The Blog

Thursday (aka Friday eve), May 20, 2010

Busy wekend with 2 groups of clients on Sunday. In the meantime, I have carp on the mind since the tides are not in my favor tommorow, I plan to fish the C&O Canal.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

It is always nice to feel appreciated. I received this in the mail the other day:

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

I will be able to accept credit cards in a day or so. In the meantime, allow me to remind you to de-barb your hooks. A quick video clip to demonstrate the 'mono' method of removing a barbed hook. The wife's first reaction to seeing my arm bandaged up was 'how much is this going to cost me?'. Well, I say that the video is worth more than the bill from the Frisco, Colorado emergency room on July 4, 2009:

Sunday, May 16, 2010

I returned to the Potomac to again try and land a snakehead. I was distracted on the way to the river by carp mudding in the C&O Canal. There is not much water in the canal right now and the water is already brown. I spotted one carp swimming by the surface and cast to it. The fish turned its head toward my fly and I lost visual on the fish. No luck. I continued down the towpath and saw another group mudding. I cast my damsel and clouser combo in the mud and got a crappie. My guess is the crappie was in there to eat whatever the carp were kicking up. Here is a video of the event:

Friday May 14, 2010

Here is a video blog entry. I fished the Potomac above Chain Bridge and was caught in a thunderstorm:

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Wow, what a day. One of the most memorable days on the river in 30+ years. Started off at an eddy above Chain Bridge and had to cast between baby ducks and big blue herons. Got one schoolie striper on the swing. At this point I am thinking the stories of snakeheads in the river at this section is hogwash. I decided to move down. I rock hopped to the next eddy down stream and started casting. Got a small white perch on a damsel nymph right away. Then out of nowhere a huge silvery head comes out of the depths, turns to the side, mouth agape and gulps a breath. As soon as this fish came up, the tail slapped the surface as if a bowling ball had been heaved in the water. The snakehead was gone as soon as it arrived. I would estimate the fish at 30" to comply with the other sightings. It was huge, no less than 2'.

I proceeded to catch several more white perch and some HUGE black crappie. The snakeheads proceeded to gulp air all over this pool and my goal of catching one on a fly came a bit closer to happening. We had to take off for mother's day. You will know where to find me until I report one was landed and photographed.

Saturday May 8, 2010

Here is a video entry from this blustery Saturday.

April 22-24, 2010

The Jim Range National Casting Call and Family & Youth Casting Call at Fletchers which was brought to us by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association.

Project Healing Waters Wounded Warrior + Shad and more....

          

           

               
                  

            

April 11, 2010

Spring is here and if you live in or around the Beltway, you spend your time at Fletchers this time of year.

   

Some may think this is oil pollution. However, the oil you see here is a natural product of algae. Certain algae produce a droplet of oil to keep them afloat. Oil is buoyant and it keeps the algae on the top of the water which is closer to the sun:

March 31, 2010
Fly fishing film tour, Arlington Cinema and Draft House, Arlington Virginia

Theme -friendship and fly fishing or fly fishermen with short haircuts with sun visors.
I'm still not sure why there is no list of the movies being shown and then a place to sell the DVD's after the film. A bunch of sauced up anglers with a few bucks in their pocket = $$$. Good turnout, lots of familiar faces from my TU chapter, Orvis, Urban Angler (and Angler's Lie), Casting Call, former clients, and former biology students.

The show started off with an intro from Richie and then the film started.

1. The Take  fishing the Snake River around Jackson Hole (where I was supposed to move in 2001 but decided to stay after meeting a cool chick who is now my wife). I'm not sure what this film was about. There was really no introduction. From what I understood, the film was about a guy who grew up in Jackson Hole, moved to Chicago, and then back to open a fly shop.  My reaction = confused.  I felt as if I had been channel surfing and stopped on this program halfway through with no [info] button on my remote. There was some nice scenery but no story line.

2. Aleutian Island - the film started off with a guy and a big fish. We were told the story is set in Alaska's Aleutian Islands and then its going to be about silver salmon. We saw some cool shots of salmon chasing top water flies - the camera was up above on a bluff or ledge and thus we were looking down on the fish.  We were told that salmon don't eat when they migrate, they are in the streams to spawn and die. A few 'ooos' and 'aaaws' from the crowd. A brief mention and shot of sea lice to distinguish fresh fish from the ocean. I was not impressed with the clip. The film ended with a link to the lodge where I presume all was filmed. Was this just a commercial for the lodge? Jeff Corwin had better fish and fishing shots on his trip to the Aleutians for a Discovery channel show.

3. Rise - fishing in Argentine Patagonia.  A story about two guys growing up in Montana surrounded by fly fishing.  The friends moved to Argentina after college to guide and now have a profitable lodge and a nice truck. They switch hemispheres based on the fishing season. There were some nice shots of fish and locations and some background about Argentine law and no more 'gringo' guides being able to operate down there.  Then another 'gringo' guide was featured. Some shots of the guides fishing, their friendship shared by fishing on their day off, followed by food and drink shots of the lodge. Made me want a big steak and a glass of Malbec.  The story line could make an interesting feature film if it followed their life stories from kids in Montana to adults in Patagonia.

4. Off The Grid - I liked this one.  They name drop a fly shop rather early.  I found this clip the most interesting and entertaining of the first four, yet I can't remember what it was about.  I scribbled down 'lots of product placement shots-sun glasses'.  I finished this write up and remembered a buzz cut guy with a sun visor fishing in Mexico. So I wrote what I remembered:  Fishing Mexico's remote lodges for bones and permit. The story about one guy with short hair and a visor, two women on the bow of a flats boat, and a guide poling a flats boat and fishing solo. He learned English and is now a guide. Not sure of the point of this one except to book trips to the lodge and fly shop. This was the first of several with blatant and in-your-face product placements. Several shots of the angler with the camera focused and centered on the sunglass logo. Sure the event is sponsored by Costa but this was a bit much.  Still no interest in purchasing an movies yet.

5. Metalhead - British Columbia (BC) steelhead. I recognize the guys from the AEG films and the dude with the beard who I talked to last year after the show. He looks like the 'give me back that fillet of fish' guy on the Ronald's Place commercials.  A bunch of hard core anglers going on an epic trip through the BC wilderness. This film made me want to get out and fish more in remote locations.  Something new with this film tonight: a story line.  There is a story about the guys, where they are going, how they are going about their trip from planning to getting there.  Sure this one seemed like a video commercial for Patagonia but these are the guys who made this film genre what it is now and  have been doing it for years, they get the sponsors and need to have product placement. Their trips are epic and they get the backing of companies for gear to subsidize their expenses. I enjoyed the time lapse segments of them fishing, camping, scenic shots along with the camera angles and scenery shots. There were several funny moments and plenty of big fish shots later on. Lots of big nets, big rods, big reels, and big scenery.  Some of the fish had phenomenal colors.  They ended with a blurb about conservation in BC.  What is the name of the tiny one-man inflatable row boats they use? I will purchase this DVD.

6. Carolina Reds - a story about guys (who were present and introduced the film clip) growing up and living on the South Carolina shore and living 'the fly fishing lifestyle'. I want to know what that rod holder was attached to the guys waist on the flats. This is the story about a group of guys who are passionate about what they do and how they do it, 'how effective the tool can be' one comments after telling about his switch from conventional tackle to fly fishing (rods). They mention a 'network of info' available through cell phones and other modern technology to collaborate up-to-date fishing conditions amongst their angling community. One person can be out on the water and relay reports back to guys on dry land and how they all share this knowledge.  I learned about the methods, ins and outs, and challenges of fly fishing for redfish in South Carolina.  They fly fish to 'escape to be free' and talk about their time on flats vs. offices.  Well done, stripstrikecharters.com

7. Heads or Tails - WTF? Permit fishing. Where are they? Who are they? Are they Kiwis or Aussies? The guys have accents and are running up and down the beach looking for permit - tailing, schooling, moving. The music was loud and repetitive.  My reaction was :meh. I did not get it. There were some cool shots of permit schools and some big fish hero shots. What was the point?

8.  Into The Backing - fishing for carp? Some random guys fishing for carp somewhere with a boat. The credits were longer than the actual film clip. Reminded me that I need to go carp fishing with Jim who was one seat over. Pardon me waitress, can I get a burger please, my stomach is as empty was this film?

9. Off The Grid - Beattie productions. I was eating by now (when the menu states you get a pickle and slaw, please include those. And when I remind you,  please bring a utensil, slaw is not finger food). This is a road trip story starting from Colorado and ending in Mexico, or at least that's what I thought. I was distracted by eating. There was good narration but the story was too fast and then I think it ended and segued into another story - two friends steelhead fishing in Lake Erie tribs.  A story about two young guys who are old friends with a shared passion for fly fishing.  Some nice winter shots of the tribs and plenty of gluttonous hens. The guys talk about their background in the fly fishing industry and how they became friends. Reminds me of how I met Tom.  They talk about the weather (icy guides, frozen nets) and how the fish migrate up the streams and how the fish coloration is based on their duration in the stream. I would like to know more about this film, or at least the second part (Ohio).

10.  High in the Lowlands - fishing the everglades. Thumbs up for me.  A story about guys fishing the Everglades. A story about a bunch of friends embarking on a camping trip to fly fish in the Florida Everglades. This film clip was long but deserved its time. I like the single person mini flats boat. They describe the species and diversity of the organisms in the Everglades. They talk about their targeted fish, snook. They go into detail about the snook's habitat, snook behavior, where to find them, how to find them, the seasonality of snook fishing, and  how to fish for them etc. Their epitome of fly fishing is sight fishing to Everglades snook that are backed up against the mangroves.  This film told a story, had characters, was educational and informative, and entertaining.  I liked the camaraderie between the friends. Camera angles from the rods point of view, the pole platform point of view, underwater, fish chasing flies up to the boat, etc. set this one apart. I'd be interested in seeing the whole movie.

I was only impressed with a few of the movies this year. The start seemed to be commercials and product placements in short and disorganized movie clips. I was entertained by the few stories that had a flow of story, characters, humor, and ending.

It was good to get out and see these  movies and even though I was not impressed by all, I had a good evening. Thanks to the sponsors who put on the event. Maybe I have expectations of wanting all movies to be like 'running down the man' and 'trout bum xyz' or the Kamchatka movie from last year.

March 15, 2010
Saturday morning started off with some Barra lads at Kitty's for a few EPL matches and breakfast. Then off to the NCCTU show where I wandered around and gave some fly tying instructions to the kids. It was nice to see some old friends from the business, to name a few, Beau Beasley, Mike Heck, Dan Davala, Richie Farino, and Brad Gentner.  Here are some pictures:

   

March 10, 2010
Counting down the days for the Spring run!
I have uploaded some more podcasts and have story boards written for about five more. I plan to record one on the scientific properties of water this weekend and one on fly tying next. I'd like to get set up for remote recordings.

I am volunteering at the National Capital Chapter of TU's show this weekend to help teach fly tying.
I have a custom lesson next weekend and hope to get some good pictures of the stream while out and about.

March 2, 2010
I'm working on the next podcast about flies and hope to record episode 3 by this weekend.

Tom stopped by on Sunday night and I had hoped to record a rod building podcast. We didn't sit down to the mic until well after 10:00 pm. Late night and a few beers in us made for a less than plausible interview. I will edit what I have and see if it is salvageable. If there is some decent material I will upload to this site but leave it off itunes. I hope to re-record the same interview at another time.

I have a casting lesson this weekend and hope my client gets into some migratory fish, namely Shad. I've heard reports of some early fish arriving in the Potomac.

February 22, 2010

Here is a new addition to the Fly Fishing Consultant web site: ask me a fly fishing related question 

February 16, 2010

Wow, a whole month since I updated? I've busy not fishing.

Last year I was interviewed by a local radio station during my commute home. My voice did not sound too bad on the radio. A few weeks later the Mike O'Meara Show came back to life in the form of a daily podcast. I started thinking about all of the fly fishing podcasts I listen to, my brief radio interview, and my passion for fly fishing. I decided to start my own fly fishing oriented podcast. I talked to Robb (not a typo, he has the letter b twice in his name) and he gave me some podcasting advice. From there I started writing notes, researching podcasting online, and preparing to record my first episode.

The reason I have not posted is because I have been terribly busy with the podcast stuff. I have spent more time at this desk (computer) than the one to my left (fly tying). I have not wet a line since Colorado. Throwing a line has been replaced with cross country ski outings on the golf course. We also have a few feet of snow on the ground here in a which makes getting to a stream a bit more difficult. Try recording a podcast during a blizzard and have the power go out before your last save. Not fun. Lots of trial and error has resulted in two recordings.

I have the first two podcasts up here and itunes have storyboards drafted for several more. I am now working on the visual aids and links to go along with S01E02 Entomology. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing the evolution of the podcast endeavor. The quality should get better the more I record and edit.

Tom is on his way out in a few weeks which should make for some fun. I'll try to get a rod building podcast interview out of him.

January 26, 2010

I spent most of last week out in Breckenridge, Colorado fishing with Tom.

I spent the first day traveling (0430-1650est) and got in too late to fish. I sniffed around the Blue in Silverthorne and met a guy who was doing the same. I gave him some of my flies to try and in return he gave me a tall boy of Pilsner Urquell. That is good fishing moves!

Tom and I fished the Colorado, Blue, Roaring Fork, and Frying Pan rivers. The temperature was very cold with more snow as the week went on. The first day on the Colorado had temps in the single digits and my wet tube fly froze to my reel upon contact.

  

Tom caught several nice browns on midges and nymphs at the Colorado. Those fish had huge tails and will hopefully grow up to be pigs. I got one brown on my tube fly-catching a fish on my tube flies was a goal for this year. We switched rivers to the Blue and did not find any action. I don't think we even saw a fish. I took out the seine and camera gear and we got some nice bug shots.

We had a scary drive over to the Roaring Fork as snow had fallen the night before and I70 was a skating rink. I was distracted by the snow covered landscape and was not watching the road. Tom took a few fish on the 'Fork and I had one fish tug at a streamer. We moved on up to the Frying Pan and fished the section below the 'toilet bowl'. Lots of fish were busting the surface for emergers. I've seen fish sip bugs before but these fish were breaching the water.

Tom took a nice brown on a Barr's meat whistle while I had several hits on my Bacon fly and tube flies. I had fun watching them chase and nip at my flies and not landing a fish was not a disappointment. We moved up to the toilet bowl just as the sun dipped behind the mountains. I put on a tandem mysid shrimp rig and while tying it up, a guy walks from below us and steps right in front of us at the outflow. That is bad fishing moves

 

We headed home and Tom slept the whole way. I think that is the first time someone else has driving him fishing since he moved out West.

Tom's wife Marla joined us for dinner along with some of the wife's friends. I then learned that Tom has been creating his own line of fountain pens and cigar punches. He never ceases to amaze me. You can now have a custom  pen to match the custom reel seat on your custom rod!

          

I fished solo the next day in the snow. The skies were dumping and I took off to the Blue again, South of Kremmling. No luck on the Blue so I moved to the Colorado. The parking lots were filled (one car is filled in my books) so I kept driving and did some exploring. The Williams Fork area was wide open and the snow was falling. I had the place to myself.

   

I parked at a lot and followed a pair of tracks down, across, around, and kept going through fields and had to post hole most of the way. I moved several nice fish on a Bacon fly but none took the hook. I fished for several hours and never put on a jacket as I was sweltering from my long hike. I had a cold beer and walked back. No luck fishing the holes that had moved fish earlier.

I made my way over to what used to be called the Burger Barn in Kremmling for some lunch, then drove back to Breck in time to meet some friends at Quandry Grille and then settled back at the house for a few drinks and a salad (??)

 

The way back started early (0400) and ended late (2200) and I think I'm going to drive next time.

I also noticed today that the Fly Fishing Film Tour will be in the D.C. March  30.

January 8, 2010

Several 2010 fly fishing catalogs have started to fill my mailbox. I've looked forward to the new catalogs since I was in high school. Get as many copies of different catalogs as you can and read, read, read over the products, flies and their names, and what is new for 2010.

I have started my fly tying for the Colorado trip. Lots of tiny flies, so tiny in fact that the bead heads I have are slipping past the hook eye and falling off! I have not tied this small in a while and it takes a few flies to get back into rhythm.

So far I have tied a mix of midge larvae and emergers, some mysis shrimps (my college roommate insisted that shrimp be written and spoken as plural) and tiny eggs. I'll start my streamer box this weekend and add some tube flies next week.

There are 2 separate casting lessons this weekend. I am very excited to teach someone to cast when they are willing to put up with temps in the teens. Saturday's lesson got moved to Sunday which means I will be able to have Saturday lunch with the wife at The Liberty Tavern.

Last on today's entry is the update to my custom fly order form: click here to order flies

December 29, 2009

I have been making a lot of updates to the site with more pictures. I am working on a new idea that I do not think I have seen before. A comprehensive list of flies, the natural item the fly is meant to represent, and a fish caught on that fly. Sort of a full circle from fly tying vise to net, take a peek: flies | food | fish

I am working on a trip to fish with Tom in late January 2010. I love winter fishing and fishing Colorado tail waters is one of my favorite past times.

My 2010 weekends are filling up so be sure to contact me as soon as possible to book a lesson. The Shad run will be here shortly!

December 24, 2009

Lots of web site updates today. Adding images, changing fonts etc.

December 23, 2009

Starting to sell a lot of beer can/fishing lanyard combos over at dragonfly fishing!

Here are the pics of a group casting and fishing lesson from Dickerson, Md. last week. The air temps were in the low to mid 20's and lots of wind. The Potomac had the clarity of a bowl of lentil soup.

 Icy river bank

 Bag of reels

 Pile of waders

 Bike rack --> rod rack

 Fence post --> rod rack

 My fly of choice if the water wasn't stained

 Casting practice

 Last cast

 The guys

December 2, 2009
Tom has the night off and was going to go fish the Dream Stream but -9 temps and a foot of snow might keep him home. He's currently building a 11' 5wt rod and has a bunch of custom rods to sell. I'll post details of weights/lengths and prices when I hear.
I'm off to a dinner at the Denmark Embassy. Plenty of free Carlsberg. I've got my new sunfish lapel pin to show off. Lets hope Hillary isn't having a party tonight too with her guests hogging all of the street parking.

Winter business is picking up with some fishing trips and lessons in the books. Time to start tying up some winter stones.

November 29, 2009
Christmas tree tube flies!

Starting the t-shirt designs for TPFR members or anyone else who fishes the Potomac.

Monday, November 16
Made some updates to the TPFR links page on Virginia laws that I came across today on a DMV laws search.

Sunday, November 15
Spent the late morning fishing with my unruly hound at Gravelly Point.
Tide was outgoing and not much in the way of fish biting was going on. The hound had separation anxiety and refused to be tethered to a picnic table more than a few feet away from me. His high pitched barks were not welcomed by those enjoying the weather.

A fishing excursion turned into a casting excursion. We fished long enough for the wife to run a few miles into the city and back. We then had lunch at Liberty Tavern one of our favorite spots. Spent the afternoon working on dragonfly fishing products and later sold a few beer lanyards at the New Zealand Embassy (the wife's job gets me into some cool places)