De-Mystifying Fly FishingWritten by Cameron Larsen
I remember first time I saw someone fly fishing. I think I was five years old. My father, my sister and I had back packed to a remote alpine lake. My trusty Zebco with closed face push button casting reel, cork bobber and jar of Puatzke’s, among my gear I couldn’t live without. Positioned on a log vigilently eyeing my bobber for movement, a one-man raft paddled past, and in no time occupant was making wild movements with longest fishing pole ever. Mesmerized, I watched his graceful movements like he was a black belt martial arts expert. When my father came to check on me, I asked about him, my dad said he was fly fishing, a couple of other fishermen gathered to discuss this exotic art. All agreed it was a superior art form requiring more time than any one of us had to learn, let alone master. I tried to study my bobber with earnest after that, but it never seemed to hold same pull it once had.Fly fishing indeed is beautiful to watch. After all these years I still enjoy watching a caster that is genuinely skilled. I also enjoy watching fly fishers with unorthodox techniques. Some people haven’t read all books or taken lessons, but instead have learned their skills on water, and some people have truly unique, yet effective habits. Anyway this article is to de-mystify fly fishing for those of you that want to learn, this is a starting point from which your new passion will take off. (OK I am hoping) Two Basic Types of Fly Fishing I remember a fly fishing friend said to me “Looks like good dry water, right downstream,” as we were floating down Deschutes River. A fly fishing novice looking downstream said questionning. “Dry water?” My fly fishing friend was referring to dry fly fishing. There are two basic fly fishing techniques. Dry fly and wet fly. Dry fly refers to fishing your fly on top of water, traditionally used for trout fly fishing, now most species are being fished with a dry fly of some kind. Dry flies usually imitate adult insects that return to surface to lay their eggs back into water. It is at this time they are very vulnerable to being eaten by fish. After mating and depositing their eggs, insects then die. Commonly called ‘spinner falls’ fish tend to lay and gorge themselves during these times. Dry flies are also used during hatches. When flies are emerging from water. ‘Match Hatch’ refers to fishing an imitation of predominantly hatching insect of moment. Dry flies can also be insects that get blown into water such as grasshoppers or ants. Many bass flies or bass bugs actually imitate drowned rodents or frogs. Dry fly fishing is what most people think of, when they think of fly fishing. Some fly fishers use many false casts to dry their offerings or to place their offerings directly over a rising fish. It is this technique that I observed all those years ago, also made famous by movie ‘A River Runs Through It.’ Fishing sub-surface involves using heavier flies, that will sink. Often times sinkers are added to line above fly to sink your offering quicker. Sub-surface fly fishing involves using nymphs, wet flies, and streamers. Food that is available to fish below surface. Flies imitate every bug or nymph available under water. They also imitate worms, leeches, eggs, crabs, virtually everything available to fish to eat.
| | What’s In Your Hiking Pack?Written by Chuck Fitzgerald
Every time I leave pavement, I take along my trusty hiking pack – even if I have no intention of hiking. Doing this has become a habit rather than a conscious decision. My pack goes with me when a hike, camp, hunt, fish, bird watch and even when I drive out of town. I’ve been a boy scout and a United States Marine so I suppose I have learned to be prepared for almost anything. My pack is full of items I hope I will never need. What’s In Your Hiking Pack? As an outdoor enthusiast, you have complete control over what you carry or what stays in car – such as a cell phone, do you carry one? I wouldn’t dare go in backcountry without all of items listed below as “Highly Recommend.” What’s In My Hiking Pack? Here is my list split into two categories with weight of each item in ounces: Highly Recommend: Cell Phone (5 ounces), First-Aid Kit (9), Flashlight (4), Food - Beef Jerky (4), Insect Repellent (3), Map & Compass (4), Multi-Tool (9), Pack (24), Signal Mirror (1), Spare Vehicle Key (1), Sunglasses & Sunscreen (2), Water, Waterproof matches (1), Waterproof windbreaker (24), Whistle (1). Total weight: 5 pounds 12 ounces, not including water. Nice to Have: Bandana (1), Binoculars (12), Cash & ID (1), Disposable Camera (4), Emergency Blanket (1), Extra Batteries (4), GPS Unit (10), Hand warmers (1), Hunting knife (8), Lighter (1), Lip Balm (1), Mini-Umbrella (10), Paper & Pen (1), Rangefinder (8), Road Flare (4), 12 feet of rope (2), Saw (7), Toilet Paper (1), Two-Way Radio (7), Work Gloves (2). Total weight: 5 pounds 2 ounces.
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