Yuba River, California


Don Van Schenck and I fished above the Highway 20 bridge on March 2,2012. It was a slow day but we had fun. I caught a 15-inch Rainbow a #16 Green Bead Head Pulsating Caddis Nymph and he caught an 18-inch Rainbow on a small dry fly, a #20 May Fly. Weather was great. We fished for only a couple hours, but a great day nonetheless.


Submitted by: Sean Wallentine

Fly Fishing Report from An Irish Angler

River Liffey, Ireland


Enjoyed a great first day of the season fly fishing with Mr Irish Fly Fisher himself Liam Stenson and his good friend Ray Bradley on the River Liffey somewhere in Co. Kildare. The sun shone, however a stiff south east breeze put a chill in the air keeping fly hatches to a minimum, that said a few dark olives did show and trout were rising in the more sheltered runs.

Fishing a team of wets to include a kill devil spider on the point, a greenwells spider on the middle dropper, and a partridge and orange on the top I proceeded to fish a likely run endorsed by Liam, "he hooked and lost a fish estimated at 5.lbs in it last season, the hook straightened". The upstream breeze made fishing wet difficult so I quickly reverted to dry and put up a small olive klinkhammer pattern. With no trout showing I fished likely seams to little effect.

Liam on the other hand found a sheltered back water with a nice streamy run pushing close to a half sunk tree. Placing his fly in the suds he winkled out a 10 inch trout to break his duck for the year. Two more fish rose but were too quick for him, these Liffey brownies are lightening fast.

Moving upstream I found a run sheltered from the wind by a high bank. Heavily lined with willow trees, there were enough gaps to enable fishing if one used unorthodox casting methods. Switching over to wets my luck changed and I rose a number of trout landing three to close on half a pound. Beautifully spotted but a little lean, in a few weeks they will be plump and full of fight.

By now the sun was waning and a chill started to fill the air, we had forgotten but it was only March 3rd. Close on four bells three tired but happy anglers walked back to the cars, the Liffey had been good to us Liam also netting a few nice trout and the day most certainly augured well for the season to come....

An Irish Angler

Within Co. Wicklow, dubbed The Garden of Ireland, a little over an hour from Dublin city centre are two wonderful wild trout fisheries just waiting to be discovered. The first, Lough Dan, is a secluded lake nestling in a glaciated valley high up in the Wicklow Mountains, which is home to hard fighting, free rising, mountain trout. Second, is the Vartry reservoir or Roundwood as it is more commonly called. Named after the nearby village and constructed in the 18th century to supply Dublin with water, Roundwood is a mature, well managed wild brown trout fishery. Both semi private lakes due to limited access, An Irish Anglers World has secured permission to place a boat on each water so enabling tourist and resident Irish fly anglers enjoy for the first time in many years, lough fishing Wicklow style. 

Trout on both Roundwood and Lough Dan are truly wild and hit the fly with gusto. Fished for with a five weight combination they give great and consistent sport. Traditional drift methods are used fishing floating, sink tip, or intermediate lines. Flies such as the Bibio, Watsons, Silverhorn sedge, Wicklow Killer, Daddy, Kate McLaren, Silver dabbler, Peter Ross, and Alexandra work well in sizes ranging from 14 - 10.

A days fishing generally takes place between 09.00 - 17.00 hours. Lunchtime will be spent on beautiful shoreline locations with a backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains in all their splendour. The Kelly kettle will be fired up and a fine spread provided, then its back on the water for the afternoon. Evening fishing can be arranged in the high summer months, and is recommended, especially on Roundwood when the silverhorns are hatching.

Lough Dan, the largest natural lake in Co. Wicklow, and Roundwood reservoir are unique wild trout fisheries barely an hour south of Dublin. Whether on holidays, business, or just looking to unwind, relax with a days fly fishing in the Wicklow Mountains, you will be glad that you did.

Contact: Ashley Hayden through the website www.anirishanglersworld.com or phone: +353 (0)53 94 28917.

Submit Your Flyfishing Reports

Click on the link below to post your fly fishing photos and reports with the Virtual Fly Guides.

Submit Photos on the Virtual Fly Guides Submission Page

After the reports, photos, or videos are submitted through the Submission Page and are approved, they will be featured here on this blog.

By sharing our reports and experiences in fly fishing, we encourage other fly fishers to do the same and become a Virtual Fly Guide. Regardless of your skill level, or how many days you spend on the water each year, everyone can learn from everyone. Our vision is to create a network of fly fishers around the country, and around the world, who guide each other by sharing their personal fly fishing reports.

Merry Christmas from An Irish Angler

Hi Guys,

Happy Christmas from Ireland to all at Virtual Fly Guides. I hope that Santa has remembered to pack those new waders, coveted reel, or selection of flies. Mrs Claus sent me a recent photo of the big man, guess he was fueling up for the long night ahead.

Have a happy New Year and tight lines.

Regards,

Ashley

3 Brothers Flies

Lake Taneycomo, MO


We fished for two days during Thanksgiving week on Lake Taneycomo. The water was low on the first day. I landed a sixteen inch rainbow on a #20 cdc BWO comparadun, and my little brother caught another sixteen inch bow on a #12 zoo cougar. I also caught a small trout on a #20 blood midge. The second day the water was high and midges were hatching all day. The same bwo fly was very productive, along with adams and zoo cougars. One thing I learned was to always use a big dry for your indicator unless you are changing the depth of your nymph a lot. I used a #16 Ausable Bomber for my indicator and caught three rainbows up to 14". In the couple hours we fished we caught thirteen rainbows up to 14" between four of us.

Check out our blog at 3brothersflies.com

Fly Fishing Report, Putah Creek, CA

I guided my friend Don Van Schenck on Putah Creek in Northern California on Thursday, December 8th. We fished from about 10am to 1pm and caught 5 between us. The nicest fish was Don's 23-inch Rainbow. The effective flies were a flashback PT (#16) and an olive VFG Nymph (#20), a fly you can purchase on this website. Weather was perfect; cool and sunny. Water flows were low, around 100cfs.


Submitted by: Sean Wallentine

Submit Your Fly Fishing Reports

Click on the link below to post your fly fishing photos and reports with the Virtual Fly Guides.

Submit Photos on the Virtual Fly Guides Submission Page

After the reports, photos, or videos are submitted through the Submission Page and are approved, they will be featured here on this blog.

By sharing our reports and experiences in fly fishing, we encourage other fly fishers to do the same and become a Virtual Fly Guide. Regardless of your skill level, or how many days you spend on the water each year, everyone can learn from everyone. Our vision is to create a network of fly fishers around the country, and around the world, who guide each other by sharing their personal fly fishing reports.

Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros

For all of you flyfishers looking for a new flyfishing app for your iPhone or iPad, downloading Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros is a must. Go to iTunes to purchase this outstanding app for only $2.99. The biggest names in flyfishing share their knowledge and can assist flyfishers of every skill level. Click on the following iTunes Preview link of Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros by Mark Williams and enjoy!

San Juan River, NM September 2011

Even the shallow spots will yield fish, especially on the San Juan!