issue 42
may 2019
Southern Trout
www.southerntrout.com
RIVER THROUGH ATLANTA CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER GUIDE SERVICE
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Publisher's message
.Hard Winter The winter of 2019 is one of the roughest I have ever experienced has a publisher. Those loyal followers who have sent me emails asking what happened to the weekly newsletter and where the hell is March/April editions of the magazine, here’s the reason. We’ve always tried to be up front and open regarding what is going here. I feel compelled to share the following as I have been surprised at volume of inquires received from so many of you. Before I start, let me say that ole Don is not crying in his bowl of cereal, but rather he now is well on the comeback trail. It goes back to February when we were on the way to the Atlanta Fly Fishing
Show. On I-20 a flat bed 18-wheeler had a poorly secured load of 4’and 6’ sheets of steel that flew free of the truck right front of us. We collided with the big sheets of steel sending my Buick airborne, but we were otherwise unscathed. Nevertheless, the car was totaled as a result of the impact. Later, I learned my left foot had broken bones. At home the next week while going to the car to see a podiatrist, my left foot gave way beneath me sending straight to a surprisingly hard concrete drive. By falling, I broke four ribs and boogered up my side. At the hospital emergency room, I received a soothing dose of morphine. Later, I limped to the podiatrist who told me I was signed up for foot surgery in three days. During the ensuing weeks, I was unable to sit at my computer. I was too sore to think about the magazine. Over the next six weeks, I slept in a recliner in the living room. Visiting an ear, nose and throat doctor, I was told that I have a very bad case of vertigo and needed to rest. Also, during this time, I fell three more times and gained subsequent more injuries. The wound doctor treating me ordered a walker, a cane, and a wheel chair. Nurses came to the compound most days to rebandage and monitor my wounds.
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Southern Trout
By now the magazine was desperately behind. At the same time, my associate publisher, Claude Prescott was having serious complications with his Publisher Don Kirk heart that he received a year earlier. We were not Managing Editor Leah Kirk sure what to do and decide on the following strategy. Special Projects Dir. Loryn Lathem We chose to convert Southern Trout from bimonthly Photographer/Writer Adam Patterson Editorial Consultant Olive K. Nynne to quarterly and not to kill the title. We suspended publication of Southern Kayak Fishing and the Ozark edition of Southern Trout Ozark Edition. This Contributors leaves us the option to reactivate in time, although Soc Clay to be honest, I don’t expect it to happen anytime Matthew Lewis soon. Keith Gann We all know the saying, “when it rains, it Matt Reilly pours.” Well, it had been my turn in the barrel. My Ragan Whitlock computer crashed early on in the ordeal. This meant all of the editorial for future issues is somewhere FIELD STAFF Jimmy Jacobs, in cyberland where I have no ideal how find. Next Georgia Editor Sidney, my kidney machine went on an unplanned Rocky Cox vacation. Leah has spent untold hours nursing. Columnist I am able to sit and work, thanks entirely to Leah Steve Moore lavishing attention on me. Many of you contacted Columnist Columnist me to see how I was doing. I feel a lot better, but still Polly Dean use my walker at home, and during the few jaunts Columnist from the compound, I rely heavily on my cane. Bob Mallard I have shared all this because I consider Southern Trout’s readers as family and hope to have fostered such a relationship with many of Southern Trout is a publication you. Over the seven years of the magazine, I have of Southern Unlimited, LLC. realized that if I am not actively working it, the title Copyright 2019 Southern Unlimited could morph into a revenue loosing venture to that LLC. All rights reserved. of a money pit. But like you, I dearly love it, and I am quite pleased we here and not in the trash can. My goal has always been to share the world of trout in the South. I am confident that we, with the help of God, are clawing our way back.
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Anderson Creek Retreat Anderson Creek Retreat is your basecamp for a healthy outdoor lifestyle on 1,200 acres next to the National Forest, less than ninety minutes from Atlanta near the historic mountain towns of Ellijay and Blue Ridge. We’re in outdoor recreation country known for trout fishing, hiking, whitewater rivers, horseback riding, mountain biking and cycling. Amicalola Falls State Park and the Appalachian Trail are just over the ridge. The 4,000-foot ridges of Rich Mountain Wilderness are across the Cartecay River Valley. Home sites average more than four acres and offer backdoor access to twelve miles of trails through a landscape of springs, trout streams, high mountain ridges, hardwood forests, pastures, meadows and the 19th century homestead ruins. Conservation easements with the Georgia Land Trust protect a mile of Anderson Creek and Anderson Lake for catch and release fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Check us out on the web at www.andersoncreekretreat.com. Call 706-635-5124 or email land@andersoncreekretreat.com.
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THIS ISSUE Publisher's Message Fishing Nymphs for Smallmouth Bass
3 12
Gearhead 40 Fly Lines for Fiberglass Rods A Different Kind of Trout River
12
46
Bamboo Bash '19 54 Townsend Tennessee New Fly Guy Wader Repair
64
Spring Smokies' Tips
74
Trout Fare
82
54
Blue Halo Seven:Six 86 4 Retroflex 3: Affordable and Fun to Fish hats Off to Alchei Labs
94
86
Great Smoky Mountain 102 Trout Unlimited Iron Man Fly Contest 2019 Fly Fishing Museum of the 110 South and Appalachian Rivers Aquarium UPDATE
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THIS ISSUE
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102 74
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SweetWater Brewing Company • Georgia • SweetWaterBrew.com
Fishing Nymphs for Smallmouth Bass
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arge smallmouth bass can often be persnickety in their feeding habits. They may not be inclined to chase natural minnows in the shallows nor sip mayflies from the surface of the stream. However, if you can drift a realistic looking artificial nymph right in front of these bass many of them cannot resist this temptation and they will take it quickly. If you would like to take advantage of this great action let us look at the various feeding stations in the rivers, the natural nymphs found in each one, the flies which will match them, and the effective ways to fish each area. The riffles entering the heads of the pools and the one hundred foot stretches with water three to four feet deep downstream of them are very important feeding areas for the bass. There are great populations of hellgrammites here. Having a three year life cycle this larva of the dobsonfly is always present and reaching four inches long he provides the bass a big mouthful. A very effective tactic is to wade into the river one hundred feet below these riffles and turn to wade upstream, fishing a Murray’s Heavy Black Hellgrammite size 4 upstream dead drift. Casts of twenty to thirty feet are good because you want to drift your Hellgrammite through each pocket over three feet deep. If the water is shallow enough you can wade all the way across the river fanning your casts up and across stream at a twenty degree angle. If the water is too deep to wade across the river just wade up the side of the river fanning your cast ahead of you. It is important to see this strike the instant the bass takes your fly so you can hook him. In order to achieve this I use my 9 foot 2X Bright Butt Knotted Leader which has five feet of fluorescent mono in the butt with two Scientific Anglers tubetype indicators installed in the two butt sections. Since natural hellgrammites are very good swimmers another option in fishing your Hellgrammite below the riffles is to cast across stream and after it sinks deeply swim it slowly across the stream bottom by stripping it six inches every ten seconds. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 13
The five to six foot deep heavy runs where the riffles empty into the main pools provide many excellent feeding stations where they feed heavily upon large stonefly nymphs. These are well matched with a Casual Dress nymph size 6. A technique the late Charlie Brooks taught me for large trout on the Madison River in Montana is very effective for these bass. Charlie used a 30 foot fast sinking head he made for the “Brooks Method� to punch his nymphs deeply. Since my smallmouth rivers are not as fast as the Madison I can use a floating line and I call this Swing Nymphing. This method is easy to learn and many beginners in my smallmouth schools catch their largest bass this way. Swing Nymphing requires positioning yourself right beside the deep runs you suspect will hold the large bass. The first cast is made up and across stream twenty feet long at a 45 degree angle. After your nymph sinks deeply on a slack line take up the slack line with your line hand and swing your rod downstream at the same rate it is drifting. This will enable
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you to keep a tight line on your nymph so you can feel the strike and set the hook the instant the bass takes your nymph. Successive casts are made two feet longer (still at a 45 degree angle upstream) until you cover all of the water up to 30 feet out. After covering this area wade downstream, pausing every ten feet to repeat this method until you have covered the entire deep heavy run. Aquatic grassbeds in smallmouth rivers attract many smallmouth bass. Whether these are found along the river banks or around the ledges in the middle of the rivers they hold great populations of natural damselfly nymphs. A great tactic for fishing the aquatic grassbeds which grow along the river banks is to wade downstream parallel to them 40 feet out in the river. Cast a size 10 Olive Damselfly Nymph across stream so it lands a foot from the grass. Swim it out slowly by imparting a two inch darting stripping action every ten seconds then pick it up and c a s t it five feet further down the grassbed as you wade downstream. Continue this tactic until you cover the whole grassbed. The grassbeds which form around the ledges in the middle of the river are fished much the same way with a Damselfly Nymph except here you either wade or float around the grassbed. The large slow pools in the middle of the rivers which are over five feet deep hold many large bass. Great populations of natural dragonfly nymphs are an important food for these bass. These vicious-looking naturals are well matched with a Murray’s Olive Road Kill Nymph size 6 and an Olive Dragonfly Nymph size 8. Murray’s Heavy Black Hellgrammite: The Murray’s Heavy Black Hellgrammite is the author’s favorite smallmouth bass nymph because it takes many large bass throughout the season. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 15
Author Road Kill: The author prepares to put a large bass on the reel which took his Olive Road Kill Nymph.
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You can either wade or float down the sides of these pools and cast your nymph across stream. After it sinks deeply dart it across the stream bottom by stripping it four inches every five seconds. This tactic is effective so cover the all of the deep area in this manner. A floating line with a 9 foot 2X leader will enable you to fish most of these pools effectively. However, if the current is fast you will catch more bass with a sinking tip III line in which the first ten to fifteen feet of the line sinks at two to four inches per second and using a 5 foot 10 pound test leader. Throughout these large pools from July until September, depending upon the latitude, bass feed heavily upon the wonderful white fly (Ephoron leukon) nymphs each evening. Well before the duns are seen on the surface the bass can be taken in great numbers on the Red Squirrel Nymph and the Mr. Rapidan Emerger both in size 10.
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Jeff with bass: Jeff Murray knows that dead drifting a Murray’s Black Hellgrammite along the stream bottom will catch many large smallmouth bass.
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About two hours before dark fish these nymphs upstream dead drift along the silty, stream bottoms, adding a size BB lead-free split shot six inches above the fly if needed to achieve good depth. An hour before dark remove the split shot and fish the nymph upstream with a rod-lifting action to mimic the swimming motion of the natural nymphs as they prepare to emerge. Another nymphing tactic is very effective from an hour before dark until the white fly duns are hatching heavily. This requires fishing the nymphs mentioned down and across stream at a 45 degree angle with a gentle twitching action as they swing across stream. This ploy is very effective even during the early part of the hatch. Throughout the slow parts of the pools at sunset several weeks after the white flies end the bass go on a feeding spree on the largest mayfly nymphs they ever see. The hexagenia nymph is an honest size 8 and the Mr. Rapidan Brown Soft Hackle Nymph size 8 is an excellent match of the natural. Just before sunset I fish the above nymph upstream dead drift where there are silty stream bottoms along the banks and downstream of the islands. Later when I see bass swirling just below the stream surface I know they are taking the natural nymphs as they head to the surface to emerge. Now I dress my whole leader with silicone fly Wade Trips floatant cream down to four inches of my nymph. If I see many active bass I Float Trips fish these one on one. If there are few Trout bass feeding I just cover the water. In Smallmouth both cases a slow fly twitching action Fly Shop is very effective. The angle of fishing these nymphs is not critical, however, as darkness approaches a down and across presentation is best because you will be able to feel the strikes rather than see them. Fishing nymphs for smallmouth bass will often help you catch more fish than any other method because • And Falconry they can seldom resist taking a realistic nymph drifted right in front of Great Guides and Great Customer Service! them. www.curtiswrightoutfitters.com 828-645-8700
I
t’s easy to lose track of what’s important when we get overwhelmed. Falling into the ‘why do I bother” mentality at the tying bench. It’s even easier to forget that at one point we began this journey wide eyed and enthusiastic, tying our first flies with ear to ear grins plastered on our faces as we lashed materials to a hook. Losing your ambition and motivation is bound to happen at some point and when you’re halfway through a horrendously unproductive night of tying after working 12 hours; struggling with broken threads and material strewn about - that first joyous fly tying experience i s probably the furthest thing from
“We all began as beginners”
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your mind. Then again, this may be the perfect time to dig into that memory bank and replay it. I still remember that first fly I ever tied, and as a matter of fact I even found it after unpacking at the new house. Remembering my sheer excitement as I opened the jaws of the vise and it dropped into my hands. It wasn’t a real pattern, nor did it have a name— just an unruly mass of yellow craft fur, spun in a dubbing loop around a hook. That’s it. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and at the same time I had never been more excited.
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Fly tying came to me by chance; I hadn’t gone looking for it. After getting tired of spending all my money on expensive crank baits I decided to go online looking for balsa wood that I could carve into lures. Little did I know my financial journey into tying would surpass my conventional tackle expenditures by a landslide. One website lead to another and next thing I know I was watching a video of someone spinning deer hair on a hook. What kind of sorcery was this? I couldn’t look away; it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I had always enjoyed being creative and working with my hands, but the thought of being able to combine that creativity with fishing; was too much for me to handle. I jumped in my truck and went searching for a fly tying kit.
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My first few hours of searching hadn’t been too productive and I walked through the doors to the final sports shop on my list, I had all but given up hope. They were harder to locate than I thought. Now I know what you’re going to say. Sure I could have ordered a kit online but the suspense would have killed me. The idea of spending the next few days staring out the window like a puppy waiting for its owner as the delivery made its way to my door would have been torture. I would continue looking. Although, I did promise myself that if I went home empty handed by the afternoon I would surrender to a little ‘online shopping’ and wait it out. 24 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
I scanned the aisles quickly, hoping something would catch my eye. Hiking boots, Hammocks, bug spray. Come on, where are they? “Can I help you?” “Uh.. Yes do you have any fly tying kits?” “We do. Actually there are a few to pick from. Follow me.” I couldn’t breathe. This was it. Calm down, calm down! Don’t let him see you’re all whacked out over finding it, just follow the guy down the aisle like a normal person, say thank you and buy it ok? Sound like a plan? Sure does. Great plan! I’m going to take that box home, dump it out and –
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“Here you go. If you have any other questions please let me know” As my eyes fell on the price tag, my stomach fell with it. I was going to be sick. Now we know fly tying isn’t going to save us any money, we would be fools to think so; but it at this rate it also wasn’t going to allow me to buy groceries that week either. I spent a good half an hour admiring the boxes and their contents, dreaming of what I could create and trying to make up my mind. Needless to say it didn’t take long to make up my mind and the next thing I know I’m driving full speed back home with the box on the passenger seat; begging me to open it. I flung the front door open and tossed the box on the couch, deciding to prepare a few things before I started. After putting on a pot of coffee, straightening up the living room and grabbing a notebook, I decided I was ready. To this day I still don’t know how I calmly cleared that coffee table instead of just throwing everything on the floor at a high rate of speed so that I had more room, but when I was done I opened the plastic handled tying kit and took everything out. The next few hours we spent tying everything on that DVD and was getting a little teary eyed as I soon came to realize I was running out of material. Had I really tied it all in one afternoon? Now what? www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 27
I sat still for a minute admiring my mess, feeling the withdrawal already creeping in on me. As the idle hands were beginning to idle and I could feel this was going to be something I needed to learn more about I had to come up with a plan. First stop; the library! The next morning I took out every book I could find on tying - many of whose titles would be purchased and find their way to my permanent reference collection. Shortly after that I found myself digging through my sewing boxes and craft supplies for material substitutes and sewing thread to tie with. Less than a week later I found local bait shop who was ‘putting its entire fly tying section out to pasture’ as they put it. And I bought it. I bought all of it. I had no idea what I was even looking at in those bags but the price was right, and I was an addict. Later on I would be introduced to real fly shops where I could spend even more hard earned cash, but at the time I made due with what I had. As I proceeded to tie everything I could find in my books, never caring if the hooks were wrong or the materials were the right color, the flies were piling up by the hundreds.
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Then one night after spending half an hour picking up the flies from a box I had knocked over I realized it was getting out of hand. On top of that I had been tying flies for months and seemed to be missing one key ingredient – Fishing them. I had been so engrossed in tying flies, and researching the history that goes along with so many of these patterns that I completely disregarded the fact that I had no idea how to fly fish, nor did I own any equipment – but that’s a story for another day. Where am I going with this?
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Some of our first experiences -good or bad - can shape our decision to pursue something we had sparked an interest in. When we get overwhelmed behind the bench It can be a good idea to take a moment to look back on how we began, because if you’ve come this far it must have been an enjoyable experience at some point. The story of how I fell into fly tying is one I look back on and laugh at when I get overwhelmed – and with every old fly I find that I tied with no rhyme of reason, ones which I substituted everything in the pattern to the point it was no longer even close because I had none of those materials, I think about those first few weeks and smile. Yet like many
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of us I get frustrated. I get tyers block and I lose motivation for something I once enjoyed deeply. This is when I grab one of those ‘first flies’ out of the box and remind myself how this all began. Every fly I we tie isn’t going to be perfect. I may enjoy challenging myself to tie my flies a certain way at times, but that doesn’t mean that everything I tie or fish with looks like what’s in the photos every single time. Let’s be realistic here, because I can assure you macro photography is not a fly tyers best friend as It can cause you to re tie something 20 times knowing for a fact that it’s going to fish just fine. And when a fly doesn’t come out the way I hoped? The reaction is usually the same. I close my eyes, shake my head in aggravation, and proceed to pick the feathers out of my cold coffee while I get ready to tie another.
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This is a never-ending learning experience. You can watch 5 people tie the same fly and you are sure to learn 5 different ways to tie it. It’s why so many are drawn to it, and become obsessed with it, and never tire of it. And on the other hand, bad first experiences can be why people throw in the towel, which is why I continue to teach and make it a point to remind people in my classes its ok to make mistakes. It’s how we learn, it’s how we grow and we all begin as beginners. You have to start somewhere. I have met countless tyers tell me about their horrible learning experience; either on their own, or with others and never went back. These are the ones I immediately welcome into my classes! Between fly tying classes, non-profit organizations and demonstrations there is a wealth of knowledge out there. Fly tying shows are an excellent
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place to look for answers to problems you are having. Better yet, before you go to a show, pack up a couple of flies that you are having trouble with. As you walk around the show, look for someone who’s using the technique you need help with and show them your flies. Ask them how you can improve. Not to say everyone you speak to will be willing to help you or have the time, but the fact is, that if they aren’t? You’re in a room so big that you’re bound to find somebody who will. Too often I find people would rather sacrifice the knowledge they could have acquired, by holding back their questions in fear of sounding like a ‘beginner’ or an ‘idiot’ in front of others. Well I say ask them. I do, even today you can still find me watching a seminar asking tons of questions never caring how I sound. Ask your questions knowing that
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someone next to you may have the same question and be afraid to ask. And if you find that your questions or flies are treated with disrespect and sneers? Then simply ask someone else. Don’t let the actions of one or two hold you back from pursuing something you have an interest in, because I can assure you; the majority of us fly tyers love teaching and passing what knowledge we have onto others. The bottom line is at the end of the day your own personal progress and the fact that you are enjoying yourself is what really matters. Don’t lose track of that and the next time you are having one of those days behind he vise, let your mind wander back to where it all started, because at one point; we all began as beginners.
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Nicole March is the Secretary for the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, the Co-Founder of a local chapter of “Kids on the Fly�, and the fly fishing instructor for 6th to 8th graders through NJ Parks and Recreation in Ridgewood. She is on the pro-staff with Regal Vise, Partridge Hooks, Solarez, EP Flies and Flymen Fishing Company as well as Hardy Fly Fishing.. She maintains a website at www. thequiltedtyer.com 36 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Gearhead
Fly Lines for Fi
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Bob Mallard
iberglass Rods
W
hen it comes to tackle, I used to be all about technology and someone who typically shunned tradition. I am now an unapologetic fiberglass fly rod convert – at least as far as streams and small rivers go. And while I appreciate all glass fly rods to at least some degree, I tend to gravitate toward those made from modern glass such a S-Glass or S2 Glass, or older style E-Glass rods made using modern tapers and accoutrements. I grew up fishing fiberglass fly rods. I fished rods from Shakespeare, Daiwa, Eagle Claw, Kodiak, Fenwick, Orvis and a few other companies I have forgotten. I am currently fishing a 5’ 2-weight 2-piece custom E-Glass fly rod from Cane & Silk, a 6’ 2-weight 3-piece S-Glass rod from Scott, and a 7’ 3-weight 4-piece and 7’6” 4-weight 5-piece from Epic out of New Zealand. I am test-driving E-Glass rods from Reilly Rod Crafters and Blue Halo as well.
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What’s the Big Deal?
The biggest difference between fiberglass rods and graphite rods, at least from a performance standpoint, is the action – the former is much slower than the latter. While modulus which impacts stiffness and by default speed is only part of the picture, even the highest modulus glass rods are noticeably lower than the lowest modulus graphite rods – and up to 2.5 times so. What this means is that many of today’s most popular fly lines which are over-weighted to help “tame” overly fast graphite rods are not a great choice for fiberglass rods, regardless of type of glass or taper. This includes Scientific Anglers’ MPX series – advertised as “Built a half-size heavy,” and RIO’s Grand series – advertised as “a full line size heavier than the industry standard.”
Double Tapers – Double Duty is the Least of it…
While shunned by most graphite rod users and referred to as “old fashion” by younger anglers, double-taper fly lines still have a place in modern fly fishing – especially when it comes to fiberglass rods. And the old “double duty” selling point, you can flip the line over when you wear one end out, is the least of the reason. Double taper fly lines have a front taper, belly, and rear taper – there is no running line. While they may not cast as far as weight-forward lines, they roll-cast better, mend better, and in my humble opinion, present the fly better – and by that I mean gentler. As stream- and small-river-centric tools, roll-casting is important trait for a glass rod. And distance is not usually that important. Most, but not all, double-taper fly lines come with relatively short front tapers, which is critical for effective close-range casting. Short front tapers also work well in tight quarters where accuracy is important, another common situation found where fiberglass rods are often used. Longer tapers help in situation where delicate presentations are needed. I tested five double-taper lines in the 2- to 4-weight range. Two had 5’ front tapers, two 6’, and one 13’. They ran from $44.95 to $89.95. The three big dogs each offer a double-taper line: Cortland Trout Boss DT (6’, $89.95), RIO LightLine (5’, $79.95), and Scientific Anglers Mastery Double Taper (5’, $79.95.) Doubletaper lines are also available from two of the fiberglass rod companies: Blue Halo Triton (13’, $44.95) and Epic GlassLine (6’, $69.95.) 42 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Weight-Forward Tapers – The Comfort Zone…
The fiberglass fly rod user who is not comfortable with double-taper lines, or feels they need to reach out a bit more, and is not willing to roll the dice, should play it safe and purchase a weight-forward line. But again, as noted above, not one that is over-weighted… Weight-forward fly lines have a front taper, belly, rear taper, and running line. Most come with a front bonded loop, and many with a rear loop as well. There are many more options, and colors within options, than there are for double-taper lines. While they cast a bit further than double-taper lines, weight-forward lines don’t roll-cast as well, don’t mend as easily, and unless you are a skilled caster and use a long leader, can be a little harder to present the fly softly. But rollcasting and mending are only impacted if you get beyond the belly, which can be from 10’ to 28’ not including the front taper. I tested five double-taper lines in the 2- to 4-weight range. They had front tapers from 5’6” to 10’, bellies from 10’ to 28’, and rear tapers in the 5’ to 9’ range, a couple of which employed compound tapers. The three big dogs offer lines that will work for glass rods: Cortland Trout Boss (6’/20’/9’, $89.95), RIO Gold (5’6”/23’/9’, $79.95), and Scientific Anglers Mastery SBT (10’/10’/5’, $79.95.) If you are fishing small streams and pocket water, go with a line with a shorter front taper. If match-the-hatch dries, larger water, or smooth surfaces are where
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you play, go longer.
Other Options – The One-Off’s…
While testing conventional fly lines for fiberglass rods, I came across a few options, or one-off’s, that while not easy to categorize, worked, and in some cases, quite well. First were Wulff Triangle Taper, Joan Wulff Signature, and Long Belly. The first two have a long front taper, over 30’, a short rear taper, and running line. The latter, it has a 2-stage rear taper. The Long Belly is actually a weight-forward with a very long belly and very short rear taper. All cast well and roll-cast superbly. They can however be a bit tough to load in close and are probably best suited for larger streams and small rivers. They retail at $79.95. While technically a weight-forward, RIO’s Creek is not your typical weightforward. Advertised as a line for “small creeks and streams,” it has a 5’6” front taper, a belly of only 5’, and a 20’ 2-stage rear taper. The line casts well in close, and really close, yet can reach out a bit when needed. It matched perfectly to my 5’ 2-weight custom E-Glass small stream rod. They retail at $79.95. Conclusion: No fly line does everything I want it to do—at least well. This holds true for glass rods as well as any other rods. The key is to choose a line that is best suited for what you do most. Personally, I like double-taper lines for fiberglass rods, and not for any “traditional” reason, just that I think they work best. But I fish glass mostly on small freestone streams where accuracy is more important than distance, and roll-casts are often the rule. BOB MALLARD has fly fished for forty years. He is a former fly shop owner and a Registered Maine Fishing Guide. Bob is a blogger, writer, author, fly designer, and native fish advocate. He is the Publisher, Northeast Regional Editor and a regular contributor to Fly Fish America magazine; a columnist with Southern Trout online magazine, and a staff fly designer at Catch Fly Fishing. Bob is a founding member and National Vice Chair of Native Fish Coalition. His writing, photographs, and flies have been featured at the local, regional and national level including Outdoor Life, Fly Fisherman, Fly Fish America, Fly Rod & Reel, American Angler, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal, Fly Tyer, Angling Trade, Eastern Fly Fishing, Southern Trout, Southern Trout Ozark Edition, Fly Fishing New England, The Maine Sportsman, Northwoods Sporting Journal, Tenkara Angler, On The Fly, OrvisNews, the R.L. Winston catalog, and the books Guide Flies, Caddisflies and America’s Favorite Flies. Bob has written two books and contributed to several others. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press.) Bob’s next book, Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them, is due out summer 2019 (Stackpole Books.) He can be reached at www.bobmallard.com, info@bobmallard.com or 207-399-6270. 44 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.
PISGAH FOREST, NC
www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 45 GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS
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By Jimmy Jacobs
f o d in
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he Middle Fork of the Broad River is a Georgia trout stream that is much like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. It simply does not fit the mold. Most of the Peach State trout waters rise in hard-rock regions as infertile freestone streams. Their flows come from mountain side springs, with healthy doses of rain water.
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In the case of the Middle Fork, its trout waters are in the upper Piedmont region, running through a level valley surrounded by foothills. But, in the months from fall through early summer, its waters are cold enough to support trout. Based on that scenario, the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division stocks the stream heavily weekly from April through July 4 each year. This year, in particular, the angling on the Middle Broad has been above average. That situation has been basically the result of North Georgia having a plentiful supply of water. Some areas of the state got as much as 15 inches above average rainfall to start the year in January alone. Going into the spring, the rains slacked a bit, but continued to fall.
The Middle Fork of the Broad River in northeast Georgia.
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An average-sized Middle Fork rainbow.
The bad news from that weather is flooding occurred in some regions, and the streams stayed too high and turbid for fishing. The good news was that the state hatcheries had plenty of water and produced a great crop of trout. While the average trout stocked most years is 8 to 10 inches long, this year’s releases were in the 9- to 12-inch range. Also, due to the high water that limited fishing, more of those trout stayed in the streams longer and thus spread out a bit. The Middle Fork of the Broad especially benefited from those conditions. 48 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
The river rises in Habersham County, just south of the village of Mount Airy. But, no, this is not the town of the same name in North Carolina with the connection to Andy, Barney Fife, Opie and the rest of the Mayberry gang on The Andy Griffith Show. From there the Middle Broad flows south into Stephens and Franklin counties to join the North Fork in forming the main Broad River. Along that course it passes through the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area, where it is stocked with trout in Habersham and Stephens counties. The river also skirts the site of Camp Toccoa that gained fame in the television mini-series Band of Brothers. The television show chronicled Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s training at the camp and their exploits in Europe during World War II. The unit regularly ran 6 miles up and down nearby Currahee Mountain overlooking the river, earning the unit the nickname the Currahees. Some of their training, no doubt, occurred along the shores of the river. On a recent spring outing to the Middle Fork, the water was running just a bit high and not quite clear. It was the Monday following the Easter weekend and the preceding 10 days had been rather poor weather. As a result, our group of two anglers shared the river with but one solo fisherman. Tossing olive Wooly Buggers and green Mop Flies soon produced trout, and plenty of them. It was obvious the two most recent stockings had not been heavily harvested. The fish were taking the offerings while dead drifted under strike indicators, or quartered downstream and across the current on the swing. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 49
Netting a rainbow on the Middle Fork.
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The most impressive part of the fishing, however, was the robust nature of the fish. All of them were rainbows and consistently were 12-inches or longer. Even more out of character for stocked trout, these fish usually took the air, making multiple jumps. They also did not give up immediately, making strong runs to the bottom that put a bend in our 3- and 4-weight rods. The stocked portion of the Middle Fork of the Broad River is best accessed from Browns Bottom on the north, down to Farmers Bottom at the south end. Through here it rates as a medium-sized stream offering deeper pools broken by mild ripples. Good gravel Forest Service roads connect the two sites and provide access to much of the 17,300-acre Lake Russell WMA surrounding the stream. The portion of the river between the two bottoms is roughly 4 miles long with no road access between them. The Broad River Trail, however, runs upstream from Farmers Bottom along the river to the mouth of Dicks Creek, usually within sight of the water. The stretch of river downstream from Farmers Bottom has a number of large, deep pools, while upstream the smaller pools, short deep runs and little shoals abound.
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The bottom line is the Middle Fork of the Broad River offers an interesting option for trout action in a part of the Peach State where such fishing is in short supply. Also, due to this year’s weather that angling promises to be a cut above average.
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A trout taken beneath the bridge at Farmers Bottom.
What’s So Special About Bryson City? Hundreds of miles of native mountain trout streams Trout are also flow through the Great common in our Smoky Mountains four rivers – National Park above Bryson City and Cherokee — freestone creeks with native rainbow, brook and brown trout. Most streams offer all three species.
Cold Weather Means Bigger Fish .
What are you waiting on?
Bryson City is the home of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians Learn all about it at FlyFishingMuseum.org
The Oconaluftee, Little Tennessee, the Tuckasegee and the Nantahala, one of Trout Unlimited’s top 100 rivers. And now, a 2.2 mile section of the Tuck through Bryson City is designated delayed harvest waters, with one of the highest trout counts of any stream in the US.
The 30 miles of trout streams on Two mountain lakes the Cherokee offer trout fishing Indian Reservation The 29-mile long, 11,700 acre Fontana Lake and its smaller downstream neighbor Cheoah Lake both have strong populations of trout, particularly near the mouths of streams flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cheoah is regularly stocked by the State of North Carolina.
are the longest privately owned and stocked fishing waters east of the Mississippi. The 2.2-mile Raven Fork Trophy section is home to the biggest trout in the Smokies. This specially regulated section is fly fishing only and catch and release.
Visit GreatSmokiesFishing.com for a map and profiles of 26 great fishing locations near Bryson City, North Carolina. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 53 Photo by Justin Anderson Fly Fishing & Guide
BAMBOO TOWNS
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OSEND, BASHTN '19
T
he world of fly fishing is still considered a niche category in the overall sport of angling, which for many of the uninitiated represents a style of fishing that seems complicated and only done by knowledgeable experts. Now for those of us who are dedicated and confirmed addicts of fly fishing we know that beautiful back cast and delicate landing of the fly on the water is only achieved after nearly losing a quart of blood, countless hours stuck in the trees, and hooking everything from ourselves, friends, and maybe even the family dog. Even within the flyfishing world there is a subset of categories; saltwater aficionados, Tenkara followers, carp hunters and the list goes on. However, the unicorn of fly fishing if you will is the bamboo rod angler; in the minds of most a cult of mystery practiced and performed by only the ancients, not unlike Gandalf conjuring the spirit world.
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The reality is of course that nothing is further from the truth and the “Bamboo Bash” held for the past sixteen years in Townsend, Tennessee is on the forefront of not only keeping traditions alive but advancing and promoting the art of bamboo rod building and all it contains. It was my pleasure to attend Saturday of this year’s three-day event, April 25-27, 2019 at Dock’s Motel, a proud sponsor and local legend unto itself in our area. Located just outside the gates of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park it has been the home base for the “Bamboo Bash” for years. I had the opportunity to sit down with Paul Hinchcliff, the organizer and head wrangler if you will for the last few years on the banks of the Little River as he described the origin and focus of the “Bamboo Bash”. The event began almost 20 years ago as a gathering of those with a passion for vintage gear and bamboo rods. One of the original organizers, Ralph Shuey, was in attendance this year and both Paul and he are regular contributors to the online website “Classic Fly Rod Forum,” which serves as a base for those who follow the bamboo traditions. Paul emphasized that the mission for the “Bamboo Bash” is not a crusade for the past but to serve as caretakers of bamboo’s rich history while promoting and advancing its future. A perfect example were the discussions held this year under the general title of Line Lab, also known as Why in hell won’t this damn line work on my cane rod? – a question familiar to anyone involved with fly fishing. The talk on Friday morning at Little River Outfitters, another sponsor of the annual event, brought a pair of special guests to the “Bamboo Bash”, Tom & Alexis Brodhead, founders of 406 Fly Lines of Livingston, Montana. Their talk was titled “Vintage Tapers Tweaked with Modern Materials”. They discussed the idea behind the company’s fly line taper and material designs. I was able to share some time with them Saturday evening as they told their story of exNew Yorkers with a love of fiberglass fly rods who could not find the fly lines they wanted, so they designed their own. After retiring early to Montana, a spot they had visited for years, they started 406 Fly Lines in 2014. After some research they partnered with Scientific Anglers, who manufactures their lines, and which 406 Fly Lines now distributes around the world, including New Zealand and Japan. In a classic tale of you never know where a road will lead, 406 Fly Lines soon came to the intersection of bamboo rods and the quest for the magic fly line, and quickly became aware of a perfect match for a bamboo fly rod owner’s line requirement. 56 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
[left] Ralph Shuey [right]- Paul Hinchcliff www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 57
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Another of the highlights at the “Bamboo Bash” this year was the casting area where rods of every description are rigged with similar but various fly lines to help in an unbiased and non-company opinion of what works. I can simply say that based on what I saw in the attendees’ purchases, it was definitely worth the cross-country drive for 406 Fly Lines. Oh, and for those wondering where the name 406 Fly Lines comes from - that is the area code for Montana! It is not just fly rods and fly lines that make an appearance at the “Bamboo Bash”, but also reels of every description and time period. Pflueger, Martin, Hardy and Shakespeare, just to name a few, in every size and condition were on display. As I watched the casting area, I could not help but notice, on a rod someone was casting, a beautiful reel with an almost burnished bronze color unlike anything I had seen before. As a complete amateur to the world of bamboo gear I had to ask and was told it was a Pflueger Bulldog, and when questioned on its age I was told it dated from somewhere between the 20’s and 30’s - as in 1920! I was amazed not just to see an almost 100-year-old fly reel in beautiful functioning condition being used today, but to imagine the story and history of the reel. Who purchased it near the beginning of the last century? How many days on the river had it seen? How many fish had eluded its past owners? Where had it traveled and what waters had it traversed www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 59
in a bygone era of days past of cold pristine mountain streams and rivers? Maybe that is part of the allure for the current collectors and owners of these works of art, the inevitable realization that they are just temporary custodians of history. The “Bamboo Bash” is the very epitome of what was the past, the present and what is the possible future of bamboo fly rods. It is a three-day event where the bamboo novice like myself can cast a rod handmade in 1955 by the esteemed rod builder, Paul Young, and in the same day cast a bamboo rod just built a few months ago by someone attending the “Bamboo Bash” that weekend, like Munsey Wheby or Jim Ifert. It is truly a labor of love for those that make the journey each year to the base of the Great Smoky Mountains to attend this one of a kind event. It is a gathering of a tribe that welcomes all and shares a golden history of fly fishing, rod building and most importantly, an exchange of information among anyone who stops and takes the time to listen. At the end of my streamside chat with Paul Hinchcliff, I asked him what one phrase summed up the “Bamboo Bash 19” and with a wry smile he said…. “A weekend of Southern gentlemen on their best behavior.” Next year when spring 2020 rolls around I suggest you load the car, maybe throw in some cigars and smooth sipping bourbon, and make your way to the friendliest town in Tennessee. There are not many places left in this world where the local IGA grocery store sponsors the ice, the motel rolls out the red carpet and the whole town says glad you’re here!
Ton & Alexis Brodhead 406 FLY LINES -OWNERS
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experience counts for everything Meet Brian Lynch, one of the most innovative anglers and best guides in the business. Professionals like Brian are our first call when we need boots on the ground (and in the water), and our go-to team when it comes to understanding what truly makes a great rod. Their knowledge, their expertise, their understanding is passed on to our craftsmen who strive for perfection and uncompromising performance in every rod we make. To us, Brian and his fellow professionals are our unsung heros. We salute you. Brian calls Western Massachusetts home and can be found working the Deerfield river virtually all year round.
introducing the new avantt and exocett series from t&t. remarkably light. extraordinarily strong.
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New Fly Guy:
Steve Moore
I
t’s not a question of “if” your waders will develop a hole. Rather, the operative word is “when.” Regardless of the type of wader, breathable or neoprene, a jagged rock or sharp thorn is in your future. Guaranteed. The good news is there are reliable repair products that are both easy to use and inexpensive with some even being “instant” for use on the side of the stream. The challenge, whether you are doing a streamside repair or are at home, is to find the source of a pinhole leak – tears are apparent. The first step is to turn the waders inside out and look for imperfections in the fabric near where you believe the hole to be. If on the stream, you may see a dark spot where water
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r
Rep
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has come through and, of course, you can look at your trousers to find where the wet spot appears. The hole will be at the top of the wet area on your pants. If the waders are dry, rubbing the inside at the site of the suspected failure with isopropyl alcohol may cause the pinhole to become visible. Look on both sides – sometimes the material on the inside does not darken, but there may be a small dark spot on the outside where the alcohol spreads back through the hole. Streamside, you can squeeze a few drops of alcohol out of a prep wipe from your first-aid kit to do the test. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 65
What you do not want to do is to completely fill the waders with water! Never! Water is heavy and will cause the seams to separate. Simms recommends against filling the waders above the knee for this specific reason – best not to do it
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at all. A better approach is to inflate the waders using the exhaust from a shop vac or a leaf blower. Rub soapy water over the target area and see where it bubbles. Mark the spot with a sharpie and proceed to the next step.
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Instant repair: For a pinhole or small tear, grab an ultraviolet activated repair adhesive. Aquaseal UV and Loon Outdoors UV Wader Repair are the two best choices. Using them is simple. Move indoors or into the shade. Turn the waders inside out and squeeze a small amount around the pinhole or small tear. Work it into the material with your finger. Once done, expose the repair to sunlight, and it will harden within 30 seconds. Hop back in the water and continue to fish. For a more significant tear, use a Tear-Aid type A patch for rubber, neoprene or breathable materials if the temperature is above 50°F. The patch should be one inch larger than the damage and be sure to round off the corners of the patch. A square edge may catch and cause the patch to peel off. Before applying, clean the area with an alcohol prep pad, wait for the surface to dry, and apply. According to the manufacturer, the patch will achieve 90% adhesion instantly and 100% within one hour – good enough to jump right back in the water. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 69
Traditional repair: Hands down, Aquaseal is the go-to material for a conventional repair. The downside is it can take up to 12 hours to fully cure and is not appropriate for streamside use. To accelerate the cure time, mix Cotol-240 into the Aquaseal to reduce the cure time to two hours. For a pinhole or small tear, you do not need to use a patch. Again, turn the waders inside out and repair from the inside. Squeeze out some of the Aquaseal and work it into the target area to make sure it penetrates through the material. This is especially important for a repair to neoprene - think stocking foot. For a more extensive tear, apply Aquaseal around the edges; spreading it at least an inch away from the damage and apply a patch over the top. Be sure to round the edges of the patch to prevent a square corner from catching and pulling the patch up. Hang up the waders and wait for the sealer to cure. The typical wader repair kit includes Aquaseal and some large patches. This kit does have an instant option as a result of the adhesive on the patches. Follow the instructions contained in the package. Seams present a unique problem. While small repairs using the techniques discussed above are possible if seams become weak or leak, apply a dedicated seam sealer such as Seam Grip. Seam Grip comes with a brush applicator to put on the product. The best approach for an even application is to put painter’s or masking tape on each side of the seam and then apply. Like Aquaseal, it must have time to cure. Caution!! Ignore the hacks you see on the web and YouTube about using Shoo Goo or similar products. They do not have the flexibility of products developed specifically for waders and will eventually crack. Simple! Although breathable waders are relatively inexpensive at this point, there is no need to replace them when a few minutes with a cheap patch can put them back in the business. I recommend you carry a small tube of the ultraviolet-activated material along with a Tear-Aid patch to keep from being pushed off the stream by a small hole or tear. Check out Steve’s YouTube channel at KayakHacksFishing for more on this topic. 70 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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The Mountain Bridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited announces our 4th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour and Fundraiser for Coldwater Conservation on September 27th, 2019 at Brewery 85 in Greenville, S.C. Show starts at 7:00 pm with pre-party events beginning at 5:00 pm. Advance tickets are $15.00 available at www.mountainbridgetu.org. Tickets will be $20.00 the day of the event. The Fly Fishing Film Tour is the entertainment event of the year for fly fisherman and outdoor enthusiasts! Showcasing some of the the country’s best independent filmmakers. There will be music, games, raffles , auctions , great food and vendors displaying the latest in fishing and outdoor gear. See You There! Visit www.mountainbridgetu.org and www.flyfilmtour.com to purchase tickets and for more information.
F
Sprin
or many anglers living near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, an early February snow shower brings one thought to mind: Spring is almost here. Usually those three to seven inches of snow are the last that Western North Carolina residents will see for the year. It marks both the final time that the family wants to go outside and build a snowman like Anna from Frozen, and the final time that weather may overcome the desire to hike into the backcountry. Before you know it that snow will melt into the dreary mountain-mud we all know so well and evaporate, leaving only the Facebook profile picture to commemorate the experience. Once it is all over, it’s time to start preparing. After all, Spring fishing in the smokies is many anglers’ favorite time of year -- and for good reason. Spring fishing may mean high water, but it also means eager fish, ready and willing to make a mistake. While you look out at the remnants of the last snowstorm or the thermometer reading 30 degrees for the last time, here are a few tips to help you prepare for the season to come.
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Ragan Whitloc
ng Smokies
ck
Tips
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1. Do not be afraid of the dry fly.
Many fishermen use spring as a time of year to chunk large nymphs under a thingamabobber. While this can be a very effective technique, it has never been my style. Usually spring marks the end of a three month period where I saw very few, if any trout rise to the dry fly. Sure, I have caught many rainbows on Deep Creek in the middle of December, but it just isn’t a consistent option. By late March, a week of consistently good weather can bring those backcountry stream temperatures squarely into the sweet-spot. Check the published hatch charts for your region and be prepared to tie on a size 14 Black Caddis, March Brown, Blue-Winged Olive, or Quill Gordon. Also, for the love of god, keep a size 10 Eastern Green Drake in your fly box. It may not happen often, but there is nothing worse than being on Elkmont in April watching a cloud of those locust-like flies hatching without anything comparable in your box. Nothing brings a 20 inch brown out of his safe zone like a fat Green Drake.
2. Tungsten is popular for a reason.
I first starting using tungsten nymphs around 10 years ago, and like many things, I assumed it would just be a temporary infatuation that eventually faded away. Boy, was I wrong. Not only have tungsten bead heads stayed on the shelves in flyshops ever since, but they have become critical piece to any fly box. I would never recommend that an angler switch permanently to tungsten, but understanding the differences to brass is crucial in developing your skills. The main difference is pretty obvious: tungsten sinks faster. How that difference affects the fishing, however, is a little less obvious to discern. Fishermen who have been accustomed to rigging a dry-dropper with a size 14 Elk Hair Caddis and a size 14 Prince nymph hanging off the back (or the front‌or the tag line), become quickly frustrated when they realize the size 14/size 14 recipe will not work with tungsten. There is simply no way to keep that dry fly afloat without a ridiculous amount of gink and shake, which eventually starts seriously cutting into your chances of catching fish. On the other hand, tungsten finally allows you to strap a size 16 or 18 nymph on your dry fly and have it actually sink into the feeding zone before the cast is over. It also allows for a double nymph rig that actually kisses the bottom of that deep pool instead of hovering several feet above the head of that flashing brown. My advice: keep both tungsten and brass nymphs in your box, ranging from size 10 to 20. That way, you will be prepared for every current speed, pool depth and dry fly size. 76 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
3. Spring means trophy time.
While I would never consider myself the type of fisherman who religiously targets large fish, it is hard to deny the numbers of big trout caught during the Spring. In fact, many sage-elders in the fly fishing community will speak of their biggest fish coming out of the cold, fast moving Spring water. Maybe it is the trout “waking-up” their metabolism from a winter slumber. Maybe it is the higher, faster moving water that dilutes our shadow and our fat, weight forward fly lines. Maybe it is a combination of those and the lack of fishing pressure throughout the last few months. Either way, the big fish are out and about. The best way to target them is the polar-opposite of the advice I usually give to fishermen. To snag that 20 inch, beak jawed brown, you most likely need to tie on a streamer or a double nymph rig and fish the water I usually prefer to hike well beyond. Bigger water in lower elevations does mean more fishermen and less of a “wild-experience”, but it also means more food and room to grow for those fat beauties. While streamer fishing has a place, my advice to those newcomers to the big-water world is to go tungsten. Grab a massive hopper or a strike indicator, drop a tungsten headed stonefly in size 10 very deep below it, and tie a smaller nymph off that one. These double nymph rigs can be a pain to cast, but that bigger “anchor” fly will place both hooks deep into the feeding zone. Keep dredging the bottom of the deep pools with those flies, and hold on. www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 77
4. Learn to press pause.
High water may bring a false sense of security to fish, but it also creates a big obstacle for fly fishermen. The same cast in the spring and late summer will often result in dramatic differences with how long a fly stays near the targeted area. Fast water necessarily means that flies vacate the pool faster. It's on the angler, not the fish, to compensate for that. Luckily there is plenty of information on the internet from greats like Lefty Kreh or organizations such as Fly Fishers International about what we call the “pile cast.� Essentially, the pile cast is a way to accumulate extra line at some point between the connection of the fly-line and leader, and the tip of your rod. When it accumulates far enough away from the fly so that stealth is not compromised, that extra line allows the current to affect the line before the fly. This allows a fewsecond pause from the moment your fly hits the water, and when it starts moving in the current. This extra time is often critical for the fly to be identified by the trout, and for the chase to be completed before the cast is picked-up. If you have ever seen a trout chase your fly all the way back to you only to spook as you lift your rod to cast again, or be swept downstream into a new pool as it lunges at the last second, a pile cast most likely would have done the trick. 78 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
5. Be aware of your surroundings.
Spring is not just the wake-up call for you and trout. It is the time when the woods and streams come alive. This may mean wonderful sights like a family of ruffed grouse walking down the Forney Creek Trail, or a thunderous gobble from a mate-seeking turkey in the Cataloochee Valley. It can also mean unwanted interactions with snakes, bears, or my personal demon - hornets. There are very few moments in life scarier than breaking off the trail to descend down to a stream, completing a butt-first slide down an embankment, and hearing a low-pitched humming noise directly above you. I always remain hopeful that the humming will be some innocuous bug or animal before I lock eyes on that paper-mache masterpiece. Bears may have teeth and snakes may have venom, but if you ask me, a hornet or wasp is one hundred times more likely to kill you on a fishing trip than either of those gentle-giants. This wasn’t said to scare anyone, but being mindful of what could happen in the woods is always important. Each time you walk through a patch of laurel or reach up to a branch to grab that dry fly (happens to all of us), spend a little extra time looking around. At the end of the day, I would much rather buy another Parachute Adams than piss off an entire hive of stinger-bearing kamikazes.
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TROUT FARE Trail Trout Coo
T
he first step to this meal is getting a good fire going at your campsite. Preferably you want a hot fire with a good bed of coals. The coals from a fire that has been lit for a while will provide a more consistent heat source than a burning log, making the timing and even cooking of the fish easier. My preferred method is to cook my trout whole and unskinned (the skin contains fat and increases flavor). Cover the fish with the desired amount of salt and pepper. Place the fish on top of a piece of tin foil with a tablespoon of butter. Tightly wrap the fish 82 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
E oked Over Coals in the tin foil and place directly in the hot coals. Cover the packet in the coals and let it cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Allow the fish to cool for several minutes after you remove it from the coals and enjoy. Ingredients 4 freshly caught whole trout Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more as needed www.SouthernTrout.com l Southern Trout l Spring 2019 l 83
Since 1999 the Smoky Mountain’s #1 Outfitter and Guide Service! Serving Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Cherokee and Bryson City. Half-day and full-day:
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828-488-7665 • FlyFishingTheSmokies.net Email guides@FlyFishingTheSmokies.net
Authorized Concessioner
The Fiberglass (R)evolution
Blue Halo Seven Affordable and
Fun to W
Fish
hen it comes to so-called “affordable� fiberglass fly rods from outside the traditional fly rod market, Blue Halo is arguably king of the hill. No one is more visible than Blue Halo with regard to social media, advertising, and attendance at fly fishing shows. They are young and cool. If you follow glass rods, chances are you already know Blue Halo.
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Bob Mallard
Six 4 RetroFlex 3:
Blue Halo sells only fiberglass rods. They sell both blanks and finished rods in a broad range of lengths, weights, and colors. They also sell backing and fly lines designed for glass rods. In addition, they offer some apparel, a few gear bags, and rod building supplies. But everything they sell is glass-centric, and they are clearly a modern fiberglass rod company.
RetroFlex 3
While it appears that they are phasing out their 3-piece RetroFlex 2 series, Blue Halo is ramping up their new and more modern and practical 4-piece RetroFlex 3 series with 3-, 4-, two 5- (one fast and one slow), 6-, and 7-weight offerings currently available. These rods are 7’6” (3- and 4-weight,) 8’ (both 5-weights and the 6-weight,) and 8’6” (7-weight.)
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Blue Halo’s RetroFlex 3 rods employ what they refer to as “third-generation” RetroFlex technology. Made from E-Glass, these rods have that classic glass feel but with modern tapers. They come with a reinforced butt section which makes them stronger and less bulky than many E-Glass rods. They are crisper than most E-Glass rods I have cast as well.
General Information
At just $279.95 to $329.95 for a finished RetroFlex 3 fly rod, or $139 to $159 for a blank, Blue Halo rods cost less than half what a fiberglass rod from the major US premium rod companies does and are competitive with the offshore rods sold by the tier-2 major big box US rod companies. And unlike similarly priced rods, they are wrapped in the good old US-of-A.
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All RetroFlex 3 fly rods are available in eight “translucent” colors from mild to wild: Cappuccino, charcoal, cranberry, jade, raw (ice-white), sky blue, sundrop (yellow), and plum. If you are the traditional type consider cappuccino, charcoal, or raw. Kinda wild, try sky blue or sundrop. Really wild, go plum, jade, or cranberry… Each finished Blue Halo RetroFlex 3 rod comes with a high-quality cloth sock and zip-top cordura covered PVC tube. All have standard overlay ferrules, offset color wrappings, quality cork grip, aluminum uplock reel seat with matching fiberglass insert, wrapping check, hook keeper, and Batson snake guides. The 3- to 6-weights come with a single stripper and the 7-weight has two. The 3- to 5-weights come with a reverse half wells grip and the 6- and 7-weight with a full wells with fighting butt.
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If you want to roll your own rod, you can buy a blank and some of what you will need from Blue Halo and go wherever you want for the rest of it. This allows you to create a one-off and be as original and creative as you want to be. Interestingly, while Blue Halo offers a standard lifetime warranty against “manufacturer defects,” as I have said the fly rod industry should do for years, their “no-fault” warranty is optional and can be purchased for an additional $100. If you buy it, the first two breaks are on them. Don’t think you need it, roll the dice and don’t buy it. This allows you to make your own decision not have your rod marked up by default to cover a warranty you might never use.
Going Big(ger)
I am a specialist not a generalist. My fly rod collection looks more like a golf club bag than an angler’s quiver. I currently have twenty-five full outfits spanning multiple generations of graphite, as well as glass, a few hybrids, and a lone bamboo. But glass has become my favorite tool as of late, and something I have really come to appreciate. At sixty years young, I have come full circle… With a 6’ 2-weight and 7’ 3-weight glass rod, and 5’ 2-weight on the way, I wanted to try something a bit longer and heavier for use on small rivers and large streams. I chose a 7'6" 4-weight for field testing. While I keep saying I won’t go any longer or heavier than this, with my new found, or more like re-found, passion for glass rods I suspect I will eventually eat my words. Being a relatively conservative, dare I say, Yankee, I chose a subtle cappuccino blank.
The Skinny
Going into this I had convinced myself, again, that specialists thing, that 7’6” was too long and 4-weight too heavy for fishing the small brook trout streams in my native New England. I figured the rod would be best suited for use in small rivers. I was wrong. In fact, if you are only going to buy one stream glass rod, a 7’6” 4-weight might actually be your best bet. While E-Glass rods can get kind of clumsy and sloppy as you go up in length, the Seven Six 4 RetroFlex 3 employs a taper that remains narrow in the butt, light in weight, well balanced, and is faster and crisper than I would have expected. But it’s still glass and it still feels like a glass rod which is why you buy glass. They are just plain fun to fish… 90 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
The rod cast in close well, reached out well when necessary, roll-casts like a dream, and excels at bow-and-arrow casts, something you often need to do in tight quarters to get your fly where it needs to be. The medium/slow action can do pretty much anything you need from various size dries to small and medium size streamers, and even some light nymphing when nothing else works. I see the Blue Halo Seven Six 4 RetroFlex 3 fly rod as a great, and affordable, all-around glass fly rod for the stream and small river angler. Not too long for small streams and tight quarters and not too short for small rivers. And the 4-weight medium/slow action can do pretty much anything you need to do to make it happen. You can see, and buy, Blue Halo fly rods at www.bluehalostore.com. The Seven Six 4 RetroFlex 3 completed rod can be seen at www.bluehalostore.com/ retroflex-3-complete-fiberglass-fly-rod-4wt/, and the blank at www.bluehalostore. com/retroflex-3-fiberglass-fly-rod-blank-4wt/. My only regret is that I didn’t go for one of the wilder colors… BOB MALLARD has fly fished for forty years. He is a former fly shop owner and a Registered Maine Fishing Guide. Bob is a blogger, writer, author, fly designer, and native fish advocate. He is the Publisher, Northeast Regional Editor and a regular contributor to Fly Fish America magazine; a columnist with Southern Trout online magazine, and a staff fly designer at Catch Fly Fishing. Bob is a founding member and National Vice Chair of Native Fish Coalition. His writing, photographs, and flies have been featured at the local, regional and national level including Outdoor Life, Fly Fisherman, Fly Fish America, Fly Rod & Reel, American Angler, Fly Fishing & Tying Journal, Fly Tyer, Angling Trade, Eastern Fly Fishing, Southern Trout, Southern Trout Ozark Edition, Fly Fishing New England, The Maine Sportsman, Northwoods Sporting Journal, Tenkara Angler, On The Fly, OrvisNews, the R.L. Winston catalog, and the books Guide Flies, Caddisflies and America’s Favorite Flies. Bob has written two books and contributed to several others. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press.) Bob’s next book, Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them, is due out summer of 2019 (Stackpole Books.) He can be reached at www.bobmallard.com, info@bobmallard.com or 207-399-6270.
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Trophy Fly Fishing Stream Blackhawkflyfishing.com
PO Box 2555
Clarksville, GA 30523
706.947.3474
best kept secret
8284793790
GrahamCountyTravel.com
Hats off to A
W
hether you enjoy an outdoor jog, long hike, gardening, pool time or sunshine in general, skin cancer is on the rise and it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from the sun. In fact, SkinCancer.org reports that, “More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than
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Alchemi Labs all other cancers combined.” In addition, “5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer were treated in over 3.3 million people in the U.S.” In addition to sunscreen, Skincancer. org notes to wear hat to help with protection. “When you're wearing a hat, your face has more protection than with sunscreen alone.”
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Alchemi Labs is a line of hats created specifically to help with protection against the sun’s harmful rays. Joining their current line is their ALL NEW bucket hat. Adding to their successful line of styles, this new addition brings the same benefits as their other hats, including that it is made of the same material that protects astronauts from solar rays! Alchemi Labs' line of hats feature: • Radiant barrier technology born from the space industry! • Blocks 99.8% of skin damaging UV rays! 96 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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Reflects up to 80% of the sun’s heat waves! Moisture-wicking sweatband and aggressive ventilation aids in cooling! Used by professional distance runners, beach lovers, gardeners, outdoor adventure seekers and more! Unisex and 5 styles to choose from- including the River Hat, Expedition Hat, Desert Hat, Sun Cap and the ALL NEW Bucket Hat.
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Alchemi Labs hats provide UV protection as well as skin damaging ultra-violet rayprotection. By reducing exposure to infra-rays, this line of radiant barrier hats keep you cool and can help prevent heat stroke. As one Amazon reviewer put it: “I bought this for my wife. She loves it. Wore it all day today in the sun and was much cooler that usual in this nice Houston summer weather.� With climate change here to stay, Alchemi Labs is proud to offer the ultimate protection from the sun. Prices range $32 - $39 - alchemilabs.com Watch this quick 45 second video to explain more: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=68z5WhrZv6g
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Riverfront suites at the
Dillsboro Inn www.dillsboroinn.com
146 North River Road, Dillsboro, North Carolina 28725 TJ & Terry Walker welcome you to the Dillsboro Inn and invite you to join them on a whitewater river, where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Smokies. Whether you are looking to spend a relaxing time on your riverside deck or boating on the river, the Dillsboro Inn is the place for you!
info@dillsboroinn.com
866.586.3898
new fly guy
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTA “IRON MAN FLY C
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TAIN TROUT UNLIMITED CONTEST 2019” John Reinhardt
T
he Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited chapter has held the “IRON MAN FLY CONTEST” for the past 4 years to what can only be described as a rousing success. Add together the components of competition, entertainment, and a large dose of fun and you have the makings of an event that hits all the marks. Most importantly it achieves the goal of sending a deserving boy or girl to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park each summer to “Trout Camp”. This week long camp held at the Tremont Institute inside the Park is limited to a group of just fifteen young people ages 12-15 years old. They are able to camp and experience a full range of activities from learning in depth the work of protecting and conserving the natural wonders of the Park, to fly tying and of course fishing. All activities are conducted and supervised by the Park staff and a select group of volunteer adults with specific specialties to each class. This year’s event held at Dead End BBQ in Knoxville, TN was a tremendous mix of competitors at every age and skill level and showcased the level playing field for everyone. No matter what your experience when you are blindfolded or presented a mixed bag of crazy materials in front of a crowd to tie a fly, everyone has an equal chance.
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The “IRON MAN FLY CONTEST 2019” took on a special significance this year as two of the youngest competitors were past campers and are current members of Trout Unlimited. It was a highlight of the night to see one of them actually win 3rd place this year and take home a brand new Sage reel. Just as exciting was to have our first woman competitor to win first place and receive a TFO BVK fly rod with a Orvis Battenkill reel. Katelyn Hillmeyer who returned this year after placing fourth last year, topped the field of men and women tiers with her exceptional fly in the blindfold round. Of course none of this is possible without the sponsors of the “IRON MAN FLY CONTEST 2019”. The Great Smoky Mountain Trout Unlimited chapter wants to thank Don & Leah Kirk of Southern Trout Magazine, Little River Outfitters, Smoky Mountain Angler, 3 Rivers Angler and Orvis–Sevierville for their continued support and contributions to this one of a kind evening. We also wish to thank all of the competitors and spectators who came out and helped make this night the winter event of the year. It is because of these people that a deserving young camper can have the experience of a lifetime in one of the most beautiful places on earth, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! 104 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
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A Museum for the Southern Fly Fisherman
The Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians — originally
located in Cherokee, NC — has a new home in neighboring Bryson City where it shares a building with the Bryson City / Swain County Chamber of Commerce. It’s centrally located on the town square across the street from the visitor center. The Museum is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and admission is free.
The scope of the museum covers an
area with more than 14,700 miles of accessible trout streams — the nine Southern Appalachian States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama; the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Bryson City, NC
PHOTO BY JIM HEAFNER
Through exhibits and videos you’ll
learn about legendary “Stream Blazers,” the evolution of rods and reels, basic knots, fly-tying, types of gear, types of gamefish, regional fishing waters, and the history of fly fishing in the Southeast. Whether you are a long-time fly fisherman, or have only attempted or never tried fly fishing, you will find something to enjoy and to learn from in the museum.
FLY FISHING MUSEUM
OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians 210 Main Street Bryson City, NC 28713 800-867-9241
FlyFishingMuseum.org
Fly Fishing Museum of th and Appalachian Rivers O
ver 15,000 visited the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in 2018. The museum goal is to connect our next generations to fly fishing, to nature and to the outdoors through history, resource conservation and applied science. The museum is a fly fishing historical center uniquely located the Southern Appalachians and in the heart of Smoky Mountains where fly fishing in the southeast began with fly fishing guides in the Bryson City area that date back to the 1800s.
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he Southern Appalachians e t Aquarium pda Alen Baker
U
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Local Mark Cathy was among the most well-known. Fred and Allene Hall are among the most well-known local fly tyers. A large portrait of Mark Cathy (in the aquarium building) and a new exhibit displaying original and restored flies tied by Fred Hall have recently been added to the many fly fishing exhibits. Over a dozen new “Stream Blazer” exhibits are currently being added to the museum for display during the summer season. The Floating N Fly Fishing Exhibit (in the aquarium building) will be the largest exhibit addition since the museum opened in 2015. On display is an original Old Crandell 1910s-1920s Wooden Canoe in unrestored condition, (2) Caddis Round (Belly) Float Tube and other float tubes. Also exhibited as part of the Mountain Trout Stream are a pair of stocking can back-packs and a 1950s original Cable Stocking Bucket, positioned much like when used over a mountain stream to stock trout in that time period. The fourth annual Museum Hall of Fame held a “full house” induction luncheon at the Nantahala Brewery Warehouse Restaurant on March 30. The traditional “Lagers with Legends” party was held the evening prior with over $3,000 raised for the museum and Casting Carolinas. Inductees for 2019: Michael “Squeak” Smith (Conservation), James Douglas “Jim” Estes (Crafts), Joe Brooks (Communications) posthumous, George Gaines (Humanity), Bob 112 l Spring 2019 l Southern Trout l www.SouthernTrout.com
Nanney (Ambassador) and Alen Baker (Ambassador). Dave Whitlock (Recreation) was inducted in advance for 2020. A soft opening of the Appalachian Rivers Aquarium was held following the luncheon, providing a sneak preview of the new “live” exhibits: 1. The 450-gallon “hellbender tank” is the largest in the southeast exhibiting these ancient and protected salamanders in the country. 2. The Mountain Stream consists of 3 large pools, exhibiting habitat for both cold water gamefish and non-gamefish of the Southern Appalachians. Visitors may view our native trout from the underside of the waterfall. 3. The collection of 15 tanks will exhibit between 30-50 species of fish.
https://flyfishingmuseum.org/
The aquarium with serve as a Trout in the Classroom Regional Center, assisting science schools with establishing their own program with equipment loaners, host field trips and provide a learning environment of both history and natural science. The museum and the aquarium provide a “one of a kind discovery place” based on the diversity of nature in our streams, rivers and impoundments and will sponsor internships for high school and college level students seeking a hands-on experience in working with artifacts and/or aquatic sciences.
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