Utah Fly Fishing Tips and Photos Guide Services

Still Water Fly Fishing Tips For Success Or How To Catch Trophy Trout

2012-01-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

Still Water Fly Fishing Tips & Techniques For Catching Trophy Trout

Best Still Water Location In Utah For Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout. Year Round Fly Fishing Near Park City, Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem, Layton, Ogden, Bountiful, Tooele Utah. Fishing Tips & Fly Hatch Chart available with fishing destinations in Utah. Fall and Winter Fly Fishing Secrets Included. Great West Desert Utah fly fishing for trout in natural spring creeks located on dove creek west on Hogans Ranch home of trophy trout school.

Fly fishing on a stream or river shares some very common techniques for presenting your dry fly, nymph or streamers to awaiting trout. You experience the standard riffles Photo TrophyRainbow Trout producing an abundance of insects like a moving buffet table, runs that carry the insects away from the river bed mud, rocks, & weeds where they grow and mature until they are washed downstream. These usually shallow yet highly productive areas of the rivers and streams have the water moving over them like a large conveyor belt that collects any insect that is not secured to the bottom rocks and weeds and quickly dispatches the unsuspecting full course meal into the water seams to be delivered the hungry trout waiting downstream.

Seams Provide A Calm Feeding Environment For The Trout Below

Seams are an area located between fast moving and slower moving currents of water. The seam is visibly distinguishable to the human eye and can be easily located where the faster current passes the slower current . The seams surface can appear at times as if it is barely moving, especially compared to the main current located on its side. This is a place big trout can and do easily lie in wait completely protected by structure on the bottom and rise up as the main course arrives. These big boys control the “holes” they lie in and will drive off

Photo Big Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing On Still Waters

smaller fish to protect their territory. After all there world is one where the fittest survive. So the big trout can easily gobble up the assorted buffet as the insects helplessly pass by.

And The Food Goes Round & Round Like On A Lazy Susan

Along this same river course we have eddies that create deep pools with a back current that traps insects in an endless swirl until a wise trout willingly slurps them up. This is another protected area for the trophy trout to live in. The lazy Susan is the perfect bug trap and the water current resistance that overwhelms the insects in an inescapable spin provides minimal resistance to the large and powerful fish swimming below. Making the trapped insects an easy meal that requires the trout to use minimal energy to catch and devour. But change the setting to a small lake or even a large one like Strawberry and a whole new approach to the sport of fly fishing is required if you want to be successful and catch some very large fish on a fly.

What Is So Special About Still Water Trout?

One word can sum it all up, S-I-Z-E- this is the key. “There’s Huge trophy trout in them there lakes and ponds”. These still water fish have an abundance of food in the virtually still water, the weed beds serve as a brood nursery for insects and produce lots of oxygen while cleaning the water of c02, ammonia and other waste created by the trout. Weed beds also provide protection and shade from the overhead sun and birds of prey. This life of leisure is the perfect setting for creating fat and happy trophies. This is the exact reason why fly fishing in still waters is such a phenomenal experience. Size really does matter when you catch wild trophy trout. The bigger the better! This is West Desert Utah's best fly fishing for big tiger trout and monster raninbow trout on the fly.

How To Find Big Fish In Still Waters (To Be Continued In Our Next Blog)

For Still Water Locations & More Trophy Trout Fly Fishing Information & Photo's (Park City fishing locations, along with Salt Lake City Fly Fishing & Best Still Water Fishing In Utah).

Check Out Our Website:

http://trophytroutschool.com/

Winter Secrets To Catching Spawning Tiger Trout And Pre-Spawn Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing In Utah

2012-01-05T15:00:00.006-07:00

Winter Fly Fishing For Spawning Tiger Trout And Staging Rainbow Trout Secrets Of Fly Fishing Utah Style

Dry flies with a dropper can be deadly during the winter tiger trout spawn run especially when the waters are full of huge rainbow trout gaining weight for the own spawn in just a few weeks.

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This is a beautiful example of a late winter spawning tiger trout. Note the deep orange belly and red fins trimmed with a white stripe on the leading edge of each fin. The male or buck also takes on the kipe jaw and almost jet black color on his lower jaw. This buck trout was taken while dry fly fishing and using a midge dropper at Dove Creek West located at Hogan ranch in Tooele Utah near Salt Lake City on private waters that are available to the general public. Midge hatches occur year round especially on winter and spring days in the late morning or early afternoon. The dry fly on top with a dropper creates the impression of a cluster of midges stuck in the meniscus just below the surface as the dry fly rides really low in the water. The dropper is allowed to free float below the cluster and takes on the appearance of a struggling cluster of emergers. This deadly combination is a great treat for hungry spawning tigers that are devouring every fly in sight to put on weight for the spawn as well as after the spawn to increase their spent energy.

Streamers Are A Favorite Pre Spawn Fly For Trout

The still waters are gin clear on this mid winter day and the sky is clear as reflected in this photo of a huge buck rainbow trout who attacked this streamer that was being worked slowly along the bottom of the deep pond he share with other massive trout especially tiger trout. When fishing still Waters with a streamer remember unlike a stream or river still waters means just what the name implies. Still and Slow....so fish don't need to move fast for a good meal. They are surrounded by tons of natural food year round so a fast retrieve may induce an occasional strike, it is the slow moving flies that appear as the norm in these still water conditions for the truly trophy trout.

Scuds, Sow Bugs & Leeches Too

The year round daily fair for still water trout is scuds, sow bugs, leeches and don't forget the all important damsel fly. A pair of scuds will produce over 10,000 young per year! So the next time you want to get the main dish down to a trout remember the lowly scud. Sow bugs and leeches are just as productive and provide a rounded out meal for our friends with fins. The greatest predator in the still waters in the Damsel fly nymph. They move all over the weed beds devouring all the other nymphs and scuds they can find. They are big and ferocious and attack insects even bigger than they are. Again this is a very slow moving aquatic insect that needs to be fished slow in and around the weed beds. This is where the trophy rainbow and tiger trout hang out to find them Photo taken at Tooele Utah near Salt Lake City Courtesy Trophy Trout School. www.trophytroutschool.com

Use My Local Year Round Hatch Chart With Best Imitations

Pre spawning hen rainbowow trout is only about 24" but big enough to put up an outstanding fight on my Damsel fly nymph with 5x tapered leader and extra long tippet to reach deep in the weeds for still water fly fishing. Moving slow the olive green damsel fly appears to crossing the weed bed foraging for food just like this trout who was looking for her next meal. Fishing near Park City means getting away from the frozen lakes and on the other side of the salt lake city valley to private waters at Dove Creek West home of the trophy trout school. Where you find qualified guides, fly fishing instructors and huge tiger trout with monster rainbow trout. Private waters here are open year round for your fly fishing adventures and day trips of fly fishing vacations

Free Year Round Utah Fly Fishing Hatch Chart

http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

Tight Lines.....

Enjoy The Mid Winter Fly Fishing Video Shot At Dove Creek West Hogan Ranch Home Of Trophy Trout School.

www.trophytroutschool.com

Want to learn how to fish with nymphs and dry fly combinations??

Contact: cgwilbur@trophytroutschool.com

for complete details

What I love about fishing

2011-11-13T00:37:00.000-07:00

Utah fly fishing tournament information: http://trophytroutschool.com/ (see promotions page for details).

Year Round Invitational Fly Fishing Tournaments Held Every Month Beginning Saturday November 21, 2009 Private Still Waters Located 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City, Tooele, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Layton, Orem, Provo. Huge Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout. Find out how you can participate NOW!!!

What I Love About Fishing

Photo Spawning Tiger Trout

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

On Tuesday, My fishing buddy and I took a trip to our favorite lake. We got home tired, muddy, worn out and completely happy. That got me thinking - what is about fishing that makes me enjoy it so much? I came up with a few answers,

Night, I enjoy getting up early in the morning (4:00 AM) it is still night and you cannot tell the time of day by the darkness - midnight looks the same as 3:30 AM.. The streets are practically deserted. If there is no moon, its absence gives me hope for the days fishing, and if there is a moon, I consider it a valued companion. It seems as if the world is mine, well, mine and a few other early risers. We night people seem to share some secret known only to those who are acquainted with this dark time and make out way to our various tasks; my task is fishing.

Photo Spawning Rainbow Trout

The water, prior to any hint of sunrise, is a dark and silent mystery. And yet, I know the fish are there using the darkness to find their food and do the fishy things fish do when they are on their own. But in the few last moments of night before the slightest lightening begins to occur, it seems as though the darkness is permanent and sunrise will never come. When I look to sky again, there it is; that slight soft shift from black to gray that reassures me that dawn is coming.

People, who love the sky love sunsets, but the purists, the ones who really know the night, love the sky before dawn. Where sunset is a benediction of good day, the relaxation of all the days stresses, worries and culmination of its blessings, the sky before dawn is the portent of things to come, it is when all things prepare for what is next.

I can’t really liken anything to sunrise. It is the metaphor to which all things beginning, renewing, auspicious and favorable are compared. And, after the sunrise, the warmth of the day seeps through out coats until our feet and hands and bodies are comfortable again.

By this time, with luck we have already landed a fish or two. The water gives up its living jewels and each creature is a marvel of color and efficiency. When I see the fish revive and swim away, I am glad it still lives,

It is funny how catching fish is not as important as it used to be, But, with time, cost and other commitments lessening and restraining the time I have to go fishing, the time spent now seems more intense and real than when it seemed I had all the time in the world and my whole life ahead of me. But within those moments - it is just me and the water, the fish or a good friend, now that seems more than enough.

Check out our website and year round fly fishing now open to the public by reservation. Our 10,000 acre ranch is a family run operation open year round to trophy Tiger Trout and Rainbow trout fly fishing, our stillwaters don't freeze in the Winter (spring creek fed). We are only minutes from Park City, Heber, Salt Lake, Tooele, Orem, Provo, Layton, Ogden, Roy, Bountiful, Logan and Ogden. All roads are paved and well maintained year round. Advance reservations are required. Come experience fly fishing at it's finest, all rainbow trout and tiger trout 3-10 Lbs. each!!

Catch the fish of a lifetime every time you hook one of these monsters!

http://trophytroutschool.com/

Fly Fishing Secrets For Fishing In The Wind For Trophy Trout

2011-11-02T17:13:00.000-06:00

How To Successfully Fly Cast In The Wind
(you must have a good presentation to catch the trophy trout)

Trophy trout fishing in Utah is a major challenge in and of itself just trying to locate the big fish is enough to drive one crazy. Now throw in all the inclimate weather conditions and you have a real challenge on your hands. Fenwick has some really good tips on the secret of casting in the wind to obtain the best fly presentation for those big trophy rainbow and even larger tiger trout. Trophy Trout Guides share lots of photo's and great tips & guide secrets too !

Free Hatch Chart & Fishing Guides Locations In Utah

At the end of the article there will be some location information as well as a year round fly hatch chart for our readers to access. There will also be some information about our trophy trout fly fishing guides for Salt Lake, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Provo & Orem areas.

Against the Wind – Fly-Fishing’s Worst Weather Condition

Photo Catching Big Rainbow Trout In The Wind
Wind The Hazard Of Fishing

I have often complained that fly fishing in the wind is the least favored weather condition. I can, and have, dealt with about everything else the weather Gods can throw at me, including; blinding snow storms, torrential rains, Lightning and Thunder, heat, starvation, desolation and disorientation - a complete assortment of meteorological and psychological conditions. But still, wind is the worst!

A complete discussion of why this is so, is not warranted here; like the wind, it is too much of a downer. So, let’s not go into that except to say bad wind conditions are a fly-fishers nightmare.

Turn Your Back To The Problem

So, what does the enlightened fisherman do when the wind will not cooperate? Go home? Change locations? Or, sit in the car, assume a fetal position, and weep? Well, take heart little buddy, Uncle Fenwick has some suggestions to counteract unfortunate Aeolian circumstances.
The first is fairly obvious but, like most obvious things, it is overlooked more often than not. Put The Wind At Your Back! This strategy is the easiest way to overcome unfavorable winds yet , on the lakes and rivers I visit, I am amazed at how many fisherpersons I see struggling against the wind rather than with it. Putting the wind at your back also has a terrific

Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught During Wind Storm

benefit, you can cast incredible distances! Of course, there are drawbacks to PTWAYB: you cannot get too extreme on your backcast and you run an increased risk of burying your fly in some exposed portion of your anatomy. And, you thought hats were invented to keep the sun out of your eyes. What Kevlar vests are to the police, the hat is to the fly-fisher. That does not explain why my buddy, Clyde, wears a Kevlar hat, but that is a story for another time.

Hauling & Double Hauling For Long Distance

Second, learn and perfect your “haul” and “double haul” cast. That way, you can keep your backcast under control and “shoot” additional line which you have piled in front of you.

Photo Hats & Parka Required For Fly Fishing In The Wind

I don’t want to go into detail here about how to haul and double haul, except to say that if you are having trouble learning how to do it, or have never tried it, here is a tip. Most of my students have learned how by practicing the movements without rod and line first. Once you have learned and memorized the contradictory motions of these casts, then start with rod and line. Learn these now! If you ever go on a fly-fishing trip to the Caribbean, Alaska or some other exotic, dream fulfilling location, don’t waste your time learning to haul and double haul there. Be advised you almost certainly need these casts when you do finally visit these dream locations.

Next, there is a whole assortment of strategies to take advantage of unfavorable winds You can use the wind to drift, counter currents, make really fancy, even strange casts. Just act like you meant to do it.

Drifting Is A Breeze

One of my favorite tactics is drift fishing in the wind. With a sinking line and a leech with a nymph dropper, let the wind push you and your boat or flotation device across the lake. This is a very successful technique at several of our larger lakes. It does require careful planning and some luck because if the wind changes, you can easily end up miles from your intended target and unless you have some contingency plan, you could be in for a long walk or paddle.

If Business Interferes With Fishing, Sell The Business

So, I don’t like fishing in the wind but, with some planning, I can usually live with it. Remember, any day fishing beats every good day doing most anything else!

Your Windy Buddy,
Fenwick Fleigenbinder

Post Script From All-Tied-Up

Besides turning your back to the wind try positioning yourself with the wind to your side. This position also allows you to use the power of the breeze to carry your fly to greater distances and to cover edges and drop offs that might be too close to your body to affectively fish when you are facing forward.

Now For The Free Hatch Chart & Trophy Location

Trophy Rainbow Trout and Trophy Tiger Trout Location & My Free Fly Hatch Chart Where The Trophy Trout Are For Park City, Utah, Heber Utah, Provo Utah, Orem Utah, Ogden Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, complete with Updated Information And Photos.

http://trophytroutschool.com/

Check out the Tiger Trout photos, they are currently in full spawn colors and look just like salmon with their big orange bellies. They maintain these magnificent colors throughout the fall, winter and early spring months here in Utah.

www.trophytroutschool.com

Secrets Dry Fly Fishing For Fall Tiger Trout & Staging Monster Rainbow Trout

2011-09-26T19:50:00.000-06:00

Secrets Dry Fly Fishing & Catching Fall Spawning Tiger Trout & Staging Rainbow Trout

Late Fall Spawning Tiger Trout have voracious appetites putting on weight for the spawn (false), although they are sterile they still come with a full set of hormones for both male and female. These teeth are desinged to grab anything that moves including grasshoopers, adult damsel flies as well as ants, spiders, water boatman, and big dragon fly adults.

Go To Where The Big Trout Are

Whether you are fishing on private waters or public lakes and streams you need to locate the locations that have an abundance of the Tiger & Rainbow trophies you want to catch. After all your research is going to be the first step to your successful outing for giant trout.

What Are The Lunkers Eating Right Now...

Once you know a desirable location start checking out the fly hatches for the area so you know what flies are available when you arrive. Look especially for a good supply of terrestrials...since this is key food source for lunkers this time of year. Here is a link to a FREE hatch chart for Northern Utah Waters:

https://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

Contains weekly updates.

What Are The Current Anglers Catching

Check the local information to see what is happening and where to fish on the water as well as times and techniques. Trophy Trout School provides complete assistance whether you use a guide or not. Our information is to help everyone have a great day of fishing for Monster Tiger & Rainbow trout.

Huge female Tiger Trout showning off that awesome yellow belly of the brown trout with body size of a mature well fed trout feeding on large terrestrials like hoppers etc... I love fall fly fishing for these monsters. Trophy Trout have been living on the ranch for over 10 years and run in size from 3 Lbs - 12Lbs! These are awesome adversarys that tail dance and run for Mexico when they feel the bite of your hook.

Check Out The Lay Of The Land & Water You Will Be Fishing

Google satelite maps will give you a really good look at what the terrain and waters will look like. At trophy trout school and Hogans Ranch you can zoom right in on the still waters and even see the shallow flats next to the deep gin clear water where the fish hide.

https://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart/fly-fishing-specials-promotions/fishing-tournaments-contests/map-ranch-directions

Be sure to zoom in on the waters and watch how the water enters and leaves the ponds so you know where the feeding fish will be lingering.

Fall staging Monster Rainbows are preping for Spring Spawn just like their ocean loving cousins Steel Head Trout. If we only had access to the Pacific our giant Rainbow Trout would be true Steel Heads and not the land locked type.

Early fall photo of the ranch still water upper pond with not even a breeze moving the water. Note the intense blue sky and clouds reflected in the gin clear waters. Home of trophy tiger trout and monster rainbow trout close to provo, salt lake city, park city and ogden utah. Dove Creek West @ Hogan Ranch is a working cattle ranch that offers priv ate fly fishing for both Trophy Tiger & lunker Rainbow Trout. Fly fishing instructors are available year round from Trophy Trout School located at Hogan Ranch. Year round access by reservation open to the general public 7 days a week.

Oh yes male Tigers are fast, smart and fight like there is no tomorrow. Dry flies or nymphs and streamers will land a good size Tiger almost any day at Dove Creek West at Hogan ranch in Tooele county, Utah.

Now Get Out Before Fall Slips By & The Hoppers Die Off

Fall Trophy Tiger Trout Trophy Trout School Fly Fishing Video

How To Catch Spawning Tiger Trout With Hoppers video

Monster Fall Staging Rainbow Trout & Tiger Trout Fly Fishing Near Salt Lake & Park City Utah

www.trophytroutschool.com

Fall Spawning Brookies, Browns & Hybrid Tiger Trout & Staging Rainbow Trout

2011-09-20T11:08:00.000-06:00

Fall Spawning Brookies, Browns & Hybrid Tiger Trout, Fly Fishing Heaven

The dogs days of August are behind us as the cool evenings carry over into the perfect short sleeve weather of days where the sunlight even feels softer to our skin. The Brook Trout, Brown Trout and their hybrid, the Tiger Trout are all in the early stages of the fall spawn and their bodies have begun that annual change to a large girth with that all familiar kipe jaw and the colors are brilliant.

Sunsets come late but give us an awesome reward with vibrant colors in the cool fall evening air.

Even though Rainbow Trout will not begin spawning until early Spring they to go through a staging process throughout fall and winter. We see this in their vibrant colors and growing girth as they put on weight for the great Spring spawn.

During cool fall fly fishing weather the Tigers, Rainbow, Brown & Brook Trout are a favorite target for the angler. Fly fishing grasshoppers, ants, adult damsel flies and anything else that falls into the water is a sure fire method for catching adrenaline filled trout who are gorging themselves before the winter freeze kills of the terrerstial popluation and their diet returns to scuds, leeches and nymphs.

Big Brother Little Brother & Trophy Trout School Guide Show Off Beautiflul Monster Rainbow Trout Preparing For Winter Staging Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch, Home Of Trophy Trout School In Utah

Everyone has the opportunity to tangle with really large trout this time of year and what great memories are made for the whole family to enjoy. Not just catching and releasing the trout but taking in all of the beauty the outdoors has to offer. Many years from now everone on this family adventure will recall the day and with the help of photo varify the rainbow trout truly was a monster who lived to
fight another day.

An Autumn Day Can't Be Beat Enjoying Still Water Dry Fly Fishing For Tiger & Rainbow Trout At Hogan Ranch. Guests Fish With or Without Guides & Fly Fishing Instructors On Private Waters Close To Salt Lake City In Tooele County.

Beautiful Male Tiger Trout Ready For Fall Spawn (False Spawn). When You Are 14 And Catch Your Utah Trophy Size Tiger Trout On A Fly Rod You Will Grin Ear To Ear...Just Like Adults Dol

Before fall slips away take the family on a fly fishing trip with or with guides or even learn how to fly fish with our excellent trophy trout guides and instructors....Let the kids learn from a guide while dad and mom enjoy the time fishing on their own. Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch is only 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah County, Provo & Ogden Utah.

www.trophytroutschool.com

Trophy Trout School

Fall Fishing In The Uinta Mountains

2011-09-13T16:49:00.000-06:00

An evening in the Uinta mountains fishing with my grandson

It was an interesting and very enjoyable evening spent fishing in the Uinta mountains with my grandson. We arrived late in the afternoon with just enough time to get in some good fishing and relaxing time before the sun began to set.

Fishing with my grandson
nice monster rainbow
trout he caught

...To Build A Fire

The setting sun was about one fingers width above the mountains and as I had promised, it was time to build a campfire for my grandson, Tanner. He helped me gather the kindling from the surrounding sage brush and watched as I split the white pine I had brought from home into progressively smaller pieces. There is something really satisfying about splitting wood, and it is more than the old “wood warms you twice” adage. For some reason you somehow have a relationship with the wood and are grateful as it gives up its structure for your warmth.

Then we started the fire with paper and matches. Tanner could hardly keep from piling all the wood on at one time, so I showed him how to add a little wood at a time so the fire would burn down into nice coals and still keep a nice blaze going.

Then The Stars Came Out To Play

My fishing buddy with another
trophy trout

It got too dark to fish and we pulled our folding chairs upwind of the fire and warmed our feet and hands. The darkness gathered around us like an old familiar blanket. The stars began to speak up and the Milky Way appeared; something I haven’t seen for a few months but still a familiar silver cloud of stars adorning the darkness. It always reminds me that there is more out there, so much more.

And then, my attention was drawn back down and into the fire. Sitting there, wrapped in my hoody was Tanner with his face aglow in the fire light.

Good Night Sweet Dreams

Is there anyting more beautiful
than the outdoors?

It’s at times like this that I get in touch with something. It is more than fishing and catching fish and crawdads. It goes beyond a day spent fishing and enjoying the outdoors – the animals, trees, flowers and water that seem to fill my soul. I don’t know what it is except that I saw it…in a child’s face lit by the campfire.

Fenwick Fleigenbinder 9/5/2011

www.trophutroutschool.com

Mid Winter Fly Fishing Or Blue Bird Days Still Water Fishing For Trophy Rainbow Trout & Tiger Trout In Utah

2011-02-11T07:56:00.001-07:00

Blue Bird Winter Fishing Days Are Here & I Am Ready

It's 7:09 a.m. Friday February 11th 2011 and I am going fly fishing in a couple of hours with my best Friend and fellow guide Ralf. Ralf likes to sleep in and fish during bankers hours in the late morning after the sun is well into the almost mid day sky and the black midge hatches are starting to stir the clear open waters of the still waters where we fish for trophy tiger and rainbow trout. We stay near Salt Lake City & Park City in the lower altitudes where the open waters don't freeze and the tiger and rainbow trout are big and feisty.

Most people write about the great day they have had fishing....to be truthful, I am like a kid on Christmas ever and just couldn't sleep any longer. So to kill some time before I head out I am writing about some preparation work I've completed to make this day a success. But just so you don't get too bored I have attached some great pictures taken in the past three weeks of fly fishing in Tooele County Utah at Dove Creek West located on the Hogan Ranch and home to Trophy Trout School.

Roaring Tiger Trout with kipe jaw and huge teeth holding a small chironomid in his lower jaw.

Get The Equipment Clean

Getting ready took longer than I thought, mainly because I haven't stopped fishing this past summer, fall and winter to clean up my fly boxes and get organized. So I began by washing the many layers of dirt and mud off my 9 1/2 foot fly rod and and bathing the reel and floating fly line in a warm bathtub of clean water....no I was not in the tub with my equipment. I had a shower earlier. Anyway after removing all the line on my reel I opened it up and scoured out he the mud and dust from the past year. Yes there was mud from falling into some slippery spots on the bank a few times. I used a clean rag to run the run back onto the reel and does it ever shine. Now rod and reel are ready for the giant trout the next step is preparing the fishing vest and flies.

Giant Winter Rainbow Trout solid red bars on his side starting to stage for Spring Spawn.

Get Those Flies In Order & Ready To Tie On

Fishing vest unloaded and sent to the washer, organize all the flies in the 8 double sided floating boxes I always have close by in the trusty vest. Clean the flies by removing left over tippet that I didn't take time to clear after using them sometime in the past year. It is a pain to grab just the right fly and find you have to stop and clean the eye before you can tie it on..

Giant Winter Spawning Buck Tiger Trout At Trophy Trout School In Full Orange & Red Colors, Note The Kipe Jaw

Get Your Go To Flies Ready & Check My Hatch Chart

Dry the vest and organize the gear in your pockets so you know where each item is located. My fly boxes are arranged dries on one side and nymphs on the reverse side located on my right hand outside pocket. This is my go to side, yes I am right handed. Left side is streamers, leeches, muddlers, sculpins, chironomids, terrestrials, scuds, sow bugs etc... the secret to winter fly fishing is to be prepared with every fly you may need to have a successful day of catching and not just fishing. Take a look at my year round hatch chart at. http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

Sweet Monster Winter Rainbow Trout On A Cold Day With The Winter Snow Melted At First Thaw

Ready To Go And All Gear Is At The Door

This includes boots for the mud, extra drinking water bottles and some snacks to enjoy while I am catching trophy trout. For more photos check out the website at http://www.trophytroutschool.com/

After The First Winter Thaw The Snows Came Again But What A Perfect Setting For Still Water Fly Fishing

One last parting shot of a buck tiger trout in full winter spawn colors in the net ready to be released.

I will post some current photos of today's fishing along with some videos ....now get out there and do some winter blue bird fishing yourself.

Best Year Round Open Water Fly Fishing In Utah, Especially Winter Tiger Trout Spawn

2011-01-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

The best Winter open water fly fishing for trophy Tiger and Rainbow Trout is found in Tooele near Salt Lake City only a 45 minute drive to the best private fishing waters in Utah. The good news is even though they are located on a family ranch the general public has access to the 10,000 acre ranch with advance reservations.

Blue bird fly fishing days seem to come ever so slowly in Utah. Luckily the Hogan ranch in Tooele County is so near to Salt Lake City, Utah, Davis & Weber County I can drive here in less than an hour and spend my time on a private family ranch that is open for trout fishing year round by advance reservations.

Buck Tiger Trout showing off his stripes and full colors complimented by a hump back and kipe jaw. What a beautiful trophy trout caught in Tooele at Dove Creek Ranch home of Trophy Trout School.

It is never crowded at Dove Creek West Ranch due to a reservation of only 1 reservation per day for a group of 1 to 5 anglers. This control allows the fish to rest and fishermen to enjoy the solitude provided by private waters surrounded by a 10,000 acre ranch.

Dove Creek West ranch is part of the Hogan ranch in Tooele county and is home to Trophy Trout School, a professional fly fishing guide service that is available year round for ranch guests. Guests can either fish with or without a guide.

Photo of a fat Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught on a winter day near Tooele 23" of pure muscle.

Toothy Doe Tiger Trout may not have the brilliant orange colors of a buck buy she has plenty of fight and attacked this small chironomid in the corner of her mouth.

Yes it can be cold fly fishing in Winter But Giant Fat Buck Trout like this 22" monster warm more than just the heart. Trophy Trout School is the best year round fly fishing on private still waters in Utah and is near all major and local cities Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, Orem, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Heber, Tooele, Grantsville.

So it snows when you fly fish in Winter, no problem when you catch the biggest wildest trophy Tiger and Rainbow Trout in Utah. Fly fishing guides get snowed on along with the guests at trophy trout school.

Fat Tooele Winter Rainbow being released back into the safety of his private waters at Hogan ranch in Tooele County and reflects the best year round fly fishing in the state of Utah for wild trophy trout.

As the Winter fly fishing day comes to an end another trophy trout school rainbow is gently returned to his home at Dove Creek West Ranch in Tooele to live, eat and grow to be caught another day.

www.trophytroutschool.com

Fishing Tournament November 26, 2010 Catch Spawning Trophy Tiger Trout & Rainbows

2010-11-09T18:41:00.001-07:00

2nd Annual Day After Thanksgiving Fly Fishing Tournament

Open To The General Public Friday November 26, 2010

Black Friday Trophy Trout Fishing Tournament Tooele County

So it's that time of year Thanksgiving with a long weekend and the perfect day to hold our 2nd annual trophy trout fishing tournament in Tooele County, the day after Thanksgiving.

Fun fishing & Great People Too

What a riot to get together and catch the biggest rainbow and tiger trout in the State of Utah. The Tigers are spawning and starting to build their redds (even though they are sterile the bucks and does go into a false spawn due to the raging hormones in their bodies).

Fall/Winter Spawning Trout Are Voracious Eaters

These giant trophy trout are big and so are their appetites, especially after feeding on large supplies of terrestrials all summer long.

Fly Eating Trout Attack Your Fly

Giant hungry trout are attacking flies like it may be their last meal of the year, and that means super figting fish for our guests. You will not believe how big and hardy these bruisers are. Average fight time is 4-5 minutes. When was the last time you fought a trout for 4-5 minutes ? In Utah, probably never before unless you come to our ranch.

Trout Are Big Beautiful & Full Of Fight

Tiger Trout look like Salmon and so do the giant rainbow torut with their solid red bar stripes and kipe jaws.

Watch Your Rod Bend & Your Reel Scream
As our ranch tiger trout and rainbow trout slam your fly and head south to Mexico. Hang on and be careful not to get your knuckles dusted as your reel handle spins out of control from the trout running our your drag 30-40 feet per run. This kind of painful experience always seems to make a fly fisherman smile.

It May Be Cold But Big Trout Warm The Soul

Everyone smiles in the cold or even the snow when you catch the biggest fish of your life on our ranch in Tooele County, a short 45 minutes from Salt Lake, Davis, Weber & Utah County.

Dress Warm & You Will Love Catching Trophy Rainbow & Giant Tiger Trout Fly Fishing

Yes and extra layer and you will keep warm while casting to these "salmon & steel heads" that's what our clients from the Northwest call our trophy tiger and rainbow trout.

Teams Include Husbands & Wives Too

Teams are made up of friends, family, spouses and singles that we combine into teams at the start of the tournament.

This venue makes a great time for everyone and what a great day to celebrate the day after Thanksgiving and work off some of that giant turkey dinner you had the day before.

Cold Weather Or Not You Catch Giant Fish

You may get a little cold but the fishing is always hot at our ranch. Especially on tournament days. Remember these are wild trout and you have to work to catch them...this is not a hatchery experience.

Salmon Or Tiger Trout...You Decide

When you see the beautiful spawning colors you will wonder yourself if the tiger trout is a trout or a salmon.

Sunny Or Cloudy We Have A Great Fly Fishing Tournament For Everyone

Come out and enjoy the fun....check out our website for complete details and to register for the Black Friday fly fishing tournament in Tooele County Utah on our private family ranch.

www.trophytroutschool.com

WHAT ARE THE TROUT REALLY EATING & WHO IS EATING TROUT

2010-10-23T09:28:00.001-06:00

Get ready to call PETA because this blog will be about killing (and eating) trout!

We live in an “enlightened” age and keeping trout is not politically correct. Keeping, killing and eating trout is it is not only discouraged, some anglers consider killing a trout blasphemy, anathema or worse.

However, there are several instances where our state Division of Wildlife Resources has encouraged anglers to keep a few fish. The Provo River has abundant fish and would benefit from removal of some of these fish to help the remaining fish become larger and healthier. At Flaming Gorge, anglers are encouraged to keep Lake Trout for the same reason. At Bear Lake, where sterile rainbow trout were stocked, anglers were encouraged to keep rainbows because the fish probably would not survive the winter. This probably holds true for a number of stock and harvest community ponds as well.

So, there are good reasons to keep trout and sometimes other species as well. Note: please take only that portion of the daily limit you will actually use and consume. Trout and other fish are far too valuable to be wasted.

When you take a few trout home with you, you are assisting the fishery by fulfilling your role as a predator and “thinning” the herd. The remaining trout face less competition and can get larger. The habitat as well benefits from having less fish in it. Obviously, the capability of any given habitat to sustain a given number of fish is left to the experts but when they say “take home a few fish” I feel it is our obligation to do so provided we can put them to good use.

There is another issue at work here. There are many who would like to see fishing eliminated entirely based on the notion that it is cruelty to the fish. I do not for one moment believe these individuals are at all concerned about the fish, rather, I feel they are trying to impose their philosophical vision of the world on everyone else. Nonetheless, if anglers accept the idea that they should never kill a fish, to a great extent, they are supporting that argument. Conversely, by acknowledging that; sometimes, even in the best of circumstances, fish are killed, and when they are, we try our best to utilize the animal for food, we lessen the potential argument that since fishing is not for survival (You don’t eat the fish, do you?) it should be eliminated. So eat a trout every now and again to maintain your right to fish!

Incidentally, one of the most underutilized methods for controlling illegally introduced or unwanted species of fish in waters is the fishermen. A bounty placed on Squawfish in the Northwest improved the survival and recruitment of Salmon. A bounty placed on illegally stocked or unwanted fish such as Burbot , Lake Trout (illegally planted in waters they should not be in) or other species can certainly put a dent in the population if not possibly eradicate them completely. Our Nation’s history is replete with examples of overfishing taking out entire species from some waters. Why not harness that natural power of fishermen’s ability to decimate a fish population by rewarding those willing to target unwanted species. It’s a “win-win”.

Ok, you have your fish home – there are other tasks you should perform each time you clean your fish

First, assess the general health of the fish just in case you find something alarming which should be reported to your local Wildlife Resource Division. Be sure to record the water, date and time of your catch. I am sure they will appreciate the feedback if you find something that should not be there.

Next, do an autopsy on your fish to check the stomach contents. You will be amazed at how much you can learn from this examination. I would never have learned that trout feed on snails, crawdads, cigarette butts and even Daphnia had I not taken this extra step. You can do this on live fish, but since fish taken home are already destined for consumption, you don’t have to do risky “field surgery” also known as stomach pumping of fish if performed incorrectly or by an "untrained" angler. So if you do pump the stomach be sure to learn the correct technique so you donot inadvertanly harm a fish that you plan on safely releasing.

Now, eat your fish. If you do not eat them, give them to someone who will. Of course, be sure to obey all possession limits and laws relating to the giving of fish you have caught to someone else.

Trout are delicious and I suspect that those who do not like eating them have not had them properly prepared. Even if you bring home some “planters” (which you can just about count on if, like me, you fish with your grandkids) and you are unsure about their flavor, you can still make a delicious meal out of them. I marinate mine for about ½ hour in Italian Dressing prior to cooking in the method of your choice and you will be surprised how firm, good and unfishy they taste.

Finally, be thankful that you live in an area where you are free to fish. Even with the access issues we face here, we still have many opportunities to fish and many people do not have that same freedom. We have been given a great heritage and a wonderful place to follow the traditions of our predecessors.

When I was a kid, I remember neighbors coming home with gunny sacks full of trout. The ladies in the neighborhood dutifully canned these trout for winter use. It was an important part of preparing for winter and the trout helped people survive those harder times.

I remember having my very first “trout sandwich”. Mrs. Anderson, my neighbor had just “put up” a bunch of trout and had a little cooked trout left over. She asked me if I wanted a sandwich. She sliced up one of the last red, ripe tomatoes from her garden; put a little Mayo on toasted bread and topped it with a thick layer of beautiful pink trout. It was delicious. And, in the end, that is really what fishing was about.

Today, fishing for me has little to do with catching trout. It is far more about where I go, who I am with and being with and in nature. But fishing’s roots are far deeper and more primal. It is at its deepest about survival and today our survival is less about filling our hunger and more about filling our hearts.

www.trophytroutschool.com

See more photos and learn about our trophy trout ranch in Tooele County Close To Salt Lake City, Park City, Davis County, Weber County, Utah County, Summit County, Uintah County, & All locations in Utah.

Successful Still Water Fly Fishing In Low Water & Weeds For Trophy Trout

2010-10-09T14:18:00.000-06:00

Weeds & Low Water Equals Ideal Conditions For Trophy Tiger & Rainbow Trout

It never ceases to amaze me how many so called fly fishing anglers will walk up to a beautiful body of water and refuse to fish there because of the weeds and moss in the water. They are looking for perfect clear water and fishing conditions, for them, not the fish.

Weeds & Low Water Are Trout Paradise & You Need To Know How To Fish These Conditions

Learn To Read These Great Beds Of Food Where The Lunkers Live & Thrive

The truth is prime conditions for quality fish are usually not the conditions most fishermen are looking for. Too bad...if you walk away from a scene like this one because of the weeds you are leaving behind the opportunity to catch truly trophy size trout. You just need to understand what flies to use and how to approach the weeds to be successful and with a little practice you will walk away at the end of the trip catching the biggest trout of your life.

Grass & Weed Beds Means Food, Lots Of Food

For Large Hardy Fish & This Is Where You Find Them

With a little patience & the right dry fly you can avoid hanging on weeds and catch trophy rainbow trout like this!

Look At All The Insects In The Weeds & Moss

There is a trout buffet of high protein insects on top of the weeds as well as underneath the moss and that my friends is exactly where the lunker trout are hiding and feeding. Now that you have recognied that the trophy trout you want to catch are so close by and accessible, due to lower water, you are ready to start selecting your initial starting dry fly. After all you are going to fish close to the weeds and in the openings!

Terrestrials Are A Great Starter Pattern In Summer & Fall When Weeds Are Plentiful

Doe Rainbow Trout 22" caught on a #20 hopper pattern

Now The Fun Begins, Catching Trophy Tiger & Rainbow Trout

In still water fly fishing it is important to think about all the insects you see as you approach the water from your car or truck. Look for the grasshoppers, ants, beetles, bees, gnats as well as the may flies. These insects are bigger than their aquatic cousins and provide more protein to the larger trout. They are the cherry on top of a hot fudge sunday for these lunker rainbows. The also float high on the water and can be cast near the edge of the weed beds or even open water within the beds and moss on the water. The edges and open water are exactly where you want to present you fly..then hang on for the fight of your life as the trophy hits your fly and heads into the weeds to ditch you. Now you have a fight on your hands and if you "horse" this monster he will either bend your hook or break your tippett.

So Now Try Some Other Dry Flies

Now You Know How To Fish The Weeds For Trout Try Some Other Dry Flies

Mayflies & Gnats Also Have A Place In Still Water Moss & Weeds

Now you know where to place your fly begin experimenting with other dry flies in your box. You will be pleasantly surprised how much you enjoy fly fishing in summer and fall when others are walking away from these great conditions. When you look at the weeds remember to focus on the open spots as well as the edges to cast you fly. These are the areas the trout are also watching and waiting for their next meal.

Using Nymphs & Wet Flies In Moss & Weeds For Trophy Trout

You can see the weeds tangled on my line between the 24" Rainbow Trout & Strike Indicator

Use The Strike Indicator to help you spot a fish taking the fly in the weeds and moss. This technique has you dropping your nymph along the weeds and moss just like a dry fly. However you allow the nymph to slowly sink until the strike indicator moves away from you (it is pulled by the sinking nymph) until it stops moving. The stop tells you the nymph is at depth. Now slowly retrieve the nymph one or two inches at a time and allow the strike indicator to move away from you again. Keep repeating this action until you get a "hit" or need to cast again. You will catch the biggest trout of your life.

Come visit us at our ranch in Utah for some great trophy trout fishing. We are open year round.

Learn More About Still Water Fly Fishing At Our Website.....Plenty Of Photos Too!

www.trophytroutschool.com

Happy Fishing!

Flaming Gorge Trophy Trout & Kokanne Salmon Fishing Guides

2010-07-04T20:45:00.000-06:00

Catching Trophy Lake Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow & Brown Trout Guides

Finding a licensed as well as experienced guide on Flaming Gorge can be a challenge. There are always those people who profess to be a guide but are not even licensed as a Captain by the U.S. Coast Guard. Do not select anyone who is not fully trained and currently licenced with the U.S. Coast Guard hecause it is illegal for this person to be guiding you and they risk severe fines and penatlies under law as well as the clients paying for his services. So only use a legal guide. You won't live to regret it.

How Select The Correct Legal Guide When Fishing At Flaming Gorge

Fishing For All Species In Flaming Gorge Means Using A Unique Guide

Fly fishing for giant brown trout at Flaming Gorge and catching them.

Now you have a legally licensed guide you need to make certain your guide is experienced catching the quarry you are after. Check the website of your guide to see what species they fish for. A guide that only fishes for lake trout will limit you to that experience and you will miss out on catching Konkanne Salmon, a favorite on Flaming Gorge as well as trophy rainbow trout, german brown trout, small mouth bass. So set your sights high and select a captain that has experience and references to all the species you want to catch while at Flaming Gorge. Check the captains references at Lucerne Valley Marina in Manila Utah for a guide that fishings both Wyoming & Utah. Lucerne Valley Marina Sponsors only licensed guides like Captain Monty with over 30 years fishing experience and a qualifed licensed Captain with the U.S. Coast Guard. http://www.montysfishing.com/

Flaming Gorge is located in the Ashley National Forest which also sponsors and promotes Captain Monty of http://montysfishing.com/

Fly Fishing On Flaming Gorge

Trophy Lake Trout With Huge Sharp Teeth

When you want to fly fish for those 40 lb. rainbow trout and giant german browns your outfitter must be experience and have a boat that can easily access rivers and shallow streams so guests can get into areas of Flaming Gorge that are only accessible by jet boat. Captain Monty's jet boat will cruise in shallow water to allow guests to fish in remote canyon streams that other fly fishing anglers can only dream about. Fly fish for Trophy Rainbow Trout, Giant German Brown Trout, Small mouth Bass with a guide that knows all the areas to locate these big elusive fish. A lot of anglers have been fishing below the dam on the famous Green River and have never taken the opportunity to fly fish on the lake itself. No wonder, only one expereinced guide offers access to all the species of trout in Flaming Gorge. http://montysfishing.com/ as well as all forms of fishing including fly fishing from his jet boat to landing his clients in a canyon by a stream or river that is only accessible by boat and an experience guide that knows where to take his clients for the greatest fishing success. Captain Monty is the trophy trout guide of Lucerne Valley Marina and Flaming Gorge Utah & Wyoming.

Kokanne Salmon

Large Kokanee Salmon Make A Great Mount

Kokanne Salmon are some to the best fighting fish found in Flaming Gorge. They typically run in the 4-6 pound range or bigger. Captain Monty guides visitors to Kokanee grounds on a daily basis in both Wyoming and Utah sides of Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Kokanee Salmon are a favorite fish to catch and eat.

Check out All The Kokanee Details At:

http://sites.google.com/site/montysfishingflaminggorge/kokanee-salmon

Beautiful Kokanee Salmon Swimming In Stream

Giant Flaming Gorge Lake Trout Are Found By Captian Monty Throughout The Lake

Weighing in a giant lake trout taken from Flaming Gorge

Lake Trout have always been a favorite sport fish found in Flaming Gorge. Anglers using an experienced and licensed guide have the best chances of catching the big Mac's in the 30-50 lb. range. Captain Monty will take you the best lake trout locations in Wyoming and Utah leaving from Lucerne Valley Marina in Manila Utah. For the best fishing trip of your life and vacation for the whole family, contact Captain Monty at http://www.montysfishing.com

Catching Record Size Lake Trout At Flaming Gorge Lake Or Reservoir

2010-06-17T13:45:00.003-06:00

How To Fish For Trophy Lake Trout, Giant Rainbow Trout,

Monster Browns And Bass At Flaming Gorge

Photo Weighing In A Trophy Lake Trout At Flaming

Gorge Reservoir In Wyoming And Utah

While we love fly-fishing, we always encourage anglers to try different species of fish. One of the most intriguing and exciting fish species is the Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) aka Mackinaw or Mac. This wonderful game and food fish is actually a member of the Char family (Savlenius) like Brook Trout and Arctic Char.

Lake Trout In Wyoming and Utah Lucerne Valley

Lake Trout grow to over 100 lbs but anything over around 20-25 lbs can be considered a trophy. They are found in Canada and the United States. Our favorite place to fish for Mac’s is Flaming Gorge Res. On the Utah/Wyoming border. The Gorge is an exceptional fishery for Mac’s, Rainbow, Kokanee, Bass and Brown Trout. Both the Utah Lake Trout and Brown Trout record were caught here. Most excitingly, there is evidence of really humungous Mac’s in the reservoir so your chances of catching a record Laker is actually quite good all things considered. More photos are lake trout are available through trrophy trout guide monty at:
http://sites.google.com/site/montysfishingflaminggorge/lake-trout

Photo at Flaming Gorge Reservoir Of Angler With Giant

Lake Trout, Guide Monty's Fishing

Trophy Mac's Are Big & Colorful

In general, lake trout may be grayish, greenish, brownish, or blackish. It has dark worm-like markings (vermiculation) on its side and back on an iridescent background color. The belly is whitish. The whole body is amply covered with light spots which are more intense than those of other chars and are more evident on younger fish. The lower fin is trimmed along its leading edge with creams and whites.

How To Find Giant Lake Trout

Angling for Lakers is both easy and difficult. Because they like deep water and specific structure, it is wise to get a guide if you don’t have a boat and/or want to learn to catch them consistently. We recommend Monty’s Fishing at Flaming Gorge. Monty is a great guide who is U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain offering service with Lucern Valley Marina in Utah who makes your fishing experience a ton of fun!

Photo Lake Trout Are Commonly 30-40 Pounds

In Size And Records Are Over 50 Pounds!
Large Lake Trout Are Caught Year After Year In Flaming Gorge Lake

Photo Angler With Trophy Lake Trout While

Fishing On "The Fish Teaser" boat Captained

By Monty of Montys Fishing Service At

Flaming Gorge.

Once you have learned a bit about fishing for these lunkers, you can try to go after them in your boat or rent one on the Gorge – again for rentals, we recommend the great folks at Lucerne Valley Marina just outside of Manila, Utah. They are a full service marina with everything from lodging and rental boats to Monty’s guide service and even tackle and advice.

Incredible Sites To See At Flaming Gorge

How was the fishing? Fantastic! We caught Lakers and Rainbows and had an absolute blast. Flaming Gorge is also a feast for the eyes with unimaginable sights, wildlife and history! Vacationing at Flaming Gorge is a treat for the entire family with access to the full service marina at Lucern Valley Marina and Captain Monty of www.Montysfishing.com as your qualified U.S. Coast Guard Captain and guide providing services through Lucerne Valley Marina and Ashley National Forest.

Next blog I’ll talk about techniques for catching these monsters of the deep!

Monty's Fishing Website

http://montysfishing.com

Fly Fishing Flaming Gorge

2010-06-16T22:27:00.005-06:00

Fly Fishing Flaming Gorge

Photo Nice Kokanee taken on a fly. Kokanee

Salmon are found in large numbers throughout

the reservoir.

I love fly fishing, in fact I love all types of fishing, but fly fishing is very near and dear to my heart. Recently I had the opportunity to return to the lake known as Flaming Gorge and took the opportunity to spend time with Captain Monty Thurgood of http://www.montysfishing.com/. Captain Monty is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed Captain & his Thunder Jet boat is U.S. Coast Guard inspected. Captain Monty runs a tight ship and offers his 30 "+" years of fishing experience to all guests no matter how little or how much they know about catching fish on Flaming Gorge.

Fish The Streams That Feed Into Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Photo Kokanee swimming in creek bottom

Fishing The Canyons, Creeks & Streams that flow into Flaming Gorge is a real treat. Monty's fishing works in conjunction with the Lucerne Valley Marina in Manila Utah & Ashley National Forest. With Captain Monty at the helm we headed out in the early morning hours looking for a quiet stream or creek that was not flowing too heavy from the Spring runoff. Today we were looking for Kokanee, Small Mouth Bass, trophy Rainbow Trout, Deep hole Brown Trout & state record size lake trout! In other words any and all fish were fair game. There was no disappointment this day and we were soon fishing on a small creek that is only accessible by boat, a really shallow boat that can run in only 12" of water to get over the big boulders in the mouth of the creek. Learn more about fly fishing at Flaming Gorge Reservoir at:
http://sites.google.com/site/montysfishingflaminggorge/fly-fishing
Captain Monty lived up to his reputation as a knowledgeable licensed Captain and manuvered his jet boat next to a large boulder so we could leave the boat without getting our feet wet. The jet boat holds next to shore for guests to easily disembark to the shore to fly fish, stretch your legs or visit a full service rest stop.

Floating That First Fly In Flaming Gorge Reservoir

Photo Konanee Salmon fresh from a strong fiight

After a quick stretch of my legs my partner and I were on shore and casting into a stream that no one else in the world seemed to be aware of at the moment. It didn't take long to hook the fiirst, second, third, fourth and so on. Rainbows and Browns were everywhere and running in the 22-26 inch range. Not bad for a # 16 Bears Paw. The light morning hatch of gnats and mayflieswas just what we were looking for. Active hatch means active fish that are unmolested in this incredible canyon. See more Kokanee photos and details at:

http://sites.google.com/site/montysfishingflaminggorge/kokanee-salmon

More Fishing For The State Record

I will cover more sites and fishing for record size lake trout, trophy rainbow trout that run up to 40 lb.s, huge brown trout, & fat small mouth bass. Captain Monty is a highly qualifed fishing guide and can be contacted at his web address http://www.montysfishing.com

Do Bamboo Fly Rods Live Upto All The Hype Or Are They Just Over Priced Status Symbols??

2010-02-21T10:50:00.002-07:00

BAMBOO OR BAMBOOZLED?

I admire bamboo fly rods created by exceptional craftsmen of yesterday and today. I have owned some and coveted more. But, I think it is time to tell the truth about bamboo fly rods.

Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught Near Tooele County
Using A Composite Fly Rod

Oooooops, The Bamboo Fly Rod Bent...Permanently

Recently, I happened to run across two articles about bamboo fly rods; the first described how to “straighten” a bent bamboo rod and the second rhapsodized about the joy of fishing with the “Stradivarius” of fly rods.

If You Like Your Fly Rod To Function Like A Wet Noodle Then Bamboo Is For You

There is a very good reason why many fisherman of my generation do not fly fish: Bamboo Fly Rods. Back in my youth, just about every store sold these contraptions. They usually came in a fancy case or bag. They were anywhere from 12’ – 16’ long and were little more than a long noodle. Like lures designed to catch fishermen rather than fish, these rods were designed more to be sold, rather than actually fished.

Casting A Bamboo Fly Rod Was Torture, Unless Your Were The Marquis De Sade

Photo Nice Big Rainbow Trout Caught In Winter Near
Salt Lake City Without A Bamboo Rod

Casting with one was something less than the sublime joy and subtle presentation so valued today. We used to joke about making your back cast and having time enough to light up a cigar waiting for the line to straighten out behind you, before starting your forward stroke. The vaunted delicate presentation resulted from the rods being light and long. So little actual force was transmitted to the line and fly that; when your fly - after drifting down like an inebriated dandelion seed – touched down on the water, it was with such a light impact that even the meniscus didn’t notice. In the meantime, if you hadn’t dozed off waiting for it to alight, you were generally so distracted that when and if a fish actually took your dry fly, you struck. Several seconds later, the force of your strike actually moved your fly and jerked it a few micro millimeters; long after the fish had disappeared forever.

The Crook In My Bamboo Gives It Character

Another significant feature of bamboo rods is their tendency to ”set” aka “bent rod” The author of the aforementioned article listed several ways of straightening bamboo using a combination of steam and voodoo. He then made the interesting claim that a bent rod he once owned had a crook in it which allowed him to make the equivalent of a reach cast. Nothing was mentioned of what he would do if the rod was bent the “wrong” way. It is noteworthy that this idea never became the new wave of fly rod making; imagine if it had:

Photo Fat Rainbow Trout Caught Near Park City Utah

With A Modern Fly Rod

“Yep that is a nice bamboo rod you got there, Retro.”

“Yep, it’s a 13’ - 4 weight with a right hand pre-bend of 42 degrees of arc. I’m going to use it when I can only fish up stream on the east bank or the Moochanooga…”

…..and so goes the conversation.

I even watched a well know Colorado rod maker point out the proper way to use a bamboo rod to play a large fish is to "turn the rod upside down (Eyes Facing Down) , so you don't stress the bamboo"! This statement is both absurd & ridiculous!!! Thank goodness the age of bamboo Rods is in the past.

Over Priced Is An Understatement When It Comes To Bamboo Fly Rods

Photo Cutthroat Trout Caught With A Composite
Fly Rod At Strawberry Reservoir In Utah

Today’s bamboo rods are a significant improvement over the products of the past and some are truly exceptional and they usually come with a truly exceptional price. And I am not knocking them in any way. However, I think a good question to ask is “why” one actually uses a bamboo rod. Is it because like John Gierach; you just like them or is it a sentimental reason (which I would never gainsay) or is it because it is a status symbol?

Back In The Day Bamboo Rods Were Lousy Too, But The Only Thing That Was Available For Most People

Some say using a bamboo fly rod takes us back to a simpler and more pleasant time – and I suppose that might be a good thing, however; one also might want to give up your car for a wagon, fishing rods for willow sticks and while we are at it, give up all the modern conveniences that we have spent so much of our hard earned dollars on.

Photo Rainbow Caught While Still Water Fly
Fishing Near Tooele

As for me, I like a good rod, well priced, that performs as I want it to. To me the warranty is far more important than all other secondary considerations. And; when I have fished with it for a while, it becomes mine in a more real sense than most of the things I own; it becomes more than an implement or tool – it becomes my fly rod. I would like to leave my cherished rod to my kids and have it be something they can really use; without intense frustration or worry that breaking the tip or creating a permanent bend in the rod ruins their next trip to Antiques Roadshow.

I should add that there are many bamboo rod builders creating absolutely wonderful rods. Be prepared to pay from just under $1000 to several thousand. Are they worth it? Well, certainly they fish well, are hand crafted and often exceptionally beautiful but once again, you are getting an incremental increase in performance for something quite a bit more than an incremental price!

Learn More About Trophy Trout Fishing At Our Website

www.trophytroutschool.com

http://sites.google.com/site/springcreektroutfishing/home

February Ice Free Spring Creek Fly Fishing For Tiger & Rainbow Trout

2010-02-03T13:15:00.015-07:00

Mid Winter February Fishing

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." — Henry David Thoreau

We went "open water" fly fishing Monday February 1, 2010. The date is not generally considered the “hot” time of the year for fishing (unless you want to go ice fishing) but the trip turned rather interesting. It reminded me of the real reasons why I and many others have developed such a passion for fly fishing; reasons that have little to do with catching fish.

"Get Out Of The House...Now"

I have a sneaking suspicion that my wife probably enjoys my getting out of the house as much as I do. Her reasons might be a bit different than mine. I became suspicious of this when she told me: “How can Photo Solitude of fly fishing on ranch in Tooele Utah

Warm February Day

I miss you if you don’t go away?” Aside from that, there is something nice about coming home and having her greet me with a smile – so I know I am not totally unwelcome.

Winter can be daunting; I can stand the cold, snow and, as long as they don’t last for too long, the overcast skies. When I was a boy, my mom would bundle me up against the cold and send me outside to play. The rumors about her tying a bratwurst around my neck are not true – at least to my recollection. We sure had fun playing in the snow till dark or frostbite, whichever came first, sent us in, Bundling up for the winter cold reminds me of those days and my recollections are pleasant.

Fishing Is The Best Therapy For What Ails You!

There is something else about the winter weather. When a storm moves through, it scrubs our air and leaves a kind of clarity in its wake that is refreshing. I like the smell of the air and when we go fishing, we usually roll the windows down and just take in the air. It has a therapeutic, restorative and uplifting effect and we leave the windows down till it gets nice and cold. It awakens us as if we have been lingering in a long hibernation.

Friends, Nature & Sense Of Renewal

To be with friends, on the water, enjoying the stark winter landscape and noticing whatever animal life comes into view reminds me that there are simple things in life which are more important than those which I give so much time and attention.

I sit down on a bench and watch as the orange sun arcs toward the blue Mountains. The snow reflects the orange and blue in alien colors - as the waning warmth of the sun starts to ebb away. As the sun slips away, everything seems like it is refreezing in the spreading darkness. In the chill, I think of the water, fish and friends and I remember winter is not forever.

Foot note...There are those days in Winter when it is all about catching the fish too. It's just the mind set we go out with or change depending on our mood at the time we reach our destination. Either way, have a great time enjoying your commune with the out of doors.

Photo enjoying fly fishing in the evening at sunset

Check out Fenwicks Fly Fishing Secrets & Tips In Previous Blogs Posted On This Site.

See More Trophy Tiger Trout & Rainbow Trout At Our Website:

htt p://www.trophytroutschool.com

Photo Spawning Mid Winter Tiger Trout Male

How to catch more fish in still water fly fishing

2010-01-23T09:36:00.008-07:00

How to catch more fish while fly fishing, still waters.

As a professional guide, this is probably the single most common question I hear from frustrated fly fishermen. They feel like they are not catching the numbers of fish that more successful anglers seem to be hooking. While the question seems rather direct, there are a number of reasons why a person may not be as affective at catching fish as compared to another individual. So, before I give an answer to any angler, I like to ask some follow up questions to better understand the knowledge and experience of the person I am speaking with. In this way, I can give more specific answers and hopefully, that will help the querying angler to improve their success.

Photo Rainbow Trout & Cut Throat Trout Caught At Strawberry

Still Waters

I start by asking what type of fly fishing they are engaged in; Streams, Rivers, Lakes, and Spring Creeks (for this discussion I have left out Oceans & salt water flats and bays). Each area requires different skills to be consistently proficient and also requires an investment of time to develop the knowledge and skills to be successful. Once I know the skill levels of a person then I can home in the particular information which may help this angler.

In today’s blog, I will focus on still water fly fishing. When you are accustomed to fishing rivers and when you are used to fishing streams, you have to learn how to read the river and know the insect life there. Still water presents different problems and while river understanding is helpful, river tactics generally do not work on still water.

What Is Bottom Structure

Photo Rainbow Trout Caught Chironomid Fishing Tooele County Still water can range from a large lake to an impoundment of several acres either man made or naturally formed by a spring creek (common in deserts). The angler can either fish from shore, boat; float tube or personal pontoon boat. Regardless of the waters size it is most important to understand the structure of the body of water. Structure will determine the depth and flow of the water. It is important to remember that still water has a current and it carries nutrients and oxygen to and from many areas of the water. The structure includes the points; drop offs rises, ledges & bottom mud composition and is affected by temperature, sunlight, shade, wind, inflow and outflow

Identify The Bottom Structure & The Correct Depth To Fish In

When fly fishing on any kind navigable lake I recommend using a fish finder to be able to indentify bottom structure. Depth is a key here for the fly fishing enthusiast. Depths down to 20 feet are the most conducive for trout. This is because sunlight’s ability to penetrate deeper than 20 feet is marginal. Without sunlight you won’t have weed beds or any form of sustainable biomass. The biomass includes the insects fish eat and thrive and produces oxygen for the fish to breathe. The plants replace the carbon dioxide in the water and consume the biodegradables also contained in the water.

Manually Program Your Fish Finder For Best Results

Back to the fish finder… Now we know the deepest water to concentrate is 20 feet we can eliminate a whole lot of lake. Now we are getting somewhere. Now we know the maximum depth we need to adjust some manual settings on the fish finder to help us identify bottom structure that will support our trout population. Remember we are not looking for fish just yet; we want to know what the structure is so we can find the fish and understand where the majority will be hanging out. In the manual settings of your fish finder you must set the depth deeper than the 20 feet. In fact “double” it! Now don’t go paddling around in 40 feet of water, we already know that is very unproductive for fly fishing. The reason we set the depth to 40 feet is due to the fact your fish finder is programmed at the factory to send out a “ping” or sonar sounding at strength equal to the depth you have indentified. This saves energy and is the most efficient method determined by the manufacturer to insure a long life of the fish finder. So 40 feet is a Photo Cut Throat Trout Caught At Strawberry Reservoir In Winter stronger “ping” than a 20 foot ping meaning it will penetrate deeper into the bottom below. That extra signal strength in the ping will assure you will get structure readings of the type of mud that is below you. This information will be seen on your screen in a gray scale (

unless you use color) and tell you what type of mud is below. The mud bottom is either going to be soft or hard mud (sometimes rocks).

Soft Mud Is Muck, Hard Mud Is Gold

Soft mud will appear as a light gray, hard mud will show as a darker gray line and rocks will be black. You are looking for a thin layer of soft mud that will serve as a good topping for a hard mud base. The hard mud is where the insect buffet table is located and is always open for hungry trout to come and dine. What insects are living in this hard mud you ask? Chironomids live here year round in a larva state until they develop into pupa and swim to the surface to emerge as adults. At latitude of 42 degrees or higher (further north) the larva stage can last up to 3 years. Mud samples taken in various lakes and ponds show populations of chironomids in excess of 3,000 per square meter. Now that is a lot of food. Chironomids build their upright structures in the hard mud, soft mud just won’t do. So find the hard mud in depths less than 21 feet and you are on to a primary source of year round food for trout. So when you see fish on your fish finder around weed beds but they are not actively taking your fly, head on over to the chironomid buffet. You will be glad you did.

Spring Creek Fly Fishing & Too Small For A Boat Of Any Size What Do I Do Now?

Now is the time to get creative. Google the location and check out the satellite maps of the area and zoom in on areas of interest. It is amazing the detail we now receive from satellites circling the earth. Below is an example of my favorite spring creek located in Tooele County, where trout fishing is great year round and open to the general public by the local rancher.

http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart/fly-fishing-specials-promotions/fishing-tournaments-contests/map-ranch-directions

Zoom into the main pond and look at the weed beds and how they flow along the west side of the water. Also note the discharge area and inlet area. Note also that the discharge areas of lakes and ponds usually have the soft mud and the inlets have the harder mud for the chironomid beds.

Photo Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing At Strawberry

What Flies Imitate Chironomids?

Check out the link below to my year round fly hatch chart that will provide patterns for chironomids as well as all other aquatic insects (Look under the headings “Chironomids” as well as “Midges” the adult chironomids).

http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/fly-hatch-chart

How Do I present a Chironomid Nymph?

The non adult chironomid will be located no more than a few inches off the bottom of the lake except when it is in the pupa stage and swimming to the top to emerge as an adult midge. Hundreds or thousands emerge at the same time so the flies for adult midges represent “clusters” of midges, which are quite small so the trout are used to feeding on a large group to get a full mouth full. Using a split shot approximately 6-10 inches above the fly that will allow the fly to free float near the bottom where the trout are used to finding them. They move very slowly so a finger roll is the appropriate technique that will create very little action across the mud bed yet move you across a large area to locate actively feed trout. Remember you must be on the bottom and moving very very slowly. Patience is the key to affective chironomid fishing.

Leader & Tippet Set Up For Chironomids

Use a 9-15 foot tapered leader with tippet. The combined length of the leader and tippet needs to be at least 25% longer than the deepest water you are fishing in. This extra length makes up for the line sinking in an arc and assures your chironomid reaches the bottom.

What if the bottom varies in depth? No problem. Once you know the deepest area you will be fishing present your fly to the deepest area first, and then add a floating adjustable strike indicator on the leader to shorten the amount of line between the top of the indicator located on the surface of the water and the chironomid on the bottom below.

A Great Knot For Chironomids

For all bottom insects I recommend using a non-slip loop knot. This allows the loop to remain open near the head of the fly and allow maximum movement when slowly moving the fly in the water and in my opinion creating a more natural appearance to the fly.

Double Your Pleasure Double Your Fun With Chironomids

Another insect that lurks on the bottom of lakes and ponds in and around the chironomid beds is the leech. Tie you leech pattern about a foot to 18 inches ahead of the chironomid. I like to use a second split shot about 6 inches above the leech pattern. Now I have to patterns common to the bottom of the lake working at the same time. Leeches are also slow movers so they make a perfect companion for the chironomid. Takes are very subtle, the fish are cruising and just “gulp” up these guys as they slowly swim above the beds of chironomids so watch your strike indicator to move slowly away from you then set the hook and hang on for some great action.

Sinking Tips, Sinking Line Or My Standard Floating Line

Floating line will work fine in the depths we are talking about. Especially since you are using monofilament or fluorocarbon line for your tippet which will add plenty of sink rate to your leader and flies especially when combined with a single or double split shot sinker.

The Correct Way To Hook A Fish On Fly Line 20’ Below The Surface

Keep your fly rod tip right down just a hair above the water surface so when you do get a hit you pull the rod parallel to the surface of the water. This assures a clean hook up. Raising your rod in the air will only “lift” the line off the surface – away from the fish and allow the fish to escape. By Pulling the rod to your side while keeping the tip barely above the surface assures a clean hook set. You won’t miss very many fish with this technique and you will be glad you know this trick.

So the next time you go still water fly fishing and want to increase your number of hook ups remember to use the chironomid nymph as your go to fly for assured success.

All-Tied-Up (my fly box is full and ready to go and so am I)

Private waters fly fishing for trophy tiger trout and rainbow trout on a family owned and operated ranch located 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, in Tooele County Utah. Spring creek waters that are open year round for fly fishing. The water is always ice free for great winter fly fishing. Trophie trout from 3-10 "+" Lbs. Open to the general public, reservations only!

http://trophytroutschool.com

New Years Resolution To Go Fishing More Often

2010-01-08T20:35:00.007-07:00

Fish Close To Salt Lake City For Trophy Trout & Spend More Time Fishing & Less Time Driving To The Best Fishing Waters In Utah. Fishing Near Tooele County For Trophy Tiger Trout & Massive Rainbow Trout In Ice Free Springs On 10,000 Acre Ranch Open Year Round To The General Public By Advance Reservation. Check out the website at the end of the blog for directions and more photo's.

Two Faced God Improves January Winter Tooele Trout Fishing

He was a rather strange looking god with two faces; one facing forward and one rearward. He could see into the past and future. Our word January is derived from his name; Janus.
Photo January Rainbow Trout Caught In Tooele County Utah On Ice Free Springs

Two Faces Are Better Than One

I was thinking about how cool it would be to have two faces like Janus. My rear face could watch my back cast as I’m casting and watch out for those pesky limbs and bushes trying to snag my fly line. In addition, one face could admire the scenery while the other fishes.

Two faced For Another Time
I’ve known some people who were defiantly like Janus; two faced - but that is a topic for another time.

Reflecting On Past Helps Us Plan On A Solid Fishing Future
Getting back to Janus, he was the god of gates, doors and change. It’s appropriate that January is named after him. With the New Year and a new decade, we have a great opportunity to look back at last year and look forward to the next.

Resolve To Spend Your Free Time By Deciding How Much You Have

Several years ago, I resolved not to make any more New Year’s resolutions. My life has been

Photo January Rainbow Trout Caught Near Salt Lake City In Tooele County In January

considerably simplified since I made and kept that resolution. When January comes around, I do take time to review the last year and consider the next. I look at what I’ve accomplished and what I want to accomplish in the upcoming year.

Go Winter Ice Free Fishing For Trophy Trout
For example, one of my goals for 2009 was to do more fishing and when I reviewed that year I could clearly see I had done just that! One of the things that helped me a great deal was having a nearby, convenient, weather protected trophy trout fishery 40 minutes from my house. It is a piece of cake to sneak away for an afternoon or an evening casting your nymph or dry-fly to hungry behemoth tiger and rainbow trout. The psychological benefits are incalculable!

Face The New Year With Goals Of Play With Family & Friends
We face this New Year fraught with challenges and laden with opportunity. Let’s all make the best of it. I suggest that if you do not fish and want to, and then take it up. Hire a guide or take some lessons (Clyde and I do both) and if you already are a fly fisherperson, go more often. We often see fly-fisherpersons Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught In January In Spring Creek Near Tooele Utah taking a child or relative with them – what priceless memories they are creating.

Three Big Smiles
I am certain that this would make all three faces smile; the two on Janus and the one in your mirror.

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

Tooele Ice Free Winter Fishing On 10,000 Acre Family Ranch.

http://trophytroutschool.com

Fish With Or Without A Guide, Give Us A Call & Let's Go Fishing!

Winter Fly Fishing Secrets For Catching Utah Trophy Trout Part 2

2009-12-21T18:10:00.003-07:00

Secrets For Catching Trophy Trout Part 2

As fly fishing guides in Utah we like to show our fly fishing clients a really good time catching huge tiger and rainbow trout. We accomplish a quality fly fishing trip by taking our clients to the best trophy trout producing waters in Utah. In fact these waters are close to Park City, Heber City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Orem, Bountiful, Layton Utah on a private family owned ranch in Tooele County, Utah. I will share this location at the end of this blog. Tooele county spring creek properties located at Dove Creek West @ Hogans Ranch always offers great success for all levels of fly fishing skills by providing the ultimate quarry of huge trout offering both massive Tiger Trout and extreme Rainbow Trout for your fly fishing pleasure.

Photo 3 Lb. "+" Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing Close to Salt Lake City Utah

Our last article on fly fishing secrets a couple of months ago spoke about selecting the correct location and the correct fly for your outing in search of the elusive giant rainbow trout or tiger trout of a 1,000 casts.

Now I will address proper fly selection and the best presentation of the fly. To catch the elusive trophy trout you need to be open minded and remember these big boys get big by being selective of what they eat and where they hide.

Sometimes The Right Fly Is The Right Pattern, But The Wrong Size Or Color Combination.Big Flies don't necessarily mean you will catch trophy size fish. The majority of the insects your target fish eat are really quite small in size. I have caught many trout in the 4,5 & 6 pound class on flies in the #20-#26 hook range. When using flies this small you have got to have some good steel that won't break or bend too easily, so buy the best hooks available for this task. You must also have your drag ready for the heavy load, not too tight and not too loose, because if you try to "horse" a big fish the hook, leader, tippet or knot is going to "give" and your fish of a lifetime will be gone forever.
Make That Knot Tight!!!
Speaking of knots, a quick note: I use a Duncan not that goes through the eye of the hook "twice" creating a super strong connection point between the line, hook and the most important factor in knots that slip, the tag end. The double loop created by the Duncan assures the angler of virtually "0" slippage of the tag end, which is disaster when you hook a big trophy. If you don't currently use the Duncan, look it up on the Internet and start using it. You will be glad you did. In closing, the knot is really fast and easy to tie with plenty of knot strength.
Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught Fly Fishing In Tooele County, 4 Lb. "+"

Match Fly Colors With The Correct Presentation Back to proper fly selection. A few weeks ago at the start of the winter trout spawning run I started throwing a standard leech pattern in a small #20 nymph hook but changed my colors to a black marabou tail with a pinch of bright orange marabou for the body with black thread for the thorax and head. Nothing really spectacular, in fact a pretty bland and simple pattern to tie. I selected the colors of black and orange to contrast each other and to add some flair with the orange similar to a brook trout coloring. But the pattern needed a good presentation. I opted for a non standard leech retrieve.
Whip it, Whip it Good...

The presentation I used was similar to casting and retrieving a streamer or small minnow. The nice color combination with the orange and black creates some of the same color as a spawning Brook and Tiger Trout. The presentation worked! I was ripping lips in the first 2 or 3 casts and landed some nice 4 and 5 pound tiger trout. As I moved up and down the stream things seemed to cool off and I quickly switched to another color combination. Same pattern, a leech, but this time with a olive green marabou tail and orange marabou for the body and of course olive green thread for the thorax and head. Simple, same streamer presentation and wham! I nailed two really nice 3 pound rainbows in less than 15 minutes! Not bad considering the majority of the time was spent playing the fish and trying to get them to the net. These big boys run like a freight train when they feel the bite from my steel.

Share The Wealth With Others
Photo Big 4 Lb Winter Rainbow Caught fly fishing Near Salt Lake City

Now my buddy wanted in on the action and of course (he was tired of just netting my big brute trout) I shared my collection of various colors as well as the presentation. He quickly tied on the olive green and orange pattern and started nailing the trophies. About 6 fish later we were kicking back and laughing about how many times we have failed to experiment with various colors on an old standard pattern and vowed to keep experimenting with both color and presentation.

Advantage Of Tying Your Own Flies Or Not...
If you tie your own flies you can have all the crazy color variations you want, if you don't tie your own. Find a fishing buddy who does tie and you will always have a great selection. That's why my buddy always goes fishing with me. I tie and he shares in the wealth.

Tooele County Location For Giant Rainbow Trout & Tiger Trout...

As I promised at the start of this blog I will share the greatest trout fishing location near Salt Lake City, which is located near Tooele.

Visit our website for additional winter photos and fly fishing information!

http://trophytroutschool.com

Talk with you soon.

All_Tied_Up

(my fly box is always full and ready to go)

WINTER IS THE TIME TO GO FLY FISHING

2009-12-09T12:49:00.009-07:00

Photo Cutthroat Trout Caught At Strawberry Reservoir

WINTER IS THE TIME TO GO FLY FISHING

FENWICK FLEIGENBINDER

(Year round fly fishing tournaments at end of article)

No competition when Winter fly fishing

Right now, your competition for your favorite river or lake is probably getting ready to go hunting or sit by the fire and hunker down for the cold weather. Right now, your “lunker lane” is less crowded than any time of the year. Right now, Fish are hungry as their food sources have dwindled.

Brown Trout actively chase and hammer any minnow imitation fly they can find. Look for them in any ambush site - especially points and under any tree where the roots grow into the lake.

What Are Trout Eating In Winter?

I recently checked the stomach of a rainbow and cutthroat to see what they had been eating at our local still water paradise, Strawberry Reservoir. Guess what they had in their stomachs? Just about nothing. There were a bunch of small green things which I could not identify even under 10X magnification! They had gobbled a bunch of underwater weeds trying to wrest some nutrition out of their “salad” but even that was fairly bereft of the normally abundant sow bugs, scuds, damsel fly nymphs, snails or other trout food usually found in the weeds.

Photo Strawberry Cutthroat Caught Just Before Ice On Beat The Ice If You Can...
So, from now till the ice starts forming, it is the best time of the year to spend a day at your favorite river or still water. Some places don't freeze over in winter and make the perfect respite when cabin fever sets in. Tooele, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Bountiful, Layton, Logan, Orem, Provo & Salt lake City offer SOME VERY GOOD LATE FALL AND WINTER TROUT FLY FISHING LOCATIONS. (At the end of this article I will give some directions for exceptional winter fall fly fishing).

Enjoy The Season

There are few things as satisfying as the crisp air of late autumn. The Trees are bare with just a few obstinate leaves hanging on. The gaudy reds, yellows and oranges have dwindled to a uncomplicated brown. The ground is crunchy with dead leaves - it is a time of solitude and reflection. I think of the gifts the water has given me throughout the year. Spring full of hope and early hatches on warm days. The summer evenings when the sunset and insects coincide to give me some great action. And now the late fall with its exceptional fish and fishing.

Winter Is Quickly Approaching

If we wait a few weeks, it will be winter. While I enjoy an occasional winter fly fishing trip, I do not really enjoy long trudges through the snow. Sometimes, I am so amazed at the ice-blue diamond clear water that I stick my hand in just to see how cold it actually is. It stings my hand and reminds me to be extra careful wading. I have had some luck fishing in the winter, too. Mostly its tiny flies, dredged along the bottom which are most productive until a hatch comes off on a warming afternoon.

Fly Fishing In Storms

Surprisingly, some of my best times have come during a raging snow storm. I think it is because the snow covers my shadow on the water and makes the trout less wary. But winter is not my favorite time to fish - I generally go when I can’t stand another day of not fishing and I delude myself that the weather and the fishing will be better than it is.

Preferred Time To Go Out

But still, I prefer Fall. It is the time of best fishing and least crowds. If I do see someone, I like to say “Hi” and ask how their doing and sneak a peek at what their using and how it is rigged. If they are friendly enough, I will even ask what they are using and we talk about the fishing. And then we talk about the weather:

“Great weather, Huh? “
“Best weather of the year.”

That usually ends the conversation like a solemn “Amen.”

But, I also like it when I do not see another person all day - it makes me feel like I know something that no one else does: that this is the time, the best time.

Photo Tiger Trout Taken During November Fly Fishing Tournament InTooele County, Utah

Open Fly Fishing Tournament Registration

For the hardy fly fishing enthusiasts we sponser winter, spring, summer, fall fly tiger trout and huge rainbow trout fishing contests and tournaments open to the general public. All fly fishing tournaments are open to all levels of experience from just beginning to expert. We have a lot of fun and so will you. For tournament details & registation information check out our website:

http://trophytroutschool.com/

Utah Fly Fishing Tournament Photographs, November Results & December Tournament Registration

2009-11-25T08:45:00.009-07:00

Year Round Fly Fishing tournaments in Utah, Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch

A Premier Spring Creek Trout Fly Fishing Location November 2009 Tournament Results

Photo 6 Lb. Tiger Trout Caught At Tournament

Saturday November 21, 2009 was a perfect day for late fall trophy trout fly fishing in Northern Utah. We had all of the elements necessary for the perfect fly fishing contest: over cast skies, a slight wind, cold, but not too cold. We had assembled some great teams hailing from different cities throughout Utah (including Bountiful, Tooele, Tooele county, Davis County, Utah County, Summit County to mention a few) for this competition fall fly fishing tournament. All the teams were anticipating hooking up with some incredible trophy tiger trout and rainbow trout. The tiger trout and rainbow trout were ready for a fight and already putting on the winter feed bag to beef up for the coming season! Our teams would not be disappointed! This is the best fly fishing than can be found in Utah.

Photo Rainbow Trout In Spawn Colors Caught At Tournament

The Absolute Best Location In Utah For Rainbow & Tiger Trout Fly Fishing.

The location couldn’t have been better; a spring creek located on a 10,000 acre family ranch in Tooele County, Utah that bubbles up from a free flowing artesian well located about 200 yards from a large kidney shaped pond. The pond looks more like a river basin than a pond; complete with an outlet to keep the water clear and moving. This meandering water is full of t natural habitat for the abundant insect population which provides year round dining for the trout. The waters never freeze over in winter so there is never a winter kill to the fish so they grow big and fat all year long. This is anglers’ fly fishing paradise where we fly fish all year round for big trophy tiger and rainbow trout. To give you an indication of what kind of food was available for the trout; Fenwick dredged up a large handful of green “salad” from the deeper reaches of the pond. He shook out the plant on our table. We were all astounded at the hundreds of freshwater shrimp (scuds), sow bugs, damsel nymphs and other critters wriggling on the table top. No wonder the trout continue to grow bigger and bigger!

Photo Team Dave & Carmen With Trophy Rainbow Trout Caught During November Fly Fishing Tournament Dove Creek West @ Hogan Ranch In Tooele County, Utah.

The Trout Are Big Aggressive & Hungry

The rainbows and tigers are in full spawning colors this time of year and aggressive while they prepare to spawn. They are eating everything in sight; preparing for the onset of winter. All of the fish came in over 3 pounds with an overall average girth of 11 inches – that is what we have learned to expect here at Dove Creek West @ Hogan ranch and today was no exception. Teams Were Ready For the Challenge

The morning began with teams selecting their starting positions on the water. Each team would fish for 30 minutes; safely netting their catch, measuring the overall length and girth and then releasing the trophy before resuming fishing. Officials circulated around the water assisting the teams in netting, measuring, weighing, photographing and releasing these beauties. The fish were aggressive and required patience and skill to get them into the net - usually taking 10-15 minutes of fight before they were ready to be netted. “They are hitting like Tarpon” exclaimed one competitor as he hooked up with a large female tiger trout that was heading south to Mexico to try and get away. There were a few humorous moments as we watched one angler after another “chase” a running fish along the bank! Between strength and very sharp teeth, the fish were quite capable of breaking off. It seemed like there would be a short lull and then one, two or more fishermen would yell “Fish On!”

Winners Were Announced

Once the quarry became visible, the anglers were shocked by the beauty, size and strength of the fish. Their exclamations of; “Look at the size of that fish” and “What a beauty!” Contrasted with a mild cuss word if the fish was lost. Then the angler would quickly rig up again and get right back to the business at hand: hooking, landing, measuring and reviving theses exceptional examples of the trout family. “This is the best fly fishing in Park City, Heber, Ogden, Logan, Tooele, Ogden or Salt Lake City exclaimed one competitor”!

Photo Winning Team Kevin From Highland Utah With Therin From Tooele County Net A Nice Rainbow Trout During Fly Fishing Tournament Near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Regular breaks for hot cider and rest kept us all excited as we anticipated getting to the next station. Then we enjoyed a sensational lunch of smoked hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on Hals BBQ. Thanks to Hal for his exceptional cooking and hospitality.

Finally, we stopped, the catch statistics were tallied and the winners were declared. Team, Therin from Tooele County and his team mate Kevin, from Highland Utah, took the first place prize and were awarded fabulous William Joseph Fly Fishing Packs and everyone else got something to take home.

Fish Of A 1,000 Casts Were Recorded

But the real prize was the fishing. One of our experienced anglers said: “What you have here is completely different than the other private waters I have fished. These fish have abundant natural food and do not depend on fish pellet feed for food, so these fish take skill and cunning to catch and when you do hook one, they can give you the fight of your life.” Several anglers logged catching the biggest rainbow trout or tiger trout of their life so, while the fishing was exceptional, it took skill to hook and land them. Every team caught fish and while we congratulate the winners, each fisherman took home memories which will last a lifetime.

Dove Creek West At Hogan Ranch Is Proud To Announce The December 2009 Invitational Fly Fishing Tournament Open To The General Public. Registration For The December tournament is for teams or individuals who will be placed on a two person team the morning of the event.

Our December 2009 Utah Fly Fishing Team Tournament Will Be Open To The General Public.

Application information, contest photographs and tournament details for enrollment is available on our website: http://trophytroutschool.com

Fall Fly Fishing Tips With Free Hatch Chart & Trout Hot Spot In Utah

2009-10-20T18:40:00.005-06:00

Fall Fly Fishing Tips

Check out the Free Utah Hatch Chart & Fishing Location For Huge Fall Rainbow Trout Close To Salt Lake City Utah
(see end of this article for details and location)

Ah... the cool days of fall arrived in Utah and that means only one thing. Photo Huge Fall Rainbow Trout Caught On Midge
The trout are eating everything in sight to fatten up for the long winter. The frosty nights are quickly taking their toll on the grasshoppers, ants, beetles, damsel flies and every other terrestrial you can name. They are all going the way of the world. But don’t despair fall creates some of the best fly fishing you can imagine or experience in Utah since the trout are aggressive and ready to take your presentation. If you love fly fishing in Salt Lake, Park City, Layton, Bountiful, Heber, Ogden, Tooele or Logan Utah you will love this article about Fall fly fishing.

Hungry Trout Means Active Trout

Don’t get me wrong, not every presentation you make will be answered with a resounding “smack” as a giant trophy hammers your fly, there are still times of inactivity and as a fisherman you still have to look for the active feeders. But with a little advance preparation you can be assured of a fishing trip that will result in some very nice “hook ups” with some very big trophies.

Hatch Times Are Important In The Fall & Winter

In the lower elevations for waters around Salt Lake, Ogden, Provo, Orem, Park City, Heber, Bountiful, Layton and Tooele the trout will be rising to Photo Fall Trophy Rainbow Trout
Caught With May Fly Midge flies and a few final hatches of may flies usually between 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. on any given day. This is due to the fact that the sun has had a chance to warm the water’s surface a few degrees and the mature aquatic nymphs begin their migration from the mud and aquatic vegetation to the water’s surface and the “hatch” begins.

What Triggers The Hatch Process

There are a couple of different ideas as to what really triggers the hatch. One is the maturity of the nymph and the fact that air bubbles form under the shuck and lift the transformed nymph to the surface. The other real factor is the water temperature. When an area of water reaches a somewhat warmer temperature and maintains that temperature range there will be a hatch. You could even include the two by allowing the gases to expand as the water temperature increases. Both factors are important and as fly fishermen we benefit no matter what the combination of causes are and we catch fish!

Best Fall, Winter, Spring Hatch Times

On most rivers, the heaviest midge hatches occur in the late fall and early spring. The best time of day is usually from midmorning to mid and late afternoon when the sun is warming the cool surface water. When there is a midge hatch on some fertile waters like the Green River, Provo River, Weber River, San Juan or the Colorado River, the water column can be thick with drifting pupae. Sometimes it looks as if there are millions of tiny specks drifting with the current there is “food” everywhere. Lakes & ponds also offer a fertile environment for larger midges that grow long and fat in the calmer waters.

No Hatch No Problem…Or You Can Just Go Home!

Enjoying the perfect cool weather is just not enough on a fishing day and if there is no apparent hatch occurring it is time to go nymphing. I know there are dry fly fishing purists who would rather not catch a fish and go home before they would even place a nymph in their fly box and this is fine for some, but as for me and my associates we use every form of fly we can get our hands on. This includes dries, nymphs, wet flies, streamers etc… we fish them all! So if you are so inclined tie one of these critters on and get into the water and have some fun.

A Good Pattern For A Dry Fly When There Is No Hatch

Try a Bear’s paw when no specific hatch fly is present. This two headed creation in size #20-26 is a great midge imitator. You can also fish it as a wet fly in the film of the water. Trout remember the tasty midges they have been feeding on and this pattern is a sure fire winner in my book.
The Griffith’s gnat is another great midge pattern like the bear’s paw for imitating midges that are clustered together in a mating ritual. This type of pattern screams “come and get it” to those hungry trout.

Free Hatch Chart For Fall Fly Fishing

Check out my Fall hatch chart for additional tips to help you find those sometimes elusive Fall trout.

http://trophytroutschool.com

Fly Fishing Accessories

2009-10-12T14:51:00.008-06:00

The Fly Fishermens Most Unique Accessory
(If You Like To Travel Light)

No matter where you love to fish for trout, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Layton, Bountiful, Salt Lake, Orem or Provo you always have to carry your fly fishing equipment nowwhere ever you go. Now there is a great way to simplify the packing and storage process. After all the trophy tiger trout and rainbow trout don't care how well dressed you are, and they are the ones you want to impress, with your presentation not how you dress or carry your gear.

Secret To Where The Big Trout Are In Utah

Be sure to check out our fly fishing website for trophy trout private fishing and fly fishing guide services close to Salt Lake, Heber, Orem, Park City, Layton, Bountiful, Provo and Bountiful.

http://trophytroutschool.com/

The Fishing Bucket or Priority Storage 101

Photo Fishing Bucket

Nearly empty, my really nice tackle box now sits in my garage.

I have lost track of my fly-fishing vest and have not missed it for years.

As I have gotten older (though not necessarily wiser) I have eschewed such accoutrements and storage devices for something much more simple and convenient: A bucket.

It isn’t a special bucket - it is one of those white 5 gallon types which contain paint, drywall mud and host of other concoctions. I have found that it is far less expensive and far more versatile than the alternatives listed above.

Contents Of Must Have Items

For fly fishing, I carry my fly box (the one I wrote about in the my last Photo Fishing Bucket & Contents blog), my box of miscellaneous hardware which contains hooks, sinkers, swivels, lures and a myriad of small other items which I might need. Tippet material, a bottle of Gink and Xink and perhaps one or two other items I might need. To complete my ensemble, I take my rod and reel - it is really embarrassing when you go with out the rod and reel but its been a while since I did that. All these can be carried and stuffed into my pockets and I am not encumbered too much. That leaves me free to fish. If I need anything else, unless my companion(s) carry it, it would be worthwhile to reconsider whether or not I really do.

On all other fishing occasions, including when I go fly-fishing, my trusty bucket is by my side - well, at least it is in the trunk.

Advantages To Packing This Way

There are several important and significant advantages to my bucket.

First, I am recycling something that otherwise would be at the garbage dump.

Second, because of its size and color, it does not get forgotten or left at home.

Third, in an emergency;

it makes a great water bucket for fire control,

aquarium for minnows or crawfish to keep my grandchildren entertained, while I am fishing,

fish creel (on those rare occasions when I want to take some fish home),

chair - when needed,

and it is an exceptional deterrent to water fights - when my fishing companions feel the need to splash or use water to induce jocularity during fishing. Believe me, only a fool gets into a water fight with a guy with a 5 gallon bucket, though some have tried and learned their soggy lesson quickly and completely.

There are thousands of non-emergency uses the bucket - I will only mention one here: the lid makes great ersatz Frisby for kids and dogs which might be lingering nearby.

Back To Basics

In addition, there is something down to earth about a bucket that I like. It does not represent the level of style and intensity that the vest of a really serious fly-fisherperson connotes. Some of these people look like they were standing in a fly shop when someone threw in a bomb; so festooned are they with hooks, pads of wool, things tied and otherwise affixed to them. They remind me of Christmas trees.

In addition, the bucket is the antithesis of the bass fisherman’s professional assortment of perhaps a dozen tackle boxes, numerous pre-rigged rod and reel combos, enough electronic gear to make an AWACS pilot jealous and a boat nearly as fast and expensive as a water born Ferrari. Tournament fishing is a wonderful pastime for its participants and fans, but it is professional - with all the good, and not so good that that entails.

Hidden Advantage

Finally, there is a hidden advantage to the fishing bucket: it creates its own priority storage system. Everything is thrown into the bucket, the things I need on a regular basis tend to stay at the top and things which I don’t need, migrate to the bottom. So, when someone asks where my “______” is, I can answer with a reasonable amount of accuracy: “Look in the bottom of the bucket.” And I can go back to concentrating on fishing.

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copyright © 2009 TrophyTroutSchool.com

My Fly Box or Catching Trout On A Limited Budget

2009-09-30T17:11:00.006-06:00

Fenwick does it again with an article pointing out the obvious of just how simple fly fishing can be if you remember to cut down on the clutter and excess equipment and just have a really good time catching trophy trout.

Free Locations & Hatch Chart For Our Readers

Free Hatch Chart & Fishing Guides Locations In UtahAt the end of the article there will be some location information as well as a year round fly hatch chart for our readers to access. There will also be some information about our trophy trout fly fishing guides for Salt Lake, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Provo & Orem areas.

Photo Fall Rainbow Trout The Basic Flies

I usually don’t carry a large selection of flies with me. Rather than carry boxes of dries, emergers, nymphs, terrestrials, and what we used to call “wet flies“, I carry a few of each of the patterns which have served me well over the years.

Carry Only What Will Work

What I do not carry is numerous fly boxes of multitudinous selections of flies; i.e., six each of BWO’s in sizes 14 through 20 or similar collections. Why I do not carry such a menagerie of flies and sizes is that it is simply too complex for me. I cannot discern between a size 18 or size 20 Beaded Hares Ear, and; while some purists insist trout can and do tell the difference, I am not sure I am interested in those fish anyway. They are, do a degree, like some of the girls I knew in college - one had to put up with so much just to get to know these ladies, much less build a relationship with them, that after a while, it just wasn’t worth the effort. There were lots of beautiful, kind, loving and happy girls to be found that such machinations. In fact, I married just such a girl and have never rued my decision.

Photo Trophy Rainbow Trout Targeting The Trophy Trout

If the fish I am after are that finicky (pardon the pun) are they really worth the time and trouble to catch them? And, if one does finally catch such a selective target, what have you really proven? It takes a real leap of ego to go from catching a selective trout to validating that I am a superior and more intelligent angler than the fellow down the stream who cannot catch them.

Blasting Trout Out Of The Water

There are no guaranteed methods of catching fish unless you want to start throwing sticks of dynamite into your favorite lake or river. And, if fishing ever becomes so mechanical that taking steps one through five guarantees you catch a fish, I just don’t think very many people would be interested any more. Rather than fishing it would be like going to Wal-Mart: give them your money and they give you your goods.

Catching Exceptional Trout

The fish we catch, even the most selective, are the exception. The vast majority of fish do not succumb to our skills and techniques If this were not so, the rivers and lakes we ply would be emptied in no time. It takes a head full of hubris to assume otherwise.

That is not to say that we should not take pride in our skills and try to improve them. Rather, as we learn and improve, we should keep in mind that a good deal of luck factors into the fishing equation.

Still, there are those who insist that fishing is skill and luck has nothing to do with it. But, if that is true, do not those in the past who fished, netted and dynamited some species of fish into near extinction have a greater claim than to skill than we do today? Hey, they caught more fish, didn’t they?

How To Hook The Largest Trout

When I hook the most fish or the largest fish, I am justly proud; however, I never let go of the notion that part of what makes me such a good angler is that fortune and luck are on my side. I have confidence in my skills and luck and - for that reason, perhaps more than any other, I end up being both lucky and good.

Much of our skill at catching fish is designed to entice the fish to strike, but a good deal of the art of fishing is that we do not inhibit the process. The enlightened fly-fisher strives not to make the perfect presentation, but to make the least errors. It is not perfection he is striving for, he is reaching out to become a part of nature and finding harmony, realizes perfection is not needed. And, when luck, skill and some willingness on the part of our prey coincide, good things happen. I think that explains much more than just fly-fishing.

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

Post Script: Fenwick only carries the basics, on the other hand I pack everything I can carry in my fishing vest so I can be ready for any situation. Especially those times Fenwick needs a fly pattern that is catching fish that he doesn't have in his limited inventory. Ah, yes if you only take the basics, make sure they include a good fishing buddy who packs it all and is willing to share.

All-Tied-Up

Hatch Chart, Locations, Photo's & More !!!

Now For The Free Hatch Chart & Trophy LocationTrophy Rainbow Trout and Trophy Tiger Trout Location & My Free Fly Hatch Chart Where The Trophy Trout Are For Park City, Utah, Heber Utah, Provo Utah, Orem Utah, Ogden Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, complete with Updated Information And Photos.

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Check out the Tiger Trout photos, they are currently in full spawn colors and look just like salmon with their big orange bellies. They maintain these magnificent colors throughout the fall, winter and early spring months here in Utah.

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Fly Fishing Secrets For Catching Trophy Trout

2009-09-11T14:15:00.007-06:00

Secrets For Catching Those Big Fall Trophy Trout

Photo Big 4 Lb. Rainbow Trout Caught Fly
Fishing Near Salt Lake City, Utah

Go Where The Big Fish Live
Location, location, location

In order to catch the big rainbow and tiger trout you need to do a little home work and find out the best locations to fish. That is, the best locations where no one else will be fishing but you. Yeah, you may get a little cold or wet and lose some flies and tippets and maybe a foot or two from your tappered leader.

You may even need to find a local ranch that you can access or pay a guide to gain some good information and experience. Whatever you do you must go where the fish reside. But this is the price you pay to earn the reward of hooking into a big rainbow or tiger trout. I will share a truly incredible location near Salt Lake City that you can access for trophy rainbow trout and tiger trout that are ready to accept your fly at the end of this article. This location has wild trout and the access is controlled by reservation so there is never a crowd and the fish are never stressed.

Photo Fly Fishing In Rain With A Guide &
Catching A Huge Rainbow Trout Near Park
City, Utah.

What Fly Do I Use

Keep Good Records or Use Mine

Selecting the proper fly is critical to catching these big guys. After all they did not get this big by being dumb. So you must be armed with what they are eating the day you show up. For years I have maintained my own personal fly hatch chart that also details nymphs and streamers that have proven successful in the area's that I fish. I will share this year round fly hatch chart with you at the end of this article.

Photo Rainbow Trout Full Fall Colors
Caught Near Park City Utah

Go At The Right Time
When The Fish Are Active

Time of day in the fall is usually late morning to early afternoon, when the insects get warm enough to move around. Early evening is also a great time. These are the times when the insects are active and hatches are taking place when the warmth of the sun is felt on the colder water surface. The warmth acts as a trigger to the fish that the food buffet is about to begin so you need to be ready.

There Is No Hatch...What Do I Do?

Check the hatch chart I have linked for you and go to the nymph and streamers. Remember you are looking for active trophy trout and don't be afraid to move around the area you have selected to fish and use different flies and presentations. If you are with a guide they will take care of supplying the flies as well as all the local knowledge you will need to succeed.

Trophy Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout Location & My Free Hatch Chart

Where The Trophy Trout Are For Park City, Utah, Heber Utah, Provo Utah, Orem Utah, Ogden Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, complete with updated information and photos.

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Check out the Tiger Trout photos, they are in full spawn colors and look just like salmon with their big orange bellies.

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YEAR ROUND FLY FISHING IN UTAH

2009-09-05T12:38:00.007-06:00

Trophy Trout Fly Fishing For Rainbow & Tiger Trout In Utah Close To Salt Lake, Park City, Heber, Ogden, Provo & Orem Can Be Enjoyed Year Round If You Know The Best Location For Big Agressive Trout. Expert Guides Are Available.

Photo Huge Rainbow Trout 5 lbs 14 Ounces
Fly Fish For 3-10 Lb. Rainbows & Tiger Trout.
I've seached the world over and found Utah fly fishing has some mighty fine locations for small stream trout. The mountain lakes provide a good stock of fish and afford new challenges for the still water fly fishing techniques, but even the trout are very small for unusually large bodies of water. Plus the mountain lakes completely freeze over each winter.

Photo Tiger Trout Fall Spawn Colors

Now I've found the best location for fly fishing for big aggressive catchable rainbow and tiger trout and I am sharing it with my fly fishing friend.

Fly Fishing All Year Long In Utah's Best Location, A Privately Owned & Operated Family Ranch Near Salt Lake City, Utah. Our expert fishing guides show you the biggest trout on private waters. Artestian wells provide year round crystal clear water at 59 Degrees temperature, so we never freeze and we don't have to replace trout every Spring due to winter die off.

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Utah Fly fishing Guide Service Takes You To Monster Rainbows & Wild Aggresive Tiger Trout On A 10,000 Acre Ranch Destination Just 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City & Utah County Park City, Heber Ogden Just A Little Bit Further to drive. Best Year- Round Dry Fly Fishing Location In Utah For Lunker Trout!

Private waters located on 10,000 acre ranch near Salt Lake City, Park City, Heber City, Utah County, & Ogden. The Utah Fly Fishing Destination.

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More Fly Fishing Secrets, Leeches, Woolly Buggers And Then Some...

2009-06-15T18:42:00.015-06:00

Fly Fishing Guide Service, Trophy Rainbow & Tiger Trout 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem & Utah County On Private Waters , Park City, Heber & Ogden Just A Little Bit Further For The Best World Class Fly Fishing Location In Utah.
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Utah Fly fishing Guide Service Takes You To Monster Rainbows & Wild Aggresive Tiger Trout On A 10,000 Acre Ranch Destination Just 45 Minutes From Salt Lake City & Utah County Park City, Heber Ogden Just A Little Bit Further to drive. Best Year- Round Dry Fly Fishing Location In Utah For Lunker Trout!

Dry Fly Fishing All Year Long In Utah's Best Location, A Privately Owned & Operated Family Ranch Near Salt Lake City, Utah. Our expert fishing guides show you the biggest trout on private waters. Artestian wells provide year round crystal clear water at 59 Degrees temperature, so we never freeze and we don't have to replace trout every Spring due to winter die off.

Private waters located on 10,000 acre ranch near Salt Lake City, Park City, Heber City, Utah County, & Ogden. The Utah Fly Fishing Destination. Dry Fly fishing at it's absolute finest. All trout over 3 lbs. and 20 " "+". Monster Rainbow & Tiger Trout Will Strip The Line Off Your Reel. See Our Website For Photo's & Complete Details About Fly Fishing With Guides On Our Private Waters Location Right Here In Utah.

Leeches, Scuds, Woolly Buggers, Lawyer Flies, Glow Bugs, Wool Head Sculpins and Lunker Trout, Oh My

When The Fish Are Down In The Water Column

Dry Flies Won't Work

Photo Double Rainbow Trout On A Fly In Utah

Always rig two flies and you just may double the pleasure and double the fun with a pair of really nice Spring rainbow trout. Let's hope your leader and tippet are strong enough to endure the ordeal. Two large streamers or wet flies are just as good as any other attractor combination. Try out whatever appeals to you. Remember to change it out if the pair are not working. Something as simple as a larger or smaller hook size in the same fly will be the trigger to success. For still water fishing remember to move the flies slowly on the retrieve and be patient on the cast to let the flies completely sink to the bottom when using streamers or nymphs before starting the slow retrieve. The basic food of still water trout are Scuds, Leeches and Chironomids (covered in the previous article). 90% of a trouts diet comes from insects living below the surface of the water so it is a good idea to know what these insects are and how they live in and move around in the ponds and lakes they call home. Dry flies are a true adrenalin rush but they are not always available to the trout so the avid fly fisherman must be prepared if he also wants to be the year round fly fisherman.

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For Wild Still Water Trophy Rainbow & Lunker Tiger Trout
We now offer guide services for Utah fly fishing on private waters only 45 minutes from Salt Lake City & Utah county Park City, Heber & Ogden just a little bit further. Enjoy fishing for trophy rainbow and aggressive tiger trout on a 10,000 acre private ranch. We control the access so there is only one group per day! These wild trout are all over 3 years old, over 20" long with a football girth and appetite to match. Limited access means they are well rested and not over exposed to humans. They forage for their meals in the pond, designed like a long slow moving stream in a "dog leg" shape, complete with bays, inlets, drop offs, ledges and it is full of aquatic insects. Our waters are spring fed from artesian wells and never freeze in the winter so we don't suffer winter kill. The water is crystal clear and the fish are hungry. Visit our website for Fly Fishing Photo's and complete details on fly fishing and guide services right here in Utah.

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My Original Chenille Halloween Leech
This is my take on a night crawler or a really long leech with some color contrast. Jigging this long body creates a really nice curling pattern and the
quick rod tip action allows the leech to really stretch out long and lean as it shoots through the water for 4-6 inches and then drops back to the bottom, and allowed to rest for a few seconds before starting all over again. On an open lake, right after "ice off" I like to drift fish this one from my one man pontoon boat just a couple of feet below the surface. It has the look of an easy meal to slow moving lake trout and I believe the presentation of floating in a fully stretched out position has the appeal of an easy meal that is just waiting to be picked off by a hungry Spring trout.

Photo Bead Head Woolly Bugger
Colorful Woolly Bugger with a gold bead head has contrasting black with orange body and white hackle. "Jigging" and slow retrieve is the ticket to successful Spring fly fishing using contrasting colors for attraction. This is another favorite for ice off on the lakes both big and small. Is anyone thinking Strawberry Reservoir, besides me ? Try stringing up a couple of these combinations and create a parade of color. What, two streamers at once ? Oh, Yeah. Give it a try and you just may be surprised at which contrasting colors pull in the big ones. With a short stubby tail I don't mind a bead head for extra weight and glitter on this fly but I do fish it a little differently than a non bead or cone head. Quick jigging with the rod tip while moving the rod side to side to create a back and forth swimming action when combined with a slow "finger over finger" line retrieve will give this fly all of it's action and it doesn't require a lot of movement to generate a hit. Remember to lower the rod tip so the fly makes a quick dive to the bottom at the end of the upward tip lift and before the line retrieve or after the rod tip lift and at the end of the side to side rod movement creating the swimming side to side action. Try both methods.

Photo Bead Head Chartreuse Leech
Broadcast Your Fly To All Trout In The Area. Change your patterns and your colors if the fishing is slow. You want to have as many presentations as possible while you move up or down the stream or pond bank or just drift along in your boat. You are looking for active feeding trout, so be sure to change color patterns, move (only a couple of steps every few casts, wind and waves will do all the work on lakes and ponds) and "dance" your presentation for the best success using bright colors. Remember to let the fly settle back down and rest on the bottom after each dance so it appears to be in trouble or hiding from any of the opportunistic fish in the area.
"Attorney Fly"

Photo Black Egg Sucking Leech
This fly creates a "two-fer" meal for the trout. The leech and a tasty fish egg (two for the price of one)! Contrasting the bright red glow bug with the jet black body these colors allow the fly to stand out in clear or stained water of Spring. There is no leaded wire on the fly or a bead head for extra weight. To properly weight this fly locate sinkers on your leader above the head so the fly can freely float in the currents and be unfettered from the rocks and debris on the bottom, the sinkers will take the abuse of these obstacles. The sinkers can also be bounced using the rod tip allowing the fly to dip and dive without the extra weight from lead wire or a bead head. The fly also flows more smoothly in the currents for a more realistic look without the extra weight of the bead right on the head, but it also moves more slowly so use patience to let the fly "flutter" all the way to the bottom on the first cast and at the end each short retrieve.
Bright Orange Says Here I Am

Photo Gold Bead Head Orange and Red Leech

Add some red and get a really brilliant pattern moving through the water that is hard for even the most nonchalant lunker to ignore, let alone miss. This type of bead head I usually fish one to two feet above the bottom and allow the head to dive and rise using my rod tip and short strips of my line, two to four inches at a time. On still water a strike indicator also assists in the rise and fall while letting me know when the fly hits the bottom. The strike indicator will move backwards toward the fly while the fly is floating down and the indicator will stop moving when the fly is on the bottom. I give a slow count to "10" when the strike indicator stops moving, lift the rod tip, drop the tip back down near the surface, and strip a 4-6 inches of line in and start the process over again. Strikes come as the fly is falling. Be ready for the strike indicator to move in one direction as cruising fish swim and suck in the fly as they continue to swim steadily in the direction they were heading when they encountered your fly. Set the hook solidly by pulling the rod backwards with the rod tip just above the surface of the water and parallel to the top of the water. Lifting the rod straight up will have you miss a lot of strikes since this movement lifts line off the water, before it places pressure on the fish this extra time allowing for a slow response allows the fish time to feel the pressure of the slowly tightening line in it's mouth and have time to "spit" the hook and swim away.

Don't let the big ones get away! I have seen professional fishermen on video's fail to use this technique and have the undesired results of missing the big one time and time again!

What Looks Like A Fish And Swims Like A Fish

Photo Wool Head Sculpin
With a wool head, feathers for fins and a rabbit zonker tail this critter imitates tadpoles, small fresh water catfish, salamanders and dozens more. Next to marabou, rabbit hair adds the most incredible shimmer and live look to an artificial lure when submerged in the water that can be imagined. The long tail sways effortlessly with the slightest tug of the line by an angler, sliding and slicing through the water like the natural tail of a fish. It is truly mesmerizing to watch as it moves gracefully in the water. This fly is large enough it could have a gold cone head for weight, but this one does not. I prefer to add two or even three snailed sinkers on the leader, the first on located about 6 inches from the eye, and another up the line about 14 inches and if the water is fast or deep a third sinker another 12-14 inches above the second sinker. Thus the line from the fly to the last sinker sits fairly level in the water as it sinks and the current can carry the free floating fly up and down to the bottom as the sinkers bounce and sometimes hold to the bottom. I like the fly to be as free as possible imitating a very natural swimming action. I can raise my rod tip to release the sinkers from the bottom and let them sink again while the fly takes on a life of it's own unencumbered from extra weight on it's head from a bead or a cone.

Gold and Olive Offers Flash And Subtle Natural Color

Photo Gold Bead Head
Olive Leech

Fly fishing is not a science, but a sport and a hobby. Use the techniques, tips and fly patterns you see I offer and try some of your own.

Remember it's called "fishing" not "catching" but with some good ideas, basic understanding and a willingness to try you too will catch some fine trout and earn some bragging rights.

Fly Fishing For Monster Carp Utah Style

2009-05-30T21:39:00.019-06:00

FLY FISHING FOR MONSTER CARP UTAH STYLE

Catch Trophy Trout Near Salt Lake City Utah !
Our Website: http://sites.google.com/site/trophytroutschool/

Sight Fishing Brings Fast Action

From A Muscle Bound Quarry

Utah’s temperamental spring has finally given over to summer - no longer do we need to use heaters and air-conditioners on the same day. The waters have warmed considerably and that means it is time to go fly-fishing for carp! Let’s briefly review the benefits of going after Utah’s golden bone fish and if you haven’t fished for this excellent quarry, you are simply missing out on one of Utah's finest and most resourceful game fish. They are large, wary, and strong and will test your skill and equipment to the breaking point.

Look At What I Saw and Caught

Photo Utah Carp Caught On A Fly

Certainly, carp are available as a "by catch" in many waters however few anglers target carp exclusively. We believe the most enjoyable way to catch carp is to sight fish for them in shallow warm waters. Many authors have noted how close this activity is to fishing for bonefish in salt water flats and, while carp do not exhibit the raw speed of the bonefish, their size and stamina is unrivaled among freshwater fish.
So, how do we fish for them? Your first step is to find water where carp are visible in shallow, clear flats. In Utah, the warm, fresh water flats adjacent to the Great Salt Lake afford quite a few locations, as well as Utah Lake and other waters. Your next step is to make sure your equipment is ready. You may be able to land large carp on less than 6 lb. test tippet, but we do not suggest going any lighter. I fish with a 9’ 5 weight rod and consider this the minimum weight fly rod capable of reasonable landing of the carp. We want to land them, not tickle them into submission. Your choice of fly can be just about any available nymph pattern matching the natural food sources available to the carp.

Pick Your Flies Wisely and Cover Your Scent

Remember that carp are omnivores and eat plants as well as insects. Nymphs which match the color of the available plant life seem to be more successful than other colors. Also, do not hesitate to fish in the moss or algae where the carp often feed. One secret technique is to rub your nymph or even a sculpin with local mud and moss to cover your scent! Experience has taught us that carp have an unbelievable sense of smell and if you want to get a “quick” hit, get rid of the human odor. Otherwise you may end up letting your fly soak in the water and after some time goes by the scent will eventually be gone but so may be the carp. So use this tip wisely.

Cast Where Your Target Is Going

Photo monster common carp Utah

When you see the carp cruising or see them rolling on the surface, do not cast directly to them; rather, try to guess which direction they are moving and place your cast in their path. The clearer the water, the longer the lead; if the water is very clear lead by 6 to 10 or even 12 feet. In water less clear, your lead can be shortened to 3 feet. Sometimes, you will need to tease your nymph jerking it 6 to 12 inches to entice a strike. More often than not, however, simply letting the nymph drop and sit on the bottom induces a strike. An adjustable strike indicator is also a good idea and may help suspend the fly just off the bottom of the pond or lake in the proper water column the fish are feeding in.

Set Your Hook and Hang On !

Photo trophy carp caught at Lake Bountiful Utah

A solid hook set is then required, this hooks the carp in its rather rubbery mouth. Now, hang on for a reel burning first run! Keep your hands clear of the reel or you will get a really bad “knuckle buster” of a “whack” on your fingers. You need to fight Carp aggressively; do not “horse” them in, but keep pressure on them, work you line back onto your reel, and let your reel’s drag and your rod fight the fish. Carp typically “run” parallel to your position so gently swing the rod tip in the opposite direction of the run. Also maintain the reel position about navel high with the rod pointing at the fish. To slow the run slowly point the tip upward. This lets the rod work in conjunction with the drag of the reel so you don’t apply too much pressure and risk breaking the line. If you feel this tension is too great simply lower the tip and point at the fish to relieve some pressure and allow the drag to run out some more line or backing. Big carp will let your line see sunlight for the first time in years! This technique is used to successfully land all big freshwater or salt water game fish.

He's Running South To Mexico !!

(and taking all of your line and backing with him)

Photo Monster Common Carp Utah

Make sure you get the fish on the reel, your hands can’t compensate for the changing line pressures like the reel and rod. So use the tools that were designed for the job. As you direct the fish from one side to the other during the parallel run you can reel in line as he comes directly in front of you, if you reel quickly . You can also point the tip of the rod up to “coax” him to come straight in for a few seconds. Trust me; it will only be a few seconds before he goes sideways again. Carp are some of the finest fighting fish I have experienced in the Western States. So go out and have some reel fun. Be prepared for several hard runs, like he’s going to Mexico and watch him closely near the shore. They don’t give up like trout or bass often do when they see a human. I have seen many a carp head straight south after I have had them to shore two or even 3 times.

Say "Golden Bone Fish", Click
Photo another uncommonly big carp in Utah

Once you have landed your fish, take pictures and revive the carp quickly. In some waters, you are encouraged not to return the carp to the water. Unfortunately, the bias against carp is justified in some waters so we suggest following the recommendation; however, wherever possible, release the fish so someone else has the honor and opportunity to catch it.

No fish is better suited to test your skills of casting, fighting and landing large game fish with exceptional fight and stamina. They are great practice for landing that trout of a lifetime.

It may be true that in spring, a young mans thoughts turn to love but as the afternoons warm and evenings lengthen, the summer fly fisher begins to think about his strongest – and possibly wariest – adversary. And that is why we call them Utah’s golden bone fish.

Fly Hatch For Week Ending Saturday June 6, 2009

Afternoon rain turns to dry sunny afternoons this week and that will affect the evening hatch pushing it later into the day, in some cases right up to dusk. The time just before sunset when the Sun drops below the West mountains and the air begins to cool and the emergers become active as well as the older adults from hatches of days gone by that come into the pond area to deposit eggs for the next generation. The old adults "flit and Skirt" across the waters surface trying to avoid the preditors that lurk below while ovipositing the next generation of eggs into the pond. This is also the time when the fish rise high in the water column to feed. The dinner bell has just sounded and the lunkers are ready to "Come and Get It" !!!

Generally ignoring the older adults, they feed on the emergers as they try to escape their shell and crawl through that thin layer of water surface, the miniscus, to escape their water world and enter the air as a new adult. This is the time the trout are feeding and taking advantage of the moving "buffet" as it makes its break for the new world. It is also the "magic" time for the dry fly fisherman. The trout seize the emergers and turn down with the mouthful they have just slurped or gulped. If that happens to be your fly the trout is about to get a really sharp surprise and the reaction is typically to go back to the surface and rocket out of the water like a missle launched from a submarine. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Check out our Fly Hatch Chart at:
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How Fly Fishing Saved My Marriage

2009-05-25T18:23:00.007-06:00

Check Out Our Website Featuring Access To Trophy Trout And Fly Fishing Instruction ! Come And Catch The Big Ones!!!

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Don't Miss All Our Trophy Game Fish Photo's And Tips Available On This Blog, Simply Pick Your Selection From The List On The Right !!!

Amber's Fly Fishing Experience:

Here is a sad - but true - story:

Jason and Amber had been married for 5 years. Jason was a golf nut and Amber absolutely hated golf. She was getting upset about all the time Jason spent golfing. And now, Jason had taken up fly-fishing. His golf clubs gathering dust in the garage, Jason had enrobed himself with the latest in fly fishing clothing and armored himself with the finest gear. Amber was really interested in learning how to fly-fish and thought this would be a great opportunity for them to quality time together. They were even planning a special trip in the fall to fish the legendary waters of Montana.

So, Jason and Amber purchased equipment for her and headed off to a lake two hours drive away to teach Amber the finer points of fly fishing.

It was a beautiful day for fly fishing: chilly, overcast with an occasional cold drizzle - the kind of day fish love and ladies despise.

Jason started to show Amber the "four count rhythm" he had learned from A River Runs through It. Trying as best she could, Amber couldn't seem to make it work right. Valiantly keeping at it, she tried again and again but her line would either snag the back cast or pile in front of her like a large pile of limp, green spaghetti. This was accompanied by Jason's rising frustration.

The ensuing argument seemed inevitable - the rising tones of anger, the misconstrued meanings and finally, icy silence was about to separate the two, now frustrated and angered opponents - when, rocketing up like a submarine launched cruise missile, a very large cutthroat trout lept from the waters surface. It was enormous! It was the largest fish Jason had ever seen and larger than anything Amber would have even imagined inhabited this, or any other, body of water. Even in the muted, dismal afternoon, its colors shown as if it had been enameled and jeweled like a Faberge egg created for the Czarina. And, affixed to its toothy maw, was Amber's fly.

The fish, now re-entered the lake making the water erupt like a fat kid doing his favorite cannon ball into the swimming pool.

The pile of spaghetti slowly began to move toward the murky depth as the fish end of the fly line rocketed away as if shot by a crossbow. Amber stood frozen as Jason started to babble instructions,sounding like a cleric calling for prayer. By some mystery (probably a manifestation of string theory) the spaghetti pile disappeared, the line tightened and Amber's reel began to sing. She stood motionless and, hearing Jason's incoherent expletives, some of the meaning began to work its way into Amber's consciousness. She was not only stung by the vindictive nature of the tirade, but also offended by the verbiage and - even more hurtful - the language. She looked at Jason as if he had just landed from Planet Vulcan. Realizing that he had crossed some verbal boundary and ventured into the no man's land of female indignation - he suddenly stopped.

The scene was now supremely silent and the ashen sky was a mirror of their ashen expressions. Amber and Jason looked at each other,as an icy wind began to blow between them. Suddenly, the silence was ruptured by a sound. It was a quite sound but resounded with all the violence and portent of a grenade:

"SNAP!"

The drive home was a mere foreshadowing of the ensuing arguments and recriminations. Amber and Jason's love, which once shone as bright as the cutthroat's crimson neck wear, now seemed as gloomy as the sallow skies that had accompanied them on that eventful day.

Jason no longer golfed or went fly fishing - instead he began drinking - and Amber wondered what happened to the gallant knight she had married.

Nonetheless, there is a happy ending to this story.

In the interest of brevity, we shall simply say that it took professional counseling and training to root out the deep seated emotions and disappointments.

And, in the end, Trophy Trout School ...well...we really don't know if it saved the marriage but; the last we heard from Amber, she still takes pride in being able to out double-haul her husband. And Jason; proud husband, felt that each trophy caught and released, was never more worthy of admiration, or as beautiful, as his fly-fishing wife; Amber.

"Click Here For Trophy Trout School"

Fenwick Fleigenbinder

Municipal Ponds Utah Part II

2009-05-05T20:54:00.021-06:00

Let’s Revisit Municipal Ponds (Urban Fishery Utah)

But First A Quick Up-Date On Dry Flies This Week

Fly Hatch For Week Ending May Saturday 23, 2009

Midges in the morning and late evening: White body, clear wing and Black body clear wing. Quite small 20-26. Wasp and yellow jackets are also present in very very small numbers so I use a number 16 dry fly immitation. Attractor patterns include royal humpy, royal coachman, and mosquito patterns in gray and dark brown. Lunker Rainbow Trout are cruising high in the water column just below the surface and easy to spot. They are active and feeding at Sunrise and Sunset but quite wary. Strikes are hard and fast with lots of airobatics on the strike and hook set.

In the celebration of all-around-fishing-for-fun we take one more look at urban fisheries. They are located close to where we live, usually have some "easy to catch" stocked fish and are great for a quick get away with the kids or grandchildren for an hour or two any day of the week. Unfortunately no lunker rainbow trout are found here.

How Did You First Learn To Fish, Not With A Fly Rod I'd Bet

So it's time to think about how most of us got started with the sport of fishing. Using bait and lures. Sit back and enjoy the fun of teaching our youth about fishing and how someday they may choose to widen their horizons and venture into the world of fly fishing as they build memories and just have some fun. Teach kids to fish!

"Popular" Is An Under Statement At Municipal Ponds.

As I mentioned earlier, regardless of what these municipal ponds are called, they are becoming more and more important to people who like to fish. They are also a great place to start kids fishing – you can fish for an hour or two but not spend hours driving to and from the distant fishery. So, most likely, there is an urban fishery in your future and here are some additional tips and by the way, teach kids to fish.

Photo Clinton City Pond, Clinton Utah Pond

MUNICIPAL POND ETIQUETTE

One of the disadvantages of the urban fishery is that it can often get crowded. First, try to find a suitable place to fish where you are not too close to others. If you cannot find a place, you will probably have to squeeze in between others. The best way to handle this is just ask; “Is it "OK" if we fish here?” or “Do you think there is room here for us to fish?” The worst approach is just plopping down and acting as if no one else is there. And, what if there is simply no room? Then you go home or do as I do; wait till someone leaves and as they are leaving ask;

Photo Jensen Nature Center Pond, Syracuse Utah Urban Fishery Utah
“May we take your place?”Make every effort not to cast over someone else’s line, and if someone casts over your line, don’t be a jerk about it. This is especially true if the offending party is a child. I have given several impromptu casting lessons “See, you hold the rod behind you and then cast it straight out so you don’t catch other peoples line’s. Great job!” For younger children who just need to be kept busy, I give them a casting outfit with a lure which has had the hook removed and let them cast away. Remember to be encouraging and compliment the casts they make so they will keep trying. You may also want to have an extra heavy monofiliment line so they can easily untangle knots in the line, bird nests and even reel in the weed beds from the bottom of the pond. I used to put a 20 lb test line on for my kids. It helped them to learn how to manage the rod, reel, line and hooks.

COMPETITION

One of the best things about the municipal fisheries, or Urban Fishery Utah is how nice the people are. Generally, they are happy to tell you what is working and how much luck they have had. In addition, when certain baits aren’t working and I don’t happen to have the “hot” one, I have even had people offer me a gob of their Power Bait, some worms or even a lure or fly. I now make it a part of my fishing routine to try to carry extra and offer some to others if they are not having any luck. Having my grandson along on these excursions seems to help alot. I notice a lot of grandparents with grandchildren as well as parents taking part in spending time together in this great outdoor diversion to daily life.

What Goes Around Comes Around

It is funny, but the more you try to help others, the more pleasant the fishing experience. When it is crowded, be sure to cast straight out, perpendicular to the shore to avoid tangling up with other people’s lines!Often, the difference between having success and not, will depend on your casting ability. Unless the fish are near the shore, the ability to cast farther than anyone else will generally improve your luck. So, make sure your equipment is in good shape, your line is fresh and untangled, and light enough to land your quarry but still cast a good distance. Accuracy is also important especially if you are close to other people casting. Nothing wastes precious fishing time than a tangle created when lines get tangled!

How To Really "Whang" It Out There

My first introduction to fly fishing as a child was learning how to rig a clear bubble filled with water trailing a fly behind 4-6 feet of leader. The bubble of course kept the fly in the top of the water column while providing the necessary weight so I could cast a "mile". Since the bubble freely slides or allows the line to freely slide you may want to use a small sinker (a small split-shot works fine) between the fly and bubble to keep the bubble a set distance from the fly. To keep the fly from sinking too deep a second sinker is placed on the line above the bubble so the fly will not continue to sink to the bottom from the extra weight of the lower sinker. The water filled bubble is buoyant enough to keep both sinkers and itself very close to the surface of the water. Like many of you, this technique taught me how to cast accurately and how to maneuver a fly "slowly" across a large area of still water. I also learned the affects of "fast" or "slow" retrieves as well as "jigging" the fly to create different and unique presentations. Some times they worked and sometimes they didn't. Back in those days, I was fishing in lakes and mountain ponds (high Unita mountains of Utah). This is still a viable teaching method for someone of any age to learn the basic concept of using dry flies or nymphs and working on that all important aspect of accurate casting.

TACTICS

Have a variety of baits, lures and flies so you can change tactics. Having said that, I have a few “go to” flies and lures which work well just about everywhere and I usually stick with those. I also have baits about which I feel the same. Incidentally, even though I love to fly fish, I am just as happy sitting on the bank fishing for pan fish with my grandchildren as I am matching the hatch on some blue ribbon stream. So develop your own favorite flies, lures, bait and tactics. If after 30-45 minutes you have not had any luck, change tactics.

“GO TO” LURES FOR TROUT

Panther Martin Gold Blade, black body with yellow or green dots.
Jake's Spin a Lure Gold.Jake's Spin a Lure Black (Great for dark or cloudy days).
Mepps spinners – several colors.
Thomas Cyclone – gold with red dots (Great Brown Trout Lure!).
Rapala’s or similar lures floating and sinking.
Lead head jigs – black, dark green, white.

The basic fly assortment is discussed on other blogs.

So, if you have an urban fishery, go out and make use of it. You already pay for it with your taxes so why not get your share of the fun. If possible, take a child fishing. If you have any questions, leave us a comment.

Fenwick Fleigenbinder & All_Tied_Up

Still Water Fly Fishing Secrets To Catch Trophy Utah Trout

2009-04-27T21:30:00.016-06:00

Still Water Fly Fishing Secrets For Trophy Rainbow and Tiger Trout

Fly Rods, Reels, Lines, Tippets, Leaders, Fly Patterns, Kit Bag, Knots, Fighting Techniques and More!

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Photo Double Rainbow Trout Utah

How To Catch Lunkers: generally, fish usually grow to be bigger in lakes and ponds than in streams or rivers and live a very different lifestyle. This is also true with Rainbow and Tiger Trout.

Lets take a moment to review why this is so. In a river system, the food is generally moving past the trout. They take up feeding stations where they do not expend much energy fighting the current and move to capture their moving targets. These stations will also be close to areas where the flow of food is concentrated and/or easy to capture.

In still waters, it is generally the opposite: the trout are constantly cruising and the food is generally stationary or moving slowly. (An important exception to this rule is minnows and bait fish which are fast and elusive.) Adjusting your technique to address the environment of river or still water is one of the more important considerations you must make to look for those lunkers.

For now, lets concentrate on the still water techniques. So you must be prepared with a new set of fly fishing skills to be successful going after these prize fish that live in still waters. Especially if you want to take home the trophies (or at least get a picture taken with them before they are safely released)! Fenwick and I land the fish as quickly as possible, handle each one very carefully, take a quick picture then release as soon as possible to preserve the fish. We strongly suggest you do the same!

Secrets Of Catching Trophy Trout

"20+" trout are not uncommon in lakes and ponds provided the fish have lots of food and time to grow. If you know where to look for them and what to use to catch them your chances of catching your trophy are increased. However, they didn't get to be this big by not being elusive or smart! The truly elusive part is correct knowledge and techniques to properly catch them!

Fly Rods for still water: Depending on the species you are fishing for you will be best suited with a 5-7 weight soft to medium action. (Fenwick uses a 9' 5 Wt.) The soft to medium action is the most forgiving to cast while maintaining sensitivity to a fairly light strike, the type of strike consistently found by fly fishermen in still waters. For larger lake fish, I use a 9-wt. with a medium action. I like the flexibility this length and weight gives me to cast in to the wind and move my line in every direction while using any number of casting techniques. Whether I am on land or wading or on my float boat the 9-wt gives me plenty of power and line control as well as the ability to easily land the big ones up to 10 pounds or more in the lakes I fish.

All of my fly rods are 9 footers. I like the extra length for distance casting from a sitting position in my pontoon boat to a standing position either wading or standing on a bank trying to make a "difficult" cast close to overhanging tree branches or across a large weed bed. Again this long rod length is my personal preference and is also important since it will be used along with the reel to create additional controlled drag when the really big ones take off in a flat out run or swim into a swift current to aid in their escape. Yes, the rod can assist in drag if your fish is on the reel and your reel needs some help to control this big fellow (more on this technique under reels, coming up) and your free hand already is "palming" the spinning reel on full drag and your lunker is heading for weeds, down trees or even a current (if in a stream, river or lake inlet) to assist in his escape.

Casting On Still Waters: Unlike casting on rivers and streams with small light weight dry flies and nymphs, lakes and ponds require a whole new approach to the technique of casting. First, your fly can be bigger, weigh more due to the water it is holding. If you are using a bead head, cone head and sinkers located on a longer tippet for additional weight, the extra weight will also change your casting technique. You will not need many false casts to get near your target. No; you only need one or two casts and that is it. So you must be prepared to cast, immediately pick the fly up off the water the second it hits (before all that weight starts to drag it down), pump your rod back to the 1:00 o'clock position and at the exact moment of maximum back haul of the fly cast the rod forward to 10:00 0'clock and release your wrist (allow your wrist to bend forward in a "flicking" motion) as the line behind the fly starts to pull the excess line off the ground in front of your feet and point the rod tip to where you want the fly to land while the line quickly "shoots" through the eyelets and the fly lands on target on the second cast up to 50 feet or more! This is extreme casting on still water from the shore, or on a boat.

THE SHOOTING LINE CAST: Strip out additional line and pile it in front of you. Make a back cast and then as you reach the release point of your fore cast, release the line with your off hand and "Shoot" the line piled in front of you forward. This is very effective in adding distance to your cast. So, if you are false casting 20' of line in the air and have 10' of line piled in front of you, your final distance after shooting the line will be about 30'.

THE HAUL: Now, lets add a step to that. Begin again as above, but as you are casting forward, with your off hand jerk the line away from the rod and reel during the fore cast to add power to the cast and release. This will shoot the pile of extra line at your feet even further.

THE DOUBLE HAUL: Need even more distance? Then use the "Double Haul." Recall that a normal four step casting stoke will be a "back stroke...rest... fore stroke...release" action and the stopping points are approximately between 10:00 O'clock and 2:00 O'clock. During the fore stroke and back stroke, your off hand will make a "V" motion away from the rod and reel to add speed and momentum to the line. Let's break that down a bit: as your casting arm is going through the usual casting motion, your off hand is loading and releasing line to add momentum to the rod and line. So, assume a normal casting stance, pick your line off the water and start your back cast. During the back cast, add backward momentum and speed to your line by jerking the line with your off hand and releasing it as you back cast. Now, let the line straighten behind you. Now, begin your fore cast and again pull the line away from the rod and release as the line now straightens in front of you. This cast without an additional pile of line in front of you (we are going to add that next) is great for casting into the wind!

A note or two about learning these casts: Fenwick found an easy way to learn these casts. First, he practiced very slowly without a rod and reel until he understood the mechanics of the DH. Then on his lawn, he practised (very slowly at first) with no line on his rod, again till he got the feel and mechanics of the Shoot, Haul and DH. He then added line and continued practicing until his "muscle memory" built up and he could DH without really thinking about it.

Now to perfect our DH, we will combine the "shoot" (an additional pile of line at your feet) with the DH. Strip off additional line to your feet (you are going to shoot this line beyond your cast) Lower your rod tip and quickly start your back cast. Continue you back cast and "heave" the fly off the water and over your shoulder to the 1:00 o'clock position. As you are doing this "haul" the line with your off hand in a "V" motion away from your rod. Once your fly is fully extended behind you, move your rod forward, again adding the "V" motion haul, to the 10:00 o'clock position. Release the line at the exact moment of maximum force of the cast the forward. This is called "double hauling".
Photo Rainbow Trout Taken On Pond

Reeling In Lunkers
Reels: In addition to a long rod with a high weight I like a reel with a large arbor. A large arbor holds a lot of line and backing because big fish run and to fight them properly you need lots of line and backing. As long as you have a well lubricated reel with a good adjustable drag and plenty of line and backing you should be o.k. until the initial strike. Make sure the reel is matched to the rod weight and you are using the correct line for the rod and reel combo and plenty of extra backing. It is important, no - it is critical, that you use the reel to successfully fight and land the big fish.

Many fly-fisher persons leave a pile of line dangling in front of them while they fight the fish - with their fingers creating the drag. Fenwick and I are convinced this is a big mistake! Your lunker will be strong and fast. It can turn and blast away from you much faster than your fingers can react. Your reel is much more than a line storage device, it has a mechanical drag. So, always get the fish fighting the reel as quickly as possible and let the mechanical drag do its work and let the fish fight the rod and reel. You can then concentrate on reacting to the runs, turns and jumps of your lunker. If your reel cannot create adequate drag on the fish without breaking the tippet, get it fixed or buy a new one.

Proper Drag Settings: You will be using the drag combined with the rod angle to control a lunker on the run. You may even need your second hand to assist the drag by "palming" the reel to add more drag for the really big ones. You can't do this technique of "palming" if the fish is not on the reel. So practice getting every fish you hook on the reel as quickly as possible so you can learn the art of using the reel to retrieve the line, in addition to managing the rod, which when pointed at a specific angle to the running fish will also increase (90 degrees to a full 180 degrees) or decrease drag (below 90 degrees to pointing the tip even lower and straight at the running fish) when the reel drag is not enough or too much and you need to quickly ease up the pressure or risk breaking the line and losing your trophy.

Here is how to adjust your drag: Rig your outfit for fishing and grab the end fly of your tippet. Pull this line out gently and adjust your drag so that the reel gives line as you pull but is not set so light that it does not offer any resistance.

Bow To That Jumping Fish or Risk Losing It

"Bowing" to a jumping fish is also important when fighting the large trophy fish to relieve pressure on the line and to avoid breaking a tippet or bending a hook and letting the big one get away. Point the rod tip at the fish as it gets aerobatic, this allows the line to gently "glide" through the water and releases pressure off the tip and hook as the fish drags the hook line and sinker out of the water and up into the air. Many trophies are lost at this point due to inexperienced fishermen who have not successfully caught big angry airborne lunkers throwing their heads from side to side and thrashing the water surface and the air. These are the only techniques that will successfully land the big trophies time and time again.

Backing: Your reel must have a supply of backing line. This adds additional line for fighting the lunker, Cushions the fly line from being smashed against the arbor and adds diameter to the arbor so the line has larger loops when spooled. Make sure you have backing.

Floating or Intermediate Sinking Line ? Depth of fishing in still waters is critical because still waters tend to have "layers" of oxygen and temperature which hold fish at a specific depth. [Another critical difference between still water and river environments.]

Lines: Floating line is the fisherman's best friend. Generally, in still water you will only be fly fishing down to a maximum 20 Feet! Any deeper and you are below the depth that photosynthesis takes place and weed beds disappear, and so does the rest of the food most fish are feeding on.

You can also use sinking or intermediate sinking tip lines to reach depth. They can be quite useful for deep water fishing line and the second if you choose is the intermediate sinking line. Again, my personal preference is the floating line and compensating the "sink" using sinkers and bead heads on my flies.
Photo Trout Pond Fed By Spring In Utah

Tippet: Based on still water depth you will want the the tippet to be 25% longer than the depth of the water. Due to the slow sink rate combined with the uneven sinking of the line you need the extra length so your fly will get down to the bottom. Still water fish usually concentrate in the bottom 1-2 feet of the small lakes and ponds.
Photo Rainbow Trout From Lake Shore

Leader: I use a minimum 2 foot length of monofiliment leader connecting the tippet to the fly. Four pound is usually the lightest I will use. I like some extra strength in case my fish gets into the weeds and has to to be turned around to get landed.
Knot: Only one knot for non dry flies for me and that is the non slip polymer knot. This allows the fly to have more movement with an open loop going through the eye and as the name implies the loop will not "slip" or close on the eye when the fish is hooked and being reeled in. So on the next cast the fly will continue to move freely up and down with the open loop through the eye.
Photo Tiger Trout Taken
From Moss Bed Near Lake Shore

Kit Bag: Especially when you are floating around in your pontoon boat you will want some supplies that are easy to reach and kept water proof. So make sure the bag is water proof. The bag of goodies is also helpful if you are far away from your car or truck and don't want to walk back and forth for a minor item like leader or a specific fly that seems to be the only one working and you just broke it off. So I always carry a pack containing the following items:
Cell Phone sealed in plastic resealable baggie (there may not be phone service, but I will always have a camera ready for a good photo). The cell may come in handy if I have to land on a distant part of the lake and wait out a storm to return. I can call and let loved ones know that I am o.k. . Needless to say emergencies can be covered too, even if you have to travel by land or boat for a few miles to located a signal. I always have a cell phone just in case. For bigger lakes where no cell service is available a waterproof two way radio with multiple channels is a must. In an emergency you can usually get in touch with the lodge or another boater.
Polarized Sun Glasses: Protects the eyes from the sun and bugs plus you can see cruising fish.
Sun Block is essential to protect from severe sun burn on the face, arms and ears. The sun is especially brutal at high altitudes and the rays are amplified as they reflect off of the water and on to unprotected and exposed skin. Be sure to place your sun block on before going into the water. This way you can wash the lotions off of your palms and rub some mud on them to mask the chemical smell so it will not transfer to your flies or line from your hands.
Aquarium Net: Sampling what is living in the water as you float around is really easy with this little tool. You can quickly spot emerging flies and get them in hand to quickly identify what patterns you have on hand to "match" them. The handle of the aquarium net comes in handy for reaching out from the edge of a stream or lake bank to "snag" a swimming insect for closer inspection.
Long Handled Landing Net: From a float boat as well as a the shore of a pond or lake I like the easy access to my fish by using a long handled net. I usually fish with a friend so we will net each others catch to keep the stress on the fish to a minimum while it is out of the water and also to quickly and safely return it. The long handle is perfect for this technique. Remember to use fish friendly mesh that will not snag the fins or remove scales. I use a rubber mesh that is fairly wide and makes a nice bed for the fish to lay in while the hook is removed and then as it is returned to the water and released. I also dip the dry net into water before netting and landing the fish so the rubber mesh will not be abrasive to the scales or slime.
Stomach Pump: Remember this is even better than the aquarium net when you catch a fish to see what is on the main menu. Now you will know what they are feasting on without the guess work. The bulb of the pump is filled with water and the tip is then gently inserted inside the fishes throat just past the flap closure (esophagus for the technical types) and then you gently press the bulb to flush the area with water and release the bulb when it is empty to quickly suck up and collect the throat contents. You really don't go into the stomach, any food located that deep will be too digested to help you out. Plus you could injure the fish. Remove the pump, release the fish.
Plastic Resealable Baggie: I use a 1 gallon baggie to empty the stomach pump contents into to see what is swimming around. Once the contents are in the bag I know exactly what the fish is feeding on and it is easy to empty the baggie into the lake and reuse on the next fish. Binoculars: Wonder what the other guys are using to catch fish ? Take a look around. You can also see if there are active fish on another part of the lake and you can move to the active area. Thermometer: No fish finder to tell you water temperature ? Drop a thermometer into the water on a slim rope and find out. Look for the proper temperatures for the species you are after.
Hand Towel: After releasing a few fish and washing your hands you may begin to notice the affects of the cold water. Use a towel to dry off and your hands won't get cold. Tippets: Several precut to length tippets or a spool of tippet material needs to be handy so you can easily select a replacement for one that is broken or tattered. Split Shot: Varying sizes, I like reusable with a tail on them stored in a small plastic cylander with multiple compartments that is easy to access no matter where I am on a boat or shore and need to add some weight. Strike Indicators: Assorted colors and sizes so you can easily adjust to the water conditions, wind, waves and weight from large flies all combined and dragging the strike indicator so it does not interfere with the fly.
Leader: I recommend a couple of fresh spools of several different sizes and colors (for leader shy fish and differing light conditions) so you can easily change out line that has nicks and scratches from being pulled through grass, weed beds, and over rocks sticks and trees. Not to mention hooked fish that have left some teeth marks as well.

Flies: Scuds, Chironomids And Leeches
Scuds run in hook size from a number 6-16. On lakes the average is about a 12. Colors range from black, olive, brown, pink to orange (dead scuds colors). Some have bead heads some do not. Body's include "dubbing" of natural hair to man made materials. Some have plastic shells made from baggies or Saran wrap accentuated with copper, gold, silver wire or dark thread wrapped around the body to simulate body segments. Whichever Scuds you select, remember they live their entire life on the bottom, they move slow and they are the number one food that fish depend on for their basic diet in every natural still water trout situation.
Chironomids have three stages of life. The fertilized egg is too small for us to worry about but it soon hatches into the the blood worm (so called for the red color, this is not to be confused with a leech) or larvae and will remain in this state for up to 3 years depending on the climate. Warmer climates 1 1/2 to 2 years. High altitude and cold climates 2 1/2 - 3 years before maturing to the next stage of life. The larvae is the first stage we imitate for fly fishing. Blood worms (red color), San Juan worms are just the ticket for still water fish. There are literally millions of them in every lake and pond in the United States. They range in color from red to brown to black and they are another primary food source for fresh water fish. Estimates range in the 7-10,000 chironomids per square meter in still lake bottoms. That is one hefty population of food that is available year round, just like the Scud. They build small tubes that extend up from the lake bottom and they only come out to feed or move as a pupa to the surface. However, storms and waves can break these fragile mud homes and release the tasty meal into the realms of the crusing trout in the area. So wind and waves can be a still water fishermans friend. Find the chironomid beds and you will find the trophy trout. Tip: The beds are built on firm mud bottoms, not soft sediment. So if you use a fish finder, watch the bottom line indicator and look for the solid bottom verses the soft mucky material.
Tie Some Patterns
Tying materials for artifical worms ranges from chenille to flat thin plastic thread and colors vary from differing shades of green to black and red. Sizes from 6-16 with 12 as a good lake average. The third stage of life for the Chironomid is the pupa and the body is much bigger around than the thin worm since the fly almost fully developed and is ready to open the shell and fly away once it reaches the surface of the water.. The pupa is an emerger pattern and is fished just below the surface of the water in the meniscus. A good emerger pattern offers a body, gills and a small head.
The leech makes up the third main food source in the still water buffet. Leeches are tied using marabou (soft under wing bird feathers) and rabbit fur (natural or dyed cut in long strips sometimes called "zonkers"). Marabou and rabbit hair "undulate" and almost dance in the water creating a swimming motion that appears to be alive. I love these two materials for the affects they create to the appearance of the flies they imitate. Another material is mohair. It makes a really skinny leech body that is quite fuzzy when dubbed on the line. Fish seem to really like a super skinny mohair leech with a flared marabou tail. Colors follow the range of the rainbow. Some imitations have bead heads and some do not. So you have a lot or range with water conditions and how you want the leech to handle in these varying conditions. Leeches live in the bottom mud in slow moving water usually hidden under leaves, rocks or other bottom debris until they need to feed. That is when they venture out in to the open water where they become succeptible to attack from a large hungry trout. The leeches are larger than many aquatic insects and make a larger acoustic footprint as they swim through the water and is easily identified by the lateral recognition in fish (except for the skinny mohair model). I like a 6-12 with the average 8 size. I also like a gold cone head to take the big fly down a little quicker and allow it to dive back down when I jerk the rod tip in an upward direction and then drop the rod back down again. This up and down jigging seems to be a great swimming pattern that fish like in almost every lake I have fished in. So I keep it up. The mohair has no cone head or bead head so I use a sinker about 6 inches above the head on the leader. This will give the fly the same diving affect as the cone head, but the sinker takes all the abuse of the bottom rocks and sticks while the leech rides slightly above the bottom. Bead heads and cone heads on the other hand will crash into the bottom and take the abuse of the bottom rubble. Both techniques work well but be sure to check the bead head and cone head more often for cuts and abrasions on the line as well as wear and tear on the knot itself. Retie often, there is no sense in losing a good fish to a poor knot or a worn line.
Still Water Fly Fishing Techniques And Secrets
Naked floating line, with no strike indicator and basically drifted behind the float boat with the current. Keep the rod tip near the water and set the hook with a parallel action across the water, not up in the air. Lifting the rod up to set the hook will only lift the line off the water surface and your fish will get away. Pulling the rod parallel along the surface of the water maintains tension "tight lines" (oh, yeah that is what you want) between the rod tip and the fly so when the fish strikes you get a solid set hook and not a miss. Patience is key since a fly may take 20-30 seconds to descend into the strike zone and the retrieve must be very slow so you don't pull the fly out of the feeding column.

FINAL NOTES: When on still water, remember the rule: SLOW, SLOW , SLOW. Scuds and much of the food the trout are crusing for are very, very slow. And remember the exception to this rule: when using streamers or nymphs such as damselfly nymphs, they are capable of short bursts of speed so mimic that action with jerks of the line from a few inches to 2-3' at a time to duplicate the evasive action of these baits.

If you want to catch lunkers, try to find some lunkers to practice on. Fenwick and I have a blast flyfishing for carp. These strong fish test both our skill and equiment to the max and most importantly give us easy practice hooking and landing large fish. We both feel confident that our once in a lifetime trophy can be brought to net as we have already landed 8, 10, and 12 lb. carp and we are just waiting for a trophy trout of that size.

Good luck and tight lines to you.

Let us know if you have any questions or comments.

All Tied Up
and
Fenwick Fleigenbinder

This Week Tips for fishing Local, Municipal or City Ponds

2009-04-13T19:47:00.040-06:00

Lots of Water, Lots of Company, Lots of Fish

This week we step away from our normal all fly fishing column to talk about all around fishing. Especially for families and young children. It is important to introduce the entire family to the sport of fishing and to be honest the local municipal ponds are a great point of entry. Yes, you can fly fish on these ponds, but be prepared for some strong competition.

Utah Channel Cats, Trout, Blue Gill, Large Mouth Bass, Carp and More

Photo Utah Channel Catfish At Willow Pond

Fishing local, municipal or city ponds has become a part of fishing life for many urban Americans. With the increased cost of travel, less time for fishing and a larger population who fish, for many, the local pond has become the main attraction for avid anglers. And so it should be. "Put and take" fisheries provide recreation, can be quite pretty and are a great place for youngsters. In addition, municipal ponds are great for people who have a challenge getting around and are also a great place to practice your fly fishing techniques. What they do not offer is solitude and a high quality fishing experience. These are public ponds and any angler with a license can fish there. There are several other problems which I will discuss below.

In general, a variety of fish are planted in public ponds: Trout, Catfish, Bass, Bluegill and various minnows to provide a food base. Depending on the water quality and temperature, some natural reproduction may occur.

What Do I Need To Know To Catch My Own Mess Of Fish?

So, how do you fish these ponds? First, lets talk about some basics and then we can get into more technical details.

Photo Channel Catfish Utah Willow Pond

The first step on any pond is to know the rules and regulations. Most often, they will be posted, but if not, check your local regulations so you do not inadvertently harm the fishery.

Second: Observe. Note the water quality and clarity. Find out where the inlets and outlets are, what the source of the water is (spring fed or creek fed). Try to figure out what the topography of the lake is: how deep is it, are there any old river channels and underwater structure.

Next: Research. Whatever research you can do on the front end, will help you greatly. Find the local Wildlife Official and ask questions. Be sure to ask the most important question: what fishing technique is working and what is the stocking schedule! If you cannot find the local wildlife person, ask those fishing the water. You would be surprised how friendly and helpful they can be. I am on a first name basis with many of the fishers at my local pond and I freely give and receive advice. If you are lacking the latest hot bait, sometimes someone will generously give you some. And if you are toting a youngster, which I usually am, other fishermen often will let your youngster land their fish. In reality the social side of the local pond is one of the nice benefits and so, while you are fishing be sure to make some new friends and acquaintances while doing so. Of course, the best way to make a friend is to be a friend so be sure to be helpful with advice and generous if you are so inclined.

Photo Large mouth Bass Utah Bountiful Pond

Also check the pond vegetation as this has a great impact on what the fish will eat and what techniques will work.

BAIT

Most anglers will be using bait. Power bait and its variants are quite popular here in Utah but they have given rise to "Fleigenbinders Power Bait Rule: Fish will bite on whatever color or flavor you do not have in your arsenal." But, do not overlook the standards: worms seem to work quite regularly and salmon eggs are usually very productive in the spring.

For kids, I highly recommend a small chunk of night crawler on a small hook with no weight at all. That will usually bring in the Bluegill and Sunfish. And, kids want action. A spinning rod with a de-hooked spinner is just the ticket for a youngster to learn to cast and not endangering himself or others around!

RIGGING:

When using bait, the best all around rigging is to thread either a clear plastic bubble filled with water or a lead egg sinker above a swivel. Then add 12" to 36" of leader onto the down line end of the swivel where you attach your hook. I often attach two hooks (Double Trouble) either with similar bait fished at two different depths or two different types of bait until I find out what is working. Be sure to check your regulations to make sure that Double Trouble is legal on your water.
Using this setup, you should have enough weight to cast quite a long distance and often this is the trick for municipal fisheries, however don't forget that in many cases, fish will be close to the shore and you might be casting over them.

A common mistake is using too much weight hooked directly to your line. You might be able to cast a good distance but you are simply inviting snags. Don't use too much weight.

The secret to casting long distances is not your weight but your line, reel and rod. I am always amazed at how some individuals can't seem to cast more than about 20'! Make sure you have fresh and not too heavy line - 4-6 lb line is fine for trout and a bit bigger for larger species. Make sure your line is filled to just below the rim of the spool. If you are having trouble casting any distance, take it to someone more experienced and have them check it.

Make sure you can cast appropriate distances, if you cant, you are probably wasting your time!

I'll post more about fishing municipal ponds soon, in the mean time. Happy Fishing!

Fenwick

PS Enjoy The Rest Of The Photo's (How About Some Fly Fishing For Utah Carp)?

Photo Utah Carp Bountiful Lake

Photo Bountiful Lake Carp Utah

Photo Carp Bountiful Lake Utah

Photo Utah Carp

Photo Utah Carp

Photo Municipal Pond Murray Utah

Photo Municipal Pond Murray Utah

Photo Willow Pond Murray Utah

Photo Tiger Trout Utah

Photo Spring Bluegill Utah

Photo Arm to Arm Fishermen

April Fly Fishing Secrets Leeches And Woolly Buggers

2009-04-06T19:02:00.008-06:00

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Spring Fly Fishing Brings Out Some Of The Weirdest Looking Insects And Most Colorful Attractors
Photo Mohair Leech
April fly fishing secrets is about to be announced. So get ready to learn about leeches and woolly buggers.

Long, lean and brilliant in color this eggplant color mohair leech is not only bright but the feathers undulate and create a fantastic swimming action in the cold spring water imitating natural aquatic life. Never underestimate the power of illusion created by quality feathers as they flow in the water. In the experienced hands this fly comes to life with movement and poise. Just like a puppet on a string. Skill comes fast to every angler with a little practice combined with trial and error in the presentation. Secrets of leeches and woolly buggers is now revealed for all fishermen to read and enjoy!
Red Hot Fishing Colors Can Create Life.
Brilliant colors attract the fish from all over the water and in all manner of cover. Your best secret for fishing with an attractor pattern is movement with color. Remember the the fly must "dance" to bring out the aggressiveness in the fish and to appear to be alive and desirable. Cold water means a slow retrieve. So use the rod tip to create a "bounce" up and down during the line "strip". Start the line strip as soon as the fly is near the bottom and begin with about a 3-4 inch "jerk".
Rod Tip Must Be Kept Low To The Surface

Keep the rod tip close to the water surface as the fly drifts near the bottom, then "pop it" (rod tip) up quickly about 4-6 inches just before you begin the retrieve. This action creates a swimming affect as well as one of the prey trying to escape ! The position of the rod down low keeps consistent tension on the line. Tight lines is the desired affect.
Hooking Secrets That Keep The Fish On

So when you set the hook, pull the rod along the surface of the water, not "up" in the air. Test this concept before you lose a fish. The "up" direction lifts the line off the water and there is no hooking action. Pulling the rod back and parallel to the water surface keeps the tension in place and the hook in the fish.
Repeat The Action For Success

After the retrieve is complete, lower the rod down near the surface to allow the fly to return to the lowest point near the bottom. Watch your line to make sure the fly is down, and "pop" the rod tip again and start the retrieve process all over again. The fish will usually strike as the fly is falling. This early in the Spring a cruising fish in a large pool, pond or lake will likely "pull" the fly sideways as it feeds on anything in the area. So be prepared for some "light" strikes and pay close attention to the line moving from one side to the other.
Adjust Your Weight To Water Speed and Depth

Note there is no "bead head" for weight so this fly can have a small snail sinker placed anywhere from just above the eye of the hook to 6-8 inches up the line from the eye. This style of no bead also allows the angler to adjust the weight used with various size sinkers depending on water current and the desired speed of decent to carry the fly down. Another example of a secret to fly presentation is proper line weighting. Multiple small sinkers several feet apart creates a different presentation of a fly with an equal amount of weight but only used in a single sinker located closer to the fly.
Blazing Red Belly With An Orange Tail Just For Spring!!!
Photo Spring Tiger Trout Utah
Tiger trout are taking on that bright red and orange belly for the Spring spawn. The tips of their fins are tinted red too, just like the Spring colors of the brook trout (the Tigers mother). I love the black lines that flow like the cut out lines in a jigsaw puzzle across the Tigers body highlighted with an alternating white and green background. Notice the perfect tail of a wild trout. It hasn't been worn round like fish from a hatchery.

Photo Spring Spawning Tiger Trout

Photo Bead Head Leech

As Blue As The Cold Water It may be light blue now but once it is introduced into the water the leech will darken up and be easily seen over a long distance. Moving in a jerky pattern over a weed bed, off of a concealment by the bank or just through a deep hole or pool this attractor pattern says it loud and clear "come and get me".
Why Bright Fly Colors Are Effective !

The pioneers used to call early spring the "lean times". Meaning is was a time to plant and not harvest plus most if not nearly all the winter supply was used up by now. Not only for man but for the animal world too. Spring trout were fattening up nicely because "love was in the air". It was time to spawn and they had to put on some extra weight to be ready. That meant eat everything available. So they do. Bright colors are used to attract fish throughout a large area, the area the fish can see. So you want to work the patterns slow, remember the fish are slow too, so they need some time after they see your fly to attack the target. If it moves too fast, they are not interested, fast moving food requires too much work for very little reward.
Photo Gold Bead Head Red Leech
Marabou is a perfect material for imitating a swimming insect or fish. As the leech is moving toward the fisherman the feather lays down in a streamline pattern creating a very sleek looking body. As the rod tip "jigs" and the fly slows down it's forward motion the feathers flow away from the body like a wing opening in all directions. This affect looks like the fly is slowing down while presenting a much bigger prize to any predators in the area. The marabou actually undulates creating the appearance of gills and external fins. What a fantastic illusionist. The perfect puppet in the hands of even the most inexperienced fisherman.

Site, Smell And Laterals
Site is the trouts ability to see the fly from the area it is hiding or crusing aroung in. Heavy weed cover limits the fishes ability to see too far except in the feeding lane. So make your presentation bright and in the lane for the best chances of getting a hit.

Smell means keep your hands smelling like the surroundings. Rub mud on your hands when you enter the water and tie on your first fly. Place mud on the leader, tippet and the fly. Get the plastic smell watered down, and don't worry the mud will wash off and leave the fly looking fine. Your fly must smell like the surroundings the fish are in.

Laterals, the side areas of the fish that sense food in the water. It works like radar and the fish can identify your fly by it's movement. The fish have a this keensense that picks up motion in the water to assist in their hunting ability. Large flies set off a larger target than do small flies. Take advantage of this sense and let the fish know you have something worthwhile for them to feed on.

Next week we will have some more tips and secrets for April fly fishing.

Spring Fly Fishing And How To Read A Stream

2009-03-15T22:01:00.031-06:00

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout

So it's time to take stock of just what flies the fish are feeding on at your favorite fishing grounds in Utah. This means having the patience and taking the time to look under some rocks, in the weeds and yes in the mouth and throat of the fish you catch. Taking this approach will assure more success and less frustration while you are on your favorite body of water fly fishing whether you are using dry flies or nymphs or streamers.

What's That Hiding Under Those Rocks ?

Take a moment and turn over a few rocks in the shallow area's as you enter the stream or river. In early spring you may have to move several before you see some life. But it's there. Leeches, and worm like larvae spend up to two years in this state of their life before maturing and leave the water as an adult. So fish are you used to seeing and eating them year round. Notice the colors and size so you can match some patterns from your fly box. Of course the fish don't turn over rocks to find these guys, but rising water, changing currents and less than sure footed fisherman move the rocks and send this food down the stream to hungry trout.

I Don't See Anything In These Weeds...

Just like checking those rocks for life, take a hand full of weeds and place them in some water. A small plate or dish even a cup will do. Don't get lazy and hold the weeds in front of your eyes to find the bugs. You won't find them ! They are attached and holding on for dear life while you dangle them over the stream. Plus the branches of the weeds help to cover them up. So take some time place the weeds in a plate, add some water and amazingly the critters will begin to move around so you can see them. The first time you do this you will be astonished at the variety and numbers of insects that are alive and moving around. It doesn't require a lot of work and you just may say to yourself "hey, why haven't I ever noticed this before" ?

Photo Fish Stomach Pump and Contents

His Mouth Is Empty So He Must Not Be Eating

O.k. you tried the rocks and the weeds now let's see what the trout are really eating today. So you selected a fly from your collection that looked pretty close to the critters you found under the rocks and in the weeds. Next you caught a fish ! Before you release him check out what is in his throat ! Be-sure-to-use-the-miss-named-"stomach pump". A simple little unit that looks like a "turkey baster". The trick is you don't suction the fishes stomach (any food that deep down is usually digested beyond recognition) you suction just down inside the throat. Fill the dropper with water, insert into the back of the throat and gently past the closure of skin separating the mouth and the throat leading to the stomach (esophagus for the technical crowd). Press the bulb to fill the area with water, release the bulb to "suck" up the contents. Gently release the fish, and empty the bulb into a dish, tray or cup of water. Wow ! Look at what this guy eats and most of them are still alive (fish don't chew their food like we do, they "gulp" and swallow). Now you know exactly what fly pattern and colors to use on your next cast. With a little research you can catch a lot of really nice fish.

Where Are Those Spring Fish Hiding ?

Spring trout are usually a little lethargic so they won't stray too far from deep water usually right below a riffle and a run. The small to medium fish will be located in the run, not as deep or as much cover as a hole. But just right for this size of fish to eat and hide. The hole in this picture is clearly displayed at the bottom of the photo with the run in the middle. Cast up stream into the run and let the current carry your fly down into the hole where the big ones are waiting. If you have taken the time to study the food supply you will placed the correct fly on your line and have the best chance of catching the big one.

Photo River Riffles, Run, Pools and Hole With Cover

The Rivers & Streams Are All Muddy

Spring brings mud first to the upper streams and rivers, so fish middle and lower sections to keep in the clear water. As spring begins to end the mud moves down to the lower sections so it's time to move to the higher elevations for clear water. Use this rule and you will always find clear streams and rivers to fish in.

Where The Streams Are Clear

Just below any dam will be clear year round and offer water that maintains a near constant water temperature. Don't forget these great locations for year round access to good trout fly fishing.

How To Read A Stream

Photo Trout Cover

Riffles: The shallow water that is flowing over rocks and the stream or river bed. The smorgasbord preparation area for hungry trout. This is where the main stay of aquatic life is living and growing. It is the buffet table for trout.

Runs: If the riffle is the buffet table the run is the fast water that is a conveyor belt delivering the food to the trout. Small and medium fish are located in this area.

Pools: Located just below a run it's the deep water that provides the cover big trout need to move around in and feed. Small and medium fish along with insects in this area are all prey for the big boys.

Cover: Around the pools you will see fallen trees, boulders, rocks and cuts in the banks. These all provide protection for the big fish. They can sit in a protected area out of sight and out of the main flow of the current and be ready to ambush whatever comes by that looks appetizing.

Active Fish : Use these tips and work the water and remember not all fish are active all the time. So move to new locations. Don't forget the trout cover for excellent places of ambush for large fish.

So Get Out & Find Some Action !

Not every run or pool will contain active fish, so be prepared to keep on moving to find the active ones. If you have done your home work and selected your fly patterns using the information noted from above you will greatly increase your chances of success, remember it's called fly fishing not catching.

March fly fishing in Utah for Rainbow and Tiger Trout

2009-03-08T18:02:00.029-06:00

Photo Rainbow Trout Photo Utah Tiger Trout

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout

Photo Trophy Utah Rainbow Trout

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout
Look at these 22" "+" trout.

Rainbows in Utah look pretty good to this time of year. Even if it is windy Photo Lunker Rainbow Trout and
cold as a warlocks heart ! Hey the sun was out and so are the trout! Now that is one fat rainbow trout. He attacked the sculpin streamer and flew out of the water for some great aerial stunts before he was netted. I love releashing these guys back into the water for someone to have the same type of experience. Sculpin, muddlers, mohair leeches were the main course of the day.

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout
Yes it was windy & cold...but this is the reward for the effort. Each fish is gently removed from the water in a net made of wide rubber strips to create a solid support. The net is also shallow, just deep enough so the big fish can't jump out and injure themselves. The fisherman leads the fish while on the line to the "net man"

Photo Utah Rainbow Trout who scoops up the fish and presents the net to the fisherman to excise the hook, remove the fish and pose while the net man readies the camera and takes the photo. After the photo is taken the net man sets the camera down and picks the net back up, the fish is placed gently into the net and returned to the water and allowed to recover before being released. Time for the fish to be out of the water...one minute or less ! We have had a lot of practice as a team and have some great photo's to show for our work.

Photo Trophy Utah Rainbow Trout

Oh Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Utah Spring Fly Fishing. Yes, as you can see....I forgot to put on the sunblock and picked up some sunburn to go along with the wind burn.

Photo's Utah Rainbow Trout

Were you all smiles this weekend ?
Utah is the happiest place to be when the fish are looking like this!!!
Photo Lunker Rainbow Trout Utah

O.K. not all smiles, I was getting tired and needed a nap. Catching all these B-I-G Trout is making me sleepy. Besides I had been casting a fly against the wind most of the day. Fenwick has a sore right arm from pulling in all those big trout so he is getting a little feisty to.

Photo's March Utah Rainbow Trout

Yes sir, I mighty fine windy day on the water. "Who says trout don't bite Photo Lunker Rainbow Trout Utah on windy days" ??? They are wrong !

Time for that nap ! See ya next week !

Photo Rainbow Trout