The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-11

Tom Chandler — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Legislation proposes making Chinook California's "Official State Endangered Species" (Jab at Feinstein?) http://bit.ly/91fxvT #
Underground discussion of felt-soled vs rubber-soled wading boots (http://bit.ly/8Yi6Dv) mentioned on Orvis podcast: http://bit.ly/a7XcO7 #

Roderick Haig-Brown’s “A River Never Sleeps” Reissued in Hardback (or, We Cheer)

Tom Chandler — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:05:57 +0000

Roderick Haig-Brown’s “A River Never Sleeps” is rightly considered a fly fishing classic, which is why the release of a new hardback edition – complete with passages from Nick Lyons and Thomas McGuane – is worth a minute of your time.

A classic - and with good reason.

It’s tempting to add to the volumes of praise already heaped on Haig-Brown’s work, though the whole ideas becomes less intriguing once you realize that praise is wholly deserved.

Haig-Brown’s approach to the sport is entirely genuine; he lacks guile, and avoids the unfortunate tendency of outdoor writers to complicate and exaggerate.

Nor does Haig-Brown burden his readers with a lot of “fly fishing is the meaning of life” hooey that seems almost obligatory today.

Instead, Haig-Brown’s approach to fly fishing is one of unabashed enthusiasm, coupled with a refreshing innocence – as if each day on the water was his first:

“I still don’t know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel. But i do know that if it were not for the strong, quick life of rivers, for their sparkle in the sunshine, for the cold grayness of them under rain and the feel of them about my legs as I set my feet hard down on rocks or sand or gravel, I should fish less often.”

There are always bit and pieces of the literature that stick to the ribs of those fortunate enough to read them at a receptive moment in their lives.

It’s likely a trick of timing – the right words coming to the right reader at the right time – but I never tire of reading Gierach’s Trout Bum, his “Even Brook Trout Get The Blues” essay and McGuane’s introduction to the Longest Silence.

Every literate fly fisherman I know keeps such a list in his head – the little jewels that offer us a mirror view of some internal dialogue.

They’re intensely personal, though describing why is akin to explaining an odd dream to a stranger.

In short, it’s better to simply acknowledge the effect than it is to dissect it.

For whatever reason, included on my list is the “April” chapter from A River Never Sleeps, though in keeping with the above, I can’t pinpoint why.

Regardless, Haig-Brown’s month-by-month exploration of his fly fishing life is a worthy read, and if you don’t own it yet, then consider the latest edition, which includes the worthy perspective of Nick Lyons and Thomas McGuane.

See you at the bookshelves, Tom Chandler.

(Disclosure: Skyhorse press sent me an unsolicited review copy of the book)

Technorati Tags: a river never sleeps, Fly Fishing, roderick haig-brown

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-09

Tom Chandler — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Meet your new Mammalian Overlords – rabid Otter viciously attacks Florida man: http://bit.ly/abdQjb #
High Country News weighs in on Westlands Irrigation District & Feinstein's water grab (hint: it's not pretty) http://bit.ly/boZ14b #
If you you must nymph, at least learn to do it right: http://bit.ly/aOGsSR #
KQED report puts brakes on fictitious "Fish vs jobs" meme in California Water Wars: http://aquafornia.com/archives/21489 #
And here I thought everyone *loved* bloggers: http://wickedoutdoorsy.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-wonder-how-they-feel-about-dogs-on.html #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

When Winter Runs Too Long (or, When Fishing For Non-Trout Species Looks Appealing)

Tom Chandler — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:12:53 +0000

It’s at this point in the winter – fresh out of patience, the snow is still falling, and others are seeing their spring hatches already – that alternate forms of fly fishing seem more reasonable.

As in very alternate. As in squirrel fishing. (Found via Taunted by Waters, who probably knows from nuts, being as he largely is one)

What do the Undergrounders think? Acorn No-Hackle? Oak Emerger? Or simply a Royal Peanut attractor?

Technorati Tags: fly fishing for squirrels, winter fly fishing

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-08

Tom Chandler — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Ireland's bass sport fishery under threat from a push to renew commercial fishing: http://bit.ly/90rO3R #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-05

Tom Chandler — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Knives, forks & spoons for anglers? (Another sign of the fishing apocalypse): http://www.wayupstream.com/2010/03/perfect-gift.html #
Yet another reason skiing will always be bigger than fly fishing: The 2010 Lange Ski Girls… http://bit.ly/bEAUbn #
Fishing The Smokies? Road work may cause delays, so read up: http://bit.ly/cQ1Vtd #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

Can Fly Fishermen Survive For Long in The “Real” World – Where Dangerous Fashion Rays Contaminate the Water?

Tom Chandler — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:46:12 +0000

Can fly fisherman really survive for long in a the “regular” world – an unnatural habitat where fashion still exists and people sometimes dress in other than rubber pants and vented shirts?

Tomorrow morning, our little family leaves for a weekend at a secret location: a place where it’s warm, there are no trout (save those found in plastic wrap), and yes – there is a dress code.

A “resort casual” dress code.

Uh, is this Resort Casual? Because really, I'm lost here.

Sure, I’m an award-winning copywriter, a top fly fishing blogger and the investigative genius behind this Pulitzer-winning* expose of fly fishing’s effect on the fashion industry, yet despite my humble nature, I truly have no idea what “resort casual” looks like.

After all, I’m the guy who decided to take the guesswork out of getting dressed every morning by ordering a dozen army surplus t-shirts in (Coyote Tan & Olive Drab) and four pairs of Dickies work jeans, and simply wearing those every day.

Einstein figured wearing the same suit every day removed one more distraction from his brain, and given the generally low wattage powering me these days, one less decision sounds pretty good.

If it’s good enough for one of mankind’s greatest minds, then it’s good enough for me.

But I hadn’t counted on those cursed words: “Resort Casual.”

Compounding the problem is this: not since tweed jackets and wicker creels were the norm have fly fishermen been accused of being natty dressers. In fact, a careful analysis of fly fishing’s photo stream forces a rather different conclusion.

Unless pastel or earth-tone vented shirts – fully equipped with floatant stains and the oily remnants of lunch – are now considered haute couture, fly fishermen look to be largely slobs.

I won’t pretend I’m better than the rest of fly fishing (in this one instance), though I don’t often wear vented shirts differentiating myself from the rest of the herd and increasing my profile among the hordes of groupies crowding the rivers and fly shops.

In truth, I’d come to believe that living in the shadow of Mt. Shasta – a mountain big enough to house an entire race of aliens (the lemurians) – protected me from the dangerous trend rays which contaminate less-shielded urban folks.

And frankly, I was happy with the situation (army surplus t-shirts are only 3 for $15), but have now come face to face with “Resort Casual.”

I’m lost.

And in a fit of public service, I’m going to help the Undergrounders avoid my sorry fate.

First, must I point out this mess is the byproduct of a non-fly fishing related trip?

I didn’t think so.

Which leads us to Important Fly Fishing Rule For Dealing With The Rest of the World Which Doesn’t Fly Fish #7:

#7: Never, ever leave home unless fly rods are involved. (Or the shooting range. Or a trail. Or some other dirt-related activity.)

We’ll go over the rest of the rules when I get back.

See you rummaging through my closet, Tom Chandler.

(*Not a Pulitzer winner)

Technorati Tags: fly fishermen are slobs, fly fishing fashion

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-04

Tom Chandler — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Now that Hummer's gone, will fly fishermen turn to personal hovercraft to escape to river? (I am) http://bit.ly/cdqU06 #
Fly fishermen should be so lucky: Live fish fall from the sky in Australia: http://bit.ly/900Zf5 #
No love for Outside Magazine from former contributors, who relate writer's horror story: http://bit.ly/alxNv8 #
Dams create green energy? Don't tell that to fish… http://bit.ly/aQPu9t #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

The Real Reason Kids Do the Darndest Fishing Related Things (or, A Chilling Glimpse Into My Fly Fishing Future)

Tom Chandler — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:31:06 +0000

Despite the fact I write a moderately successful fly fishing blog, I’m well aware of my place in fly fishing’s predatory food chain. (Hint: not very high.)

That has a lot to do with my tendency to experience the sport on my own terms instead of the trout’s, and normally, I’m fine with that.

A small kid holding a big Brook trout. A vision of my future?

Still, after Alert Underground Reader Ian fired me an email about a 9 year-old who caught a South Carolina state-record Brook trout, things crystallized in my brain.

Namely, my future.

Sure, on the surface, this reads like one of those heartwarming “little kid kicks butt” stories, though the Underground’s Director In Charge of Reading Between the Lines noted right away the insidious nature of the tale.

As in the following: My daughter is going to do exactly the same thing to me some day.

In fact, I can predict – with a high degree of certainty – that the following will occur while teaching Underground Child Star Little Meski to fly fish:

We’ll find ourselves at river’s edge, she’ll be whipping the rod around, expertly crafting leader tangles of gordian dimensions, and at some point I’ll sigh deeply, step in, and patiently begin untangling the day’s umpteenth knot.

Which is when a Great Big Brook Trout (The Official Char of the Trout Underground) will rocket out from under a boulder and grab the shiny bright pink fly as it dangles on the surface – only a couple inches away from the rod tip.

Later, when some outdoor writer is facing a slow news day, he’ll get a call about this small kid who caught a big fish, and – in the search for a humorous news angle on the story – will get her dad to admit he got skunked that day, and that he’s never actually caught a Brook trout anywhere near as big as the one his tiny daughter landed by accident.

And that yes, Brook trout are his favorite trout.

It Goes Virally Wrong

The next thing you know, I’m the comic foil for every outdoor writer facing a slow news day (which is most of them most of the time), and the YouTube video of me soiling myself while my tiny, giggling daughter – using both hands – dead lifts a 15-pound Brook out of the water (on four-pound tippet) will go seriously viral.

While I stand there in stained pants, wondering what the hell just happened, my daughter will deliver the coup de grace by pointing at the flopping trout and saying something adorably ironic like: “daddy ever catch big fish?”

In seconds, the facade of omnipotence I’ve so carefully crafted at the Underground will disappear.

I will be unable to ever show my face on the Internet again.

And I might as well fold up and disappear into the earth.

How do I know this is going to happen? Could this just be my considerable imagination at work?

Not hardly.

We Offer Proof

After all, I’m the Guy Whose Dog Catches Brown Trout Which Fall From The Sky.

If you didn’t read it, that story outlines the unlikely adventure of Wally the Wonderdog, who – unlike me – managed to catch a trout that opening weekend. And this despite going nowhere near a river.

If that’s not proof enough (and given the paranoid conspiratorial mindset of most people these days, it should be), then I offer up the story of the Relative I Taught to Fly Fish in Maine.

It was his first fly fishing experience, and because we were fishing from a boat, I had him tie on a fly that was wholly unlike the bulky streamer that was clearly The Fly, thinking casting instruction would go a lot easier with a small nymph.

Within a dozen casts, he badly tangled his fly line around his rod tip, dropped his backcast in the water to untangle it, and minutes later, lifted the line to cast again – setting the hook on the biggest smallie of the day.

Despite being unable to cast much beyond the oars, he went on to outfish me in handily outlandish fashion.

To some, that’s simply a hard-luck story. To me – combined with the Wonderdog Event – it’s an omen. A portent.

A Preview of Things to Come

Yesterday, I was playing with Little M, and grew obsessed with kicking a lightweight plastic ball into a little plastic bowl.

After two dozen attempts, I gave up, sat down, and watched Little M accomplish the feat on her first try.

An innocent – and hugely lucky – coincidence?

Only a fool would believe that.

I’m tempted to re-live the outrages I’ve suffered at the hands of fly fishing buddies, who – despite clearly doing things all wrong – have managed to handily outfish me, but that’s a different story.

That’s simply the universe being unfair (or karma deferred).

Kids are a different matter.

They’re all cute and innocent and adorable, but beneath Meski’s shiny, food-smeared exterior lies a ruthless competitor bent on paternal humiliation, and at some primal, reptilian level – despite being unable to tie her shoes or pronounce “dry fly” – she’s got the Mad Embarrassment Skillz to pull it off.

It’s a staple element of science fiction yarns that knowing the future doesn’t necessarily afford us the ability to change it, the agonizing position where I currently find myself.

In the story of the nine year-old landing a state record Brook trout, I have seen the future, and it involves an emotionally crippling roundhouse kick to my ego.

Delivering that kick will be my innocent, wide-eyed, unbearably cute daughter, and – despite my college education and 35+ years experience in fishing – I remain powerless to stop it.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

Technorati Tags: crippling blow to ego, Fly Fishing, state record brook trout

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-02

Tom Chandler — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Catch (http://bit.ly/bMvbKY) and This is Fly (http://bit.ly/aSPjYW)online ezines coming out on same day? Competition growing online, eh? #
Wild steelhead "Read 'em and Weep" post from Unaccomplished Angler: http://bit.ly/c2Eng9 #
Sign of the Fishing Apocalypse RT: @The_Fin: And you thought your spot was crowded! http://bit.ly/ammxUu trout season opens in MO today #
Utah not exactly making fishermen feel at home with anti-stream access bill: http://bit.ly/dluIRq #
The beginner's guide to the Henry's Fork (Hard or easy? Turns out it's both…) http://bit.ly/bSAe32 #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

Another Sign of the Fishing Apocalypse: Opening Day (or, The Asylum – Outdoors)

Tom Chandler — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:54:13 +0000

Because we’re deeply concernend about the well being of the slackers who read this blog our valuable readership, we’re posting yet another of our “Sign of the Coming Fishing Apocalypse” series.

In this case, it’s the Missouri Trout Season opener – an event that apparently requires the celebration of a great many fishermen:

Ahh, the solitude. The quiet. The contemplation. The ability to get back to nature.

To our friends in the “Show Me” state; let us know when it’s over.

Today’s Question for the Undergrounders: What percentage of the trout that are caught will be fair hooked?

(Subquestion A: Would you fish if it looked like this every day, or simply sink the hook right into your left temple and get on with life?)

See you anywhere but above, Tom Chandler

(found via The Fin’s twitter feed)

Technorati Tags: missouri trout season opener

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-02-27

Tom Chandler — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Cured salmon eggs used as bait also decimating juvenile wild steelhead? http://busterwantstofish.com/?p=1759 #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

Yet Another Reason Fly Fishing’s Safer Than… Journalism? (or, The Friday Video Flip)

Tom Chandler — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:51:17 +0000

Being as it doesn’t typically involve flaming racecars, swan dives from 15,000 feet or an association with politicians, it’s clear that fly fishing’s one of your safer sports – safer, even, than journalism…

Extra points for getting it together to sign off, but only a “B-” on the “That wasn’t a good idea” statement. That was a once-in-a-lifetime, on-camera opportunity to say something really memorable.

Like “Which of the three identical cameras should I be talking to?”

The Undergrounders, of course, will chime in with their own suggestions….

(Tip of the hat to Alert Underground Reader & Blogger Outdooress)

Technorati Tags: Friday viewing, reporter flattened

Bans on Felt Soled Wading Boots Gathering Steam: How Long Until You’re Wearing Rubber (And Practicing Safe Wading)?

Tom Chandler — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:59:16 +0000

The power’s flickering on and off lick a damn pinball game today, so you’re reading a draft of what could have been another brilliant post. Damn.

Felt-soled wading boots for fly fishermen may be the sport’s latest endangered species; bans on felt soles seem to be picking up steam. What will fly fishermen be wearing five years from now?

The latest ban has appeared in Alaska’s southeast region – a ban that could easily be extended to cover the entire state (from the Juneau Empire):

A new ban on felt-soled wading shoes is set to take place next year as Juneau fishermen take to freshwater streams with fly rods in hand.

The ban is meant to keep nasty fish diseases from creeping into waters on the waders of traveling fishermen.

A proposal to expand the ban from the Southeast region statewide will be considered by the state Board of Fisheries at its March meeting in Anchorage.

…

Whirling disease is just one communicable fish disease of concern. Didymo, an algae also called rock snot, mud snails and zebra mussels are others that can kill all the fish in a stream.

“The waters where fly fishermen tend to fish and wade have become a map of the spread of these problems,” Vinsel said.

Ouch. Fly fishermen seem to bearing the brunt of the criticism over the spread of invasives – as are felt soles.

The extent of the blame that can be laid on felt soles isn’t really all that clear, and one of the cruel ironies of a felt sole ban is that fly fishermen – thinking their rubber-soled wading boots and waders were now “safe” – might actually become less vigilant about cleaning.

These bans are aimed traveling fly fishermen, which only makes sense; the stuff already in the river isn’t the problem.

The stuff from someone else’s river is.

You’ll Be Practicing Safe Wading Sooner Rather Than Later

Regardless of the science for or against, felt soles probably will be banned in many locations, which is one of the reasons I fired up last year’s rubber-soled wading boot test (the biggest reason was my own desire for long-lived soles, which makes me cheap as well as green).

I’m generally happy with the grip provided by rubber soles, but a lot of commentors on the Underground weren’t – and several wrote to say they were sticking with felt.

Your choice, and it’s possible you’ll enjoy the felt option for years to come. And it’s also possible you won’t.

Anglers who are fly fishing in Alaska – a popular destination – may find themselves scrambling for a felt replacement sooner than they think.

Fortunately, I’m only a pair of fishing trips away from wrapping up wading boot test, though few surprises seem to loom.

I really like the sticky rubber Patagonia Riverwalkers on small streams – and even on the Upper Sacramento River (where others have been less than enthralled).

Overall, the Simms, Korker and Patagonia rubber soles offer advantages, but seem unsuited from anything tougher than the Rouge or Upper Sac – and they’re real deathtraps on the McCloud or Pit.

My unanswered questions remain around the rubber soles with studs screwed in, which represent the unfinished part of the test.

I screwed a dozen studs into one sole of the Simms Headwater wading boots, and yes – it gripped better than the plain sole.

Better enough? More testing is needed.

Plus, Orvis has hinted at the arrival of a fabulous new pair of studded rubber soles, and we’ll take a look at those as soon as we see them.

For now, those who tend toward indecision might want to consider a pair of the Korkers Guide Boots, which offer interchangeable soles in everything from studded felt to studded rubber, and plain varieties too.

They might be just the ticket for the traveling fly fisherman – who’s in a restricted area on day, a drift boat the next, and hiking into the backcountry the next.

Baby needs a new pair of boots, Tom Chandler

Technorati Tags: felt sole ban, felt soled wading boot, Fly Fishing, invasive species, rubber soled wading boot, wading boot, wading boot ban

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-02-26

Tom Chandler — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Wanted: Web host with tech support staff who actually *read* their emails. #
Hummer finally disappearing for good? http://bit.ly/9vYnEg #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing