“A skater, unless the zombie apocalypse is happening and I need to eat, then a dirty black leech with an orange cone head.” -Dax Messett
Articles
Historic Decision Ends Atlantic Salmon Farming in Waters of BC’s Discovery Islands
On Dec. 17, 2020, Canadian Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, of Nova Scotia, made the single largest decision on the fate of wild salmon in the history of Canada.
The White-Winged Akroyd
In Eric Taverner’s Salmon Fishing (1931), when discussing the merits of the Akroyd he is quoted as saying, “This is a hard-wearing and killing fly, especially if pains have been taken to dress it neatly and sparingly, so that the body has the appearance of slimness, lightly clad with luminous filmy robes. I would cheerfully put my trust in and even my money on a well-dubbed Akroyd for any river, when the water was at a suitable height.”
Episode 39 – Rick Kustich
This week I’m talking with Rick Kustich. We discussed Montana fishing trips with his brother, Great Lakes fly fishing, his many books, Muskie fishing, the fun of shorter rods, the creative process, and bears and BC.
Guide Gossip: To Fish A Loop?
I asked fourteen EXCEPTIONAL guides from the most infamous West Coast steelhead rivers the same questions. Every guide was given the task of answering sixteen questions, some with a specific river in mind and others just as a general guide of steelhead tactics.
The Heisenberg
Heisenberg” as a blue fly name should make sense to anyone who has seen Breaking Bad. If you haven’t, “Heisenberg” was the alias of the high school chemist turned meth cooker, Walter White. His meth was the best, and it was also blue. According to Brian Clemens, a northern California guide who spends a lot of the fall and winter on the Trinity River, “There’s nothing like breaking out the bad, and swinging the Heisenberg – the fish hit it like they are hitting meth.” He also adds, “It’s addicting.”
2021 State of the Skagit
For anglers, the first crucial step is a commitment to restraint. When wild steelhead numbers are low, we must act with an eye towards the future. The fish we protect today are the ones that will build the runs we get to fish tomorrow.
Tension: The Key to the Spey Cast?
Let’s dive in further to the question: Is there a unifying component that all successful Spey casts have, regardless of casting or line style?
Down and Dirty
“I call this scenario the “Down and Dirty.” If you can wade the river safely without going for a swim, you can still hook steelhead on the swung fly. The first thing you will need to do is change your gear. You’re going to need to fish the fly as slow as you can and closer to the bottom. The water is cold and dirty, hanging that fly in front of their face is crucial. Teasing the fish with a slower swing in these conditions is the best way to get that tug.” -Jeff Hubbard
Episode 38 – Brian Silvey
I got a chance to talk with Brian Silvey for this week’s show and we had a great talk. We discussed his early start to fly tying, guiding, designing rods and developing lines, fly preferences, boats, and some fun steelhead stories.
The Night Terror
Don’t be fooled by this fly’s simplicity. Designed for movement, the Night Terror undulates and pulses in the current without losing bulk and profile – and to top it off, it is easy to cast!
Idaho’s Salmon River Fly Box
I know I’ll soon be making a trip to watch a dry fly gurgle among the fall glow of the Salmon River.