On the water at 6:20 am to light rain. Mmmmm, I love this overcast, light rainy weather for big browns. I wasn’t even in place when I saw a fish flash deep on the far side. About a dozen cast later and the first fish was on. It was the violin player. A nice, lightly colored female 26 x 14. On the run down I spooked a smaller fish, Still, this was a great way to start the day. I was by myself so a photo of this lovely against the length of the rod is all you get. It took a black collared leech with dark green Liquiflash in the collar.

Anytime one starts the day with a bang, there’s always a chance that the rest of the day will fizzle. But, then, too, there’s always the chance that it will be a clarion call for the day. But the first couple of hours didn’t produce anything more . Then Lou showed up and we trundled off in search of other fish. We fished for a bit and I spotted a couple of big browns. They wouldn’t even sniff the leech, so I called Lou over that have a shot. He was dragging an egg behind his leech, and I thought perhaps they’d take it. They didn’t. He tried a green cadddis. Still nothing. Then a big Prince nymph. It snagged up under the chin of one of the big browns and Lou broke it off immediately. I wandered off and left him to it. Back at my favorite riffle, I spotted a big male. Not even a look. So, I hung a big black stonefly under the leech and began nymphing it—only a few casts and the cello player took the fly. Hefty and brightly colored, it played a great song that came to an end with a lovely photo.

Lou appeared a few minutes later. He’d tried a Hex nymph and one of the fish tore it to pieces, and bent the hook out. Lou turned back, and there were three browns where before there had been only two. On the first cast he’d nailed a 32-incher on a black leech.Then we broke for lunch. Lou headed home; I grabbed a sandwich and went to a different section looking for  browns. Nothing. So I went back to the riffle. Lou showed up and we went off to a new area for me. We saw some big browns, but they were very spooky and not in the least cooperative. Back to the riffle.

There we came in from the other side and spent time spotting fish. There were some big ones moving about, so we crossed and began fishing. I was working a really nice fish and snagged it accidently. Fortunately, it gave a little flip of the tail and was off. I say fortunately, because I was using my last black stone, and fortunately because the fish didn’t spook. A dozen or so casts later and I had the bass player. Black belly, copper-sided, and decidedly big—34 x 20. Of course since Lou was there I had to get the “hero” shot.

Oh, and by the way, these brutes know how to fight, too. I don’t know what’s left for tomorrow, but I will be there, rod in hand. I’ll have to tie a few flies tonight, but it will be worth it for even one more like these.

These are for you, Nancy.

I arrived at the Sheboygan yesterday afternoon to find the water a bit more cloudy than anticipated. I spent the afternoon looking for browns and bows, but found none. Mid way through the afternoon, I ran into my friend, Lou Jirikowic. He told me of a couple of nice browns that he had spotted in an impossible place. I went to see, and yes, they were in an impossible spot–in a hole under a fallen tree, No way to get a fly to them. I fished and hunted browns and bows until dark–no success. I camped at the Kohler-Andrae State Park. I was mighty glad for the memory foam pad and extra warm down bag—it got down to 25 F last night. I slept in the “Boar’s Nest”—the back of my Suburban. It got that name many years ago on a trip out west with a group of friends—I guess it reminded them of a wild boar’s rootings. Anyway…

The Boar's Nest—mighty comfy, nest-like or not.

This morning I was on the water at daybreak (6:15 am) It was very cold, and there were only a few salmon around to sniff half-heartedly at the fly. I decided to hunt browns and bows. A little after 12 I found 2 browns that would have nothing to do with me or my flies. I moved to a different section of the river and went after some kings with Marty’s Trigger Fly. Three on, three off. The take was always so soft. Ah, well. I switched river sections again. Still nothing.

There was one section I had not fished because every time I went there someone was at the top end coming down. I decided to try again (4th time). When I arrived, I saw no one there. Then suddenly I heard Lou call my name. He was just downstream and right at the bottom of the 20 foot embankment. “I just released a 32-inch brown,” Lou called up. “There are a couple more up stream. I was casting to them without success, when this big one rolled in. He took the black leech immediately.”

Lou kindly took me up and showed me where the other two were. They were not visible at the moment so we moved up to look for a couple more that he’d seen. Not there. We moved back down and the first two were visible. “I tried them for a long time earlier today,” Lou told me. “See what you can do.” On the second cast, the male took the black leech with green flash in the collar. It was 25″ x 15″. We went back up and the second fish was gone. But we knew it was probably still there only to the side a bit, in darker water. On the first cast, the female took the same fly. It was 29 1/2″ x 15″. Fine fish, both of them.

Cock fish and Hen fish—the female was more cooperative that the male. It took two casts for him, and only one for her.

So, Joshua, one for you, and JB, one for you!

We saw more browns rolling in as we left. Maybe tomorrow….

Lou’s a great angler and great guy. He guides on several local waters. He knows them better than anyone. Here’s his contact info:

Lou Jirikowic, 3212 Silverleaf Lane, Sheboygan, WI 53083  ph 920 457-7060

I’m in my office duplicating the DVD, “15 Most Common Casting Errors” for the Federation of Fly Fishers and tying Collared Leeches for a possible run at the fall browns and rainbows next week. If you haven’t seen this DVD, then you need to get a copy from the Federation of Fly Fishers. This video features Jason Borger (a.k.a “JB”) as the caster and has three sections: I. 15 casting errors, each repeated 4 times. II. the same errors named, alternating with a correct cast, each 3 times. III. Section II repeated with descriptions of how to correct the errors. This is a great learning tool (or comedy sketch).

I know there are those that want to see the collared leech, so here are the tying instructions. One thing that I love about this fly is that it has nearly endless variations. One can vary the material–fur, hair, marabou, synthetics like FoxxFurr, and on and on–mix and match if you want. Make ’em big, make ’em small–use any hook you like. Make ’em any color(s) you need. Add flash, leave flash out. make the body of anything you like–I often use chenille or crystal chenille. Make ’em fat, make ’em thin. Fish them for everything. The variations, like I said are nearly endless.

In the variation shown here, the tail, body and collar are black FoxxFurr (one of my favorites) I’ve added purple LiquiFlash (another favorite) to the collar’ The descriptions of the steps are under each photo.

1. Tie in the tail, make a spinning look, add chopped FoxxFurr dubbing, spin the loop tight.

2. Wrap the body, leaving sufficient room for the collar. Make another spinning loop and insert black FoxxFurr with purple LiquiFlash into the loop at right angles to the thread. To get the FoxxFurr and LiquiFlash together in the loop at the same time, lay the FoxxFurr on the bench and then lay the Liquiflash piece on top of it. Pick the whole thing up and insert into the loop at one time. Keep the thread close to the butt ends of the FoxxFurr.

3. Spin the loop very tight to form a FoxxFurr/LiquiFlash, 3-D hackle.The Liquiflash is evident in the photo.

4. Wind the collar–stroke the fibers rearward after each wrap–and finish the head. Fast to tie, endlessly variable, and catches fish like gang-busters.

As many of you know, the fall salmon season here in the Lake States is followed by a run of browns and some steelhead. In years past, I’ve fished then in a variety of times–from now into the middle of December. When I’ve been fortunate to hit the run dead center, I’ve had some great fishing. Typically I use the collared leech in several colors–purple with a scarlet head, black with blue flash in the collar, black with purple flash in the collar; single eggs, fished like a nymph, also do well. This is a fish from last year–we had one day when I took 7 like this one. If you’re close to the Great Lakes Tribs, then go have a look. These big fish are great fun.

The Kings have found their way into Lake Michigan tribs. Duane Stremlau and I fished together on October 8, 9 on Wisconsin’s Sheboygan River. I was using small flies—size 6—mostly black Collared Leeches with a little blue or purple flash built into the Collar. I’m the one that is smiling, the fish just look like fish.

Duane was successful also. In this case, Duane is the one that is wearing a rain jacket.

Jed Hollan from the Little Red Fly Shop sent me an email on a phenomenon that he observed while fishing. He generously has allowed me to post it on my blog. Thanks Jed.

Dr. Borger:  I am attaching a photo of an angler’s wading boot covered in eggs.  This occurred at Libby Shoal on the Little Red River near Heber Springs, Arkansas about two weeks ago.  Two anglers waded out of the river that day with their waders covered in eggs from the knees down.  We are currently experiencing bwo, midge, caddis and sulphur hatches.  We have also experienced large dragonfly hatches and a small hex hatch.  What are these eggs?

Looking forward. Jed Hollan, mgr.

little red fly shop / 35 swinging bridge drive, heber springs, ar 72543 / 501-887-9988 / shop@littleredflyshop.com

Jed, Most definitely they are caddis eggs. Time to fish a diving caddis pattern. If you don’t have one, fish an adult pattern with a split shot to get it right on the bottom–like nymphing. This can be deadly when the adults are egg laying.

All my best, GB

Some caddises lay eggs by diving into the water and swimming to the bottom where they crawl about depositing their eggs directly on the substrate. Others—most of them , in fact—crawl beneath the water to lay eggs. In fact, in this instance the adults landed on the anglers, climbed down their waders and laid eggs in their shoes. This is what Jed has photographed. The fly fishers didn’t see them because the caddises fly upstream and so land on the angler’s backs.  I’ve seen this before any number of times on waters around the world.

Many people mistake egg laying activity for a hatch because the female carries an air bubble with her when she goes underwater. At completion of the egg-laying process, she rises to the surface where the bubble pops open and the female flies off. A hatch will most definitely show cast-off pupal husks drifting in the film. If you see adults pop off the surface and no evidence of pupal husks, it’s egg laying time.

WELCOME TO GARYBORGER.COM Fly fishing is a wonderful sport with a host of lessons that continue for a lifetime. These lessons are far-ranging, and as deep as the angler cares to wade. That’s a part of the charm of the sport. This site is dedicated to exposing the fly fisher to the entirety of the sport and all the excitement, fun, and adventure that every facet offers. And to that end, I have elected to include lessons and anecdotes on all aspects of fly fishing on this site.

But there’s so much more to fly fishing than just learning how to catch more fish. Sure that’s significant in the overall picture, but there’s also another whole world of gear, fly tying materials and design tactics, the study of all aspects of the life of the fish and its food organisms, the ecology of rivers, lakes, and oceans, collecting books and videos, travel adventures, friendships, sports shows, schools, and so much more, and so I have included articles on these topics as well. Christian fly fishers can find Gospel insights at Jacob’s Well (site coming soon).