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Catching a Trophy with the Love of your Life

Jared Zissu
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Living in Bozeman, MT means fly fishing. A lot. One thing that has been beautiful about living out here with my wife, Logan, is that she has developed a passion for the sport as well. Fly fishing with your better half is a humbling experience. You have to step back, spend a lot of time on the oars, and hope for a fish that will keep them coming back.

It has been incredible watching my wife get good at fly fishing, even though she does seem to out fish me every day now.

This past Saturday, my two fishing buddies, and their wives went out for a day trip to the Yellowstone River.  The river had been blown out for a week from rain and had finally gotten that perfect green tint for throwing streamers. My wife, Logan, slapped a streamer into a deep hole and got “stuck on a rock”.

Philip Wilcheck on the oars, pulled over to the bank and walked the bank with her to get unstuck, only to realize that this rock was swimming.  Her face says it all in the photos from the day.

This fish will not soon be forgotten!

Make sure to check out Logan and Hudson on Instagram!

5 Rivers Rally, A Great Success

Jared Zissu
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The third Annual Costa TU 5 Rivers Rally ended in style this past weekend, huddled around a massive bonfire with the Costa truck bumping tunes late into the evening. College student’s gathered from across the country all sharing one thing in common. A passion for fly fishing.

Students arrived to the campgrounds on Friday afternoon, signing in at the Costa Tent. That’s when they received their “Swag Bags”, an assortment of goodies from companies like Cheeky Fly Fishing, FlyMen Fishing Co, Post Fly Box, and Costa Sunglasses. In the foreground, Legendary guide Greg Morgan advises Andrew Loffredo how to roll cast under some obstacles. 

Franklin Tate, Director of Youth Education Programs at Trout Unlimited, checks in a student at the Costa booth. 

We asked a few students to tell us a little bit about their experience at the Rally. First up is Tanner Poeschel, a Flylords Intern, and founder of the Mizzou 5 rivers chapter. 

“Representing the University of Missouri chapter of the 5 Rivers Program, Max Vaaler and I had the chance to travel to North Carolina for the Costa 5 Rivers Rally. As a senior coming upon graduation, my days are spent going to class, studying, writing cover letters, applying for jobs, and maybe a quick trip to the gym. Although life has been extremely fast-paced, the rally this weekend allowed me an opportunity to wind down and spend time on the water with friends. Meeting like-minded individuals from different schools across the country was an eye-opening experience. Spending time with great people at a great event was exactly what I needed. The college students participated in a “Get Trashed” event cleaning up the river, shared stories around the campfire, and caught lots of fish. Lots of laughs were shared, and beer was drank. All in all, the Rally was an incredible experience, and I cannot wait until the next rally next year!”

Students are Out and About on Saturday morning. Some more focused on catching fish, while others are trying to find as much trash as they can get their hands on. 

Jay Johnson holds the trash bag for David Grossman (The mind behind Southern Culture on The Fly). You may recognize Jay because he is the Star of the hit fishing show Geobass. Not only is Jay a world-traveling adventure junky/party animal, but he also has a huge heart and cares more about protecting our environment and setting a good example than catching fish.

The Get Trashed event brings students together from across the country to pick up trash, now how cool is that. It’s a great reminder that this sport is not only about catching “trophy fish” or getting that grip and grin “hero shot”, but protecting the incredible resources where we find these fish. Prizes were given to students who found unique pieces of trash.

James Mugele, a recent graduate of the University of Vermont talks about Pig Farm and how much he enjoyed the 5 Rivers event: 

The PigFarm family is growing and the hype surrounding the sport of fly fishing is reel. This past weekend fly fishing clubs from Universities all around the country met in the heart of the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina to get bitchin’. And we got bitchin’! The best part about PigFarm Ink is that we want everyone in the sport to realize the importance of fly fishing lies in its simplicity, and how just getting out there leads to epic days on the water, and new friendships for a lifetime. It’s not always about catching fish- this past weekend me and some of the West Virginia homies spent more time on the river boiling water for coffee, than actually fishing (Colombian BamBam). But that is what it is all about. We also got two nice ladies to touch their first brook  trout! Great weekend with awesome people! When the inspired inspire, everyone is happy.

The Rally is a great opportunity to get into the sport of fly fishing. So many confident and knowledgeable anglers all willing to help out.

Dorn Brown, of Clemson University ties on a Squirmy Worm, helping the ladies increase their chance of landing a trout from the depths of the Nantahala River. 

A Rising Fish feeds on a Mayfly on the Nantahala River.

The weekend is about teamwork and encouraging your friends to get out and make a difference or try something new.

As the train passed one last time on the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad, students reflected on a truly incredible weekend. We wanted to give a huge shout out to Andrew Loffredo, Franklin Tate, Tara Granke, Jay Johnson, Greg Morgan, Derek Edwards, Dan Zazworsky, Todd Barker, Matt Kremser and Peter Vandergrift for the incredible work that went into making this event happen. To any students who would like to get involved with a 5 Rivers program, please contact aloffredo@tu.org.

For more information go to http://www.tucosta5rivers.org/ and follow tucosta5rivers on Instagram.

Pumpkin Carving Contest Finalists

Jared Zissu
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This year we introduced the first ever Flylords Pumpkin Carving Contest. Thanks to our awesome sponsors Costa Sunglasses, and Post Fly Box for helping out with the prizes. We had over 50 Pumpkin submissions, all fly fishing related. It’s awesome to see artistic people this passionate about fishing and Halloween! 

Below we chose our favorite designs from this year’s contest. Please choose your favorite and leave the number in the comment section below!

1. Entry from flyline_productions

2. Entry from @kevinbird360

 3. Entry from @alpineleisureco

 4. Entry from @kt_sweetbean

 5. Entry from @fishinfron

 6. Entry from @rangerskid

 7. Entry from @jessicarosekruger

 8. Entry from @fishanderson16

 9. Entry from @crh_onthefly

 10. Entry from @aj.gross

11. Entry from @bash0860 

 12. Entry from @littl3giant

 13. Entry from @abergslien

 14. Entry from @robles.josh

 15. Entry from @605_stream_junkie

 16. Entry from @timjohnsongallery

 17. Entry from @michellejb__

 18. Entry from @masefetz

 19. Entry from @thejoshmorgan

Make sure you vote for your favorite pumpkin carving by commenting it’s number below! If you are in the competition please do not vote for yourself (:

Faces of Fly Fishing: Lotte Aulom

Jared Zissu
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Flylords: Where are you from, how old are you?

Lotte: I am 29 years old and from a small town called Jessheim in Eastern Norway.

Flylords: How long have you been fly fishing for?

Lotte: I think I was about 10-13 years old when my grandpa handed me a fly rod for the first time. But I didn’t become a true fly fisher until 2011 when I met my husband.

Flylords: Lotte is an awesome name… Does it have a meaning?

Lotte: Thanks! I don’t think the name has a special meaning. The name is short for Charlotte. If I am not wrong, it´s a Danish name.

Flylords: Can you tell us about some of your favorite trips you have been on? Maybe your favorite place in the world to fish?

This summer I had a trip to Canada. Amazing place!! Brook trout fishing with mice imitations on the Minipi waters, and dry fly fishing for Atlantic salmon in the St. Lewis river. Probably the most spectacular trip I have ever had. Canada is big and wild. Lots of big fish and great scenery.

I also love Slovenia. I have been there four times, and I am so amazed by the gin clear rivers and the beautiful nature. Going back there very soon I hope. But Norway is still my favorite place to fish. Slow running, clear rivers with nice brown trout and a lot of hatching mayflies. Home will always be closest to the heart. And there are so many rivers that I haven´t explored here yet.

Flylords: Do you prefer to target fish on a fly or a conventional rod. Why?

Lotte: I only fish with a fly rod. And I prefer to fish with dry flies. I love the visual part of dry fly fishing. But if it’s not the season for dry fly fishing for trout, I might do some fishing for pike, grayling, sea trout or others. Whatever bites the fly and gives me some challenge.

Flylords: For all the girls who are trying to get into the sport, what is some advice you can give them?

Lotte: I wish there were more girls out there by the water. It´s a great hobby and gives some really great experiences. Fly Fishing tends to be a male-dominated sport. And the main reason for me starting the blog ReelGirl-FlyFishing was to show other girls that this is absolutely not only for men. And if I could inspire just one girl to try fly fishing, my goal would be achieved.

If you want to learn the sport, find someone who can teach you the basics in a calm and understanding way. Don’t go into all the deep techniques at first. I also think that a girl teaching a girl can be a good thing. Just get started. And go somewhere in the beginning where the fishing might be a bit easier. So you can get a real taste of the biting fish and the bend in the rod. 😉 It can be a struggle at first, but who doesn’t like a challenge. The most important thing in fly fishing is to just get out there, enjoy nature and learn from it… And of course, have FUN!

Flylords: Favorite Movie, Drink, Book?

Lotte: Can´t live without coke zero or coffee. Not much of a reader, but love good movies and series. Too many favorites to mention only one.

Flylords: Do you have any role models in the fly fishing industry?

Lotte: No one specific that I can mention right now. But there are always some inspiring people I meet out there by the river or see on social media.

Flylords: If you were stranded on an island and only had one rod setup and one fly what would they be?

Lotte: I would definitely bring my Evotec Cast #7 rod with the Opti flow line and the Opti runner reel. Love it!

Flylords: One fish you would love to cross off the bucket list?

Lotte: There are many fish and lots of places on my bucket list. And for every trip, I make there are only more places added as I meet people along the way with great fishing stories. But I have never tried tropical fishing, so bonefish must be somewhere on the top of my list. Also, I would like to try the golden dorado with a fly rod.

Continue

How to Stay Busy: Fly Fishing in Texas

Jared Zissu
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Usually by this time of year in October/November, North Texas experiences cold fronts which tend to shut down the lakes, and when I usually hit my local trout river to dip some beads. This year has been different, in the last year we have had tons of rain push into our lakes, which has created some fantastic fishing opportunities. Species including bass, carp, buffalo carp, and my personal favorite Alligator Gar.

The temperature in Texas right now is hotter and drier than usual, October is a hit or miss month, but it happens that this year is one of those warmer ones. With temps being up in the low 90’s I’ve tried to maximize my time on the water, taking advantage of this high water and heat. The lakes I usually fish, Lake Lewisville, and Lake Ray Roberts are reasonably clear due to zebra mussels, this makes for exceptional sight fishing to fish feeding in the shallows.

The hybrid and white bass I usually target are in 30-40 feet of water by now, making them “un-fly fishable”, but at the moment they are holding in about 15-25 feet of water and off large drop-offs. My go-to rig for these fish is a type 3-5 sinking line and a flasher (baitfish imitation)

For the other species such as carp and gar, we are talking totally different setups. Starting off, carp in Texas is unbelievable “dumb” and will eat honestly anything thrown at them, they grow too large sizes and feed in the shallows… my favorite fly is going to have to be the backstabber or a plain black zonker.

Making sure the fish eats and the hook set is key on these fish. Carp will also not move far for a fly, so placing the fly within 2 feet in front of the fish is your best bet. If you can get these 3 things down you are set. Lastly, Alligator Gar. These fish are my favorite, everything from there prehistoric background to grow up to 250+ pounds and then there are the insane eats!

I will typically throw a floating line on a 9-10 wt when they are in the shallow water but when water levels rise I go with a saltwater intermediate with a large 7-8 inch shad/rope fly pattern with a lot of red flashes to imitate and injured baitfish. Slow strips work best for larger gar and fast irrational strips work best for small-medium sized fish. Fishing private water if great but I find that I catch my largest fish in wide open public properties and usually no one is ever fishing there.

A member of the US Youth Fly Fishing Team, Evan has Texas fly fishing dialed In. You can find him on Instagram @evanvanek1

Photo of the Day: Man Catches Goliath Grouper on Fly…

Jared Zissu
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Riki Describes the fight and how another fish bit him on the heel:
At one point the Galvan Torque 12 got jammed. The spool stuck, the drag hardly worked and the whole reel could basically only go one direction. The fish was still dogging fast – and towards the bloody snags on the right side. In between the bleeding knuckles & swollen index finger, the reel was forced to pay its return on investment. When that fish decided to go for one more dash for freedom, as the reel was cranked opposite to its current revolution; the spool came out. In style. It literally catapulted at least 20 feet into the water and left all of us in pure awe. The fish was still dogging… One of the fish bit me in the heel when I was in the water having a photo. I might’ve caught his girl or something. Haha. These things are crazy.

Here is another smaller Grouper from the past. Make sure to check out Riki on Instagram 

Catching Marlin On the Fly… On the Flats…

Jared Zissu
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What better way to chase the legendary Black Marlin than on the flats of the worlds largest sand island… On a Fly Rod…

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what dreams are made of.

It’s that time of year when I hit the road to Fraser Island. Located on the east coast of Australia, that’s where the magic happens.
Here you can get your shot at juvenile black marlin on the fly, in less than 3 meters of water, on the flats of Fraser Island.

When the seasons roll around there are so many variables that can hinder or enhance the fishing. Weather, water temperature lunar cycles are all very important. When all of these things come together, you may see well over 5 to 10 marlin hooked in one day.

These fish hit hard and run even faster, with acrobatic jumps and line burning runs, they will take you into your backing within seconds leaving your hart pumping adrenaline. Once you have hooked one and the fish is boat side they light up full of colors.

They truly give you a show that you will never forget and an image the will stay with you forever. It’s that feeling that keeps me coming back year after year. I was lucky enough to get really acquainted with this special place by a good friend of mine CPT Brett. He’s a bearded, cigaret smoking marlin whisperer.

I tend to get up at 5am and head to the ramp. With my coffee in hand, little to no sleep and running on the excitement of chasing marlin. I start the 40 mile run to the marlin grounds and will normally stop to cast at a tuna or two and get my fix before pushing up to the grounds where all the fun begins. The rod of choice will have to be my 10wts for these fish, it’s an amazing fight and I think anything more is overkill. I run three 10wts rigged with a range of files just in case I need a back up after a bust off or want to change the fly pattern without re-rigging. It pays to be one step ahead when it comes to fly patterns because they can change every day.

I always have a large range of tube flies; from pink and white to black and purple, green and blues, all resembling small bait fish. I bring bright files for when the fish are playing hardball. Sometimes the more flash the better the fish respond. This will trigger these fish to turn on and take the fly. It’s amazing how one fish can take over your life so easily. Chasing marlin on the flats is something most of us anglers dream of and for some its a dream come true if your willing to go all in.

TEASING UP A SHOW
Having the right teaser is a must for raising these fish to the surface. I like to run a string of four squids following one hookless pusher lure. Then on the second, a single squid skirt with a garfish bridal rigged to swivel. This should fire the fish up when you pull the garfish out of the marlin’s mouth and back to the boat. It drives them crazy! Black Marlin light up with color when they are turned on. When they are visibly lit up it presents the perfect time to make a cast.

Trying to put this all together is a team effort. One person needs to quickly bring in the teasers, creating the opportunity for the angler to get a good shot at the fish. Then the pressure shifts to the angler to set the hook! I find the best way to set the hook is the strip strike method. Keeping constant pressure on the line will help keep the fish hooked. Marlin tend to put on an exciting show during the fight.

These juvenile fish need to be released as soon as possible because hooking them causes stress and they quickly exhaust themselves during the fight. A good way to ensure the fish keep their health is to keep them in the water while you remove the hooks. Lifting the fish into the boat or out of the water can damage them so be very mindfull of how you manage these amazing fish when releasing them!

Team Work
To make the hook and release successful, you need a great team. To catch billfish on fly fishing tackle you need someone to man the teaser and someone to drive the boat. Then the rest is up to the angler. The angler needs to work with the man running the teaser to get the eat. When the fish is belting the teaser and you cast your fly across the back of the teaser, this creates the switch. as the teaser is pulled back to the boat, you have your best shots at getting the hook up. There are a few small things that make this easier for everyone involved. We always have a team meeting before we hit the water each morning, just to make sure our game plan is 100%. Communication is key to having successful fishing trips.

Impulse Decisions

Jared Zissu
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Making plans is an art- some people do it well, others just go with the flow. As a fly fisherman, spontaneous trips and going with the flow often produces the best adventures and most memorable catches.

South Florida is littered with unique fisheries. All bodies of water ultimately connect, and anglers find everything from Tarpon in drainage ditches, to Clown-Knife fish and peacock bass in lakes. The legendary Tamiami Trail runs from Miami to Tampa, but thats not important. What is important is that the canal parallels the road the whole way; and boasts a variety of fish just miles from the booming metropolis of miami. The Eastern end is mostly fresh water, home to peacocks, largemouth bass, gar, snakeheads and countless other fish. However, to the west lies mangrove trails, salt marsh and brackish water. Creating a nursery for juvenile tarpon, snook, snapper and anything else that finds its way in from the ocean. 

Our destination was the salt marsh of the western Tamiami Trail, in the heart of Big Cypress Preserve. BOOM! one cast, one fish. A small snook shot out of a bush and inhaled my fly. I was pumped! But it was only the beginning…“The Trail” is a monotonous beast. All the water looks good. And all of it has fish, however, it is extremely hard to pinpoint them. Before we knew it, we had driven almost 100 miles west of Miami.

We kept pushing, looking for any sign of rolling fish or busting snook. I happened to look out the window and see a disturbance in a drainage culvert… Tarpon. I flipped around, pulled over and started casting, probably looking like an idiot to passing cars. Second Cast- my small white fly got inhaled and I broke off.. I was baffled at the strength of a 3 pound silver prince. I tied on a gurgler and 10 minutes later.. EXPLOSION. A small silver fish flew into the air. A 2 pound tarpon fell victim. 3 jumps later, i grabbed the leader, and of course, he had to jump again, and threw the hook… Classic 

At this point, we were almost 100 miles from Miami. My buddy just so happened to own property and a boat in Marco Island, Florida. About 20 miles southwest of where we were. Naturally, without thinking, we hit the road again. Rolling into Marco with only fly rods and the clothes we were wearing. What could go wrong? We immediately loaded the boat with our rods and set out to fish some dock lights. Goliath Grouper, snook, tarpon, jacks and a variety of other fish call the lights home at night to feed. 2 snook fell victim to my size 6 Schminnow, then it went quiet. 

After a brief moment of silence… All hell breaks loose! I saw something floating on a light about 200 feet up. Immediately, I recognized the fish. A tripletail! I thought he was dead, floating so still. I put my fly in front of him, and he came to life, inhaled my fly and took off. Whooped my butt on the 6 weight. After 2 failed landing attempts, we brought him to hand.

A sigh of relief and a moment of excitement. Our journey was a success, an impulsive, 100-mile drive and a new species on the fly. How could it be better?

You can find Jake Wood on Instagram @jakedwood14

Fly Fishing with Friends Vs. Fly Fishing Alone

Jared Zissu
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John D. Voelker once said, “Fly Fishing is a magic way to recapture the rapture of solitude without the pangs of loneliness.” Any fly angler knows what he was referring to. Fly fishing allows for men (and women) to find peace in a chaotic world where we are often in sensory overload with the constant sounds and sights of bustling cities.

Like William Wordsworth preached, sometimes you need to isolate yourself to capture the true sublime in nature. This allows for discovery and self-reflection. After all, anglers might fish their whole life not realizing that it is not really catching the fish they are seeking. Fly fishing by yourself can be magical. Enjoying the beautiful scenery, drinking a cold beer (or two), watching fish rise to darting caddis flies or golden stones… I wouldn’t hesitate to say it is a very spiritual experience for me. You can sit on the edge of the river watching the simplicity of nature all around you and be content.

Although fly fishing alone can be incredibly rewarding, fly fishing with friends offers a different type of camaraderie and excitement. It often results in lots of laughter, empty beer cans, and questionable but hilarious decisions made due to peer pressure (like jumping into a freezing lake because you got skunked that day).

In high school, I found myself surrounded by golf and fishing enthusiasts. After class, my afternoons were spent on the golf course followed by a few hours of fishing at dusk. My friends primarily bass fish, but they showed an interest in fly fishing. These nights slowly turned into fly fishing clinics taught on by my good friend Holden and me. Savoring the fading daylight, we often had to squint our eyes to see our poppers on the surface in the distance.

Although fly fishing with friends can provide a more energetic atmosphere, it can also provide the same type of contentment and peace that fly fishing alone can provide. Often when I fly fish alone, I spent a lot of time analyzing the water, looking at insect activity, and focusing on making the right cast at the right time in the right location. It’s a lot of mental activity that I enjoy. However, fly fishing with a friend can allow for a break in the constant mental stimulation.

This summer, I took my best friend to Colorado for two weeks. We both are trout bums and capable of having successful days on the water alone. However, he is a dry fly purist, and I don’t mind throwing a dry-dropper. While one us fished, it allowed the other person the chance to slow down and enjoy the moment. Not that he needed help, it allowed me to guide my friend since I knew the water well. It also gave us the opportunity to take beautiful pictures and videos.

 So the next time you are fishing with a friend, consider taking turns. Switch off every run or fish the water you enjoy while letting your friend fish the type of water he enjoys best. My personal favorite is to play a game. For example, when playing “baseball”, every take by a fish is a strike. Once you have 3 strikes, you’re out, and it’s time to switch.

 All in all, fly fishing is a great way to spend time with your friends. Watching and helping one of my friends catch a healthy, strong fish can be just as fun and rewarding as catching it myself. I love every one of my friends. I am even luckier to have friends who love to fish and enjoy the outdoors as well. Being with those guys, as goofy and dumb as they can be, has taught me a lot. I have come to value their friendship, and I look forward to the days spent on the water with them just as much as days spent in solitude.

Shoutout to Tanner Poeschel on his first blog post for the Flylords Mag. For more insightful words and some sweet content you can find Tanner on Instagram or on his Blog!

Video of the week: Straight Outta Carpton

Jared Zissu
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Some call them “trash fish”, while others consider them a hidden treasure. To those who have sought after Carp on the fly it is known that their power, mysteriousness, and straight up weirdness create a memorable fly fishing challenge. Yellowtree Fly Fishing’s first feature-length film dives into the world of Carp fishing in Montana. Join us on our beer-fueled journey to ugly waters, full of strange fish.

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