Fall Fishing

Its that time again. Its cooling down and that means its time to Try to get that Big Trout that you have been looking for. They are getting ready for the winter and Just wanting to eat as much as they can before the food starts to dwindle. The browns and brookies are getting for the spawn so they really aggressive on the feeding right now. Personally I love to fish this time year not just for the chance to catch some really great trout, but also to enjoy the changing colors and the beauty of the canyons and rivers. I would recommend using nymphs, streamers, and mouse patterns. The fish are going be turning on each other as food a bit more as it continues to cool and so anything that looks like a baitfish is going to be great. Have some fun and enjoy the fall fishing.

Lunch break fishing

One of my favorite things about living here in Utah is how close the fishing spots are. There are even places you can fish on your lunch break.
A lot of these are the small community fishing ponds or even the rivers going through the valley. I would even recommend for people to fish little cottonwood river in Murray Utah right next to Intermountain Medical Center. Its right next to main roads but it also has a nice park and walkways up and down the banks. For the community ponds I head over to Kidney pond or over to the Sandy fishing pond. Its not far from city hall and south towne mall.

What a great day to be out fishing

The weather has warmed up and it is a great day to be out fishing. Ants are going to be the go to fly right now. For some reason trout love them. I would also recommend having some unweighted foam beetles. Get out and enjoy this great weather and fishing while it lasts.

My Favorite Fly-fishing Reel

I have to say that my favorite fly reel is an antique automatic that was my great-grandfathers. What makes it even more unique is that I still have braided nylon fly line that is still good on it and I have more stashed away.
The reason I love to use it is first that it means a lot to me to have it. Secondly, I like to play the fish while holding the line rather than reeling it in like I was bait or spinner fishing. I know that you can't do that if the fish is too big but as I don't do it with salmon or saltwater fishing I think I'm ok. I also really like to use the bamboo rod that he had as well. They are well balanced together and work great for me. I may not be able to cast as far as I would with newer equipment but as I am on smaller streams and rivers with a lot of cover I don't need to.

For Our Nations Heros

I have started a petition to allow disabled vets to hunt and fish for free. They have sacrificed and paid for it with more than money. Let them enjoy this nation that they worked to defend.

http://www.change.org/petitions/allow-disabled-veterans-to-hunt-and-fish-for-free

Hints from a guide part II

How many flies should you carry?
This is something that people really need to look at before each day fishing. That being said there are some guidelines that can help you stock your fly box for success on every trip. Also I am going to go over some ways to save your flies if they get smashed and the hackle isn't sticking out anymore and how to keep them working until you loose them on the river.
First when it comes to how many flies you should carry on a trip, unless you are a dry fly only type, you should carry 3-4 times as many midges and nymphs as you do dry flies. The reason for this is simple. You tend to loose more nymphs and midges than dry flies because of getting caught up on different subsurface obstacles like weeds, logs, rocks and you could loose it fighting a big fish. With the dry flies you are less likely to loose them that way because you have them on the water rather than under the water.
So when you're out and using your nymphs make sure you have enough of them and various sizes of each.

If you feel like you are unable go match the hatch and your starting to become frustrated you may want to just start pounding the water with wooly buggers. Its not as pretty or as satisfying as matching the hatch but it will save your day and allow you to catch fish and enjoy the day on the water.

If anyone is looking for any other tips or tricks for fly fishing go ahead and leave it in the comments or email me and I'll address it in another posting.

Fly of the Week

This week we are going to show a great summertime pattern that I love to use. I have caught more trout on it during the summers here than any other dry fly. I have several sizes that I like to carry. This is the Elk Hair Caddis.
Recipe:
Hook: size 10-20 dry fly
Thread: Tan
Hackle: palmered reddish to dark brown
Wing: cream or bleached elk hair

ISE

I spent the day at the International Sportsmans Expo and I really enjoyed it this year. I wasn't there as a exhibitor just a casual looker and there for fun. I have to say that the expo has continued to grow year after year. My favorite parts were, of course, the fishing demos, equipment vendors and the guides. My sons on the other hand was the dock dogs, the baby bears and the fishing pool.
Of the various fishing tackle suppliers I think I was most impressed with a small lure company that operates right out Utah here. Kokanee Creek Tackle Company makes some really cool lures using the latest in ultraviolet and glow in the dark technology on their lures. Their web site has a store for you to look at what they have as well as some tips on how best to use it.
Hope you have a great ready of the weekend and good luck out there.

Fly of Week

It seems like spring has already sprung so I'm pulling out a great fly that works on some really stubborn and pressured trout. Its the grey gnat. It works great for anyplace that has the little grey gnats and mosquitos. It's great for being a dry fly but also can work like a nymph.

Recipe:
Hook: size 24-16 dry fly
Thread: grey
Hackle: grey palmered
Thorax: grey dubbing
Tail: grey hackle fibers
Wing: grey hackle fibers upright and divided
Good luck and tight lines.

Fly of the Week

The Muddler Minnow. A great streamer for trout as it imitates the sculpin a favorite meal of large trout. It can be fished right along the surface and even used like a jig to test the deeper waters.
Recipe:
Hook: streamer sizes 2-14
Thread: 3/0 brown or black
Tail: matched Turkey quill slips
Overwing: matched Turkey quill slips
Body: Gold tinsel
Collar: Natural deer hair

Fly of the Week

This week we going back to a nymph style of fly. This week its the San Juan Worm. It is a great fly that can be used while nymphing or on a drop rig with an attractor.

Recipe:
Hook: scud hook sizes 10-18
Thread: matched to body
Abdomen: Ultra Chenille color of your choice and if you need it weighted some ultra wire coiled around the shank.

Tying tip: make sure you use a lighter to singe the tips so they narrow down to a point and look like a real worm. Don't do it too long though.

Some Hints from a Guide

There are a lot of things to remember while you are on the water looking for fish on a river that you're unfamiliar with. Here I have some tips to help you land some fish while you're out on your first trip to a stream or river. I'm sure that you've noticed that some people are able to get on the fish quickly no matter where they are fishing or how many times they have been there. I have to tell you that its all about reading the water like you would a book. Those currents and features will let you know where the trout are hiding in the water.
The first thing that you should do when you get to your fishing spot, even before getting your equipment out is go scout the stream. By that I mean you go and look at the water from the shore. Look at how it moves and where the rocks and trees are. Also look for any rises, they will give you a good perspective on what the fish are eating those days that you don't see the fish rising I have four sayings that will help you remember where to look for the fish. These work on all waters even the "featureless" rivers.
1. Foam is Home
When you have foam gather in a specific spot it shows that the water is moving slower there and that is where the fish will hide. Think of it this way the trout want to put as little effort as possible and get the biggest return possible on what they eat. So they are going to hide and eat wherever the water is slowest.
2.Rocks Rock
Rocky bottoms and large rocks slow down the water and provide lots of places for the trout to eat.
3.Wood is good
Drift wood that has settled into a spot also provides places for trout to hide and eat. Also the places with the most wood can shelter large brown trout during the day so remember where they are so you can go after the browns at night.
4.Made in the shade
Trees during the warmer months provide great food places for trout. The insects that fall into the water provide a plentiful food source and protect the trout from the sun. Trout don't like to be out in the sun too much because their delicate skin will burn.
These are just a few tips to help you find the trout and have a great day fishing. Good luck out there and lets go get some fish.

Fly of the week

We have another fly of the week here today. We have gone through a few of what I consider the best flies for anytime of year. Today I am going back to a nymph but its a large nymph that I think is well made. It is a Two bead stone fly.
Recipe:
Hook: 7999 size 8-12
Thread: black
Abdomen: black dubbing
Thorax: black tungsten bead Ribs: gold wire
Wing case: Turkey tail Legs: black hackle Head: tungsten black bead

Fly of the week

This fly has caught more fish and different types of fish then probably all other flies. This week its the Wooly Bugger. A fly for almost all conditions and waters. The biggest difficulty can be choosing the colors, the size, and the speed that you strip them. I have caught some of my biggest Brown and Rainbow Trout on these.
Recipe:
Hook: 5263BL, sizes 4-16 yes I do tie them that small.
Head:bead; size and color weight of your choice, or none.
Thread: to match abdomen or contrast. You can also add some flash if you want.
Rib: Gold wire if desired
Abdomen: Black chenille, white chenille, Brown chenille
Hackle: black or colored to match abdomen, palmered.

Tips: personally I like the black unweighted version as I can fish it like a leech or a small bait fish. I have also had good luck with a black and pink coloration on it as shown below.

Fly of the week

This is the start of our second month of the fly of the week. I hope you are enjoying them as much or more than I am. This week we have a very special fly that works great all year round. The first of our dry flies, the blue winged olive. A truly great fly that we have hatches of all year long.
Recipe:
Hook: 900bl sizes 14-22
Thread: Olive
Wing: Dark blue dun hackle tips, upright and divided
Tail: Dark blue dun hackle fibers
Abdomen: medium olive to brown olive superfine(adjust to match hatch)
Hackle: Dark blue dunn

The best way to fish these are to just lay them on the surface of the water and watch the fish come up and grab it. There is nothing like the feeling that comes from catching a fish on a fly you made.

Fly of the week

This weeks fly is one that I think is fun to tie. They are quite popular with the fish as well so that makes it even better.
This week it is the Prince nymph. A wonderful fly to use all year long and in all sorts of conditions.
Recipe:
Hook: 5262, 3761bl, or 200rbl sizes 4-16 Thread: black
Tail: brown goose or turkey biot in a V
Abdomen: Peacock hurl
Legs: brown hackle 3-6 turns then tied down
Wing: White goose or turkey biot, tied in a V over the body
Have fun and find some hungry fish.

Fly of the week

This week we going with another great fly for the winter.  we ended running behind on this because I got sick. Not just I don't want get out of bed sick but I want to die sick. I'm getting better now so I'm going to post the fly a day late.
Our fly this week is the hares ear nymph. It is a great time to use these nymphs just remember that the smaller the better right now. Size 20 or smaller is whats working on the rivers here right now.
Recipe
Hook: 5262 or 3761BL sizes 8-24
Thread: Brown Tail: hares ear fur
Rib: gold tinsel or gold wire
Abdomen: blended hares ear
Wing case: white tip turkey tail segment
Thorax: blended hares ear, picked out
Good luck and let's go out and get some fish!

Fly of the week

This is our second fly of the week. As with our last one it is great for fishing right now on our rivers here in Utah. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to email me or leave a comment. This week we have chosen to spotlight a fly that can be used as effectively in the summer and the winter. Its a foam beetle. I am going to give a weighted recipe for this one. During the summer I use a floater on the rivers. The weighted beetle simulates the underwater beetles that we don't always think about as being a good trout fly. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trout eat a lot of beetles and beetles are in all the waters that have trout. Recipe: Hook: Daiichi 1180 size 16 String: Black 6/0 Weight: lead wire under body Belly: peacock hurl Legs: wapsi rrm100 Body: black foam Try dead drifting it past a hungry trout and you will love it.

POMA News

We now have a video player on the bottom right of our blog that will allow you to know about POMA news when its released right from our blog. We hope you enjoy it.

Provo river,warm winter

The Provo river right now has some great dry fly hatches going on. Blue winged olives and small midges are plentiful and the fish are willing to bite. They are also going after nymphs and some streamers. Hope you can get out and have tight lines.

Fly of the week

We are going to start doing a fly of the week. I am hoping to hit some flies that I feel are good for the conditions.

The first fly we are going to feature is the copper John. It can be used as a traditional nymph or stripped like a streamer. It also has both wire and a bead head making it sink without split-shot. Here is the recipe for it: Hook:3761 or 5262, sizes 10-18 weight to suit Head: gold bead Thread: Black Tail: brown turkey biot, V style Abdomen: copper ultra wire Thorax: peacock hurl Legs: brown partridge, tied divided style. Let me know what types of flies you want to see in this. We are going to be doing one a week as well as our other posts about fishing conditions.