Mystery Fly Prize Announced

Each year at the One Pattern Fly event held by the Blue River Fly Fishers, we have a little game where entrants can try and guess the identity of the mystery or secret fly.  Of course the winner should receive a prize and it should be fly fishing related.

This year in trying to decide what the prize should be I wanted something practical - something the winner would surely use.  For example, not everyone who fly fishes ties their own flies so fly tying material or gear wouldn't be a lot of use to that particular person.  In trying to think what every fly fisher would or could use the answer became  easy.

The first person to guess the identity of the secret fly to be used in this season's Blue River Fly Classic will receive a 24 piece Copper John set.  Everyone can always use flies and this pattern is a dandy on Blue River and just about anywhere.

The guessing game will begin soon.  Good luck.

Chapter 58 Day 52 - Trout Season

Longing For The Wilderness

Oh my goodness... today would have been a day to be on the river.  Sun shining every so brightly with mild temperatures and little wind... just one of those days.  Talk about a guy being absolutely livid having to be at the workplace today. 

If I could have snuck away from the mercantile store, I do believe a trip to the south wilderness would have been in order.  Last trout season I spent ninety percent of my time in the south wilderness, but, this season have only been twice - and there is a reason. 

I've been nursing a nagging hip joint, and by making shorter trips and spending less time on the river on each outing,I've improved the ailment.  Now that the ol' hip joint is feeling better I think I'm up for a hike into the south kingdom.

When we plan a trip into the south wilderness kingdom it's best to be able to dedicate the better part of any day.  The water in this wilderness is so braided, diverse, full of pocket after pocket, it's impossible to explore all of these pleasures in a short time let alone a day. 

Some of the best fly fishing I've experienced has come about in the south wilderness.  Among my favorite places are Coyote Pass, the Cove, the Ancient Boulders, and Dividing Line Falls. 

Although the fishing is usually good for me, the worse spanking I have ever received came about in the south wilderness this past season.  A day of fishing was planned with Michael Mercurio and Chris Adams, and it wasn't long into the day these two characters started spanking an older man's behind. 

And, they never let up. 

But, such things is the beauty of this area.  It was a wonderful day, in spite of the spanking, and a rare opportunity for friends to fish together. 

Right now I pretty miserable in not getting to fly fish much.  Have you seen that commercial where the guy turns into a diva because he's hungry and once they give him a Snickers he reverts to his usual self?  Well... that was me today, but, I wasn't hungry.  No, I turned into Lindsay Lohan today because I haven't been able to get to the dog-gone river this week and a friggin' Snickers isn't going to solve diva acting self!

Keep the Snickers... give me the river.

Chapter 58 Day 4 - Trout Season

I decided to fish glass this morning on the river Blue and took that old $5.00 pawn shop Featherlight with me.  The rod has a few problems in it, but, still it can catch fish as it did today.  Years ago I fished a lot of glass, but, eventually I would migrate to the lighter graphite rods.  These days, I find myself rediscovering the beauty of glass.  

Even though I was running an hour behind and didn't get to the river until eight o'clock, it was still darn cold.  On the water it was a case of icy guides and stinging fingers. 

With an olive grizzly bugger five trout were taken at Glory Hole before I decided to go to the prairie schooner and warm my aching digits. 

After driving around the river awhile, I hitched the schooner at Chimney to see if there were any trout left in the pool above the falls.  Once on the falls I saw a fly-fisher downstream perched delicately on a skinny rock.  We waved, but, from that distance I didn't recognize the chap.

Shortly, he joined me on Chimney Falls and it was Michael Chaffin of the Blue River Fly Fishers.  We had a nice visit and Michael gave me one of his creations - a beautiful parachute pattern.  This fly was very nicely tied.

Michael reported he had done very well just above the crossing earlier and hadn't done too bad either while perched on that skinny boulder.  While talking I caught two bows on the bugger and then the bugger caught a tree and was lost at sea.

Michael told me he had to get back to his family - it seems he has a new baby and we all know how demanding that can be. 

Much like Michael I also had to leave about ten minutes after he did.  Although I am officialy on vacation, there has not been a single day I haven't had to go to the mercantile store at least once.  Kind of sucks, but, that's the way it is. 

Tomorrow is an annual luncheon when fly fishers come together to cook, catch-up, and enjoy some good fellowship.  So... if anyone is fly fishing tomorrow please join us for lunch at the end of Area 1. 

They Leak Now!

You know that three year old, 300 plus outing non-leaking pair of LL Bean waders I'm always bragging about?  Well... they darn sure leak now. 

For some reason this past Saturday, while fly-fishing for those pretty fish, I decided to blaze my own trail through the woods.  Stupid thing actually - I could have simply waded across and taken the cleared and well-defined path on the other side.  I guess it was one of those native moments - you know... a Lewis and Clark thing. 

While frolicking through the woods, an outstretched tentacle of a green brier grabbed the leg on my waders and that gosh-awful sound rippppp... came to bear. Immediately, that "Aw crap" moment hit me, followed by thirty seconds of self talk, where I affirmed to myself what I already know - subject line "I am a dumb-ass."

The patch job is currently curing.  I'll test it this weekend at the fly-fisher get-together.

I don't know... I think exploring is a lot of fun.  There are so many spots on Blue River that fly-fishers have yet to search or discover.  One that comes to mind is on the far end of Area 1 and called the Rocking Chair.  In all my years, I've never seen a fly-fisher try and fish off the Rocking Chair.  This season, I'm going to give it a go.

Speaking of the fly-fishing fellowship this weekend on Blue, I want to once again make it clear this event is open to all in the fly-fishing community at Blue River. We just need to know how many to expect.

Coming into my ownership is a brand new six weight TFO rod that I got for a bargain basement price... thanks to my good friend Charlie Wright.  Also, a new 14 inch Lodge Dutch oven has been acquired and both the rod and the Dutch will have their christening at Blue River this weekend.

In the Dutch, I'm going to try sweet and sour chicken.  Fortune cookies included. 

The Carp Crusades - Gunslinger Or Fly Fisher

Sure wanted to fly-fish for the Rock Creek Carp on Tuesday but the gunslingers called. There is currently a Western movie production underway at Sipokni West Old West Movie Town and it seems they needed a bad guy... a bad guy that of course gets blown away by a good guy.

So, instead of fly-fishing I went to play cowboy. It was fun... that much I'll have to admit but I'd rather had spent a couple of hours fly-fishing.

Maybe I can get the film producer to do a production about a old cattle drive cowboy that just happens to fancy the peace of fly-fishing. Now... that would be the best of both worlds for me.

Here's how I spent Tuesday afternoon. Sipokni West

Will This Fly Fish

Tied this pattern a couple of years ago after reading about it in a magazine. Guess my thinking was if one San Juan Worm is good then a gob of them is better.

Fished it one time on Blue River with no production but in fairness to the fly I probably didn't fish it correctly. So, this gob of worms is going back to the river soon for another try.

Do you think this fly will fish?

Best Coffee On The River

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The Flies Little Fished

In the fly-tying/mini-museum room there lives some flies that have been lonely for quite some time.

For sure they long for the water and the chance to prove their weight.

Why they've never been fished is a question left unanswered. Perhaps it's because of the habit of looking at a fly and asking a question at that time whether the fly will fish or not. Judgemental for sure, and not quite fair.

So, these flies will be seeing some action soon...so they can have their chance, and I can see if my judgement has been wrong all this time.

I am curious if anyone else has fished these patterns and if so how did they produce. So if you have and get a chance then let us all know which pattern you fished, where, and how it produced.



The Gold Darter is ready for action and will soon see some.



A cousin of the Gold Darter, the Silver Darter has been longing for sometime.



On the White River I fished a take-off of the Black Nose Dace called the Arkansas Shiner. The Arkansas Shiner was fished at night and produced quite well.



The Black Molly. Surely this pattern will pass as an effective imitation of a leech. She'll be taking here maiden voyage in the river Blue soon.

Fly Of The Week

Next to the venerable Wooly Bugger, the Hare's Ear has been my personal best producing fly on the river Blue.

Normally I fish it with a beadhead but I also carry a varied selection of non-beadhead sizes for fishing the middle and upper columns.

This fly is one of the classics and can simulate many manners of aquatic larvae or crustaceans.

It can be tied as large as size 8 or as small as size 20.

With the primary material being the fur of a hare, the fly can be manipulated into a number of different presentations. It's a dandy for sure.

Flashes Were Few

I've grown quite tired of my hurried trips to the river Blue and my short time each trip. But when that is all you have then praise that time for what it is.

Today was much different from two days ago on Sunday. I arrived at Blue shortly after one o'clock. The sky was much like Sunday being gray and overcast but there was hardly any wind.

At the river's edge I studied the water at least for a few minutes and what I saw was an absence of vigor. The water was simply running the course. There were no dry rises, no noses coming up, and no back's slicing the surface film...just water running by.

After ten minutes of presenting I thought for sure the skunk fairy had dialed my number today. On this Tuesday, I found myself not playing with Seventeen...but Seventeen playing with me. She was playing the ole hard to get trick, refusing kiss, after kiss, after kiss. But...I finally snuck one in on her and once I did she delivered a blush in the form of the flash of a bow - a bow that came to my hand. The skunk fairy packed bags and went elsewhere, waiting for another day with me.

However, Seventeen would remain stubborn and only show me two more flashes. Always a faithful sweetheart, but sometimes an obstinate she-beast.. that's just how she is.

I love her both ways.

My day would soon end with a flawed attempt at a side-arm roll cast with the flies being downstream. The end result was the damnest birds nest anyone would ever see.

I spent ten frickin' minutes standing in the river picking out those tangles just to win that small victory and save a little leader. Hell'va thing this fly-fishing.

My thinking today was that I was fishing in front of a front but I could have been very well fishing "at" the front. The weather is changing lads and lassies and if anyone is coming to visit Lady Blue tomorrow or Thursday be sure and have all your cold weather gear on hand. It's going to be bitter.

On the way out I noticed a lot of foam floating down the river. Also the back eddies are starting to film and scum-up. When the back eddies scum it is sometimes worthwhile dropping a fly in the scum just to see if there is a gathering of bows trying to commune.

Good fishing everyone.

The Nastier The Weather - The Better The Fishing

Although the weather at Blue right now is rather cool and close to being bitter at times, it's still not in the category of being nasty which for me brings really good catching opportunities in the pursuit of the bows.

My description of nasty weather at Blue can best be illustrated by the picture below.



This picture comes courtesy of Donny Carter whom I consider the king of dry fly fishers at Blue and the subject fly fisher is Mark Webster. Mark and his dad Jamie are familiar faces on and long time friends of Blue River.

To me, this picture of Mark personifies the lengths some of us in the fly fishing community will go to to capture a trout and reminds me of days I've personally experienced on Blue.

For me there is something just absolutely refreshing and unique about standing in the river Blue as the snowflakes fall, surrounding all involved with a blanket of nature's cleansing.

PROBLEMS IN COLD WEATHER

There can be some problems when fishing in extreme cold weather and all of us should use our noggin's to make sure a good outing doesn't turn bad.

One rule is to never fish alone during extreme cold weather. One simple mis-step or catching the toe of your wading boots on a rock can land you in the frigid river and it is amazing how fast hypothermia can set in. So...buddy fish especially if you go into the remote areas such as the south or north wilderness areas and especially the Catch & Release area.

Dadgum guides freezing up again? Yeah, this is an age old problem with fly-fishing in cold, cold weather. There's been days on Blue when not only did my guides freeze up but my reel would freeze also. So...what to do? One answer is to stay in the cabin or campsite with a roaring campfire but if fish we must there are a couple of products that will help. One is called Ice Off and although I've never used it I've had friends tell me that it works fairly well. There is also a product called Reel Magic, and some of the ole salts recommend silicone sprays or Vaseline. Vaseline seems logical but kinda messy I would think and certainly will leave a film in the river as the silicone sprays. I tend just to tough it out continuously dipping my guides in the river and swishing. This practice temporarily gets rid of the ice long enough to capture a bow and if the fishing is hot enough then you don't have anything to worry about in the first place.

The cold and your body. Body parts...yeah that's the issue during extreme cold weather. Extremities such as your hands, ears, feet, face, and neck can take a real beating during nasty weather.

A good investment in good cold weather gear can make all the difference. Personally I have a problem with my hands being terribly cold or the wind blowing down my neck. Those two issues can send me packing faster than anything. To remedy my neck issue I started wearing a thick scarf years ago and that has made all the difference in the world. Unfortunately for my hands I've yet to find anything that works practically. I do have a good set of gloves but gloves are going to get wet sooner or later and they are cumbersome at best.

Indeed fly fishing in extreme cold weather brings a series of uncomfortable possibilities. However fishing the nasty weather is something that most of us will do sooner or later just so we can say we did. Just do yourself a favor and be as well prepared as you can for that nasty and frigid outing that you are destined to take.

Here's....your sign.

One of the topics presented to the Wildlife Department at the Blue River Fly Fishers get-together this past weekend was the condition of the sign at highway 377.

As can be seen the sign has fallen into a state of disaray and is in much needed attention or repair.

Area Manager Matt Gamble explained the process the department would have to go through in getting the sign repaired and went as far to say that it might end up being a replacement project instead of a repair project.

Several involved in this discussion thought the sign had significant sentiment and historical value since it has been in place so long and designed after signs of the early National Park System.

When the fly-fishers made an offer to help with the cost of such a restoration project the Wildlife Department said first they would have to inspect the sign to see exactly what the extent of damage is. And, that certainly makes sense. It could very well end up being a case of extreme decay and damage by insects such as termites.

However, if there is anyway of saving and restoring this sign, I for one think that course should be pursued. The sign somehow simply speaks "the great outdoors" and since the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area has a history of it's own...I figure this particular sign does also.

A Watery Affair

The annual get-together of the Blue River Fly Fishers was held this past weekend at beautiful Blue. This get-together has also become know as the Conclave of the Brotherhood of the Big Ass Campfire and was to be held Friday through Sunday. However on Thursday, Mother Nature decided to let it rain...and rain it did. The river came up rather quickly rising from 200 cubic feet per second to over 3,000 cubic feet per second.

Holding vigil at our designated meeting area were Ralph and Charlotte Fullenwider hunkered down in their beautiful "Ruff Diamond". Ralph was up most of the night getting a visual on the rising river and checking his Blackberry for email updates from those of us checking streamflow.

Ralph and Charlotte made it okay through the night but the morning sun revealed a swollen and mostly muddy river. The fly fishing for the weekend had pretty much been decided by nature.






However, we were greeted with a picture book pretty day with temperatures in the sixties and the foilage and trees putting on quite a show of changing colors.


Group members started to file in one by one at different times. On Friday night the king of Texas bullshitters, Ralph James, held court once again around the campfire and the stuff got pretty deep by 11 p.m. when we decided to call it a night. Temperatures Friday night got pretty cool for those of us who were tent camping.


David Dillow, pictured center above, couldn't make our weekend meeting but drove all the way up to deliver us a load of firewood like he has done for the last several years. Thank you Dr. Dillow, you are a trooper sir.



Jeff Joseph camped in a tent over the weekend but Jeff came better prepared than some of us and used a tent heater to take the edge of the cool night air.



The guy on the right is that king of Texas bullshitters I was telling you about and with him is veteran fly-fisher James Webster who has been wading Blue River for a long long time.

The highlight of our weekend would be our feast prepared from Dutch Ovens and over open flames. My gosh...did the gang do this right! We had some of the best campfire food that I personally have ever enjoyed.

Blue River Area Manager Matt Gamble broke bread with us on Saturday along with Matt Mauck of the south-central fisheries division. After lunch, Matt Gamble addressed the group about current issues in the wildlife community and then opened things up and fielded questions from the group. The wonderful thing about Matt as the area manager is that he is extremely pro-active and willing to listen and consider all ideas and suggestions.



Donny and Linda Carter showed up Saturday morning and brought Donny's little brother Gary and his family along which was a special delight. And, I want to say thank you to Linda for being such a great help. I had my hands full with too many pots going and Linda was extremely helpful in handling the detailed stuff. Thanks Linda.




Now talking about troopers Vernon Forrester is certainly a dandy one. Vernon couldn't make it for the weekend but drove from Texas just to cook his (what should be considered famous) Cowboy Potatoes and oh my gosh were they ever so good. So, a big thank you to Vernon and his family.




A number of issues were discussed with the Wildlife Department on Saturday including possible repair of the wooden Blue River sign on highway 377 with the Blue River Fly Fishers being involved in that project. Ralph Fullenwider brought this idea to the attention of the group.

Lane Kregel had an excellent suggestion that involves returning war veterans who have been disabled by the current wars. Lane told us of a collaboration between a fishing group known as Tailwaters and the Wounded Warriors Association. These two together try to make "special" fishing events possible for these veterans in question. Lane suggested such a program at the Catch and Release area of Blue River and it sounded like the Wildlife Department would be quite open for such a program to happen.

Hopefully, it will. I can't think of many better projects to pursue.