This past week I spent time scouting out, and fishing, a local pond here in northeastern Connecticut. It was my first time fishing this specific body of water, so I met up with the owner of the property to discuss the ins and outs of fishing there. After a few minutes of conversation, he began to tell me about the drop in fish population due to a spike in the growth of Duckweed on the surface of the pond. He told me that a year ago the pond faced a large fish-kill resulting from a thick layer of Duckweed that was draining oxygen from the water.

Although Duckweed, in large numbers, can be hazardous to fish populations, pond-owners should not be too hasty to skim their ponds. Duckweed, as I found out after speaking with a DEP officer, Duckweed can be very beneficial to the ponds ecosystem. In small amounts, Duckweed, on a sunny day, produces vast amounts of oxygen which is then released directly into the water, making the pond a more advantageous place for fish growth. Unfortunately, on cloudy days, Duckweed, in order to stay alive, draws oxygen from the water, causing the levels of oxygen to drop dramatically, and ultimately threatening the livelihood of the fishes.

The reason for the fish-kill at the pond where I was fishing was that during that summer, the pond was covered by a very thick layer of Duckweed, and the weather remained cloudy off and on for a long period of time. This constant fluctuation in oxygen levels eventually killed of a couple hundred warm-water fish.

I asked the pond-owner whether it would be beneficial to simply skim the water to remove the duckweed, and not risk gambling with the lives of trophy fish. He stated that he was told by a local DEP officer that if he were to remove the weed from the water, the population of the fish would continue to grow uncontrollably, and eventually the larger fish would die off anyways. He told us that the Duckweed was a very helpful, natural, population regulator, keeping the ponds ecosystem at check.

So for all of you out there that are worried about the health of your ponds due to Duckweed, it is better to let nature take its course, then to interfere and face the consequences.

Tags: Duckweed, Fishing, Fly Fishing

After all the casting and hard work finally pays off, and you have that beautiful trophy trout on your line, there are many things that take place both in your mind and physically on the water. The most common thoughts that come to mind are those regarding size, whether to keep it or not, and furthermore, how to keep it from pre-releasing itself.

When the trill finally catching a nice trout sets in, it is important that one remembers certain steps to safely releasing the fish to the river. Firstly, as I have stated in the past, a fisherman should never touch a fish before wetting his hand in the water. A dry hand will damage the fish’s protective mucus layer surrounding its body, could lead to severe harm. Secondly, it is never a good idea to leave a hook in the throat of a fish. If the hook is not in a position to be removed, then keep the fish. If there is, for some reason, a hook that is stuck toward the lips, or outside of the mouth, then you can leave the hook inside the mouth, after cutting back all the line from that hook. The hook will eventually fall out of the lip of the fish within 24 hours, allowing the fish to continue as normal.

Companies have developed an important tool in the area of catch and release fishing. While most fishing nets are knotted nets, meaning that the strings that construct the nets are knotted together, these nets have a tendency to scratch the body of the fish, again damaging the mucus layer that envelopes its body. To combat this problem, newer nets that have been made in which the body of the net consists of no knots, and is one continued piece of material. These nets are just as effective, and in most cases the same price. So do something good for the environment, and invest in a safe-net. Furthermore, when fishing, never let an injured fish go; it all falls under fishermen ethics: to leave the stream in better shape then it was when you arrived. Fly fishing is a wonderful hobby, so let it remain that way for years to come.

Tags: Fly Fishing, Tips

For all of those fly fishermen our there who enjoy using streamers when fishing, there is one problem that seems almost inevitable at times: ‘dead-fly.’ Dead-fly is the term used to describe a streamer that tends to turn upside-down when being retrieved through the water. This action will cause the presentation of the fly to be tainted, and will result in an empty creel.

There are two key reasons for dead-fly that can very easily be overcome in directly addressed, line spinning, and improper weighting of the streamer. The first culprit, line spin, is a result of line that has not been properly maintained. Over the course of time, line will become gritty, and will stretch due to constant use, causing the line to twist. These twists will actually become wound in the air, and, when the fly hits the water, the line will begin to ‘unwind,’ forcing the streamer to spin rapidly. This can easily be fixed by keeping you line clean, and straightening it with a piece of leather, as I have spoken about in the past.

The second, and more often the case, problem that results in ‘dead-fly,’ is the improper weighting of a streamer. There are times that, when a fly is tied, lead weight is used in the streamer to cause it to sink more rapidly. If the weight is not properly wrapped, it will make the shank of the streamer heavier than the rest of the hook, and will cause it to float upside-down.  Although lead weight is a common reason, dead-fly can be a result of a number of different materials used in streamer. This problem can be fixed simply by fastening about nine inches of heavy, transparent line to the head of the streamer and connecting a small piece of foam, or down feathers to the other end of the line. The buoyant material will float, turning the streamer upright again, allowing it to be fished normally. Some fishermen are skeptical to this practice, thinking that the line will cause fish to become less attracted to the streamer, but from experience I can say that it truly works.

Tags: Dead-Fly, Fly Fishing, streamers

Just yesterday I was fishing with my three brothers at a favorite childhood fishing hole behind the house where we grew up. While we were fishing, my little brother accidently brought up an interesting topic that I decided to discuss today.

The four of us went out fishing, and neglected all sense of dignity and talent and chose to fish with worm and bobber. After a long while of fishing, one of my older brother commented as to how his bobber was floating against the current. Upon this discovery, my little brother, in an amusingly arrogant tone, stated, “That’s not a fish biting it, that’s just because of a Yeti!”

In actuality, a Yeti is simply a fictitious, apelike, snowman that is said to inhabit the Himalayan regions of Tibet and Nepal, rarely found in the shallow rivers of the eastern U.S. On the contrary however, an eddy is an area where water, due to a series of diverging currents, the water tends to flow upstream, against the natural flow of the river.  Eddies typically form on the downstream side of objects that hinder the flow of water, such as rocks, logs, or bridge pillars.

Eddies are particularly important to fishermen because if the influence that they have on the location, and feeding habits of fish. Because of the hindrance to flow of water, a dead pocket of water forms directly behind the object. The two currents flowing on either side of the object diverge just downstream from the object, causing a small whirl of water to occur. Because of this, the water begins to actually be forced upstream.

It is in these pockets of up-flow that trout will tend to sit due to the fact that they can easily access food without having to exert much energy. Trout will sit directly behind the hindering object where they can sit without having to swim against any current. By sitting there, they can easily feed of nymphs that float by along the sides of the object. Therefore, it is very productive to cast inside these eddies, and fish along the edges, and directly behind such disturbances.

Tags: Eddy, Fishing, Fly Fishing

Although I enjoy the reliability and strength of my modern graphite, Pfueger rod, there tends to be a great joy in casting my grandfather’s handcrafted split bamboo rod. The rod is a ten and a half foot bamboo rod that he acquired long before I was born. My grandfather passed away before I was old enough to really remember him. Although this is true, there is a certain connection that can be made, and a certain joy that can be found in knowing that I am casting the same rod that he too caught numerous fish on. Through this, it makes it possible to, although living in different times, share something with my grandfather.

For those fishermen out there who know what I am talking about, there are a few things that you should keep in mind whenever casting an antique rod. Firstly, for anyone who has ever disassembled an old bamboo rod, you have surely found that the metal couplings, that connect the different sections of rod, tend to stick, and seem to be nearly impossible to take apart. To combat this issue, it is best to lubricate the metal tags prior to assembly. This can be done using any synthetic lubricant, but must be done each time the rod is assembled. I have found that it is easiest simply to run the male end of the coupling through your hair, allowing the oils to lubricate the metal, or simply use a small amount of ear-wax. Either will suffice. Once the rod is assembled it is important to remember not to push the rods to their limits. If the rod has sentimental value to you, just remember that you can not go out and buy a new one. I recently broke the tip off of one of my grandfather’s rods. Although I did have a second tip piece of the rod, it was truly a reality check; ensuring that it would not happen again.

When disassembling a rod, it is best to not try to take it apart normally, but rather hold the rod with both hands behind your knees and use your legs to separate the rod. This will not only make it easier to remove the parts from each other, but it will also ensure that the rod is pulled straight apart, keeping it from twisting and torquing the bamboo rod.

There are also very important things to keep in mind when owning bamboo rods that should not be neglected, such as regularly oiling the rod to keep it from drying out, causing it to be more subject to cracking and breaking under pressure. Many outdoors stores sell such products and can offer further, specific instructions depending on the exact rod that you own.

Tags: Bamboo Rods, Fly Fishing, Maintenance

Over the course of the blog, I have discussed many tips and tricks to catching more, and larger, trout. Although this is very helpful, there is more to the experience of fishing than just fishing for, and catching trout.  Although the actual act of fishing is, in my opinion, the best part of fly-fishing, the reward of a trophy fish tends to make it that much more worth while, but for some people, the best part of fishing, is what you can do with the fish after they are caught.

There are many fishermen out there that practice a strict belief in “catch and release” fishing, but for many of us, this is far from an option. While there are hundred of ways to prepare trout, I have one particular recipe that I tend to always use when cooking my catch. I do not know if my love for this recipe is due simply to its delectable taste, or whether it is just because it is a recipe my dad taught me when I was little, but regardless of the purpose, the result tastes amazing.

When preparing a trout, one must first clean it completely. This is best done by first removing the head, but severing it from the body just behind the pectoral fin. When the head of the trout is removed, make a shallow cut from the fish’s ‘vent,’ or anal cavity, toward the front of the fish. Make the cut deep enough to just cut through the skin and muscle, but try to not cut any of the organs. When the fish is open, you can than use a knife to remove all the innards of the fish. It is important to also remove the air sack from the fish as well. When all is removed, there will most likely be small deposits of black residue along the spinal cord. This can very easily be removed with the tip of a fillet knife under running water. When this is done, simply rinse the fish off, and begin cooking preparations.

What I like to do when preparing my fish, is to first place a liberal amount of butter inside the clean body cavity. This will moisten the meat and will give it a great taste. (Remember, you can never have too much butter.) After sufficiently buttering the fish, I like to taste a spoonful of minced garlic and spread it evenly throughout the fish.  I then take lemon juice; lime does suffice, and squirt enough on the inside of the fish just to give it a little kick. When the fish is completely stuffed, wrap it in a couple layers of aluminum foil, and cook it over a flame until it seems to be done. It is important not to rush the cooking do to the fact that it is very easy to burn the fish skin even before the meat has begun to cook. There have been times that I have cooked the fish with cut potatoes inside the foil as well. Although I do no think the potatoes have a real affect of the taste of the fish, they do tend to make for another delectable treat.

Tags: Cooking, Fishing

For all you conservationists out there, you will be pleased to be informed that the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDW), in conjunction with private research groups has found a breed of trout that are seemingly immune to Whirling Disease.

Whirling Disease is a common, parasite induced, disease that typically affects salmonid fishes. Whirling Disease is the result of a microscopic parasite that attaches itself to the spinal cartilage of juvenile fish, causing them to swim in circles. Due to their limited motion, these fish typically die in a short period of time.

Due to Whirling Disease, the wild trout populations in the Midwest have seen significant lows; directly affecting the fishing industries along the rocky mountain areas.

Although this problem grew to extraordinary extents, the CDW has found a way to breed fish so they can become immune to Whirling. Research facilities have bred common hatchery trout, such as domestic rainbows and brook trout, with Hofer Rainbow Trout, found native to the streams of Germany.

The offspring of these trout showed dramatic improvement, and were reported to be clinically healthy. Hundred of these fish were recently released in to the wild, and are being tracked for future research to see how well these new trout adapt to the wild. Good news for the trout, and great news for Midwest fly fishermen.

Tags: Fly Fishing, Whirling Disease

Today was a great day of fishing. I and a number of other men and women hosted a fishing derby for inner-city children, and children with special needs. Although the day was fairly slow, and there was not a huge number of fish caught, the day was very productive in that it gave us the opportunity to spend time with these children and give them a small bit of hope in their sometimes very chaotic lives.

What made the day especially rewarding was getting to see the smiles on the kids faces when they caught a fish, regardless of the size. I spent the majority of my day tying knots, and hooking worms for hyper, inexperienced children, whom, even under the most ideal circumstances were able to produce more broken reels than fish.

Above and beyond the unmentionable words, broken equipment, lost lures and headaches from pre-pubertal voices constantly harassing you for help, there really is no greater joy then being able to pass on what you have learned to someone else, allowing them to share in the same passion that you love.

Tags: Derby, Fishing

Regardless of how much experience one might have fly fishing, there are those few problems that everyone faces at one time or another. One of the most common, and unfortunate predicaments that occur when fly fishing, is wind knots, or ‘birds nests’ as they are commonly referred to. 

These pesky entanglements can result from numerous occurrences, from dropping a line over itself, to having a gust of wind redirect the line into itself, causing it to become so tightly woven together that not even an eagle scout could untie it. What tends to make these knots so particularly irritating is that fact that tippet material, the transparent line on the end of the leader, is extraordinarily thin. Furthermore, this line has a layer of PVC coating that make the tipper very smooth, allowing the knots that it forms to become very tight, very quickly. When dealing with the problem of wind knots, there are two key things to keep in mind: never pull the line, and never ignore the problem.

I have witnessed numerous fishermen, who, when they receive a knot in there line, and the line has already hit the water, they try to ignore the knot, hoping that it will somehow untangle itself before the next cast. Although this is a common practice, it is completely useless, and will, almost always, result in an even larger mess that if the fisherman stopped what he was doing, and carefully untangled the line.

Secondly, many fishermen, when they finally do retrieve their line, with the intent of unknotting it, they typically go about it wrong. Most people, when they are given the task to remove a knot from their tippet, will immediately pull both ends of the line. Although there may be rare cases in which this may be productive, the majority of the time, it will only tighten the knots, and make them even harder to remove.  

Furthermore, many fishermen will fight with a knot, and then when it they think they have completely removed it, they will find that all that is left is a small overhand knot somewhere along the tippet. If you talk to them, a majority of fishermen will say that they would prefer to simply leave that small knot there, and not have to worry about it, than take the extra few minutes to fully restore their line back to its original condition. What is dangerous about this is that contrary to common belief, those small knots do make a huge difference when fishing. Not only do they cause minor disturbances to the line when casting, which may result in more knots, but they actually make the line visible in the water due to the fact that they disrupt the flow of water down the line, as well as making that small part of the line translucent. Overall, leaving those small knots in your tippet can drastically affect how productive your day of fishing will be.  

So, when faced with the difficult task of knot removal, there are a few simple steps to take that will save you a lot of headache, stress, and money. First, don’t avoid a knot. Always take the time to properly remove knots from your line, and never expect the knots to magically untangle themselves. Secondly, when untangling a knot, do not pull on the lines; instead, allowing the line to form large loops. This will make the problem more apparent, and will allow you to better deal with it. Thirdly, do not leave small knots on your line. As I stated above, no matter how small the knot may be, it can very drastically affect your fishing.

So remember, when you are dealing with a knot, save yourself all the stress and swearing, and work through the problem logically.

Tags: Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing, Knots, Tippet

When beginning to learn to flyfish, there are many problems that can arise due to the precision of the fly rod. Although this is true, there are simple tricks, that if known, can help save a lot of time, and remove stress from learning to cast.

After having worked with a number of people throughout my years on the stream, I have found one reoccurring problem that almost all beginners face; the ‘wave.’

This tends to occur when one attempts to cast the rod primarily using there wrist without any motion of the forearm. By doing this, they begin to over compensate by allowing their wrist to bend too far forward. This action will, more times than not, result in the line slapping the water in front of you.

To best help reduce this action, I have found that it is best to tie a bandana, or a hair tie, around the base of the road, and firmly wrap it around your wrist. This will cause the rod to simply become an extension of your arm, and will keep the rod, and your hand, from waving.

Tags: Fishing, Fly Casting