The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-19

Tom Chandler — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

See the RSS feeds of a lot of top fly fishing blogs at OnLineFlyCentral.com: http://onlineflycentral.com/index.php #
We continue uncovering the Avian Conspiracy – this time they're attacking our law enforcement professionals: http://bit.ly/bbWNmU #

Friday’s Fiberglass Fly Rod Gossip (And Real News Too)

Tom Chandler — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:29:38 +0000

The Undergrounders know of my love for low modulus fly rods – namely bamboo and fiberglass.

Of the two, fiberglass is far more accessible; it’s light, affordable, tough, and requires about as much maintenance as your average doorstop.

That’s why news in the fiberglass fly rod industry piques our interest (nay it excites us).

First, the Juicy Rumor

An Alert Anonymous Undergrounder tells us Cortland *will* return selected Diamondglass rods to production, courtesy not their overseas plants, but a USA-based builder.

Regulars will know of my love for the 8.5′ Diamondglass 4wt – a rod I told everyone to buy when they could, because – like many discontinued-but-classic fly rods – they’d miss it when it was gone.

Today, I see used Diamondglass 8.5′ rods selling for full retail, and should they once again become available, I predict solid sales of both rods and blanks (you can never have too much fly rod goodness).

More as this glass news happens.

Glass Goodness From the Left Coast

Larry Kenney – longtime industry stalwart and former Scott rod biggie – announced he’d completed development of his own fiberglass fly rods, and was commencing production.

The Fiberglass Manifesto site ran Kenney’s announcement – including a list of rods (the 8′3″ 4/5 sounds tasty, as does the 7′9″ 3wt) and prices ($580-$595).

Unfortunately, he’s (so far) limiting himself to 25 rods per year, but hey – they’re still hundreds less than high-end graphite.

And because your fly rod happiness is all that really matters to me, I’ll speak freely of things heard on the downlow.

One extremely well-versed fly rod tester test-cast Kenney’s prototypes some time ago, and was impressed. And when he’s impressed, I’m impressed.

See you at the fly rod rack, Tom Chandler

Technorati Tags: cortland, diamondglass fly rod, fiberglass fly rod, fly rod, larry kenney fly rod

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-18

Tom Chandler — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Why Fly Fishing's safer than jogging: Man hit by airplane while running along beach: #
Singlebarbed's really, really old (probably going to die soon) but not before he gets new fly tying vice: http://bit.ly/9KgCQe #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-17

Tom Chandler — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

USA Ice Angling Team (yep, competitive ice fishing) wins 2010 World Championship? #
Local fly fishing guide tests zippered waders: http://www.shastatrout.com/zippers-on-waders-a-fly-fishing-guides-review #
Big deals on float tubes & raft from Creek Company (no financial interest): http://creekcompany.com/home.php #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-16

Tom Chandler — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Weather's so nice, I stole a few minutes and fired my target airgun out back. Holy UV, that sun feels nice… #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

The Fly Rod ‘O Rama (or, Dragging Out The Fly Rods – And Their Memories)

Tom Chandler — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:28:20 +0000

The Rod ‘O Rama is a fly fishing staple – an afternoon where pretty much every fly rod you own ends up leaning against something in the back yard, lines strung, loops formed, actions evaluated.

A stack of fly rods leaning against the rail - the inevitable result of a Rod 'O Rama

Naturally, a good Rod ‘O Rama involves more than one person, and in extreme circumstances, disagreements over rod action or desirability may be settled with dueling pistols.

Mostly, a simple “you’re a clueless bastard” is enough.

During a really epic Rod ‘O Rama, you can dig out rods you haven’t seen in years (I don’t want to own any rods I haven’t fished in years, but have to admit I do), and – in rare instances – you may unearth fly rods you forgot you owned.

In this case, I found two rods I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen before, though I finally solved the mystery on one.

It was a Raine bamboo rod tube containing a butt and mid, but – puzzlingly – no tips.

It was a model I’d never owned, but realized later he’d grabbed it out of his shop by accident when we went fishing last fall, borrowed my spare rod that day, and then forgot to retrieve the tube from my truck.

I’m wondering what a reasonable ransom looks like.

The Theme of The Day: 6 WTs

A Rod ‘O Rama theme is useful, and in this instance, Older Bro was loooking for a 6wt, which means he got to cast everything from an decades-old Orvis Superfine 6wt to sweet 14 year-old Sage DS – right up to Raine’s saltwater 6wt and the high-tech Orvis Hydros that replaced my much-missed Zero Gravity.

Initially, you try to limit the madness to one type of rod, but eventually the words “if you like that, you’ll love my XXXX” are heard, and suddenly, you’re casting four and five weights too.

Before it’s over, you’ve got everything from a 60 year-old Phillipson to a two-month-old graphite leaning against the rail – every one of which is loaded with some kind of memory.

You find yourself ankle-deep in the snow still covering the yard, false casting a fly rod, adjusting the loop size, and the memory of a rainy day on a lake washes over you.

You may or may not remember how cold and wet you were, but you do remember dropping the rod in the shallow water because you were holding a 17″ rainbow, and that its strawberry lateral line lit up the rainy, monochromatic, steel-grey environment you’d come to accept as normal.

Later, I found myself casting a 7.5′ 5wt Fenwick glass rod – the factory equivalent to my first fly rod, one I built in the mid-70s from a blank.

While the original rod met its end in a Santa Clara garage, the replacement feels similar enough that casting it reminded me of the bluegills and crappie I caught from a muddy, weedy lake better than 30 years ago.

Putting Them Away… Sorta

Ultimately, Older Bro’ found a rod he liked, and since I had a similar rod, sent him home with it.

Yet, when I put all the rod tubes away, I noticed a few – like the Fenwick – ended up a little closer to the front of the pile.

It’s not spring yet – there’s still snow on the ground and the alpine trails are months away from opening – but we’re seeing the signs.

The blue jays who nest under the front eaves came back today, and temperatures could run into the upper 50s all week.

So while I can’t fish the small streams yet (not legally), I can set aside a few rods that haven’t been fished in a while, and imagine creating new memories with them over the coming season.

See you when the streams open, Tom Chandler.

Technorati Tags: bamboo fly rods, fly fishing memories, fly fishing rod, fly rod, fly rod 'o rama, fly rods

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-14

Tom Chandler — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Colorado renames Dream Stream after longtime outdoor writer Charlie Meyers: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_14659856 #
HMH Fly tying vises announces Pro Staff (http://bit.ly/9otUgx), includes Underground Fav Puppetmaster Dave Roberts http://bit.ly/bukR9l #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

Breaking Underground Culinary News: Cook Fish In Your Dishwasher?

Tom Chandler — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:05:31 +0000

Ask any fly fisherman what he truly wants – what he or she dreams about when it’s dark and the house is quiet and they’ve been drinking – and they’ll say the following:

A weeklong bonefish trip in the Bahamas with the cast of the last Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue who has just lost their luggage The ability to cook fish in their dishwasher:

Will It Dishwasher? – Orange County Restaurants and Dining – Stick a Fork In It

Dishwasher catfish came into existence after I’d been fishing in the mighty Mississippi in the muddy island flats near where Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa meet. I’d caught a couple of small catfish (not the monster “grandma” catfish that can gnaw your arm off) and when I got home I discovered the stove was broken. Couldn’t get it to work. I was hungry, and there’s not a lot of options for food purchase after 9 p.m. in rural Iowa. I debated going begging for food at the neighbor’s house, but then my eyes lit on the dishwasher and the roll of foil I’d just bought at Fareway. Maybe… just maybe.

The author goes on to offer recommendations on what cooks and what doesn’t (catfish & Brussels Sprouts = yes, potatoes = no), and frankly, we’re staggered by the implications.

OK, really we’re not.

After all, fly fishing’s landscape isn’t littered with dishwashers (well, maybe in parts of the rural South), and while cooking fish in a dishwasher offers some serious stunt potential, it’s hard to imagine the result would be better than cooking fish on a grill, in a cast iron pan, or – yes – on an automobile engine (which frankly excites the hell out of us).

Pop a couple burgers under the hood, drive to that small stream meadow apparently only you know about, voila – instant picnic.

Sure, we could offer you useful, fish-catching advice like the Ten Best Techniques for Crimping Split Shot, but damnit, we prefer to feed your soul and your stomach.

See you in the kitchen, Tom Chandler.

Technorati Tags: cooking fish, cooking fish in a dishwasher, engine cooking

The Underground’s Short Casts for 2010-03-12

Tom Chandler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0000

The Underground wants one of these: Custom fly fishing office… http://bit.ly/cyohGm #
Trout Underground gets PC Today's "Fun Site of the Day" award. (It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy) http://bit.ly/9FJaFy #
Fly fishermen wades too far, strands himself in high water, refuses to drop fly rod during rescue: http://bit.ly/ceZw2I #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

TU’s Official Point & Shoot Digital Camera On Sale Now (or, The Such A Deal Dept)

Tom Chandler — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:07:07 +0000

Alert Underground Reader Gary pointed out the Underground’s Favorite Cheap, Waterproof, Point & Shoot Camera is on sale for $174 (the Pentax Optio W80), and because our single biggest concern in life is our reader’s happiness, we immediately passed this offer along to you:

Want a good deal on a nice waterproof digital camera? Click the picture.

In the interest of not receiving hate mail full disclosure, I’m compelled to point out that I don’t actually own a W80. Instead, the Underground is neatly decorated in photographs taken with my aging W10 (an earlier model), which continues to function just barely well enough to keep me from plundering Little M’s college account in the quest for a new one.

Looking for a near-indestructible, waterproof fishing camera that requires as much maintenance as your average doorstop?

Want something you can drop in the river without penalty?

See you behind the camera, Tom Chandler.

(More Full Disclosure: I receive no compensation for sales of this camera. I just do this because at the Underground, the giving never stops…)

Technorati Tags: outdoor photography, pentax optio, pentax option W80

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 #

Technorati Tags: fishing, Fly Fishing

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