Euro Nymphing Special - All Things ESN!

Okay, it's been a while since I updated things at The Emerger. Life and laziness sometimes get in the path of more frequent updates. Also, I've been notoriously terrible at keeping records of fish over the last couple weeks. I will say this, I was definitely catching them, but with the nice weather and all, I simply wanted to focus my time and effort on getting dialed in with the new Euro Style Nymphing (ESN) setup. This post is going to focus on a few different things, and we're going to try (as hard as we can) to leave the data out of it for this round. I really want to spend some time sharing what I've learned from this new technique, let you know what has worked for me, and some common pitfalls anglers might face when they're trying something new. Also, when we're done with that, hopefully we'll be able to share some fishy footage. And for those of you just getting into ESN with a closed season in your area, this might be the fuel you need to satisfy those fishy desires....MEEEOOOW. Let's get on with it.

You CAN Teach a Dog New Tricks

I'm a member of many fly fishing groups online, and they're chalk full of information. Some of it is good, some of it is better left to the vultures. Like anything online, you have to be skeptical of the information you're taking in. In being a member of these groups, you often get to connect with like-minded folks. In speaking with a couple people, we hold the same vision - if you aren't learning in fly fishing, you're dying. So, when I took the jump to ESN, I figured watching a couple videos and reading a few articles would have me primed to hit the water and rail fish like the guys from Team USA Fly Fishing. Boy, was I sorely mistaken. Having primed and persuaded the CEO (my wife) to invest in a new rod, I couldn't just let it lie around. So, after a couple trips to the creek with some success, I was faced with a decision. Anyone who is married knows that, in your wife's mind, fishing is kind of an expendable hobby. In other words, if you're not using your stuff - it's time to hold a yard sale. Not wanting my precious 3 weight to go into the hands of some unworthy suitor, I had to face my problem head on. This meant I had to figure this technique out, and adapt it to what would work for me. Like many of the experts in the U.S. state, ESN is really just a simplified version of many European styles. This adaptation, in its most rudimentary form does 2 things. First, it allows the angler to get a better presentation by reducing surface drag (see video on basics below). Second, it REALLY gets flies down. Unlike a traditional indicator setup, this method only relies on your sighter (a piece of backing, leader, or sighter material) to act as an indicator. Therefore, you get down, you make less commotion, you have a better drift, and you don't have to mend the line!

What Has Worked

Okay, I'm going to do this as simply as possible. Those of you who read my stuff, know me personally, or know me through others have gathered this - I. AM. LONG. WINDED.

1. First thing is first, make sure you're rigged right. The first time I was out, I rigged almost identically to my indicator setup. Yep, the leader was longer, but I wasn't tying on the dropper tag for the dropper fly. Therefore, I was losing some of the tactile sensation that makes this method so effective. So, read up on rigging. there are several resources online to help you rig for a ESN rod. Gil Fly Fishing has a nice article/image on this, and I've placed the link here. So, make sure your rig is right. Doing so has helped me tremendously.

2. Watch your sighter like a hawk. This has helped me become so much more observant on the water. Listen, not every fish is going to blast your rig like a nuclear warhead. You have to focus on your sighter. Much like an indicator, any twitch, hesitation, or awkward movement...you better be moving to set the hook. By watching the sighter, I've been able to detect really subtle takes that often go unnoticed by feel. Additionally, by doing so, I've caught fish that I never would have on a traditional indicator rig.

3. Pay attention to your angle. Your angle when casting the fly is really important. This dictates, essentially, how your drift is going to turn out. You drift is your presentation in any instance. So, you better make it a good one. Being aware of my body position and angle in relation to the current flow has established a pattern of better, more fluid drifts. In turn, yes, I've caught more fish.

4. This ain't your daddy's trout set. Those of us who've fished the indicator rig for a period of time know the feeling. You want to lift the rod tip swiftly and jam that hook into place. I'll admit, I still bounce fish doing it. It's a hard habit to break. Setting the hook with ESN is more of a "lift" than anything. The closest thing I can compare it to is streamer fishing. Because there is no "bobber" you're instantly tight with the fish. A traditional trout set risks pulling the hook on a subtle take. So, I've learned to set the hook by lifting up and downstream. This way I know I'm getting good hook placement. Devin Olsen's "Tactical Fly Fisher" has some awesome notes for first time ESN folks. If you're even thinking of getting into this technique, I suggest following the link: First Time ESN.

5. Practice, practice, practice. If there's any surefire way to get better at something it is through practice and repetition. Like I said above, after a few "less than stellar" days on the water, I wanted to toss this method aside and go back to indicator fishing. I knew deep down this was going to be more effective, but I had to practice.

What Doesn't Work

This section is going to be pretty short. Although I could list a myriad of things that will make the technique not work, I'm simply going to aggregate those smaller, more nuanced items under a bigger umbrella.

1. Not studying. This techniques WILL NOT work if you do not commit the time and effort to learning about it. It's like trying to do physics without knowing basic math. It's not going to work. Do yourself a favor, instead of binging on Netflix during the cold, snowy nights - look up some ESN stuff. Check out fly patterns, casting techniques, and rigging. Immerse yourself in it and be rewarded handsomely. Don't....and be disappointed.

2. Not practicing. Obviously, you're going to have to hit the water. And if you're not a "pro" after the first time, don't give up. This takes time. I've amassed so much knowledge in the past month, it's uncanny. However, to think I'm done learning is crazy talk. Get out, have fun, and practice the technique.

3. Thinking you know everything. We all know that person. Yeah, don't be them. You don't know everything, and there's always something new to pick up. Don't be so ego driven that you get locked into the idea that there's "one way" to do everything.

How Have We Fared?

To be honest, we've been killing it lately. This week was especially good. On average, I'm netting double-digits on a 3 hour jog. Additionally, the snow has melted, flows are around 60cfs, and the water temperature is warming up a bit. Fish are more eager to move to a fly if your drift isn't through the lane. It's worth noting that small hatches have begun lately. It's leading fish to the surface, and I've spied many sippers on the top of the water. I'm still rolling with the subsurface game, though. Jail baetis jigs, rainbow warriors, and scuds have been doing the trick. The Jail Baetis Jig is a simple, home grown deviation from the hot spot baetis jig. Add a little flash, pheasant tail, and a hot spot....and it's irresistible to hungry brown trout. Below is a pic for reference.

Fishy Media

The best part of my fishing, is documenting the fun I'm having. It's all amateur, and that shows. But I love sharing the joy and peace I get from this sport. It's a blast, and it will heal the most hardened of souls.

Keep 'em wet,

MB

03/02-03/04 - It's time we got back...to the basics of nymphin'

Remember when Waylon, Willie, and the boys went back to Luckenbach Texas? They got back to the basics, and it really seemed to work out well for them. Platinum albums, plaidinum shirts, and a pedal steel feel. Well, with the new ESN rod, I was getting back to the basics. We did a 3 day swing last weekend at the Emerger, and the first day was a stern reminder that I needed to go back to the lab and study up. Otherwise, I was in for a tough road. We'll run through the weekend, starting with Friday. Also, we'll go through the normal data points and hopefully give you some tips to start railing fish on the regular.

Atmospheric Information:

Air Temp: 03/02-45 degrees, 03/03-42 degrees, 03/04-31 degrees
Water temp - between 33 and 35 degrees
Flows: Ice affected - no data
Stream Conditions: Stable, no ice
Water clarity - 03/02 - Chocolate milk, 03/03-CLEAR, 03/04-GIN CLEAR
Cloud Cover: 03/02-sunny, 03/03-sunny, 03/04-cloudy with rain/snow mix

Rig Rundown:

Rod: Echo Shadow II
Reel: Echo ION
Line: Rio GOLD
Leader: Hanak 15' euro comp.
Flies: Squirmy wormy in pink, rainbow warrior, frenchie, radiation scud

The Haul - 2 Outta 3 Ain't Bad (who doesn't love Meatloaf?)

On Friday, I went out with my copier salesman to "rail some browns". I'm not trying to boast, but lately I've been regarded as a dude who regularly rails fish. I've put in the time to catch fish consistently. I'm not claiming to be a pro, because I'm not. But I do "ok." Lord, was I mistaken. Logan and I got worked harder than 2 pack mules on Colombian cartel land. It was a brutal day with beautiful weather and chocolate milk water from increased flows and snow melt. The fish were hitting squirmy's, frenchies, and scuds. However, the regular holes weren't producing the hungry, nasty takes that I'm used to. In the end, we had some good laughs, talked trash, and had fun. I think we'll be fishing together again.

The next day I was determined to put in serious work on the creek, and I was out for blood. Not really, but you get what I mean. I wanted redemption. I tied up a bunch of Egan's "Rainbow Warrior" to hopefully draw some fish to the kaleidoscope wonder and mistake it for an illustrious substance that would allow them to take a trip without leaving the farm. The Rainbow Warrior was just what the doctor ordered. Check out the tutorial below on it. I had it tied to my dropper tag, and used a scud as the point fly. The scud was two-steppin' the bottom with the Rainbow Warrior dancing like Jimi Hendrix in a higher portion of the water column. Bam, bam, bam....the bucknasty browns just couldn't leave it alone. I left the creek with two things that day. First, my prided and dented ego were fully restored. Not sure if that's a good thing, but I left proud of the effort and results. Also, I left knowing that my studying paid off. That's the thing about fly fishing, though. Everyone I talk to/with about the sport....we all say the same thing. You HAVE to put in the work. There isn't a magic fly. There is no substitute for study. There is no magic formula to replace research, trial, error, and continued development. If you're going to pursue this sport and expect consistency....expect some work.
















Sunday was a bit of the same. The bite was a bit slower, but the weather was also considerably colder. We had to adjust our tippet and rod position a bit to get to the area where fish were holding. Per usual, the browns were stacking on the shelf of deep holes. This territory, right along the current seam is like a conveyor belt for food. I mean, we're talking NOM NOM NOM territory. And with the ESN rig, you ride that magic carpet conveyor straight to the mouth. One thing I noticed about this deadly method is that 90% of my hook-sets were in the middle of the top lip. It was a more natural drift, and I was detecting a much more subtle take. In other words, as fish start moving further to take food....the productivity will likely increase. You NEED a good drift. ESN makes this a smooth, smooth operation.

In all, we railed fish on Saturday and Sunday. Friday was rough. I think we caught 6 fish between the 2 of us. It was a lesson in humility for sure. We've got better weather upon us this weekend, and I'm headed out to different waters to see if we can't coax some gnarly fish with streamers. Until then, enjoy some real fishy media below.

Fishy Media

Until next time, my friends....

MB

02/24-25/18 - Czech Us Out!

I've done my ample amount of complaining about the weather over the last month, but I finally feel as though the blanket of sub-zero temps and lazy fish is lifting on us. Our extended forecast in the Black Hills is calling for sustained temps in the mid-upper 30s over the next couple weeks. That means we'll be pretty active at The Emerger. The last month has been me chomping at the bit to get out a little more and really put some work in on the water. The demands of my real job haven't helped much, either. Then there's the responsibilities of being a father and a husband. Well, you get it - we're strapped for fishing time! I'm excited, though. This spring I will get to spend some real quality time with my daughter on the water. Ok, we're really straying from the point of the post. We are in full transition mode here. I'm going to talk a little about this and the regular rundown of things in this post. So, you'll see the regular data, results, and media. However, you're also going to see in the rig rundown a move to a different rig.... Dun-dun-dun... The foreshadowing is killing me. Let's just get to the point...

Czech Us Out - Euro TRIP! 

I've been mulling it for a while, but I finally made the leap to a dedicated Euro Style Nymph (ESN) rig. I must say, it's been a project in the making. I did this for a couple reasons. First, I'm a fairly "Type A" personality. Meaning I value things like efficiency, not wasting resources, and doing things as their designed to be implemented. I've fished with a strike indicator on my nymph rigs for a number of years now, and the idea of a more efficient and natural method enticed me. The fact that is was more effective when seeking to catch fish was an added bonus. Knowing kind of what I wanted, I stopped at one of my local shops, Dakota Angler & Outfitter, to see what they could hook me up with. The folks at the shop did a really nice job recognizing what I was after and gearing me up with a rig that would perform and last. I'm notoriously hard on gear - because I actually use the heck out of it. So, it was paramount to get a tough, sensitive rod that could be versatile, too. I'm more than happy with the purchase. We're getting away from the point, though. I am changing things up and will likely fish this rod in 80% of the situations I encounter. I was envious at the level of skill and ease Euro Nymphing exhibited on the water. That doesn't mean it's easy in application. There is a learning curve for us "dyed in the wool" indicator guys. From the setup to the hook-set, EVERYTHING is different. Just like anything related to fly fishing, though, you'll get it if you put in the effort. The same is true in life. I'm not going to spend this entire post gushing about ESN. It works, and it takes some getting used to. There's a silver lining, though.... There are several resources that help dampen the learning curve. From George Daniel's "Dynamic Nymphing" to Lance Egan and Devin Olsen's "Modern Nymphing", you'll find stuff that will help you out. And by diversifying and adding to your toolkit, you'll become a more well-rounded fisherman. Hell, you might learn something new, too. I'm going to link these in the additional resources at the bottom of the page.

Atmospheric Data:

Temps: Mid-20s on 02/24; Low 30s on 02/25
Water Temp: Between 30 and 33 degrees
Cloud Cover: variable with ample sun
Stream Conditions: Accessible with significant ice impact on sections of Spearfish Creek
Flows: Unavailable due to ice blockage

Bug Data:

We seined the water again to see what was swimming around for the fish to eat. There were plenty of midges and small scuds floating around in the stream on both days. This is the bread and butter for our winter fishing. So, we're rigging with zebra midges, scuds, wd-40s, and other flies to imitate the profile of midges and emergers. They're really effective on most days.

Rig Rundown:

Rod - Echo Shadow II (10' 3wt)
Reel - Echo Ion
Line - Rio GOLD
Leader and Tippet - 15' Hanak bi-colour and 5 - 10' of 5x tippet
Flies - Scuds and Frenchies

How'd We Do? - The Results

We got wailed on! Whether it was the weather, the new rig/technique, or my cold feet....I got humbled - big time. We netted a total of 6 fish in about 6 hours. This goes to show that with any new technique, there's a learning curve associated with it. It took me a while to understand how to lead the fly, feel for bottom, and most importantly - detect a take. The second day of fishing was considerably better, but it was clear (to me) that I was certainly no Devin Olsen when I got to applying the technique! It is so much fun learning how to do it, though. We used all the data we had to be successful on the water, and by some measures, we were. However, this goes to show that the old saying...."It's the guy, not the fly" definitely rings true. So, to help you not get a crap sandwich handed to you on your first day of ESN fishing...I present....(drum roll, please), additional resources. Seriously, check these out and make your time on the water more productive.

Additional Resources


Modern Nymphing - You'll have to buy this one, but it's worth it's weight in gold. Devin Olsen and Lance Egan walk you through EVERYTHING. 

 Dynamic Nymphing - A 3 part lecture given by the master himself, George Daniel. You'll learn more about physics and fishing than you ever imagined. If you want a good drift, watch it.

Red's Fly Shop on "Why Euro Nymphing Doesn't Suck - A quick and dirty on the style. I like Joe's videos, and he's super helpful with other techniques. Focus on the first two and you're golden. 

 

Fishy Media: 

As always, we're gonna close things out with a little fishy media. Hope you are having fun tracking my adventures, successes, and failures while fly fishing in the beautiful Black Hills. 

 

Keep 'em wet,

MB

02/16-17/18 - Wonky Flows and Reprieve from Snows

It's been quite the winter thus far. As I sit and pen this blog tonight, the beautiful Black Hills is being blanketed by the majesty and fury of a February snow storm. In fact, the entire state of South Dakota is going to feel the burn of this one. We're expecting another 12" of the white stuff by tomorrow evening. For a relatively mild winter, we've received over 2 feet of snow in the past few weeks. Snow, melt. Snow, melt. It honestly feels like a Townes Van Zandt song, "Snowin' on Raton, by the mornin' I'll be gone." That's been the pattern as of late, but it doesn't mean we can't get out and use the data we have at hand to net some fish. I was fortunate enough to get out on Friday and Saturday to put my skills to the test. We'll go through the temp, water, and rig data in bullet format below, and we'll offer some more narrative as to the approach we took.

Atmospheric Data:

• Air temp on Friday (02/16) was 38, Saturday (02/17) was 35
• Water temp on both days was between 30 and 33 degrees
• Section flows - City Park (02/16) 12 cfs, City Park (02/17) 55 cfs, North Hwy 85 (55-60 cfs)

 Rig Rundown:

• Echo 3 wt
• Lamson reel
• Rio line
• Rio leader and tippet 5x
• Lead fly: Umpqua Euro Jig; Dropper: RADiation Scud, Scud

 Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend!

Everyone likes Loverboy, right?! Yeah, we were certainly workin' for the weekend. So,we're going to get started with Friday, naturally. I was out pretty early that day - around 11am. I should note that I only fish when our children are napping. So, I'm pretty limited in what I can and cannot do when it comes to getting out and putting the work in. My motto is to make use of the time I have in order to feed my passion. When I arrived at the creek on Friday, I noticed something really strange. The creek was flowing really slowly. Checking RiverApp, I noted that the stream flows in the particular section I was fishing were WAY down. To be clear, they went from around 55cfs on Thursday to 12 cfs on Friday at 11am. This means that the stream was barely flowing. The section I was in is controlled by the USGS, and sometimes they alter the flows without any notice. Also, as an aside, I suggest downloading RiverApp through the link above. It pulls all USGS data for stream flows, and it will let you know what to expect from your local watershed. Anyway, we got into our first pile of fish relatively early. The onslaught continued from there. We were pulling them in left and right near the city park. Size wasn't a consideration when fishing this section. It's just good to hook up. When I was satisfied with the holes in the park, I moved to some of my favorite water along Highway 85. The entire stretch is good, but when it comes to specific holes - you're on your own. Some things you really need to earn. That's also why I don't give out fly sizes :). 85 fishing was excellent as well, and the fish did have a little more heft to them. It's time to head out when your feet start to go on you. In the end, we caught 8 fish....the biggest was around 18". A solid day fishing for a cool day.

Saturday Slump?

The real question is, could we follow up with another consistent performance on the water? The answer, as you'll find out is YES!!!!! Yes, you can. Use your data, use your technique, and you'll consistently catch fish. The flows were back up at the park, and they stayed stable along Highway 85. So, we had a little more consistency in how the stream was moving along. It's nice when the flows are relatively stable, because you know what to expect in terms of the current and the seams. While productive and fun, we needed to get on to some bigger, buckier fish. So, we traveled to highway 85 and started slamming the runs and holes in a couple sections of the stream. It was absolutely bananas on a couple holes and tailouts I was fishing. The funny thing is, I'm literally 500 feet from a housing development and putting on a clinic near the dirt walking path. Too bad I was the only spectator during this epic run. Most fist were in skinny, slack water-just pigging out on bugs that were flowing by. One fish I netted and release was so full of bugs - it was insane!

Wait, how did I know he was full of bugs? Well, if you didn't open the fridge (seine the stream) to see what's for dinner....ya gotta do a quick look in their tummy. This is where a stomach pump comes into play. It's safe, humane and a good way to see what the fish are eating. You can find one at River Oracle. It's Peter Stitcher's educational fly fishing company that turns regular dudes into sneaky, smart bug doctors. Subsequently, it helps you be more productive. Peter has a ton of good stuff to help you sniff out more trout.

In the end, Saturday was even better than Friday. We put over 10 fish in the net in a matter of 3 hours. If I could have stayed longer, I would have kept hammering fish. And not to sound cocky, but these aren't isolated incidents. Are they extremely productive days for winter fishing? Yes. Is it uncommon to stack fish up in numbers like these? No, it's not. But you must be sound in your techniques and use ALL the data available to you.

Our Approach: Nymphing - The Only Thing the French Got Right

Okay, maybe that's a little tongue-in-cheek. The French do many things well, but nymphing is among the best developments out of the country. Polish, Czech, French, and Spanish styles of nymphing are INCREDIBLY productive. These methods allow you to cover all aspects of the stream, and you're not simply fishing to uber-agressive fish. You're fishing to every single fish in the stream. We used a modified czech approach to work the stream on both days. I don't have a dedicated Euro Nymph rig yet, but I will soon. So, I made do with the 7'6" 3 wt. Essentially, I was high sticking all day. In addition, I fish with little to no fly line on the water. Yes, I'm still rigging with an indicator, but it's not necessary in most instances. Just watch your leader closely. Working super short drifts, I'm able to get the flies down - super quick. How? Well, using a method George Daniel taught me in Dynamic Nymphing.

It's a French method that uses the physics of your rod to help out. Essentially, one can toss a quick tuck cast and once the flies hit the water - raise the tip of your rod high. This motion forces the flies down in the water quickly, And getting to the bottom is essential in the colder months. Essentially, Euro Nymphing doesn't suck.

It's the deadliest technique I've ever used, and it leads to quality, consistent hook-ups. If you like railing fish - start doing this. Clicking on the link will explain it in more eloquent terms.

On Deck: Data Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Well, that about gives it away. We're going to work on our data set throughout the week and get things updated. We'll throw down a few new charts and observations for y'all.

Fish Media:

I watched all my videos from yesterday, and I had some good footage. When I plugged the microSD in tonight....they WERE NOT there! Bum deal, but you'll have to settle for some photos for the time being.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

02/11/18 - You Even Fish Anymore, Bruh?

Do You Even Fish Anymore, Bruh?

FINALLY! We got a break in the weather! Now, let's be abundantly clear about something. I pride myself on fishing all year. I do not prefer the cold, but I'll endure it to help hone my skills and feed my addiction. Folks who fish all year know that winter can possess some of the biggest challenges for anglers looking to hook up an enjoy themselves in the bitter cold. In the Midwest, we get real winters - snow, wind, freezing rain, and bone chilling temperatures. So, I was happy to get out when it was a simmering 22 degrees. I felt as is the veil of winter was giving us a brief reprieve from its icy hands. Alas, I was mistaken. If you remember correctly, some little rodent in Pennsylvania predicted 6 more weeks of this stuff. I say it's high time we gave that little pest the boot and asked him to reconsider his day job. Seriously, a groundhog in a top hat predicting weather? I guess it's not far off from the professionals who actually model the forecast. Good thing they have charm and personality. This guy can't even wipe his own back-end. Groundhog rant, OVER. Moral of the story, winter is a long and terrible mistress for the fly fisherman. We braved the elements last Sunday for a short trip, and honestly, my expectations were not high.

Sun's Out, Gun's Out - Yeah, no....

As I mentioned above, the weather was in the low 20s. In the sun, the car said 35, so that made me feel tons better. Once I stepped out, I felt like a cruel trick was being played on me. It was even worse given that weather earlier in the week was flat out brutal. This was like getting stood-up at senior prom. I planned to fish about a 1 mile stretch near highway 85, but I saw the icebergs cruising down Spearfish Creek from the highway. I didn't want to pull another Titanic. You know, "I'll never let go, Jack"?! Well, I ain't Leo, and I ain't about to sink. So, we stopped by a fairly pressured spot in the middle of the city park. There are a number of runs and holes that are productive, but the fish aren't dumb in this area, either. Gink and Gasoline has some good tips for hooking up in highly pressured water. Click the link to find out more. Anyway, we're sitting at low 20s, a foot of snow, and trying to navigate the tricky area in order to catch some fish. With the water temperature hovering below freezing, I knew that I had to manage well. The elements and conditions were not favorable for a banner day.

Havin' Any Luck? (I hate that question)

I was itchin' for hookups on this day. So, I had to pay attention to my rig, my fly selection, and most importantly - my presentation. I was using my 7'6" 3 wt on the water, and it's my daily driver - for the most part. I noticed fish hovering in the slack water on tailouts and hugging the current seams near the bottom. These data told me a number of things, but the two most important lessons I learned were these.... First, I really had to pay attention to the depth I was fishing my flies and manage my line well. The second thing, my casting and drift better be spot on. To be clear, I needed to float the flies at the right depth and navigate the current well, with proper mends, in order to actually get any nibbles. The fish were hungry for some scud lovin', and they took eagerly as soon as I figured out the right drifts. We'll put it this way, you don't go to the back door of a restaurant to get your meal, do you? Heck no, you pull up right to the table and wait for the supper to be served. It's the same way when fly fishing for pressured, winterized trout. They're not going to jump for a meal, so you better get the meal on the plate and deliver it straight to the table. That's exactly what we did, and to better control out depth, we used a method of fishing that is similar to European Nymphing. It's a simple, effective way to maximize your results. See the video below (and link above)

We made good use of these techniques and it produced! My little feet could only handle a couple hours in the cold before calling it a day. In the end, we put 8 fish in the net and went home feeling accomplished. The browns ranged from 10 to 16 inches with the lion's share being in the 14 to 16 inch range.

We'll end this post with a "rig rundown" to help you get an idea of what I was fishing and the presentation style I employed to have good results on this day.

Rig Rundown

Rod - 3 wt Echo
Reel - Lamson
Line - WF 3wt
Leader 9ft 5x Rio leader
Tippet - 5x Rio Powerflex Plus
Fly rig - Euro jig (lead fly), UV Orange Scud (dropper), Jig Copper John (dropper)

Here's a little fish candy to end your day....

Keep 'em wet,
MB

02/03/18 - Ch-ch-ch-changes....

I really should have been fishing yesterday. Friday ushered in lots of vitamin D and mild temperatures in the banana belt on February 2nd. Unfortunately, I was on a 450 mile trek to return a laptop. So, we had a missed opportunity there. Regardless, sometimes responsibilities must outweigh our recreational habits. I did get on the water today, though. The morning started out really promising, but as the title implies, we were in for some serious ch-ch-changes. It was time to turn and face the strange. Today's post is going to cover some of the normal stuff we talk about - atmosphere, hatch patterns, etc. I am going to start with a short video and explanation on how to really  find out what the trout are snacking on throughout the day. We'll talk about the fish we caught, and upload a nice vid of a bucky little brown getting down before the weather rolled in. Less talk, more action - let's go.

Are You Gonna Eat That?

I hate that question. It's a hog's way of saying, "I'm still hungry." My kids aren't old enough to know any better, but even they don't ask that question. When it comes to trout fishing, I toss the table manners aside and go digging through their fridge. I want to get in there and search every nook and cranny to see what they are stocking the shelves with. You're probably wondering, "what is he talking about?" Well, good thing I'm here to tell you.... We're talking about stream sampling. Before I even wet a line I'm doing two things. First, I'm getting atmospheric readings - water temp, air temp, etc. And the second thing I'm doing is taking direct invertebrate samples from the stream. This is part of the P.A.U.S.E. Method coined by Peter Stitcher at Ascent Fly Fishing. Peter is a fishy dude with the academic street cred to back up his stuff. Anyway, we digress. Part of PAUSE is looking underwater to determine the invertebrates present at the current time. You can't catch them with magic. Therefore, you need to bust out a little stream wizardry and use a stream seine. Essentially, it's a small mesh net that catches all the garbage (or treasure) floating by. Those crystal clear streams in the Black Hills are a goldmine of invertebrate life. Watch the video below to find out how it works and to see what we located.

Consulting the video, you'll see that we found pretty much what our current "hatch chart" says there is going to be - mostly midges (chironimids). There were some smaller scuds and worms in the mix, too. Most of the sample we found held insects that were between a size 20 and 26 for flies. Now that you have an idea as to what is flowing through the water, you can choose your flies. You'll want to look at size, color, and abundance. In our case, we looking at mostly midges and emergers. There you have it - we can fish WD-40s, Zebra midges, or RS2s. They'd all be effective.

Old Man Winter - Showed His Face

Alright, the day started off really well! We bagged 3 fish in the first hour or so. However, that took a turn very quickly. The day began with balmy 44 degree temps and the water at about 36 degrees. I was aware of a winter weather advisory, and it proved to be true. Within a couple hours, the air temperature dropped over 15 degrees, and the precipitation started coming down. At first, it was rain. Then, it was freezing rain. Finally, we were getting pounded by snowflakes that would make any free-skier jealous. LAWD! A drastic change in barometric pressure obviously impacted the fishing. Fish were somewhat difficult to catch in the morning, but by the afternoon - the bite was simply miserable. I was miserable, too.

Did the Net Get Wet?

Sure, it did! The net usually gets wet when I'm out fishing. I'm not boasting when I say that. Consistently catching fish takes time, research, and a little intuition. Listen, if you're expecting to be reenacting scenes from "A River Runs Through It" your first day on the water - think again. You have to put in the work. That can be done in a myriad of ways - including reading blogs like this one. You'll find little nuggets of information that you can apply when you're fishing. Ask questions, be studious, and get your time in on the stream. Off the soapbox and on to the net gains for the day. In all, we put 3 fish in the net. A couple others were spit the hook. I'll take that on a day where I had to really work for the fish I did catch.

Here's a short clip to satisfy you until I get back on the water again. During the week, I plan to do a couple updates. The first will be on beginner rigs, and we'll follow that up with a post on european nymphing.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/28/18 - Iced guides, slips, and slides

The fly line felt heavy as I began my back cast. I could feel the momentum building as the rod loaded. Stopping abruptly at 11 O'clock, the rod pulse with energy. I brought the graphite tool forward - stopping again at 1 O'clock. THUD! Squirmy wormy to the back of the head. Listen, we paid the piper. At least it wasn't an articulated streamer with gnarly lead eyes. That would have hurt. I snipped the tippet and set my rig up again. It was destined to be "one of those days". It was snowing on one of my old haunts, and when I parked the car - the mercury stood at a brisk 15 degrees. Ouch.

Today we're going to recap Sunday's adventure. It's more of a tale about persistence and beauty than it is catching the data and subsequent fish. We'll do all the normal rundowns in terms of our atmospheric data and fish caught (yes, we still netted fish). Last, we're going to do something I promised last week - we'll give you a dashboard on fly selection for Spearfish Creek Browns. In addition, we've got a little data on the importance of water temperature.

Atmospheric Apocalypse

Looking at the weather and stream data, one should not be surprised that fish were tough to come by. As mentioned above, air temperature hovered between 15 and 17 degrees. Humidity was high as the snow continued to fall and turned the beloved Black Hills into a sea of white. I could spot fish in the creek, and it was clear they were in a serious holding pattern. Sitting in a couple distinct water columns, I knew my drifts had to go down the stream without a hitch. We'll get more into the importance of a good drift as we delve further into the series, but for now....just know you need a good one - that's not a total drag :). At any rate, I waited to test the water temperature until after I netted the first fish. Upon a successful release, I took a reading. 35 degrees was the water temperature. Thank god for snow pants and smartwool socks. Because for you greenhorns out there, 35 degree water is enough to put your body through a serious condition in short order. In other words, respect the water and its temperature. Not doing so could end your fishing day, and in some waters, your life. Needless to say, the weather was miserable. And for the first time in a while, I was pleased to hop out of the water and run errands for my wife. There is something to be said about the majesty of a new-fallen snow on the tall hills once inhabited by the Lakota in our sacred Black Hills. The way the big flakes kiss the earth and fill the streams offers a fresh perspective as to why we're here. All we have is time, and seeing things like this is what drives me as a fisherman.

Net Results

In the 180 minutes spent on the water, we pulled in 2 fish. Yes, 2. That's it. That's all. End of story. Or is it? This is a really good spot to segue into the dashboard - which really focuses on the importance of water temperature. We'll get to that in a minute. The couple fish I managed to put in the net weren't bad fish. The first, which had a very subtle take - measured at 16". This is a good fish for this section of Spearfish Creek. Our second fish was a shade over 14". So, while not surprised at having to work for the fish - I was pleased with the result. Both eagerly took a Frenchie I tied up. This is a special fly to me because of the color scheme. The collar of the fly is chartreuse in nature. So, it screams as it descends into the Brown Trout stomping grounds. Fish seem to dig it. Again, I stray from the point. The weather, lack of bugs on the water, and the generally terrible weather told me it was going to be slim pickins on Sunday. In the end, I had a great time....until I didn't :).

Data Dig

The charts below are going to shed some serious light on the importance of conditions when you're seeking to put fish in your net. Seriously, the data don't lie.

I want to first focus on the water temperature piece. Notice a trend here? Sure you do. Even though the sample is limited at this juncture, a distinct pattern of information is emerging as an important factor in how many hook-ups you're getting on the water. There is a certain evolution in fisherman, and it goes like this. First, it's just good to be out. Then it transcends into number of fish caught. From there we travel to being a "size king". We conclude at, "it's good to be out." I'm at a pretty adventurous stage in my fishing adventures. Ok, back to the point! 5 fish netted when the water dips to or below 35 degrees. 36 fish were caught when water temperatures were 37 or above.  LIGHTBULB! So, all those warnings about water temp being important are true? Get outta town! Yeah, they are. And the data are telling you so.

Okay, the other thing you need to realize by looking at this dashboard is the fly selection. I'm no Tom Rosenbauer. In other words, unlike some, I don't fiddle with fly selection a lot. Taking the advice from Fly Shop bums passed on many moons ago, "fool with your rig first." Adjust depth and weight multiple times before messing with your flies. Now, this is probably personal opinion, but I think the results show I can be successful using a really basic setup. Approximately 65% of the fish I've caught over the the last few trips...were caught on one pattern. Another 22% were taken on another pattern. I've had great success keeping it simple. Bottom line, know what is on the menu for fish; however, know where they are sitting in the water. This enables you to toss pretty much any menu item at them....and pass it by in a way that they can't refuse it. Trout are opportunistic feeders, it's up to you to create the opportunity. It's the guy, not the fly sometimes.

I'll drop a video on one of Sunday's catches later in the week, but we're going to sign off for now.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/27/18 - Back in the Saddle Again!

It's been a little while since we last updated. And while I promised an update that was data focused earlier in the week, I dropped the ball. Hey, life happens, and the job that pays our bills took front and center. We are back at it this week. I needed some serious stream time after a crazy week with kids and work. So, what should we cover today? Well, I'm glad you asked. I want to focus on a couple different things. First, I want to go over the stream and environmental data we collected during the trip today. Second, I want to alert you to a really cool site that inspired me to start collecting data and building an actionable set to work from. It's always easier to work backwards through your data to figure out how to solve your stream-related problems :)

Stream and Weather Data

I try to pay close attention when it comes to happenings above and below the water. We'll get more into the underwater piece of things once my seine arrives in the mail. For those who do not know, a seine is a tool to collect invertebrate samples from the various streams I'll fish. As Peter Stitcher says, "it helps us define what's on the menu." At any rate, I digress. The car said the air temp was 44 degrees when I parked it at around 12:45 pm. Once I got to the first run, I realized the car was lying. A quick check of the weather app indicated it was about 34, and the temp was dropping steadily. We had ample amounts of sun today, but the wind rode along with it - essentially zapping any warmth that we'd get. So, it was no surprise that when I tested water temperature, it was a warmer 40 degrees. I knew we'd be playing around with active fish since the water temp was nice. Also, with some clouds passing in and out, I knew there was a chance for some top-water activity. Sure enough, in examining the banks, I noticed midges popping off in clusters. These were tiny little clusters, probably a size 22 or smaller. Jinkies! It's our first clue. Okay, timeout. When you're seeing activity on the top, it's telling you a couple things. First, there's a hatch happening (or it happened). The second thing it tells you is.....(drum roll please)....where the fish might be in the water column. If you aren't seeing them sipping bugs off the surface, they could be keying in on emergers. During this time of year, a wd-40 is a great "catch all" based on these observations.

Today's Yield

Given the information above, I probably shouldn't have even rigged an articulated streamer. But guess what? I like a big bite, and a brown trout doesn't turn down a free lunch. I hooked up with my first fish a little after 1:00pm. It was a small brown, but he smashed my Circus Peanut with the savagery of a much larger fish. That's what I like about the streamer bite - it's pure aggression. Over the next couple of hours, we hooked up with fish in different sections of the creek with good regularity. In all, I was averaging a fish about every 20 minutes. Not bad considering the weather and air temp. We only had one take the streamer. The rest of the fish feasted on the euro style nymphs. There's something to be said about the versatility of those patterns. They mimic a myriad of insects in different stages during their life cycle. Remember in 8th grade when you first started learning about probability? Ok, the euro nymphs are a good lesson in this. If these patterns are imitating a number of invertebrates that are on a trout's dinner plate, the chances of you catching the fish.....you got it, it's greater. Don't get me wrong, it's not as simple as that. There are certain things one must do in order to effectively catch fish on a consistent basis. However, this is a good starting place.

Want an Inside Track? Check these resources out!

As I mentioned in previous posts, I've always been data driven. I've applied that to fly fishing quite a bit. It's enabled me to have a lot of fun on the stream. Apparently there are others who think like I do. That brings me to my point. I have a good resource for everyone who is interested in turning their fishing trips into an all out tactical war on the salmonids. The websites I'll tell you about are run by the same guy, Peter Stitcher. He's an aquatic biologist, and is way qualified to be dropping bug knowledge on people The first site, Ascent Fly Fishing, is focused on delivering flies to you that work for the areas you are fishing. In fact, their database is so solid, Peter and friends can prepare a fly box for you that matches the the hatch on your local water by the hour. It's insane, and the flies are quality. You're paying a little over a buck a fly for stuff that is proven to be on the trout's menu that day. The only thing that can screw things up is you :). I buy flies from them on occasion, and I've been really pleased with the product. The second site, which is more educationally oriented, is called River Oracle. They specialize in scientific tools and tutorials to help you become an amateur biologist on the stream. Seines, measuring tapes, thermometers, field journals, and many more products to help you decipher the stream's code.

Back on the water tomorrow. It's looking to be pretty cold....We'll leave you with a fish pic to close things out.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/21/2018 - Take What the Water Gives You

This much is clear, sometimes during the winter, you're going to get blanked on a section that you normally catch fish. A section that you know holds fish. A section that you can sight fish in. It happens to all of us, and it happened to me in a particular section of Spearfish Creek today. No worries, I didn't go home empty handed. Today we're going to hit on a number of things. First, we'll go over the normal data collected from the stream and earth today. We're also going to hit on what to do when you're facing adversity. What separates decent fisherman from poor ones is their ability to persevere when facing finicky fish or other challenges handed to us by the outdoors. Let's get on with the data.

Areas Fished:

I ended up doing a decent amount of driving today. The first place we stopped was the City Park. This is an area that sees a ton of pressure from people in general. Ocassionally, you'll see people fishing. However, the creek also gets a ton of people floating and using it for recreational purposes. If you're smart, you'll catch fish. From the park, we sped up through Spearfish Canyon (where it's normally 10 degrees colder). The Canyon waters in the winter are fantastic. The tourist crowds clear out, and you pretty much have the entire Canyon to yourself. Last, I headed back into town and tested the waters around Highway 85. Stretches along 85 are pretty productive, and there are a number of areas where you have the possibility of hooking into a 20+ fish.

Weather and Water:

Friday was warm. Saturday was cooler. Sunday was the coldest. When I got on the water, the air temp was hovering around 33 degrees. In the Canyon, we measured air temp at 28. Although there were slight differences in air temperature, the water was fairly consistent throughout the stream. I measured 37 and 38 degrees when traveling to different spots.

Fly selection:

I switched it up a little today (and lost a few flies). The rig rundown was the same, but I ran a Euro Jig on the leader, and from there it varied between a Frenchie and a Squirmy worm. Are you noticing a trend with my fly selection? I'll post some data tomorrow, and it will shed light on my fly selection. Essentially, I'm going to tell you exactly WHY I haven't been switching it up.

Results:

So, I got blanked on a plunge pool at the park today. Fish were a bit finicky, but it was more the fisherman that was the issue. I'll be frank in saying I was a bit lazy with my drifts and mends (How to mend fly line). Also, the fish were half-assing it when it came to takes. They'd half-way take the fly and release before a hook set. Feeling a bit frustrated, I packed up and headed towards the Canyon. Boy, am I glad I did. Immediately, I was railing fish left and right. All I needed was a little break and a good drift. The fish weren't large, but I got into a mess of 'Bows. There were a few Browns in the mix, but we were mostly jamming with Rainbows. After my feet were utterly frozen, I headed back to town to try one last hole on the 85 stretch. I hooked up with a couple and landed one in t he last 30 minutes of fishing. We put quite a few in the net for a cooler day, and I have to say, I'm pleased with the results. 

A Note on Adversity:

When you're facing adversity, keep at it! Here's a series of things I do....way before I change flies.

1. Take a break. Sometimes it's necessary to cool out. You know, before you get so angry that you snap a rod over your knee.

2. Fiddle with your tippet length, your indicator, and the amount of weight you're using. Always, always, always adjust this stuff. You might not be sinking fast enough. You might not be deep enough. Think through these variables before ever switching flies.

3. Have fun. You're there to have fun. So, just relax. I do this blog because I want to encourage people to have fun. Yes, I catch fish consistently. Yes, I have tough days on the water. Yes, I still tangle up in trees. Yes, I'm having fun. Fly fishing doesn't pay my bills. I go to rivers and streams to heal what's wrong inside of me. Trout streams enable me to be more patient, focused, and loving to those who really matter.

The Media:

Here's a couple snaps from today. I forgot the SD card for the camera. So, we get phone pics today.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/20/18 - Misery in High Water

LAWD! Gotta say that again....LAWD! Today was really interesting to say the least. We had fun in the sun yesterday, but today's weather was not the same. We'll get into it below, but what started out as a promising day, turned out to be pretty average. We'll go through why as we start talking about the conditions and fishing.

High, Cold Water

Okay, so we talked about how much weather mattered in a previous post. News flash! It still does. Today's water temp was 38 degrees, and the air temp was hovering around 37 and 38 throughout the afternoon.

Yesterday's blistering January temps started thawing old man winter's barren landscape quite a bit. So much, in fact, that it dumped a bunch of residual moisture back into the stream. Now, I don't mind fishing high water, but this was high and cold. High water does a couple of things. First, it pushes a hell of a lot more biomass down the stream. Eat up boys, cause the buffet is here. Second, if you're looking to spot fish with your snazzy polarized sunglasses - think again. The water clarity today was terrible. Visibility was at less than 12" in most sections of the area I fished. Fish were still sitting in the slack water along seams and back eddys. So, nothing new there. When I'm fishing high water I do a couple different things - depending on the situation. Sometimes I'll toss a monster streamer out there - just for visibility. This section of Spearfish Creek wouldn't allow for that. It was far too narrow. The second thing I generally do is go light and go bling. To be clear, I like choosing lighter colors in murky water, or I'll toss something vibrant on. Remember, real Browns snatch up pink - pink squirmy worms that is.

Depending on the way you look at it, we had a couple strikes against us to start. It was colder, and the water looked like a terribly mixed ensure drink. Not quite chocolate milk, but it sure wasn't tanqueray!

The Fly Selection

I always try to follow my own rules that I lay down when fishing. So, I pulled out the handy-dandy rule book (I don't really have a rule book) and rigged up a very bright selection. We went with a PINK squirmy up top. Dropping below, we put on a real snazzy french nymph. This frenchie was dressed for success in his chartreuse collar. BAM! Running between 8 and 12 inches of tippet, we were ready to smash - kinda.

Sources and Methods

Ever read anything about the intelligence community? They talk lots about sources and methods. The beauty of this blog is that we aren't going to mark anything classified. I'll lie to you by omission - because I think you need to earn your keep in some respects, but I'll never mark anything as classified. We were high-sticking it today. Straight line to an indicator. we kept the rod tip high. That's the thing when you're indicator fishing, whether it's a NZ or a thingamabobber, you better be focused on that thing. In addition to that, watch where your indicator is floating. Make sure you place it where the feeding lanes are. You can learn so much about trout behavior and habitat from this. A good resource for learning about fly fishing, trout, and streams is "Prospecting for Trout" by Tom Rosenbauer. I'm many moons in, and I still consult this book.

The Results

We only put 5 in the net today. I was out for about 3 hours, and the first hour - was HOT. Seriously, the fish were movin' and groovin'. I explored a few more sections of the creek and got totally blanked on them. This could be for a number of reasons, but I'm chalking it up to high water and a lack of focus on my part. In fly fishing, if you're not focused, you're in trouble. Most fish came between 12 and 1 p.m. I did hook up with a couple fish late in the day. I ended up losing one to a log poking out from the bank. Trout are survivalists, and browns can get dagnasty when they're all hooked up.

The Media 

This ain't fake news. Here's a real vid from today. 

 

01/19/2018 - Bucknasty Bends

This week has been a crazy one. As I sat in my office on Thursday afternoon and salivated over the 50+ degree temperatures, I couldn't help think what Friday would bring for us on the stream. It was evident that most of our snow melted during the week of unseasonably warm temperatures. Finally, when this afternoon showed it's smiling face, I packed up my gear and headed to Spearfish Creek for a little pow-wow with the Brown Trout population. Eager as I was, I knew I had to remain laser focused if I wanted today to be a success. We're going to detail today's results along with a release of our first preliminary data set. First, we need to show you how we achieved some success on a technical stream today.

Rig Roundup - What ya usin' there, dude?

My main setup for small streams is a 3 wt rod. It's size and sensitivity give me the tools needed to cover the smaller water well, and it also keeps me out of trouble when it comes to tight areas with significant vegetation and trees behind me. In simple terms, I can fish a multi-fly rig without too many dates with a tree branch. So, we rigged up the 3 wt with a floating line and 9 foot leader (5x). From there, we ran a red squirmy worm as the lead fly. Our dropper was a French Nymph (frenchie) - tied by yours truly. That's the simple part of this. You have the tools and the flies, but how did you fare....and how did you get to your results? We'll ham it up with you below.

Havin' any luck? - Method for Success

I hate that question. I absolutely hate it. I mentioned in another post that fly fishing really is NOT about luck. It's about combining science (biology), technique, and data to create a winning combination for catching fish on a consistent basis. To be clear, we're not going out there blind! When I approached the creek today, I gave it a 2 minute check to look at  water flows, clarity, and any floaties from the snow that melted. Remember this, foam is home. Structure is king. Use that information. If something looks fishy to you, it probably is. At any rate, water was off color from the melt today. So, I knew I had a bit of an advantage and didn't have to keep such a low profile. The water was a little higher, too. I upped the size of my dropper a touch because, again, I could get away with it. As far as methods are concerned, today was a combination of dead drifting and high-sticking. Both can be deadly techniques when fishing for Browns in the Black Hills.

Double Digits - Lines were TIGHT
I was on the water for approximately 2 and a half hours today. In that time, I successfully netted 10 fish. There were also multiple fish that struck or simply didn't make it into the basket.  Gonna break it down for you, that's a fish every 15 minutes. And we're not even taking into account walking time and time to re-rig or untangle. So, today was extremely productive. It's likely the productivity was influenced by a number of factors. The water was a bit warmer today at 40 degrees. Additionally, the warm air temperatures and occasional cloud cover helped produce small hatches on the surface of the water. This tells you a couple things. First, since the water is a bit warmer, the fish will likely be more active. The bugs fluttering on the film let's us know that, hey, I can probably fish an emerger higher in the water column and get some of those hungry cats in high places. Most of my success was on my dropper. That being said, today was a good, productive day on the water. A good number of fish caught, the same amount are still swimming.

THE DATA - THE DATA - THE DATA

I'm a nerd, and I don't care. My nerdiness, in this respect, helps me out a TON. Since graduate school, I've been crunching numbers in one form or another. They're not a mystery to me, and they form insightful patterns as you'll see in the data set below. I'll summarize a few things for you before displaying the charts.

Keep in mind, the chart below is in dashboard format. There are 3 separate charts that make up this dashboard. Each presents key information to help us arrive at conclusions of our own.
We took a look at number of fish caught by water temperature. As the water increased in temperature, more fish were caught. This is not surprising. When the temperature rises, the fish become more active.

Also, we looked fish by fly and area. Different areas, the fish ordered some slightly different things from the chef's menu. And some areas were much more productive than others. I'll have to take into account how much time I spent at each hole/run. The holes and runs with large numbers of fish caught - I didn't spend a good deal of time at these. I cleaned up and left.
Last, let's look at what we're serving up to the fish. Squirmies and Frenchies are king in these areas. They generate more productivity than many flies I've used in the past few months (even when matching the hatch). The key to these is that they're versatile impersonators. They mimic a food source that nearly always exists in a trout stream, and the frenchie can disguise itself as many forms of  aquatic invertebrates.

Enough talk, the data are available in the link below.

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/14/18 - Weather Matters

Today's Summary

Ok, it's freezing in Florida right now. That doesn't really matter because it's January in the Black Hills. It's always cold here. Today we saw a break in the weather, and there's a cold front moving in overnight. That opened up the opportunity for some seriously hot fishing in the Hills today. We'll get into it below.

Weather Data

As mentioned above, we used the impending doom (the cold front) to our advantage on today's outing. Knowing that it warmed up overnight, the stream was ripe for the picking. It stayed a fairly steady 37 degrees throughout the day, but the temperature did drop to around 35 degrees after the noon hour. Mid-morning gave us some moisture to work with in the form of snow. So, there you have it. - recipe for success!

Water Data

The snow isn't really going anywhere. During the warm spells you'll see some melt, but it doesn't dissipate quickly enough to impact stream clarity. Also, the gradual melt has minimal impact on water depth. Flows may increase some, but it won't be a substantial amount. Using the weather data collected from the forecast, it was clear the water would be a touch warmer than it was yesterday. I measured the water at different intervals, and we settled on 36.5 degrees in the top of the water column. So, it was cold.
Given this information, I knew today could be good. I wasn't counting on it being as good as it was.

Fly Rig and Method Data

A note for new readers - I always swing 2 flies. Always. So, when I start pushing out visual data, you're going to see a 2 fly rig 99% of the time. Today was no different. I rigged up with a single shot on the leader, a red squirmy worm as the lead fly, and a Frenchie I tied as the dropper. This setup, as mentioned in other posts, allows me to cover multiple columns of water depending on the tippet length. I 12" tippet sections for most of the day.
Remember a couple posts ago when we talked about reading water? Yeah, I know you don't ( I don't either :)). This is where your method is going to pay dividends. Listen, the water I generally fish....is gin clear with a touch of green in deeper holes. You have to be mindful of this when prospecting for trout. Clear water means keeping a low profile - for you and your gear. Avoid putting too much fly line on the water, else you risk spooking the fish. With this information in mind....I went straight to high-sticking. For beginners, high sticking is derived from tight-line (or euro) nymphing. It's commonly referred to as Czech nymphing. I'm long-winded, so here's a good resource to help you figure out how to Czech nymph: High Sticking The long and short of it is this - get your flies deep (with upstream mends), keep line off the water, and maintain contact with your indicator or bugs. You do all this by raising your rod tip high - hence the name high sticking. It's a deadly tactic when done correctly.

Getting Fishy - Data about today's fish

If you're looking for a romantic "trout sipping a mayfly off the top" story - this ain't it. Looking at our rig data above, you know we were gettin' down and gettin' fishy. These browns were hungry, and they weren't consolation prize fighters. It didn't take long before I knew if would be a banner day (for a winter day). I was only out for approximately 3 hours today - between 10am and 1pm. In that time I managed to put 8 Brown Trout in the net. Fish varied in size, but most were between 12 to 14 inches. I did have two bucknasty browns (see here for a bucknasty explanation) at 17 and 18 inches, respectively. It was a toss-up when it came to the fish choosing their artificial poison. Half the time they took the squirmy worm, and half the time they took the Frenchy. What this tells us is that fish were feeding actively in two distinct water columns. That's not uncommon, and it's a key reason for using two flies. You can maximize your results by fishing a tandem.

Overall Thoughts

Today was good. It was better than I imagined it would be. Also, and a few who know me are aware, I recently started tying flies again. I'm terrible, but those flies are catching fish. This instills a sense of pride and accomplishment like no other. Listen, we know Brown Trout aren't Stephen Hawking, but they aren't dumb, either. So, it's nice to see I'm able to fool a Brown with my own creation. Fishing isn't almost never about results. It's about the journey. The journey is an effort to better ourselves, clean our souls, and center our spiritual axiom. As Tolstoy once mentioned: "The most important time is now."

Here's a quick vid from today:

Keep 'em wet,
MB

01/13/18-Cold Weather Browns

If there's anything I've ever learned from cold weather fishing - it's dress appropriately. I got on the water today and the temperature was a balmy 18 degrees. It wasn't the warmest out, and the snow was coming down pretty good for the first hour or so. Many times when fishing in the winter months you have to learn to temper your expectations in terms of results. Today, we're going to talk a little bit about what to expect in cold weather, and some strategies for netting more fish. Additionally, we'll go over the data collected - both environmental and fish-related. I'm wasting time, so let's get to work!

There's a reason "temperature" contains temper...

If you think you're going to go out and make your hay in sub-30 temperatures...think again. I think it's obvious to most seasoned anglers that fishing is going to be slower if you live in states like South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, or Colorado. Why? Because we have real winters! In all seriousness, with the water and air temperature being lower, fish are generally in a holding pattern. Their lies are either in deep pools or on the seams of the current. The slower moving water allows the fish to feed unadulterated and with little fear of a predator. And like most of us during the colder months, they're not going to move very far to eat. They'll spend the absolute least amount of energy possible. So, temper your expectations - some winter days will be better than others. Of, course you can be successful during the winter months....and below we'll tell ya how.

Keys to catching fish in cold weather...

We're going to keep this as short and simple as possible.
1. If it's legal, always fish a multi-fly rig. This will allow you to get into the water columns where fish are feeding.
2. Know your bugs. What's hatching? What's present in the stream at the current time? Having this knowledge will enable you to get the proper flies set up and ready for hungry trout.
3. Adjust depth and weight....A LOT. The difference between a good fly fisherman and a great one is usually a couple of split shots. Keep tinkering with your indicator and your tippet length to find out exactly where the fish are feeding. You can do everything right and skip this important piece....and I guarantee you'll be skipping a lot of hookups, too.
4. When in doubt, flip it back to your midges. Midges, especially in the winter months, consistently catch me fish - day in and day out. If I'm struggling....I'll always go back to a midge. In the area I live your go-to patterns are bubble backs, wd-40s (emerger), zebras, and mercury midges. Fool with the colors all you want - these patterns will put you on fish.
5. Be adept at reading the water and knowing your surroundings. You gotta collect that observational data. Get keen on knowing where fishy spots are. If you're hole hopping - you're hopping out of some bonus fish.
6. Get deep....FAST.

Data from today...
So, we're going to jump into the data from today. I'd love to share some pics from the 4 I put in the net today....unfortunately, I did a poor job with both the gopro and my phone. I do have a little (poor) footage that I"ll link up. Fisherman are notorious storytellers...
Here's what caught me fish. The first fish of the day was put in the net around 12:10 p.m. Weather at the time was cloudy with snow. Air temperature was a crisp 17 degrees. Water temp was hovering around 36. Obviously, it was cold. The fish snapped up an Umpqua "Euro Jig". It was funny because more often than not, you won't catch a ton of fish on your lead fly. Generally speaking, they'll nail your dropper. This 14" brownie took the lead fly and was safely released.
The second, third, and fourth fish were all caught on a mercury midge. I used a tandem fly setup all day. I'm not going to dive deep here, but these 3 were netted in the city park during the warmer part of the day - between 1:30 and 3pm. The fish varied in length at 13", 11", and 8", respectively.
We got a good start on our data collection today. With this information, we'll be able to plunk the numbers and environmental factors into our set and start moving. Obviously, there aren't enough data to spot serious trends yet. However, it's clear that the midges fared better than anything else.
We'll get back on the water again tomorrow. It's slated to be around 35 degrees. So, we'll see what happens. Until next time...

Check out this poorly executed clip from today:

 Keep 'em wet,
MB

Welcome to The Emerger

You're here, glad you could make it. My first post isn't necessarily data driven. However, it intends to explain a few things. First, we'll address why I'm starting this blog. Next, we're going to jump into why I love fly fishing. Third, let's hit the driving force behind successful fly fishing - the data. Last, I'll offer some candid thoughts as to what you can expect by following my adventures on the stream. Why the blog?! Why not? Listen, I realize blogging is so 1999 it's uncanny. And everyone out there is using the twitters... Well, I'm a fan of the long form stuff, so you'll have to strap in and take a ride. In all seriousness, the topics I intend to cover need the space, and other platforms simply don't fit my needs. Additionally, I needed an avenue to communicate three passions of mine: writing, data and analytics, and fly fishing. Believe it or not, the three subject areas blend nicely together. It's hard science meets romanticism and art.  

Why fly fishing? 



Ever get to carry a long stick? Yeah, that's why we fly fish. Actually, it's not. I'm passionate about fly fishing. It's the only hobby where I've been able to continually challenge my mind. It also affords me the opportunity to see and experience things that few others do. There's something about being alone in the wilderness and engaging in the continual cat and mouse game with a bucknasty brown. All that side, I love to rail fish.

Got Data? 
Bet we do. I'm going to try something different with the site. I'm going to pair hard and observational data with fishing outcomes. If you really believe fishing is about "luck", you're wrong. Fly fishing is based on hard biological science focusing primarily on stream ecosystems. Know the food chain, know the seasonal menu, know what their hood looks like, and know when they breed (We'll talk about redds and mating in another post). Fishing ain't luck. It's a combination of complex variables, that when arranged correctly, yield great results.

What Should I Expect? 
That's the million dollar question. I'm not a professional fly fisherman, and I doubt I'll ever be one. I'm here doing two things I love - fishing and data.  So, don't expect that. Do expect some analysis from my trips. I plan to start coding data in once all my supplies are in order. So, I'll take stream readings, note rig set ups, fishing times, and over mundane stuff. Expect this in the form of charts and graphs through Tableau. Do expect some fish stories, pictures, and videos. I won't nerd out all the time. You'll get me on camera with color commentary. Expect some trash talking. It's what I do. Expect to learn together. I'm always learning. Hopefully you are, too. I'll share tips and tactics based on my experience on the water.

Keep 'em wet, MB