Free Glide

A characteristic many wadefishermen share is an intimate
knowledge of the underwater environment they tread. It’s
easy to think of a flat as a long stretch of sand or mud but
the feet tell a different story. With feet shuffling along the
bottom, waders find shorelines littered with fish attracting
structure and characteristics that entice fish to hang around
for a meal. Abandoned crab traps, old tires, oyster reefs,
marsh grass, sloughs, troughs and depressions, hard
bottom, soft bottom and potholes are a few of the puzzle
pieces collected from each trip that will eventually reveal
where fish are more likely to be found on a particular piece
of bayside real estate.

The key element that brings all of the structure pieces into
play is the role of tidal currents. During periods of slack and
minimal currents, bait fish retreat to structure for safety.
Later, when current strength accelerates and the horizontal
speed reaches .3 knot, the current has reached its “forcing
power” and hiding bait fish are flushed from structure,
congregate and are forced along with the current, becoming
easy targets for hungry gamefish. Sometime after reaching
its peak speed the current will once again slow below .3
knot and bait fish will retreat to structure until they are forced
from hiding once again.

The Wells Daily Fishing Forecast has been used by
fishermen on the Gulf Coast since 1957 to choose the best
days and times to fish in advance based upon the
movement of tidal currents. Along with the current
movement daily predictions a Monthly Fishing Calendar is
provided to ease in the identification of better fishing days.
Days classified in the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast as “XXX”
will most often be days with long and consistently strong
current movements.

The days each month that generally have the strongest
currents overall are those around the new and full moon.
Conversely, the days with the weakest currents overall will
be days near the first and last quarter of the moon. These
days will have “Poor” and “Fair” rated days in the Monthly
Fishing Calendar.

A day that has extra strong currents may be rated less than
XXX if the current movement occurs before daylight or
begins in the very late afternoon when most fishermen have
left the water. Days rated as Poor will be the opposite of
XXX with often extremely weak current movements, if any,
throughout the day. Poor rated days, however, may have a
“good” current at some point during the day, that while good
for fishing, is not the predominant type of current pattern of
the day overall. That is one important reason why not to
dismiss Poor or Fair days as ones where it’s not possible
to catch fish. It’s also an important reason when referring
to the Monthly Fishing Calendar to select days to fish, that
the current times in the Wells Daily Fishing Forecast be
checked. If you plan to fish in the morning on a day rated
Good and the reason for the overall Good rating is the
afternoon tidal current you may be in for a disappointing
morning.

The key to consistent use of the Wells Daily Fishing
Forecast is to fish when the currents are moving. To
accomplish this, simply plan to fish during the Forecast’s
“Start” and “End” times for a particular current.
Fishing when currents are active and baitfish are on the
move is the key to fishing success on the Gulf coast.

Gary Ralston is the publisher of Gulf Coast Fisherman
magazine. For more on using the Wells Daily Fishing
Forecast or information on fishing the Gulf Coast, visit
http://www.gulffishing.com

Jack Karpawack here.

Well, as I suspected, there was no high speed internet available from my “YURT” on the Henry’s Fork.
So, I am back in the friendly confines of Southern Oregon ready to give you some recent fishing reports from the famed Henry’s Fork of the Snake River…

…Pulled into Last Chance, Idaho on Monday afternoon.A hot and dry July 18th.

An extensive search of the “nine or so” existing businesses in Last Chance, left me in quite a quandry.Or was it a quagmire?? I’m not sure.

Anyway.

Which of the four fly fishing/ outfitter shops should I go into first for information, a license, and a lightening of my wallet. Actually, it was five choices if you count the general store==or six if you count the “Angler’s Lodge- which also has a fly shop.Heck, who knows the restaurant and the remaining businesses may have carried fiahing gear also!!

At least my keen sense of business tells me that a fish or two must have been caught in this area.Either that, or the largest black market fly tying operation is run out of this “bump in the road” here in Idaho.

Like “Goldilocks” I look at one shop and decide it is too hot! (large) Another is too cold! (has the Orvis name and a yuppie feel to it) The other is juuust right! –O.K.– I know that leaves a couple other shops, but stick with me here– it’s just a story cowboy!!

I wander in and it feels right–small and unassuming–nothing to intimidate me so far.

“Hi, can I help you.”

Now that’s a good start.

“Yes, I need to get a license, some info,and some flies.”

“In exchange. you may have this wallet stuffed with twenty dollar bills.”

“Fair enough.” said the young employee.

“How’s the river fishing?” I ask, waiting for the usual- ‘we are knocking them dead’ reply.

“Actually, kinda slow. A few fish in the early morning and some hatches coming off late in the evening.”

“How about Henry’s Lake?”

“Bigger fish-but about the same.”

“O.K., well how about giving me about half a dozen patterns to try on the river, and a couple patterns for the lake.”

He is more than happy to do this, and gets me set up with a couple different leeches for the lake, and some rubber legs and bead headed droppers for the river. I have plenty of different sizes of pale morning duns, caddis and callabaetis patterns, so I am pretty set for and drys in the evening. He tells me that the railroad ranch is fishing pretty good in the evening and that Box Canyon is the place I should try some nymphing in the morning. He even points out a spot on the map for me!

Now that’s service.

I am feeling pretty good as I head for the door with minimal damage afflicted on my bank account, and more information than I expected to get–but then I spot the 40% off rack.

Seventy-five dollars later, I am back in my truck heading for my first rendevous with the famed Henry’s Fork…

To be continued…

A.J. Klott
Author, writer of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005.
If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at:
http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

Fly fishing has a history stretching back to the ancient Greeks, whose historians record people fishing for “spotted fishes” with fixed-line wooden poles. They used for bait wound with cloth and animal hair -primitive fishing flies. More than 2,000 years later, people still fly fish, and they’re still catching those “spotted fishes” and many other types besides. Fishing venues have expanded to include lakes, rivers, and even the ocean. With a continual flow of new adherents and constant technological advancement, fly fishing is likely to go strong as long as there are still fishes out there to catch.

Flyfishing gear

These days, our fishing flies either come ready-made or we make them ourselves; we’ve got all kinds of specialized tools and fishing clothing with which we pursue our art; and our fly rods are made of graphite, with nifty fly fishing reels designed to extend our reach well beyond a few feet. Taken together, these comprise a serious fisherman’s basic fly fishing gear. You’re also likely to need additional fishing equipment like supplies and tackle, and even fishing apparel like mesh vests and waders. If you’re making your own flies, that opens up a whole other can of worms, involving the specialty materials and tools required for making decent flies. Finally, if you’re fishing deep water, you’ll need to take a look at fishing boats too.

Stalking your fishy prey

Any veteran fly fisherman knows that fishing is less about putting fish on the table and more about being comfortable with Mother Nature. There you are: suited up in vest and waders, creel at your side, tackle safely tucked away. You’ve selected the perfect flies, and you’re fly rod is ready for action. Now you’re ready to slip into nature’s timeless waters, where the trout (or tarpon or sunfish or bonefish) await. If you don’t catch any fish, that’s all right - you’ve had an opportunity to enjoy alone time with yourself, to ejoy nature, and to practice your casting. And that’s what it’s all about.

Ivan Goertzen is a web publisher. He has websites in various industries that serve as informational resources to those that view them. To find out more information about Fly Fishing. Please go to: http://www.fly-fishing-source.com and check it out.

Fly fishing is very different than fishing with a lure or worm type baits. The fly fisherman uses a artificial fly consisting of bites of feathers, foam, hide, fur, yarn, and other materials to be tried on to a hook that make it appealing to the type of fish you are catching. Every fly fisherman has his own type of flies he like to use some purchase them and then some of us like to tie our own. Fly tying is more of an art with basic training which most people can learn over a short period of time.

Dry fly fishing is the best classic form of fishing. The artificial fly is cast so that it floats on the surface of the water. As the fly passes over the fish it will rise to the surface and strike or take the fly.

With the fly rod you will attempt to stop the fish from spitting out the fly and get it tired enough so you can land it in your net. With fly fishing you will see all the action as you cast the fly and play the fish for a strike. The fly is very visible on the surface to the fish. You will see the fish take the fly on the surface however trout and other fish tend to feed under water so if you see the fish rising to the surface it is time to use a dry fly.

Wet flies will sink under the surface of the water an may be passed in front of the fish there bye causing the fish too strike at the fly,

Nymph fishing is very popular after the flies lay eggs on lakes or in streams and they hatch out as nymphs. As the nymphs make their way to the surface the fish will take them. When they get to the surface they will hatch into a flies.

When nymph fishing the imitation nymphs you us will be weighted to stay below the surface of the water. This will be far more of a challenge for you as the action all take place under the surface of the water and you will not be able to see if a fish is about to strike.

Most fish can be caught on a fly but the most common are trout, salmon, chars, and most game fish. In most areas the trout are the most popular and you will find them feeding mostly on small insects in shallow water. If you live on the coast you find salmon fishing with a fly rod a very rewarding challenge. Hooking a 30 or 40 pound salmon on a fly rod will give you a work out running up and down the beach trying to play the fish out to land it .

The fly fishing sport has gained ever increasing popularity over the years. Most will agree it just not about catching the fish but in the delivery of the fly and the skill and knowledge in the pursuit.

Some fly fisherman regard fly fishing as the holy grail of fishing. It is more relaxing and some say a better past time than golf. The sport of fly fishing see people from all walks of life. Some say it is more environmentally friends than the other type of fishing because it does less harm to the fish then other styles of fishing.

The art of fly fishing will get in to your blood and you will peruse the quite of the streams or the solitude of the ocean beaches to capture you prey. Most anglers will catch and release if they are fly fishing.

Sammy Salmon has been having fun fishing for years and wants to share all his knowledge with you so be sure to visit him at Fishing-For-Fun