Monthly Archives: November 2007

“Suh-low”

Yesterday, I was finally able to take my new double hander out to the river. I only had a couple hours but had to get started sometime. I watched the DVD, gone over it in my head, I was ready.

"The most basic moves practiced over and over again become the most advanced moves."

Or something like that.

The first few casts were rough but I got the fly out there, which in the end is all that really matters. Then I slowed things down a bit and started thinking about the different parts of my cast. I worked on my pick up, then my anchor and "D" loop, and a little bit on the forward cast. Occsionally it would all come together and I would send a decent looking cast across toward the other side of the river.

Just as I was about to call it quits and head home to baby I met a guy from Michigan who had came out here to fish for steelhead for ten days.

"Do you fly fish?" I say.
"Yeah, for 18 years."
"Do you spey?"

Dude speys. Watching me cast he gives me some pointers, tells me to slow down. I've heard that about spey casting. "Go slow" they always say. Again he tells me to slow down, "slow on the pick up, slower." Then he shows me what slow is.

His pick up and back cast are in slo-mo, so un-fast that the line seemingly just hangs below the tip-top, barely enough motion to load the rod, back cast into a nice "D" loop then POW!, foward cast and the line lays all the way across the river.

Oh, that slow.

I repeat, "Suh-low" out loud and over and over again as he hands the rod back to me. I pick up and cast, laying the line out there. I slow down some more and cast again and again repeating my new mantra the whole time, "suh-low." It works and already my single spey is improving dramatically.

Thanks dude from Michigan, thanks a bunch.

Old Timey: Finn Style



Olli over dere at Opax-Fly Fishing busts out some tradition and heritage in his latest post. He takes us to the historical epicenter of Finland's brown trout fishing scene and gives us a quick tour of the joint. He then finishes with this brilliant observation.
The tradition of fly-fishing is not static. It lives and evolves as we read, write, talk, and dream about it.

Good stuff Olli! I'm glad that someone is doing the heavy lifting around here.

Old Time Yellowstone



Fly Fish Yellowstone fires up the wayback machine to bring us some old timey fishing photos.
Theres also copious amounts of near-nudity, conservation info and the latest fishing reports. All that good stuff makes for good reading, check it out.

A River Ain’t Too Much To Love

With Nature Trumps: An LA River Blog Jay Babcock demonstrates that good fishing is where you're at and also that water brings wilderness and renewal to the most unlikely places.

"Say Valley Maker"

E-LICENSING FOR FRESHWATER ANGLERS LAUNCHED

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
2007ENV0126-001486
Nov. 19, 2007
Ministry of Environment

E-LICENSING FOR FRESHWATER ANGLERS LAUNCHED

VICTORIA - Purchasing a freshwater fishing licence is easier than ever
with the Province's new e-licensing system, Environment Minister Barry
Penner announced today.

Penner marked the occasion by purchasing a fishing licence at Robinson's
Outdoor Store in Victoria, B.C.'s first e-licence-equipped vendor.
"Freshwater anglers will now have a greater range of choices about how,
where and when they purchase their fishing licences," said Penner.
"Resident anglers and out-of-province visitors will now be able access
licences and fishing information online before they head out for their
next great B.C. fishing adventure."

Under the new e-licensing system, developed in partnership with Service
BC and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, anglers can purchase
their basic freshwater fishing licence, classified water permit or
conservation stamps through any computer with Internet access or from
any e-licence-equipped vendor.

While the online system has been operational since Sept. 6, 2007,
government has been working with Robinson's in Victoria and Highwater
Tackle in North Vancouver through the fall to pilot the new system for
vendors.

During the transition period, anglers can still purchase traditional
paper licences from their favourite tackle shop. In addition to giving
anglers greater choice and flexibility about how they obtain licences,
the new system will greatly improve the efficiency of the freshwater
licensing system and provide government with better information about
recreational effort and angler preferences. This information will be
used to help ensure that recreational fishing programs and lake and
stream stocking activities are tailored to meet angler demand.
Anglers can purchase fishing licences at www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/ or at
one of one of four e-licence-equipped vendors. More e-licence-equipped
vendors will be added to the system during the next several months.
-30-

Media contact:
Kate Thompson
Media Relations
250 953-4577

John Thornton
Manager, Data and Licensing
Fish and Wildlife Branch
250 387-9776

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the
Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at
www.gov.bc.ca.

Richmond Fontaine: Greatest Band in the West

Off work at 5:00 am. Insert road tunes, merge onto highway. Interstate-90, eastbound. Yakima, Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, Clark Fork, Kelly Creek, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Rock Creek, Madison, Jefferson, Gallatin, Yellowstone, Boulder, Stillwater and rivers east; take your pick. The only hard part is coming back.

Johnny Cash – Ghost Riders In The Sky


Howdy pard. Looks like you're gettin' ready to set down at the tying bench. It's that time of year I guess, lots of boxes to refill before spring. You might as well make yourself comfortable and click it on over to the Cowboy Cultural Society and get your GRITS on. While you're there have a seat at the virtual campfire and enjoy a few more of your Western music favorites.