Front cover of the soon-to-be released "Fishing the Film."

Here’s the “official” chapter list for our forthcoming book, Fishing the Film (currently planned to be out June 2010):

1. Fishing the Film
2. The Fish’s Window
3. The Universal Emerger
4. Feeding at the Film
5. Casting for Drag
6. Mending for Drag
7. Fishing Dead Drift
8. Action Film
9. Film-Fly Design Concepts
10. What, When, Where, Why and How

The book is tuned to have “something for everyone,” from those who want some core ideas about fishing the film to those who want to expand their thought processes in more detailed ways. The “film-fly design” aspects are not just for tyers, but also for those who buy their film flies and want to have a better understanding of what they’re looking at in the bins. The book (indeed all the upcoming books) is well salted with fishing stories/examples to keep the flavor from getting too “how-to” bland. Indeed, by the time this whole book series is done, I think I will have practically written my fly-fishing memoirs, making the books in this series not only useful, but also somewhat entertaining as well.

My weekend with the St. Vrain Anglers TU group was a great one. Mark Rayman and his wife, Barbara Laneau graciously hosted me at their home. Friday night they held a small, informal, and fun-filled get-together to kick off the weekend events. The next morning we were at the River Ministries Church in Lyons, Colorado (where the event was held), and I gave a presentation on the development of fly fishing over its 2,000 year history, and a session on introductory fly casting. Being long-winded, it was easy for me to chew up the morning hours. Lunch was held in this very unique facility of restaurant-turned-church. In the afternoon I delivered a session on fly designing and a second casting session covering advanced techniques. That evening, we were treated to a dinner of pulled pork (from a freshly roasted pig, cooked in an outside barbeque for a full day). It was great. Of course the homemade blackberry-peach cobbler certainly didn’t distract from the meal! After dinner I present the conservation message, “Where the Trout Are.”

Sunday morning, Mark, Barbara, and I headed off to 11-mile canyon on the South Platte River. USGS flow records showed that the water was being released from 11-mile dam at 135 cfs—perfect for a day of sight-fishing to the picky trout in those waters. We arrived to well over 200 cfs—the release had been greatly increased overnight. Though clear, the water was deeper than expected and moved along in a decidedly brisk manner. The usually very prevalent trout were not prevalent. But we hunted them hard and found a few willing to look at our flies—some even took them. All-in-all, though, the blue sky, crisp mountain air, and “trout hunting” were a very refreshing break from the icy grip of winter, and we had a most relaxing and fun day.

Practicing our pantomime casting in the morning session.

Mark and Barbara going fishing hand-in-hand.

Barbara with the day's first fish and her devoted and willing guide.

It looks to me like Mark has done this before, once or twice.

I worked hard to keep up with Mark and Barbara.

While I was flying home from Denver, my friends John Beth and Dale Thompson were out tearing steelhead lips–or at least trying to. I say trying because they very nearly got skunked. John managed one male steelhead that was caught while fishing “blind.” They didn’t see any fish to cast to and they didn’t even spook any while wading around. Looks like the run has gone back to the lake.

The single fish that John and Dale got on Monday 041910

10 of the 30 available copies of Designing Trout Flies in the full red leather cover with reading ribbon and gold foil stamping have been sold already. If you are thinking of getting one, act soon. Go here to order one: Designing Trout Flies.

Designing Trout Flies in full, red leather jacket with reading ribbon.

I’m headed to Denver tomorrow to hook up with the St. Vrain Anglers TU club for their 2010 River Fly Fishing Expo. that runs Friday and Saturday (April 16, 17). I’ll be speaking Saturday on the development of fly fishing’s 2,000 year history (focusing mostly on the past 75 years or so), casting, and fly tying, and ending the day with the banquet presentation entitled “Where the Trout Are.”  Sunday is a day of R&R–read fishing.

If you live in the area, come on out. The program list looks like a great one.

Last week we had another big rain storm that drove the river to 10 times normal flow. Of course, all fishing plans were cancelled. Yesterday, my friends, John Beth and Dale Thompson, couldn’t wait a moment longer, so they tore over and hopped into 600 cfs of cloudy roaring water. Surprise, surprise, the fish were there. Although there was no sight fishing, John and Dale still managed to land five fish–John took 3 males in full dress and Dale two chrome bright females. Then, John hooked a hog. I’ll let you hear it in his own words…

Now, read this carefully (keep in mind I saw the entire fish twice). The last ten minutes I had the fish on… I had a 9′ – 9Wt Sage (12Lb Maxima) bent in a full circle… leaning hard backwards to try to get it to shore…  I couldn’t even move it. When it took off down river through the rapids the hook pulled out after a few dozen head shakes.

How big was it? It was twice as wide across the back as the 30 incher I landed – and about twice as deep.. and probably (conservative estimate…) 36-38″… (Gary are you listening :~) It was easily the best male steelhead I’ve had on in 15 years.. Oh well.. so close, but I ran out of options in that big water – especially when I couldn’t bring it in..I couldn’t go down any further, and I couldn’t go left or right… (sniff…)

We all cry with you, John.

All of John's fish were males in full dress.

Dale's fish were chrome-bright females.

When I was speaking to the Anglers Club of Philadelphia, I had the opportunity to meet Peter Strid, whose art is based in fishing but splashes to others related areas as well. He had donated a print of a brookie for the silent auction, and I was taken by the fact that the fish was not painted in the usual fashion, but rather was shown with its mouth wide open—very wide open. I’ve seen brookies do this, and was pleased that someone would show a fish like this. Very nice. Have a look at Peter’s site, Strid Art.

A Big Brown in the process of being completed.

Two Brookies--shown in the very wide open mouth pose.

John has graciously photoed his first-choice steelhead flies. His theory is simple, but quite right: when the steelies are living out in the lake, they eat silver-colored minnows, so they are used to seeing them and know what the are. John had his best day every last Monday when we fished together for the first-run steelies of the spring—his personal best record (8 fish in a single day between 28 and 31 inches) came as a result of his consistent use of his first-choice flies.

John Beth's first-choice steelhead flies--Counterclockwise from the Top: John's Brown Bunny, John's Silver Bunny, three versions of John's Silver Shiners.

Thursday, April 7, I was in Philadelphia to speak at the annual banquet of the Philadelphia Anglers Club and present a day-long seminar to a group of 20 of their members. The day went too fast. My host, Bill Wilson, and I arrived at the Appleford facility at 8:30 am. By 9 the class had assembled, and we were busy tying knots and discussing fly fishing tactics, casting, mending, and a host of other topics. The class ended a bit after 4, and by 5:30 the evening’s event was underway. My good friend, Ed Jaworowski, arrived to discuss casting, demo techniques as requested, and help those who wanted to improve their casting. After the dinner meal, I presented the program, “Where the Trout Are.” It was fun-filled day. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the event a successful one.

The class at the Philadelphia Anglers Club getting ready for another onslaught of knots, casting, and power point presentations.

The steelhead are in, the steelhead are in. So are the suckers, by the thousands. So, we caught steelhead, and we caught suckers. I started the day with an egg fly dropped from the hook of a black and blue collared leech, but soon gave up on the egg fly–too many suckers.

The weather was ideal–30’s early and high 60’s later in the day. The water was a bit turbid from recent rain, but we could see well enough to locate fish and target them specifically. So target them we did. John, “The Grim Reaper,” Beth was top dog for the day, and then some, He skinned all us other dogs, ate our lunch, and in general made messes in our beds. Actually John had his best single day of steelhead fishing, landing—with photos to prove it—8 beautiful fish from 28 to 31 inches long. I landed 5, up to 30 inches, but I also caught the smallest of the day, a 17-inch jack that took the fly away from a much nicer hen fish (which I caught several casts later). Really, I couldn’t get any fishing time in because I had to keep running over to take pictures of John! Can you tell that we had a really great time?

John uses two files, both white. One is a silver shiner and the other is a bunny strip fly with some black barring on it. His rationale is that these fish feed out in the lake on silver baitfish and he’s going to feed ’em something they like. I used several flies. The black and blue is a favorite on the Babine and I wanted to see if these steelhead liked it too. A couple did. Then I caught two on the egg fly, and one on a white leech.

A 25-inch hen that took the black and blue leech.

My nicest fish of the day. Note the cool look with sunglasses firmly in place.

One of John's many fish of the day. Note the cane rod, silk line, and ancient Pflueger 1495 reel.

While John played fisherman, I played camera guy. Nice fish there John.