Karlin Bilcher
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Most of my meals include salmon. Sockeye mostly, grilled, smoked, pan seared, whatever. The leftovers get mixed up with olive oil, little mayo, maybe some sweet relish and peppery spice for sandwiches on the river the next day. On a trip of several nights I usually mix it up by killing a Dolly Varden (char). Wrap it in tin foil with some butter, lemon and salt and lay it in the coals.
Commenting on an earlier post from Timscott – the man knows his paella having spent a stint living in Spain. He might not remember but he shared some of his with me on the first night of a fishing trip several years ago. Although he would not share the “socarrett” or whatever the hell he called it, the part that becomes charred to the side of the dish…
Kb
Lamson Litespeed
Beadhead Flashback Pheasant Tail
Smartwool
I tried to approach the question by imagining fly fishing life before and after… What products / innovations made a distinct before and after impression. My life before the litespeed, pheasant tail and smartwool sucked. But now its great.
I remember bring frustrated by what was out there for journals. Early on my buddy and I spent some time designing the pages of our journal ourselves. We went back and forth about what we wanted to include and what we would leave out regarding prompts, check boxes, questions to be answered, etc. Then we took it to Staples and had it bound. We liked the finished product, that was over 10 years ago and its still around.
Keep it simple. These fish don’t see a ton of pressure and spend the majority of their lives in the ocean.
Pink, chartreuse, purple – String Leeches, Zonkers, Buggers on stout hooks. Flash fly’s. When I am in the mood I twist up a few marabou popsicle style fly’s. The pulsing action of these fly’s draws strikes sometimes when nothing else will. I would not be without a few Polly Wogs or Gurglers in hot pink.
Enjoy.
KbI am certainly not an industry insider but I can’t fathom a fly fishing company boasting about 2010 – The Movie won an academy award in 1993 and money was blowing down the streets. It’s astounding that 2010 would be better than any year 1992 – 1996. That’s generally when local shops seemed to be profiting.
My impression is that perhaps Scotts loyal base has demonstrated their commitment and Simms going big box has paid off. Interesting.
Kb
Just to put this fad into perspective – I was in Homer Alaska two weeks ago. Homer is about as off the beaten path as one could possibly drive in the United States of America. The hostess at the restaurant had a hackle feather in her hair. It ain’t just hitting the mob wives of NJ.
About a month ago in PA a guide and shop manager told me the only people making money in the fly fishing industry right now are the hackle providers. At least someone is…
Kb
I spent the day bouncing around the highway leading into Denali Park, fishing three different streams along the way. Some were in better shape than others and it was one of the nicest days of they year, almost 75 degrees and sunny. Smolt patterns, hares ears and parachute adams. It’s nice to get to use the four weight slt on occasion. I caught my first grayling, which is cool. Adding a new species does not happen too often anymore.
I get the pit-zip issue, although its rare for me to be fishing in wet weather and be too hot. I guess in the south that is more of a big deal. I wear an older model patagucci sst when weather is a serious issue. And a lightweight simms shell when it’s not. Apparently the Frogg Togg stuff has some durability issues but for the price you could buy two FT jackets for less than the price of one high end gore tex jacket. I imagine its a brutal market to break into as gore has the market in a choke hold. Perhaps I’ll make the switch when Frogg Togg shows up in the arsenal of those on the absolute fringes of waterproof / breathability requirements.
I am headed to Brystol Bay for two weeks of commercial salmon fishing and I am working over every possible waterproofing option. Down with Pebble!This might sound a little like I am in the 8th grade… but Way Yin fished with my Loop Green Spey for a day in New York State and said he really liked it.
So I’ve got that going for me… which is nice. Looking forward to listening in.
Kb
Mark –
FYI – Whenever stepping out on the town you must make sure your footwear is on time, shoes are the icing on the cake of any ensemble. Pair those zappato’s up with a plain front, five pocket, boot-cut mountain kaki and you will turn all of the Jackson Hole eyes. Go for it!
Kb
Just so you can get a general idea of what this event was like for Dave Z and I, this is something of what it was like:
Cicada Hatch Normal Summer Fishing
3x 5x
blind casting to bank structure / trees waiting for noses
10am – 3pm first light / last light
splashy presentation delicate presentation
occasional twitching drag free
16 – 20 inch fish 10 – 14 inch fish
averaging 50 fish days 8 decent fish in a dayI’ve fished this event twice in my life. 7 years ago certain areas of Maryland and West Virginia then again 3 years ago in central Pennsylvania. Without question the most incredible dry fly fishing possible in these states. I thought I knew a few of these rivers very well, until I fished the cicada hatch and realized just how many big fish they contained. It was epic fishing. I was working at a fly shop at the time and it was delightful mayhem. We completely sold out of the Raineys patterns twice. In between orders the boss had me twisting them up for custom orders all day, which was a blast.
I started out with Greg Hoovers pattern then tweaked it based on components and triggers that seemed to make sense. Honestly, the pattern did not matter at all. The trout were ravenous. Basic size, basic shape – black foam, orange diamond braid body, some rubber legs, a little touch up with a sharpie. Poking fun at my perfectionistic tendencies, a friend tied a pattern that was just orange foam on a hook, nothing else. It looked stupid, we called it Orange Crush. He experienced no decrease in his hook-ups with this pattern. If your area is getting the serious event with biblical numbers of bugs, take vacation time, you will not regret it.
KbCome to Pennsylvania. Some of the best trout fishing anywhere, but you’ll be hard pressed to get away from a railroad track.
So true Dave! Looking back over my journal not long ago I noticed at least a half dozen references to “the trestle hole”. Almost all of my favorite Pa haunts are bordered by tracks. As I replay the fishing memories in my head I suddenly hear the sound of a train whistle. On a somewhat similar note I am doing a kick ass trip this spring where the only way to access this particular river is to pay the conductor to “randomly” stop the train in the middle of BFE and you hop out with your gear. Four days later you have to wait on the tracks to get a ride back. Should be killer.
Kb
Interesting thread. I’ve had these exact thoughts when traveling. I have a travel rod case that fits four 9 foot 4pcs socks / four reels and some small random tackle perfectly. I love it. I always carry it on. The combined value of what was in there on my last trip was ridiculous. At the gate with a half an hour to board I set my stuff down and started to walk 50 feet away to buy a coffee. I couldn’t do it. What was I thinking? Everyone in Alaska fishes, every flight attendant, ticket counter person, baggage handler, security person, passenger – everyone. They know the good stuff when they see it. I’ve lost my share of gear from roof tops, boats, etc. but I’ve yet to have anything stolen. Exception: a monster tinfoil steelhead robbed me of my pride last fall, hopefully I will have a chance to get that back.
KbYou guys are taking me on walk down memory lane. Where Pithole dumps into the main river can be thrilling if you time it right – monster bronze backs with a shots at a big river resident brown. Oh boy…
Kb
Cutts were put into the N. Branch several years ago and have done ok. One year after they were put in the river a dude caught a something like a 7 pounder and still holds the state record. I’ve caught cutts there and I’ve also caught rainbows with a crimson slash under their jaw in the N. Branch. No section of the Savage has been stocked with anything since the early 80’s. If there are bows and cutts in the Savage it’s because they have migrated. I’ve never caught a cutt in the Savage. I miss that river dearly.
:'(
