Chronicles of a Bug Flinger and Feather Lasher

First Snow of 2012

2012-01-22T11:45:00.000-08:00

Keith Working a Run

Picture Doesn't Do it Justice

      Sorry guys for not posting lately. I have started up college and am student teaching this semester. It has not given me the time to get out really. So, when my buddy Keith asked me on Friday night to fish on Saturday I was excited to get out. However, there was this thing called a snow storm. I mean I did not mind, but I was not sure about him. He insisted, so after a morning of playing with the kiddos it was time to get out for a little afternoon fishing.
       We arrived at the local stream around 2:00 and fished to 4:30 in that time frame we each caught double digits. It was an awesome day. Fishing in the snow is probably one of my favorite times. It is quiet and serene.
       What made it all the better, was the large bow I landed. It was easily over 16 inches and was thick. My year has started off with a bang. Between the wild tiger trout, wild bows, hammering fish on Spring Creek, fishing The Narrows, and now this large bow. I do not think I could have started the year off better.
       Unfortunately, Keith lost two fish larger then the one I landed and they all came out of the same hole. Every fish caught during the afternoon was either landed on a cream caddis imitation I tie or a little black stone fly nymph I began experimenting with.
   Next Saturday The Fly Fishing Show pulls into Sommerset NJ and I will be heading out. Look for a blog post after that. I am looking forward to meeting some friends in the industry, Pa Fly Fish Guys, and fellow Bloggers like Mike Aka Dub the Thorax.

Hmm Did not notice the Schmegma till now, but here you can see the size while Keith holds it.

Keith with the first fish of the day

Big Boy

Just Chillin At The Bottom

Fellow Blogger Contest

2012-01-11T20:58:00.000-08:00

My buddy and blogger Mike Aka Dub The Thorax is having a contest. Post your best picture on his FaceBook page and get the most likes. He then is going to give the winner a dozen flies of their choice. What the heck, go get yourself a dozen flies by clicking this link........Click Me
If you want you can like my pic of the wild tiger. I could use the flies!

Also, another fellow blogger Howard AKA Cofisher is having a contest that I am a finalist in. It involves my past Blog called "My Fishing Evolution". If you would like, I would like you to vote for my story. Just click this link.......Click Me! Then in the right hand corner just vote for my blog. It will take you less then 10 seconds seriously.

Thanks guys!

The Year of The Tiger: Big Fishing Creek

2012-01-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

As my followers know by now, I have to travel around the state at times to meet clients. So, when my boss contacted me and asked me if I wanted to go to Jersey Shore, Pa for a claim, because no one else wanted to drive that far, I accepted. I know Jersey Shore is close to Pine Creek, but would have to travel a good bit north to fish it. I was not in the mood to drive further away from my house. I threw up a message on the PA Fly Fish message boards looking for some guidance on streams in the area. A known fly fishing "celebrity" recommended Big Fishing Creek.
I have heard about BFC before but have never fished it. I know it is loved just like the other Central Pa majors (Spring, Penns, Little Juniata). A couple other members echoed his sentiment and the decision was made for me.
I met with my client, grabbed some lunch, and a couple cigars and was at the stream by 12:00. I decided to fish the famous Narrows section and I could not locate it. I kinda had directions to the area, but was a little lost. I drove around a little and saw some amazing water. Just as I was about to just give up, two gentleman walking dogs stopped and asked if I was lost. I explained I was looking for the narrows section of BFG and they quickly gave me directions to where I needed to be.
I parked, quickly got my gear on, and just stared at the riffles. Nature was all around me and I was just taking it in. I shook myself out of the daze and walked about 1/2 down stream. I knew I did not have a lot of time and wanted to work the water thoroughly, so I did not walk as far as I normally would to start. I walked up to the stream and immediately witnessed a nice brown dart away. I did not know if that was going to be a sign of good or bad things to come.

I began using a three nymph rig with a float. My point fly was a Double Beaded Stone that I had tyed on here last year. It is a large heavy tungsten beaded fly that would help get my flies down in the fast deep pocket water of BFC. I also tied on a BHPT and a dubbing on a hook cress bug pattern. I worked the water, and constantly was changing my flies. I could not get a take. However, the environment I was fishing in made me not really care.
Midges were all over the place, but I saw no risers. Possibly I made a mistake by not using some midge larva patterns. I got to the last set of pocket water before my car,and their were little seams everywhere. I enjoy this kind of water, because it defines where to cast. Everywhere there is a seam being caused by a large boulder or two little rocks you drift your flies through.
One thing I do not enjoy is all the snags. I lost my third double beaded stonefly of the day and decided this water was a little two shallow for this fly. I put on my largest Prince nymph as my point fly, and first cast with it hooked up. Little dinker danced across the water. The happiness of not getting skunked crossed my mind while I tried to net it. Once in the net I looked to see if it was a brook or brown...............it was neither. I stared in amazement at this 5 inch fish of a lifetime. It was what I believed to be a wild stream bred tiger trout.

A tiger trout is born when a female brown trouts eggs are fertilized by a male brook trout. Once born they are not able to reproduce. Pennsylvania used to stock tiger trout, but since 2005 have stopped. BFC is known to have wild browns and native brook trout.
When I first caught the fish I believed it to be a tiger, but was not 100% positive, because I had never caught one before. After posting the photo's on PAFF, I was quickly told it was in fact a wild tiger trout and that it was indeed a lucky day for me. It was the only fish of the day for me, but it was a memorable one. Big Fishing Creek now holds a special place in my heart.

Tigers love prince nymphs, they hate Powerbait

Starting the New Year Correctly; Destination Spring Creek

2012-01-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

Most years you and I might cringe at fishing on New Years Day. Whether it be the nasty hangovers from the amateur night the day before, or the bone chilling weather that is expected for that time of year. It did not matter, I am at the point of my addiction that I will fish anytime and anywhere. I decided to ask my buddy Dave from Pittsburgh, who is on the exact opposite side of the state as me, to meet me halfway to fish. Two hours for him, two and a half for me. We also got our buddy Cory to join us. Lucky him lives thirty minutes away from Spring. Never did we think we would be fishing in fifty degree weather on New Years Day.

I woke up with three hours sleep and made the drive out to State College. All the time dreaming about wild brown trout sipping on Bwo's. Even though the weather seemed perfect for that event, it never materialized.

BSing

I arrived at The Canyons on Spring Creek around 7:45am. I drove down the stone road and was in awe of the beauty in the London fog coming off of the water. I tried to take some pictures, but I still do not have the hang of the new camera. It seems to want to focus on the fog and take out of focus pictures. Actually, I would like to apologize for the photo's in this blog entry. They did not turn out to well. Think it was because the fishing was so good and I did not take my time.

Cory Nymphing It

Cory and Dave pulled in right after me and we proceeded to BS for a good hour. The fishing seemed to take a back seat to the laughs and great time we knew we would be having. We finally geared up and walked to the end of the new open area and proceeded to work out way back to the car. Within five minutes of spreading out and dipping our toes in the water. I landed a 6 inch brown and Dave had lost two and Cory one. The three of us slowly walked up stream and fished together. By the time we made it up a hundred yards or so, we had all landed fish and the threat of a skunking was gone. We arrived at the first deep hole of the stream. A large tree is in the water forming a nice riffle, deep hole, and slack water. If there was going to be a monster on the creek it was under that tree. We talked about fishing at night with a mouse fly and watching a kyped brown pounding a swung vermin. The three of us pounded that hole taking turns after snapping our flies off on overhung tree branches. Each of us pulling a fish from the spot.

Dave Rocking It

I enjoy fishing WITH friends. I am not one to meet at a parking lot say hello's and then run away from whomever I decided to meet. Agreeing to meet at a certain time to grab some lunch and then splitting up from each other and fishing separately. I like to fish close to friends and be able to bust balls or take pictures of each other fish. Enjoying the day together and not just trying to catch as many fish as possible.
This is how we fished for the day, working over each others water meticulously. Trying to catch the fish the other guy did not bring to hand. We all caught fish and we had a blast of a day. Not to taut numbers, but the three of us brought close to twenty to hand. I caught six out of my seven on dubbing on a hook and my other on Loren Williams Sexy Walts Worm. I believe Dave caught his fish on egg patterns and his cress bug pattern. Cory caught his on San Juans, cress bugs and scuds. However, Cory missed the hook set on a large brown from under a bridge with a wooly bugger, and then had a huge brown break him off. It was easily 24+ and made the splash of a bowling ball dropped from a skyscraper.
The day ended with a trip to Champs in State college where we enjoyed more laughs, some beer and great food. I am not a beer connoisseur, but Ithacas Apricot Wheat went down like water for me. It was delicious out of the tap, and I am kicking myself for not bringing a growler of it home. Cory jokes that it is his wifes favorite beer.......

My First Fish of 2012

Dave's first of 2012

Adios 2011

Fishing Resolutions New and Old

2011-12-30T08:54:00.000-08:00

First, I would like to wish everybody a happy and safe new year! With the arrival of that little baby in a diaper blowing a kazoo, I would like to look back on my 2011 fishing resolutions and lay out my 2012 ones.
I was asked last year at this time on a forum what my goals were. At that time I was fly fishing for 6 months. This is what I said:

1. Catch a trout on a dry I tied.
2. Fish 3 of the Central PA majors.
3. Land a 20 incher on the fly rod.
4. Fish 2 hatches that I never have fished, which would be every one except Sulphur, BWO, Trico
5. Make a trip to the Upper D
6. Fish the salt with the fly
7. Enjoy as much fishing with good friends as possible.

Of those I only did not accomplish one. It was number six and I came close to it three weeks ago. I planned on making the drive to the NJ coast, but a bad storm canceled it. O well, next year.

#1 I had no problem accomplishing.
#2 I accomplished in a way. Most people think of the three major Central PA streams as; Penns, Spring, and Little J. I fished Spring and that was it. However, I did fish the Letort and Falling Springs. They are in Central PA and they are major streams. They are just not in State college area. I will be clearer for my 2012 resolutions.
#3 I landed a salmon and a steelhead easily over 20 inches. Again, I was not real clear on my goal.
#4 I fished Blue Quills and Isonichias. I probably fished more, but did not realize it
#5 I fished the Upper D three times and caught my largest wild brown up there.
#6 Obviously not
#7 I do this on a regular basis


This year for 2012 I am going to be a little clearer in my goals
#1 Catch a 20 inch trout on the Upper D, it can be a rainbow or brown
#2 Catch a Letort brown trout. Very elusive for me.
#3 Fish a stream not in Pa, Ny, or NJ
#4 Catch a NY steelhead. I have caught Erie chrome, but not Ny.
#5 Tie an Intruder pattern
#6 Fish Penns and Little J
#7 Land a wild bow over 15 inches. I could accomplish this goal and #1 together.
#8 FISH THE SALT WITH THE FLY
#9 Like last year....Enjoy as much time on the water with friends and my children as possible.

I look at my list and see I have nine resolutions for this year. Can one of you guys think of one for me?

My Fishing Evolution

2011-12-28T17:41:00.000-08:00

Obviously

I can still remember the excitement I had when I was 8 or 9 years old. It was the night before the first day of Pennsylvania trout season. Sitting in my parents kitchen with my dad concocting the secret bait. I can not remember the recipe, but I can sure remember the smell. It smelled like when you drive by the mushroom factory out towards Reading.
This secret bag of crap was whispered down the line at my dads work, and it was going to be the holy grail for trout catching.
I would go to sleep early, because we had to wake up before the birds to grab our spot on the Little Lehigh. The car ride to the stream was quiet as I would still be trying to wake up and wipe the sleep from my eyes. The drive from Catasauqua to Allentown took you through center city and the time linked traffic lights. Every time you think you were going to hit a red light it would miraculously change to green. I was in amazement of this at the time. Like my father was a wizard who had the power to make this feat happen (I now know you just have to drive 35mph). I was hoping he could do that to the fish.

First Day of PA Trout

My father would lay out a blanket for me to sit on as he walked up and down the banks of the smooth flowing stream to find the sticks our spinning rods would sit on. The yells up and down the stream from other fishermen saying it was time to cast in the line reverberate through my mind still to this day. My dad would cast both rods and we would sit there and wait....and wait.....and wait. I would stare at the tip of the rod hoping for a twitch. Then it would happen, a little jiggle, then a little more. Dad would yell at me not to touch it. Slowly he would pick up the rod and wait for that twitch again. Then he would set the hook and roll on his back as if he was hooking the largest fish in his life and he really wanted that hook penetrating. Once he knew the fish was on, he would hand me the rod and I would reel it in as fast as I could. I did not know about line test and if the fish would snap off. I did not know because my dad would use 10lb test and catfish rods. so those 10 inch trout did not have a chance!

Wehr's Dam and Covered Bridge

We did not go fishing frequently together because he worked two jobs to help support us. However, our excursions would always take place early mornings when he got home from working night shift or we would head to Jordan Creek at night to catfish or whatever would bite on his days off. Fishing memories will last forever and are something you never forget. Example, the eels we would catch and my father trying to get the hook out only to get slimmed up and end up burning the mono with his cigarette, then kicking the eel back in the water. Or sitting along Hokendaqua Creek and the bats flying around out lantern grabbing the moths and other insects searching for light. Those eventful nights are what began to form me into the fishermen I am today.
By the time I was 15-16 I strayed away from my fathers fishing adventures and began fishing with high school friends. My friend Ryan and his brother Aarron lived right by Wehrs Dam on Jordan Creek. Their father was a former chef and would cook all the trout we would catch those days and they were always delicious. We kept everything, because we knew know better. We watched a gentlemen catch trout after trout one day. He gave us some of his "secret bait" and we began hooking up non stop. He told us the bait was raw eggs and flour mixed together to make a Power Bait light yellow textured substance. We ran back to ryans house and cleaned his parents out of eggs. We found OUR secret hole those days. it is not much of a secret anymore, but every first day I fish that hole. I think other fishermen that frequent that creek during the first day of fishing even acknowledge it as "Shane's Hole". This coming trout season it will be 15 years in a row fishing there. Till I was out of high school we really only fished the first couple weeks of the season and then my friends and I would do what teenagers do.

Cementon Bridge

I graduated from high school and had some trouble in my life. I ended up losing my drivers license for 3 years and seemed like most of my friends. I could not drive and it seemed like I was an outcast. I found fishing again.

Bait Chucker

My mom would drive me to work and pick me up and we would always drive over the Cementon bridge. This structure spans the Lehigh River and there is a dam 100 yards down stream called Northampton dam. This is where I fell in love with the "Mighty Lehigh". One day I asked my mom to drop me off at Willies Bait shop which overlooks the Lehigh at this spot. I took my dads fishing rod down below the dam with some night crawlers and immediately hooked up with a fish that pulled line out of my reel as I have never seen before. I could not stop this fish and it basically spooled me and snapped me off. I never saw it, but I think it might have been a carp. A man that ended up becoming a good friend and mentor walked over to me laughing. He could tell I did not know what was going on. We would run into each other most every off day or after work. He was referred to as fish neck by the bait shop regulars, because of his rainbow trout tattoo on his neck. He would teach me how to spin a minnow, what a butter worm was and how to properly rig a night crawler. I learned how to tie my own leaders what kind of weight to use for certain conditions and a proper drift. I became a fixture in the bait shop and would sit and hang out in there all day long, learning from the "pro's" and fishing with some great bait fishermen. Nicknames were thrown around the shop like Strappy, River Rat, and Meater. Willie even ended up finding me my current house.

My Youngest Ate One of These

I got my license back when I was 22 and fishing began to take a back seat. I found a better job, began hanging out with friends, frequenting bars and ended up meeting my wife (not in a bar). Fishing turned into the first couple weeks of the trout season and that was about it. Maybe a bass pond with my wife's cousin every now and then.
I still loved the Lehigh and we ended up moving in a town that bordered some of the best water to fish on it. My wife's cousin got older and we began fishing non stop. One day we decided to help stock fish on the Lehigh with a local organization called the Lehigh River Stocking Association or LRSA. I took an interest in what they were trying to do. Water quality and making the Lehigh River a better place. This is where I was truly introduced to fly fishing. I became a board member and one of the officers told me he had a three person pontoon boat and I could come out with him if I would like. He brought his fly rod and I brought my spin rod. I hammered fish throughout the day until dusk. Then the bugs came out and fish were feeding on top everywhere we looked. He began hooking fish after fish on a Sulphur dry fly and all I could do was sit back and watch. That was a year and a half ago. I have since left that organization and become a board member of the Western Pocono TU. I touch a spin rod maybe three times a year. I have become fully addicted. I fish whenever possible and in all weather. When I was a spin fishermen I focused only on the Lehigh Valley creeks. Now I travel all over the state and other states searching for new waters, new species and new friends. Fly fishing has changed me and it has caused me to evolve in the way I think about streams, conservation, and life in general.
I have wrote this blog, because I was challenged by Howard over at Windknots and Tangled Lines Blog. He came up with an excellent contest that made me think about how I have become what I am today. Check his blog out and enter his contest if you would like. I hope you enjoyed my ramblings and if you did not sorry I wasted the 5 minutes it took you to read it.

Fly Fishing the French Fry Hole.... Photo Taken By Dub The" New Daddy" Thorax

Rainy Day... Lets Tie CDC Stone Fly Nymphs!

2011-12-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

Here in Easter Pennsylvania the weather is not cooperating. Latley, I have been addicted to CDC and saw a pattern on the Fly Fishermen site for Charlie Craven's CDC Yellow Stone. I was trying to get a picture of the pattern in the water, because the ice blue flashback make the stone glow. I could not, but trust me on it! I hope you like the pattern.

Hook- DaiRiki 12 3xl nymph
Bead- 1/8 gold bead
Lead- 15 wraps of .015
Thread- Yellow Danville 70 denier
Tail- Yellow dyed pheasant tail
Flashback- Ice blue pearl tinsel
Rib- 3x mono
1 Brown grizzle hen saddle feather
1 Brown Cdc feather
Dubbing- Jacks tackle Rainbow Worrior Rainbow Stone (Yellow)

Place bead and 15 wraps of .015 lead on hook. Push up into the bead and cover with thread.

Tie about six pheasant tail fibers, ice blue tinsel, and 3x mono. I use cheap Cabelas brand.

Dub onto your thread a healthy amount of dubbing and taper forward. Do not be afraid to use a nice amount of dubbing, because stone fly nymphs are wide and bulky.

Pull the tinsel forward and tie down. Rib the mono up the fly and tie off..You can bulk up your abdomen with thread as to match.

Tie in one brown Cdc feather by the tip and wrap like a wet fly. Pulling the fibers to the rear of the hook each wrap and tie down.

It will look like this

Before you tie in the hen feather, pull the feather fiber to the base of the stem. Tie in the feather by the tip and wrap as you just did with the Cdc feather. Pulling the hen fibers back like a wet fly collar and tie off.

it will look like this.

Dub a collar and whip finish.

Underside

Wet

Natural Disaster Clean up

2011-12-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

I have been tying for a little over a year. It started off as two little plastic shoe box's and has grown in a spot in my kitchen. Another reason my wife hates me and she refers to this area in the house as "The Fly Shop". I remember having to pull out the containers and my vice that I was given for free. I would lay everything on my dining room table and tie fly's. I was forced to clean up right away and repeat the process the next time I wanted to tie.
After I outgrew the containers, the wife had this brilliant idea to allow me to have a space in my kitchen to tie. A small dry bar area that was only being utilized as a visible junk drawer. We do not have a large house, and with two children, have pretty much outgrew the space. Mostly the toys have taken control of out habitat (Thanks Mom!).
Being able to leave my tying stuff out, allows me to be messy. It is not something I take pride in, but it is what it is. I finally decided to do a clean up and reorganization. Which promptly made me want to go to The Evening Hatch Fly Shop (Candy Store) and add to my bountiful collection.
The wife has begun to grumble and say I need to find a nice desk at a garage sale or something and move all of my materials upstairs in a small bedroom. I told her in the beginning of my tying life that giving me an inch of space would lead me into taking over the house. It is slowly coming to fruition.

Using The Magic Tool on Christmas Night: CDC Biot March Brown Parachute Emerger.

2011-12-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

First, I would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas. After all the food and putting my children gifts together, I took a nap. I woke up feeling great and wanting to finally try out the Magic Tool for the first time. I do not know why I have not tried it out yet. Maybe it was because it is not dry fly season.

Anyways, after messing with it and getting used to it. I can tell you, it is a great tool. Now, I am not saying there is not cheaper options out there that do the same thing or that you couldn't make your own. What I am saying is that; it does what it is suppose to do and makes using cdc easier. I really enjoyed using it. I think you can tell from the pictures. The flies looks bad ass and buggy!

Pattern: CDC Biot March Brown Parachute Emerger

Thread: Danville 70 deniere 6/0 Red Brown
Hook: Dai Riki Size 12 Scud
Shuck: Orvis Zlon Brown
Biot: TCOMarch Brown Turkey Biot
Post: Trout Hunter White CDC
Dubbing: DRC Yellow Brown Spectramized dubbing.
Wing: TCO Super Select CDC Natural Brown ( I am using 2 of these feathers in the Magic Tool)

The Magical Waters of Falling Spring Branch and Letort Spring Run

2011-12-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

I believe if you stare into the waters of FSB or the Letort, you will become hypnotized by the gentle sway of the water cress. However, this hypnotizing motion will not make you cluck like a chicken or Shuffle like LMFAO. It will however draw you back and forcible kick your ass over and over again, while you try to figure these magical waters out.
I have figured I better get in as many fishing days over this winter holiday as I can. Reason being, once the spring semester starts, I do not know how many trips I will be able to go on.
I decided to make the two and half hour trip to the Cumberland Valley and hit one of my favorite streams and one of my arch nemesis.

Ever since I read Mike Heck's Spring Creek Strategies book, FSB went to the top of my list as a stream I wanted to fish. Luckily, last winter a friend and I decided to book a guided trip with Mike. He is top notch and very reasonable priced. Go check out his site. That trip was my first time dealing with a true spring creek. I got skunked, but working with Mike helped me learn how to approach a stream of this caliber. Look for a guest interview coming up from him.
Anyways, I arrived at FSB at 8:45 in the morning and was greeted with rising fish. I skillfully crawled to position. Began my casting motion......and spooked all of the trout on the stream. It really is ridiculous, you spook one fish and the whole stream knows you are there. I just have to laugh, because that is why this stream is so great. My competitive nature of succeeding on such a technical stream will torture me the rest of my life.
I was able to succeed today. There is a nice small waterfall and some broken water. This was going to be my best chance at a fish. I did not have to be as precise and the broken water helped hide me. After fifteen or so casts I hooked up with my largest wild rainbow to date. It was gorgeous. The gold speckling across the back glimmered in the suns rays. FSB holds great memories for me in my brief fly fishing career. I caught my first wild rainbow there in the summer and now my largest to date.
I decided to leave FSB around 11:30am and head northeast to do battle with the mystic Letort.

I name you Goldie

Wish I had friends to take picture of me holding fish, instead of the boring wrist shots.

Puuuurrrrtttyyy

"Uhhhm excuse me, but you care moving?"

Now I know how Jesus walked on water

Even the trout celebrate Christmas

" The stream holds some of the most sophisticated brown trout in the fly fishing universe. But to the fly angler who wants a challenge it's the place that let's you test your skill on a legendary stream with legendary trout and perhaps see the ghosts of legendary fly anglers who past this way. It is not a stream for a person who is just getting into fly fishing contrary to what many so called websites will tell you."-E. Macri Check out Mr Macri's site on the Letort. It will scare the piss out of you.

I arrived at the battle dome around noon and began my dissent into hell. I walked to take a picture of the Letort Spring Run sign and had fish scurrying everywhere. I knew it was going to be one of those days.

I worked my way upstream of the Bonnybrooke access and just had fish laughing at me. I do not even know why I try. Somehow I found a bruiser, twenty plus. It had that beautiful light grayish brown coloration. I got myself into position to cast my sculpin and on the back cast snagged a tree. This was not an ordinary snag either. This was a birdsnest, cut everything off and retie your leader and flies back on kinda snag. I know you all have had them. by the time I redid everything he was surprisingly gone! (sense my sarcasm) I turned around and walked down to the meadow that Vince Marino and Charlie Fox made famous and worked my way back upstream. Not only did I spook ever single god damn trout on this stream I even spooked the deer. I was able to get a fifteen incher to chase my sculpin twice from under a bridge. The first time he missed the hook, looked up at me, and shot back under the bridge. The second time he shot out again to grab it, and must have forgotten I was there. He saw me right when he was about to grab it and once again retreated under the bridge. This fish obviously was not of the best genes.

I headed home completely broken and cursing the Letorts name under my breath. They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Guess I have to move to Carlisle.

Peek a Boo

Who's house is this?

Bait Chuckers and Dirty Pinners Stay the F Out!

Hey if you guys get a chance shoot over to The Outdoor Blogger Network and Like my blog. I am number 70 on the list. Click Here ------>Do it! Really easy to do. Just like Facebook...do it....do it......do it....

Surprise Of A Day

2011-12-17T20:13:00.000-08:00


What the F you looking at?

         I had the pleasure today to do some fishing with one of my good fly fishing buddies, Lenny. He lives a little over an hour away from me, so we do not get out much. However, today he made the trek up from the Philadelphia area to explore a stream with me, that I have never fished. I consider this stream a home water for me, but I always thought of it as a put and take stocked fishery. Until a little mouse told me a secret.....wild fish, and nice ones. He never told me though that one of the wild species were rainbows. Imagine my surprise when I saw a 3-4 inch bow with beautiful par marks laying in my net later on in the day.
         This did not come until about 2 hours into our exploration, and I had only landed one bow in the 10 inch range. Lenny, looked at the ten inch fish and made the comment " man that is a nice holdover, I mean it almost looks wild...".
        No freaking way wild bows are around here though. Those things only exist on the Upper D and Cumberland Valley streams, right?

Frenchy in the snout

We were five minutes from leaving the creek in disappointment. We found some nice holding water and Lenny tried his luck with the George Daniel's technique (Euro) and had no luck. I decide to test it out with my set up. I am using a strike indicator. First cast and I have a small fish come up and try to eat my indicator. I laugh and cast again. Same dang thing happens. I get Lanny to come over and watch, because obviously it will happen again. he comes over and instead of a rise, I get a hook-up, but lose the fish. same thing happens the next three casts. Keep missing them, then SNAG. Crap, I have to go into the hole to get lose. Lenny stops me though and ask for a try. So, I maneuver my snag out of the way for him to try to hook up. Waddya know. The little guy up above comes to hand. We look at each other in astonishment. Holy Sh*t, is that what I think it is? A couple more come to hand and we are just pumped! We decide to walk another 1/2 mile upstream and it does not disappoint. I miss one or two nice size fish and we are literally talking about turning around because of the time. I ask for 5 minutes to fish a very small section of holding water and BOOM hook up! 13-15 inch wild brown starts rocketing up and down the creek and doing an aerial display. I can still here Len saying "Don't lose him, dumbass". I finish the deed and get a couple pictures and our day is complete. A pleasant surprise for a chilly December afternoon.You better bet, I will be back for those big boys that came off though.

Fins as sharp as razor blades.

Do not put your fingers to close, I will bite.

O' Thank Heavens

2011-12-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

       O' thank heavens for the end of the college semester. I can take a breath, do some fishing, tie some flies, and enjoy family and friends during the holidays.
   One of my jobs takes me up and down the eastern part of the state. By chance I happened to drive through Hancock, NY. For those of you that do not know, Hancock is between the West and East Branch of the Upper Delaware River. Unfortunately, I was not aware I would be crossing this wonder of a river, so I was not fully prepared.
         I only had about an hour to fish between appointments. I pulled into the Shehawken boat launch and it was somthing I was not used to...............Not a car in the lot. Well except mine.

I know I only had my hip waders, which limited my wade ability, my 4wt, and small nymphs. Not exactly what I wanted to toss in the monster D. I quickly got dressed and then I saw something. My 9wt Scott and my meat box. Hmmmm............ 9wt is overkill, but what the heck, I want to toss meat. That is exactly what I did. It produced zip. What the hell though, I made a day of 6 hours of driving, into a day on the Delaware.
I picked up a Olympus Tough 800 off of Ebay, so I could mess around with underwater shots. Here are the first pictures from the camera.

6 inches of pure Muppet Baby

Downstream of Shehawken

Little blurry, but will work on it. The rest of the shots are just me trying to take pretty pictures lol

Fiberglass Manifesto's 12 Days of Christmas

2011-12-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to pass this awesome giveaway on to my friends. The awesome sauce over at the Fiberglass Manifesto are giving away some FANTASTIC prizes from dealers up above. Heck, today he gave away 2 custom fiberglass rods! Jump on this ASAP. Additionally, Bug Slinger is giving away stuff, and they sound like Bug Flinger.

Tying Kinda Mood

2011-12-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

I told you guys in my first blog post that I was a lazy tier and it is true. However, when I get in a groove, I love it. I saw this pattern in the new Fly Tyer Magazine and really wanted to try it out. Especially, since George Daniel did a little blog post on Pa Fly Fish about large nymphs in the winter. Hope you guys enjoy!
Double Bead StoneFly
Hook: Dai Riki 700 streamer 4x long Size 8
Thread: Danville 6/0 black
Dubbing: Hairline Custom BlendDub Brown Stone
Rib: Small Brown D rib
Beads: 2 Tungsten Copper Finished Beads
Legs: Brown Goose Biot's
Wingcase: Turkey Tail

The Golden Stonefly's dubbing is a custom blend of a 1/3 of each.; Fly Dk (Slovokia) Spectra Orange, Yellow, and Beaver pale yellow. The legs are brown and black barred Silli legs. You can find the dubbing at Kevin Compton's Performance Flies. Also, I added 8 wraps of square lead from the first bead at the back, towards the tail. I then squeezed it with a pliers to widen and flatten it. This gives the body a flat wide look, once you dub over it. Instead of the small D rib, I used silver wire for the rib.

Christmas Time, That's Right, I Said Christmas God Damn It!

2011-12-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year again. Hoping your special someone actually buys you something fly fishing related, right? Well, usually you just buy your own crap, least that's what I do. My wife bought me the Xmas tree ornament, and that will be the closest thing she buys me fly fishing related. Hope your spouse or significant other does a little better than mine.
This week has been really hectic. The fall semester at the college is really putting pressure on me, and I have not been able to get out on my local streams. Does not help It poured down rain for 24 hours straight either. So, I do not think I missed much. I wanted to get out today, but I had to do the family thing. Kids, wife and I spent the early afternoon looking for Charlie Browns Christmas tree. Found it, hung my ornament on the tree, and began tying flies.
I am in a "Holiday" fly swap on Pa Fly Fish. The theme is soft hackles. Believe it or not, I have never tied soft hackles before. It really blows my mind, when I think about it. The reason being because I have not tried fishing soft hackles. I am going to make it a point this coming year though, to really work on my wet fly fishing. I need to, because I know how productive it can be.
I decided to tie a BWO Biot Soft Hackle Emerger. I think it came out ok for my first time, but the hackle is a little long.

Hook: Size 14 Wet fly
Thread: UTC 8/0 Olive
Body: BWO Dyed Turkey Biot
Thorax: Fly DK (Slovenia) Classic 3/4 River Green mixed with 1/4 Fly Dk (Slovenia) Spectra Peacock Dubbing
Wing: European Winter Partridge

Magic Tool, WOOOOOO!!!!!!!

2011-11-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

Petitjean, Whaaaat!!!

This showed up in my mail today, and I am pretty pumped. If I did not have a schnit load of homework to do, and tests to study for, I would be messing around with this. I love me some CDC. Absolutely floats the best, hands down. Specially if you use it in conjuction with some Tiemco Dry Magic.

Magic Man

If the Magic Tool and Tiemco Dry Magic got together one drunken night after consuming a couple bottles of red wine( I know the chances are slim). I think John C. Reilly would be the end result.

I love me some comedy movies.

Day Out With The Cuzo

2011-11-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

Want to Wrestle?

I do not get to fish with my cousin much anymore. He is off at college in Williamsport, trying to pick up chicks and drinking beer. I am off at college down the street from my house, trying to convince the wife, that there is no way I would even think about picking up chicks at college. So, when he comes home for the holidays, we make a point to get out and fish.
The picture to the left is not from today, it is from the first day of trout season. I had to include it in this post, because I love making fun of him and his dirty upper lip. What the hell is that thing? Freakin Nacho Libre holding a mutant Japanese radiation trout.
Anyways, with all the local streams still blown out, our only option was to head back to the Little Lehigh. I said this in my last post, but I really do not like the LL. I tend to enjoy streams where the wild brown population is a little larger. If you do not know about this stream, it has a hatchery on its banks. Guess what happens when we get a good flood? Yep, stockies galore. Now, my cousin on the other hand, he just likes catching fish.

Nick Getting Ready

We planned on arriving at the stream around noon. Figured the fishing would pick up when the water begins to warm. One problem, I talked to Mike from Dub The Thorax, the night before, and he said he would be showing up at the stream around 8:30. Well, I did not want to miss the chance to out fish him.
Once we arrived, we greeted Dub, and split up to find fish. Nick and I shot down stream and Mike went upstream to the kiddie pool. Things started really slow, as I expected. The cold air and water temperatures had the trout hugging the bottom of the stream. Not interested in the junk we were flinging.

UUUUUGGGGLLY

If you get a chance at fishing this stream, make sure you take some time and fish downstream of the bridge at the Heritage section. I wanted to take pictures, But I did not want Nick to think I was some kind of paparazzi. We did not pick anything up down there, but the water just looks real fishy. Lots of good chutes and riffles. Damn, wish I took some pictures, sorry guys.
We met back up with Mike and he did not have much luck either. We began working back upstream. I finally was able to pick this ugly bastard up on a PT. Dubbed picked up two on his worm thing, that he just had a naming contest for. I missed a couple and Mike called it a day. Think it was about 11 when he decided to go home and get bugged by his wife. He made a mistake. I jumped up to the next chute. with a large tree down in it. It forms a really nice riffle and some slack water. Looks like this.

The first cast I would tell you to make at this set up, is toss at the seam of the slack and riffle, right at the point of the downed tree.

I did just that, and this 16 inch rainbow gave me a good fight. A stockie, but not as ugly as the first one. This hole produced another six bows for me. I took pictures of all of them, but how many stupid stocked rainbows with light pink micro eggs in their mouths do you want to look at? I lost my egg and decided to throw on the infamous pink worm. First cast and I was pleasantly surprised with this little brown. Wild? Stocked? I dunno, but it was something different and pretty.

Tired of beating that little riffle to a pulp, I jumped up above the tree and began to annihilate bows. Ipw's and light pink micro eggs were on fire. I could not toss in my line without a fish attacking it. My cousin, who was upstream began working back down. He sat on the other side of the stream and began to have the same luck. I probably pulled 7 or 8 bows from there, and missed a bunch more. One of those bows was on the rubber legged PT, I tied up the other day. I would put up a tutorial on it, but it is just a pheasant tail with rubber leggs. Not very hard to tie. I like to use it as my anchor fly.

So, from about 11 till 2:30 it was just ridiculous fishing. Only way it could be better, would be for it to be up on top, and wild fish. The fishing seemed to shut down around 2:30 and even though my cousin picked up one or two more on the way out. Staying till 4 was not worth it.
O BTW, do you remember what time planned on showing up there? Yea, that is right. Right when the fishing became good. Yea well, it was a nice morning to be on the stream. Just wish the jogger hatch was a little better.

Nacho Libre Bids You Farewell, Till Next Time.

The First of Many

2011-11-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

11lb Pig Bowzilla w/ My Son Mason

I guess I should introduce myself to you guys, such we all will become best friends, and dance into the sunset together, ya know? First, my name is Shane, and as my little thingy on the side of the blog says, I am 29. I have two wonderful children (one is a demon I swear, but not <----- one). I am currently in college, too become an elementary teacher. I have three jobs, one is a position as a seasonal fly casting instructor with L.L. Bean, but I am off there till the Spring. Also, I am a property adjuster and a prek teacher. Further, I am on the board of directors for the Western Pocono TU, president of the teacher association at the college, on the leadership committee for the college, and a bunch of other crapola that makes me look special. I am really not though, because I have only been fly fishing for a year and a half, and that's all you guys really care about (my wife hates me, because of all of this though). It is why you are reading my junk. However, I pick things up pretty quick and have had some great tutorage. Mainly from my buddy Ed.
Ed is my sensei and the guy who has not only taught me how to fly fish, but how to lash feathers to a hook. I have met most of my fishing buddies on PA Fly Fish. I highly recommend it as a place to check out if you want to learn a thing or two, or to meet some new people to fly fish with.

Sensei Ed

I am going to answer the one question I know you all are wondering. Shane, why are you going to take on the good fight of starting a bog? Well, it is a great question guys. I never was a big follower of blogs, and really had no interest in starting one. Still, I began reading two blogs that are friends of mine. The first one is Dub The Thorax, and the other is LV Limestoner. Both are fantastic reads. One is written by Mike aka Dub. I fished with him a couple times and he posted about me in his greatness. Who does not love reading about themselves on the internet? The other is Gary aka Gfen. He is a crabby mother f'r, but is very funny. I have met both of them through PA Fly Fish. See what I said about meeting people on there? Anyways, I started reading their awesome sauce and started picking up the blogs that they like. Through those people I read others and came to the conclusion that there is some real crap out there. I won't name the blog, but it made me realize, "hey, this mentally challenged individual is making a couple bucks and getting some free stuff off of their schnit, why can't I? So, here I am writing to you guys while I lay on my couch, and my two rugrats are watching Dino Dan.

Perfect water

Now, I have told you about myself and I figure I should provide you with my first fishing story for the beginning of my blog life. Yesterday (Thanksgiving) Ed called me to see if I wanted to go fishing the next day (today) at the Little Lehigh. Even though I am not a big fan of the LL I still wanted to fish. Additionally, it was supposed to be a beautiful day and it was. I texted Dub to see if he wanted to join us, but he was afraid the water would not be in ideal fishing conditions, such we had a ton of rain two days ago. HE WAS WRONG. He did tell me that if I decided to go, I should toss rubber legged nymphs and micro eggs. Both things I did not have in my box. Another thing you need to know about me, is that I am a lazy tyer. Not that my flies do not look good, but it takes some real motivation for me to sit down and tie.Usually, that motivation involves fishing the next day and not having what I think is going to work. Trusting Dubs tips, I sat down at the vise and tied some rubber legged pheasant tales and pink micro eggs. Dub's Micro Egg Video <------ Click here. I will post some pictures of the rubber legged PT later.

Yea, no Rod!!

Dave, The New Shop Owner

Ed and I decided to meet at the Heritage section, because if the fishing was no good we could at least sit in the Heritage Fly Shop and tell fish stories with the rest of the old guys in there. I arrived before Ed, so I went into the shop to pick up some lead sinkers and check out the inventory. The shop itself is a landmark and if you have never been in there, you need to check it out. Especially, since Rod retired. Most of the people that have been in there when Rod was the owner, will tell you he was a grumpy old troll. Rod gave me casting lessons when I was 12 or 13 (that was the last time I held a fly rod till two summers ago), and even though he was a good teacher, he was never nice to me whenever I stopped in. The inventory in the shop is sparse, but somehow I was able to find some Beneechi 12/0 olive thread that I have been looking for, to tie some of Kevin Compton's Tungston Torpedo's. Happy with the score and with Ed still not having arrived. I decided to get suited up and start bloodying some lips. It did not take me long to find the fish. Thirty minutes in, I landed two bows and two pop off before I could bring them to net. Guess what patterns they chose? Yep, micro egg and the rubber legged PT.

9 inch Bow Chewing on The Rubber Legged PT

Guess Dub knew what he was talking about.

Look at that Stripe!

As quickly as the fun started, it just as fast shut down. Dub texted me wondering how everything was going, and after I let him know it was great, I did not have another nibble the rest of the afternoon. Bastard jinxed me! Least that's what I will blame it on. After the text, I walked back to the shop to see if Ed had arrived. There he was was blabbing away. I know how he can be and decided to go back fishing, because it would be awhile.
As I walked up the path, I was stopped by a gentleman I met at the PAFF Jam, KeithS on the forum. We talked for a little, exchanged some flies. and wished each other luck. Obviously, I did not receive any luck with the skunking I took the rest of the day

KeithS Tying on Some Flies

When I came back to the shop to find Ed, to say good bye, there he was sitting in the shop. He never left. The day was over, but not without a stop at Cali Burrito, damn that place is good.

I will finish off my first post with some of the pictures from the day.

The Stretch

Behind The Shop

Pinky

Pinky's Water

No Bait Chuckers Here

I Had The Big Sur

Over a LB of Goodness

2011-11-24T16:12:00.001-08:00

Coming Soon!!!!!