Axioms of Fly Tying and Hatch Matching

What the heck is an "axiom". Well Websters Dictionary states an "axiom" is "a fundamental principal widely accepted on its intrinsic merit".

I dug into my library and picked out a book, "Handbook of Hatches, second edition", I have the first edition by the way. It was written by, Dave Hughes, someone that has written many books on the art of fly fishing. I've got a bunch of them. I was inspired to dig into my library and refresh my perspective on "matching the hatch". It helped to meet Hogan Brown and watching him give his presentation on matching bugs and selecting and tying the correct fly patterns to match them at our local fly fishing club.

On the first page of the "Handbook of Hatches", after a short introduction Dave lists "Axioms" that outline his premises of the book. I'll share these axioms with you and hopefully inspire you to locate a copy of this book.

These Axioms give a different perspective on how to go about designing fly patterns to match the hatches anywhere that you fish, west coast, Rocky Mountains, east coast or even other countries.

Major Axioms

Axiom #1 - Within each of the three major orders of fly fishing insects, caddis, mayflies, and stoneflies, adults of all species have the same shape.

Axiom #2 - Within each important order of aquatic insects, all species can be matched with size and color variations of the same pattern style.

Axiom #3 - Endless study of someone else's work will never tell you what insect hatches are important on your own home waters

These three axioms are examples of some of the basis of his "Fish don't read Latin" approach to designing and tying fly patterns to match the hatches all over the world. His approach demystifies the process of fly selection and will allow you to approach your local waters with confidence and with success.

(1) Learn to identify the three main insect types

(2) Take stream samples to see what bugs live in your home waters

(3) Take notes and samples and take that knowledge back to your fly tying desk.

(4) Pick out a bug out of the water, place it in a small white dish, place your fly selection in the dish next to it and verify it's the correct size, shape and color.

Your rod will be throbbing a little later if you've matched it right.

Minor Axioms

Minor Axiom #1 - Choose your pattern style based in part on the type of water on or in which the pattern will be fished.

Minor Axiom #2 - See the whole day. On any extended fishing trip be on the water from daylight until dark, watching the water, on the first or second day of any trip. After that you'll know the best times to be on the water and the safe times to take your leisure.

Minor Axiom #3 - On stillwaters or small moving water an important rule is to suspect midge pupae whenever trout are rising but you can't see what they're taking.

Minor Axiom #4 - Anything you can learn about trout will increase your ability to catch them, whether the information is applied immediately in the form of an imitation tied to your tippet at once, or becomes a part of your body of knowledge about trout and the world in which they live and is applied over time.

These Axioms are tied to chapters in the book and has many common sensible examples of putting them to use. I again would strongly recommend picking up this book and it may change you perspective on fly design and matching the hatches on your home waters. I guarantee it!

The Lower Yuba River in Fall

I created the Fly Fishing Traditions Blog in November of 2009. It's been quite a journey. I've been keeping a journal of my fly fishing adventures for over 4 years. Needless to say there's quite a bit of information packed between those pages. With that said, keeping a fishing journal is the best thing I ever did. I can't tell you how much you can improve your fishing by starting your own journal. Start one the next time you get out there. As they say "Just Do It".

One of the reasons I started the journal was to keep track of how the Northern California rivers I fished progressed through the seasons. What flies worked, what bugs were happening, what techniques and rigging were utilized. What went on with my fishing buddies, my family and especially my son Zack. Notes, photos, video they tell a story about fly fishing and my life.

I'll start here with my other goal which was to share my experiences of fishing through the four seasons on the Lower Yuba. As for people that have spent much time fishing it, the Yuba can be challenging, fickle to down right humbling. My journal has documented these sentiments over the years with some discoveries along the way. I'll start with the Fall season and eventually work my way through the summer. Hopefully the stories will help you gear up for the change of the upcoming seasons.


Fall on the Lower Yuba River


When fall rolls around on the Lower Yuba River, which I will arbitrarily designate as September 1st when the river is closed to fishing above the Parks Bar Bridge, it's a time of reduced flows, salmon and fewer hatches. The river flows have been reduced to the level of about 900 cfs which is mandated by the powers that be to protect the spawning habitat of the chinook salmon. The resident rainbow trout are starting to feel the change of the seasons and their instinct is to eat and get ready for the winter. In the fall this means the egg bite and other large bites will be prime. The rigging for the fall is built around presenting egg patterns. This doesn't mean that the bugs will take a back seat. It just means keep an egg on.


The Egg Bite

In 2009, the salmon were in the system in early September and the egg bite was on from the beginning. This year as of the second week of September the salmon have shown up in small numbers, a few here and there below the bridge, and there are no noticeable redds. This is sort of how it goes, the salmon move into the season once the first big storm comes in and a flush of water goes through the system.

You need to have a good supply of eggs to be ready for this event. My egg pattern of choice is the "Pettis Egg" or the "Unreal Egg" which are basically the same pattern. I carry the "Pettis Eggs" in 4 colors for the Yuba. I also carry a box of "Trout Beads" in two sizes and a variety of colors. I keep them in a separate box, an Ovris M4 compartment box, with beads, toothpicks and egg hooks. The trick is to paint the beads with fingernail polish before you head out as they will take on a more realistic look. I typically rigg up with an egg at the point and then trail 2 nymphs behind the egg. about 12 to 16 inches apart. I'll talk about the nymphs a little later.

One bit of advise is to hit the river early and late for the egg bite and fishing behind spawning salmon. The egg bite changes to more of a bug bite once the sun hits the water in mid morning and through the mid day.

Flies in My Box

Pettis Egg

Unreal Egg

Troutbeads

Fox's Fertilizer

The Lower Yuba River Bugs of Fall

The Lower Yuba River supports a lot of bugs, so there are a lot of nymphs for the fish to choose from. There can be afternoon caddis hatches and BWO's coming off on overcast and drizzly days. There is also the Isonychia mayfly that comes into play typically in September.

As far as patterns, I carry a lot of patterns, way too many. I am going to mostly recommend using Hogan Brown's patterns as he is our local boy wonder and I am partial to that. On top of that his patterns work. As for most patterns, almost any pattern will work if you take the time to check that the profiles is correct, the size is right, and the color is reasonably close. This holds to be true whether you tie your own flies or purchase them, Do your streamside sampling and you will be headed in the right direction, before you spend the time or money.

Isonychia Mayfly

Starting in September it is a good idea to pick up some "Hogan's Isonychia nymphs". This hatch starts in early to mid September and peaks at the end of September. They are large nymphs and are a meal for the resident trout. The Nymphs are a blackish/purple color with a long slender swimmer nymph profile and the adult is a dark purplish/gray. When the fish are keyed in on the hatch they will eat the nymph all day and hit the adults when presented. Leading up to and during the hatch fish will key on swung adults in the riffles and runs.

Fish this pattern under an indicator with plenty of split shot and then if you see shucks from the nymphs on the shoreline and anticipate the hatch has been coming off, swing this bug through runs and tail outs prior to the hatch starting. Once a hatch starts, fish a parachute adams to match the size of the adult.


For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight or sometimes I'll string up my 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod. I can use the switch rod for fishing under indicator, tight line nymphing, or swinging flies using spey casting techniques. If you haven't tried casting a switch rod, put it on your list.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.

Flies I'd Put in My Box

Hogan's Isonychia Nymph - See Photo at Right

Parachute Adams #10


Caddis

There can be afternoon caddis hatches on the Lower Yuba up until the weather turns colder and we move into the Winter Season. The caddis nymphs are around. Turn over some rocks take some samples and match size and color. Same thing with adults. You can catch a hatch progressing in the afternoons and the trout may look towards an E/C caddis type fly or you may have some fun swimming soft hackles in the runs below the riffles or in the tailouts. Swinging soft hackles is one on my favorites things to do and finding the opportunity to do it in the fall is special.

For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.


Flies I'd Put in My Box


Hogan's "Yuba Pupa " Olive - See Photo at Right

Hogan's Chubby Cousin –Peacock

Hogan's Good & Plenty Nymph

Hogan's The Drifter

Hogan's Spring Fling Pupa

Hogan's Yuba Pupa – Dark Olive

Hogan's Last Call Caddis – Olive
Hogan's Yuba Emerger – Tan - See Photo at Right

E/C Caddis

Fox Pupa - Olive, Dark Olive, Cinnamon

Soft Hackles


Mayflies

The fall can turn to a small bug mayfly bite, similar to the Lower Sacramento River where you need small micro mayflies to be effective. The mayfly nymphs are important all year, but the micro-mays really come into play during the fall. Most people just don't go small enough. We're talking 18's and 20's. It becomes a dead drift game. Your favorite indicators, fine tippets shot and fished deep in the slots when necessary.

Developing a tight line deep nymphing technique and rigg can really pay off in the fall. With the river being down to 900 cfs. Fish can hang out in the deep holes and slots for protection, sanctuary and for feeding on bugs, eggs and streamers down deep. Getting your presentation down there is the key. Tight lining with lots of shot is the way to go to access these fish.

When the BWO's are out you can have the opportunity to rigg up a dry rod and cast to rising fish in the flats and back eddies. Fishing cripples in the scum line in the eddies can yield fish on top. If you're in a boat, keep a dry rod strung up and ready to go.

For nymphing, I'll typically use my 9'6 Sage XP or Z-Axis, 6 weight or sometimes I'll string up my 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod.

For dries, I'll have my 9'0" Sage XP, 5 weight ready to go.

Flies I'd Put in My Box


Hogan's Tungsten Bead Exploding Baetis

Hogan's Better Baetis

Hogan's Military May - See Photo at Right

Hogan's S&M Nymph

Hogan's Steelie May

Hogan's SIM’s Mayfly Emerger

Hogan's The Sipper – BWO, PMD

Mighty Mites

Gidget


Stoneflies

There are Skawla, Golden and a few Yellow Sally stoneflies in the Lower Yuba River. They can get knocked loose and be in the drift below riffles all year long. A large rubber leg stone pattern can be utilized as a big meal ticket in the fall. I sometimes rigg with a Rubber Legs Stone, an Egg pattern and then trail another nymph of choice. They may not take the stone but I believe that it gets them looking. I fish the rigg with a 9'6" Sage XP or Z-axis, 6 weight.

Flies I'd Put in My Box

Hogan's Rock & Roller – Brown

Hogan'sYuba Rubber Leg Stonefly Nymph - See Photo at Right

Hogan's Chubby Cousin- Golden

Hogan's Good & Plenty Nymph – Brown

Hogan's Rock & Roller – Golden

Hogan's Two Tone Stone

Mercers Poxy Back Stone

Superfloss Rubber Legs

The others - Attractors, Streamers

In the fall some people do nothing but swing flies, olive colored streamers and soft hackles. They target the river for swinging flies and fish the tailouts and runs with the correct current speed to swing their flies at just the right speed. This of course is somewhat of an art form and you've just got to get out there and start trying. This is where a switch rod can really pay off. As I've mentioned before I use a 11'6" Sage Z-Axis Switch Rod which I think is matched perfectly to the Lower Yuba. You can accomplish much of the same thing with a 7 weight. Take a lesson and find out what spey and switch casting is all about. It's fun. When you hook up a Yuba half-pounder on the swing its something you won't forget, even if it leaves you with a limp line instead of a fish in the net.

And lastly, of course there's the attractors that we all carry in our boxes and as long as they match, profile, size and reasonable color they'll work.


Hogan's Red Headed Step Child - See photo at Right

Copper John's

Pheasant Tails

Flashback Pheasant Tails

Birds Nest

Skips Nymph

Hares Ears

San Juan Worm


In Summary, remember, and these points are true for all 4 seasons of the year.

(1) Match the profile of the bug you're imitating. Use a real bug to do so. Do your stream sampling.

(2) Match the size of the bug your imitating. Put the big you've caught in your fly box and compare sizes.

(3) Match the color as close as you can.

Trout Don't Read Latin!

And most of all have some fun out there!!!

Clay
The information about the Isonychia Hatch is from www.hgbflyfishing.blogspot.com

Summer Day on the Lower Yuba

I've been fishing the Lower Yuba River in the evenings for the last week or so and decided to try floating the river from above Parks bar Bridge down to the Marysville Gun Club. Frank Rinella and my son Zack came along. Frank stated that the flows were about 3200 cfs. We set up our shuttle and got on the river about 11:00. The temperature seemed to be in the low 80's.

We were floating the river in my Fishcraft cataraft as I was taking it on a test run for our trip to Montana next week. The front and the rear of the raft arch up so that when rowing it rows more like a cat and is more responsive than most rafts. It has plywood floors and is a very stable and quit platform. With that said it is 3 times as hard to row physically that my drift boat. My arms are feeling it today. It's a great boat for more than 3 people and when rowing unfamiliar waters. It's pretty bomber.

The first thing I noticed was that the river was clearer than it's been in awhile, I'm talking spring creek clear. With a bright day this usually means stealth is of the utmost importance. In most of the runs there is a dark line running along each bank and the center portions of the river have been washes clean from the high flows. In some stretches in is literally like black and white. The high flows have scrubbed the river clean. Does this affect the bug life? I'm thinking that it does. To what extent I don't know. We didn't see a bug on the water until late in the afternoon and then there where only a few. I expected a PMD hatch late morning but not a bug to be seen.

The fishing was real slow with a few hookups from morning until about 3:00. We ran into Keith Scott at about 2:00 with two of his fishing buddies and they had picked up two fish to that time. At about 3:00 the sky became a little overcast and the fishing immediately picked up. To me this is an indication of how tough the Yuba can get mid-day in bright sun. We ran into Keith at the take out and he had picked up a really nice rainbow during this period on a dry. This fish would have been a fish of a lifetime for most anglers. Good job Keith!

We did manage a few fish to the boat along with a number of LDR's.





We were contemplating sticking around for the evening hatch but were just too tuckered out from a long day in the sun.

Zack jumped in the river many times during the day and kept cool. I wish I had that kind of gumption.







All in all a fun day on the Yuba, where the number of fish to the boat is kept in perspective. It's all about the joy of spending time with friends and family.

Bug Collecting

As we all know fish can sometimes feed very selectively. There are some days when the fish “Lock Into” certain bugs. Our job as anglers is to figure out what they’re eating.

Most successful anglers are also very observant and can determine what stage of the bug the fish are taking. Once they determine the stage, a fly is chosen to match that particular stage of the hatch. The more you know about what fish feed on, the better you can match the hatch. The better you can match the hatch, the more fish you will catch in many circumstances.

This where being observant and being an active collector of bugs comes into play. It pays to know what kind of bugs are available in each of your fishing areas, runs, riffles, and tailouts. One of the best angling tools that you can add to your arsenal is a “kick screen”. It can be made easily by taking a square of window screen with a wooden dowel attached to the edges of each end.


It will pay big dividends if you sample the river each and every time you head to the river. The bottom ends of the sticks are jammed into the river bed with the screen strung between them perpendicular to the current of the river. You just position yourself upstream from the screen and shuffle your feet to loosen up rocks to get the bugs to lose their grip and flow downstream into the screen. Anything that is dislodged from the bottom is washed into the screen and held there by the water current. Carefully raise the screen to the surface, being careful that the trapped insects stay on the screen. Bring along something like a white plastic lid or Frisbee and pick out the bugs from the net and place them in the lid with a little water to see what’s going on in the insect world.


Once you have the bugs swimming around in the lid, pull out your fly boxes and find the flies than match the correct size, and color. The first thing that you will probably find out is that you have been regularly fishing with flies that are too big. Rick Hafele, who is a popular writer and entomologist, often says that the most important trigger for flies is to match size. This is one of those things we need to burn into our brain. “Size matters”.


If you can find one, the “Borger Color System” is a chart of systematically arranged color swatches which allow you to judge colors accurately.

It is also a good practice to take notes on what you find and keep them in a fishing journal.

Match the bugs and go fishing!


Preserving your Bug Samples

If you are interested in collecting bugs to bring home as references for your fly tying, you will need to learn how to store the bugs, and probably the most important, label your samples.


Aquatic invertebrates, bugs, should be preserved in 70 to 80 percent alcohol. It is recommended using 80 percent since the organisms you add to it will carry some water and dilute the alcohol. If the alcohol becomes too diluted, your specimens will become mushy and useless for study. Ethyl alcohol should be used whenever possible because it provides the best fixation of body tissues and is good for long term storage. However, isopropyl alcohol is a good substitute and can be purchased cheaply in drug stores. Whichever preservative is used, you should change it once with in a day or two after collecting.

Collections from different locations and dates should be preserved in separate containers and individually labeled. Small glass vials with tight-fitting screw cap lids or rubber stoppers are the best. The minimum amount of collection information should include name of water body, location of water body (e.g. road route, mileage to nearest town), elevation (if available), date (day, month, year) and name(s) of collector(s). Label information should be written on 100 percent bond paper using a pencil or alcohol-proof black ink. Labels should be placed inside the vial with the organisms. Below is an example of a typical label.

Lower Yuba River
1 1/2 miles above the Parks Bar Bridge
Honey Hole
Smartsville, CA
January 25, 2010
C. Hash

Identifying and studying your collections can be rewarding for several reasons. First, you can learn more about the different kinds of potential trout food/ organisms present in a stream you fish. Second, the size, structure, and color of preserved organisms can provide tips on how to model your flies at the vise.


The Basic identifications (order and family-level) required to benefit your fly tying activities can be made with a hand held magnifying glass.

The better information and samples you have on your tying bench, the better flies you will tie.

Have fun out There!
Clay

Wind River Bug Balmer

Notes from Wind River Products

Bug Balmer dispatches and preserves insects. Special ingredient fixes and maintains the color of almost all aquatic organisms. This preservative solution is the best we have used. For best results kill the insects by drowning them in the solution. Some larger insects will secrete body fluids when they die. This will pollute the solution and color it. For best results drain off this tainted fluid and replace it with clear fluid. For best results fill your container to the top so that no air is trapped between the closed lid and the fluid. Bubbles contain oxygen which will harden and bleach your specimens. Also bubbles tend to erode and break up your specimens if the container is tipped back and forth. Bubbles also obstruct your view of the specimens. No know solution will preserve colors for ever. Specimens preserved for six months Bug Balmer showed little change. Specimens preserved for over two years showed major change in color but most specimens preserved for over five years are still intact.

Sea Lice, Estuary Lice or Freshwater Lice?

I was was fishing with Blake Larsen last week and a number of fish caught had lice on their gill plates. This brings up a couple of thoughts to ponder.

Are they sea lice, estuary lice, or freshwater lice?



I have often heard of these lice being referred to as sea lice. But in order for the lice to be sea lice the caught fish would have to be a steelhead that has gone all the way to the ocean. We have heard from researchers that only as little as 5 to10 percent of the Lower Yuba fish make it to the ocean. This has been documented by a scale survey done a number of years ago. So, if they are sea lice then this fish was one of that percentile.

I have also heard from fishery biologists that a percentage of Lower Yuba fish that have anadromous genes run to the estuary waters, feed, and then run back to the Lower Yuba. If that is the case could this fish be a steelhead that doesn't make it to the ocean, but goes as far as the delta saltwater? Could the lice be estuary lice?

Lastly, it has been documented that most of the Lower Yuba trout are resident fish and move in and out of the Lower Yuba, sometimes into the Feather and back and forth during the high flows of winter and back in the spring. Could this have been one of these fish? Could the lice be freshwater lice?



The lice present interesting points to ponder. I don't have the answers. Any thoughts?

Clay

What the heck are Redds anyway?

I think it's probably a good idea to attempt to clear up what are redds and what is really going on in our rivers with the salmon, steelhead and trout. What should we be looking out for and what should we be aware of? Let's talk about what we should be looking out for and how best to approach the river when fishing.

What can we do to help educate the general fly fishing populous?
What is a redd?

• When we think of redds we usually think, "salmon redd".


• A salmon redd is a depression created by the upstroke of the female salmon's body and tail, sucking up the river bottom gravel and using the river current to drift it downstream.

• The female salmon digs a number of redds, depositing a few hundred eggs in each during the one or two days she is spawning.


• Each redd is located immediately upstream from the last to allow the current to deposit drifting gravel on top of and covering the previous redd.


• Redds are very obvious in the stream, visible by clean exposed white gravel. Salmon spawn between 2000 and 6000 eggs, depending upon species. Different sized gravel is used as redd locations by each species.


• Steelhead and rainbow trout often use the salmon redds to spawn in the spring.

When Wading the River

• Concentrate angling activity in areas of the river where spawning salmon, steelhead and trout may be less prevalent.


• Avoid areas of shallow water where you observe concentrations of spawning salmon and their redds (gravel “nests”). Salmon redds are generally between 1-2 square meters in size and may be recognized by the appearance of clean looking gravel which is loose and soft underfoot, as opposed to firmer and darker gravel nearby. Steelhead and trout will often use the same areas as the salmon to spawn.


• When newly formed, redds will appear to be a depression with a mound of gravel on the downstream side. Eggs will be buried in the mound of gravel and for several meters downstream.


• Walking on the redds may kill buried eggs, so please avoid them entirely.

Fact or Fiction

Does wading in and around the redds impact egg mortality?

Fact - A study done in Montana (published 1993 edition of Trout Unlimited)on the effects of wading around on trout spawning nests, indicated that just one step on a nest of eggs could immediately cause up to 47% mortality on the eggs. As the eggs that were smashed decay, the spores from the decaying eggs colonize on the good eggs and kill them as well. This is like having a rotten apple in the barrel where eventually all of the apples in the barrel will also rot.

Are boats are harmful to redds.

Fact - Fishermen who drag their anchor at times to slow a drifting boat will destroy any egg nest the anchor is dragged through. Engaging in such activities is like planting a vegetable garden and then walking on and driving tractors all over the planted ground.

Fact - The passage of drift boats, rafts and canoes, even sliding over the redds, is unlikely to be harmful.

It's OK to wade out in the river on the ridges in the Redd areas.

Fiction - If you attempt wading into an area where the redds are located, walking on top the ridges can damage sensitive eggs. Walking on the top of the redds compresses the gravel and cuts off availability of enough oxygen . This could unwittingly kill thousands of eggs.

What can we do about it?

As anglers we can educate friends and family, we can work on ways to educate anglers we meet on the stream when fishing. With kind words and not an attitude.

We see on catch basin drains where it says something to the effect of "Warning, Drains To Fish Habitats." Why not put signs at trail heads or on the local maps to warn of potential damage, something like “Sensitive Habitat Areas – Salmon Redds” or whatever, to start getting the point across.

It would be a good idea to make up a few laminated sheets and stick them on small sign posts at popular get on locations describing the sensitive locations on that particular river.

How about putting together an informational pamphlet?

How about having a talk at local fly fishing clubs?

I believe it will take a grass roots effort to make a difference.

Any one interested in helping out or have any other ideas?

Clay

Teaching and Learning To Fly Cast

How do we teach someone to cast a fly. How do we learn to cast a fly? That’s not a simple question.

I’ve been doing fly fishing techniques clinics, educational guiding as well as doing fly casting workshops. At the casting workshops it seems like there is always one person attending a workshop who asks questions like, "How long should I pause?” or “How long should my stroke be? " It seems they are asking for an absolute answer. The answer should be it's not an absolute because it depends on how much line you are carrying. You really need to watch each student cast and determine the best course of action. Should we go back to the beginning and build the cast from the beginning. In a lot of cases the answer is yes. You need to start with good form.

Most casting flaws tie to the lack of basic good form and bio-mechanics. In most cases there just isn’t one definite answer to solve a problem. In fly casting many factors dictate the end result. A fly casting instructor must be able to identify problems with the form and mechanics of the cast and explain how to solve them. This isn't easy.

Fly Casting instructors’ perspectives are very similar to golf instructors. A golf instructor will often say to a student, "We've got to rebuild your stroke from the beginning."  With fly casting it's often the same, we need to rebuild the mechanics of the stoke.

In golf, most of the “how to” information comes from pros who unquestionably play well.  However these pros seldom agree on such basics as grip, stance, and ball position.Our fly fishing world is very similar.  Professional fly casting instructors have different styles and forms but they all seem to have a teaching method to get the job done. Their end results are almost exactly the same, but their routes to getting there may have differences. They all teach solid bio mechanics.

Obviously most professional fly fishing instructors, however convoluted their path to becoming a teacher, have gained a lot of experience and have had lots of successes, first with fishing and then in teaching. The doing, fishing, came first.

In relation to us non professional fly casting teachers, I’m certain that the majority first learned to cast a fly and to fish, and then later attempted to analyze and communicate their acquired skills. That’s my path for sure. I learned to fly cast and catch fish. A do it yourself, bang away at it kind of thing. Over time I sort of figured it out by doing not by analysis of good form. Things are changing!

In retrospect, I think that one of the most beneficial things someone could do, fly casting instructors and students alike, is to study good fly casting form and understand the bio mechanics of what constitutes good form. Learn the essentials required to execute a good cast and then practice these essentials. Having an instructor that can communicate these essentials in a way that makes them understandable can make all the difference. As fly casting instructors we need to work on being good communicators. As students we must become good listeners. We both should study the FFF's recommended "Five Essentials to a Good Cast". That will assure that we get started down the right road.

So in summary, become a student of the sport, seek knowledge, learn what constitutes good form and make it your own. As an instructor inspire your students to new heights.

Good Luck and Tight Loops.

By the way, here's a link to the "5 Essentials"

http://flyfishingtraditions.blogspot.com/2012/02/five-essentials-of-great-fly-cast.html

Fly Casting - The Endless Persuit

I've recently started getting more involved with teaching fly casting. I'm organizing fly casting workshops for our local fly fishing club, the Gold Country Fly Fishers. For myself it's been a personal pursuit for my whole life of fly fishing up to this time. I don't mean the teaching, I'm talking about figuring out how to become a better fly caster myself.

You know what, teaching makes you a better fly caster. I've found myself spending many hours practicing myself to prepare myself to teach a group and there are new discoveries and light bulbs going off all the time. I mean when everyone talks about stopping the rod, where the heck are you supposed to stop it? How firm? You sort of know the answers intuitively from fishing for so many years but how do you get it out of your intuition and break it down into spoken words and explain it? These are things that you just have to get right in your head before you start trying to teach it and explain it to someone else.

I'm going to document my journey as a fly casting instructor here on this blog and hopefully my journey will be beneficial to anyone else who has a yearning to teach fly casting or anyone that is learning to cast a fly. I'll be preparing to take the test to become a FFF Certified Casting Instructor while I'm at it. Do I really care if I'm certified, not really. Life for me has always been proof is in doing. I'm just going to head that direction and see where it takes me.

I'll be posting stories about the how to become a better fly casting instructor as well as the how to's. I'll share casting drills and ways to practice out on your lawn or ball field. I'll get technical when I need and keep it light when I can.  Hopefully we'll all get better being fly casting instructors and fly casters alike.

Enjoy the ride!

Lower Yuba - Watch and Observe

I woke up excited to be heading down to the Lower Yuba with my fishing buddies Frank Rinella and Blake Larsen. I've been out of town for the Christmas holidays and was ready for a fun day, come what may. The day was clear and fairly warm in Grass Valley. We met in town and grabbed a cup of coffee, talked about the bugs of the Yuba and made our plans for the day. We were looking forward to perhaps a nice PMD hatch coming off? We were a little surprised as we drove down to the river and there was a low overcast at the river. Well I guess it just changed to a BWO hatch.


Our plan was to use my drift boat to cross the river above the launch and hike upstream to fish the runs and flats upstream of our put-in.We had parked one vehicle downstream and would float down in the afternoon and fish the lower area from the boat. We started to hike upstream to spread out and fish the runs there. On the way up I had forgot my camera and hiked back to the boat to get it. On the hike back upstream I hiked along the water's edge and watched the flats and tailouts to see what was happening.


As I was hiking upstream I reflected on an article that was written by Dave Hughes, either in one of his books or a magazine article where he stated that it's always a good idea to wait to rigg up until you get where you are planning to fish. When you get to the area sit down for a moment and check out whats going on. That would work well for me because I had not tied anything up yet and I was packing my Sage Z-axis 6 weight switch rod and my Sage XP 5 weight. I could easily rigg up for dries and emergers or go down to fish the bottom.


The key thing from his article that I reflected on was to Watch and Observe, then rigg up and start fishing. Some questions that came to mind where;

• Are there any fish rising?



• Are there any bugs on the water or in the air?



• What kind of bugs are they?



• What are the water conditions? Clear, off-color, high, or low?



• How bright is the sun?



• If fish are rising, what are their rise form telling me. Are they taking duns or emergers?



• Are swallows feeding? Are they taking the bugs at the water level or higher in the air?

These are all things that you can think about and digest in a few minutes. The thing I thought about next is that I should do some collecting. I remembered that I used to carry a white lid from a jar that was about 4" diameter, a small aqurium net and some tweezers. How come I stopped doing that? I've made a mental note to do that next time I'm out. Start a "new routine" so to speak. Or I guess I should say an "old routine." I really should be able to answer questions like;

• What bugs are most abundant?



• How big are they?



• What color are they?



• Which ones are mature and look ready to emerge?



• How do they move in the water?

Size Matters

Once you start collecting samples the real fun begins. Now you don't have to depend on what all the guys are saying or what they have on the board at the flyshop. Do they really know anyway? It's pretty easy to say use a Olive Hogan's S&M nymph for a Blue Wing Olive. But what size are the real bugs? Maybe an Olive Hogan's Military May in a size twenty would be a better choice. The Military May ties are more slender than the S&M's. They always say that you need to Match the Hatch! How many times have we heard that. The next time we're out, while we're observing the natural insects in that white jar lid of water, we need to put some of our fly patterns in the tray next to them. Match them up. Get your fishing buddies to help out. Do the observation as a team. Discuss bugs. Discuss tactics. Identify the bugs. It's also a lot of fun


According to Dave Hughes' buddy, Rick Hafele, an entomologist, his experience is that 90% of the time people rigg up with fly patterns that are two or three time larger than the real thing. This is especially true for nymph patterns. While this may make it easier to tie your fly on to your tippet, it does not make it easier for you to catch fish with them.


Size is actually one of the most important aspects of your fly patterns.


In fact Rick Hafele states that he believes size is more important than color or even shape, though shape also affects size. For example, a fat fly pattern, even when it is the right length, will appear too large when it is imitating a small slender swimming mayfly. Hence the example of the S&M (fatter) versus the Military May (more slender). Fish tend to concentrate on what's most abundant and available. Pick a fly pattern that matches the size of what you observed as most abundant.


Presentation


Now I need to take all that I have just observed and think about how and where the trout are feeding on the bugs. Now is the time to rigg up and start fishing. Oh yeah. How should I present the flies I've chosen? This brings up another bunch of questions.

• What patterns might be effective?



• What part of the water column should I target?



• Should I be fishing dries or emergers on the surface or should I try my subsurface options



• Should I use my nymph rod or my dry rod?



• How should I rigg up to be most effective



• What type of lines should I use?



• If nymphing, how deep?



• Dead drifted under indicator, tight lined or swinging?

These are all things best contemplated before you rigg up the first time. How many times have you decided how you are going to rigg up and what flies you are going to fish before you even get to the river. Probably a lot. Take your time. Take a breather. Watch and Observe and then go out and get in the river and present your flies properly.

Back to the fishin'




Oh, by the way. We had a great day on the river. We saw a fair amount of rising fish, BWO's and a few PMD's coming off mid day. We caught fish with dries, nymphs, stoneflies, troutbeads, and soft hackles. We had fish dancing on the water while the fight was on! Most of all it was a great day with friends on the Lower Yuba River. Stories told, tactics discussed, new presentations tried. And for me a reminder to stop, look and listen to the nature of the river. The answers are all right there.

A nice bow caught on a skwala stone nymph

Blake with a bright rainbow caught at dusk with a Troutbead

Watch and Observe.
Make a Tradition!


Clay

Happy Holidays to All

Here's to wishing all a Happy Holiday

May your lines be tight

May your dream of that Big One come true

But most of all 

Seek the road that leads you to 

Good Friends, Health and Happiness

Clay

Remembering Mom

My mom, Geri, has been battling cancer for about a year. From the moment she found out out about it, she had a positive, we can beat this, attitude. Sort of bring it on, we'll beat this. Well unfortunately it was a hard fought battle, but the fight took its toll. She passed away about a week ago. She passed with me holding her hand.

Many people have said that my mom and I are a lot alike. Its one of the best compliments I could ever get. She wasn't a hugs and kisses sort of mom, but it didn't matter the bond was there, we new she loved us. She was a tomboy who was as she said, "born in the wrong generation". A free spirit that struggled her whole life to be free. She's free now.

My mom was born on a Montana farm and married a cowboy/rancher, my dad Bob. She ended up being quite a horsewoman. and rode and worked with horses most of her life. Rode trails and blazed trails. She drove truck, paid the bills and kept my folks business afloat. All that and making lunches, dinners and washing clothes for the family. She did it all, tirelessly and uncomplaining. She loved the outdoors and became an enthusiastic fly fisher.

The highlight of her year became meeting up with Laura, Zack and I in Montana and floating the rivers fishing. We fished the Yellowstone, Madison, Big Hole and the Jefferson rivers over the years in the type of country she grew up in. She would always take the rear seat of the raft and let my dad be up front. She did this because she was the better fisherman. My dad, who is hard of hearing would be upfront, oblivious, while she would catch fish after fish from the back of the boat. I'd turn to net the fish and she'd say "I'll just let it go before dad sees that I caught it". She knew dad would get pissed if she was out fishing him, which see did most every time we'd get out. She had the knack. On the day she caught the  beautiful brown in the picture above, dad probably hooked up on 4 or 5 lunkers that he immediately broke off while attempting to horse them in. Mom just took her time and most always landed the big ones.

She loved the adventure of it. She's the one that inspired me to write, share my experiences, to become a fly fishing educator and most of all pursue my dreams. Do what I love to do. I'll miss her joking personality and good common sense. With that said I know she'll be with me in spirit as I row down the rivers wherever I life takes me.

Mom, you'll be missed, but never forgotten by me and everyone that you have touched.

With Love,

Clay

Lower Yuba River - Tailwater or Freestone?

There are times of the year that the Lower Yuba has the characteristics of a tailwater with bottom released flows from Englebright Dam. During these times the river can be spring creek like with crystal clear water and wary trout where fishing with stealth is a must. This is the time of year that the flows stabilize from somewhere between 850 and 1600 cfs. This happens at two specific times of year. The first in mid to late summer once the agricultural flows are dropped down and second during the winter and early spring when the powers that be determine that they need to hold water back for summer agricultural need. These two periods are when the river fishes as a true tailwater.

Once winter hits the river can turn into a raging river with water pouring over the top of Englebright dam with flows in the neighborhood of 30,000, to even 80,000 cfs. The river seems more like a brawling Alaskan Coastal river during these times. Just like a free flowing freestone river.

Lets break the flow regimes of the Lower Yuba River through the year and compare. Tailwater or Freestone characteristics?

January through April - More like a Freestone

The Lower Yuba River in the period between January and April can be all over the place. It can drop down to fishable levels of 900 cfs to 2000 cfs with decent clarity, 2 to 8 feet or it can be a raging torrent. This is the time of year for Baetis and Pale Morning Duns mayflies, March Browns, and the Skwala Stones.

In these months the river flows go up and down depending on the size and duration of the storms. As the bigger storms come in the flows change uncontrollably. This is the result of the three branches of the Yuba River all flowing into Englebright Reservoir and the inability of that impound to handle flows over 5600 cfs +/-. Englebright Reservoir is a bottom release dam that has the capacity of releasing about 5600 cfs.  When flows are 5600 cfs or lower the water is released from the bottom of the reservoir. Once the flows exceed the 5600 +/- it flows unregulated over the top. This can turn the Lower Yuba into a  raging unfishable freestone stream, flooding out of its normal channels and cutting corners, moving thousands of tons of gravel, rocks and boulders and changing the characteristics of the river. Let me try to explain how.

When conditions are such that there is snow up high in the Sierras and a warmer storm comes in with rain at higher elevations, the snow pack starts melting and running off. This results in huge amounts of water running down every creek, and tributary which eventually ends up in Englebright Reservoir. This is when there can be flows like 30,000, and up to 120,000 cfs. This happened just two weeks ago in December of 2012 when a big wet storm came in and the river peaked at 36,000 cfs.  When the Lower Yuba gets these type of flows multiple times during the course of one winter it can affect the bug life in the fishery for years to come.

How do these high flows affect the river? The Lower Yuba is a channelized river as a result of these high flows over the years. The bugs live in this portion of the river. When big flows run over the top of Englebright the rocks, boulders and gravel get pushed around and the river gets "rolled". The bugs live in this part of the river and the next thing they know is that their homes are getting destroyed. The bug population is decimated. I'm no entomologist but evidence from watching and fishing the river over the years has enforced my hypothesis. .

Part of this eveidence is the fact that the caddis hatches above the Parks Bar Bridge has been almost nonexistent  in the past number of years. The Skwala populations are also down above the bridge. Last year when the Skwalas were showing, we had meager success above the Parks Bar Bridge while guide friends were having big days throwing Skwalas below the bridge. In 2012, the further you's head down below the Parks Bar Bridge the more bugs and hatches you'd encounter. This has been the trend. The fish also tend to go where the bugs are.

So in summary, flows in January through the end of April can be all over the place, it can fish like a tailwater when the flows drop and stabilize at lower levels of 2,000 cfs or less or it can become unfishable during high winter storms. The fishable range is from 800 cfs to 2,000 cfs when walk and wading of up to 6000 cfs when fishing from a boat. With that said you really need 2 feet of visibility to make it worth your while. The water during these months will typically be off-colored and the river will fish more like a freestone than a tailwater.

Big edge to Freestone Characteristics.

April  through Early June - More like a Tailwater with a touch of Freestone

Once you hit May the storm season is about over. Flows stabilize and the flows will depend upon predicted weather and its affect on storing agricultural water. If the powers that be feel that they need to store water the flows can stabilize at lower levels typically in the 1600 cfs range. The water can clear up and there can be good visibility. When this happens the river fishes more like a tailwater fishery. The PMD's, Stoneflies and Caddis start coming into play.

If the longer range weather forecast is for additional storms and the snowpack is high the powers that be may start releasing water in anticipation of the late spring early summer runoff. If they start releasing water the flow come up and the river can fish more like a freestone.

This makes these months sort of a crap shoot. Each year can be different. What hold true is that flows typically are somewhere between 1600 cfs and 5,000 and are bottom released from Englebright. The river tends to run more off-colored and can muddy up from Deer Creek with seasonal small storms.

Edge to Tailwater Characteristics.

Late June through Mid July


Once the early summer hits, flows are ramped up to deliver water to the valley for growers, rice, fruit etc. The flows can bump up to 4000 to 5500 cfs +;-. This typically continues through mid summer. During this period water is bottom released from Englebright and is often off-colored. More green than blue. This is the result of the muck that is at the bottom of Englebright. The water in the lake is always a off colored gumbo. Any larger volumes of released water cloud the water. This can produce great results using deep nymphing techniques as the trout can see your flies but they can't see you. The fish are pushed to the edges and soft eddy water. They also tend to pod up. The off colored water provides stealth. The fishing gets really good once clarity hits the 6 foot mark. I've had some of my best days during these conditions. Throwing hoppers to the bank can be excellent. Banging the banks.

The river fishes like some of the tailwaters in Montana that release water for irrigation.

Edge to Tailwater Fishery

Late July until winter storms arrive, typically December - Definitely a Tailwater

Once the agricultural needs subside the flows drop to the 900 cfs to 1200 cfs levels at mid to late summer and are typically maintained through the rest of the summer and early fall. This period is when the river turns into a spring creek with unlimited clarity and the trout being the most wary. It is also the time when salmon start appearing and digging their redds, The trout will start eating eggs as early as August and will continue to eat them the rest of the year.

The tailwater characteristics continue up to the point that the first series of big storms come in. Then it can be like the winter storms that blow out the river.

Switch Rod Workshop Perspective

I just have to admit that I was a little apprehensive going into the two switch rod workshops that took place in the last 3 weeks. This was a big step for me, it's what I've really wanted to do, hands on teaching, and to me this was my final test. The attendees of the workshops were mostly faces that I knew, people that are die hard fly fishermen, people that I am friends with and the new faces, friends for the future. I've done many small classes and clinics in the past but this was just bigger. I was originally seeking help for the workshop but that didn't pan out due a personal issue. I decided I'd just move forward and make it happen.

So what did I do? I practiced what I was going to teach, I made frequent trips down to the Lower Yuba and worked on double handed casting techniques. the practice casts, like the roll and switch cast, the spey casts, double spey, single spey, snap T, snap Z, the perry poke, the snake roll. Essentially what anyone that wants to be a proficient two handed caster should do.

I wrote three switch rod booklets to handout to the attendees of the workshops. One on the gear you'll need, rods, lines, heads and such. The second on the practice and spey casts that you'll want learn to use a two handed rod effectively. The third on switch rod tactics and and flies you may want to add to your arsenal. These are like term papers to me, this is how I learn. It is the application of studying something, letting it sink in and then composing that information and assimilating it onto paper. It works for me. What I learn can then be passed on to others, this is what teaching is all about.

I contacted our Sage, Rio and Redington rep, Jaime Lyle, and asked if I could borrow a couple of switch rods where I was short. Jaime responded by sending me six. Six rods with reels, lines, heads and tips. I can't thank Jaime enough. Not only did this give me ample rods to use, but it made it possible for the workshop attendees to sample different rods matched with different lines.

The workshops went, I think anyway, better than I had imagined. A bounty of information was shared, with good food, and camaraderie and I think the best thing is that a bunch of fires were lit to continue the learning process of using switch rods and spey casting.

Once again I want to thank Jaime Lyle, Frank Rinella, Mike Williams and Blake Larsen for their encouragement and support.

Keep on Switching

Fishing the Dark Side

When fishing tail water streams and rivers there can be a lot of movement of gravel and structure from seasonal flows. Your favorite holding spots for trout may not be there anymore and you may see areas with bright clean gravel. With the high flows from the winter, spring and in some cases through mid-summer there can be a lot of gravel pushed around.

Where there are corners where the river takes a right or left turn and there is a gravel bank, the gravel sometimes can be carved out and pushed downstream. This often leaves a long bright gravel bottom pushing down from the corner area. Trout don't like bright gravel. You will see a distinct line where this bright gravel has filled the center of the run. To the right or left you will often see a darker patch of gravel to the bank. This creates a seam from light gravel in the center to dark gravel to the edges. This is the darker seam that you want to run your flies through. Fish the dark side.

Another area where this pushing of gravel can happen is below the riffles where the riffle transitions to another run below. The gravel in the run above the riffle where it tails out typically has nice dark color. Once the water flows over the lip of the tailout it can sometimes dig out the gravel at the top of the riffle like a rototiller and when it does this gravel is pushed downstream like mentioned above. This creates another bright gravel to darker gravel seam in the run below the riffle. Fish the darker side.

As you drift down the river there are often areas mid stream where there are islands of darker gravel where the bright gravel has pushed downstream on each side of it. Fish the dark colored areas.

When you drift a river and you are fishing the runs look for dark spots which are typically boulders or rocks. When it is bright out fish will hold in front, alongside or behind these spots, They are mini sanctuary areas. In a freestone tailwater these areas can be prime lies.

Keep your eye out for the dark areas and there's a good chance you'll find willing trout.

Stream of Consciousness on the River - September

My goodness, Its another beautiful day on the Lower Yuba. Glad I'm not working. Sunny with a slight breeze, Going to be nice. Great to be on the river with good friends.

OK, time to climb behind the oars, I like this spot, my view of the river world from the rowing seat. Watching the river unfold its daily drama. Is it going to happen today? We'll soon find out.

Time to get at it. Hold that line now. Slow now, slower, quiet, no slapping the oars down. Let's see, should we fish right or left? I like that seam along the willows. Keep a decent distance now, keep it stealthy. Here we go, are you fish ready because here we come.

Casting big dries to the banks, to the dark seams, to the slack water, in the eddies, in front of, beside and in back of boulders, wherever there are boulders underneath us, behind the salmon, dark spots in the river, mid stream boulders. Anybody home? There you are! Stinks off the boat!

Drifting down the river throwing big drys, mesmerizing. One eye on the fly and one on the next likely spot. Concentrate on the next spot, wham there's a fish on the fly. Sometimes you miss and sometimes that slight pause is just enough for the fish to turn on the fly and you've got a good hook set.

Fish on! Better move over to the slack water, this fish is hot. Follow, follow, there we go. Keep that tip up. Let 'er run. Get that line on the reel There we go. Keep your rod tip to the bank. Looks like she's ready. Slide 'er in. Don't want to botch the net job. Gotcha! Way to go. Wow, look at the colors on this one. Beauty. OK, go get bigger. Nice Job.

My turn to fish, OK, if I have to. Concentrating on the fly drifting down the river, a small fish, tries to swallow that big dry and can't get it in it's mouth. Set anyway, but the fly's just too big. Concentrating on the fly, a nose pokes out of the water on the fly, set. Sorry, too quick, I just yanked it out of it's mouth. Concentrating on the fly. A fish pokes it nose out of the water on the fly. I count to 1 and 1/2 and set. Fish on.

There's a deep slot, tie on a dropper with a small nymph. Go a little deeper. Don't want to chuck lead, just drop off the back of the big dry. Where'd that dry go? Set. Bingo, fish on the nymph!

Tangled again, darn that dropper. Think I'll chop that thing off, just not happening enough for the hassle.

That seam about 3 feet deep looks good, throw some slack, use a reach cast. That's it, now we're talking. Wham! Darn, how'd I miss that one. Get it back in. He's back, Fish On! Man was that fun!

Sorry, my fault I should have waited for you to cast. Nice tangle we've got, I'll get yours free in a second. There you go. My fault I'm in the back, I'll pay attention, right.

Nice run, 3 feet deep with nice boulders, There's a nice slot. Get it in there, drifting, drifting, should be there, about now. Wham, Boy did that fish hit that thing or what. Didn't have to do anything, just raised the rod tip. Get him out of the fast water, OK there she goes again, patience, patience. She's ready. Thanks for rowing a bit and great net job.

Wow, nice fish, where's my camera? Got it. I think its time to get behind the oars again. That was fun. Thanks for rowing, bud.

Boy its hot, down another bottle of water. Man that tastes good. My brain's feeling a little cooked.

There's the take out. One last run. Let's fish the inside. Kersplash! Fish of the day. Nice job up there. Way to hook that thing. Nice way to end the day with a nice fish within site of the takeout.

Wow! What a great day. When can we get out again? Soon?