The Complete Angler - Chapter 2

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.



Way Upstream Productions Copyright 2008

Grand River Special

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

Let em flow

I spend a fair amount of time in Southern California and have always heard talk of how steelhead once thrived in the ocean flowing coastal rivers of SoCal. The talk is pretty similar to the atlantic salmon stories I've heard in New England. Unfortunately we all no that dams, development, farming practices, poor planning and habitat loss have caused once plentiful species to dwindle or die out. So when Malinda Chouinard forwarded an email from Matt Stoecker I thought it was worth sharing. Here was proof once again of the tenacity of Mother Nature in the face of a formidable opponent - us. Let the following message and pictures serve as a reminder that there is always hope and that we must be part of the solution to environmental crisis.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them"
- Albert Einstein

Original email from Matt Stoecker (Stoecker Ecological)
March 31, 2008

Hello all,
I wanted to share an amazing experience I had a couple days ago with you. On a small creek near Santa Barbara I had the rare opportunity to spend some time swimming with and documenting the seldom seen southern steelhead. Attached are some of the photos taken. The two adults back from their adventures at sea are in the 26-30 inch range and the small "juvenile" steelhead are possibly ready to head downstream to start their ocean odyssey.

Unfortunately these fish were prevented from being able to migrate upstream to adequate spawning habitat due to a large road crossing barrier that prevents passage. Fortunately, if all goes as planned this barrier will be removed this summer after seven years of studies, designs, permits, landowner agreements, and fundraising from many individuals.

Right now, all over California's watersheds there are thousands of steelhead and salmon stuck below migration barriers us humans have built, many of which are obsolete, poorly planned, and safety hazards in need of replacement or removal so these amazing fish can swim home and our rivers can run free.

Let em flow,
Matt

Photos by Matt Stoecker

No Upwelling

From the Associated Press
March 4, 2008

GRANTS PASS, ORE. -- Scientists examining the sudden and widespread collapse of West Coast salmon returns are pointing to the unusual changes in weather patterns that caused the bottom to fall out of the ocean food web in 2005.

NOAA Fisheries Service oceanographer Bill Peterson said the juvenile salmon that left their native rivers and entered the Pacific Ocean in 2005 found little food being transported by the California Current, which flows from the northern Pacific south along the West Coast.

The reason was that the jet stream had shifted to the south, delaying the spring onset of winds out of the north that create a condition known as upwelling, which kickstarts the ocean food web by stirring the water from bottom to top, the agency said.

If there is no upwelling, there is no phytoplankton growth, no zooplankton growth, and basically you have no food chain that develops, because it all depends on the upwelling," Peterson said.
"We are not dismissing other potential causes for this year's low salmon returns," NOAA Fisheries Service Northwest Science Center Director Usha Varanasi said in a statement. "But the widespread pattern of low returns along the West Coast for (both coho and chinook) salmon indicates an environmental anomaly occurred in the California Current in 2005."

Read the complete article by Jeff Barnard (AP Environmental Writer) - click here

Drawings by Noah Stracqualursi
Flickr illustration by El Pescador

Dirty Gold

Just in time for Valentine's Day, jewelry retailers are stepping up a campaign that aims to discourage the mining and sale of "dirty gold." A group of jewelry retailers has signed the "Bristol Bay Protection Pledge," which seeks to halt the huge Pebble Mine planned for Alaska's salmon spawning headwaters. Click here to read the LA Times article by staff writer Margot Roosevelt (free registration required). Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times

Guidewater Jacket

I wanted to post a bit more detail on this new jacket since comments have been generated. Here's copy that Dylan Tomine (pictured right) penned for this style, "Pounding into the teeth of a Nor’Easter or swinging tips through the deluge, the Guidewater Jacket keeps you fishing comfortably long after other anglers have headed for the barn. This jacket combines our best knowledge of fabrics, design and technology to create a full-featured piece of angling equipment. Waterproof/breathable, 3-layer stretch nylon along with a longer cut make this the shell of choice for skiff, bayboat and jet sled guides. The ergonomically placed pockets and custom, dual-density “fish pulls” (which vastly improve waterproof reverse-coil zipper function) put everything you need at your fingertips. Tuck-away hood won’t flap in the wind. The brushed-fleece lined collar and handwarmer pockets provide decadent comfort. More fishing-specific details include: glued-in waterproof zippers; mesh pockets, waterproof interior pocket, glued on exterior pocket, zinger/tool daisy chain; rod holder; forceps/glasses loop; modified Stretch Coat cuffs."

Topher Browne (pictured below) has been testing the piece and had this to say about the GWJ, "I tested the new Guidewater Jacket in some particularly nasty conditions during the late Fall in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (sub-freezing air temperatures, driving rain/snow while standing in a 42-degree F. river). The jacket performed flawlessly and gets a major thumbs up."

Photos courtesy of Dylan Tomine and Rene Braun

Red Gold

Bristol Bay Alaska is home to the last great wild salmon fishery in the world. Multinational mining company Northern Dynasty plans to build the largest open pit mine in North America at the headwaters of the resource. Check out this 3 minute trailer for Felt Soul Media's upcoming film - Red Gold. It does a good job of framing the debate. Let me know your reaction.

Free to roam

It’s only fitting that the previous post highlighting James Prosek be followed up by a piece on the other founding member of World Trout – Yvon Chouinard. These pictures and the following words found their way upstream to El Pescador from Casey Sheahan (Patagonia CEO). Click on the colored text (links) to read more about YC and a variety of salmon articles. Casey wrote:

“Rare to see YC holding a fish out of water for even a second but this 26 pound Zolotaya River chromer required closer inspection. This Russian beauty had been caught on the nearby Rynda two summers ago and blue-tagged to identify it as a product of Rynda waters--proof of salmo salar's wandering capabilities, and what happens to salmon when allowed to swim freely, spawn repeatedly without estuary nets and net pen farming.”

Contribution by Casey Sheahan and El Jefe

Photos by Bruce McNae

First line of defense

This shot of Jeff Liskay (Patagonia fly fishing ambassador) struck me as a very clear illustration of the function of a garment’s DWR. Click on the picture to see what I mean. What is a DWR? A DWR is a “finish” that keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable “barrier” can do its job. DWR finishes are the first line of defense in preventing water entry. Patagonia waders, jackets, vests and packs all have DWR finishes. In most cases it’s a proprietary technology called Deluge DWR, which lasts longer than standard DWRs. Garments with the Deluge DWR finish can have good repellency even after years of use. Eventually DWRs wear thin and aftermarket applications are the remedy. Oh and by the way, the picture also struck me as a nice shot of Jeff and his catch. Stay dry everyone. Let me know if you want to have a DWR (durable water repellent) conversation.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Liskay, Silver Fury Guide Service