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SE Regional results 2011, Nantahala River, NC

Team USA posted two perfect scores in its sweep of the comp. Randy Hanner and Anthony Naranja tied with 4 placing points apiece. Kurt Finlayson and Josh Stephens finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

It was great to make it back down to this part of the US and I am glad to be coming back for Nationals in May.

The Next Generation

My good friend and head guide for River of Life Farms on the North Fork of the White River in Dora missouri has put together this awesome video of his boys fishing.

a new begining

So with a little big of coaxing from a good friend of mine, I have decided to start writing on my blog again.

I am currently preparing for 2 Regional Tournaments for Fly Fishing Team USA. The next comp is next week in Andrews, NC on the Nantahala River. I have been snowed into my apartment for the last 10 days only getting out to get food and supplies to last the great Snowpocalypse of 2011. I have tied umpteen dozen flies in preparation for it and the next two. State College, PA and then the National Fly Fishing Championships back on the same rivers in NC as well as a few other venues.

North Fork Trip Report

I fished with my good friend Kyle Kosovich for the last two days on the North Fork of the White river in southern Missouri. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to fish at the River of Life Farm. Saturday night, we fished near the fals and caught several Rainbows on various nymphs including stoneflys and olive mohair leeches. Kyle was swinging a mohair and I was polish nymphing with a stone and a gold bead olive body nymph. At dark we deicided to call it a night and refuel for the next days long float.

Sunday morning came early and we were quick to assemble gear and grab Tommy, Kyle's brother in law. We put in at Kelly and started fishing the riffle just below the put in. We managed several fish coming on the same nymphs the day before. It is always good to knock the monkey off the back early. We noticed that the river was constantly rising--most likely due to the spring pumping out more water from the snow and ice this area had recieved in the previous week. All is well as the fish didnt seem to mind. Several riffles later, we were back to RoLF. We ate a quick lunch and I quickly tied a few flies to replace the ones I had lost to rocks, as we still had several miles of river to float.

The second session of the float was from RoLF to Blair Bridge. The fishing turned out to be just as good as the first part. Pretty SLOW. We managed 10 fish between the 3 of us Which came on stoneflys and caddis emergers. We saw many Bald Eagles (immature and mature) and even saw a family of otters near blair bridge.

It was a excellent day to be out especially with the 60 degree weather in February.

Photo Blog: My Fly fishing year

Another Long Time Coming

Its been a long while I think a year to the day that I posted last. A lot has happened, I quit working for the Caddis Company and Bass Pro to come back to Colorado and Work as the Head Guide for Colorado Freestone Fly Shop and Guide service. The Arkansas behind my house looks like chocolate milk and is running at 2020cfs. After a meagre caddis hatch, which Ed Engle wrote an article about me for the Boulder Daily Camera and which made Midcurrent.com, fishing the rivers has pretty much ceased. I am fishing in a lake tournament next weekend in Pagosa Springs also.

I now live in Howard Colorado population 1201. elevation around 7500 feet. I live right above the shop which is located right on Hwy 50. All is going well for the time being.

I fished spinney mountain Reservior last week in 9in of snow on the ground, and snow blowing all day but the rewards were worth it.

Long Time Coming

A lot has happened since my last post. I went to cody for the trials and I placed 12th overall and 4th of the non team members. I went through a lot and almost died by drowning, but luckily I was wearing my wading belt. I will never buy Korkers Boots again in my life because of the removable soles. They are what caused me to slip and get swept away by the river.

Last weekend I fished in a tournament in Monte Vista and we placed second with 42 fish caught. 15 pike, 1 tinch, 25 trout, 1 bass. Good experience.

The area rivers here in Durango are blown out due to run off and so it is time to fish the lakes. Haviland and Pastorius are going off now with fish coming on wooly buggers, some of my own patterns, hares ears, phesant tails, wingless princes.

I have a couple trips lined up so im excited to get started back guiding.

Fly Fishing Team USA Trials

Im off to my second set of trials for the US Fly Fishing team. I'm Traveling to Cody Wyoming to fish the Clarks Fork river and a couple lakes in the area. Ill post a report when I return.

Fishing Season

After a below agerage ski season, the fishing season is picking up. We have had one blow out of the river from the low altitude snow pack, which made the BWO hatch really screw up. The Animas is still rising from the higher elevations of melting snow and the water is COLD!!! If you get out and fish, you should use bigger flies with some flash. ie #14 flash back phesant tails, or some flash back caddis. Fish the seams where the shallow riffles drop to about 3-4 feet. the fish are holding in the slower water. If you dont want to fish for the trouties, the pike are running at Vallecito. Throw big bunny leeches, or clousers size 1/0 or bigger. I moved a 48" er last night at dark. The fish are litterally holding in 4" of water.

Tight lines and screaming reels