I love to run across little tips and suggestions that seem to make a world of difference and make things go smooth. I actually have two I’d like to post.
The super glue knot: I picked this one up at a fishing store. Soak the last 1/2 inch of your flyline in nail polish remover to soften the plastic coating. Use your fingernails to scrape the 1/2 inch off leaving the braided core. Use a bodkin to open up the hollow core a bit. snip a tiny bit off of your tapered leader at an angle and push it up into the core until it just begins to go into the section that still has the plastic coating, it won’t go much further than that. Then simply put a couple of drops of zapagap on the exposed braided core. It will wick straight through the braid to the leader butt. When it dries, it’s not going anywhere! I don’t change tapered leaders that much so it works great for me and is a perfectly seamless transition.
the simplest are sometimes the best! LOL When putting the flyline through your guides, double ver teh tip of the flyline and push it through the guides. If you drop it like I do after every other quide, it won’t slip back through all the guides.
I can’t wait to hear what everyone else has come up with to make thingd EASIER! LOL
I posted this years ago but will do so again…Fill up with gas the day BEFORE your fishing so as not to retain that awfully offensive gas odor on your hands.
Mike
[ul]
[li]For stowing those bits and pieces of tippet you clip off I use a film canister which I use an Xacto blade to cut an ‘x’ in the lid. I then push the waste pieces through the x as in x marks the spot.[/li][li]Always carry a spare hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm in the car.[/li][li]Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.[/li][*]Carry dryer sheets in a zip lock bag for use when those blood buzzards come out. I use a safety pin to attach the sheets to the shoulders of my vest.[/ul]
I keep an extra pocket open on my vest for storing clippings. Do this instead of throwing it in the water and it will help the fish that don’t get caught on your fly.
Bring a camera. It makes it easier for people to believe you.
Harebear;
That Super Glue knot seems like a lot of work! Try the Castwell Knot and a furled leader!!
Learning to backcast between the trees behind you makes for a much better forecast! (watching your backcast is not a sin!!)
Carry an onion bag if you really want to pick up trash. (rainbowchaser taught me that!)
Distance is fine but placement is better.
Never, never take your eye off the fly or the indicator!
Keep your hooks sharp and barbless!
Learn to cast with your off hand or over the off hand shoulder! (it can keep 2 guy’s in a boat friendly!)
Keep your false casts to a minimum and if you must, not over the spot you want the fly to land!
Always, and I mean always, respect the waters you are fishing and the fish you are catching.
When I release a fish I say “mitak oyasin” It’s a Lakota phrase that means"all my relations". I do this as a way of recognizing that we are all part of the great web of life on this planet, all life is related.
When traveling check out your travellers health insurance before you actually need it. I didn’t. I left my insurance card at home and it cost me the last 1/2 of the fish in when I had to drive all the way home with a broken arm, to Canada the land of free medicine.
This year I am going to staple the med card to my forehead so I won’t forget it. ( Well OK I’m just putting it in my wallet but you get the idea )
a neck gaiter works as well as a spare sweater and takes up much less room.
always pack a few granola bars and a bottle of water in the car. some streams are remarkably far from food.
put one of the granola bars in your vest. if the fish are biting it will substitute for at least two meals. if not, it gives you something to eat while you figure out what to do next.
When your done float tubing for the day, DO NOT try to walk forward in your swim fins! If your going to inflate your tube and drive to a higher elevation, DO NOT fully inflate it.
Try to keep your fly in the water as much as possible and out of the trees.
If you think that black storm cloud is going to miss you, well no it’s not!
Pinch your barbs down.
Be humble and observant.
Doug
