tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094670760207919722012-02-12T14:30:24.566-06:00salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.comBlogger2251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-19247823344921332862011-12-02T08:02:00.000-06:002011-12-02T08:02:05.215-06:00

Between cold weather, low water flows, work and the holidays I took it upon myself to make one last ditch effort to find some quasi-anadromous fish before looking wrapping rods and tying flies in the basement during the cold winter months to come.  I called my buddy CA and he said he'd join me.  We drove the 2 hours to an unnamed trib of Lake Michigan, pulled out the two handers and started

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-7543314573883325892011-11-01T22:16:00.010-05:002011-11-03T22:37:11.045-05:00

And so it came to pass that despite being certain that I didn't have the time to attend the fall pilgrimage to the Brule for fall Steelhead, I did get sold on a fall Musky trip to the same neck of the woods.  I drove all night after walking the trick or treat beat with my terribly cute daughters in search of processed sugar items.  I arrived under the roof of none other than Shox McSteel at

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-15270986864787838492011-10-23T17:48:00.008-05:002012-02-12T14:30:24.579-06:00

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-6037924724382390242011-10-17T12:06:00.001-05:002011-10-17T12:06:24.706-05:00

After a certain amount of inspiration from NK and T-Mos on the "D"...The new T-Shirts are in.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-83723329062999566072011-09-30T22:04:00.025-05:002011-10-01T21:15:26.093-05:00

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.   ~Henry David Thoreau  This little nugget seemed to me to be the natural foothold of any sap whose trip went awry, the river that was blown out, the hurricane that kept you huddled indoors, the plane that never took off.  The quotable version of "it's just nice to be out here...".   And now, looking

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-91619091450786516632011-09-19T23:15:00.001-05:002011-09-19T23:21:53.802-05:00

I spent the evening knotting some maxima leaders in case the floating poly don't handle to my liking.  According to a "secret formula" I now have 4 - 18' leaders knotted, coiled and bagged.  I wrapped a few more Intruders and decided to lighten the last two up since I was starting to see black and purple in my dreams...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-77924939579263764842011-09-18T23:22:00.004-05:002011-09-19T09:26:14.160-05:00

Intruders, waiting patiently to be eaten...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-73793239727199616422011-09-15T23:06:00.001-05:002011-09-16T09:28:14.614-05:00

More purple.  I like the Ska-Opper well enough to add another 1/2 doz in Purple with hot orange legs... This fly is going to piss them off or freak them out...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-24631932811910422042011-09-14T22:57:00.003-05:002011-09-14T23:03:31.776-05:00

I tied  1/2 dozen of these the other night but they didn't feel right until I got to the 6th one...I started over where I left off and cranked these six out...I thought the addition of a krystal flash wing was cool.  If it turns out to be un-cool I can scissor it off...On-site Reductive Fly Tying. 

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-33987402786960230722011-09-13T22:59:00.001-05:002011-09-14T11:01:36.980-05:00

I thought I was done tying for the "D"...but I guess I'm not.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-11630042829479794882011-09-12T21:39:00.006-05:002011-09-12T21:41:16.331-05:00

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-61699981472776080562011-09-11T15:30:00.031-05:002011-09-12T17:18:35.980-05:00

I took the two hander to the big W for a day of practicing my form.  I'm pretty happy with the results... as long as I am always casting to river right with an upstream breeze I should be fine!  I did encounter a SMB and a Crappie.  I also encountered two jackasses in a jon boat who thought that it would be fine to fish through (not just drift through) the front and backside of a sweeper I was

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-3467241278968650682011-09-05T09:30:00.011-05:002011-09-07T09:51:33.393-05:00

As I went down in the river to spey Studying about that good old way And who shall swing thy muddler round Good Lord, show me the way !  O brothers let's go down, Let's go down, come on down, Come on brothers let's go down, Down in the river to spey.  (my apologies to Allison Krauss) So Shox McSteel and I went down to the river to practice heaving line with our two handers as

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-25160542714753795742011-09-02T22:10:00.000-05:002011-09-03T00:20:23.764-05:00

Playing around at the vice.  Feeling like the boxes are looking good for the "D" trip.  I messed around with a few string leeches and even tied a few with the 7-strand as the hook eye.  Hopefully the plastic coating on the wire won't wear through and cut the line...  I also dug up a General Practitioner that a buddy of mine gave me a number of years back when he sent me a few intruders and

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-2775475741484296642011-08-30T00:07:00.001-05:002011-08-30T00:14:30.363-05:00

I just checked and my hit counter is at 12037...I must re-read my own stuff a lot more than I thought. Tonight I decided to take the steelhead tying full circle.  If these chromers are so hot to eat a caddis, perhaps they will take the best all around caddis emerger known to this author...a hare's ear soft hackle.  1/2 doz added on #7 Alec Jackson hooks.  In case they really want the adult, I

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-10294423363205534772011-08-28T21:49:00.001-05:002011-08-28T21:53:44.429-05:00

If last night's dozen doesn't raise them, perhaps tonight's dozen steelhead caddis will...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-38822880201399724492011-08-27T23:46:00.000-05:002011-08-27T23:54:57.838-05:00

I tied a few articulated leeches today...50 lbs gel spun to connect the sections and then enough marabou to make my finger tips black.  I kept thinking about the water ski muddler I tied back on the eleventh night  and decide to add a few more.  By this time next month I will be back from the "D" and we will know which of the 9 dozen turned the trick (if any).

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-64648298712624439392011-08-23T23:49:00.000-05:002011-08-23T23:54:37.415-05:00

Messed around with Q-tips...er ...I mean tubes.  Finishing nail in the vice and away we go.  I've got a long, long way to go before I feel comfortable tying on something other than a hook. Special thanks to Shocks McSteel for sending the black bear hide.  Magical stuff.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-47102193011262981162011-08-21T22:56:00.002-05:002011-08-22T23:36:48.033-05:00

I screwed around at the vice today and tied a fly using pheasant, tinsel, marabou, and rubber legs.  I just needed to breakout...if it catches fish it will be called the "midwest farmer's daughter" if it doesn't catch fish it will require no such name.  I was trying to figure out how a fly might really skate on a long down and across swing and decided that I'd tie a muddler that didn't so much

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-14862930684576214802011-08-21T00:08:00.001-05:002011-08-21T00:18:16.465-05:00

The latest in the box filling saga... I decided to try the "Green Butt Skunk" with a chartreuse ostrich hurl butt...it looked pretty cool so I continued. 1/2 doz in the box.  I moved on to the "Redwing Blackbird", the tying instructions weren't clear in all of my googling so I followed the sample pic that was sent by NK and embellished with some red dyed pheasant tail for the collar and tail. 

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-50699702974450319422011-08-20T01:44:00.001-05:002011-08-20T01:45:30.364-05:00

I flew back from the bright lights of Los Angeles this evening and pulled up a chair at the dining room table (instead of my desk in the basement), clamped on my vice and caught up with my wife while I wrapped up 1/2 doz Max Canyons and 1/2 doz Purple Angels (Edge Brite Variant).  Good to be home.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-83020892088835765172011-08-17T02:20:00.002-05:002011-08-17T02:30:04.665-05:00

I flew to California on a business trip on Monday morning (alarm set at 3:30 am).  I set up the desk and went through the rigors of a day at work followed by dinner etc...I sat down to tie but couldn't decide what to wrap.  I thought hard for 30 minutes and then went to bed. Tonight I decided it was to be the size 6 Prism...(see below) It's 2:30 am Central time and I've had enough....the road is

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-14343515636024545682011-08-14T23:45:00.003-05:002011-08-14T23:48:46.668-05:00

Cheers, Mr. Pearson...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-90483394947753416422011-08-14T17:00:00.001-05:002011-08-14T23:54:46.337-05:00

After the chores were done (or at least to the point where my sense of responsibility tapered off) I grabbed the 4 and a box of ants, beetles etc and made my way creekside.  A 2.5 hour wade through gin clear spring creek from 2:30 pm to 5pm...the light was just right and I could see them fully illuminated...tilting and sipping.  A size 18 black ant on 6x and they rarely refused.  No giants these,

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-89590254699928504802011-08-13T23:35:00.009-05:002011-08-14T00:24:57.314-05:00

Night 4...this half dozen flies were supposed to be "Green Ants" but changed into something close but not exact.  I was short some critical ingredients and also found some fur that I was really interested in trying as a wing in place of squirrel.  The cool thing about this fur is that the diameter of the fiber gets thinner the closer you get to the skin of the pelt.  The downside to tying with

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-32380617648502189032011-08-13T00:30:00.000-05:002011-08-13T00:38:31.029-05:00

1/2 doz Undertakers and 1/2 Doz Spades...If you start early enough and add 6 - 12 a day...the box starts to fill up.  I wonder what these steelhead have against chartreuse and white Deceivers?  Tying low water flies is to unlearn everything I've learned over 20 years of fly tying.  The proportions are all wrong and I find myself wrapping way too far back, selecting hackle that is waaaay to long

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-51326682042013808292011-08-12T18:15:00.001-05:002011-08-13T00:18:53.534-05:00

I decided that some Silver Hilton's (or at least my version of the fly) should be part of the box... And then I wrapped some Muddlers...I love the Muddler.  

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-66902589136091268142011-08-11T00:05:00.000-05:002011-08-13T00:14:21.503-05:00

I got a little feedback from the 2 guys "in the know" and they said less cowbell...i.e. tie them low water style...back to the vice for another 1/2 doz Purple Perils...I have a hunch these are still too thick.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-12140143041763458312011-08-10T22:56:00.002-05:002011-08-13T00:11:40.940-05:00

With a multi-day float on the Deschutes a little over a month away, I decided to start tying.  Night one was nice and easy with 1/2 doz size 6 Purple Perils.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-43791676048285117452011-08-09T15:47:00.000-05:002011-08-09T15:47:05.002-05:00

 A few images of the last week's harvest in MN Lake Superior Herring coming to the cooler. Another herring in my Father-in-law's nets Said cooler... Herring gull awaiting scraps of its namesake. Lake Superior Agate Harvest As the newly appointed Head of Marketing for the Halsnoy Fish Company (a volunteer position),  I came up with this clever campaign. We

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-42259852812101694092011-07-31T18:00:00.000-05:002011-08-08T22:12:24.126-05:00

I was up North visiting the motherland and happened to run into an old high school friend (hereafter called "Whitey") who runs a sweet little tourist cabin/commercial fishing operation on Lake Superior.  As it happened, my brother and I had planned to do a little shore fishing and I mentioned it to my buddy MM.  It's not as complicated as it is rather tedious to explain...but as fate would have

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-67084831873642532892011-07-24T21:41:00.033-05:002011-08-08T21:56:09.461-05:00

The clan joined forces with our friends from the Northern Tier for a long weekend of camping, swimming, tenting, playing and storytelling on a pristine clear water northern lake.  The kids ran themselves ragged, swimming, catching tadpole/frog hybrids, poking at the fire, stand-up paddle boarding and swimming again.  The adults (and I use the term loosely), caught up, cooked, toasted to our good

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-20690055660940527122011-07-21T10:36:00.000-05:002011-07-21T10:36:03.679-05:00

Referring back to an earlier post, I'm here to report that I am now legal.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-48074540158739355822011-07-18T22:33:00.000-05:002011-07-18T22:33:22.063-05:00

Sometimes the deal is too good to pass up.  Despite 16 feet of flat bottomed aluminum grace in the form of Jon Johnson and 17' of Old Town Penobscot, the decision was made to add 15' 2.75" of Mad River (Royalex) Intrigue to the family.  The guy selling was down on his luck and wanted to ditch it fast.  I tried to tell him that he could get more than I was willing to spend if he took a few pics

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-60799090978979191612011-07-04T23:30:00.003-05:002011-07-07T16:15:47.803-05:00

July 4th has become a set fishing date for the hex hatch back in the motherland of MN.  This year was no exception.  The big mayflies wanted to peel of the water in droves but an oncoming storm cell must've triggered something in them to stay put...at least in the numbers that I'm used to.  My brother in law stayed loyal to the dry fly and pasted it over the sporadic risers.  He landed a bluegill

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-54855076513260334062011-07-02T06:25:00.049-05:002011-07-07T15:51:45.647-05:00

  Neither government shutdowns (couldn't buy a fishing license), nor cold water (41 degrees) nor lack of sleep (2.5 hours) will keep a fisherman from delivering a fly to the lake trout of Lake Superior.   With the sun just clearing the horizon the first Superior lake trout succumbed to the siren song of my striper stripped Deceiver.  Shortly thereafter the second was on

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-67808000952484396612011-06-27T22:54:00.001-05:002011-06-28T22:59:22.264-05:00

My buddy C.A. was heading to the local trout stream and called to see if I might want to join him for a hex mission.  Being out of time and behind on everything I accepted.  It was 8:30 before my toes hit the cool spring creek current and C.A. was already on his beat.  The weather was too cool for hex's and the wind was blowing at 8-10 knots which is also a bad omen.  I spotted the first bug at

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-2258456716104939472011-06-25T20:30:00.011-05:002011-06-28T22:18:57.283-05:00

...we couldn't get it out of the boat.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-6351424668463489592011-06-25T13:06:00.013-05:002011-07-07T15:23:31.439-05:00

“Doubtless God could have made a better berry (than the strawberry), but doubtless God never did”- William Allen Butler

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-40256149947955353572011-06-19T22:00:00.000-05:002011-06-20T16:24:38.891-05:00

Despite USGS website info that showed my local trout stream running 125 CFS (about twice its normal flow) I ventured forth looking for big browns gulping hex's.  I got there with just enough light to see that the water was too high and visibility was about 3 inches.  Booo!!!  For those who have never done it...this is actual video footage shot from my position streamside as I waited for the

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-7609759478544784512011-06-14T23:03:00.002-05:002011-06-14T23:06:27.001-05:00

It's 10:45 Tuesday Night.  I trekked back to the local lake and brought some freshly tied Deceivers to taunt the local fishes. Wind: Southeast at 13 MPH Humidity: 50% Dewpoint: 48°F Barometer: 29.92 inches and rising The white bass, save one, were absent, same the smallmouth.  The walleyes were still on the feed and I missed 3 before I opened the hook gap with my pliers and landed the next five.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-44453941948333529192011-06-13T22:45:00.086-05:002011-06-14T11:28:24.615-05:00

Night fishing became one of the most viable fishing options since I became a father 7 years ago. Especially in June.  The kids roll off to bed at 8:30, I throw my gear in the car and normally have a short window of time to get my bearings before the sun rounds the bend and I find myself shin-to-knee deep in water, casting into sweltering blackness.  Normally the mosquitoes become the fish criers

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-39072285506622623422011-06-12T22:14:00.001-05:002011-06-12T23:02:08.658-05:00

My 4 year old daughter at the campfire last night - "Dad, this is better than Disney World!"

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-6734955501355422872011-06-07T14:15:00.001-05:002011-06-07T14:16:36.143-05:00

What started out as a 4:30 am alarm clock going off last Saturday morning has turned into a gong show. Timeline: Saturday: 4:50 AM - enter local lake 6:00 AM - notice that bluegills are head and tail (honest) rising for midges 8:00 AM - head back home smelling fishy 8:00 PM - head back out to repeat evening version (I bring a 4wt this time) 8:30 PM - too lazy to snip off deceiver

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-51414435436924593402011-05-30T00:45:00.003-05:002011-06-07T13:43:11.821-05:00

A good friend of mine brought his family to the area for a few days of hanging out and doing a whole lotta nothing.  We booked a couple rooms at a local hotel so the kids could swim and dirty somebody else's carpets.  It just so happened that the hotel was on the water and despite being posted "NO FISHING" we  donned our ninja activewear and hoisted some Large Mouth after dark.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-89453562052105594782011-05-24T17:54:00.010-05:002011-06-07T13:31:25.406-05:00

The job required a site visit near the big river today.  It's too bad I didn't pack my 13' Croix, the Nautilus with a compact scandi and a box of flies...oh wait...I did.  SMB action from the dock.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-16892551359069094692011-05-23T13:00:00.017-05:002011-06-08T13:09:20.951-05:00

Not until I bought a house and married my wife (a fan of the birds) did I pay any attention to them...this is what I'd been missing:

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-8277853729529303232011-05-22T13:26:00.006-05:002011-06-07T13:19:25.712-05:00

Nosed around a local lake today and intercepted the first smallmouth of the year

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-27817386673510097032011-05-11T19:09:00.003-05:002011-06-07T13:13:44.034-05:00

   Out in MA hoping for some stripers...hit the beach and the mung was everywhere.  I don't know who first named this seaweed "mung" but it fits.  It mungs up the fishing.  I settled for a beach, rental car, rod, stripping basket and lighthouse photo.  Damn.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-83152459773357381072011-04-25T23:01:00.002-05:002011-04-26T11:47:21.221-05:00

One of the finer months, April. Mostly sunny day, 58 degrees, Light breeze. 4 wt, hippers, 6x, elk hair caddis. I went to see if the caddis were hatching and making the trout show.  They were and they were.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-83264143115533693642011-04-19T22:31:00.001-05:002011-04-19T22:43:59.696-05:00

A video update of the switch rod assault on the Brule last weekend... Roll'em:

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-47678460427624103212011-04-13T00:13:00.002-05:002011-04-26T13:10:01.323-05:00

Busy, busy....as we all like to say.  I'd have probably let the update slide had I not been prompted by a fellow angler who tore me from my stupor today by emailing me a fish pic. (I'll get to that soon enough).  I've decided to compress the past few weeks into a single post.  The subheadings will be: Brule, Florida, Book and Coasters. Here goes: COASTERS I received an email today from a guy

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-85174691982408112222011-03-13T23:46:00.000-05:002011-03-13T23:46:04.913-05:00

I headed out to my home water today for the first angling of the 2011 trout season.  On the water by 1:30 after a late start due to a big ass omelet that I decided to build, daylight savings time and a stop at the fly shop for a new WF 4 F.  I dredged nymphs for about 2.5 hours with only one touch...I wasn't really working it too hard since all the"spots" were being attended to by other anglers

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-7978025424180583882011-01-29T00:10:00.000-06:002011-01-29T00:10:33.876-06:00

St Pete Beach FL -  Seatrout. After a week of work and meetings, flip flops and a flyrod were in order. I fished from 1 pm - 2 pm and landed 5. Whew!  I needed that...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-21317812605511822682010-10-15T23:15:00.000-05:002010-10-15T23:15:47.328-05:00

This is bound to be a multi-post report since I suspect I will add more pics as I get them from other attendees. An interesting event the 2010 Rondy...given that it was originally slotted as a two man assault and further that it was planned for a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it's amazing that the head count reached 10.  This event seems to occur (by this name at least) whenever the hell we can

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-21190232602842134262010-10-05T15:03:00.000-05:002010-10-05T15:03:00.066-05:00

Steel begets Steel

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-39392476459851644902010-10-04T14:18:00.000-05:002010-10-04T14:18:54.559-05:00

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-58715911637575127232010-09-17T23:41:00.000-05:002010-09-17T23:41:35.990-05:00

I met up with T last weekend for what was 99.7% family time and .3% slinging his new 12'6" Sage two hander.  We scooped up the kids and brought them down to the water where Brother B did a fine job as camp counselor and naturalist whilst we flung line.  As with many of our finest waterways, sometimes you have to pass a reminder or two of what complete jackasses we've become (see diagram 1 below)

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-77064851017785134662010-09-10T23:42:00.000-05:002010-09-10T23:42:23.616-05:00

Gardens are cool.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-71985942868610061312010-09-07T20:41:00.001-05:002010-09-07T20:43:16.347-05:00

Despite rain clouds, I ventured forth to ply the local crick before September goes all October on me.  I picked away at a few risers and without apology served a size 18 elk hair caddis when it was obvious they were on baetis.  I fished a few hours on a couple hundred yards of creek and then decided to venture downstream to see about bigger browns that may be moving up to procreate (given the

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-50239379664027550052010-09-01T23:32:00.000-05:002010-09-01T23:32:15.548-05:00

I don't usually hand out props and links, but if you haven't seen Catch Magazine and signed up for your own free subscription (delivered to your inbox), you're missing out.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that they included a video on WI SMB's featuring the crew from Tight Lines Fly Shop in DePere.  Check it out.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-57212258317123964332010-08-23T23:19:00.012-05:002010-08-24T08:41:54.931-05:00

Back in the late 90's, before I met my wife, before we had kids (etc) I spent all of my time on the spring creek near my home. When I got married that got cut back to 3 or so days a week. And now that children have entered my life, a day a week is about all can manage. Over the past few years, smallmouth fishing in the mid-summer became an interesting change from my spring creek forays.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-1433570561288426392010-08-18T15:03:00.005-05:002010-08-18T15:32:47.446-05:00

I ventured back out for some solitude on my homewater this past weekend.It seems that my neglect of the local spring creek fisheries has cost me.I don't know if I am slipping or if the fish just aren't hungry, but despite a solid 6 hour outing I landed a grand total of 4 fish...and, I had to dredge nymphs to get them.I spoke with a local fisherman/creek activist a few days ago for an hour or two

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-1988996943808482802010-08-16T13:34:00.003-05:002010-08-16T13:39:19.556-05:00

As promised in an earlier post...Here's T with the wall-e from the Soo...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-19254902021864403842010-08-08T20:47:00.009-05:002010-08-11T17:31:54.981-05:00

I killed a couple hours on my local trout stream last weekend and despite a few splashy noncommittal rises I never hooked or landed a fish. With all of the local lakes in full algal bloom it isn't a stretch to say that the wade through this clear cold spring creek was transformative.This weekend I decided to give it another go...I had originally planned a Sunday escape, but changed the plan on

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-10519196643328462010-07-12T12:34:00.012-05:002010-07-13T15:04:54.228-05:00

Drake in Gladstone MILate last summer I got a call from my friend T who said that he had recently returned from an Atlantic Salmon trip to the St Mary's River. He was pretty amped about the trip but said that he missed the major run. He indicated that he was plotting a new assault on the river the following June or July. Over the course of the winter and spring we kept discussing the

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-39285326754072846502010-07-12T11:24:00.003-05:002010-07-12T11:30:55.482-05:00

I took a drive a week or so ago in hopes of finding some hex activity and the girthy fish that go along with them. I arrived streamside, waited and waited and waited and saw exactly 7 bugs fly by. Not a single fish showed. I tied on a big rubber legged ugly and pitched down and across on the walk out...I hooked a head shaker but it popped and then I saved the night with this guy...Where the

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-15083560904049906482010-06-24T19:41:00.003-05:002010-06-24T20:00:09.529-05:00

I met up with the Crew from the Bear's den last night for another night of striper fishing. When I got to the designated spot, Seth, my Omni Stick informant (see post below) was already rigging up.Looking out at the beach, the terns were diving and fish were popping. After years of reading about blitzing bass, I finally witnessed one. It wasn't a huge but the frothing water, busting fish and

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-8565968135333885492010-06-24T19:37:00.002-05:002010-06-24T19:41:27.496-05:00

I called a Cape insider for some info on where to fish last Wednesday night. I was staying in Hyannis after a quick day of work on Nantucket. He recommended a spot for low tide, but as it turned out, I got there on a rising tide. The bugs pounded the hell out of me and I only landed one small schoolie. The good news: I have a dot on my map where fish are known to crash bait in shallow,

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-88242149700975056332010-06-24T19:27:00.003-05:002010-06-24T19:36:56.506-05:00

IMPORTANT PRODUCT REVIEW:After fishing with the crew from the Bear's Den Flyshop on the Cape back in May, we were all standing around in the moonlight drinking beer that someone kindly brought and shared and I happened to ask what they used to get eyes to stick to a fly. One guy, Seth, said Omni-Stick. Having tried everything else, I googled it and found it on Amazon. I ordered two tubes and

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-20068654390167524402010-06-24T19:21:00.003-05:002010-06-24T19:27:29.888-05:00

Father's day. I took my girls to the state park for an evening of outside adventure.I wanted to cast a new rod I bought and also test a new fly tying product (more to come on this point in a future post) . I stumbled across this little inflow, waded out and caught 2 smallmouth and 1 largemouth in 15 minutes. The fishing came to a halt when my three year old decided she had to pee. Not wanting

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-43285548193502995802010-06-24T19:17:00.001-05:002010-06-24T19:20:58.252-05:00

I decided to customize my two hander. After fishing a Burkheimer, the baseball bat handle of my Croix screamed for refinement. Custom Grip, Custom Lathe.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-82990547302738407232010-06-12T19:03:00.008-05:002010-06-17T16:01:50.228-05:00

From all I've heard and read, the west coast steelhead experience is one of quality and not necessarily quantity. The water runs clear and the fish strong though the days on the water are often uninterrupted by fish. With one day to fish on one of Oregon's steelhead rivers, I anticipated spending time with my brother T and his friend Nate, holding a two handed rod on a river big enough to

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-2239217475192565792010-05-27T23:16:00.003-05:002010-05-28T16:08:23.278-05:00

I made a deal with the mother of my children tonight..."I'll take them to the park until 7:15 and then I'm going to sneak out." She gave me a knowing look but asked anyway, "Where are you going?". I gave her the "knowing look" right back, "Fishing". I was hoping to find bluegills in the shallows. And I did...sort of. I missed a few fish but landed 1 Largemouth, 1 Walleye and this:Now I

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-23473660018577268932010-05-27T23:04:00.005-05:002010-05-28T16:08:49.970-05:00

I've been looking for a case to carry my reels in. When I fly I carry them on the plane housed in their fancy schmancy cloth or neoprene cases...but I worry. I've had my eye out for a solution to this little problem. I've looked in shops and online but I always end up viewing a 10 compartment reel case that costs $79.00...I've been looking for a smaller version...one that hold 4 reels or so...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-71789811649251095462010-05-27T22:44:00.003-05:002010-05-27T23:04:08.891-05:00

Last week I was itching to sight fish, with visions of sand flats stuck in my head. On the way to the local state park with my wife and two daughters I grabbed the 7 and a box of bonefish flies...what the heck. Once the kids were safely on the swings and slides (conveniently located near the waters edge) I grabbed the seven and walked to the beach. A pile of rocks at the end of the beach

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-91902590806088590742010-05-27T22:30:00.003-05:002010-05-27T22:43:53.608-05:00

While I was away, I got an email from the Bear's Den fly shop in Taunton, MA:Wednesday's May 12th - ??? "COME FISH WITH US" Starting May 12, our Wednesday night groups are heading out again! Meet us at the shop by 6pm. The group stays within 1hr drive of us to hit some great spots. It's not a guided trip, but is a great opportunity to learn new spots

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-70527988618379081382010-05-27T22:23:00.002-05:002010-05-27T22:30:19.344-05:00

A 10 out of 10 trip. Nice digs, good food and plenty of it, the best guide I have ever fished with, plenty of bonefish with an average size of 4 pounds, wade and boat fishing...let me sum it up this way: I have wrestled with divulging the lodge, the location and the guide. Part of me wants to tell the whole world because it was that good and I wish them success. The other part of me wants to

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-74668982710701089892010-05-07T17:30:00.001-05:002010-05-07T17:31:21.201-05:00

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-85079776911743215492010-04-21T10:26:00.003-05:002010-04-21T10:42:20.386-05:00

I decided to shove back from the tying desk and swivel around to the rod building table.In 4 nights, the St Croix Legend Elite (Saltwater) 4pc 10wt blank was adorned and festooned with cork, thread and guides. A couple of nights on the rod turner with drying threadmaster epoxy and voila:After the kids went to bed, I clamped on a Nautilus loaded with a SA Tarpon wf-10-f line and stole a quick

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-76810222921333103872010-04-21T10:18:00.002-05:002010-04-21T10:26:18.662-05:00

JP and I headed back to thee crick last Sunday, hoping for caddis and getting none. I fished my brains out with an elk hair caddis and a dropper and caught very few. The word must've leaked out about last weekend because the long rod warriors were out en masse. We found a section of stream that was vacant of other anglers (and, seemingly trout) and worked it over hard. It was one of those 65

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-36750967240696214332010-04-13T09:39:00.004-05:002010-04-13T13:18:40.244-05:00

An epic outing on local waters for me and JP. The timing was perfect.We left town, drove to get our 2010 fishing licenses, arrived at the stream, loosened up our arms on a few rising fish and then WHAM! Full blown caddis hatch. In the pic above you'll see JP is sitting on the bank landing (another) 10"-12" brown on a size 16 elk hair caddis. The fish were so hot on the hatch that he had

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-66866159539626323722010-04-05T22:46:00.002-05:002010-04-05T22:51:25.325-05:00

Trip tying.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-64533453859964552602010-04-05T11:57:00.009-05:002010-04-05T15:36:01.199-05:00

What to do when the schools close for spring break but you are busy at work and can't burn vacation time? Laptop...check, cell phone...check, wireless card...check, 8wt...check, airline ticket...check. I spent a few days working in a remote office on Marco Island last week.The weather was cool but warmed with each passing day. Day one was semi-successful with a few mackerel, jacks and a

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-14461978839369738162010-03-21T21:09:00.004-05:002010-03-21T22:00:19.475-05:00

With a few saltwater dates booked it was time to put scissor to feather and fill some holes in my boxes. I spent the last two bonefish trips throwing flies of my own design and having success in the process. I have a staple collection of Crazy Charlies, Shrimp Scampi, Pink Puffs etc, but I take a twisted pleasure in tying saltwater baitfish, shrimp and crab patterns of my own design a 1000

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-47305063039049960452010-03-19T20:52:00.002-05:002010-03-19T21:07:24.438-05:00

Stream-side signs of life...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-55874803425751828672010-03-09T09:31:00.006-06:002010-03-09T10:15:54.043-06:00

The early season opener, here and gone. I spent a few quality hours streamside and brought a few fish to hand. This marks the 12th season opener that I've waded this particular stream. I couldn't help but notice how the excitement and blood-lust of my younger years has given way to a mellow comfort...either that or I was just numb from another long winter.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-30873037622926701172010-01-18T22:32:00.002-06:002010-01-18T22:37:15.560-06:00

The trip is booked. April...Bahamas...Bonefish

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-16489480502750097122009-11-27T13:26:00.024-06:002009-11-27T20:30:27.254-06:00

This post probably should have been 7 daily posts for the 7 days I spent on Marco. Let's begin by saying that "the bait was on the beach".I shot this video with my Olympus Stylus off of a rock pile.But, back to the beginning.I flew in on Friday afternoon and settled into the digs with the family. We chose a rental home instead of a hotel and that proved to be a wise move. With a private pool

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-68579762055874448132009-11-27T13:21:00.002-06:002009-11-27T13:25:58.845-06:00

See the BEFORE photo in the pre-trip post.This is what happens when Mackerel, Ladyfish, Grouper, Snook and Jacks get a hold of a fly:This is the AFTER photo...

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-69071506818367278072009-11-17T15:44:00.002-06:002009-11-17T15:53:01.615-06:00

Destination: Marco Island, FLPurpose: Spanish Mackerel, Snook, Pompano (er...I mean Thanksgiving)Full report upon return.A few last minute flies for the trip.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-35543905306046287782009-10-27T15:49:00.007-05:002009-10-27T19:49:38.068-05:00

I received a call on Sunday afternoon from a friend who suggested we skip work on Monday and go fish a Lake Michigan trib for steelhead. I emailed the boss and told him my plan... straight-up. No coughing, no flu like symptoms, just "I'm going fishing".His response: "Sounds like fun, have a blast."Nice.We met at 5:30 and blasted east. Overcast, drizzle, 48 degrees. Perfect.This was my first

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-76451609042072436172009-09-25T22:25:00.005-05:002009-09-25T23:02:25.703-05:00

I found myself in Maine this week. Touching base with clients and prospective clients. Noting the color of the trees and the cool nights, I inquired about the stripers and asked if they had moved south yet. "No," I was told, "they're usually around until mid-October."I did my job and worked my way from Biddeford to Bar Harbor. The 8 wt tucked into my luggage made an appeal at night as I checked

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-55543929098471658312009-09-25T21:15:00.007-05:002009-09-25T23:05:04.104-05:00

"....When I was five I was just alive But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever; so I think I'll be six now for ever and ever". A.A. MilneMy fine friend "T" called me a couple weeks ago and suggested that he may bring his six year old son to a favorite trout stream where we, in the past (before six year olds), spent many hours fishing, staring at fires and sleeping in tents.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-57647961222885323122009-09-25T21:08:00.004-05:002009-09-25T21:14:31.853-05:00

My two year old "caught" her first fish.I cast, I set, we reeled, she squealed."It hopped out of the watto!", she cried, after this smallmouth gave a 3' leap next to the dock.(Quite a tug on the Tweety Bird Rod I might add.)

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-77309067211132510722009-09-25T20:58:00.003-05:002009-09-25T21:03:28.707-05:00

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-69468766186489592562009-09-25T20:54:00.003-05:002009-09-25T20:57:39.995-05:00

Went to the local State Park with my girls.

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-72808829651591556542009-09-15T09:40:00.003-05:002009-09-15T10:03:41.284-05:00

My older brother drove down for a night out on the sand islands of the Big W.I was hoping to show him the River and a few of it's smallmouth residents.I forgot that it was Labor Day weekend.The smallmouth were also on vacation.All was not lost however. The traffic died down at dusk and the cool evening kept the bugs away.The beer was cold, the river quiet and the tent camping was perfect.We did

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-48605671288618597402009-09-01T10:04:00.001-05:002009-09-01T10:06:24.177-05:00

Hit the big W with JP this weekend.A picture is worth 1000 words....

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209467076020791972.post-14382763203412563212009-08-28T11:08:00.003-05:002009-08-28T11:23:01.322-05:00

While working in New England this week, I worked an evening of fishing in Rhode Island into my schedule. The surf was heavy (the were a hundred people surfing the waves on the other side of the lighthouse pictured below). I strung up my eight weight and walked a jetty for 300 yards before deciding that I would die or lose a flyline if I attempted to fish. Plan B. I hit the rocky beach below

salmobyflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190018542608890013noreply@blogger.com1