Vol. 13 No. 26

SUNFISH STRATEGIES – SPOOKING FISH

Sunfish are true Native Americans. They are exotics in any other nation. Curiously, of the thirty species of sunfish within the taxonomic group of spiny rayed fishes, the distribution of these species across our nation is non-uniform.

ATTRACTORS VERSUS IMITATIONS

For the person that is just starting to fish with dry flies, and wants to know how to go about it, things can seem pretty confusing at times. If some time was spent watching other anglers on any stream that has decent dry fly fishing one might see two very different methods of approach or schools of thought that would increase the confusion. Let's take a look at what the newcomer might witness that would cause this confusion.

SCUDS, ISOPODS AND WORMS OH MY

Some of the most important trout foods are not mayflies, caddis flies, stone flies or even the ubiquitous midge. While these insects may constitute the bulk of the trout’s diet on freestone streams in spring creeks and many stillwaters there importance pales in comparison to scuds and isopods.

LEAVING

I'm REALLY going to miss the good stuff about living in the Pacific Northwest, but I have to admit when we moved here from Montana I was very grateful not to be up to my nose in the cold white stuff. I was willing to trade that for the “not so cold wet stuff” you don't have to shovel. I think I lived long enough to regret that choice. Some people who live in Montana avoid the cold white stuff by going to Arizona in the winter.

THE ELUSIVE BALKAN TROUT

Rakia may not be the national drink of Bulgaria, but observation tends to support this theory. A kind of schnapps, Rakia is the necessary peripheral for any salad and most meals, other than breakfast, and I must confess that I love the stuff. Furthermore, through continuing visits to this beautiful country I am accumulating a growing expertise in the subject and, strangely, a lisp.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

I’m old and frumpy, retired and a bit lazy. I’ve put on a lot of weight since I retired back in 05’. I’ve had bad knees since the 70’s, and the weight hasn’t done them any good. I’ve got a stack of excuses why I can’t do anything remotely physical. So, when I got a call from my friend Jeral a while back, and he asked; “What are you doing today?” my radar went up, and I did a quick review of my excuses.

CARE AND FEEDING OF WADERS

Over the years we’ve all owned several pairs of waders, and probably still do.  If you stored them properly you’ll still have them for many more years to come.  Today I’d like to share a few simple tips on storing your waders.

FISHING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S BAYS AND HARBORS

Heading to one of the major Southern California urban areas for a business trip or a few days of R&R and looking for a place to wet a line for a few hours? Do you live in the region and need a winter alternative to the snowed in Sierra Nevada streams or lakes full of grumpy largemouth bass and bluegill? The answer to your search just might be the productive year-round fisheries of the bays and harbors of the left coast southland.

FAOL PODCAST #2

Dr. Gibson interviews a Flyanglers Online sponsor, Michael Kahn, of Albright.

Discussed in this issue; How Albright got it's start, why Albright went to a direct buy format, and a discussion of some of the new products that are coming out.

POPPER SBS

Morne Bayman (Morneb) of South Africa brings us our fly of the week this week.