Shuck Norris
I know it’s been long since I’ve posted any content. 2010 was banner and one for the record books and I fulling intend on catching up and dumping some content. I don’t really get much time form October to January to blog, tie and such. But oddly enough I have more time than I know what to do with come mid winter. So I thought I’d come back strong with a tutorial before I start catching up with trip reports and such. So without further delay I’ll cut to the Shuck Norris.
—>Click Here For Tutorial on how to tie the Shuck Norris<—
In the three years leading up to the summer of 2010 I pretty much kept a dropper off the line at all cost while throwing dry flies. Not because I felt like achieving a so called “purist dry fly” nirvana but because I cut my teeth on dry dropper rigs and wanted to mix things up a bit. In those three years I was surprised at how my catch rate didn’t necessarily decrease, or so I thought. I was absolutely taken with the fact that I could now get within inches of the bank, tree, grass line or tight under brush without a 2′ dropper screwing the pooch. I thought that being able to make casts, get drifts and fish water I couldn’t before was canceling out the “dropper factor” or as a close friend calls it “insurance”. Life was good and I thought it was the new way to go. The anit-dropper mentality was born. Fast forward sum years and a cold winter day and a light bulb goes on. Three years or reflecting on days past and browsing pictures for hours I had a honest answer staring me dead straight in the face. Honestly, simply, and to the point I was catching less fish… Needlessly.
So the summer of 2010 became the year of the dropper and I got back to my roots. These days I pretty much fish a figure eight/davey knot and just clip and re tie the dropper as I work the water. Often times working the tight spots first with the dry only and the tying on the dropper and fishing the meat of the run. It’s not glorious but I did bring some of my better fish to hand this year, especially on smaller streams. It sets me back 10 seconds here and there and pays dividends most days. Moral of the store… Don’t be a dry fly hero but hope for those days that a dropper is needless and may not apply.
I came up with the Shuck Norris this year during PMD season and it became a confidence fly for me as I tweaked it. The inspiration was really just what I like about emergers and droppers rolled into one. Nothing fancy but like Chuck Norris he punches white fish in the brown. Viva la dropper!
Ghetto Love
Angler: Collin Carlson Fly: Ghetto Tramp
So what do you say to someone that has just cast into a pod of carp, lets it sink, gets three strips in and the rod doubles over? “Thats not a musky you just ass hooked a oversized goldfish”. What do you say when you get done photographing and releasing the ass hooked oversized gold fish Tiger Musky after a mere 2 hours into their TIger Musky fishing career? “Well you know you’re screwed for the next 12 trips right?”. Pretty bad ass, must have been the Ghetto Lovin’ vibe he was putting out there. Awesome job Collin I’m stoked we got you into some action! Check out Collin’s photo work HERE, he always keep it fresh with the fish porn. What’s a Ghetto Tramp? -–>Click Here<— for the full tutorial on how to tie The Ghetto Tramp.
Hatches 2010
The anual print edition of my favorite tying magazine is now available and includes some awesome articles from the likes of Alex Cerveniak, Ulf Hagstom and written word by Bob White the man the myth the bad ass! I also have my first published article, The Chubby Muffin Cicada, one of my favorite terrestrial patterns. So if you a tyer at heart check it out, I know you won’t be disappointed.
The Eat
This was a fish caught by a friend of mine Matt Warner while on a trip this summer. The fish ate a decent sized hopper mid day and right before I netted him he puked up a 6 3/4” baby brown, I’m guessing he ate it the night before or very early that morning. The little guy was obviously put down head first from the slightly digested head and still 100% intact tail. The other thing that was obvious to me was that the little guy got T-Boned first. He had laceration from mid body to right behind the gills and a massive gash mid belly. I think the evidence is there to show that this guy got hammered mid body to injure/stun him so he could be put down head first. It’s pretty cool to see the evidence that supports modern streamer theories!
The Promised Land
First off I’d like to apologize to the dozen people that probably read my blog for being such a slacker as of late. Or maybe as of the last couple months is more suitable? I find it hard to spend time indoors during the summer let alone at a computer and away from the water. If I am indoors it’s probably to tie flies or do something responsible. This summer has been down right amazing to say the least and I plan on getting caught up with my blog posts.
So, let me tell you about a little trip to Wisco…
It was the first of June and I got a call from B-Rad… “How was the opener” I asked. “We’ve got a lot of attention trying avoiding them before the opener” he replied. “Well… And since it’s opened?”. “It’s gonna be good! You got some time in a couple weeks”. “I’m not sure? Fuck it, I’ll make it happen!” I replied. A couple days later I had a ticket and thing were a go… I was heading to the mecca, the promised land, the indigenous water that esox prowl, I was Wisconsota bound!
Always travel as light as possible… Not too bad for 2 reels, 1 extra spool, 2 rods, 2 meat lockers, waders, boots, wading jacket, 2 cameras and some other essentials. Ok maybe anglers don’t really travel that light but it all fits nicely.
The Goods Courtesy Of William Joseph
Penny
Bohen And Marve
The one That Got It Done
Angler: Brian "Lucky" Porter
El Chupacabra
Unfortunately the day of my arrival was also the same day as a series of drought breaking thunder storms… It rained the majority of the time I was there and we watched the rivers swell. Fishing was rough but I got my shots and my eats. There weren’t many, a few I blew and a few were tough luck. I landed a smaller male and a few small mouth. I’d do it again in a heart beat, the place gets in your blood, it makes you earn it. Brad was a killer host and so were the rest of the Musky Country crew. I can’t wait to get back to the mystery water.
