West Walker River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

West Walker River, CA

September 2006

Caught 17 Rainbows up to 25"

Flies Used: Red and copper Copper John #16; Brown San Juan Worm #16; Beaded Pheasant Tail Frostbite #16; Beaded Prince Nymph #14; Orange Hunchback Infrequens #16.

Other Details: Fished along Hwy 395 about 4 miles and 7 miles upriver from the end of the town limits of Walker, CA.

Taylor River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Ross Kingsley

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Taylor River, CO
August 20, 2008
Size and Species: Rainbow Trout 11"-17.5"
Flies Used: #18 Gray RS2, #16 Tungsten Flashback PT
Other Details: Fished the Taylor River catch and release section below Taylor Reservoir. To get to Taylor Reservoir from Almont, take the right fork on USFS 742 18 miles to the dam. Fishing was a little sketchy at first because the water gets so much pressure. Trick was to run a million drifts by them. Got a couple and fishing was pretty good. Lot of people though. Get in there with light tippet and soft presentations and get at em'.

San Juan River, NM Fly Fishing Report

Davy Rawson
Spring Hill, TN

San Juan River, NM
May 2004
Caught 28 Rainbows and Browns up to 18.5"
Flies Used: San Juan Worm #16 (cream and brown); Red Larva #18; Black Midge with Foam Top #20.
Other Details: Parked at the church lot. Mostly fished the main channel and the upper flats. The lake was turning over, creating off color water and lots of moss.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO
August 2006
Caught 123 Rainbows and Brookies up to 25"
Flies Used: Royal Stimulator #14; Elk Hair Caddis #12; Para Adams #16; Red Copper John #16 (tungsten); Prince Nymph #14; Black Woolly Bugger #8.
Other Details: Fished 5 miles of private river and private ponds from the bridge on Hwy 30 up to where Cottonwood Creek and the Lake Fork merge.

East Fork of the Arkansas River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Jared Griswold
Franklin, TN

East Fork of the Arkansas River, CO
September 2007
Caught 25 Browns up to 12"
Flies Used: Dave's Hopper #10; Orange Stimulator #14; Beaded Prince Nymph #14; Copper Copper John #16.
Other Details: Fished the east fork of the Arkansas off of Hwy 24 near Leadville, CO. Had to be stealth along the river. Water was clear and the fish could be easily spooked.

Truckee River, NV Fly Fishing Report

Joe Specchio
Fernley, NV

Truckee River, NV
February 5, 2009
Size and Species: 2 Rainbows, 13"& 17"
Flies Used: Red Copper John, Stone Fly Nymph, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear.
Other Details: Fished from about 10am until 2:30pm at a section of the river that runs through Sparks, east of Reno. Temps were in the mid forties, but in the afternoon the wind really started blowing, and it got quite cold. The river fishes really well all the way through Reno and Sparks, but this is actually only the second time I've fished in town. I probably should invest more time fishing the Truckee in and around Reno/Sparks because there are some really nice Rainbows and Browns in the lower Truckee.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Dan Wallentine
Irvine, CA

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO
September 2007
Caught 20 Rainbows and Brookies up to 19"
Flies Used: Royal Stimulator #14; Red Copper John #16; Parachute Adams #12; Black Woolly Bugger #8; Dave's Hopper #12.
Other Details: Fished 5 miles of private river and private ponds from the bridge on Hwy 30 up to where Cottonwood Creek and the Lake Fork merge.

Greys River, WY Fly Fishing Report

Chris Uhls
Glendale, AZ

Greys River, WY
July 2008
Size and Species: 8" to 15" Cutt's
Flies Used: Stimulators, Hoppers, Bead Head Copper Johns.
Other Details: Fished near Alpine, WY on the upper and lower Greys River with a dry/dropper.

South Platte River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Ross Kingsley
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

South Platte River, CO
August 18th, 2008
Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat Trout 10"-13"
Flies Used: Female Trico Adult #20 and Olive Elk Hair Caddis #20.
Other Details: Fished Elevenmile Canyon of the South Platte River about 45 minutes outside Colorado Springs. Fishing was awesome. Weather was cool and sunny and easily one of the best rivers I have ever fished. Fishing was great and fish were just gorgeous.

Happy Father's Day

Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Don Van Schenck
Sacramento, CA

Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River, CA
August 2007
Caught 7 Rainbows up to 9"
Flies Used: Elk Hair Caddis #14; Green Pulsating Caddis #16.
Other Details: Sean Wallentine and I fished above the Clark Fork Bridge, about a half mile up. The weather was excellent.

East Carson River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ

East Carson River, CA
September 28, 2008
22" Rainbow Trout
Fly Used: Black Woolly Bugger #8
Other Details: Fished along Hwy 4 above the bridge before the road to Wolf Creek. Dead drifted the Wooly Bugger and hooked this fish near the end of the drift.

Little Truckee River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Joe Specchio
Fernley, NV

Little Truckee River, CA
November 25, 2008
Caught a 19" Brown and a 13" Rainbow
Flies Used: #18 Green Beaded Micro Mayfly, #16 Red Copper John, #12 Prince Nymph.
Other Details: This was my first fish caught on the "LT" after three trips to this river. Fished from the upper end of the meadow section up to the dam at Stampede Reservoir. Cloudy day with temperatures in the low to mid 50's. I saw more anglers than I expected on a Tuesday due to being Thanksgiving week.

The Beginner's Guide to Better Fishing Photography

Here is an excellent article from the Field and Stream Website with 21 tips to better fly fishing photography. This is a must read for anyone wanting to improve their photographic skills. Each step has helpful photo examples and a brief explanation. Here is a brief excerpt from Tip #1.

Photography and fishing have been intrinsically linked throughout history. Anglers traveling to beautiful, far-away, and nearby places have documented their surroundings and trophy catches for years. And everyone knows that bragging rights must be accompanied by photographic proof.

Click on this link Field and Stream Website for the full article.

Pyramid Creek, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Pyramid Creek, CA
June 2007
Caught 20 Rainbows and Browns up to 11"
Flies Used: #14 Royal Coachman; #12 Elk Hair Caddis; #16 Parachute Adams.
Other Details: Fished from the Pryamid Creek trailhead to the boundary of Desolation Wilderness (elevation 6,100'). My first time. Great creek!

Honolulu, HI Fly Fishing Report

Captain Mahalo Bob
Honolulu, HI

Honolulu, HI
February 9, 2009 11lb Bonefish
Fly Used: Hawaiian Shrimp
Other Details: Aloha, the past few weeks the tides have not been favorable with strong gusty trade winds however, there have been a few number of nice sized 4 to 6 lbs bonefish. This 11lbs bonefish pictured was one that couldn't resist one of my newly tied flies. She took the fly 15ft away from the rod tip then proceeded to rip off 220 yards of gel-spun backing before doing a 180 degree turn and came straight back at me for another 100 yards then turned around and made another 60 yard run before tiring. This fish was tagged with tag #5438 of the O'io (bonefish) Tagging Program before gently releasing it back to the ocean. Hopefully, conditions will get back to normal soon.

Visit Mahalo Bob at: http://www.mahalobobsfishingadventures.com/

Gunnison River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Ross Kingsley
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Gunnison River, CO
August 22nd, 2008
Caught Brown Trout from 7" -15"
Flies Used: #20 Mercer Mayfly (Micro Mayfly) and #20 Black Zebra Midge
Other Details: Fished the Gunnison River above Blue Mesa River for about 2 to 3 miles or so. Fishing was mainly nymphing. My dad tried a Red Quill for a while and was pretty successful but because the flows were low the fish were holding in very skinny water. Fishing was good though. Use small traditional patterns and get drifts as dead as possible.

Cumberland River, TN Fly Fishing Report

Jared Griswold
Franklin, TN

Cumberland River, TN (by Steam Plant)
December 2007
16" Skipjack
Flies Used: Pink and white Shartoos #8 to #10
Other Details: Fish the winter months any time of day. The water is warm from a steam plant so the fish are active all day long. Caught about 40 in 2.5 hours.

Short Cuts To Fly Fishing

When it comes to fly fishing, especially for beginners, there are so many nuances. Whether it's about learning knots, learning bugs, reading water, or every other aspect of this obsession, fly fishing can become overwhelming. The purpose of this post and possibly future ones, is to share the things that make fly fishing a little simpler.

The first "Short Cut" focuses on setting up a fly rod. If an angler purchases the fly rod, fly reel, and fly line as separate parts, the angler can walk out of the shop and have no clue about putting it all together. In most cases, the fly shop salesperson has the expertise to add the backing and fly line to your reel and get you ready to go. In some shops the salesperson is a guide and will share their skill and knowledge. Whether they are a guide or not, they should be able to accommodate the customers requests. Just ask.

As for pre-assembled kits, they can range in price from about $100 to over $500. There are so many manufacturers of fly fishing equipment, finding the right one for you and your budget may require some homework on the part of the customer. It definitely will pay dividends to ask questions and utilize the sales staff at your local fly shop. Most fly fishing professionals will share their knowledge and experience freely to enhance the growth of fly fishing.

If there are questions about getting started in fly fishing, post them in the comments section of this blog post and we will do our best to provide an answer.

Bubbs Creek, High Sierra, CA Fly Fishing Report

Sean Wallentine

Sacramento, CA

Bubbs Creek, High Sierra, CA

August 2002

Caught 45 Golden Trout up to 13"

Flies Used: EC Caddis #16 and Hopper #12.

Other Details: Began our trip from the Fresno side of the High Sierra and fished while hiking from Vidette to a camp spot below Forrester Pass. Also fished the headwaters of Bubbs Creek.

Profile of Bubbs Creek, High Sierra, CA

Ahh, Bubbs Creek, a great trout stream. This stream's headwaters gain it's flow from run off and higher lakes below the peaks of Deerhorn Mountain, Mt. Stanford, Junction Peak and Center Peak. As it gains strength it flows north into Vidette Meadow and then takes a hard turn west, flowing almost 20 miles and then spilling into the Kings River near Road's End and Cedar Grove. In it's upper reaches, Bubbs is home to some wonderful Golden Trout. From Vidette Meadow and downstream, though, the water is dominated by Brown Trout. I was surprised to find Brown Trout as high as Vidette Meadow.

The Virtual Fly Guides informed fly fisher Ralph Cutter, author of "The Sierra Trout Guide", the Browns were present in the Bubbs Vidette section. He was surprised, and so was the Department of Fish and Game staff when he informed them. The good thing is the Browns cannot reach the 5 mile section above the meadow due to some small waterfalls and cascades.

To reach the lower section of Bubbs(from the west) take Highway 180 out of Fresno (Kings River Scenic Byway) to the mountain hamlet of Cedar Grove. Just past Cedar Grove is Road's End, where you begin your hike at the clearly marked trail head. Hike along the Kings River for a while and then climb the switchbacks up into the Bubbs drainage. From this point you have about 15 miles of prime dry fly fishing.

To reach the upper part of Bubbs you begin your hike at the Onion Valley trail head which takes you west, up and over Kearsarge Pass. From the pass drop down past Kearsarge Lakes, around Bullfrog Lake and then go south, dropping steeply into Vidette Meadow. You will then follow the Pacific Crest/John Muir Trail along Bubbs Creek up stream for another 5 miles until you reach a camp area below Forrester Pass. At this point you are high above the headwaters. You must hike (no trail) down to the small stream below. You will be rewarded for your extra effort to get down there.

I guess the most direct route to the Bubbs headwaters is to take the Shepard Pass trail from the Owens Valley floor, up and over Shepard Pass, then dropping down to the PCT and then north up and over Forrester Pass. But, this is a brutal route. You would have to be insane to choose this route.

Madison River, WY Fly Fishing Report

Dan Wallentine

Irvine, CA

Madison River, Yellowstone National Park, WY

October 2005

Rainbows and Browns up to 20.5"

Flies Used: Beaded Prince Nymph #12 and Gordon's Prince #14

Other Details: Fished along West Entrance Road at Barnes #1 and #2 and Madison Junction.

South Fork of the Snake River, ID Fly Fishing Report

Chris Uhls
Glendale, AZ

South Fork of the Snake River, ID

July 2008
Size and Species: 12" to 19" Whitefish, Cutts, Rainbows and Browns.

Flies: PMD 14,16; Foam ants; Stimulators 10,12 Pheasant Tails 14, 16; Hares Ear; Rubber legs.

Other Details: Fished near Idaho Falls, ID floating Conant to Heise. Heise to Lorenzo Fishing the riffles.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Christian Hill

Colorado Springs, CO

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, CO

August 2006

Caught 57 Rainbows and Brookies up to 20"

Flies Used: Elk Hair Caddis #14; Royal Stimulator #14; Red Copper John #16; Gold Rib Hare's Ear Nymph #16; Muddler Minnow #6.

Other Details: Fished 5 miles of private river and private ponds from the bridge on Hwy 30 up to where Cottonwood Creek and the Lake Fork merge.

Crystal River, CO Fly Fishing Report

Ross Kingsley

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Crystal River, CO

Fished in Colorado from August 11 to 24

Caught Brook and Rainbow Trout up to 12"

Flies Used: Orange Madam X #14, Red Copper John #16, Prince Nymph #16, BH pheasant tail #16.

Other Details: Fished the Crystal River about 10-15 miles outside of Carbondale, CO. Fished several locations up through the valley past Redstone. Mainly above the campground towards Beaver.

Fordyce Lake, CA Fly Fishing Report

Darin Wallentine

Tucson, AZ

Fordyce Lake, CA

September 2008

19" Rainbow

Fly Used: Orange Sofa Pillow #12

Other Details: Prior to fishing from a float tube, we casted along the shoreline. This 19 incher was the only fish I caught on the lake. We drove a long 7 mile 4x4 road to reach the lake and Fordyce Creek below the dam. It's a beautiful lake and not many people, probably due to the difficult drive.

Does It Really Matter What You Wear To Fly Fish?

It wasn't so long ago that we spent a day on the Upper Sac with fly fishing guide Fred Gordon. We met Fred at a diner in Dunsmuir, CA for breakfast before our day out on the river. The conversation began with the initial pleasantries and eventually focused on the business of the day, catching trout. Before we ever discussed what fly to tie on, Fred gave us his thoughts on the basics of fly angling. It all began with what you wear. He was a big believer in blending into the environment. Wearing natural colors (anything that matches your surroundings) will increase your chances of catching trout.

The Durango Herald recently published an article that reinforces the idea that fish can see color and if you blend in, you can improve your chances on the water. Here's the link for the full article by Don Oliver: Dress for success applies directly to fly fishermen .

Obviously, there is more to fly fishing success than what you wear. But when you put it all together, the little things can make a difference between a day of casting and a day of catching fish.

Harpeth River, TN Fly Fishing Report

Jared Griswold

Franklin, TN

Harpeth River, TN

January 2008

Caught 15 Rainbows

Fly Used: Olive Wooly Bugger #12

Other Details: Had an hour to hit the Harpeth River 5 minutes from my home. They stock from January to April.

Ponds at the Greer Lodge, AZ Fly Fishing Report

Dave Siwarski

Tucson, AZ

Ponds at Greer Lodge, AZ

November 21 to 23, 2007

Rainbow Trout

Flies Used: Pheasant Tails, Beaded Prince Nymphs, Stimulators, and Elk Hair Caddis.

Other Details: The Greer Lodge in Greer Arizona is a great place to learn and develop fishing skills. They have 3 ponds which are not surrounded by obstructions including shrubs and trees. The ponds are catch and release. They also have a very good restaurant and cabins on the property.

Visit Greer Lodge at http://www.greerlodgeaz.com/

Hawaiian Bonefishing With Coach Duff

For those of you salt water fly fishing enthusiasts or you trout hunters wanting to expand your angling experiences, the Virtual Fly Guides are featuring Coach Duff's Hawaiian Bonefishing. To book a trip, visit his web site at: www.hawaiibonefishing.com

9lb Bonefish

10lb Bluefin Trevally

12lb Bonefish

10lb Bluefin Trevally being released

West Fork of the Wind River, WY Fly Fishing Report

Chris Uhls

Glendale, AZ

West Fork of the Wind River, WY

July 2008

Caught Whitefish, Cutts, Rainbows and Browns up to 19".

Flies Used: PMD 14, Foam ants 16; Stimulators 10, 12; Pheasant Tails 14, 16; Hares Ear; Rubber legs.

Other Details: Fished near Idaho Falls, ID floating Conant to Heise. And then from Heise to Lorenzo fishing the riffles.

Upper Sacramento River, CA Fly Fishing Report

Jared Griswold

Franklin, TN

Upper Sacramento, CA

September 2003

Caught 39 Rainbows up to 13"

Flies Used: Beaded Bird’s Nest #14; Beaded Prince Nymph #16; Beaded Gordon’s Prince #14/#16.

Other Details: Fished downstream from I5 bridge, through town at Prospect Access up to Mossbrae Falls, and in Dunsmuir at Gillis Street, and down I5 at Conant exit.

Fly Fishing from VFG-TV June 2009