Montana Angler Fly Fishing Report

Winter fishing is decent this time of year when air temps are over 10 degrees. We have been sticking to spring creeks, the Gallatin River and the Lower Madison river. Most of the fishing is nymphing but later in the winter some decent dry fly fishing over late morning midge hatches will begin. Our forecast for the 2011 summer season is looking good with snowpacks near 120% of average! For more detailed Montana reports visit Montana Angler Fly Fishing Reports.


Submitted by: 
Brian McGeehan
Bozeman, MT

Virtual Fly Guides New Year 2011

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year.

We hope you all can spend more days on the water in 2011!

Forbes Best Fly-Fishing Gear

Have some Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket? Check out the link from Forbes.com Best Fly-Fishing Gear. Use the "Previous" and "Next" buttons to scroll through the slide show.

Fly Tying - Midnight Stonefly from Jon H.

Merry Christmas VFGs! For my Christmas gift to all of you I have decided to share with you a special fly pattern that is killer on early season trout and anywhere where stoneflies are found. 
I actually invented the midnight stonefly pattern for the area of the central Sierra Nevadas near where I live. The fly is weighted without needing a beadhead because of the matierials used to tie it. It is a very easy pattern to tie and can catch fish from early-to-mid season. What materials you will need to tie it:

• 1 Size 6-8 long-shanked hook
• 2-3 Inches of black pipecleaner
• Some inner fur of a german shepherd or similar dog

Start by taking the hook and wrapping the dog hair around it from th eye to the start of the curve. The hair will be hard to keep in place so the next step alleviates that problem. Take the pipecleaner and wrap it around the dog hair and hook very tightly so it stays in place. The hair should bunch up toward the back of the hook and will give it its distinctive hump of a stonefly. The final step is to clip off the excess pipecleaner. And viola! That is the simple, but effective Midnight Stonefly! 


For those of you who have fancy vices at home this should be a lot easier for you than me, I have to ty all of them in hand. 

My picture of it is not the best quality but should help at least a little in tying the fly.

Tight lines and happy holidays!

Nor Cal Fly Fishing Christmas

Dan Wallentine got this trophy rainbow to take a black Wooly Bugger. WOW!!!

Merry Fishmas Eve from the Virtual Fly Guides!

Sean and Joseph Wallentine (nephew) in Northern California on our annual fly fishing trip. Just so happens that Christmas and fly fishing collided this year for a perfect storm. Merry Christmas...

Fly Fishing for Catfish????

Check out www.flymage.net for more information about this unusual fly fishing trophy. For those who don't speak spanish, you can chose the English Magazine version.

Knot Tying Refresher: Part 2 Nail Knot

The second knot in this series is the Nail Knot. It can be tied by hand with a few utensils, either a nail (hence the name) or a narrow straw. It has been my experience; the easiest way to tie a Nail Knot is with a product called the Tie-Fast Knot Tool. It can be found in fly shops or where fly fishing equipment is sold. This is one of the tools I could not live without. Just like the name describes, it makes tying a Nail Knot a cinch!

Application: The nail knot is used to attach the fly line to the backing, the tapered leader to the fly line, or the 20 pound monofilament section that has a perfection loop for the loop to loop connection. Just in case you don’t have the tool, here is how to tie the Nail Knot.

*Cut off approximately two to three inch section of coffee stir straw or use a nail.*

Step 1: Hold the straw near the end of your fly line and overlap the monofilament and fly line approximately 4" to 6".

Step 2: Take the end of the leader and wrap it around the straw or a nail, the fly line and itself toward the end of the fly line.
Step 3: Make about 5 wraps toward the end of the fly line.
Step 4: Tighten the monofilament by pulling on the tag end with one hand and the leader with the other. Trim the tag ends of the leader and the tag end of the fly line.
Step 5: Tighten the monofilament by pulling on the tag end with one hand and the leader with the other. Trim the tag ends of the leader and the tag end of the fly line.

Knot Tying Refresher: Part 1 Arbor Knot

Becoming a proficient fly fisher can be viewed as a daunting task. There are so many aspects to fly fishing, it often leaves the novice feeling overwhelmed. Whether it’s identifying insects, choosing patterns to “match the hatch”, or learning all the knots, there are basics of fly fishing that will create a solid foundation.

The off season lends itself to the fine tuning of your fly fishing skills. When I am unable to get out to my favorite spots, I am relegated to practicing my casting techniques at the park or sitting in front of the TV tying knots. There is nothing more frustrating than struggling with knots when fish are rising all around you. The analogy I like to use when teaching fly fishing clinics is; most golfers go to the driving range to practice before playing 18 holes. Fly fishing is no different. When you practice, you are better prepared to perform on the water. Especially when the pressure is on!

This series of blog posts will focus on the essential knots of fly fishing. There are many knots, for many applications. We will focus on the six knots every fly fisher should know:

• Arbor Knot
• Nail Knot
• Perfection Loop
• Duncan Loop
• Double Surgeons Knot
• Improved Clinch Knot

Part 1 of the Knot Tying Refresher is the Arbor Knot. The Arbor Knot is a knot that you will seldom have to tie. But when you need it, it is invaluable. Personally, I’d rather spend more time with my fly on the water, rather than, sitting along the bank enjoying the view.

Application: The Arbor Knot is used for attaching the fly line backing to the fly reel. Depending on the fly reel, the amount and size of backing will vary. Check the information provided with your specific reel.

Tip: Often times, when you purchase the backing and fly line from a fly shop, they will offer to put the line(s) on your reel. They have the equipment and expertise to do it. Swallow your pride and ask for help.

Step 1: Wrap the end of the backing around the arbor of the fly reel.

Step 2: With the tag end tie an overhand knot around the running line.

Step 3: With the tag end of the backing tie another overhand knot. Cinch the knot tight to the arbor.

*The overhand knot that is tied at the end of the tag line
will prevent the backing from slipping through the initial
overhand knot that is around the running line.

Upcoming: Knot Tying Refresher: Part 2 The Nail Knot

Submit Your Fly Fishing Photos

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or

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More From An Irish Angler

County Monaghan, Ireland
Ireland is presently in the grip of a north east continental polar airstream driving down from Scandinavia. This is the third such weather system this year which is unusual. So much for global warming.

Earlier in 2010 a good friend Scott Ring went pike fishing in the north east county of Monaghan. The ten pound pike that Scott is holding was tempted on a lure as against a fly. However that and the second image capture the never say die attitude that anglers have in pursuit of their sport.