DAYS OF YESTERYEAR

Winter is dragging on. True, the days are longer and the sun sets later and later in the evening. Still, the season is a long way off up here.

It’s not true cabin fever. Maybe Shack Nasty’s as Betty would call it. Anyway, I do find myself looking forward to the coming season. Still, motivation can take a hit! I started an article 4 weeks ago and never finished it. Since my computer died Thursday evening, I lost the draft. It wasn’t a very interesting blurb anyway!

USING THE FORMULA FOR PROBLEM SOLVING ON STILLWATERS

I have discussed how the angler could use the "Formula for Success" to master the skills needed to be a successful still water angler. Now I will show you how to use the "Formula" for problem solving in a still water angling situation.

THE PROBLEM: The problem is successfully fishing the midge worm (larvae) and pupa stages of the midges in a still water angling situation. Now, it might seem like a fairly simple problem when, in truth, this will be a very complex series of problems which will thoroughly test the angler's skill level and problem solving abilities.

STOP AND THINK

It has been a long winter over most of the country. From the Pacific coast of Washington to the wave swept rocks of Maine it has been a long, cold winter. For the Brothers and Sisters of the Angle spring cannot come soon enough. However, after a long winter of tying flies and dreaming of hooking those big ones remember that early season fishing is quite different than it was when you wet a line late last fall.

SIMPLE?

Sometimes fishing is so easy you just can't imagine what you ever were doing wrong before - or why the fish didn't like your best fly last time, or if wearing the purple argyle really does make a difference!

We were on the Upper Yellowstone, barely above Buffalo Ford, and I was working with our friend Mike's youngest son. The kid had casting down pretty well, could spot a fish or two and actually listened. I planted him on a narrow sandbar, parallel to shore, and pointed out a row of Yellowstone Cutthroats lying in wait for whatever edibles drifted by. Honestly, they were lined up like critters at the trough - and I believe they were even smiling.

FIRST TRIP - 2011

I finally got a chance to go out for a few hours. Temps have not been that high, but the ice is off the ponds and it is not raining. I decided to head to a pond that is not far off the road and I was fairly sure he fish might be along the break line off the dam. At least that was the hope that I had.

MATCHING THE HATCH – PLAN B

Plan A - Virtually every fly angler knows and uses Plan A for matching the hatch. Find rising fish, put on the best imitation you have for what is floating down the stream into the fishies’ feeding lane, execute the perfect presentation, time your strike just right and bring the fishy to hand.

Plan B – Virtually no fly anglers that I’ve talked to are familiar with and use an alternative approach to fishing hatches that can be very effective.

MIAMI VICE(LESS) FROG

This is a very simple pattern that I didn't bother to use a vice to make...the only drawback was the frog would eventually get pulled off the hook...at the time it didn't matter anyway because Mr Frog was getting the pounding of his life just the same...I used small hooks I found laying around and watched football and "pinched" together dozens of frogs.you will see what I mean if you follow along...now with a little effort (but not much) they are basically bulletproof and a little more fun to make...I can’t help myself when I see the legs pump in the water, so primal and simple but so brutally effective on the fish as well...ok, I will try to keep this simple and clean with lots of pictures that really tell the story best...dont be afraid, you cant go wrong here...

2011 PA REGIONAL FISHIN

The 2011 PA Fish-In is fast approaching.  This year’s Fish-In is scheduled for May 22-27, 2011 in Waterville, PA.  The Fish-In is based out of the Lodge at Happy Acres Resort.