Fall Break & Winter Project Preparation

Guide season is slowing down for me, though I believe and recommend visiting anglers that fall is the best fishing of the year around here! Then there came government shutdown on Yellowstone Park..... I might as well relax till I get booked for guided trips with brave fall anglers and for my own fall fishing (discussed below). Also I'm getting ready for my winter projects.

This winter will keep me super busy. I will soon start updating my fly-shop (http://leftytyer.blogspot.com) with new flies. Consequently I will work on tying instructions (taking lots of pictures!!) and my YouTube Channel (shoot videos!). Then, as I mentioned this spring, I am going to pursue Atlantic Salmon Flies seriously from now on. I was looking for a textbook. Considering my current skills and goals, I finally decided to purchase this book by Michael Radencich.

I ordered at and received a box load of materials from Hareline!! (trout fly materials included).

I modified & organized my tying bench. Now you can see "matched pair" of antler tool caddies. I may have to improve/expand some more during this winter to accommodate amount I tie and materials I have.

Atlantic salmon flies require specific and exotic materials, some of which are hard to get. One of vendors I came to know & like is Feather MC. I bought several goodies including this display box. Someday soon I will be qualified to display my tie on this blind-eye hook!! Some of you out there who are looking for specific & exotic materials for Atlantic salmon flies, check out Feather MC website!!

But also there are some more materials that I couldn't find so easily at fly-shops. I acquired blue/gold macaw feathers from Ebay seller!!

Same goes with this Jungle Cock skin. I bid this on Ebay too! I know this is not a perfect nor the most beautiful skin available but surely the good one for me to get started!

Last but not least, I have signed up for Winter Pass at DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com) for the third consecutive season! Pass will start on October 15th. That's why now is the preparation time. It will be a Rock-n-Roll fall for the first thing first!! I know so!! Then the creek will keep me busy for next 6 months!! My next post could be about the first day at the creek........You can find me there........

The Fall Deepens

When was the last time that I didn't update a new post over a week?, No, over 10 days!? There's always something to say or talk about and I can usually figure out time for updating and editing. Was I super busy then? Probably so......... I was on the water most of days anyway. Let's look back.

Fall seems officially settled. When it's windy, it's windy like this day.

When it's not windy, it can be overcast plus/minus shower just like this day. This is the typical fall in my opinion. Floating rivers can be GREAT but one has to commit to the weather of the day......

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Yellowstone Park waters are fishing well. Some may be done for the season, others are reviving for the fall!! Here's Pronghorn Antelope swimming in Lamar River.

Green Drake patterns can still entertain some Cutty! This is my brandnew pattern!!

Fall Blue Winged Olive (baetis) is becoming trout main dish!!

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Then I went back guiding to DePuy Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). I assisted my guide-mentor Montana's Master Angler - Tom Travis to guide a group of 4 anglers.
This time I observed this "Mystery Baetis"...........that's all I can tell you..........

Two anglers and I experienced mid-day Midge & Fall BWO hatches!!

They both bent their rods with my match-the-hatch fly selection!!

But also nymph rig is very productive. One of my anglers caught this fat strong 'Bow.

And the fly on its mouth is my own L.L. Beads!!

I'm still guiding and will start to fish more for the fall. I'm also getting things together for winter fly-tying projects. Maybe I'm busy then.........

Mystery Spinners & Fall Premonition - At DePuy's

September 16th, I guided couple clients from Wisconsin at my favorite stream DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). Season is changing so is fishing condition. Hence tactics and fly selections need adjusted accordingly. I could manage time to visit the creek forehand for scouting and gathering information on last weekend. I visited with my mentor Montana's Master Angler: Tom Travis and Buzz at Spring Creek Specialists. Just like every guide trip at any other waters, I needed a brief and basic agenda to follow or to build up ideas upon. This extra driving and time always pay dividends on guided trips!! Especially at Livingston's spring creeks!!

What's been going on in the morning at DePuy's is: what we, spring creek enthusiasts, call "Mystery Spinner Fall". Those are sizes 20-22 rusty spinners. One may call baetis and some sort and that wouldn't be totally wrong. Yet it's indeed mystery because nobody really knows when they are hatching as duns. Then they fall on the creek in quite a number, which causes great rising actions among trout!! It's quite a scene indeed, reminding me of PMD time of a few months ago. Based on my observation and information gathered, I had tied several different patterns for this special condition (sorry no pictures for now). I rigged up their rods. My clients were the first timers for DePuy's but husband Gary hooked his first trout with his very first cast!!! Has anybody done this? My first visit at DePuy's was...........I don't want to recall........ Anyway the first trout broke off Gary's fly so I attached another one. Just a few minutes later, he did bring it in confidently!! And this was the first trout for me to net with my brandnew Measure Net!! Just a typical DePuy's rainbow!!

Spinner action was surprisingly great!! Here's Gary holding a very solid Cutty!!

Diane also fished very hard during spinner time. She did hook a couple of nice ones but unfortunately those big ones broke off her tippets. Just as spinner action was ending, typical southwest winds started. We fished very hard and patiently in the afternoon. We did some spring creek style nymphing and chased sporadic evening midge hatches. I did everything I could think of to make up "gone fish" of morning for this lady angler. Our effort and perseverance paid off!!

And another one!!

As seen, these brown trout have just developing fall colors and some weights. To be honest, a bit earlier than I thought but I guess we deserve some lucky as we worked very hard and late!!

Another great day at DePuy's Spring Creek was over. I hope my clients had good time and enjoyed the creek and trout there.
Better plan a visit and book your rod!! As the fall matures, fishing will be changing into another phase!! Readers of this blog know what I'm talking about....... See you along the creek!!

Hmmmm???? Fishing Day, Wildlife, & One More New Gear

No charade or prologue needed for yesterday's outing. Not that I made the day slow but I picked up a slow unlucky day, really.  Because of my guiding schedule and my "Fisherman's Almanac", I hit Lower Meadow of Slough Creek expecting Flying ant mating swarm. Conclusion: I didn't see any though I spent till 6:00pm........ My famous S.C.ANT remained in my box........

Check my past posts for how much I was longing for this special occasion!!, if not SADISTIC PUNISHMENT by Lower Slough Trout!!
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2011/09/yell-cutty-hopper-beetle-baetis-bear.html
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2011/09/patience-observation-discovery-problems.html
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-7th-part-2-flying-ant-mating.html
I will reconsider misc matters and may try again soon!!

Also, as I drove into Yellowstone Park, I dropped by Parks' Fly Shop (www.parksflyshop.com). They  informed me Soda Butte Creek had another late season "spike" couple of days ago and became muddy, consequently Lamar River would be also questionable for great fishing........ I was expecting to fish for Green Drake hatch during day-time!! My expectation turned out to be just a day-dream of yonder years and days......

I managed to catch one decent Cutty on my own brandnew Green Drake dry-fly, though!! This new pattern will be announced in a near future with pictures and a tying video.

See how big it was!!?? And the water condition in the back.......

Rest of pictures are just another day spent in Yellowstone Park.......
This is the first time to see badger gets out of its den and what? hunting trout??

It's really odd this year. We didn't see many hoppers last hoppers then suddenly here they are!!

Hope these pictures will stimulate your tying enthusiasm, like I'm already thinking of something.....

Dragonfly resting on my Fishpond Guide Lumbar.

Although our guide season is winding down for the season (not fishing!! just to let you know), I decided to get another guide-gear.
One of the most important jobs of the guide = netting clients' catch of the day!! This is a true collaboration between guides and clients. There are clients who are used to and who can handle most sizes of fish. Then there are some big ones that even those experienced anglers have some hard time to bring them in!! Also there are clients who don't get used to our wild trout. I can't help them to reel in as reeling & fighting fish is clients' work (as well as enjoyment & excitement, of course). The best help I can offer is net them, when they get the closest to me.....But "closest" really varies..... Although I coach and direct my anglers for out best results, there has been "the very last second escape". Then once netting completed, another question I'm asked is "how big?". Yes, size is important but, for me, over all process is more important. Yet as a professional with trained eyes, I'd better be able to answer.  I was reviewing a while and finally found the tool to answer all of these. I just purchased Large size Measure Net (http://www.themeasurenet.com/).
Now, "I have two guns. One for each of ya." (Doc Holliday in Tombstone).

It's feather-light on my hand!! Then already longer than my regular net.

 And it extends for further reach!!

Accompanied is Net holder from Dr. Slick.  This is another super "slick" gear!!

I haven't wet this new net yet. Hopefully netting some giants at Lower Slough for my clients!!

Touch of The Fall............

September: We definitely have turned the another corner of season. Day-in & -out temperatures are getting cooler. Numbers of tourists and party-floaters are winding down. As a guide, I have more trips to run and expect more numbers of serious anglers would visit in the fall. As an angler, fall is the best & glorious end of the season!!, if I have to pick one season anyway, so I will sneak out more in between guiding and once the guide sequence is over!!

In our Great Yellowstone Country, Brookies would probably be the first species showing fall = spawning colors!!

Good looking buck!!

Dedication of the job!! Sun-up somewhere in Yellowstone National Park. Air temp was just above 30F...........

Yellowstone River had been hanging in there...... Fishing and river condition will be improved as it cools down. Once on hopper, always on hopper!!...........our happy wish..........

And it's time of the year again!! My Annual Whitefish-of-the-Year Championship has officially begun as of this month!! Here's my own entry. Yesterday, I had this sensation in a while!! I hooked something BIIIIIIG!!, felt like 20+ inches trout!!,............ then it was this belly-snagged 17-inch Whitie!! (see the red-dot) Still skinny but look at his (her?) lips!!

Competition runs till end of this year. Email me your BEST and I will post on this blog of mine. If I receive many pictures, I consider to create a new page. Winner will be awarded with a dozen of my custom flies!! - seriously!!

Summer is ending but hopefully you will have good fall-fishing. You will find me fishing for Green Drake and Fall Baetis (BWO) and hauling in huge fall-runners!!

Battle of Lower Slough

August 25th, I was guiding a group of clients with Curtis Wright Outfitters (http://curtiswrightoutfitters.com/) hosted Yellowstone Trip for three days straight. Originally we guides at Parks' Fly Shop (www.parksflyshop.com) were ready for floating our Mighty 'Stone but we didn't have "third time lucky"........... I took my clients to another walk/wade trip. However on this day, my option was limited........ My favorite guide destinations Lamar and Soda Butte were muddied up by thunder storms on the previous day. I was honestly so shocked and saddened by the sight of dark chocolate water with such low water level..............

So I had no choice but made a resolution to guide them at Lower Meadow of Slough Creek (section below camp ground). Some of long-time blog readers may wonder "Isn't Lower Slough your best favorite water???" ----- YES!! Lower Meadow of Slough is THE TOUGHEST & MEANEST PUBLIC SPRING CREEK IN THE WORLD!! I can't resist its sadistic treatments, if not punishments!! Then it usually ends up me catching one memorable trout ONLY after I pass all kinds of torments and hardships....... I explained all of these to my clients as we drove. My clients were reasonably skilled and willing to try yet I wondered, as a guide, if I could put them into "kiss of refusal" and "third-degree inspection" by humongous trout there!!??

We could hold and started from my favorite and probably the most productive spot (if I would mention one). However, we were not alone who had found only one clear water remained in the area........ I've never seen this many people along Lower Slough.........

Anyway, each gent had a few actions in the morning. Chuck was working on a riffle followed by a deep pool. He caught a few trout then suddenly his rod bent like an archery-ready-to-shoot!! I went to help him and saw a GIGANTIC trout at the end of his line!! After a looooong battle, it broke off his tippet and gone...........well...............

Unfortunately we didn't really see strong insect hatches (expecting PMD, Green Drake, and potentially midges). As morning passing, we saw rise rings here and there but not constant. We just worked patiently. Ken was rewarded with a nice 19-inch Cut-Bow on a Green Drake dry-fly!!!!

In the afternoon, we were required more and more patience.......... First of all we had to find a spot or two to make our casts!! Then hot bright weather (yeah, totally different from the day before!!) made trout shy and exhausted us........ However, as evening approaches, most people started to leave the creek (more room!!) and winds died down (calm surface!!). I encouraged my clients with MY ONE & ONLY SPECIAL BATTLE TACTICS FOR LOWER SLOUGH!! (that I developed after many trials and refusals.) After another breath-choking fight, finally Chuck was also rewarded with a typical Lower Slough Cut-Bow, measured 20-inch!!!!

Well, I've gone through another battle at Lower Meadow of Slough Creek.......... It was just like my own fishing day but guiding clients through these conditions was totally different. Success?? Maybe....... At least, for each gent, these cut-bows were THE BIGGEST CATCHES during their Yellowstone Trip!!

I can't emphasize how much I have learned and gained (and been tormented!!) from Lower Slough as an angler. So transferring my experience and knowledge of such water to my clients makes me grow as a guide. Just like at Livingston's spring creeks..............

So more guiding requests for Lower Slough are welcome. Then my own fishing there will tune up soon!!
To be continued.........

Green Drake at Soda Butte!!

Believe or not, this happened the day after I had another PMD hatch at Soda Butte!!

I took another group of clients. They are lead by Curtis Wright Outfitters (http://curtiswrightoutfitters.com/) in Ashville, NC, who organizes their renowned Yellowstone Trip with Parks' Fly Shop (www.parksflyshop.com). Due to (well, another one.....) mud-plugs caused by severe thunder-storms in the area, our float trips were replaced with walk-wade trips. (Eventually Lamar and Soda Butte themselves were also filled with mud-plugs too......). I took them to Soda Butte again. I was expecting another great PMD actions but also I had some hunch...... This weather......... overcast with potential showers........ It might be something other than PMD such as........... Great Green Drakes!!??

Just like a routine or a clock-work, we started to see surface actions at a certain time of the day. YES!! Green Drakes were on the water!! with some mix of PMD!! Here's Tom fighting on his massive one!! I confess I slightly screwed netting........sorry.......

Brother John got one respectable Cutty!!

Anyway here are my famous "pump" pics for Green Drakes!!

Each of brothers had one sipping rise on his dry-fly, followed by "SUBMARINE" Run!! We clearly saw what big and beautiful Cutties they were!! Big Cutties were very aggressive to gulp on Green Drakes!! Those trout went off from brothers' lines before netting but memories will haunt them till next time....... Same for me. I'm just as excited as my clients!!

I have a few more brandnew Green Drake patterns for this season. Those are on water and proven one by one. But we still have "Drake season" left this year so I'll post all as time goes by or all at once sometime later. Shown here are simple yet SUPER effective soft-hackles!! Simple, that's why I can stock (barely....) even during the guide season and take quick photos..... Rest of my new patterns need photo-sessions later the year.......

Flymph - Master Angler Version!!!

 This one is even sparser and simpler!!

Wait for my Drake reports till hatch is over for the season!!

PMD at Soda Butte Creek!!

I had a very busy week!! If my blog post is slow and behind due to my guide duty, I hope it will be understood. But good fishing memory shouldn't be forgotten! My clients of last week and I had some of greatest fishing at Soda Butte Creek in Yellowstone National Park.

Pale Morning Dun hatch was excellent!! Then the quality of trout, Yellowstone Cutthroat exactly, kept us entertained all day!!

This was actually an afternoon hopper action!!

Just like recently popular fish art products!!

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Before PMD hatch starts, I encourage my clients to try some nymphing. We caught two Cutty that had previous anglers' nymphs embedded on their mouths!! We safely removed those old "itches" and promptly released them!!

 Another PMD Big One!!

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 That said, catching is easy!? NOOOOOO................ I had excellent anglers. Then Cutty in Soda Butte (and other streams in the area) can be as technical and selective as those in spring creeks during the hatch!! My anglers could enjoy and take reasonable sizes and numbers of trout on dry-flies during the hatch. However my eyes, trained at spring creeks, observed some potentially big individuals were "slicing" nymphs without breaking surface or definitely feeding on ascending nymphs in the water column. Just in case, I kept my "spring creek flies" in my truck. I rigged up my own Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple (of course this one catches any time anywhere!!),

And trailed Sawyer Pheasant (Master Angler Version)!!

Those big ones above were taken on PT!!, fished just below the surface and by targeting the feeding depth!!
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Just a word of caution when you fish Soda Butte (and any other rivers in general): keep enough distance from other anglers. When someone is fishing a certain spot, first-come-first-serve rule applies. Look for other spots or be the first one there, period. Also one can't "own" a stretch of stream in this federally managed land!!