More tarpon than you could hope for-but it's true, the fish are there.
Fly-fishing for largemouths with topwater flies reaches its peak when spring water levels fall in the Florida Everglades.
Waders, rods, packs and more...
Big bugs bring big expectations.
Hunting dorado in Argentina.
- Photography by: Brian Grossenbacher
IT WAS SPRING ON MONTANA’S Big Hole River and my bushy Improved Sofa Pillow sank like a stone. I was about to snap a Sage rod over a knee when my father said, “Tie on a fresh fly and try some of this.” In midair that tiny item looked like another airline bottle, which my father was prone to offer at any time, morning or night, on our fishing trips. When that plastic bottle landed in my hand I said, “What the heck.” About five minutes later, with a fresh fly dressed with Gehrke’s Gink, I was fast to a solid brown and my dry-fly life changed forever.
When you consider that a week-long trip to Montana might have a total value of $2,500, after factoring in transportation and lodging costs, and deposits with guides, a $100 to $200 insurance policy is cheap protection for your vacation in case things go awry. And things do go awry, just ask the experts.
IF I WERE PLANNING AN EXOTIC TRIP TO someplace south of the equator, among the first patterns I’d put in my fly box would be Dark Spruce weighted streamers in sizes 2 through 6. I have an affinity for this fly partly because it’s one of the first steamer flies I learned to tie and, more important, because it always seems to work no matter where I fish it. To me an exotic trip equates to catching really big fish using big flies. Coq de Leon saddles solved the problem of tying large Spruce Fly streamers. The feathers have rounded tips and are long enough to easily tie size 2 or even larger, if you wish. Find one with furnace markings and dye it medium brown if it isn’t already dyed for you.
Recipe
Hook: Mustad 79580, sizes 2 through 6
Thread: Danville Black Monocord
Weight: Lead-substitute wire, diameter to match hook wire
Tail: Clump of peacock-herl tips (a dozen or so)
Body: Red floss
Thorax: Peacock herl
Wings: Two pairs of brown furnace Coq de Leon saddle butt feathers
Collar: One brown furnace Coq de Leon saddle feather
(1) Attach lead-substitute wire beginning one hook gap space behind the eye and wind it one third of the shank. Cover with tying thread and a liberal coat of head lacquer. Tie in a clump of peacock herl (a dozen or so), bind up to the rear of the wire wraps, lift the butts and clip the excess.
(2) Tie in the end of the single strand red floss at the rear of the wire and firmly wind to the rear and forward enough times to create a smoothly tapered body.
(3)Select a clump of peacock herl (about 12), tie in the butts over the front of the wire weight, spin them around the tying thread and wind to the rear and forward again. Tie off on top of the hook.
(4) Select two pair of saddle butt feathers that will be long enough to extend beyond the bend by one hook-shank length. Match the curves and tips evenly and strip off enough fibers to allow for the tie down immediately behind the eye. Be certain the wings lie as close to the top of the shoulder as possible.
(5)Select one saddle feather and tie in the feather with its shiny side forward and palmer it to within one hook-eye space behind the eye. Clip off the tip, whip-finish and apply a liberal amount of head lacquer.
The best of the Northern Rockies...
In search of wild coho salmon and coastal thrills off the remote shores of Vancouver Island.
NEAR MY FISHING CAMP IN NEW Hampshire’s Rockingham County, there’s this archeological site said to have been constructed by ancient druids or their precursors. Several large, flat stones have grooves—blood grooves, we are told. Now that the site has been physically restored, a volunteer 501c3 citizens’ organization is attempting to restore historical function as well, including the sacrifice of virgins (though only on summer weekends for tour groups).
The Thompson, on of the great rivers of British Columbia, is closed to steelhead fishing. What this means for anglers and what you can do about ite...
A guide's journey on a river in Mongolia.
MOST OF US THINK THAT OWNING a fly shop would be a dream come true. Perhaps you have a favorite shop and covet the owner’s lot in life. Or perhaps you frequent an establishment that leaves you thinking, “Now if I were in charge around here... ”
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