Czech, Polish, Spanish, French, and Euro Nymphing

I didn't know all of these "Euro" nymphing styles where so different until I listened to the Itinerant Angler October 25, 2010 podcast episode.  It's worth a listen.  Randy Hanner of Fly Fishing Team USA explains the unique differences in the varies Euro techniques (some styles that use 20 - 30 foot leaders) and the international competitive fly fishing scene.

Merry Christmas

Hot of the Bench

My lady gave me an intermediate fly tying class for Christmas at Davidson River Outfitters.  I have already had 3 of the 4 classes, and it has helped sharpen my skills whether the flies below indicate that or not.

I used my first epoxy in the class. Before, I'd been intimidated to crack open the epoxy at the house for some reason.  I also got the first real good instruction on using my rotary vise.  Lou, the teacher,  has also  taught me easier ways to work with biots, deer hair, partridge, rubber legs, and a number of other materials. My first fly tying class was at a local fly shop my senior year in college at App State.  It only took me 12 years to seek further help.

Flies pictured from bottom to top: BWO loop wind emerger, black fly larvae, egg, my version of a yellow submarine BH soft hackle, copper johns, and 2 sheepfly's.

Challenged

This is my chest pack, full of flies, tippet, leaders, split shot, indicators, tools, and home to the tether that holds my landing net.  This is where it hangs in my garage.  This is where it stayed all day yesterday as I fished at the Davidson.

I met my boy Matt at the fly shop, convinced him he didn't need to buy many flies at all because I tied up some trout candy the night before, and we headed to the river.  Shortly after, I realized my bag was an hour and a half away, and I was equipped with my rod, leader, a used piece of yarn indicator, and 1 size 16 boss hog stone fly.  Crap. We made the quick trip back to the shop, and I bought 3 midges, 1 egg, a superman prince, and a Bill's provider.  I ganked 3 18 inch strands of 6x flouro tippet from Matt, and we hit the water with a tiny arsenal of flies and a challenge to land some fish on them.

It rained off and on all day, and the fishing really picked up the last hour of light with the water staining up.  It was a challenge landing some of the larger fish with out a net, and a lost one over 20 inches.  Probably landed 15 or so over the course of the day, and left satisfied having only lost 2 flies and having one piece of tippet to spare.

Wesather: upper fifties, rainy, 130-200 cfs.

December on the D

Fished the Davidson near the hatchery from 10-3.  The river was flooded out about 2 weeks ago (3000cfs vs. the 100cfs I fished today), and the river looked a little different. Some logs were gone, and some new logs now cross the river.  The fish were holding in different places as well.  I'm not certain if this was due to the flood, or just colder temperatures. It took an hour to land the first fish, a large brook trout.

The Davidson is a unique stream, and I believe most of the browns and rainbows are stream born, but these brook trout either swim up stream after being stocked on the lower Davidson to make the fertile grounds of the hatchery their home, or are hatchery escapees.  

The fishing was never hot, but I managed 10 fish over the course of the day.  The temperature was in the upper 40's for the high, and was in the upper twenties early that morning. Sunny to partly cloudy through out the day. 

I picked up this fish, and a number of others, on a size 16 boss hog stonefly. I love that fly.  I cycled through midges and eggs picking up fish on small carolina egg. I fished 3 flys at once at times, but mostly fished the stone and a dropper.

I was a poor photographer today, and missed photo on two nice rainbows. I am heading back in two days, and the forcast is for rain and warmer temperatures.  Sounds like conditions may be better then.