James Prosek (artist/writer), Fritz Mitchell (producer/editor) and Peter Franchella (cinematographer) produced a Peabody Award winning film documenting Prosek’s travels in the footsteps of the 17th century English writer, Izaak Walton.
Way Upstream now brings you Part 3 of the mini-series - The Complete Angler. In this chapter James fishes a tributary of the Thames in London that Walton fished three hundred and fifty years before, the River Lea. Walton was forced out of London during the English Civil War and returned to the pastoral beauty of his homeland in Derbyshire and the beautiful River Dove in the Peak District.
I just returned from a trip to Big Timber, MT. The goals were to get some product testing (both Patagonia and competitor gear) in before the runoff and to work on some new design projects with a designer in Bozeman (more on that later). I couldn't have asked for better conditions. It was nice one minute and a full on snow accumulating blizzard the next (the two inset photos were taken 20 minutes apart). I should clarify that by "nice" I mean that the sun was partially out and the wind wasn't gusting too bad. The temps never really climbed above the mid 40's and it was high 30's on average. Mornings were below freezing and guides did ice up on occasion. Wool grid neoprene (wader booties and gloves), new wader designs, new jackets, new outsole ideas and a host of current gear all were put through the paces.....and the fishing was good too. My companions for the trip were new friends John Frankot and Alistair Stewart. We holed up at the Grand Hotel in Big Timber. We contracted the help of guide Lee Kinsey for a couple of days. He's a wealth of information having grown up in the area. I highly recommend a pre-runoff trip if any of you in the Way Upstream community have the desire. It's good for the soul. Don't forget your warm gear and a range of flies. Size 20 dry bugs and small emergers were just as important as stonefly nymphs and big stuff for exploring the carved out depths. Photos by El Pescador "Car Pool" photo by Alistair Stewart
James Prosek (artist/writer), Fritz Mitchell (producer/editor) and Peter Franchella (cinematographer) produced a Peabody Award winning film documenting Prosek’s travels in the footsteps of the 17th century English writer, Izaak Walton.
Way Upstream now brings you Part 2 of the mini-series - The Complete Angler. In this chapter James goes to Ireland to experience what may be the earliest form of fly-fishing, dapping live mayflies impaled on fine-wire hooks for brown trout on the lakes of the Connemara region. He visits with a boy who collects and sells live mayflies to the fishermen, and salmon fishes along the Eriff River.
Here's another Jerry Darkes "crossover" fly pattern to share with you. He calls it the Grand River Special. As Jerry puts it, "this is really a glorified Zonker". This fly's color scheme is geared to be productive in the tannic colored water which often happens during Fall rains when the leaves are falling or in cloudy water from Spring runoff. Jerry chases steelhead with this fly but it can also deceive other species like the atlantic salmon pictured above that Jimmy Balogh (Hydrus Expeditions) caught in Canada this past November.
Here's the recipe for the Grand River Special Hook: Daiichi 2461, #2. Body: Boa Yarn, also called Eyelash Yarn (you'll probably have to go to a craft store to find it). Use a section where the color transitions. The version pictured goes from yellow to orange. Wing: Barred sand variant Zonker strip, with some gold Crystal Flash mixed in Hackle: Gold barred variant schlappen Head: Smallest gold cone Atlantic salmon photo courtesy of Jimmy Balogh Fly photo and contribution by Jerry Darkes
Course was set before Spring 2008 to create a 21st Century version of our classic mesh vest, which we introduced way back in ‘87. The result is the Riverwalker Vest (M's & W's). This vest incorporates pack-like storage pockets with detailed vest construction (just try counting all the bar tacks). Convenient, easy-to-use curved and straight coil zippers with two molded pockets offer easy access and a clean, fly-line friendly exterior. The Riverwalker Vest is a lightweight (M's 17.5oz and W's 17oz) and highly functional piece of fishing equipment. Mesh (our signature version) and stretch nylon construction; specifically designed storage for fly boxes, tippet, tools, etc.; integrated attachment points; removable fly patch and built in rod holder are all contained in it's framework. This vest has two center clip adjustments for a more form fit when desired. There are two vertical zippers on either side of the back allowing access without having to take the vest off. There is also a single horizontal pocket on the back intentionally placed high for additional boxes, spare spools, food or whatever. The collar is padded and covered in a wicking and odor resistant looped poly fabric and the shoulder pattern helps support the load. There's also a burly webbing loop placed on the back below the collar for carrying and hanging this vest when loaded. The W's version is designed to have a feminine fit. With all the attention that the Guidewater Vest has received I though it might be a good idea to shed light on it's product line companion. Both M's and W's Riverwalker Vest come in Forge Grey. Detail photos by Rene Braun Photo of Chris Owens with taimen courtesy of AEG
Several years ago, James Prosek (artist/writer), Fritz Mitchell (producer/editor) and Peter Franchella (cinematographer) produced a film documenting Prosek’s travels in the footsteps of the 17th century English writer, Izaak Walton—“research” for his senior thesis at Yale.The film focuses on Walton’s book, The Compleat Angler, a book that many have heard of but few have read.Through Ireland and England, Prosek fishes the same rivers and streams that Walton had.He discovers the art of “dapping,” a method of fly-fishing still practiced now, as it was 350 years ago in Walton’s day. He fishes streams flowing under and around London—spring-fed tributaries of the Thames once central to water meadows, but now surrounded by parking lots and high-rise apartment buildings. And he makes his way into the world of private river-ways, fished by the upper-class who own the land through which the rivers flow.He fishes with English gentry, guides and boatmen, discovering a common bond among anglers that erases social barriers.
Izaak Walton was a simple tailor whose genial nature won him the company of kings. Walton was a proto-conservationist who advocated for the pastoral simplicity that the countryside offered.He wrote the Compleat Angler in the mid-1600s during the English Civil War when different Christian denominations were vying for power in London.Through the course of the book, Walton instructs his fishing companion not only in the technical aspects of hooking, cleaning and preparing trout, chub, pike and eels, but in finding spiritual sustenance in the forest, meadow, and on the stream.
Way Upstream now brings you the video mini-series of the original, Peabody Award winning film - The Complete Angler. The mini series will be composed of the seven individual segments that make up the film.Here’s chapter one, where you'll see James leaving Connecticut for Ireland and England, catching a few trout in his home streams and musing about his youth, fishing, and some Waltonian ideals. He visits the library at Yale and examines a first edition of Walton’s Compleat Angler from 1653. Then he sits for a reading of W. B. Yeat’s poem, The Song of Wandering Aengus, by Harold Bloom.
All of us who wear waders have heard of an old saying which goes something like this “Every pair of waders either leaks or is waiting to leak.”Why is this a commonly held belief?It may be because of the fact that we ask waders to allow us to trudge unscathed through brush and thicket containing Mother Nature’s myriad of thorny and pointed creations.Maybe it has something to do with the fact we kneel down on rocky banks and in stream beds with them or sit on whatever we feel like sitting on while wearing them.It may also have something to do with what I call Vampire flies which like to feed on blood.These flies seek to embed themselves into flesh but sometimes (if you’re lucky) they only find your hat, wader or jacket.Barbed wire is a cousin of the Vampire fly and has been known to draw blood but prefers to just tear into stuff. Lastly, this leaky belief could also be connected to how we treat our waders which often means “riding them hard and putting them away wet.”Whatever the reason, leaks do happen even to the best of waders.The good news is that they are often easily repaired (all Patagonia waders come with a repair kit).Patagonia’s Creative and Quality teams have put together a little instruction guide for wader repair that just may prove useful to you someday.Brian Bennett (Fly Fishing Sales Manager) has taken this guide and turned it into a modern day “e-zine” making it accessible and easy to research because rarely do anglers keep all the little pieces of paper and tags that come with new waders.Check it out and may your waders always keep you dry.
It’s almost the beginning of trout season.With the stirring of insect and fish comes the preparation of shop, stock, guides and gear.Angling dreams of hatches and takes are mixed with business hopes for ideal water, bookings and revenue.It’s a tangled, intertwined, biological and economic web….and all because of fish.Let the season begin and may your fishy goals be achieved.Feel free to share a season opener comment, story or photo.
Tim Borski takes some interesting photos in addition to painting and fly designing. Here's one photo I received that I couldn't help toying with. The image shows Tim's hand holding a bird that flew into his studio with a fly resting next to it. I've created some unusual versions of this image but here is a version that's close to the original. I used Flickr toys Framer to soften the edges and Matte to frame it up "museum style". This is not your average "still life". Maybe a collaborative series will emerge.
February 29th only comes around every four years so it seemed like a post opportunity not to miss. What does Leap Day have to do with fly fishing? That's up to you. Tie some flies, wet a line, change that old backing, make watery plans or just enjoy this extra day in some fishy manner. If you have a Leap Day story I'd love to hear it. If you have a leap inspired picture email it to me. Here's one of Tim Borski as he leaps into Mexican airspace. Photo courtesy of Tim Borski
February 28th marks the anniversary of the very first Way Upstream post. I would like to thank everyone who has visited and especially those who have joined conversations and made their voices heard over the past year. I consider Way Upstream to be a group effort and I feel fortunate to have a global community of people involved who are willing to gauge risk, share ideas and to take action. Keep it up. Now that Way Upstream has reached the one year milestone do you think this blog can be officially referred to as "old school"?
This picture shows the Double Haul magnetic accessory loop and a good view of the new "fish pull" which is a signiture detail on all the fish products. The magnet makes for a great place to temporarily place a fly when changing patterns and is also strong enough to hold hemos. The picture shows how the magnet in the loop holds nippers from dangling.
Jerry Darkes has been tying flies for almost 40 years. Here is a pattern he started working on this spring. This fly is constructed of a blend of natural and synthetic materials. It lends itself to a wide range of variation and fly fishing applications. It has great action in the water and it catches fish! So far he has caught trout, steelhead, largemouth, smallmouth, northern pike, and musky on it. He has yet to dunk it in the salt but I have a feeling it may work there too. He calls this pattern the Meat Wagon. It can be tied as shown, with barbell eyes to ride hook up or as a tandem hook rig. You may want to give this one a try. Here is the basic recipe:
Hook: Short streamer hook Tail: Rabbit strip with flash of some sort on top and on bottom Back: Marabou feather(s) Belly: Marabou feathers(s) Gills: Optional- red Spirit River Palmar Chenille Head: Palmar Chenille Eyes: 3-D, epoxied
On September 14th David Smart (photo below) caught a large Puget Sound cutthroat on a popper that was puking up a big pile worm around ten inches long. He had seen a number of these large marine worms swimming freely near the surface with sea-run cutthroats attacking them. He knew Dylan Tomine had developed the String Thing for steelhead. This fly has a long profile, skinny body and a trailing hook. This tying method fit the bill so Dylan quickly turned out the first String Worm fly for David. After a few on-the-water design/color experiments and the process of figuring out how to effectively swim this fly through the water, David started to catch some big fish.
Large cutthroat are rare and it is very difficult to regularly catch fish over 18 inches but the String Worm fly does just that; it catches big fish and lots of them. Since development of this fly, David caught more big cutthroats in two weeks than in the last 10 years combined, including a mammoth 24-incher and a couple equally impressive 22-inch fish. In addition to catching sea-run cutthroat trout, it has also taken blackmouth (immature chinook) and silvers (coho salmon), proving surprisingly effective on some staging coho in a local estuary. The best way to fish this fly is very slowly with slow smooth strips so that it slithers through the water. The fish see this as a large, very easy meal to grab as it swims by, and while the takes may be subtle as a fish engulfs the fly, the results are amazing.
I saw this pattern in Fly Fishing Life Magazine. It seemed brilliant to me so I asked Mikey Wier for a Way Upstream story. Here are the words and some of the pictures that he sent:
"The Hoppicator has been a great pattern for me. I’ve been developing the system for a several years now. I usually fish it in conjunction with weighted nymphs. The main premise is to get away from using lead or tin weights, foam or yarn indicators. I don’t like the weights because they are just more litter than needed and often tangle on your line if you overhead cast. I stopped using indicators because they scare spooky fish around here in some of our technical catch and release fishing areas. Now I just use the Hopper Dropper or Super Hopper Dropper as I call the heavier set up for all my trout fishing and even some steelhead fishing in heavy water. The system is just as versatile as traditional indicator fishing, as far as depth and weight adjustments. You just have to be slightly more perceptive about the current flows and actual river depths when choosing the right fly combo. I usually use a heavy “bomb” fly like my double tungsten Jawbreaker or Tungsten Caramel Caddis Pupa to get down deep. I then use a dropper of something smaller like my Mint Chocolate Crawler Nymph or Butterscotch Sprinkle. This system also really came in handy for the Team USA competitions. The rules call for no weight or indicators so most people just dry dropper or Czech Nymph. That’s great for some water but some places require the kind of long dead drift you can only get with an indicator. My Hoppicator set up conforms to the Team USA rules and no one else had anything like it. It won a couple beats for me. Many of my trout patterns, including the Hoppicator, will be available soon from Idylwilde Fly Company." Photos by Mikey Wier
The sand eel imitation that I posted last week has evolved. Click on the picture and mouse over the note boxes for details. I call this fly the Sand Quill.
Ever since I posted A use for the pitt and the stem I've been pondering the quill as a fly tying material. I was fishing for stripers recently and the water was loaded with sand eels. I have several sand eel patterns that I like but on my way home after one session I saw these large seagull wing feathers lying in the sand and the vision of this pattern came to me. I'll be testing it out soon. Stay tuned. Click on the picture and mouse over the boxes for more detail.
