I downloaded this video and knew right away it was Father’s Day gold. From “The Spirit of Fishing”, to videographer, photographer, guide, and net man, the OG Backpack Kid has some serious fishing buddy skills!! It’s only been 3 short years since our “Parenting Done Right” blog, yet my sons have taken in and never forgotten any memory from our times on the water. They’ve quickly become my best fishing buddies and it’s been incredibly hilarious. Watch this vid and you’ll see!
If I were to recap the years for prospective parents, it’d look like this:
Myles Year 1:Â
Pretty tough to fish; but doable on a local stocked pond, a bottle of milk and UPF fishing swaddle blankets (in production).
Myles Year 2:Â
The start of OG Backpack Kid. Getting our first son Myles used to being in the pack was easy, and a hell of a lot of fun! We just had to keep the outings short and bring the D&D (donuts and diapers)!
Myles Year 3 / Maxwell Year 1:Â
Year 3 was prime backpack fishing, and the highlight goes back to “Parenting Done Right”. We hiked 10’s of miles together, my knees got destroyed, and we loved every minute of fishing together. Coincidentally, this was also the year our 2nd son, and rightful heir to the backpack throne was born.
Myles Year 4 / Maxwell Year 2:Â Â
IT WAS TOUGH! Our 2 year old Maxwell now knows his brother and dad are going fishing without him… Bottom line? TANTRUMS! Yet my 4yr old Myles isn’t old enough to be river safe. Parents, this is the highest stress year and will test your fortitude as a fisher-person! It’s a good idea to split up and switch to man-to-man defense, or head out as a family and teach some river safety.
Myles Year 5 / Maxwell Year 3:Â
Ok, the shock of 4 and 2 is wearing off and we’re getting in our groove. We’ve found other fly parents who can chill and etc. BE SAFE, have fun, find some bugs, sticks and sneak in some river naps. You ain’t catchin’ many fish. Entomology class in session.
Myles Year 6 / Maxwell Year 4:
THE START OF THE GOOD YEARS! Myles is a level 6 net man, level 3 camera guy, level 8 guide, and level 10 ego crusher. Max is off destroying the only clothes I brought him. Both kids have good river safety, and can cast their little rods and start fishing on their own!! Highlights include catching rare rainbow trout and ULTRA-RARE Golden Brown trout!
Every year has been 100% unpredictable and a lot of work. If we could give you advice, it would be to just go with the flow and make some memories on the water! This year, we’re taking it to the next level of the unknown by introducing BABY #3! Our baby fly girl will bring the next level of unknown in Sept 2020 and as a fishing Dad, I couldn’t be more excited!
Steve Longfield is a dedicated fly fisherman and father. For more for his work, check out Steve on his website and Instagram here!
This week we are featuring an epic adventure from Tight Loops Fly. About a year ago, we had the chance to interview Chase Bartee from Tight Loops about this film, and it was available for purchase at the time. They have now released the full version to the public for free! Be sure to strap in for almost an hour of epic adventure. We would also highly suggest checking out our interview with Chase for all of the details of this epic trip. You can read the full interview here:
For many anglers, using a boat to fly fish is a must. It opens more fishing opportunities whether it’s the ability to cover more water, avoid the crowds, or even utilize effective techniques to catch more fish with the boat. But, one thing is clear if the person rowing the boat has no idea what they are doing it can almost be impossible to effectively fish a certain stretch of water.
The rower is a lot like the offensive lineman of the football team, without a good offensive lineman, the quarterback or running back can’t score. Same goes for the angler, if you don’t have someone with some skills at oars, you’re not going to have much success on the water. So with that said, here are some basic guidelines to follow for the novice oarsman to get you up to speed on safely running a drift boat or raft.
So you bought a new boat and you want to try it out on a mellow section of water to get used to it. First things first, check in on current water levels, put in and take out points, call your local fly shop for fishing conditions, set up a shuttle and prepare all gear. When arriving at the boat ramp be sure to pull off out of the way to prepare your vessel for launch. This means taking all straps off, loading all gear into the boat.
If you have a raft, pumping it up or if you have a drift boat making sure to put those boat plugs in (I know most of us have forgotten this step at least once before). Upon launching be sure to have practiced backing up your trailer prior to the boat ramp. Typically, you will be in the limelight of many to prove your trailer backing skills. If you are having trouble, one quick trick is pop open the tailgate. This allows for a visual of the boat as you put in. Once the boat is launched, quickly move it out of the way of the ramp and prepare for the river.
One rule that is often only learned the hard way, “Rig and strap down everything in the boat so if King Kong grabbed it and shook it nothing would fall outâ€. Pretty self explanatory as to why you do this. Upon departing onto the river be sure to make sure everyone on the boat is familiar with the basic safety of running a river.
The American White Water Association Safety Code is an excellent resource for all boaters to review before a day on the water. I highly recommend following this link for more information.
Seems straight forward right..? It’s not when you are rowing for fishing you need to be constantly rowing backward to slow the boat down. All this means is constantly pulling back on the oars to slow the boat down. By slowing the boat down it gives you control over the boat to make the moves necessary to navigate the waterway.
There are two types of fly fishing rowers, lazy ones and not lazy ones. The ones that are not lazy are constantly rowing backward to slow the boat down so that the anglers have enough time to work a piece of water. Do yourself a favor and work hard on the oars and the anglers will thank you later.
Tip 2: Point the Front of the Boat Away From Trouble
Now that you are rowing backward, you’ll notice that by pointing the front or bow of the boat in the direction that you do not want to go and pulling back you can avoid the danger. So hypothetically speaking lets say you are floating down the middle of the river and there is a rock coming up on river left. To avoid this rock, point the front of the boat at the rock to the left and pull backward. The boat will then move away from this rock and to river right. Straighten out the boat and if you are now too far on river right then point the front of the boat to river right and pull away. Just point the bow into the obstacle and the stern 45° to the flow and pull away from it.
Similar to the fly cast, the oar stroke doesn’t have to be powered with all your muscle. An efficient and effective oar stroke involves a simple oar movement where the blade of the oar is just about completely submerged in the water. Don’t dig deep where the blade of the oar is deep in the water as this is not an efficient stroke.
A proper oar stroke engages the whole body, not just the arm muscles. It starts with a strong core, leg and back power, and a little bit of arm muscle. One secret to getting more power in your stroke is to utilize your legs by placing them out in front of you and almost squatting to power through a stroke. Rowing a boat can be a good workout so be sure to pace yourself throughout the float and understand that fatigue can play a factor when running more technical water later in the float.
Boats are meant to go down rivers straight, when they are sideways they can be susceptible to flipping and other dangers. When going through whitewater staying centered is key. If you are going to run into an obstacle try to be centered upon hitting it as it can do less damage to the boat and can be easier to maneuver off of.
Another point to make is when the boat is sideways it can be very challenging for anglers to fish. So do your best to keep the boat straight unless repositioning.
One rule to follow when rowing the boat is to never drop the oars in the water. When the oars are in the water they are susceptible to getting bumped, snagged, broken, or lost. Try putting the oars underneath your knees or inside the boat when you cannot have you hands on the oars.
One very common mishap happens when the downstream oar is in the water and it hits a rock or river bottom. The oar can shoot up with a lot of power and hit the rower. Some people have been knocked unconscious by this danger. The boat can also flip or can knock out other anglers in the boat. So take extra precaution with the downstream oar.
For beginner oarsmen, I personally don’t recommend using an anchor as it can result in a variety of safety hazards. The biggest hazard is to never let the anchor go in fast water. When the anchor drops in fast water it can pull your boat into waves and cause it to flip. So take extra precaution with your anchor and make sure it is up when running technical water. And if it does somehow go down, cutting it loose can be the quick solution to getting out of a sticky situation. The anchor will become a tool for you to use to operate the boat and can result in more fish caught. Understanding the capabilities are key.
Also, do note that anchoring in private land in the state of Colorado is illegal. Be sure to have maps of private and public land for knowing where to anchor and pull over when re-rigging is necessary.
Tip 7: High-side, Strainers, Throw-bags, and Life Jackets
As stated above understanding basic whitewater safety is above all. A few points to reiterate is understand terms high side, strainers, and throw-bags.
A high side is when the boat becomes pinned on an obstacle, all people in the boat should move to the high side of the boat as quickly as possible. The weight will dislodge the boat from the obstacle.
A strainer is an obstacle in the water like a tree, stump, or branch. They can be very dangerous and very easy to be caught up and trapped in a strainer. So make sure to use extra precaution when you spot a strainer.
A throw-bag is a safety tool on board of every boat that can be thrown to rescue someone danger. When using a throw-bag, throw the bag like a football. If you are being rescued be sure to grab the rope, not the bag.
Always have a life jacket or PFD’s (personal flotation device) onboard for everyone at all times. Life Jackets saves lives it’s as simple as that. Put one on!
Boats can be customized a million different ways and can be set up to accommodate shorter, taller, wider, skinner people. So take a second to adjust the boat or familiarize yourself with the boat so you can be confident in rowing it. Every boat rows and feels different. Some things to look out for that can be adjusted to make it easier to row would be adjusting the seat, adjusting the foot brace, adjusting the oar placement. Know where the anchor is and how to operate it. Understand the type of oars and if they are using an Oar rite or rubber stopper. If you don’t feel confident rowing someone else’s boat because it just doesn’t fit you, don’t row it. Not all boats are built the same so understanding that is essential to properly rowing a specific boat. Taking the Boat Out:
After the float is done, proper boat ramp etiquette is key to being a steward out on the water. Make sure your boat is anchored properly off the ramp as you get your vehicle. Other boats, gusts of wind and other unforeseeable dangers can dislodge your boat. So be sure to have it properly anchored and secured. When loading the boat make sure the oars are stowed correctly. Proper boat ramp etiquette is to be fast on the ramp and pull forward once the boat is loaded so others can access the ramp. Then you can unload and strap down your boat.
The oarsman is the captain of the boat that helps anglers get into fish, a highly-skilled captain can get anglers into even more fish. While it may take years and years of experience to get there, below are some intermediate to advanced rowing techniques that will make you become a better rower for fly fishing.
One key thing to remember is that rowing for fly fishing is completely different than your traditional river running techniques where you constantly push forward. While the base foundation and fundamentals of rowing are the same, rowing for fly fishing is a whole different ball game and remember the fundamental rule to “row backwardsâ€. In this next section we will cover more advance rowing for fly fishing techniques.
Understanding and assessing the water you have to row is paramount to be efficient. You have to see and visualize how you want to fish a specific piece of water. If you see a juicy boulder garden on the river left, slowing the boat down to effectively fish is key.
A few tips to abide by out there when looking for good water is to slow that boat down in fast water currents to give anglers a chance to fish the water and the opposite goes for slow water. You don’t have to work as hard, so take a breather and let your anglers casually fish the slow water. Don’t over milk or spend too much time working the slow water unless of course you’re getting into fish.
One tip is as you familiarize yourself with a section of water watch how other boats work the water and take notes, especially from the guides. Also, remember the areas of water that you caught fish as next time you float through there will probably be more fish.
Holding your line can separate beginner oarsmen from intermediate to advance oarsmen. Holding your line has nothing to do with your fly line rather it means holding and navigating the boat at a stable distance from the bank. Beginners have challenges with holding lines as we have all been there when the oarsmen is 10 feet from the bank than 30 feet and just zig zagging down the river. It makes it challenging to effectively fly fish the water.
So making sure that you are maintaining a constant distance from the bank or fishable water will provide anglers with more opportunities to effectively fish. The typical progression to achieving this is first to focus on keeping the boat at a slow pace where you can control the boat, then making micro movements to adjust the preferred distance from the bank. The next step is making simple fluid oar strokes to pace the boat and then the last step is to assess the upcoming water to make necessary oar strokes to keep the boat in line.
So now you have an idea of how to assess the water for rowing and can hold a line down the river, well understanding the skill level of your anglers in the boat plays a huge factor in knowing where to position the boat. For example, if you have an angler upfront that can cast 40 feet comfortably and one in the back that has never held a fly rod and can maybe get 20 feet out. The boat will need to be positioned based on these skill level. When you’re coming up on good water, making sure that you have set up the angler in the back for success where he/she can make a 20 foot cast and their flies will be fishing is key.
Another huge tip and fundamental to every float trip is to communicate with the anglers in the boat. “Is this a good distance from the bank?†“Do you want me a little closer?†Having open communication on the boat between the anglers and oarsmen makes the experience a lot more enjoyable for everyone. Everyone likes to fish a little different so even if you are an experienced rower, specific anglers may like to fish a certain piece of water a little different. And hey maybe you will learn something new.
Along with Tip 2.3: Know the Angler/s, oarsmen needs to take into account the specific techniques that the anglers are fishing. Are they throwing streamers, nymphing, or dry flies? Each technique means different rowing techniques.
Nymphing: focus on deeper pools and riffles. Avoid shallow banks. No need for long casting, those fish are feeding below the surface, get the boat closer to the water so an angler can have an easy cast. Make sure the anglers have their rigs ahead of the pace of the boat in case of a snag.
Streamers: typically anglers can fish all types of water with streamers. Keep the boat at a nice pace and a good casting distance from the bank. Make sure the angler has enough time to strip perpendicular across the water to present the fly.
Dry Flies: Keep the boat a decent distance from the holding water to not put the fish down with the boat. Make sure your caster can reach the water you are targeting. It is very important to keep the boat at pace with the flies to achieve a long drag free drift.
Time management is not necessarily a technical rowing tip but an important one for anyone captaining a boat. When planning your fishing day take into account the miles you have to row and the amount of time you would like to spend or get to spend on the water. From there you can create a rough plan of the pace you would like to maintain. If you are “milking†or going slow on certain stretch this will allow you to pull over and work some water over and over. When you’re going faster you have less time to go slower, so adjusting your fishing techniques might need to be altered. Also, take into account pressure from other anglers, private water, and your favorite water when planning your float. A good captain has a rough plan of where and when they want to be hitting specific water.
Pro-tip: Make sure to give yourself an extra hour of leigh time when your spouse asks you what time you will be off the water. 😉
Tip 2.6: Learn and Master the Crawl or Crab Stroke
The Crab or Crawl stroke is by far the most useful rowing technique for rowing for fishing. It allows the boat to maintain a smooth line without disrupting the fishable water. So what is it? The stroke is a combination of back rowing and sweeping. You will take one oar and push it forward so it’s vertical facing forward by the bow. This oar almost works like a motor tiller, by making strokes it controls whether the boat will move to the left or right. The other oar remains in the normal position, where you will just maintain a simple back row to maintain your pace. The result of the two oars working together is a system where you can have complete control to hold lines and make micro adjustments to move left and right based on the water you are fishing.
This technique can be very effective when you have disruptions like rocks, trees, the bank, and other structures in way of your oar stroke. By using the vertical oar stroke to control the line of the boat you can fish a lot of water that many other boats cannot.
Tip 2.7: Micro Movements with Your Hands – Feathering the Oars
One key to holding a constant line in your boat is making micro movements with your hands to control the boat. What this means is when making an oar stroke you can change the angle of the oar blade in order to have a different result on the stroke. So if you need a small adjustment, moving your oar blade sideways a little bit will reduce the surface area of the oar blade in the water and result in a smaller movement. This is also called “feather the oarsâ€. The techniques can also be useful in general rowing when you have to adjust to current speed, wind and other factors. By feathering the oars you can subtle movements to result in a better line and more enjoyable experience for the anglers in the boat.
Feather of the oars cannot be achieved when you Oar Rites on the oars. This is why many intermediate to advance rowers do not prefer Oar Rites.
Being able to slow the boat down in shallow water is a skill every oarsmen should strive for. A lot of time near or around shallow riffles or gravel bars there is some great water to fish. So being able to slow the boat down in there is key for anglers to get some good drifts through this water.
The technique to slowing the boat down in shallow water involves short shallow back strokes to slow the boat down. Don’t be afraid to knock a few rocks with your oars. Be comfortable with taking short shallow strokes to control the boat. Another tip is to get the speed of the boat down before floating down the shallow riffle so you don’t have to work as hard.
Very similar to Tip 8: Master Rowing in Shallow Water, fast water like rapids can hold some great water that often is overlooked and under-fished. Look ahead and get the pace of the boat down before entering the fast water, strong aggressive strokes are typically needed to slow the boat down. Look for big boulders with soft water, when passing by the soft water you can get a nice strong oar stroke in this soft water. It is also important to communicate to the anglers to pick and choose the water they plan to fish as the boat will be moving fast so hitting all the water will be near impossible.
Tip 2.10: Proper Anchoring and Boat Stabilization
Being able to anchor in tricky places is a boating skill that is often overlooked, it can result in a quick pit stop to hit some quality water or an emergency re-rig resulting in no lost water. Some techniques and tricks to anchor and stabilize the boat in tricky spots is to utilize back eddies and slow water. Look for boulders rocks or big eddies that you will be able to slow the boat down. Once the anchor is down be sure to let out 5-6 feet of anchor rope, this excess rope will provide a bit of a buffer from the strong current. If you keep moving keep letting out anchor line until your anchor catches. Mastering how to properly stabilize and anchor the boat is essential to rowing for float fly fishing.
Pro tip: When back rowing up to a bank to anchor, right before you pull up on land stand up (reduces the weight in the boat), then sit down once you’ve hit the bank. It almost works as an anchor and will get you farther on to land.
This list of tips and techniques is only a start to the endless learning process of rowing a boat for fly fishing. One big takeaway is that everyone has their secrets and certain techniques that work for their specific rivers, boats and fishing techniques. With that observing others on the water and talking with other oarsmen and anglers in your boat will only make you a better rower. As always safety is a priority out there on the waterways, along with being respectful to the others out there.
If you want to brush up on skills or learn how to row a boat, Vail Valley Anglers offers Oar Certification Classes every spring. They involve five days of 10 hours of on the water training with certified instructors. The class gives you the rowing certification needed to commercially float guide in the state of Colorado. For more information click the link here.
Article by former Vail Valley Anglers float fishing guide and Editor of Flylords Mag Patrick Perry (@patperry).
Photos courtesy of Scott Kramer, Freelance Photographer at Vail Valley Anglers. Be sure to check them out on Instagram @vailvalleyanglers.
The iconic broken down bus, mostly known as the shelter of “Alexander Supertrampâ€/ Christopher McCandless  an adventurer who’s story (most notably told in the book and film: “Into the Wildâ€) inspired thousands, has been removed from the Alaskan wilderness. The wilderness known as the Last Frontier draws tourists from all over the globe every year to explore the beauty this land has to offer. ‘Into the Wild’ was written based on the true story of Christopher McCandles who cast away society and his material possessions to seek refuge in the Alaskan bush. McCandles (AKA “Supertrampâ€) died 114 days later due to starvation induced by food poisoning. The dangers of the unpredictable wilderness are often forgotten about as adventurers seek to find the remote bus themselves as tribute to Chris’ story. Many tourists find themselves venturing to this remote location situated 25 miles from the parks highway, suddenly without cell reception and most commonly caught in inclement and constantly changing weather.
Christopher McCandles sitting against the Bus
Because of the danger that this trek possesses, the Alaska Army National Guard removed the bus and relocated it to an ‘secure location’ for the protection of the people looking to gaze upon this nugget of history. Though many people have ventured to see the bus, not all have returned. Adventure and thrill seekers alike find themselves losing their lives to the ever changing weather or the river rapids as they try to cross. “This is an abandoned and deteriorating vehicle that was requiring dangerous and costly rescue efforts” said Alaska Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feige.
To read more about the full story from the LA Times, click here
We’re just going to leave this here. The Stinger recently popped up on our feeds and we had to investigate. Halfway between a reel and a fixed-line rod, like Tenkara, the Stinger is certainly a conversation starter.
MAVRK Industries is excited to announce the launch of the Stinger, a streamlined, hybrid line-holding system that gives anglers increased tactile control for better casting accuracy, improved dead-drifts, and strike detection for catching wild river trout. The MAVRK Stinger officially launches on Kickstarter on June 02, 2020.
The Stinger replaces a traditional fly reel reducing unnecessary weight and inertia. It’s lightweight, the hybrid approach combines the simplicity of Tenkara and the effectiveness of modern Euro Nymphing techniques. Our hybrid system can benefit anglers from beginners to advanced.
There are two Stinger models—each with its own features and benefits.
Stinger M1: Built for tactical-grade performance. Our USA-made M1 is CNC machined from 6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminum for high strength and lightweight.
Stinger Comp: Our durable, field-ready standard. The Comp is injection molded using a strong lightweight composite material that is virtually unbreakable.
Both are efficient, lightweight, portable, and extremely dependable—the best ally one can have when stalking fish off the beaten path.
Created by Jeff Sasaki, a noted product designer, and avid fly angler. Jeff started his first company, Element Case, in 2010. He sold the brand and moved full time to Truckee, California to pursue his passion for fly fishing.
“The Stinger is a hybrid approach to fly fishing. It combines European Nymphing, Japanese Tenkara, and western fly fishing techniques. It’s a radical shift in a sport that hasn’t changed much in decades. Be a part of the hybrid movement!” —Jeff Sasaki, creator of the Stinger
TU Costa 5 Rivers is hosting the first annual “Fish Responsibly†virtual fishing themed scavenger hunt tournament on June 26th-July 10th.
Grab your crew of fishing buddies to battle others from around the nation for thousands of dollars in prizes, and a years’ worth of team bragging rights!
Prizes:
First Place Team: Each team member will win 1X Costa Sunglasses (Diego or Waterwomen Frame), 1X Fishpond Grand Teton Carry-On Bag with TU logo, 1X bag of Early Riser Coffee
Second Place Team: Each team member will win 1X Fishpond Flat Tops Wader Bag with TU Logo, 1X 5 Rivers RepYourWater Lid
Third Place Team: Each team member will win a 1X Brodin net with TU logo, and a 1X Wingo Prize Pack
By registering to participate in the tournament you will get a “Fish Responsibly” Sticker, an exclusive discount code for Early Riser Coffee Co., and will automatically be entered into our digital “door prize” raffle!
1X Vedavoo Beast or Seam Sling Pack (winners choice)
1X Rising Prize Pack
How It Works:Â
Registration starts June 18th and closes midnight on June 25th
Team member registration is $15 per member. Teams must be comprised of 3-10 people. All tournament proceeds will be allocated to the upcoming 5 Rivers Community Fund. A student-led fund that helps TU Costa 5 Rivers Clubs around the country perform on the ground conservation work in their community.
Follow @tucosta5rivers on Instagram to get your scorecard each week
Scoring metrics will be based on accomplishing various goals outlined on your weekly scorecard
All scoring will be conducted via Instagram by tagging the @tucosta5rivers account with hashtag #FishResponsibly2020 and #(yourteamname) in your Instagram posts and story posts.
The team with the most collective points by team members wins the tournament. Teams with the second and third most points by team members will win second and third place respectively.
The TU Costa 5 Rivers Instagram page will make a bi-weekly leader board post to keep everyone informed on who is winning and will periodically drop 24-hour “flash challenges†(hint, hint) on our Instagram story.
Upon completion of the tournament on July 10th at midnight, winning teams and “door prize” winners will be announced on July 13th.
Rules:
Follow state and local guidelines regarding outdoor recreation, fishing regulations and social distancing
By participating, you agree to TU Costa 5 Rivers “Fish Responsibly†Tournament Wavier
All scoring will be conducted via Instagram. Please tag @tucosta5rivers in your post with hashtag #Fishresponsibly2020 #(yourteamname).*
*Note: For points to count, you have to post everything on Instagram with the proper tags. Your account also needs to be set to PUBLIC for the duration of the tournament so we can see your posts! Otherwise, points will be forfeited. This ensures the most accurate score possible for everyone participating.
In the event of a tie, the team to post all of their content on Instagram first wins
You are at least 18 years old and reside in the United States of America, and meet all other eligibility requirements outlined below.
Eligibility:
Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States age 18 years of age or older (or at least the age of majority as legally mandated by the entrant’s jurisdiction of residence if greater than 18) at the date of entry. Subject to all applicable federal & state & local laws & regulations. Void where prohibited by law. Employees & their immediate families (parents, children, spouse, siblings) of Trout Unlimited (“the Sponsorâ€), its advertising & promotion agencies, their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, sales representatives &/or distributors, & their immediate families, & those living in the same household (whether related or not) are not eligible to enter.
Trout Unlimited (TU) Costa 5 Rivers “Fish Responsibly†Tournament Rules and Limitations:
By participating in the “Fish Responsibly†tournament, participants agree to be bound by the rules and decisions of Trout Unlimited (TU) Costa 5 Rivers as well as the website’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By participating in the “Fish Responsibly Tournament†and/or accepting prize(s), you agree to the “Fish Responsibly†Wavier & Photo Release and Competition Rules. TU Costa 5 Rivers reserves the right to use participants’ content, photos, full names, and email addresses for promotional purposes, however, this information will never be sold or distributed to third parties. TU Costa 5 Rivers reserves the right to update the Rules and Limitations from time to time as well as the rules and processes of the “Fish Responsibly Tournamentâ€. If you do not agree with these “Fish Responsibly†tournament Rules and Limitations, do not participate in the “Fish Responsibly†tournament.
What do you get when Bluefish, trophy Stripers, Blue Fin Tuna, and birds coral up a massive school of bait? Absolute mayhem. This time of year the Striped Bass are in the heat of their migration and feeding on any and all bait balls they can find. It’s now that we long to head to the sandy beaches of the northeast chasing those insane fish. But in the meantime, enjoy this video, get stoked, and get out there!
@SouthForkSalt captured this insane feeding frenzy occurring off Long Island. Check out more of his incredible content on his Youtube Channel and Instagram!
I love fly fishing for many reasons. One of those reasons is the opportunity to observe the relationships between predators and prey. When I’m trout fishing, there is no better sense of accomplishment than having a weary trout rise to the surface for a delicately presented dry fly. On the other end of the spectrum, nothing gets my stoke levels going like a bloodthirsty trout inhaling a large streamer. If only there was a way to combine the murderous aggression with the jaw-dropping visuals and the elusiveness of the strike. Well, as it turns out, there is a great way to combine those factors into a Frankenstein of epicness (wow, what a coincidence)! Using mouse patterns for trout, or “mousing†is my favorite, occasionally effective, always exiting way of targeting trout on a fly.
oooouuuuu!
Why would a trout eat a mouse?
As trout grow bigger, they need more and more calories to maintain their size and continue growing, just like humans. Also, like humans, trout expend calories when they move around, like when they feed. They’ve figured out that to have the most efficient growth, they need to take in a lot more calories than they use. So bigger trout tend to eat larger meals, less often. This is the same principle that makes throwing large streamers effective for giants. Although mice do not often fall into rivers, trout know they pack a lot of calories, so an opportunistic fish will take the chance. Most trout, being wary by nature, will ignore a passing mouse, but that is irrelevant because when you are mousing, you aren’t searching for most trout, you are on a quest to find that one special fish.
The eat photo: Stash Wislocki
Gear:
The gear you use for mousing is purely situational. When I’m mousing in a small stream for native Brook Trout, I will use my 3wt, but when I’m in Alaska, I use a 7wt religiously. When it comes to rods, just use the same rod that you would normally use on the river you plan to mouse. The only constant in mousing gear is fly lines. Clearly, since mousing is a surface game, only use floating lines. When it comes to fly choice, there are many different options. For trout, I prefer patterns that ride lower in the water. My favorite mice are the Mr. Hankey, the Morrish Mouse, and the Master Splinter.
Mr. Hankey Mouse
Tactics:
When fishing a mouse, you want to imitate what would happen is a mouse finds itself in the unfortunate situation of swimming. Cast downstream at a 45° angle, and get your fly as close to the bank as possible (because mice cant fly). Once the fly splats down, raise your rod and wiggle the tip, and let your fly swing down and across. The raise of the rod and the wiggle of the tip makes the mouse “skate†or move in a way similar to how a mouse would swim. Repeat this until the stars align, and then give it the old fashioned trout set (sorry to literally every saltwater guide ever).
An aggressive Brook Trout won’t think twice about a mouse
Successful mousing requires specific breed of anglers, but if anything you just read got you excited, give it a try, you never know what lurks in the shadows!
Back in February 2019, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was permanently reauthorized. Since then, the majority of public discourse turned to fully and permanently funding LWCF. Earlier today, the Senate voted 75 in favor to 23 opposed, on a bill that would do just that. Below is some background information on LWCF and why this legislative push is so important to our nation’s outdoor recreation heritage and long-term conservation goals.
Enacted in 1965, Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund to preserve and support outdoor recreation. Specifically, LWCF has three purposes:
Acquiring land for outdoor recreation by the Federal Government–U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.
Establishes a ‘stateside’ program to provide states with matching grant donations to be used by the states in planning, acquiring, and developing additional outdoor recreation opportunities.
Fund other federal programs that are related to natural resources–the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Conservation Fund is an example.
Under the legislation, $900 million is authorized annually to be deposited into LWCF. The majority of the money that goes into LWCF comes from offshore oil and gas lease royalties. Note, these are not taxpayer dollars. Over the course of LWCF, nearly $41 billion have accrued in the fund. However, “more than $20 billion of those funds have then been diverted elsewhere,” according to a Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition fact sheet.
The Great American Outdoors Act, which passed the Senate today, builds upon LWCF’s 2019 permanent reauthorization by fully and permanently funding LWCF–$900 million annually. This bill will guarantee that these funds are used to conserve and enhance our country’s outdoor recreation opportunities, rather than diverting them elsewhere.
Photo: @stpeteflyshop
LWCF enjoys substantial bipartisan support. A 2018 National Wildlife Federation poll found that “74% of Americans want the Land and Water Conservation Fund renewed and funded.” Â Â Â More than 850 national, state, and local organizations signed a letter to Congressional leaders urging the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act.
In today’s hyper-polarized political environment, seeing 75 senators agree that fully funding LWCF is important was immensely refreshing–obviously there are other essential laws and reforms needed in our country that unfortunately do not have the support of 3/4’s of the Senate.
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s Whit Fosburgh had this to say: “Today’s vote is historic in many ways. It fulfills a promise we made 55 years ago to create a national legacy of investing in our natural resources. It also fixes our roads, trails, boat ramps, and recreational spaces so future generations can enjoy them. And it helps put Americans back to work through conservation at a time when unemployment rates are at near record levels.â€
And Trout Unlimited’s Chris Wood offered: “We know LWCF is incredibly important to hunters and anglers as one of the most enduring and vital funds for securing access to our public lands at no cost to the taxpayer. We’re thrilled and grateful to see the Senate pass this pivotal piece of legislation. In addition to LWCF, we can’t overstate the importance of the funding provided for the maintenance backlog, which will help fix the thousands of miles roads bleeding sediment into our rivers and streams and replace undersized culverts that block fish migration.”
This overwhelming support for LWCF should come as no surprise. In its more than 50 year life, LWCF has been America’s most successful and efficient conservation program–all the while not using any taxpayer dollars. Every county–yes, county–in the nation has directly benefitted from LWCF. Additionally, the massive economic impact by the outdoor recreation industry is becoming more and more apparent. Fully and permanently funding LWCF and addressing the massive maintenance backlog on our public lands is a prudent investment. One that communities across the country will benefit from.
Why now? Why did this legislative priority take so long to see the light of day? Well, fueling the sudden political surge for the LWCF’s full and permanent funding is the fact that 2020 is a presidential election year. Many incumbents are using LWCF and the Great American Outdoor Act to appease fired-up constituents back home. Unfortunately, politics are always involved, and reelection is generally a Congressperson’s highest priority. In any event, this recent LWCF momentum is welcomed with open arms, and we look forward to its–hopefully rapid–enactment.
With the Senate’s passage of the Great American Outdoors Act earlier today (June 17th) and broad support in the Democrat-controlled House, this bill could be signed by President Trump in the upcoming weeks. Passage in the Senate was always the most troublesome barrier for LWCF; with that hurdle overcome, outdoor recreation and conservation advocates now have reason to celebrate this huge win for America’s wild and historic lands and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Beginning in 2014, researchers began tagging Grizzly Bears in the Alaskan interior to track their movements and learn more about their complex behaviors. It’s been thought that interior Grizzlies rely on terrestrial meat for their diet, as compared to their coastal cousins who rely almost entirely on the bounty of salmon that run into the state’s coastal rivers each year. Well, once again, the bears have proven to be more complex than we previously thought, and researchers have found something quite interesting.
In a recent article from the National Park Service, researchers share the unexpected results of an interior Alaskan bear tagging study that resulted in the discovery of salmon spawning streams deep in the Alaskan interior that biologists were previously unaware of.
