In this weeks How To Tie video, Davie McPhail teaches us how to tie an imitation of the most popular baitfish that can be found just about anywhere: The Olive Sculpin.
Learn About This Fly
The sculpin is a fish that can be found just about anywhere, but is largely regarded as one of the most important elements of a trout’s diet; mainly due to their abundance and nutritional value. These little baitfish can be often found hiding under rocks, waiting for an unsuspicious meal to wander by (such as anything from an aquatic insect to another sculpin). Because of their ability to hunker down in strong currents and riffles, these fish are a primary target for hungry trout, oftentimes being hunted by large rainbows knocking over rocks.
Depending on what your fishing for, the sculpin fly can be a great way to bump up your streamer size from a normal wooly bugger. In saltwater, sculpin can grow up to 2 feet! However, this specific tie is for those targeting freshwater sculpin which usually range from 6-7 inches long. This fly is a great weighted fly to fish on the bottom of rocky streams, underneath medium-strong currents and ripples.
Note: While there are hundreds of sculpin variations existing in the world of fly tying, this particular imitation demonstrates the usage of the sculpin helmet; which is a plastic additive that closely mirrors the unique head shape of a sculpin fish.
Shelen Scout Boyes (@troutscoutlife) had the chance to witness a proper double rainbow on a day out fishing with the good mate, local guide and New Zealand fly fishing champion Cory Scott, (@coryscott_flyfishing). Let’s just say she was able to taste the rainbow.
Last week, President Trump and his administration announced they will be incrementally be imposing new tariffs on $300 Billion of Chinese imports, including sport fishing equipment. These new tariffs will take hold on September 1 and will be followed by another increase on December 15 of this year.
According to FishingTackleRetailer.com, a fishing industry business magazine, “the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), and many of its members requested exclusions from additional tariffs on sportfishing equipment arguing that our industry already pays a unique excise tax that funds fisheries conservation and access projects. An additional tariff on top of this 10% excise tax would cause harm to the bottom lines of many ASA members, deter fishing participation and reduce conservation funding.”
The Chinese manufactured products being affected by the new Sept. 1 tariffs::
Fishing Hooks
Fishing Reels & Parts
Packaged Fishing Line
Pre-made Leaders
Pre-Tied Flies
Additional fishing products to be affected by the tariffs taking hold December 15:
Okay, let’s get real with ourselves for a minute. Every angler, whether just starting or turned pro is guilty of having a bad day on the water, then promptly heading down to their local fly shop and attempting to drown their sorrows in a shiny new purchase. “Perhaps if I had this new automatic line retriever 3000 I would have landed that monster trout”. No matter what the guilty purchase is, the internal dialogue the next day is usually synonymous with the liquid coping counterpart; “where did all my money go?”
Well, we all want to be the best angler we can be, and sometimes we allow ourselves to think that by attaching a bunch of shiny new toys to our vest, we’re helping ourselves get there. It’s a flawed method of thinking…but hey, its OUR flawed method of thinking, and I doubt we’ll be changing our ways anytime soon.
So sit back, relax, and have a laugh at your own expense as you may find some of your “trusty” gear on this list. (And most importantly, this is all in good fun…you’ll probably still buy half these items).
Believe it or not, the nippers you can buy at your local CVS are most likely quite comparable to the $400 hand-pressed, Mordor fired, rare collectors edition nippers you can find on the shelves at certain fly shops. Whether you want to blow a month’s worth of groceries on some glorified toenail clippers is certainly your choice, but please don’t complain when the old men at the fishing club make fun of you.
While every angler enjoys adding their own personal touch to their otherwise run of the mill fly reel, the addition of a color sleeve is not only impractical, but practically invisible. Only compatible with one specific reel, this item seems to be more of something you might add to your online cart to bump up to free shipping qualification. Not only does this sleeve take up room where more backing could sit, but also serves 0 practical purposes. We’re not looking to be mean towards the creators of the product, but we see why they’re no longer on sale.
Let’s be clear here. There are places in the world, specifically further north, where the bugs can be so bad, it may drive someone deep into depravity. For you long trippers, feel free to take this with a grain of salt. However, when it comes to the weekend warriors who brave the harsh conditions of the Pennsylvania Poconos, do yourself a favor and leave the bug net behind. While the pesky little buggers can be inconvenient, it never hurts to actually immerse yourself in the outdoors and experience what it’s like to get an occasional poke from a hungry squiter. Perhaps, by enduring such discomfort, you will grow deeper respect for the natural world you’re standing in, and maybe even enjoy such sights with more gratitude. You will also look less like a beekeeper in waders.
Stop. Before you grab your pitchforks and torches, we understand there are people who need extra help tying knots as their vision or sense of touch begins to numb. For those of you to whom this applies…carry on, you get a pass. HOWEVER, for the rest of you who are trying to take 15 seconds off the time it takes to tie on a fly, or even worse, aren’t taking the time to learn your knots; We’re not mad…we’re just disappointed. One of the barriers to entry with this sport is struggling to learn these tiny and sometimes complicated knots, and learning them is a right of passage. By taking the easy way out and supplementing knowledge for a new toy, please reevaluate why you chose to fly fish.
In the world of fly fishing, it is easy to find a place for everything. This includes tippet rings, knot tiers (as mentioned above), and fly line connectors. However, it looks like the place for said connectors will have to be at number 5 on this list. Just like with the knot tier, this is a lazy, and ugly way of attempting to save a few minutes rigging, or worse, avoid actually learning your knots. Not only does this product embody an apathetic mentality, but it is dysfunctional in that it won’t fit through your guides, thus ending your day in a heap of wasted leader. Cmon folks, you’re better than this.
Well, there’s our list. In closing, if you swear by any of these products, or feel we were being overly scrutinous, that’s okay. At the end of the day, each angler is entitled to their opinion, and if you feel your choice in gear is justified, then power to you. Now get out and go catch a fish.
Patagonia has once again raised the bar on sustainable gear production. Their new Black Hole Duffel line body-material is made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials while maintaining their legendary durability. These bags have been our go-to luggage when flying with our fishing and camera gear, and once again we can feel confident that we are reducing our environmental impact by purchasing this gear.
This season’s Black Hole collection used 10 million plastic bottles to build the 100% recycled body fabric and webbing of Patagonia’s most well-loved travel bags. Every Black Hole bag is incredibly durable, water-resistant and backed by our Ironclad Guarantee. You can check out each and every one of the 25 new 100% recycled styles here. Extracting and processing virgin materials takes a toll on the land, water, and air. To do its part, Patagonia is moving toward 100% renewable and recycled raw materials.
To learn more about why Patagonia is letting go of virgin materials and moving towards more post-consumer recycling, see here.
Only a few years back, the mere mention of European style nymphing (let alone Czech nymphing) amongst a sect of American dry fly purists would be met with an inaudible profanity followed by a hardy wad of tobacco-stained saliva. However, most of those same anglers now find themselves hip-deep with a straight arm, scanning underwater feed-ways for a hungry fish.
In this guide, we will break down all the elements you need to know in order to perfect the Czech style of Euro-nymphing. Below you’ll find helpful tips about Czech nymphing, what flies you’ll need, proper fishing methods, and much more, and soon enough, you’ll be nymphing like a pro.
The history of the Czech style of European nymphing dates back to 1984 on the Dunajec River in Poland when Poland and Czechoslovakia were engaged in a fly fishing tournament. Due to a lack of accessibility to materials such as fly line, many of the Polish fishermen were implementing a short line fishing method, where they relied solely on nylon line. It was here where a Polish Angler by the last name of Jelenski showed the Czech competitors two basic caddis larvae fly patterns (Hydropsyche, and Rhycophylia).
From here, Czech competitors implemented their new pattern and style to take second place (behind Poland) at the world championship on the San River, only to take first place the next year (1986), in the Freshwater Club World Championships in Liege. Only a few months later, the same angler by the name of Slavoj Svobada took first again at the Champion of Czechoslovakia, and then again to win the World Trophy on the Ourth River.
As years went on, the short line Czech style brought many more individuals to first-place victories. Eventually, an emphasis on further developing these fly patterns came about when a focus on creating these flies with a “shellback” came to prominence. Flies were cased in dried catfish or eel skin and later titled a “Bobesh”. From there, massive advancements were made over the span of many years.
Eventually, lead wire, tungsten bead, and specialized chemically sharpened hooks took the place of the original flies tied with old sponge and raincoat. Special rubber backs and an upgrade to ice dubbin allowed the flies to evolve to what we see them as today; meticulously crafted, attractive specimens that almost look to pretty to fish with. Furthermore, flies were not the only elements subject to change. Along the way, line indicators, thinner diameter nylon, and craft-specific nymphing rods began to come into popularity, only further propelling the Czech style into popularity.
Because of the magnificent success, these flies bring, along with a dedication towards always improving, Czech style nymphs have become a staple to any anglers fly box across the world, and paired with the tight line, short cast style, will continue to bring fish to those same anglers nets.
Czech Nymphing today…
Czech nymphing hasn’t deviated too far from its roots since its introduction to the world in 1984, and in basic terms can be classified by the act of short distance fishing where the fly’s float path doesn’t stray far from under the tip of the rod. By keeping an outstretched arm, often times the actual fly line doesn’t even touch the water, as the line is to be kept close and tight in order to detect strikes.
A Czech nymph rig can be set up with either 2 or 3 flies depending on the conditions of the water. These flies are classified as either Sedges or Bobeshes. Sedges often imitate sedge larvae ( Hydropsyche) and are tied with green or yellow bodies with dark thorax’s. Bobeshes on the other hand, are tied to imitate the larval stages of a caddis or other members of the underwater insect community, all with a thicker body and legs extending from the thorax.
Bobesh caddis LarvaeMarbled sedge pupa courtesy of Flytierspage.com
Where and When to Czech nymph
Find your lane
Where:
Like all other forms of nymphing, and fishing in general, the best place to catch fish is moving water. More specifically, the seams and pockets created by moving water. As two currents meet, small pockets of slower water form beneath the surface. These areas act as a place for fish to hang out and conserve energy, as well as a direct feeding lane where fish await debris and insects as they wash down the currents of the river or stream.
With this in mind, the best place to float your fly would be in or around these lanes and pools. Fish often expect their food to be brought right to them, and will often gulp up an oncoming snack without a second thought. Not to mention, fish are less inclined to move in the hotter months of summer, and colder months of winter, so if you’re getting you fly right in front of them, they are 90% more likely to take it.
During its introduction to the fly fishing community, there was common misconception that Czech nymphing was a style of fishing solely used to fish icey Europen waters amidst cold winters; and furthermore, only to catch Grayling. Thankfully, this is but a myth and was dispelled rather quickly. In reality, Czech nymphing can be performed in any circumstance where the angler has access to moving water, and can correctly fish it.
Whether it be winter, summer, spring, or fall; this style can be implemented and is a practical alternative for when there seems to be no fish rising. As stated many times, fish do about 90% of their feeding underwater, so by refusing such a method, you’re bound to catch only a fraction of what you could be catching.
The key times to nymph would be when there is low visibility. Considering you will be so close to the pool you are trying to fish, you will be a clearer presence. You’ll have more luck on days with overcast, or sometimes rain, as your hovering rod and close proximity will be less easy to detect (by sight at least).
Czech Nymphing Method
Fish it tight, fish it right
When it comes to Czech Nymphing, the technique involved is just like any other sort of tight line nymphing. The basic idea of it is that you want your flies to simulate shrimp, larvae, etc. bouncing around in the current. By implementing a dropper system, this can be achieved with a few roll-casts, or simply taking one precise cast and splashing the flies into the water.
When beginning your drift, cast approximately 45 degrees upstream. Remember, Czech nymphing dictates there should be little to NO fly line touching the water, this allows a smooth drift, while also keeping your line tight to indicate any strikes.
Once the fly hits the water, remember to keep your arm extended. This allows you to better control your line, as well as get as far away from shore as possible. Now with your flies submerged, they begin their drift downstream. An easy trick to remember is to try to keep the tip of the rod almost directly over where the flies are drifting. You should be able to draw an almost completely vertical line from the tip to the flies throughout most of the drift.
Once you begin to reach the end of your drift, let the flies swing in the current before you pull the line out to recast. A common mistake many anglers make is pulling the line out too early. Often times the end of the drift is where the fish will make a split-second decision and grab at your fly, by removing them too quickly, you’re eliminating that opportunity, and most likely losing a lot of fish.
Watch your indicator:Â Traditionally, Czech nymphing is done using a leader strike indicator, or a colored extension of nylon that points out irregularities in movement. If you catch a glimpse of your indicator moving in an abnormal manner, it’s probably because a fish has your fly! When that moment comes, stay calm and give a strong, but not violent, set. If your eyes are elsewhere during a take, there’s a good chance you could miss it.
Keep that line TIGHT:Â Everyone knows slack is an angler’s worst enemy. In Czechnymphing, this is truer than ever. By keeping your line tight, you are doing the following…
Allowing yourself to feel if there is a strike or twitch of the line (in case an indicator fails to do so).
Allowing for the indicator the function properly and act independent from the pushes and pulls of the current.
Creating a clear and natural-looking drift
Keeping excess line out of the water, which may spook fish examining the nymphs for authenticity.
In reference to the history portion of this guide, the traditional Czech nymph (or Bobish) was created as a competition fly. One of the main reasons these nymphs were so favored was due to the way they functioned in their setup, as well as their weight. In said competitions, weighted leader or split shot was prohibited, so anglers had to get crafty and implemented tungsten beads in order to get their flies down in the fast currents.
These flies are tied on a dropper system stemming from a monofilament, or fluorocarbon (preferable) leader. 3 flies can be tied to the rig, but depending on water conditions, sometimes 2 will work better. In reference to the diagram below, these nymphs are rigged as such:
Leader indicator is connected to fluorocarbon leader
From the leader, 4 ft-8ft. of leader lead to the first tag end (created by a surgeons knot). Here is where your first nymph will sit.
Next, travel 20″ to the next tag end and attach your heaviest fly.
Another 20″ from there, tie on your final fly. This will be your lightest fly.
The reason for the specific placement of the flies is what makes Czech nymphing so effective. Once the flies hit the water, the middle nymph will sink the fastest, and drag along the bottom as it is swept through the current. The remaining 2 flies will float above it in a “V” shape, advertising 2-3 flies on various levels, ensuring at least one is seen by a hungry fish.
Which Nymphs to use…
The beauty of fly tying is that each tier makes their flies a little different from the next. However, because of this, there is no exact defined list of which flies are THE Czech nymphs. However, the broad definition would state that; if the fly is tied with a weighted head, tied on a grub style hook, and imitates a freshwater shrimp, caddis, or larvae…it’s a Czech nymph.
Here are just a few examples of some variations of these flies:
Original Ryacophila (olive)    Tungsten CZ Caddis         Hot spot Ryacophila
The best rod to use is something long, that way you can get as far from the shore as possible, without losing that tight drift. Look for a 10-11′ rod, generally with a low weight (about 3-5 is best). You want a nice low weight in order to feel the vibrations in the line in order to detect a fish taking your fly/ making sure your bumping bottom.
In Czech nymphing, your leader is one of the most important elements in your loadout. With flimsy, or oversized line, fish can get spooked, or much worse, snap off. Considering your fly line will almost never even touch the water, it’s up to your leader to be the workhorse here. Its generally suggested you go with a 4x-5x leader, as it will stand strong, but not be too noticeable. Also, when it comes to material, stick to fluorocarbon as it will make your line sink much better than Mono.
Okay…let’s all agree to stay away from bobbers for this one. There are a lot of good leader indicators out there, and when it comes down to it, it’s all going to depend on what is easiest for YOU to see. They’re not very expensive, so buy a few and find your favorite.
In our latest Video of the Week, we head all the way to Austria to see how the fishing is in the mountains of Northern Styria. According to the video description, fly fishing has only been allowed here since 2017. We are able to see one of the first glimpses of what the fishery has to offer in this video.
Upon watching this video, you can see that it is an amazing fishery with plenty of opportunities, but one of the best parts about this secret fishery is the amazing scenery surrounding the area. We can see why this place has been so well protected and will hopefully continue to be for years to come.
This video was created by Pure Films. Be sure to keep up with them on YouTube for their future projects!
The video of the week is selected and written by Fly Lords team member Conner Grimes (@doublehaulfishing).
Fresh, shiny and chromed-up. I fell in love with these fish many years ago. When I was in high school I was always watching YouTube videos and dreaming to fish for them one day. After I finished university, I was lucky enough to get working visa in Canada. I’ve spent more than one year in Vancouver, BC and got my first steelhead on the fly. The addiction was set. I simply needed more. Steelheading around Vancouver isn’t easy despite the low numbers of fish so I tried luck in Northern BC. I hooked 3 in one week of my DIY trip. Landed all of them and yet I was completely lost in the idea of getting another chance. A few months later in my homeland, the Czech Republic, the dream came true, I received a one-year working visa to New Zealand. Long story short, after many days on the water, I ended up spending 15 months in that amazing country. After that, I had to leave in the beginning of April. My shortcut from New Zealand to the Czech Republic went through Canada. I split the long flights to two shorter ones, which gave me the chance to fish for steelhead again!
Back in Vancouver. What a feeling. The city changed a lot but good vibes survived. Fishing is best with friends so I gathered some steel headers in my country and managed to put together a group of 4 Czech fly fishermen. I traveled from NZ, Jiri from the Czech Republic, Vojta who lives in Vancouver and Michal from the Yukon province. The funny thing is, except me and Michal, none of us had met before, but the same passion connected us. Â
Me and Jiri started the trip at a Spey Clave event. Good opportunity to try many setups, meet new people and practice casting with double hand rod. The next day, we went to the river where I got my first steelhead ever. After an hour of fishing, I had landed the first steelhead of our trip. Same spot, same fly and even the same size of fish. I was absolutely stoked. What a start! The following day, each of us hooked another steelhead. We lost them but I was still thinking that I living in a dream. This river system has a pretty small run and every hooked fish counts. Anyway, the first three days were just the appetizer before our main trip to Northern BC.Â
After long drive, we finally met together in Terrace, BC to make some plans for our 10-day stay, of course over a beer or two. The rivers changed a lot, so the start wasn’t easy but in the end, everybody got his fish (or four). For Michal and Jiri, these were their first steelhead ever, and for Vojta, his first-ever steelhead on the fly. Our 4 person group hooked 16 fish and we landed 9 of them. I would say thats not too bad of a result for a completely DIY trip. Somebody can say it’s not much, but for us, it was an absolutely perfect trip. It’s not just about catching fish. It’s about to be with friends, having good times on the water and the time spent together after fishing. 10 days passed by very quickly. Time to say goodbye to Northern BC and moved back to work.
But, not for me and Jiri. We still had some days left. Our plan was to spend them around Vancouver. We met up with my good friend Tom. He lives in Vancouver and I used to fish with him when I was living there. On the first day, we didn’t have a single bite.
The next morning we woke up to a rainy day. After a lazy morning, we started on our “home run†close to the campsite. Jiri went first through the run and I was following him with a different setup. In the middle of the run, my line suddenly came tight. I set the hook and the fish showed it’s tail fin. My heart stopped. It was enormous. My legs were shaking and the line was peeling off my reel. Jiri ran for Tom and came back with the landing net. Right on time. After few runs, I managed to move the steelhead to shallow water and Tom scooped him up like a pro. My yelling had to be heard down in Vancouver. I cannot really describe my feelings. My secret dream came true. One of the legendary big bucks from this river system and it happened to me! After a few quick pictures, the fish was free again. I was absolute stoked and done for the trip. It couldn’t be better!
The guys continued fishing into the evening. I was enjoying living in this moment than fishing. After fishing, we set up the fire, made some food and were sitting around the fire with some cold beer. What more you can ask for?
I went to the tent around midnight. I suddenly woke at 3 AM with the feeling that something is outside. I woke up Jiri with words: “I think there is a bear outside and he’s trying to break into our car.â€
We opened the tent and had a look at our car. It seemed to be okay but I indulged myself and had a look from the other side of the car. Unfortunately, my feelings were right. The car was opened like a can of beans. The bear destroyed both left doors, dented part of the body and ripped the driver seat. What do you do in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone reception? I was pretty sure, the bear was still around.
First, we woke up Tom, who was sleeping in the car next to our tent. We started both cars, put lights on and tried to set up a fire. That was the first time the bear appeared again. Less than 10 meters from us. We started yelling at him and blaring the horn. He ran off.
Finally the fire was going and we got a little bit more confident. Otherwise, we were armed just with bear sprays and an ax. Tom went to the city to call police or rangers and we stayed by the fire watching the surrounding. The bear showed up one more time.
Fortunately, the horn and yelling worked again. Definitely, one of the longest nights I ever had. Tom returned with a message that the police cannot arrest the bear for the damage and we have to call the rental company in the morning. Rangers wrote down the case but nobody showed up.Â
The bear was probably a vegetarian. How other you can explain he ate 2 loaves of bread (including the plastic), chocolate, dry pasta but, yet, he didn’t eat the shaved ham? You may think that leaving food in the car is not the smartest idea. But that’s what was written on the board by the camp entrance. Lock it in the car… We met our neighbor camper in the morning. He was living in this campsite for a few weeks and he said that a similar accident happened the week before. But the car alarm spooked the bear. He also said, that some people were leaving garbage here and the bear used to feed on it. No bear is born bad, it’s always people who fail and leave garbage out. Quite ironic, in my opinion. I would never leave any litter where I adventure and I’m always collecting garbage others leave behind. Sometimes, life is not fair. We’ve spent many nights in that campsite and similar ones. Always with food in our car and never had a problem. Also, all my Canadian friends were surprised and never heard of something like this happening here.Â
If you think we stopped fishing, you’d be wrong. We just took a day off in Vancouver for rest and came back to the river. We moved to another campsite a couple of kilometers upstream. At the end of the stay, I hooked two more steelheads but didn’t land them. That’s almost the end of the story. Just one thing left. The damage on the car.
Long story short, none of our insurance could cover this damage so in the final we paid over 5500 CAD for damage. It hurts now but we were lucky to survive. One day it will be a good story to tell our kids.Â
Big thanks to Martin Dvorak for sharing this crazy story of love and bear violence! Check him out on Instagram: @mdx_flyfishing for more fly fishing adventures and of course, big steelhead!
Tred Barta, the outspoken and renowned big game fisherman and hunter, host of The Best and Worst of Tred Barta, died unexpectedly on August 12th, 2019 in a car accident in the Yukon territory. He was 67. Barta was known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial remarks. At times his rash egocentric personality rubbed people the wrong way but deep down his work ethic and sportsmanship showed true especially after he was paralyzed. Below is a tribute to Tred from a fellow angler and friend.
“Tred Barta was an inspirational outdoorsman. He traveled the world hunting with a wooden longbow and fly fishing with a bamboo rod. His achievements are legendary and encompass numerous fishing world records. Life dealt him a humbling blow when he became paralyzed from mid-chest down in 2009 at the age of 57. He still continued to pursue hunting and fishing with the same enthusiasm. An advocate for individuals with disabilities he positioned himself as a role model for paraplegics around the world.
I became Tred’s personal fly fishing guide shortly after his spinal infarction in 2009 that left him paralyzed from mid-chest down. The first time we met he asked if there were any places I could take him to fish in his wheelchair? As a longtime fly fishing guide, I had a short list of places popping into my head immediately.Â
We began fly fishing together the following week and for the next six years, he and I spent over 300 days together fishing and hunting. Our fishing adventures would include time spent in freshwater and saltwater, on land, in rafts and boats. Our time spent hunting included hunts for deer, elk, antelope, black bear, turkey, ducks, geese, rabbits, and prairie dogs, all of this was post paralyzation.
Tred was born and raised on the eastern coast of the U.S. where his father introduced him to the outdoors at an early age. A product of a privileged upbringing in New York he often told me the he “wore Brooks Brothers to elementary school.†Later out of Shinnecock he began pioneering the off-shore currents around “the canyons†catching multiple big-eye tuna in a single outing. His knowledge of Blue Water fishing led to a career writing for multiple fishing magazines and two books.
The expertise he gained on the high seas brought him notoriety and acclaim. It was with this knowledge that he parlayed into his long-running television show, the Best and Worst of Tred Barta. Starting in 200,4 his exploits with a longbow were recorded on film. One of the pinnacles was his harvest of a grizzly bear with his primitive gear. His travels with rod and bow were filmed for multiple seasons even after his paralysis, a testament to his enduring spirit.
 Before Tred was paralyzed he obtained multiple world record fishing trophies. One such quest he told me took over $250,000 to finally capture the record. His light line record for dolphin still stands today, a 38.6lb dolphin on 6lb tippet. He held multiple tuna records and is recognized as the angler who has caught more Big-eye Tuna on rod and reel than anyone.
 A fundraiser for numerous charitable organizations his notoriety, whether love him or hate him, brought attention and delivered donations for good causes. From serving on Boards of Directors for different organizations over the years, his devotion to giving back trickled down all the way to Wounded Warrior and Project Healing Waters weekend or day events we attended together. A Project Healing Waters event held on the famous Blue Valley Ranch aka. Jurassic Park was one of the more memorable events where we appeared. Tred shared his off-color jokes and colorful blessings for the day before we snuck off for the Upper Oxbow, the Secret Pond and the Governor’s Pond and the giant trout that inhabited the private ranch.Â
Our time together encompassed hunting, fishing, and travel. We indulged in fine food and great laughs on our adventures. One such fishing trip here in Colorado had us sleeping for a few nights in a converted chicken coop and dining with the ranch owners who had entertained other famous fishing guests like President Jimmy Carter. Not exactly the political party of affiliation for Tred but an indicator of the level of exclusivity the ranch provided.Â
Burdened with a colostomy bag, a urine tube and external bladder he never stopped pushing the limits an individual with a disability can accomplish. Many nights I assisted as he would transition from his wheelchair across a board into his bed. The physicality of his affliction would humble most into submission. But not Tred he continued to serve as a role model for individuals with disabilities everywhere. His last adventure up to Alaska, solo, was a climax for himself personally. The Barta Get Off the Couch adventure was recorded in the Facebook entries he provided throughout the entire trip. Up North Journal made multiple Podcasts with Tred throughout the Alaska trip as well. Traveling solo with only his canine assist dog and towing a handicap accessible RV the adventure was equivalent to a Hank Patterson video on steroids. Ultimately it would be during his return travel to the lower 48, where he would pass away from an automobile accident in Canada.
 A man who placed a higher value on the experience rather than the harvest. He often made off the cuff comments just to elicit a response. “Love me or Hate me, did you read me?†He would say. Tred knew a lot of people were hanging on to hear what he would say next. Brash, bold and full of himself, I hate to say it but he earned it.Â
 A successful trip into the salt out of Islamorada, Florida was often measured in the number of snapper limits we could manage. Tred had his own lowered, wheelchair-accessible cleaning table at the World Wide Sportsman marina. After a day out on the water, Tred gave Captain Skipper Gentry and I the instructions to double-check the number of Mangrove Snappers we had on the table. Capt. Gentry and I promptly lied and told him we were over our four-person limit by one fish. He casually looked left then right like a schoolboy preparing to run across a busy street, snatched one of the snappers off the cleaning table and before Skipper and I could say anything else he chucked it to the half tame tarpon that lurk beneath the cleaning areas for free grub.
 A custom Andros boat allowed him to continue to participate in deep sea fishing from the Captain’s seat. He was able to secure his wheelchair to the deck and maneuver the boat strategically, naturally, like second nature. He truly excelled in saltwater fishing despite his paralyzed status or being confined to a wheelchair. When I was on the saltwater with him you could feel the confidence he exuded. He possessed a deeper understanding of the immense watery world around us far beyond what my comprehension could ever imagine.
 I, like others, owe him a lot. He set me up for my first Tarpon over 100lbs and guided me to my first three sharks on the fly in Islamorada. Coached me when fighting big fish on lightweight bamboo by lifting the whole rod while protecting the fragile wooden tip.Â
His time spent with my family, especially his influence over my daughters has been touching. Their attention when it comes to individuals with disabilities is greater than most adults will ever possess because of their exposure to Tred.
 An outspoken advocate for all things outdoors, Tred cultivated a lifelong obsession with hunting and fishing. Even in the darkest shadows of disability he still persevered, providing a roll model that everyone can use for motivation. Tred Barta was an author, pilot, captain, hunter, angler, traveler and more. And he was also my friend. Love him or hate him there will never be anyone else like him. Tred Barta March 28, 1952 – August 12, 2019.
By Michael “Sal†Salomone @mikesalomone88 (www.michaelsalomone.com) a trout fly fishing guide and writer based in the mountains of Colorado at Vail Valley Anglers.
Since the invention of the dam, the movement of migratory fish has been impeded. Until recently, fish ladders have been the main means of getting around the problem of a giant concrete wall in a river, but that’s where Whooshh comes in. This system safely moves salmon and other migratory fish over dams in less time and with fewer resources than a traditional fish ladder. Over the last few weeks a video of Whooshh’s “Salmon Cannon” has gone viral, so we got in touch with the team behind the invention to find out how they work, and how this ingenious system developed!
Flylords: How did the idea for the Whoosh Salmon Cannon come about?
Whooshh:The company has its roots in agriculture, interestingly enough. The technology was first developed to mechanically and automatically harvest tree fruit without damaging it. There were a couple of “a-ha†moments, however, that helped underscore the need for this technology as it applies to fish: A few years back, Whooshh employees were testing the agricultural equipment in orchards in Washington State and saw helicopters flying overhead with buckets. When they asked what was happening, they were told that fish were being moved over a nearby dam. That began the wheels turning toward considering that there must be a better way. The other “a-ha†moment came after Whooshh employees had visited a citrus orchard two summers in a row. During the second summer, everything was dying because the water had been redirected due to conservation requirements. Based on these and other factors, our company’s founder, Vince Bryan, wound up pivoting toward developing the technology for moving live fish safely and efficiently over barriers like dams, and toward saving water in the process.
Image of the Whooshh Passage Portal(â„¢) currently being deployed on the Columbia River. This one is poised to move to the base of the Chief Joseph Dam next week. Chief Joe is the farthest point along the Columbia that fish can go.
Flylords: How did the current design come to be?
Whooshh:The Whooshh Passage Portalâ„¢ is new this year, and it is a full-system, all-in-one assembly of several components we have created over the last few years. This combines our attraction flow features, scanner, sorter, and transport systems onto one barge-mounted system.
Flylords: What was the testing process like?
Whooshh: Arduous; though it should be in order to prove that no harm comes to the fish. There have been approximately 20 independent studies done to show things like no stress, no scale loss, eye damage, etc. Please visit our web site atwww.whooshh.com and see ourStudies page.
Flylords: Where was the first Salmon Cannon installed? How many are running today?
Whooshh:The first unit we sold was to the Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and they use it within their hatchery system. Different versions of the system have run in 20 different locations since. Some of our systems are with WA tribal entities and we have others in use in Norway and just shipped to Sweden, as well. We are planning to implement our full Passage Portalâ„¢ system at the Chief Joseph Dam later this month, which will demonstrate volitional entry, scanning, sorting, transport, and exit.
Flylords: How to the salmon utilize the cannon? Are people needed to load the fish into it?
Whooshh: Contrary to what many think, people are not needed. The systems can run autonomously. I’ll explain in a moment, but first some context in light of some recent video that has circulated. Earlier this week, a video of our system went viral, gaining over 24M views and generating media coverage from all over the world. While that has been great PR, the video that was put together used footage showing a scientist hand-feeding the fish into the system. That was five years ago, and we’ve come a looooong way since then. Our systems now feature volitional entry, and it works like this: The salmon swims into the system, usually via a denil, which is a short ramp, which features an attraction flow and is somewhat like the first step of a fish ladder. Upon cresting the denil, they then slide back down a slight slope and through a scanner, where 18 rapid-fire images are made which can measure length, girth, hatchery vs. wild, etc. That half-second of data-gathering drives a quick sorting decision which then routes the fish into the appropriate lane for transport based on size (or completely out if invasive species, or bypassed it doesn’t fit the programmed criteria for that site). Upon being routed, they are gently accelerated, using the principle of pressure differential, and gently glided through a soft flexible tube that is misted every 5 feet. The mist is important so that the fish can glide, still, exchange oxygen through its gills, and have the colder water they typically seek. There are sensors throughout and toward the end of the transport, they can then be decelerated to deposit them into the forebay on the other side of the dam.    Â
It is important to recognize that the salmon are on a migratory journey to spawn. For a salmon carrying anywhere from 3000-5000 eggs, a calm ten-second glide is far superior to a day straining to climb a concrete fish ladder or being handled by humans to be transferred into a truck. This has broader ramifications for fisheries recovery, as well. The more fish you can get safely upriver to spawn, the more fish that you can get coming back down to embark on their own migratory cycles (exponentially more, actually, remember 3-5000 eggs each). Yes, there are obstacles all along the way, but if even if half of the smolt make it back down, you’re still ahead of the game as compared to if the fish was not able to get up to spawn in the first place.Â
Incidentally, one of those obstacles for smolt are invasive species. I briefly touched on the fact that the scanning/sorting technology can identify and sort out invasive species. One of our scanners is currently making the rounds in the Midwest, gathering images of the various fish in the waters throughout. These images will be used to build the algorithms that go into our scanning/sorting components. The goal will then be to take on the invasive carp issues in the Midwest. Walleye? You may pass. Asian carp? Out!
Flylords: Does the trip have any effects on the fish?
Whooshh: Yes. They have more energy to continue farther, faster toward their spawning grounds. A study that was done at the Priest Rapids Dam compared tagged fish and fish that were passed using Whooshh. The Whooshh fish clearly outdistanced the tagged fish. In addition, cortisol levels (indicators of stress) were analyzed in a study conducted by SINTEF in Norway. This showed no elevated levels. Again, please visit theStudies page of our web site. If you view a video of the fish in the tube, you can see them behaving as though they are swimming. Since they are channeling water through their gills and moving forward, they appear to believe they are swimming, moving their tails as they glide forward.
As a “fish first†company, we’ve tried to think of everything to help resolve issues for fish. From gentle passage to culling out invasive predators, to making it easy and affordable for humans to implement, we’re proud to bring technology to benefit nature in this way. So, if you know of sites that have fish passage or invasive species issues, let us know, we’d love to help!
What I think is important to note overall is that new ways of thinking are needed for this problem. While we have seen so many other fields benefit from clever design and technological innovation when it comes to fish passage, the technology has remained the same: fish ladders and trucks are still being used just as they were 60 years ago. Henry Ford once said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.†For fisheries restoration, that’s not good. Technology is available to really make a difference in bringing benefit to nature. Seems we owe them one.      Â
Big thanks to Whoosh Innovations for sharing their story and more details about their revolutionary system. To learn more, head to their webpage: Whooshh.com!
