Over the coarse of the past few weeks Monte, the rural town where I am currently residing, has seen days of rainfalls, resulting in a drastic rise in the water level of the lagoon on which the small town lies.
As I have explained in past posts, there are a number of affects that rainfall has, especially in relation to the increase in available food.

In the US it is common for rain to flood many grubs and worms from there holes along the muddy banks of the water, making them an easy meal for hungry fish. Here in Argentine I have learned that this principle is very applicable. Along the banks of the lagoon there is a type of large worm that burrows in the muddy banks close to the waters edge. This “worm” seems to be more of  an eel, yet scaled, with no eyes; just a large mouth really. They range in length from very small to up to about 8 inches. The recent rain has raised the water level, and brought the worms out of their holes, making the lagoon once again sustainable for fish.

I met one fisherman in town who was fishing with his son. The night before they caught a number of these worms and were using them as bait, resulting in a beautiful catch of 17 impressive catfish. I have found that when fishing in such conditions, the best pattern to use is a velvet eel, or a large woolly bugger, both of which mimic a similar worm that is sure to bear results. When fishing in rivers in the northern US that are under the same conditions, it is perfered to stick with a woolly bugger, fishing it along the edge of the banks where tree-roots overhang the water. Along such areas trout will lay under the covering and feed of whatever finds its way into the water below.

• Fish For Fun For all of those fishermen out there that fish simply for the joy of fishing, and wish to simply have a good time, I have the perfect plan for you. When I was a young teen, and was just starting to learn to fly fish, a close friend of the......
• 'Fly day- Friday: The Usual After you have spent a while on the stream, you realize that every fisherman has his own favorite fly. Although I have a number of flies that I have deemed valuable to me because of their effectiveness, and even though I have a handful of flies that have sentimental value......
• Habitual Hibernation Well, the trip to the Cape was postponed a couple of weeks due to conflicting plans calling me to the mountain regions of Northern New Hampshire. Fortunately, prior to my leaving for this chilly climate, I was able to stumble across a wonderful topic to discuss, the hibernatory habits of......
• New Mexico: Seeing Past Dark Water I just recently returned from the lovely state of New Mexico where I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks on the Dine', or more commonly, the Navajo, Reservation. While there, I was able to travel to a number of different streams and rivers, in search of a native......
• Fly Day- Friday: Mickey Mouse For all of you fishermen that like to be a little different, and go against the grain of traditional fly fishing, the Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the fly for you. The Mickey Mouse isn’t actually a fly at all, and is generally categorized as a member of the terrestrial family.......

• 6 Ice Fishing Tips Ice fishing is a sport that you either love or hate, and it is generally dependant on how much you like cold weather. While the days of freezing over an open hole on the lake have been superceded by cozy little portable cabins, there is still an element to this......
• How To Make Your Own Rain Barrel Last week I wrote an article on ways to save money on your water bill. I received some great reader comments and I wanted to highlight one of them! From Sheila at http://enduremyworld.blogspot.com comes this info on making your own rain barrel: I also suggest rain barrels for you watering......
• Fishing Report: January 08, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut At Berkeley/Emeryville, sturgeon trips are ready to go now as long as enough people are ready. The sturgeon catch is still improving. San Pablo Bay is still giving anglers some sturgeon near China Camp but overall the fishing has been slow. The bass are scattered......
• Fishing Report: January 15, 2010 Striped Bass, Crab and Halibut At Rio Vista, you can find sturgeon from the Slough to Sherman Island. The water's not crystal clear but it's not quite muddy. No catch has been terribly good here for a few weeks aside from the occasional 20 to 30 pound striper being......
• Quick Green Reads For The Weekend Volume 110. The miracle of vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water comes to the rescue! Our shower drain had gotten clogged up yet again, and instead of heading to the store to buy toxic chemicals to clear it out, I unclogged it the natural way - dry baking soda, add some vinegar,......

Whenever a fish is caught, there is the unavoidable predicament as to whether it is better to keep, or release the fish. Above and beyond personal convictions and state regulations, there are other factors that come into play when making this decision.
There are many fly-fishermen that live by the “Catch, Release, Conserve” code, by which they make the choice to release all their catch. Although this is a noble plight, there are faults when the idea meets reality and one finds them-self with a battle wounded fish that, in all honesty, has no fighting chance. It is at this time where one must understand that their desire to not personally kill any fish, may, in fact, result in the waste of a fish.
To give a fish its best chance in returning to the water, there are a number of things that can be done to aid it, starting before you ever enter the water.

For those fishermen who wish to release their fish, it is wise to start by removing the barbs from the hooks, although it makes it more difficult to set the hook, and keep the fish on the line, de-barbing the hook will result in less injury to the fish, and will make removal quicker and less painful, limiting the time that fish is out of the water.

The next important thing to remember, which I have mentioned in the past, is to wet you hands in the river right before touching the fish. Fish have a slimy membrane that encompasses  their entire body. This protective layer however, can be easily broken down from the oils on ones hands, thereby making the fish vulnerable to a number of bacterias and parasites.

Although all these factors are important leading up to the release of the fish, the release itself is very important. When releasing a fish, you must first determine it is releasable by visually inspecting to make sure it is not vitally bleeding out of its gill plates. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure that all hooks are removed, especially those located in vital areas of the fish, primarily the gills or deep in the throat. The job is still not done.

When you have determined that the fish is healthy, and can be returned to the water, do not just throw it on in, like so many fishermen seem to do. Hold it, just before the tail, in the water, facing upstream, and allow a few moments for water to pass through its gills. This should be down in a place where, if the fish where to swim a small bit then die, it can easily be retrieved. Once the fish is revived and his regained its strength, it will free itself and return to the water. It is vital no to overlook this method, due to the importance of allowing the fish to regain the oxygen that it need to survive. Last and not least, never forget to remind it not to tell its friends!

• Casting a Broomstick? Today I was speaking with my father, the man most responsible for my passion for fly-fishing, and we were discussing the topic of what should be considered when introducing a new angler to fly-fishing. The most important thing that was decided was that when someone is introduced to fishing, gear......
• UFOs ARE Real The U.F.O., Unidentified Floating Object, goes by many names, but is a common fly to almost all fishermen in South America. The U.F.O. is just as it claims: ‘unidentified’. This fly is used as a general imitator; mimicking any large floating bug, such as a beetle, or large ant. The......
• When You Get Hit 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......
• New Mexico: Seeing Past Dark Water I just recently returned from the lovely state of New Mexico where I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks on the Dine', or more commonly, the Navajo, Reservation. While there, I was able to travel to a number of different streams and rivers, in search of a native......
• Fly Day- Friday: Felted Leech The felted leech is undoubtedly one of the most simplistic streamers commonly used by fly fishermen. The leech is a common critter to most bodies of water, and has been used by fishermen for many years as a productive means of catching fish. In countries like New Zealand, this felted......

• How to Fix a Washing Machine That Has No Water Entering It /caption]Washing machines can be great conveniences, much like dishwashers - we gain countless time because a machine is taking care of some household chores for us. Of course, there's no time that this convenience is more apparent then when the washing machine is broken. If you've come across a washing......
• How To Avoid The 3 Biggest Title Tag Mistakes With Search Engines Your title tag is the most important 3 to 12 words on your Web page. It accounts for up to 80% of your rankings on search engines.Here's why:Search Engines look for "searched for" words first in title tags.The title tag is one of the main places search engines look......
• Children Fishing Safety Tips /caption] Fishing with your children is a very relaxing and fun experience, but it could become a horrifying one if you’re not properly prepared for the worst. Being safe should be one of your prime concerns while out on a fishing boat, especially if you’re taking the trip with small......
• Fly Fishing In The State Of The Rockies Fly fishing is an old and precise angling method primarily developed specifically for salmon and trout catching, however extended to varieties of marine species such as bass, carp and pike. An artificial fly with a total resemblance of the real fly is constructed with feathers, furs and materials and tied......
• Fishing and Boating Lexicon Continued Carolina Rig Continued - In certain situations, such as the clear waters that are found in some reservoirs out in the west, or when the winter weather is making it a good idea to scale down in size, there is actually an alternative form of the rig that may work......

I just returned from fishing in South Argentina, casting for stream trout in the Andes, an adventure that I will be sure to write more about in the future.
While there, I met up with a man by the name of Ricardo, the director of relations between the hotel and the National Park Guard. Ricardo is an avid fly fisherman who taught himself to cast using gear that was given to him by a visiting missionary.
I spent four days fishing with Ricardo, and we caught dozens of beautiful trout, but what I want to speak about today is something that his son was struggling with when trying to cast his fathers fly rod.
His son had been practicing for a while, but couldn’t seem to sustain a cast due to a technique problem called ‘the chicken wing.’
The chicken wing is a result of someone trying to cast more line than they are ready, thereby overpowering the rod by using their entire arm and shoulder to make the cast. Although this may seem to be useful when distance casting, it is unnecessary when making a normal cast. If one utilizes their forearm properly they will actually increase their cast. To readily correct this problem, take a pillow and hold it against the side of your body with your elbow and continue casting. If the pillow falls, than your ‘chicken winging.’ When you are able to keep the pillow in place, and are only using your forearm, you are doing it correct. Good Luck, and watch for those wings.

• Fly Day- Friday: Dr. C The Damn-Real Caddis, or Dr. C, is not only a very physically attracting nymph, but it is also very effective. Caddis nymphs are one of the most interesting larvae due to their unique style of housing and source of camouflage. When I was six years old, my brothers and I......
• Friday- Fly Day: Montana Although the Montana, due to its name, may seem like the All-American nymph, it is actually quite the diplomatic fly, spreading its influence into northern countries such as New Zealand. The streamer, theoretically, was used primarily in the Montana state, and other western countries, until it was discovered, and brought......
• Fish Tale Today I chose simply to share with you a fishing tale from my past. Throughout my entire life, my family has owned a campground on the Natchaug River in Connecticut. The river is currently deemed a ‘trophy management stream,’ and has many great fishing holes. One summer day, when I......
• 'Fly day- Friday: The Usual After you have spent a while on the stream, you realize that every fisherman has his own favorite fly. Although I have a number of flies that I have deemed valuable to me because of their effectiveness, and even though I have a handful of flies that have sentimental value......
• Casting a Broomstick? Today I was speaking with my father, the man most responsible for my passion for fly-fishing, and we were discussing the topic of what should be considered when introducing a new angler to fly-fishing. The most important thing that was decided was that when someone is introduced to fishing, gear......

• Planning and Tackle The prime fishing season, at least for the Lake Tahoe area, begins on a typical year in late April and goes until Memorial Day, and then from just beyond Labor Day until the fall stream closure in around mid November. A few of the waters, such as the tributaries in......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• How To Choose A Fishing Rod And How To Make It Last No sportsman wins by sheer talent alone. No matter how talented a sportsman is, if his equipment is not good enough, his chances of winning will remain sli...
• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Fishery - This is a term that is used for lakes, rivers and streams where it is possible for people to come and catch fish, or to catch a specific type of fish, such as a trout fishery or a bass fishery. Fish hook - This is a barbless or......
• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Earthworm - In fishing, this is a common term that is used to refer to the wide variety of different fishing worms that can be used for baiting, including night crawlers, garden works, dillys, leaf worms and red wigglers. Edge - This describes the borders that are created by a......

Tags: Casting

Making Weight,” an expression that I heard constantly from my little brother during his high school wrestling career, has made its way into the fly fishing world.
For those fishermen that enjoy nymphing and ‘wet-fly’ fishing, many companies have developed a number of different sinking lines that allow wet flies to sink more rapidly, thereby assisting the fishing technique.
Despite the popularity of these lines, many fishermen prefer to take the inexpensive route, and simply use split-shots to weight their lines. Although this method is useful when fishing in turbulent waters, such as during steel head and salmon runs, split shots tent to be difficult to cast, and usually ruin eloquent presentation due to their entrance into the water.

The final method involves using needle-like, lead-substitute weights that are inserted into the hollow core of the floating line. Although there are a number of outfitters trying to develop this idea, it is currently not a plausible means due to a few major factors. Primarily, the insertion, and removal of these weights results in small holes in the line, that in turn, weaken the line, creates areas where the line will stretch, and eventually break under pressure.

Secondly, the use of these weights makes typical casting methods nearly impossible, as the weighted areas of the line will be carried farther than the rest of the line, resulting in horrific “birds-nests” and “wind-knots.”

IF the line is successfully cast, than the last problem with this method is quickly exposed. When the line hits the water, the weighted areas of the line will sink, while the unweighted areas will continue to try to float, causing the line to create a wave in the water, resembling a horizontal mend.

Although this method is not practical for general use, these is one style of fishing that it can prove useful for. Over the past few years, fishermen have developed a form of fly fishing call “float fishing.” Due to the large, loop casting, and the fact that the line is constantly taunt in the water, this method of line weighting, if developed properly, may prove very useful in the future.

All in all, the most practical, and effective methods are to simply use weighted flies, and a weighted line. Utilizing these methods, you will successfully drop your flies and be able to get the most out of your nymphing and wet fly fishing.

• Get To the Piont When fly fishing, there are many variables that can drastically affect the outcome and productivity of your day; unfortunately, most fishermen tend to pay close attention only to the major details, such as line, rod, and reel maintenance, however, it is also the little things that can become huge problems.......
• Friday- Fly Day: Montana Although the Montana, due to its name, may seem like the All-American nymph, it is actually quite the diplomatic fly, spreading its influence into northern countries such as New Zealand. The streamer, theoretically, was used primarily in the Montana state, and other western countries, until it was discovered, and brought......
• Fly Day- Friday: The Muddler Minnow For all you fishermen out there who dream of catching trophy trout, yet always come up short, wondering why it seems that the trout aren’t eating anything you are presenting to them, it is actually quite simple; it seems as though they are not eating, because, in fact, they might......
• Wild Eyed Wooly The Wild-Eyed Wooly (WEW) is a common fly amongst North American fly fishermen. Due to is versatility and productivity, it has earned its place as one of the best streamers to use when trout fishing in streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. The WEW can be used as an imitator of......
• Not Knots This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with a young man who wished to be introduced to fly fishing. Before beginning his first lesson, I set him up with a Pflueger rod and reel kit. The same set that my father bought me when I began fly fishing.......

• How To Create Great Tag lines - 2 Tag lines That "Work And Deliver"   I've seen two tag lines recently that really impress me: VAN EX - Every Time You Call Us...We Deliver Pro Staff - Talent That Works Why am I so impressed with these two tag lines? Because they both operate on more than one level. Let's do a little quick......
• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Fishery - This is a term that is used for lakes, rivers and streams where it is possible for people to come and catch fish, or to catch a specific type of fish, such as a trout fishery or a bass fishery. Fish hook - This is a barbless or......
• Water And Weight Loss:The Truth About Water Help To Loss Weight You need all the help you can get to shed all those extra pounds, right?  Have you heard about water help to loss weight? Some people believe it can, so let's take a look at this theory to see if it holds any merit. Weight loss is all about consuming......
• Fishermen Contest Ocean Reserves Plans There does not seem to be anything pacific about the oceans off of Southern California anymore. There is currently a battle being waged over how marine reserves are going to be established along the California coast. The competing interests from seaside companies, fishermen and environmentalists are muddying the waters. The......
• Selecting Fly Tackle Fly fishermen tend to use 5 or 6 weight fly rods that are between 8 and 9 feet in length. Lighter weight rods work well when it comes to smaller streams but they tend to lack the backbone necessary for dealing with afternoon winds on open rivers as well as......

This past Saturday I finally made time to head to the local fishing lake to cast my new 6 piece, hoping to hook into a nice one as well. What I forgot to take into account was that we are currently in the dry season, and the once deep, tidal waters, have now diminished to a shallow puddle. Despite the circumstances, I rolled my jeans up and waded into the murky water and began fishing. Three hours, and a horrible sunburn later, I gave up in search of some aid from the locals who had gathered to watch this mysterious method of fishing. What I learned I wish I had known before I entered the mud. Apparently, as the lake begins to lose water, the majority of the fish move out, and swim into the outlet of the lake, where they remain in a deep hole that has formed over the years.
Excited about the possibility of heading there to try my luck, I learned also that it is only permitted for young children to fish that area, leaving me back where I started.
As I was about to pack up, I ran into an older man who was carrying three large bottom-feeders; I was Interested. sure they weren’t cut-throats or Rainbows, but they were fish. The man informed me that while the other fish find their way into deeper water, the bottom feeders flourish. At this I tied on a large, olive woolly-bugger, and headed back to the mud-hole. After about only a half hour, I found it was lunchtime and began to pack up. Unfortunately, as I was retrieving my line, a large sucker took my line and snapped the bugger clean off at the tippet. Although he had the opportunity to live victorious for another week, I will be back out there tomorrow, armed with another bugger, and a bit stronger tippet.

• Down Came The Rain And... Over the coarse of the past few weeks Monte, the rural town where I am currently residing, has seen days of rainfalls, resulting in a drastic rise in the water level of the lagoon on which the small town lies. As I have explained in past posts, there are a......
• New Mexico: Seeing Past Dark Water I just recently returned from the lovely state of New Mexico where I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks on the Dine', or more commonly, the Navajo, Reservation. While there, I was able to travel to a number of different streams and rivers, in search of a native......
• 'Match the Hatch' I was down by the river today, and was looking to see what hatches would be coming off soon due to the warm spring weather. while there, I thought that it would be advantageous for me to share with you some simple methods of searching for nymphs, and seeing what......
• Fish For Fun For all of those fishermen out there that fish simply for the joy of fishing, and wish to simply have a good time, I have the perfect plan for you. When I was a young teen, and was just starting to learn to fly fish, a close friend of the......
• Dodging Duckweed 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......

• Boating and Fishing Glossary Continued Apache Trout - Native to the White Mountains area located in the east of central Arizona, this is one of the two species of trout native to the state. It is a yellow-gold color on the body that has sparse spots that may go beneath the lateral line and bold,......
• Henness Pass Fishing Paved access to this pass' fishing leaves the Highway 89 just fifteen minutes north of where Truckee is. It will run down along the Little Truckee River until it reaches the end of the pavement which is at the Jackson Meadows Reservoir Dam. Here you will find dirt roads that......
• Layaway Plans Begin to Reemerge as Credit Crisis Tightens Grip. It would appear that an old custom which predated the days of quick and easy credit has began a revival of sorts.  Albeit a small one. Kmart has officially reinstated their layaway plan specifically for the Christmas Holiday Season. If you're too young to remember, a layaway plan is......
• Choosing California Fishing Lakes In every area of the state of California, you will find an abundant supply of lakes rife with fish that are waiting to be caught. All told, California has more than 3000 different lakes, reservoirs, streams and other excellent bodies of water that are available to the avid angler who......
• Fishing Trips This Weekend I went fishing on both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend.  In both cases I was fishing between Oyster Point and the San Mateo Bridge. On Saturday I used freeze dried bait from Big 5 without success. On Sunday I used frozen and live bait and caught several soupfin sharks.......

Tags: Argentina, Flyfishing

I was recently asked my opinion bout looped leader. As opposed to a regular leaders, that are attached to the float line directly, using a blood-knot, a small, looped tag line is fastened to the float that the leader, also having a looped end, is woven through.
There are a few advantages to a looped, such as the ease in which the leaders can be changed out. When changing out regular leaders, due to a hard knot or a high break, it is necessary to cut the old leader of, and retie a knew one, thereby waisted a few inches of float line each time. With a looped leader, one can simply remove the old, and rethread the new.
While this is very handy, the visibility and drag of a loop is much higher than a small blood-knot. Due to those factors, I typically will only use a looped leader when fishing saltwater, or steel heads in rapid water, where visibility and drag are not so problematic, and for such situations, I find them very useful, however I would not recommend them for lighter trout fishing where it is preferable to to keep your line very streamline and clear. All that said, I highly recommend them for heavy fishing, but have yet to find a plus to using them for stream fishing.

• Not Knots This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with a young man who wished to be introduced to fly fishing. Before beginning his first lesson, I set him up with a Pflueger rod and reel kit. The same set that my father bought me when I began fly fishing.......
• Don't Find Yourself Fishing For Excuses The season is here, and in all the hustle, it is very important to not overlook any laws. Being a responsible fisherman means having a good sense of responsibility; even when noone is necessarily watching. The first most important thing which noone should ever attempt to dodge, is registering for......
• 'Dead-Fly' Done 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......
• 'Fly Day- Friday: The Soft-Tail Crayfish Each November, I look forward to heading up north to do some fishing during the steelhead and salmon runs. One specific trip is permanently inscribed in my mind as one of the greatest eye-openers in my career of fly fishing. After a sleepless night spent in a makeshift ‘motel,’ that......
• Tying the Knot This past week, a friend of the family bought a number of fly rods for their family members. As a result, I spent a couple hours assembling reels. While doing this, I remembered something important that I wanted to share with you all. When attaching the floating line to the......

• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Dissolved Oxygen - This is the amount of usable or free oxygen present in the water. Dissolved oxygen is typically measured in terms of parts per million or ppm. Dobsonfly - This is a type of large aquatic insect, and its larva is popular for use as hellgrammite bait. Doll......
• Las Vegas Writes: Restless City Las Vegas Writes is a collaborative serial novel project sponsored by the Vegas Valley Book Festival. Seven local writers have been selected to participate. They are H. Lee Barnes, John Irsfeld, Brian Rouff, Leah Bailly, John L. Smith, Constance Ford and Vu Tran. Each is writing one chapter. The chapters......
• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Earthworm - In fishing, this is a common term that is used to refer to the wide variety of different fishing worms that can be used for baiting, including night crawlers, garden works, dillys, leaf worms and red wigglers. Edge - This describes the borders that are created by a......
• Boating and Fishing Glossary Continued Apache Trout - Native to the White Mountains area located in the east of central Arizona, this is one of the two species of trout native to the state. It is a yellow-gold color on the body that has sparse spots that may go beneath the lateral line and bold,......
• More Fishing and Boating Lexicon Free Spool - This is a reel allowing for fishing line to be fed through freely to the current or the fish, or it describes the method used to feed line without any resistance or drag to the fish or to the current. Fresh water - This is a term......

Tags: Lines, Loops

Hey Ya all! I’m back in the wonderful country of Argentina once again, and, once again my travels have revealed one more aspect of fly fishing that I cannot believe I have not yet mentioned : Flying Fishermen.

I recently received a March Brown travel rod from my father for Christmas, an investment that I highly recommend for any avid fisherman due to the endless opportunities that the world has to offer.

When buying a travel rod, the smallest is not always the best. My March Brown is a 5 piece, and I love the action it has to offer, but what you need to remember that at every point where the rod breaks, the rod is reinforced, and at those areas, you lose a small amount of power when casting. There many articles out there that can more easily explain what I am talking about, but it is important to take that into account when purchasing such a rod.

What can get interesting though, is that companies will sacrifice this reinforcement in order to offer better action. This fine line is left for the buying to decide based on the targeted fish. One piece of advise I can offer after talking to a number of other fishermen is this, try to buy a rod that is a weight heavier than you would desire. It will offer more security for those unexpected trophies, and you can always remove the butt and just cast the top if you so desire.

Furthermore, spend the extra money to buy nice case. Never go cheap when it comes to protecting your gear, especially when traveling. The extra couple dollars for a good hard case can save you hundreds in damages.

• Stream Etiquette As we are approaching fishing season, there are certain etiquettes that should be discussed. One of the most important rules of fly fishing is that a fisherman should never, under any circumstances, 'cull.' Culling is the very inconsiderate practice of keeping a trout in a creel, and then, after catching......
• Wave Goodbye 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......
• Never Too 'Late' For the typical, New England, clear water fly fishermen, trout season tends to stretch primarily from opening day, the third Saturday in April, to about late may, into early July, when the temperature begins to rise, and the water levels begin to drop. Although this sad state of affairs has......
• Like Passing a Camel Through a Needle This past weekend I spent time working with a gentlemen who wished to learn to cast a fly-rod. Before we even began casting, I noticed something that I thought appropriate to address. When threading a fly line through a rod, we have all faced the frustration of accidently dropping the......
• Casting a Broomstick? Today I was speaking with my father, the man most responsible for my passion for fly-fishing, and we were discussing the topic of what should be considered when introducing a new angler to fly-fishing. The most important thing that was decided was that when someone is introduced to fishing, gear......

• Review: Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die by Chris Santella Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die is a unique book that offers 50 short takes on the ultimate destinations for fly fishing. Taking after volumes like "1000 places to see before you die" and "100 things to do before you die", Santella gives the most vital information on......
• NEW OEM HTC T-MOBILE GOOGLE G1 BATTERY DOOR B r a n d Product Description Flight delays, power outages, longer-than-expected trips. You can't always recharge your HTC device when you'd like to. But with an extra HTC battery on hand, you can always talk, type, and work as long as you need to. Keep it in your......
• Building Small Boats - A Satisfying Pastime If you just get pleasure from the great out-of-doors, especially water or if you are retired building boats can be a exceptionally gratifying pastime. First things first, if you have had thoughts about buying any type of boat, even a small one, possibly you already know that it can......
• The Best Time to Buy Almost Everything This post is from GRS staff writer April Dykman. My mom has a sixth sense when it comes to bargain hunting. Where I’m thrilled to get 25 percent off and free shipping, she’s finding deals of 70 percent off and getting inside scoop from the salespeople, who probably have her......
• Fishing the Big One in Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe offers plenty of exceptional scenery making it worth the fishing trip price just to see the dawn as it tints the Sierras in lovely gold. Fishing is not very productive here since the lake tends to be too pure and clear for supporting a large population worth of......

Throughout the history of the website I have mentioned a number of wonderful patterns that have served countless fishermen well.

We all know the joy of catching a nice trout on a new patterned, but what is unfathomably more enjoyable is catching trout on a pattern that you tied personally; a desire that most fly fishermen have, but few end up ever pursuing the art, usually because they do not know where to begin, faced most commonly with the question, “Where do I get the material.”
Buying the tools to begin tying is as simply as a trip to your local sports outfitter, however, acquiring the actually materials can be quite a challenge if you do not know where to look.

This time of year, as well as during other hunting seasons, the availability of materials increases greatly. Around the country there are thousands of gaming clubs, at which, hunters gather to register their trophies. Furthermore, there are many times throughout the year that these clubs engage in large bird roasts, and other such activities, resulting in large amounts of unused feathers and furs, that can readily be obtained.

Furthermore, there is another resource that I have found to be very useful when I am in need of material: the DEP. Over the past few years I have made friends with a member of the Maine DEP. Thanks to this contact, I have had access to a number of materials not readily available to me here in Connecticut. Therefore I highly recommend that you make friends with your local game clubs and DEP.

More than just natural materials alone, there are many other materials that can be found in a number of other places, such as your local arts and crafts store, filled with different yarns and colored feathers. I have found that some of the most useful materials I have in my arsenal are not ordered from magazines, or found attatched to an animal, but rather have been found strolling the aisles of ‘Crafts R Us.’

• Way Down South I'm currently located in the beautiful South American country of Argentina. After having been here for about two weeks, I have finally been able to access a 'reliable' internet source. In the short time of being here, I have been able learn much from the natives here about the local......
• The Ultimate Fishing Challenge The season has begun, and certainly on a good note for many of the fishermen around the country. I spent opening day this year on the Natchaug River in northeastern Connecticut. Although I did not get the opportunity to do much fishing, I did have the pleasure of sharing the......
• Friday- Fly Day: Montana Although the Montana, due to its name, may seem like the All-American nymph, it is actually quite the diplomatic fly, spreading its influence into northern countries such as New Zealand. The streamer, theoretically, was used primarily in the Montana state, and other western countries, until it was discovered, and brought......
• 'Fly Day- Friday: The Soft-Tail Crayfish Each November, I look forward to heading up north to do some fishing during the steelhead and salmon runs. One specific trip is permanently inscribed in my mind as one of the greatest eye-openers in my career of fly fishing. After a sleepless night spent in a makeshift ‘motel,’ that......
• Down Came The Rain And... Over the coarse of the past few weeks Monte, the rural town where I am currently residing, has seen days of rainfalls, resulting in a drastic rise in the water level of the lagoon on which the small town lies. As I have explained in past posts, there are a......

• Introduction To Peer-To-Peer Lending: Signing Up To Use Lending Club If you're thinking of signing up for a Lending Club account, please check out the referral code and affiliate link at the bottom to get a $25 cash bonus if you sign up using our referral link! Peer to peer lending has been a hot topic on personal finance blogs......
• Left Handed Golf Tips Even left handed golfers often find themselves in need of some assistance with improving their game. Here are some quick and basic tips that will help you get your golf game on track and will allow you to significantly lower your scores in the process. One of the biggest mistakes......
• What signs can I look for to find out if my husband is gay. He does not like sex & I know he is not cheating? My husband does not like sex. I know he does not cheat because we work together and we are always together. He is an only child and I fear that he will not come out of the closet. We have been married for 5 years+ and no children yet- because......
• Budget Buster: Home Gym or Health Club? While my wife and I always seem to talk about it, we are now starting to take action on living a healthier lifestyle. After hibernating during the cold months of winter and having our age catching up to us, it is time to be active again. We have been discussing......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......

This past week, a friend of the family bought a number of fly rods for their family members. As a result, I spent a couple hours assembling reels. While doing this, I remembered something important that I wanted to share with you all.
When attaching the floating line to the backing, it is important to use a nail knot. Although this knot is popularly assembled but use of, well yes, a nail, I have, over time found an easier way.

By using a small section of an inkwell of a standard office pen, the line, that is usually passed parrallel to the nail, can be easily passed through the plastic tube, resulting in the same knot.

Furthermore, when this knot is completed, I like to secure it using a dot of nail polish, both securing and waterproof, it locks the knot from fraying, and thereby loosening.

• UFOs ARE Real The U.F.O., Unidentified Floating Object, goes by many names, but is a common fly to almost all fishermen in South America. The U.F.O. is just as it claims: ‘unidentified’. This fly is used as a general imitator; mimicking any large floating bug, such as a beetle, or large ant. The......
• Fly Day- Friday: Mickey Mouse For all of you fishermen that like to be a little different, and go against the grain of traditional fly fishing, the Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the fly for you. The Mickey Mouse isn’t actually a fly at all, and is generally categorized as a member of the terrestrial family.......
• Where To Draw The Line... Yesterday I was speaking to a man who has just began to fly-fish, and he asked me an interesting question that seems to typically be overlooked, “how often should I change my fly line?” This question has a number of answers that can all be considered correct. Firstly, the leader......
• Keeping Your Feet Dry Yesterday I was abruptly reminded of a very real problem that many fishermen face this time of year. I was unpacking some fishing gear with a friend. When we examined his waders, we found a number of holes in the legs, as well as dry-rot cracks were they had been......
• Get To the Piont When fly fishing, there are many variables that can drastically affect the outcome and productivity of your day; unfortunately, most fishermen tend to pay close attention only to the major details, such as line, rod, and reel maintenance, however, it is also the little things that can become huge problems.......

• Money Saving Monday: Air Travel I set out to write a post about how to get the best deal on air travel. My list consisted of the following: Book travel as far in advance as possible. Use an air travel aggregator site. Get an airline "miles" credit card. Look for airlines that feature child......
• The PBX Evolution The term PBX refers to a Private Branch Exchange. A PBX is sometimes called a telephone switch, business telephone system or phone switching device. The term PBX is synonymous with Electronic Private Automated Branch Exchange (EPABX) and Private Automated Branch Exchange (PABX). It is similar to a central office exchange......
• Win a "Front-of-the-line" pass to Manta at SeaWorld Orlando Contest! SeaWorld in Orlando is set to open their newest aquatic themed ride in May: The Manta Coaster! In the spirit of festive market buzz, they're offering a chance to win a free pass to go to the "Front-of-the-line"! That's the grand prize, but there are other prizes: Prizes (5,000 each):......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
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Tags: Knots, Lines

Hey everyone! I have just recently entered back into the US after having spent a few weeks in El Salvador, and boy is it cold here, ecspecially when out on the water. As I have discussed in the past, there are a number of dangers that fishermen face during the winter months of the season.

One major challenge that we all face is staying warm. There are people who have the idea that it is easier to get warm than cool off, due to the fact that you can always put more clothes on, but can only take so much off. Although this is partially true, there is one important factor to remember: sweat.

Many fisherman forget to factor in sweat when they prepare for the winter outdoors. Although layering clothes will result in immidiate warmth, if you become so warm that you begin to sweat, than you run the risk of hypothermia in the same way as if your clothes are dampened by river water or rain.  hypothermia results when your body temperature drops rapidly, the problem results when outside air begins to cool the water against your skin, in this case, sweat. due to the fact that temperature can be transfered through water faster than air, the sweat causing a miore rapid exchange of temperature, resultting in a faster drop in body temperature.

There are many clothing products that can cut down on this tempurature transfer, that will absorb your sweat and allow your body to maintain proper temperature. all in all, it is important to remain warm, but be careful to not become so warm that in becomes a danger. furthmore, look around, and invest in sweat-absorbant undershirts.

• Not Knots This past weekend I had the opportunity to work with a young man who wished to be introduced to fly fishing. Before beginning his first lesson, I set him up with a Pflueger rod and reel kit. The same set that my father bought me when I began fly fishing.......
• The Argentine Way The past weekend I had the opportunity to tour Rio de Plata, the largest river in the world. While there I had the opportunity to meet a number of men fishing along the dikes that ran along the waters edge. After speaking with there fishermen, I found that the general......
• Never Too 'Late' For the typical, New England, clear water fly fishermen, trout season tends to stretch primarily from opening day, the third Saturday in April, to about late may, into early July, when the temperature begins to rise, and the water levels begin to drop. Although this sad state of affairs has......
• Fly Day- Friday: Mickey Mouse For all of you fishermen that like to be a little different, and go against the grain of traditional fly fishing, the Mickey Mouse is undoubtedly the fly for you. The Mickey Mouse isn’t actually a fly at all, and is generally categorized as a member of the terrestrial family.......
• Dropping a Line I was at Harkness Beach State Park for a social outing yesterday evening. While there, I walked down to the shore to speak with a number of fly fishermen that were gathering toward the evening. While discussing the different fish runs, and accepted patterns, I noticed that the majority of......

• Shirley J Recipe: Empanadas This bread is so easy and such an excellent way to quickly make up a quick loaf of bread or to use for rolls!...
• Tricks to Finding the Best Prices on Mattress Sets Mattress sets refer to both the mattress and the box springs or support. When choosing a mattress set, consider what features are offered and what the costs will be. Once those things have been determined, an informed decision can be made. There are four main types of mattress sets available......
• The Winter Outdoorsman's Guide to Hypothermia /caption]The following is a guest post by Ski Snowboarder. He often writes about skiing safety, skiing gear (including a winter sports store), skiing tips and snowboarding tips. If you like what you read, I suggest you subscribe to his RSS Feed. All of you ice-fishers, skiers, and snow-mobilers out there,......
• Facing the Elements on the Run [caption id="attachment_125" align="alignleft" width="159" caption="Wear layers in winter!"][/caption]If you're an inexperienced runner who doesn't have a lot of first-hand knowledge about running in the elements, this article is for you. Many of you came here looking for a way to escape the treadmill, and the hamster-like feeling it can bring......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......