainly suggest how they are done, there are nuances to each that will help the fly fisher better accomplish the desired end—catching fish.

Long Flies of Spring

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“Low and Slow” means just that: getting the fly deep and keeping it there, moving slowly. This is a tactic for pools, more than for anywhere else, for it’s here that the sinking line can best be manipulated to give the fly the desired action.

Line selection is always a question. Just how much “sinking” does a sinking line need to have in order to be effective. In the moving waters of rivers, I prefer lines that go down with speed and stay down. So, I go right to the fastest sinking line available—such as a type VII. This line allows the fly to get to fishing depth quickly, and once there, remain there against the pull of the retrieve. If I’m casting across the head of a pool, I don’t want to wait until the line reaches the tailout before it finally gets to the bottom.

In this same regard, a short leader (say four feet total) is more effective than a long one because it helps keep the fly at, or close to, the bottom—especially with unweighted imitations. With a long leader, the fly can be anywhere in the water column as the line creeps along over the bottom.

Of course, one might use a heavily weighted imitation, but then there’s the need to keep it from hanging up among the rocks or other debris on the bottom.

So, what fly to select? Well, since the key feature of any living organism is movement, I want flies that are pure action; ones like the Woolly Bugger, Strip Leech, Marabou Muddler, Down and Dirty Minnow or Sculpin, and other lively imitations. They need to yield movement even on the

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slowest of retrieves. On a short leader unweighted versions swim along most enticingly. These imitations may also be weighted, but if they are, tie them in a weedless version.

A very interesting way to make a weedless imitation and add additional fish-attracting rattle is a method developed

by Theo Bakelaar of Holland. The body is made of Mylar tubing, forming a “belly” on the top of the hook and adding a bead into the pocket thus created. The fly is then dressed “upside down” as it were. The fly rides hook point up and rattles very strongly. Often the rattle is the key to success in the cold waters of spring.

Typically I cast up and across the flow, and then add an upstream reach mend. This positions the line about straight across and 10-12 feet above my location. With the super sinking speed of a type VII line, it will hit bottom about 10-12 feet downstream of my position. And then it’s time to retrieve. I know the mantra is to strip, strip, strip, and if this is the rule you live by, then just strip, strip, strip slowly. Keep the strip short—a couple inches or less.

Remember, you are imitating a minnow or leech that is poking around in the bottom of a cold-water stream, not one on the Indianapolis Speedway.

There are other good retrieves that can be very effective as well. For example, give a couple of short, but quick strips, and then stop and let the fly remain motionless for a few seconds. Sculpin often move this way. Give it a longer (a foot or more), smooth, and slow pull followed by a couple of short quick ones. This is a good movement to suggest

Down and Dirty Muddler

Furled Leech

Hook: 3XL or 4XL long, heavy wire streamer hook Thread: Size A nylon or comparable, tan or brown Body/Wing: Faux fur or natural fur; tan (70%), black (15%), and dark brown (15%); layered and spun in thread loop; wound over front 3/5 of hook shank. Mark with black permanent marker Eyes: Doll eyes or lead eyes (painted)

Hook: 3XL or 4XL heavy wire streamer hook Thread: Black, size A nylon or comparable Tail: Coarse dubbing spun in thread loop and furled Body: Coarse dubbing spun in thread loop Bead: Gold

Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

Black Strip Leech-articulated

Hen Hackle Muddler

Hook: Articulated, two long shank salmon hooks or 3XL heavy wire streamer hooks, cut bend and point off front hook Thread: Black, size A nylon or comparable Tail: Chartreuse marabou or soft fur Body: Black mohair yarn or coarse dubbing Rib: Silver wire Wing: Black mink or rabbit strip Hackle: Large rump feather of pheasant or similar; use entire feather including marabou barbs on basal half Head: Fish Skull

Hook: 3XL or 4XL heavy wire streamer hook Thread: Tan, size A nylon or comparable Body: Two or three Coq-de-leon hen saddle feathers, or comparable; wound on shank; use whole feather including basal portion with marabou barbs Rib: Tying thread (leave long tag end when attaching thread to hook) Wing: Two Coq-de-leon hen saddle feathers, or comparable; convex sides together; tie in at head and ribbed to body, Matuka-style with tag end of thread Hackle: One Coq-de-leon hen saddle feather, or comparable; use whole feather including basal portion with marabou barbs

Maribou Muddler

Maribou Shiner

Hook: 3XL or 4XL heavy wire streamer hook Thread: White, size A nylon or comparable Tail: Red marabou or soft fur Body: Gold tinsel or Flashabou Wing: White marabou Hackle: Deer hair (leave long tips on first clump of deer hair spun for head) Head: Spun deer body hair, trimmed to cone shape

Hook: Heavy wire salmon hook or 3XL heavy wire streamer hook Thread: White, size A nylon, or comparable Tail: White marabou, mottled silicone ribbing for lateral line Body: Pearlescent flash chenille or Estaz, color in lateral line with dark green permanent marker Eyes: Lead dumbbell, painted

Long Flies of Spring

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that the natural has been moving along unfrightened, and then became spooked and is getting ready to dart away.

And then, there are the long slow pulls, one after another that suggest the organism is merely cruising along over the bottom.

Another related tactic is to dress the imitation with enough foam to make it float high and dry, and with plenty of action-inducing material like marabou, soft furs, soft hackle, etc. Fish it on the high speed sinking line, with a leader of about four feet in length. When the line hits bottom, give it a sharp pull of about three feet, and then count to ten before repeating. The fly will dive to the bottom, and then slowly float back up. On the next retrieve, it will repeat the performance. This can be a real turn-on to any fish holding deep.

Of course the opposite of this diving imitation is the Jigging fly. I like this tactic when fishing riffles, pocket water, and the shallow edges along strong current tongues. In these places, I still prefer imitations with plenty of motion in them, but with added weight at the head. This may be in the form of lead eyes, cones or beads, Fish Skulls, or others. Often I just clamp a 3/0 split shot on the tippet right up tight to the eye of the fly.

The new jig hooks and swimming jig hooks for fly tying offer a great way to create a jigging fly that doesn’t hang up in the rocks and other bottom detritus. Another way to make a weighted-head fly weedless is to bend the back of the fly, tilting the head upward. The fly flips over and rides hook point up.

All these weighted flies get down fast in relatively shallow water, making it easy to target small areas, such as pockets, in the search for feeding fish.

The imitation is then jigged through the fishable zone using a “jig/drop and strip” retrieve. The fly is jigged by quickly lifting the rod tip to jerk the imitation up off the bottom a few inches. Then the tip is dropped back to allow the fly to sink quickly back.

As the tip is dropped, the line is stripped to remove the slack created when it was jerked upward. Keep the line under a finger of your rod hand so that you can control the strip with precision, stripping from behind that finger. So, the movement is jig upward, drop and simultaneously strip the slack out of the line. By the way, this is the same way I work a surface popper: lift the rod tip to pop the imitation, drop and strip out the slack.

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

Nymphing with a shot and indicator seems a bit odd for fishing a long fly, but it can be very effective in deep runs and riffles, right at the head of a pool where the currents drop in, and along the edges of heavy current tongues.

I use a floating line with this tactic, and my Uni-Body Nymphing leader. For a 5 to 7-weight system, the butt of the leader is four feet of 0.020 inch Maxima Chameleon (or Clear), followed by 1 foot of 0.013 inch Maxima, followed by 4 feet of 0X tippet material (of your choice), and then 10 inches of 1X or 2X. Or, for smaller imitations, 3X tippet material. Typically I will add a 3mm tippet ring to the end of the OX so I can change the 10 inch tippet piece quickly, when needed. By the way, when I’m fishing for salmon with this rig, or fishing in places where the leader gets lots of wear and tear on bottom structures, I use Maxima for the entire leader.

There are many indicator styles, and they all work.

Normally when fishing long flies, I use a Thing-A-MaBobber or other large indicator. I pluck the metal ring out of the Thing-A-Ma-Bobber with a needle nose pliers. This gives the leader a better grip on the plastic, prevents nicks in the leader, and greatly lessens the kinking of the leader by the indicator. Set the indicator up on the 0.013 inch Maxima or even up on the 0.020, if needed when fishing deeper waters. The fly has to get to the bottom and the indicator has to be on top.

Classically for this type of fishing, I use unweighted imitations with lots of movement in them. I clamp a 3/0 shot right above the tippet ring connecting the 0X and final tippet piece. The tippet ring prevents the shot from sliding down onto the head of the fly.

Now, to fish it. The idea is to get the fly tumbling along the bottom at the same speed as the bottom currents, looking like a wounded or disoriented organism that can’t hold its own in the flow. One way to achieve this tumbling drift, is to fish the fly with the classic moves of the Leisenring Lift. But because there’s shot on the line, there’s the added advantage of a bottom drift that’s much longer than Leisenring achieved. I use this tactic in riffles, deep runs, and along the edges of a strong current tongue.

This rig is cast up and across, usually no more than 30 feet, and the rod lifted as the line comes down. Lifting prevents a large belly from forming in the line and pulling the fly back to the surface. Even as you’re lifting the rod, keep your rod hand facing in the direction of the indicator;

this helps to maintain the correct lift that minimizes belly formation. I don’t set the hook with every little bump and wobble of the indicator. When a fish takes the tumbling long fly, you will know it with certainty, as the indicator plunges under and goes racing away.

To complete the Lift as the indicator passes your location, turn so that your casting arm follows the indicator, while you lower the rod tip and add slack back into the drift. Don’t allow the indicator to drag.

If it does, you’re not adding slack back fast enough.

Add the slack at the same speed that the water is taking the line downstream. When the rod has been lowered as far as it will go, hold the rod steady and allow the currents to lift the fly off the bottom and drag it back toward the surface. Be ready as this is often a time of a powerful strike.

While you are lifting and lowering the rod during the dead-drift phase of this tactic, you can give the fly a little added action by occasionally jigging the rod tip up and down. The fly bounces and tumbles along in a most convincing manner. And be ever ready for the take.

Suppose that you are out working the pools with a fast sinking line, and suddenly the opportunity presents itself for a bit of nymphing with the long fly.

Just use the sinking line with the Brooks Method.

Developed by Charlie Brooks, its intention is to keep the fly deep at the end of the drift as the swing sets in.

With a floating line the fly rises bottom to top. With the Brooks Method, the sinking line keeps the fly deep as it swings. The take is always most positive with this method, too.

This is more a “high stick” tactic than is the Leisenring Lift because you’re not using an indicator and shot.

The leader is still short, and the fly typically weighted.

Cast up and across and relatively close—25 feet or less.

Get the rod up so the line deepens almost directly from the tip. This allows you to “steer” the fly along a current lane, prevents a belly from forming in the line, thereby dragging the fly to the surface, and allows you to instantly feel any takes. As with the Leisenring Lift, though, lower the rod as the fly passes your position to feed the line into the drift, and then allow it to swing deep along the bottom.

Long Flies of Spring

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FLY TYING

The Spring Steelhead Box

I JERRY COVIELLO Jerry is a Fly Tying Demonstrator and demonstrates his skills at local fishing clubs, the International Fly Tying Symposium in Somerset NJ and the FFI Fly Fishing Fair in Livingston MT. Jerry is a life member of FFI, and the FFI Fly Tying Group. He is serving on the FFI Fly Tying Group’s Board of Governors as Vice Chairman and a Fly Tying Award Evaluator. He is also a member of the Dyna-King Pro Team.

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was always intrigued that a fish could be caught on anything artificial. As a boy scout in summer camp, I had a spinning rod and tossed rooster tails and spoons into a lake and would catch bass, sunfish and even a pickerel. This fascination continued as I learned to fly fish, and I was more amazed that bits of fur and feathers could fool a fish. It was only natural that I learned to tie flies before I casted my first fly rod. I felt like making lures out of metal and plastic was more like building a model airplane whereas tying flies was an art form.

When the editor told me we were doing an article on spring steelhead flies, I was a little nervous because I’ve done very little fishing for steelhead over the years.

I figured I better get some information from an expert in the steelhead field, so I reached out to Jay Peck, who came highly recommended. Jay was more than happy to share his knowledge on flies he uses for spring steelhead. He guides on the streams of the Lake Ontario drainage. His only word of warning… once you catch your first one, you will be addicted forever.

Jay showed me a tube fly he designed which he feels works because of the hundreds of coho salmon fry that are swimming towards the lake. Steelhead line up and feed on them. He likes to tie them a little larger than the fry in the water so his fly will stand out as a big meal. He created this fly with materials

Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

that were lying around his shop. He’s added some chartreuse Larva Lace Angel Hair for the underwing and black ostrich herl for the wing. The black and olive crosscut rabbit collar really gives the fly motion while it strips through the stream.

The fibers pulsate giving the fly a lifelike motion, and the gold holographic tinsel body reflects light. Then add a cone head for a little weight. You can fish this tube fly with a floating line in pocket water or let it swing in the current.

Jay also ties a tube fly called the White Shiner. He uses silver holographic tinsel for the body, white marabou for the head, pink chenille for the collar with a white rabbit zonker strip wing and white Larva Lace Angel Hair. This gives a pretty good shiner impression.

I never tied a tube fly before as their popularity is just starting to catch on the East Coast, though tube flies have been around for over 60 years, especially in Europe. I can see how these flies can be used not only for steelhead and salmon but also bass and other species. The primary advantage the tube fly offers comes with landing fish. Once the angler hooks the fish, the tube slides up the leader leaving the shorter shank hook in the mouth of the fish, and the shorter shank makes it difficult for a fish to throw the hook. With long shank hooks, on the other hand, the shank acts as a lever and helps the fish throw the hook.

As an added bonus, the fish’s teeth do not rip up the feathers on the tube fly since the tube slides up the leader.

Also you can turn the hook upside down so the point rides upward to reduce snagging on rocks or other debris. You can change the hook size to match the species of fish you are after, and if your hook breaks, you can replace the hook without throwing the tube fly out.

You can find hundreds of steelhead patterns on YouTube, and I’m sure the majority of them work. If you want to limit your fly box to just a select few, I reached out to Jay to find out what works.

Basic Patterns for a Steelhead Fly Box: Stonefly nymphs work well especially in the spring. Be sure to adjust the size and color to match the natural in the stream, and even add a little flash to them.

Woolly Buggers imitate crayfish, baitfish, and leeches. You can transform the fly into an Egg Sucking Leech by using chenille to create egg behind the eye. Tie them in all sizes and colors and even add a little Krystal Flash. The Woolly Bugger is one of the Fly Tying Group’s Bronze Award patterns.

The Silver Rat is a time-tested

pattern that attracts both salmon and steelhead. Jay said he uses this fly in clear water situations.

The Rusty Rat & Blue Charm are considered salmon and steelhead flies and are also worth keeping in your fly box. Both of these flies are in the Gold and Silver Award respectively.

Green Butt Skunk is a tried and true steelhead pattern that should be in your fly box.

Egg Yarn Fly is also a productive steelhead pattern for anglers willing to trade in swinging flies and sink tips.

White Shiner Tube Fly Tube: 35mm (small to medium) Body: Silver holographic tinsel Wing: White Larva Lace Angel Hair over a white rabbit zonker strip Collar: Pink chenille Head: Three white marabou feathers wrapped as a hackle with the fibers pulled to the back Cone: Brass or nickel Hook: Daiichi 2557

Stonefly Nymph Hook: 4XL Hook Underbody: Wire tied on each side of the shank (lead free if possible) Tail: Brown goose biots Ribbing: Copper wire Shell Back: Turkey tail Abdomen: Yellow/brown dubbing Thorax: Yellow/brown dubbing with long guard hairs Wingcase: Folded double turkey tail Antenna: Turkey tail fibers

Fly Tying

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Woolly Bugger Hook: 3XL nymph hook—TMC 5263, Mustad 9672 size 4 to10 Tail: Color to match the body marabou Rib: Copper wire Body: Olive, black, or brown chenille Hackle: Grizzly Thread: Typically thread color matches body color

Silver Rat Hook: Tiemco TMC 7989 or Mustad SL 73UNP-BN (36890) size 4 Thread: Red UNI-Thread 6/0 Tag: Small oval gold tinsel Body: Silver tinsel Rib: Oval gold tinsel Wing: Squirrel or gray fox guard hair Hackle: Soft grizzly hen hackle

Rusty Rat Hook: TMC7999 size 6, Daiichi 2161 size 6, or Alex Jackson Steelhead Iron size 5 Thread: Red UNI-Thread 6/0 Tag: Small oval gold tinsel Tail: Small bunch of peacock sword fibers Rear Half Body: Rusty orange silk floss (rusty orange Uni-Floss) Front Half Body: Peacock herl (please note that a piece of floss veils the rear half of the body extending to about half-way over the tail) Rib: Oval gold tinsel Wing: Squirrel or gray fox guard hair Hackle: Soft grizzly hen hackle

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Blue Charm Hook: Tiemco TMC 7989 or Mustad SL 73UNP-BN (36890) size 4 Thread: Black UTC 70 or UNI-Thread 8/0 Tip: Fine silver oval tinsel Rib: Small silver oval tinsel slightly larger than that used for the tip Tail: Golden pheasant crest Tag: Yellow silk or rayon floss Body: Black silk or rayon floss Hackle: Blue hackle (kingfisher blue) Wing: Gray squirrel tail

Green Butt Skunk Hook: Tiemco TMC 7989 or Mustad SL 73UNP-BN (36890) size 4 Thread: Black 6/0 Wing: White calf tail Tail: Red hackle fibers Butt: Chartreuse floss or yarn Rib: Oval silver tinsel Body: Black chenille Hackle: Black

Egg Yarn Hook: Daiichi #1120 heavy wide gap scud hooks in size 10 Body: Egg yarn Thread: Super strong (Kevlar is a good option)

Fly Tying

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Olive Head Black Ostrich Wing Intruder Style Tube Fly Jerry Coviello Tube: HMH 30 mm long small 3/32 outside diameter Body: Gold holographic tinsel, two-thirds the shank length Inside Collar: Two to three turns of opalescent black Estaz Hackle: Dyed black pheasant rump or black schlappen feather Underwing: Chartreuse Ice Angel Hair over olive Krystal Flash.

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Overwing: Six strands of black ostrich herl First Outside Collar: One to two turns of black crosscut rabbit strip Second Outside Collar: One to two turns of olive crosscut rabbit strip Cone: Gold, silver or black to match 3/32 outside diameter plastic tube Hook: Daiichi 2557

Take a HMH small plastic tube (3/32) and cut to a length of 30mm. Then use a lighter to melt a collar.

Attach the tube fly tool into your vise.

I’m using a HMH Starter Tube Fly Tool.

If the tube isn’t tight against the tube tool, your thread will spin off the tube. So tie your thread about two thirds away from the tube end.

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6 Tie in the black opalescent Estaz.

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8 Tie in the holographic gold tinsel.

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5

Wrap the tinsel towards the back of the tube and then wrap the tinsel back to the tie in point.

Make sure each wrap touches the previous wrap.

Wrap at least two turns of the Estaz.

This will be used as a bump for the wing so it doesn’t lie flat on the tube.

Tie in a black schlappen feather or use a black pheasant rump feather.

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Take three turns of the black schlappen feather and tie it off.

10 A

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12

13

B

A. Pull the feather fibers backward and take a turn of thread over the fibers to help them angle rearwards.

B. This is what the feather will look like after you stroke the fibers rearward.

Add six olive Krystal Flash fibers tied on top of the tube.

Tie in the under wing of Chartreuse Ice Angel Hair. I want the wing to be as close to where the bend of the trailer hook will be.

Take six to eight strands of black ostrich herl for the wing.

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For the first collar, tie in black crosscut rabbit fur.

Take two turns of the black crosscut rabbit fur and tie off. Make sure the fur is stroked rearwards.

Tie in the second collar of olive crosscut rabbit fur and make two turns and then whipfinish the fly.

Take your lighter and melt the tube head to form a collar at the cone.

18 Finished fly.

Fly Tying

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CASTING

Inspiring Future Generations

I JEFF WAGNER

© Photo Kat and Jeff Wagner

Jeff is General Manager of R. L. Winston Fly Rods and Bauer Fly Reels, Fly Casting Field Editor for Fly Fusion Magazine, Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor and most importantly husband and father of two.

t seems like a long time ago. We lived on a cul-de-sac in a small town in Nebraska. I was fascinated with fish, all kinds of fish, everything fish. If it had gills and lived in the water, it was likely that I either knew about it or had one. My bedroom walls were lined with aquariums and posters of fish and fish anatomy. It probably could have been characterized as an obsession, and may still be.

Of course any opportunity to see fish close up was welcomed. A small creek outside of town served as a fisheries playground, a place to experience life in an aqueous system amidst an otherwise dry grassland. Afternoons free with a

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few fishing rods, a seine and a few cans of pop led to our discovery of minnows and darters and crayfish boiled in those pop cans.

I had fished for years with my dad, mostly using conventional tackle.

It wasn’t until I was about 10 that I was able to purchase a 9’ 8-wt St. Johns combo from Cabela’s. It certainly wasn’t the nicest equipment. At $100 for the rod, reel, fly line, backing and leader it was functional.

Western Nebraska has a huge diversity of fish species, but most of it was more than 30 miles from our home. Not far unless you are 10 years old. During the next few years, I made every attempt to catch as many species of fish as I could on that rod. Later, I was given a fly-fishing vest and all of the necessary additions of leader, tippet, split shot, forceps and more by men in our local church that shared the same passion. I think they saw a desire in me, not necessarily to be the best or catch the most or the biggest but to learn and be taught.

My proximity to water eventually led to fly casting. It was Mel Krieger’s Essence of Flycasting that ignited this passion, as I watched Mel cast a line with an ease and an appreciation that seemed not only purposeful but connected. In his passionate approach and strong style a connection was created. For me it was a connection between myself and a tool that came alive as I attempted to mimic Mel’s moves.

That same cul-de-sac turned into a casting course, as the asphalt ate up fly lines and leaders. It wasn’t until Essence of Flycasting II that I learned to double haul and a new pursuit of distance casting began to emerge. With that came an ability to control and manipulate the line. My casts reached further and my fishing became easier.

This led to attending fly fishing and sporting shows and an introduction to Fly Fishers International and the Casting Instructor Program.

Suddenly my purpose to learn to cast became clear, to teach it, to show others. At the same time I began working at Cabela’s in, of course, fly fishing. I signed up for my first CI test where Denise Maxwell and Randi Swisher allowed me to finish my test but with a less than positive result. Randi, who quickly became a friend, informed me I cast too fast, occasionally had tailing loops and didn’t fully understand casting mechanics. I took these things to heart.

The following year at the International Sportsmen’s Exposition I took the CI test again and passed.

Now with the shows becoming a world of exploration in the coldest months of the year I was able to personally learn from the best. Here I met Dusty Sprague, Tim Rajeff, Hutch Hutchinson and many others. They took the time to teach me, work with me and answer my never ending questions about casting. This eventually led to a pursuit of the MCI and then casting board of governors and the board of directors. I have almost 20 years with the FFI now—20 years of learning, growth, and volunteering.

This story isn’t just mine and isn’t just about me. This is the story of many passionate burgeoning fly anglers.

It is the story of casting, education, community, inspiration, and future generations. At the heart of the FFI are caring people. To those on the outside it is a group of retired fly fisherman that want to teach you their way to teach casting. It is unfortunate that

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stigma has been created and was allowed to perpetuate. The FFI has been through some turbulent times.

Paul Schullery in his American History of Fly Fishing even referred to the FFI as the red headed stepchild of fly-fishing organizations.

But that isn’t the organization that I know, that leaders like Len Zickler, Bruce Richards, Rick Williams, Molly Semenik, Tom Logan and others see or try to create. In this new era of the FFI we are taking hold of who we are, standing strong in what we do best and making the best effort to grow. Not for the sake of growing but to provide value, and we have lots of that to give.

Casting is at the heart of who we are and what we do. Fly casting is in our DNA. Not that it needs to be our only pursuit, but it is our star pupil.

We have a group of people that belong to the FFI that are some of the most knowledgeable and capable casters in the world. We don’t teach a style of casting but how to teach casting

2020 2020 2020 2020

Dennis O’Brien Tim Papich Richard Ross Ron Sowa

2020 2020 2020 2020

For nominee bios please visit our website at: www.flyfishersinternational.org/Resources/Contact/BoardofDirectors/2017Nominees.aspx For members who have a valid e-mail address on file with the FFI office by May 22, 2017, an electronic ballot will be sent by e-mail on June 2, 2017. Ballot must be postmarked by July 3, 2017

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Casting

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most effectively. And yes, at times that means casting a certain way.

It’s casting in a way your students can see and conveys your message, and instilling confidence in your students and sharing what “good” looks like. From that foundation teaching all the fishing applicable forms that are necessary for them to be successful.

As Mel stated all those years ago, “Fly casting is the essence of fly fishing.” It is, at the heart, the very definition of what it means to fly fish, delivering a fly with a line attached to a rod where the line has the weight and is the delivery mechanism. It is still true. If you want to learn to cast, this is the best place for it.

But, is that enough? Is fly casting by itself enough to grow an organization and develop a message? The FFI would agree that it is not. Outside of fly casting it is is fly tying, fly-fishing skills, and so much more. Enter the Learning Center, where fly casting will be a part of the curriculum but only in a larger context of fly fishing overall. The FFI’s strength has always been its ability to teach and this will extend that reach to a broader context. The hope is that through this new venture we can provide casting and fishing knowledge, teaching tools and opportunities to the fly-fishing industry and to those that come directly in contact with the FFI. And, while these attributes are admirable and are much of the nuts and bolts of the organization, it is the “who” that I believe in mostly. It is the community that is created by this group that is the real asset. In my own experience this was really what kept me coming back. Like many in their teens, I wasn’t necessarily on the

straight and narrow. I was troubled and going down a path that left much to be desired. While faith was the buoy that kept me afloat, the community within the FFI gave me a direction. It was through these relationships that I learned how to interact and teach, and what it meant to invest in someone and to truly mentor. This community is something I have experienced in few other places. But, it is the product of its people.

Gordy Hill, for example, known for his casting and his fishing intellect is so much more than that. My wife and I were newly married and it was Gordy and Priscilla that invited us to their place to experience tarpon fishing and the Florida Keys. Like many successful people, Gordy is multi-dimensional.

Our first visit to his house revealed stacks of papers laying throughout the living room. Gordy, a retired orthopedic surgeon was working on a court case. I don’t know the details, Gordy was much too respectful to share confidential information. What Gordy did share was his ability through photographic memory to tell you page and paragraph where something was written in the lengthy proceedings.

The time we spent with Gordy getting out on the water at 5am and staying out until a thunderstorm drove us off shows his dedication.

Dusty Sprague at the time was living in Colorado Springs, CO, and was head guide of the Broadmoor Hotel, and managed the fly shop. I met Gordy at the International Sportsmen’s Exposition.

At that time the ISE show was loaded with the who’s who of fly fishing.

Every major fly-rod manufacturer and guest speaker came to the show. Dusty invited me down to cast. A few months later we spent most of a day working

on loops, especially in my back cast.

Dusty is always willing to give his time and gave countless hours to the FFI to broaden their mission.

Now that I am almost 40…(scary), I am inspired by the FFI. These are only two examples. Examples that could be replayed by many people.

It should inspire us to dig deeper and give more. I can now say I have some work experience with various sizes of organizations and can point to some good and some bad experiences. While the FFI does not change fast and has lots of opportunities, they have lots of help. When I think about the countless volunteers that give certification tests, prep courses, run committees, develop strategic plans, organize finances and the like, it truly is a great community filled with great people with inspiring stories to tell.

Where this comes full circle is the next generation. So much is happening in our world today. The fly-fishing industry is strong but is it growing as we would like it to be? I now have two kids of my own, and they are starting to fly fish and asking lots of questions. We have the responsibility to be that mentor in the lives of the youth, to pass on our love of fly fishing and fly casting, and to share what we know. I don’t put fly fishing on a pedestal as some kind of salvific endeavor, but I do believe it can give direction and a connection with the creation around us. It did for me and for many reading this magazine.

Share fly fishing, share fly casting, and share the outdoors. It is through this sharing that we will develop our kids as conservationists and preserve fly fishing and fly casting. It is our connection with our environment and where the past meets the future.

© Photo Kat and Jeff Wagner

Casting

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FLY FISHING SKILLS

The Progression of Fly Fishing Education

P MOLLY SEMENIK Molly Semenik moved to Birch Bay, Washington after guiding in Montana for 14 years. Currently, Molly offers fly-fishing instruction (singlehand and two-hand) and provides women’s fly-fishing destination travel. Molly wrote 25 Best Off the Beaten Path Montana Fly Fishing Streams, she is a Master Certified Casting Instructor, she is a member of the Casting Board of Governors, and she is on the Board of Directors for Fly Fishers International.

resently, there are more ways to learn how to fly fish than ever – but it was not always so. I would like to begin by going back a bit in time starting in the 1970s and share with those of you who were not yet born, and those of you that might enjoy reflecting back, on how it was then when we learned about our sport. I will finish by introducing the new Fly Fishers International Learning Center and sharing with you what it is and how it can help you either continue in your quest for expertise in fly fishing or help the person who is considering getting started.

With technology advancing at a rapid rate, Fly Fishers International is offering ways to stay current and take advantage of new high quality opportunities to learn. I am thrilled to be a part of such an exciting and refreshing new direction.

Learning the Old School Way My journey through the sport is like a lot of yours—the old school way. I started when I stepped into the AuSable River in Michigan and I watched my dad and his friend disappear around the next river bend. My dad tied on my fly, probably a Parachute Adams, and off I went determined to catch my first trout on a fly rod. I had no instruction other than what the size of the fish needed to be in order to keep it. It was 1970 and I was 13 years old. During the following years, I fished only with my dad and while he was no expert, he was pretty good. He always seemed to catch fish. He was of the mind set to “let her figure it out

on her own.” While there is some romance in that approach, it’s amazing that I stuck with it all these years. I guess it is just in my DNA. Then in 1979, I moved west to Utah. I wanted to advance my skills and the Provo River was my teacher along with a new relationship with Western Rivers Flyfisher, a fly shop in Salt Lake City. I enrolled in my first fly-fishing class there taught by Steve Schmidt and Emmett Heath. I was the only female out of 35 students. Along with my class, I had a treasure trove of classic hardcover books. As I glance at my bookshelf while writing this article I see books by Gary A. Borger, Mel Krieger, Lefty Kreh, Joan Wulff, Gary LaFontaine, Tom Rosenbauer, and more – too many to list. I am so glad they are not on my Kindle! I even still have old VHS tapes

by Scientific Angler with Doug Swisher in neoprene waders and aviator glasses!

Back then, I hesitated to join fly-fishing clubs because they were mostly males, and I did not feel comfortable in the club meetings (always the third Thursday of every month no matter where you are in the country!) I was, however, fortunate to find a few guys to fish with, who I learned a great deal from. A few of them were just avid fly fishers like me and others were guides on the Green River. At this time, there was no Internet to help me learn skills and hone my technique. Instead, I fished every chance I could get and asked questions of those far more advanced than me and kind enough to help me out. © Photo Peter Lami

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Fly Fishing Skills

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quality information and exceptional instructors can be a challenge.

© Photo Molly Semenik

A New Resource for Quality Information

After Utah, my husband and I were ready for a change. He asked me where I wanted to go, and I said, “Livingston, Montana. I want to be a guide!” In the spring of 2000, I arrived in Livingston and attended my first fly-fishing conclave. My professional fly-fishing career began and it was Fly Fishers International (FFI) that gave me the support I needed both in friendships and in casting mentors. I met and took classes from Lefty, Joan, Tom White, Gordy Hill and Bruce Richards—how fortunate I was.

I learned a great deal during my 14-year guiding career. Along with my fellow guides and FFI mentors and friends, I started utilizing the Internet, articles, videos, and YouTube. Fly-fishing companies

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offered classes in schools and shops.

Fly-fishing clubs offered outings, especially important for women who wanted to find female friends to fish with. Women fly-fishing clubs were starting up and adventure travel companies were expanding.

Some would say about the old school way, “Yep, that’s how it’s supposed to be: hit and miss, figure out yourself.

That’s the charm and romance of the sport.” But, as technology and the sport have evolved, we now have no shortage of new and different ways that encourage participation and explain how to get started. However, I have found that for both the beginner and the advanced angler, navigating through all the mountains of new sources and attempting to locate

The FFI Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan in August of 2015. As part of that strategic plan and providing a way for fly fishers to easily access quality information, the FFI has initiated the Learning Center. The FFI Learning Center will offer resources for all aspects of fly fishing – one stop shopping so to speak. The Learning Center mission is: “Essential to the development and delivery of these educational resources is the understanding that it is through education, both angling skills and environmental stewardship that fly fishing will grow and be preserved for future generations.”

What will the Learning Center ultimately look like? In the beginning, it will not be a brick and mortar building. It will be a central collection of resources available through the FFI website. The FFI website will develop a LC tab that will be up and running by late spring 2017. Resources will be available to anyone interested in fly fishing, be it a student or teacher from FFI member councils and clubs or non-member fly-fishing clubs or organizations.

Individuals, schools or fly-fishing shops may find the site useful for creating a new program or enhancing an already existing program.

All the fly-fishing skills that are integral to the sport will be made available as the Learning Center expands. There will be four resource areas: fly tying, fly-fishing skills, fly casting and conservation. Authors will be selected from FFI’s community of highly experienced teachers, guides,

and industry professionals. This is what the FFI has been doing since its inception in 1965. Soon we will have one place for all our educators to present their knowledge and skills. During this first year of development, all offerings will focus on the beginner fly fisher and primarily fresh water techniques.

As the Learning Center content grows, other waters and more advanced skills will be developed.

All media types of the highest quality will be offered: handbooks, videos and power points. Some will be offered for free while others will be available for a small fee with FFI member discounts.

Current FFI Learning Center resources being developed focus initially on a 12-hour Beginning Fly Fishing Course that will include: • 90 minute class: Fly Fishing Equipment • 30 minute class: Fly Fishing Safety

• Beginning Casting (both handbooks and video) • One hour class: Foods Fish Eat • Three hour power point with video: Fly Tying-(3 beginner flies) • Three hour class: Fly Fishing Strategies and Tactics • Two hour class: Conservation Topics and Current Concerns • Multiple one page reference handouts for the beginner fly fisher Look for FFI Learning Center classes and workshops at the Fair in Livingston this August. By the time of the 2018 Fair in Boise, all of the above offerings will be fully developed and will be offered at the Fair.

The Future We all are aware that our U.S. population is growing rapidly: • 2015 – 320 million • 2016 – 322million

• 2050 - estimated to be 438 million (U.S. Census Bureau 2015) In 2015, the U.S. population over 16 years of age was 294 million (U.S. Census Bureau 2015). It is estimated that about 1.5% of the U.S. population over 16 years of age fly fishes (at least once a year), which equates to 4.5 million fly fishers. This is an increase of early 6 % from 2011 (USFWS).

Our numbers are growing. FFI will not only be offering high quality flyfishing resources to our growing number of fly fishers but also be active in conservation as the pressures of population growth and climate challenges impact our daily lives. Lee Wulff, a FFI founding father said “Teach a Person to fly fish and you have just created a CONSERVATIONIST.” Fly Fishing International’s Learning Center is an exciting new direction and one that I look forward to watching develop.

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STREAMSIDE Q&A

Bruce Richards Talks Tough Trout, Tenkara, and the Future of Fly Fishing

BRUCE RICHARDS Bruce is an experienced world angler having fly fished extensively in both fresh and saltwater. Bruce has taught fly fishing and fly casting for over 40 years and helped develop and run the FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program. He is considered by many to be one of the top fly casters and instructors in the world. He is also the author of “Modern Fly Lines” and was Fly Rod & Reel magazines 2006 Angler of the Year and currently sits on the board of directors of the Madison River Foundation.

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How did you get into the fly fishing industry?

I’d like to say it was through careful planning and persistence, but I grew up in Midland, Michigan, home of Scientific Anglers. My father was a friend of SA’s owners, the Martuch family, and best friend of SA’s sales manager, Rod Towsley.

I remember going into the SA factory when I was very young, and fished with Rod and Dad and their friends (which included people like Doug Swisher and Carl Richards) when I was in my teens and 20s. When I got out of college the guy running SA at the time, Bob Philip, sent me a job application and told me to fill it out. Little did I know I’d been groomed for the job. The rest is history!

What industry trends to you see coming down the pike?

I see a continuing trend of technological improvements like we’ve been seeing in all our gear. The question is will there be a major breakthrough or just smaller, incremental changes. Everyone is looking for the big break, but they are hard to find. Things you can patent and protect, like SA’s AST and line texturing are game changers, but are few and far between.

Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

What was the impetus for developing the Casting Instructor Certification Program?

Simply, Mel Krieger. Mel saw a need for an instructional program like golf’s PGA has.

Mel did a lot of teaching and worked with other instructors. He saw wide disparity in the quality of that instruction and felt it would be good for the sport and business of fly fishing if there was a way to train and certify fly-casting instructors to make it easier for students to find qualified instructors. Fly fishing is a lot more fun if you can cast.

What do you see as your greatest contribution to the sport of fly fishing?

I think it is probably my involvement in gaining a better understanding of fly casting itself. Obviously our entire sport revolves around people being able to cast.

The best gear in the world is worthless if the user can’t cast. I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to hang out with the best casters and instructors in the world for decades. When I started designing fly lines for SA, I realized I didn’t understand casting, or how lines and rods work together, well enough to be

© Photo Suz Richards

really good at my job. That started a passionate curiosity about fly casting; it truly is magical. That resulted in much better line design I think, and also the information people need to be better casters and better instructors.

Being able to cast well is THE key to fly-fishing success and enjoyment.

What do you see for the future of fly fishing?

I don’t see big changes in the foreseeable future. I’m encouraged by the number of younger anglers I see on the water now—that’s a healthy sign. And they are very passionate about the sport. I see continuing focus on less traditional species like carp and pike that are found nearly everywhere. I think we will see more non‑traditional techniques but don’t think they will displace the beauty and magic of good overhead casting.

What do you find most exciting about fly fishing?

The best thing for me is to find a big, smart fish in a tough spot and then find a way to get it to eat my fly. I can spend half a day on one fish and be completely absorbed and happy.

A bit more happy if I hook the fish, but happy with the challenge either way. There is a special thrill for me in finally getting that fish to eat.

And if it eats my fly the exact same way as the naturals, then I know I’ve truly tricked the fish and that is very satisfying for me. To be honest, catching 20 easy fish isn’t exciting— one tough fish is. I love the game!

What are your favorite fly patterns?

I like simple, impressionistic flies. I used to tie exact imitations but they were a lot of work and rarely worked

better than simpler, easier flies. You can’t beat pheasant tail nymphs in a few sizes, and if you have a simple selection of hair wing caddis and comparadun-style mayflies you’ll catch a lot of trout. The Parachute Adams is hard to beat also. There are lots of fancy streamers out there now, but I still find a black Woolly Bugger works as well as anything. Obviously, these are for trout, but that’s what I do mostly these days.

Without giving away any of your honey holes, what are your favorite places to fly fish and why?

Well, I moved to Montana when I retired, that should be an indicator!

The famous rivers (Madison, Missouri, Bighorn, etc.) are famous for very good reason and I really like fishing them.

They do get busier than I like in the summer, so I fish them mostly in the

Streamside Q&A

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other seasons. There are lots of smaller rivers and streams that see much less pressure and can be very good. When I lived in Michigan, I didn’t fish for trout in lakes very much. But in Montana if you want to catch a lot of big trout, lakes like Hebgen near Yellowstone are hard to beat. The dry-fly fishing can be spectacular with lots of big fish sipping small flies. Not easy fish either; they can be very tough. I really like saltwater fishing too. Although, [I] don’t do it as much as I used to.

Wading a remote flat for bonefish is as good as fly fishing gets. I especially like the Bahamas and Belize. And there is nothing more exciting than tarpon fishing in Florida. And for a real challenge, permit anywhere are the ultimate catch for me.

What are your favorite fly-fishing techniques?

Have you gone Tenkara?

Did someone set you up for that question? My life and career revolved around designing, making, using fly lines. Tenkara doesn’t use a fly line; it isn’t fly fishing to me…’nuff said.

I have nothing against it. Tenkara is deadly; it’s just not for me. I’m a single hand dry-fly guy. Whenever it might work you’ll find me with an 8’6” 4-wt in my hand, rigged with a Sharkwave trout line, throwing dry flies. I do everything else too (except Tenkara or Euro Nymphing), but light lines and small flies are my thing.

What conservation issues concern you the most?

Water. I’m on the Madison most and we’re fortunate to have some control of the water because of Hebgen Lake. But every year it seems there are more issues with low water and

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Flyfisher Spring/Summer 2017

warm water. The situation on the Yellowstone last year was frightening and something we’ll probably see more of in the future. We need to do all we can to protect the health of our watersheds and aquifers through water conservation, better irrigation and grazing practices, pollution and erosion control, etc. If we have healthy habitats for fish, the fish will take care of themselves.

What ticks you off about the fly-fishing industry?

Well, not much really, but one thing has been bugging me lately—the trend toward heavier and heavier fly lines.

In the past if you bought a 5-wt fly line you knew what it weighed because the manufacturer followed the industry line weight standard. Not today. Many lines are as much as two sizes heavier than what the label on the box says. I know why it’s done but think it will lead to confusion in the marketplace when buying lines and rods. Fairly simple changes to the line standards could be made to resolve the issue, but I don’t see much appetite in the industry to make that happen.

What is your favorite fly fishing experience?

Oh, that’s tough…I’ve been fly fishing for over 50 years now and have fished around the world. I wish I’d kept a diary. But a few highlights come to mind. Certainly one of my best trips, certainly most exciting, was my first tarpon trip to Costa Rica in 1979 I think. I hooked 49 tarpon in five days, landed seven. I was sore when I got home. First time in the jungle, first 100+ pound fish, first time with a 12wt in my hands, pretty special. I’ve caught lots of different fish and still

think that tarpon are THE fish made for fly fishers.

I’ve fished with a lot of different people. I’ve been very lucky to have fished and cast with many of the legends and all those times were special. But my favorite fishing companions are buddies from college. We had such a good time fishing together while in school that we couldn’t imagine not doing that anymore after we graduated.

Eventually we started an annual spring trip to return to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That expanded to a fall trip too, sometimes two. I still return to Michigan twice a year for these trips. I think this will be year 40! Fly fishing is a very small part of these trips; some of the guys don’t fly fish at all but fishing is our excuse. We’re planning our May trip already.

Have you considered writing a sequel to Modern Fly Lines?

Yes, and I’ve started it. Progress is slow though. Living in Montana it’s easy to get distracted. I am planning to spend a good share of March writing though. The book will be an update of the original, with a new section about the physics of fly casting. I’ve been asked to write that many times and think it would be a good addition to the fly-lines book.

Now that you’re retired from Scientific Anglers, how do you keep busy? I still teach fly casting and remain involved with the IFFF Casting Instructor Certification Program. I’m also on the Madison River Foundation board. And for the last three years I’ve been consulting for Scientific Anglers/ Orvis. But I am trying not to get over committed so I have all the time I want for hunting, fishing and hiking in the Madison Valley!