Photo of the Day- "Rainbow to the Net"

The Call has Come- Time to fish High Water

It appears the water is somewhat stable, at least for a couple of days or so, it will be time to get the yacht out on the water to wrangle a few rainbows and browns to the net. Sounds as thought the edges are clearing which should allow a few chaser to my favorite friends. We might even have to throw some REALLY BIG foam to see what will come up and chase.

Photo of the Day- "Blue Bird Fishing Day"

Sometimes the lighting is just perfect for a photo.

Wow- Photo Exhibit Over!!

The Floatfisher photo exhibit wrapped up today at the Fritz with a huge success.

I would never have expected that so many of my friends and gracious customers 

would have graced me by purchasing so many photos. Thank you all!!

Special Thanks to Dwight, Grant and the entire staff for making this possible. It was a hoot. Also Thanks to my very , Very good friend Larry and Darlene for spreading the word with all local's. You guys are the best.

Now the work begins for the next one.

PMX in the Face

One of my favorite flies, just the way it should be placed in face of a brown trout.

Only a couple more weeks until Prime Time fishing starts. I can't wait.

Little Memorial Day Fun-

The beautiful weekend was filled with high muddy water and lots whitewater enthusists

out for the first time this season. It was very nice to see the river full of rafts and people.

In addition it nice to see the river getting flushed of sand, silt , sticks and logs that have build up

over last year that we did not have any high water. It will be nice to have some of the sand and silt 

bars moved and redeposited far down stream.

 While watching the presentation and honoring of our veterans this morning at the part. One of the 

Veterans had brought "The Fuzz" at 40's vintage Chevrolet cop car. 

Notice the PIG hood ornament.

 Gotta have some flames on the fenders.

A Go To Fly

Every year there are more and more great pattern that come out from tiers all around the world. Over the past couple of years foam flies of every size and shape have really been introduced and have dominated the fly bins. Althought they are all great, one fly still hold a special place in my heart and boat box, that is the rubber leg Stimulator, the summer go to fly.
If you don' t fish it, you should.

Holiday Foto-" Dandelion"

It is that time of year when stream sides and roadway lien up with dandelions.

I think dandelions and sunflowers are beautiful. You can't help but smile when you see them.

They brighten your day. Have a great start to your long weekend.

Tis the Season to be Jolly

Tis the season to be jolly, sfrom Montana to Oregon to Colorado the high water marks the onset of the large salmonfly and stonefly migration up the rivers. This makes all the hearts of many fly fisherman go piter patter. Hard to follow, hard to hit because you are dealing with high muddy run-off water.

 Usually if yoy can find the good water and hatch the fishing is realatively easy and fly selection simple and BIG. Trout are hungry. Water is moving very fast and the window of opportunity is short. Trout are on the feed, and feeding fast.

"the stone session #1" by Outside Bend Productions

the stone sessions: vol. I from Outside Bend Productions on Vimeo.

Why does the thought of runoff and high-water get us excited as flyfisherman, because it usually means  that our clumsy big flying friends are right around the corner and coming to visit. Enjoy this little tease from the team at Outside Bend Productions.

Fun at the Feeder

 Well when the water is running high and muddy, and your sitting on the porch with a cigar and Modelo, listening to Eric Clapton, you have to keep yourself amused.

 Our fine feathered finches let me set up the camera and tripod only feet from the feeder.

This one was eyeing my beer! 

Gettem Ready- it's time.........

Visited the river this weekend with the intention of watching the high flows drag the debris of wood, sand and silt down stream as the warming of the Colorado high country has raised the flows this past week on a daily basis. On the drive Friday the river was the color of the chocolate milk I loved as a kid,  heavy and dark. 

This morning was a different story as the edges had a foot or so of clearing as the main body of the river was still off color, but I think you could have dragged a couple of fish off the bank.

On top of that, the flows had dropped a tad. For a sick nick like me, I am always encouraged at not having to have the boat on the trailer.

Always nice to oogle at the streamer box, today way no different.

Can you say, Meat Whistle

Are You Ready.........Got Hoppers and Terrestrials

Run-off has begun or will start very quickly in many areas. Weather is slowly heating up in many area's. Although we are a month or so away from prime time, you should have been tying all winter and spring in preparation for prime time.

 You should have plenty to cover the gam mot, because not only do trout love them so do smallmouth, bluegill and many other wily finned creatures.

Are You Ready?

No Spot the Same

Ever look closely at the spots of our fine finned friends. All of the them so different, all of them so 

beautiful. All a little bit a different size and shape. Check out how many condensed in just the tail section and the tail itself? No spot the same!

"Sweet Summer Dreams" by Gisle Helgesen

Sweet summer dreams from Gisle Helgesen on Vimeo.

Some soothing music to listen too as you watch large rainbows rise to dry flies. Extremely nice

scenery and water. Really nice video short by Gisle Helgesen. Enjoy your morning cup of Joe.

Turn-N-Back the Clock

Flies from a time past,  tied by a local favorite Al Makai. Al past away a year or so ago and we were 

very lucky to have purchased one of his personal fly boxes that he carried around the world, chasing

the beloved trout and steelhead.

 Simple but elegant in their own charm.

 Color with style and grace

Fish hard, live long............  Thanks Al.

Photo of the Day- " Get Cheeky"

"Get Cheeky"

Photo of the Day - "Fin"

" Fin"

Photo of the Day - " Headed Home"

Headed back to the feeding lie.

Mother's Day Float

Blue bird Sunday morning that started off with several bloody mary's and a great Mothers Day Float

on the ditch. Fish were looking up form the put in to the take-out.

 Ms. Floatfisher with a player. This little chunk was up sipping BWO's.

 Makes you want to grab a hammock and margarita, and listen to the river go by. Oh so pretty.

 "Fish Eye Art"

Your's truly with a little shorts and t-shirt float, always nice to do in May. Sure was nice to ditch the waders.

I Was In A Purple Haze All Weekend

Finally an absolutely brilliant weekend of weather, fishing and spending time with my favorite person, 

my wife.  We got the opportunity to fish a stretch of river we did not fish at all last year, and it does not see very many boats. 

It treated us very well and we had a very special day.

Fish rose all day to the combination of a Purple Haze and Parachute Adams. With a well presented fly

the fish ate and ate and ate.

 Alway nice to fish a stretch of river and not share it with another boat, maybe a couple of fisherman.

 Oh yeah, a couple of large ass rainbows decided to join the party and eat "the Haze" too.

Hook, Set and Net.

Photo of the Day- " Not all Fish are Happy"

No matter how many jokes I told, or how I snapped my fingers, I could not get this fish to smile.

Sometimes they are just grumpy like the fisherman!

Friday Photo - "Ready to Catch Again"

Dennis Wright Original from a Brian Kuchynka Original

A year or so ago, I shot this beautiful old truck along the banks of the Yellowstone River above Mallards Rest boat ramp, our great friend and artist Dennis Wright then made it into an original

pencil rendering. It now hangs proudly in our living room. Just some of the great creativity that comes from getting out and pursuing your passions.

"River of Hope- The Wild Reverence Sessions" by North Fork Studios

River of Hope "The Wild Reverence Sessions" from North Fork Studios on Vimeo.

As narriated by John Larison, this is a great touching story of mans home river threatened by big business. With dwindling waters in country, this is a haunting tail of the thing that can happen when the need for product  has a disregard for all other. Nice job to John and North Fork Studios. I enjoyed.

LoJ's Golden Stone Nymph- by Larry O. Jergens

Always a sucker for a nice looking stonefly nymph, well heres another by Larry Jergens. It incorporate all the great characterists the bugs should have. If you have not visited or seen Larry's site,  Larry twists some really nice bugs, and has a good flytying site at www.lojsflytyingbugstuff.blogspot.com

LoJ's Stonefly Nymph

Hook: Daiichi 1730d, Sz. 6-

Thread: Tan 6/0 UNI-Thread
Tails & Antenna: 2# ~ 8# Monofilament Colored Brown With A Brown Magic Marker
Rib: Brown Copper UTC Ultra Wire
Under-body: Lead or Lead Free Wire Sized To Match Hook Shank
Abdomen Material: Dark Tan Superfine Dubbing
Wing-case: Brown Or Natural BustardThin Skin
Legs: Natural Whiting Brahma Hen Saddle
Thorax: Rusty Brown Ice Dub
Head: Gold Bead Sized Appropriately
Permanent Marker: Brown Sharpie
Optional: Super Glue and Water-based Head Cement

The Other "White River" by Fish Bum918

I always like video shorts that feature boats, browns and decent tunes. Trifecta. Enjoy this nice little video by FishBum 918.

Fishing With My Two Favorite Ladies

 Not often you get to share the boat with two ladies on a beautiful sun filled day. Well that was my 

luck this past week, when I got to spend the day with Ms. Fishspotter and Ms. Floatfisher. 

 A day spent with two very good fly fishers, who know there stuff. Not only how to fish, but both and row a mean boat. 

 Picking the hot pattern of the day, although the water was up and off color, fisher were on the feedbag.

 Ms. Fishspotter drifts a likely seam for some nice fish.

Ms. Floatfisher and Ms. Fishspotter in action. Fish on.