Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Fishing today is as good as fishing tomorrow!
Aside from new material, technology and an enormous marketing campaign to make everyone think they need a guide to be successful, catching trout on a fly is the same now as it was when Ray Bergman wrote “Trout” in 1938. 
Bergman’s “Trout” is perhaps the most comprehensive book I’ve ever read that delves into the essence of the sport. Bergman talks about everything from technique to knots to the “where” and “how” to do it. It is a page turner for piscators – new and old alike – because it is written in such a way, the words turn into images in your mind as you follow Bergman’s guidance through his experiences and research, making the reader realize he’s done it.
“Trout” is not an App; it’s not a video nor its it a quick read. It is an informative work written in the language of trout fishers with insights of why some people catch fish while others “should have been there yesterday.”
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
And they’re off!
Just one week from this Saturday, the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo will officially open for yet another year, ushering in – for most of us – the new fly fishing season. The Michigan Fly Fishing Club, the official sponsors / owners of the two day event, have prepped, tuned and fine tuned this years Expo.
With more than 350 members, the organizations faithful (piscators all) will make sure that kids – the future of the sport – are entertained and taught the nuances of various components of fly fishing and to make sure they equate fly fishing, fly tying and other aspects with fun.
So put Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15 on the calendar and remember, kids get in free when accompanied with an adult …for a paltry $10, the adult gets in too. And remember, all seminars are free.
Stop by the MFFC booth and say hello to the “old kid” with the grin from ear to ear on his face. You’ll have to get his attention, his mind will probably be on him standing in the Jordan River, casting flies tied with the feathers he has on his “to get” list.
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Aspirin, where’s the aspirin?
Having too much time on your hands can give you a headache. It can cause you not only to out-think yourself, but actually rationalize the nitpicking that can result: How many tails do mayfly nymphs have? How many segments to their abdomens?
By the time you get that straight in your mind, something else slithers in. What about emergers? Duns? Are those Catskill patterns you’ve been using really adequate for Michigan streams?
One way to get the dust off of your bookshelves is to try to find answers to the doubts that crept into your mind and maybe, just maybe, apply some rational thinking and adventuresome fly tying for the solution. (Actually, adventuresome fly tying is nothing more than trying something different; something not written down for you to copy from.)
When I get into one of these funks, I usually go to one of my go-to books I consider the bible on hatch imitations; Handbook of Hatches by Dave Hughes. Of course, I’ll still tie the Catskill patterns, after all, the brookies may not have read his book and there’s room for six fly boxes in my vest.
Come on spring!
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Winter fish kill? Here’s hoping not!
With thoughts of Michigan’s General Trout Season opening April 25th, thought has to be given to winter fish kill: Will the 2nd harsh winter in a row have a devastating effect on trout populations in our native trout waters? Most, if not all, of our trout streams were frozen from bank to bank in some parts and that’s not good for trout, the most sensitive species of all where winter kill is concerned due to a lack of oxygenated water.
The following was taken from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources website:
Actually, the fish suffocated from lack of dissolved oxygen. Trace amounts of dissolved oxygen (measured in parts per million, ppm) are required by fish and all other forms of aquatic life. Even living plants and the bacteria that decompose organic materials on the bottom of the lake require oxygen. As a rule of thumb, the critical level of oxygen is about 2 ppm for most game fish native to warmwater lakes, and levels below 1 ppm for extended periods of time are lethal.
But species of fish vary in their tolerance of low oxygen. Trout are most sensitive; walleye, bass, and bluegill have intermediate sensitivity; and northern pike, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed are relatively tolerant. Bullheads and certain minnows are very tolerant. Lakes prone to periodic winterkill can often be detected from the composition of their fish populations – tolerant species predominate, sensitive species are rare, and prey greatly outnumber predators. Fortunately, usually enough fish survive, either in the lake or in connecting waters, to repopulate the lake in a couple of years. Only for extreme die-offs is fish restocking necessary.
Here’s hoping the trout populations in our fabled rivers survived.
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
There is no dilemma
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
It’s function, not price, that makes something useful.
I’ve been in the market for a rucksack to hold “stuff” that won’t fit in my vest. “Stuff” like a dry change of clothes in case I lose my footing because I think I’m 6 inches taller than I am (a couple of years ago I got baptized in early March) a raincoat, thermos, sandwiches and maybe tying supplies. The benefit to having one is, all the stuff will be together instead of half of it sitting on the kitchen table in the cabin.
I’ve been looking on the web and in catalogs I get and I almost gave up on buying one since most cost $100 or more. (yea, yea, I’m cheap.) A garbage bag began to look good to me until I remembered the Army Surplus store.
When I was a kid, there was a place called Silverstein’s on Six Mile Road in Detroit that had everything from tent pegs to Sherman Tanks. My initial Boy Scout camping equipment came from there. When I was in Viet Nam, I could get most everything from Supply …except socks. I wrote home and my mother sent me army issue socks from Silverstein’s. Go figure.
Silverstein’s is gone and Army Surplus Stores aren’t what they used to be. There is one on Woodward in Royal Oak that’s about half surplus and half imitation surplus and lucky for me, they have surplus rucksacks. So instead of $100 plus, sixteen dollars later, an olive drab canvas rucksack (not sure from who’s army) is packed – minus thermos and sandwiches – sitting in the corner of my tying room next to the rods I won’t go without.
For a while yesterday, every time I closed my eyes, I saw the deer trail along the Jordan leading to Rainbow Bend.
Just one day closer to getting there.
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Old friends!
You’re probably as tired of reading about “cabin fever” as I am writing about it. Unfortunately the only cure, outside of going to a warm climate, is dealing with it, and that means finding things to do that get your mind off of the subject; which in my case doing those things are brought on by “cabin fever.”
I think most of us – at least those my age, near it or older – have amassed a collection of books on all sorts of topics. So to keep from tearing my hair out – the little that’s left – I went through the several bookshelves I have looking at all of the books on fly tying, hatches, patterns and especially those written offering sage advice on what to look for, how to imitate what you find and how to present it to catch a trout.
Surprisingly it took up a couple of hours just sorting through the books I pulled from the shelves; some of which I’d forgotten I had. What I found were old friends. There were paperbacks, though most were hardcover (I’ve always preferred a hardcover book when I could get it) and some were published in lesser quality paper than others while the newer ones had glossy pages with color photos. Some were written in the 30’s by authors whose names I had forgotten.
Aside from patterns tied with materials that weren’t available when those books were written, what struck me …or I should say, was reinforced in my mind – was that there is little that was new in terms of hatches and the element they live in: Mayflies are still mayflies, etc. In fact, the only difference was in the directness the older books on the subject put their premise. Some were so old there was a difference in the colloquial use of grammar.
I’m still re-reading some of the books and I’m amazed at how they jogged my memory. To make a long story short, tying flies, when to use when and how to present them, is nothing new. Only gadgets and gizmos …and of course their costs have changed.
Look around, you’ll be surprised at what you already have …and know.
TD
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Paul Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited presents:
Can’t wait for April to roll around? Head to the Imagine Theater in Royal Oak tonight to see Paul Young Trout Unlimited chapter’s “Fly Fishing Tour” presentation. Doors open at 6 for a cocktail hour; film starts at 7 sharp. See you there.
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Another way of saying, “stay in and tie some flies.”
If anyone says, “See you on the river.” He’s the one your mother warned you to stay away from when you were a kid.
Category Archives: Two Cents Worth
Thought of the day
The draft didn’t just produce numbers for the military, it taught responsibility and discipline and the knowledge that there were things bigger than yourself …and you took that with you when you left.
What do these things have to do with fly fishing? …Everything!
TD