Carp-e-diem

    In conjunction with being a fly fishing guide, I am also an ironworker and my job tends to take me out of my traditional fly fishing haunts, but if there is water you will find me fly rod in hand searching out whatever swims below. My current job conveniently has me placed on an old flooded rock quarry that is loaded with big carp and bass.
    People that think of carp as trash-fish instead of sport-fish, apparently have never hooked one on a fly rod, although I do not want these creatures inhabiting our pristine trout waters, carp have their place and put up a hell of a fight. In early mornings and late evenings you will find these slabs schooled up cruising the shallows in search of food. This is the perfect time to brush up your salt water skills, big rods, long casts,delicate presentation and long fights make this fish as close to a salt water flats fish as you can get on our land locked states. If you live in urban areas or out in B.F.E, likely you have ponds, lakes or rivers full of these fish, so get out and put your skills to the test.

The 4-foot fly fishing guide.

     Today I had the pleasure of watching my 7 year old son Drake fish his way up a small home town creek, working pockets and seams with a Royal Wulff, seeming completely intent on catching every small brown the creek had to offer. It for me, was a moment in life that will not be forgotten, and marked the beginning of another generation of my family being consumed by fly fishing.
It doesn't seem like that long ago, I was that little boy on the very same creek fishing with my father... Time goes by way too fast.

Teva mountain games 2011

    As we speak, my fishing compadre, Taylor Edrington an I are brushing up on our distance and accuracy casting skills for the 2011 Teva Mountain Games being held June 2nd through the 5th in Vail, Colorado. Laying down a 60ft cast into a 12 inch circle in your back yard with no-one watching doesn't seem so bad..... We will just have to see how it goes when you have a couple hundred people watching, and video cameras in your face.
    Regardless of the outcome, we are planning on having a great time hanging out with our family and friends,
drinking some good beer, and watching the "best of the best" do what they do in their events.
    I would highly recommend coming out for the event, there is something for everyone, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, music, and don't forget fly fishing..

On the edge

    We are starting to see elevated flows on the Arkansas due to recent low level moisture, luckily it is so dry that most of the water is quickly being absorbed. The clarity has varied during the past week, but has stayed fishable through-out.
    Fishing has remained good sub-surface, Fish are eagerly taking attractor nymphs, stones and caddis pupa. As for dries, I would  throw dry dropper rigs with a stimulator on top, and a #16 bead head caddis pupa below, then just be happy with the select few that come up and hit the stimmy.
    Don't let high water keep you from fishing, this can be some of the easiest fishing of the year, Just like in low water situations, fish get concentrated to "live-able Areas". In low water this means you will find the fish in deep runs with good cover, in high water, they go to the edges. The edges provide reprieve from the heavy current, better clarity, and ample food.
It is a great time to break out the big sticks, the streamer box and start pounding the edges.

Make it happen.....

       How many times have you said, "Next year I am going on that trip" ???
Well, for most people, "Next year" will always be... "Next year"...
Now is the time to pull the trigger on that dream trip you and your buddies have been talking about forever.
Whether that trip is in Alaska, chasing huge bows or kings, or in Argentina going after golden dorado, or anywhere in between, there is only one place to book your trip.
      Taylor Edrington, and Cross Current Travel is your one stop shop for trip bookings, information and the gear to make your trip a success.  Why would you want to book a trip through a travel agent that has no clue about fly fishing?? Take it from a pro, that has fished all of his own destinations!
 Click the Cross Current banner at the bottom of my page for more info..
Tight Lines...

Gear review....

    The Vibram soles that are on most of the quality wading shoes now, are great at stopping the spread of invasive aquatic spicies, but without cleats, they are not so great at gripping rocks on a slippery freestone river. All Simms boots are able to be cleated, and they provide several different styles of cleats to choose from.
    Today I installed the Simms Alumibite Star Cleats on my rivershead boots, and put them to the test on a full day of guiding on the Arkansas River.. The cleats provided a nice even feel to the foot bed of my boots, I didn't get the feel of pressure points, like I have on other smaller diameter cleats. The aluminum seemed to have a good soft grip, without the"skating" effect you get with hard carbide studs..
     All and all, I loved the cleats, But I do question the durability of the soft aluminum cleat.
The average angler will probably get long life out of the cleats, but for a guide that lives in his wading shoes???
I will let you know in a couple of weeks.
  

Czech it out...

      The cold weather over the past weekend dropped
water temps, and sent the fish to the depths of the river
during the morning hours. Fish were picked up here and
there on stone fly, caddis larva combo's under an indicator.
This morning I switched tactics... We searched for the
deepest riffle runs we could find, and rigged up a heavy
double Czech nymph rig. We used my new size #6
Konk Larva as the anchor fly on bottom, and Larry's
Metallic larva above as the "match the hatch" fly.
The first three casts produced three hook- ups.
     If the fish are hugging the bottom, your flies need
to be doing the same. Next time you set out for the
river, make sure you have brushed up on your Czech nymphing
skills, it might be the difference between a slow day,
and a great day..