FinFollower

Stories from Clark – Part One

August 21, 2019 by Leigh Leave a Comment

Note: This is the first of four posts on my trip to Wyoming. Over 4 days we fished the Lower Shoshone, Upper Shoshone, Greybull, and Clark’s Fork Rivers.

Our first day of fishing was a float trip on the lower Shoshone River with North Fork Anglers outfitters of Cody, WY.

If you’re not familiar with the Shoshone, it is a 100-mile long river that cuts through northern Wyoming. Its headwaters are in the Absaroka Range in Shoshone National Forest. It ends when it runs into the Big Horn. The river is divided by the Buffalo Bill Dam. We fished the lower Shoshone first and waded the upper the next day. That trip is the second installment of this series.

As we walked from the shop to the truck, our guide Mike told us we were basically going down the hill. He was right. We drove a short distance to a public launch in downtown Cody.

He quickly rigged us with a hopper/dropper setups, and within a few minutes we were leaving Cody and on our way. It was sunny, mid-80s, blue sky day, perfect for a float.

Mike basically grew up in Cody, so he knew the water well. He also provided some of the local history and respected private land rights, an important consideration when fishing in Wyoming (or anywhere else).

We were into fish early on. Big browns and rainbows took the dropper and protested vehemently all the way to the boat.

Mike consistently put us on fish, and knew when to change the rig or move to a new spot. I stayed in the rear of the raft all day, but felt that I had equal chances to catch fish.

This is not a river that is easily waded. In addition to private land restrictions, the water runs fast and there is very little bank. At times it felt more like a rafting trip.

For someone visiting from the northeast, the scenery was a major part of the experience.

The time flew. We caught fish throughout the float, and found it hard to believe it was after 5 when we reached the pullout. It was a great day, and we both have nothing but good things to say about Mike and North Fork Anglers.

If you are considering a float trip in the Cody area, we would recommend the lower Shoshone.

A Note on Traveling:

We stayed at VRBO property in Clark, 3o mins north of Cody. We had a great host. She told stories about the area, lent tools to fix a broken reel, and most important shared her bear spray. We were only a mile from the Clark fish hatchery. Employees there were a great source of info. I would recommend this property. It is about 2 hours south of Billings. Less than a mile to public access for the Clark’s Fork. If you want to learn more, email me.

Enjoy!

A Day Floating The Delaware

June 25, 2019 by Leigh 4 Comments

Spent the better part of the day and well into the evening floating the Delaware. It was my first time in a drift boat. Even with my mediocre casting, we were consistently on fish throughout the day, primarily wild browns. These fish know how to bend a rod and take notice of the slightest imperfection in presentation. But once they are on the line, be prepared to fight them all the way to the boat.

We booked a day trip with Cross Current Guide Service through Whitetail Fly Shop. We met our guide Tim at the shop took a brief ride to the launch. I was expecting to put on waders and boots, but he explained that the river was a little high and we probably wouldn’t touch the water. I stayed in shorts and sandals until dark. It was a warm day and I was comfortable the entire trip.

Tim did exactly what a guide is supposed to do: set expectations for the day, ask us about our skills, put us on fish, pick the right flies, and help us improve our casting and presentation skills. I had some trouble mending from the boat and he demonstrated and then guided me on how to do it. He also navigated around a number of other boats and was spotting fish and positioning us well before we even saw a rise.

We fished dry flies all day. I would call this target angling, because we only cast to rising fish. Most that we caught were in the 14″ – 16″ range, but the one above was 19″. We went well into the darkness and really only stopped because we could no longer see the fish or our flies.

My only complaint is that even after spending over 8 hours on the water and fishing well past sunset, the day seemed too short. If the Delaware is not on your bucket list, add it. I would also recommend Tim and the Cross Current team if you are planning to hire a guide.

Enjoy!

What Are They Bitin’ On?

June 15, 2019 by Leigh 2 Comments

One of the most famous lines from “The Movie”, and often what we ask or secretly want to ask is, “What are they bitin’ on?”

Last night was epic, catching trout after trout from late afternoon until dark. I used mostly dries, but nymphed long enough to catch one (Note: Wanted to prove that I could do it. I’m a lousy nympher.)

So what were they bitin’ on? In between these pics, I’ve included links to some of the recipes I tied and used for last night’s session.

Sulphur Gnat – I started using Jim Misiura’s pattern two summers ago, and will tie it on during a sulphur or any evening hatch. Last night it was slammed so hard that the hackle unraveled.

Sulphur Comparadun – This was my first time using it. Caught the first fish of the evening on it within 3 minutes of hitting the water. The Tightline video series is one of the best I’ve found.

Rusty Spinner – One of my most frequently used flies.

Caddis – Another Tightline video recipe, but there are so many out there. This was the last fly of the night that I tied on (primarily because I could still see it). I picked up 3 hungry trout looking for a meal.

Bonus: This Peacock Caddis Pattern is one of my favorites.

Dry fly season is here! Hope you’re getting out on these long evenings. Enjoy!

Starting June the Right Way

June 2, 2019 by Leigh Leave a Comment

It has been way too long since I’ve written a post.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I’ve been fishing. Most trips have been to the local bass pond or short jaunts to smaller rivers where I’ve picked up a few trout on streamers or nymphs.

The first day of June was largely dedicated to yard work, playing catch up from what a long, wet spring left behind. By the afternoon I was spent, but the Housatonic was at 1130 cfs, only slightly above my personal limit of 1,000. What the heck.

I packed the fish+mobile with gear, cooler and Tippet. We headed west along the backroads that take us to the Housatonic. Along the way we saw a handful of anglers wading and 3 drift boats along a relatively short section. Two of the boats were playing fish, so I thought my chances would be good.

I arrived to find that I would have my favorite pool to myself – I thought. Within seconds I was joined by two other anglers – one casting dries, the other nymphs. It’s a large pool so we spread out and gave each other room.

I watched both men hookup within minutes and figured that the fish wanted mixed grill.

I started out nymphing, which brought a few quality fish to hand. After watching sporadic rises, I tied on a rusty spinner, which also brought in a number of healthy browns. By dusk I was satisfied and planning a return trip.

Tippet is always happy to join in, especially if the adventure includes pre- and post-fishing walks. She spent half of this trip in the backpack wading with me, and half in the car watching. I park in the shade and crack the windows so she can take in some fresh air and nap as needed.

Before leaving I took a couple of pics. Even without the excellent fishing, this is truly a beautiful spot. I feel lucky to live so close to the Housatonic and other fishing and hiking opportunities.

Heading home, I always stop before driving thru the covered bridge. It feels like I’m leaving another world. And I am.

Public Service Announcement: While I was home unloading the fishmobile, I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck. I felt a small smooth bump. It started to move. I pulled it from my neck. Yes, it was a tick. I live in Connecticut, which means we take every tick encounter seriously due to Lyme’s disease. I’ve had Lyme’s before, and don’t wish to test my luck again. If you live in a state with similar concerns, please take every precaution to protect your family and pets from these stealthy terrors. It was a mild winter and a wet spring, so expect them to be in full force.

That said, get out and fish soon. Enjoy!

Redington Butter Stick Redux

December 23, 2018 by Leigh 2 Comments

Back in 2013 I reviewed the Redington Butter Stick. To see that review, click here. In the 5 years that have passed, they’ve made some nice improvements that I’ll mention during this review.

I’ve always been a fan of fiberglass rods, especially for kayak fishing and small streams, so I was very interested to see what updates they would make to a pretty solid offering.

Last time I worked with a 3wt. This time I went with a 4wt for better distance casting and a little more backbone. The 4wt kept the flexibility that I expect from a Butter Stick.

One of the first things I noticed is that the rod has a new look. I would call it retro, since it reminds me of some of my barn finds. That said, the quality of the blank, guide wraps, grip and reel seat reflect the benefits of modern technology and quality control. It’s a good looking, well made stick.

For this test, we paired the rod with a Redington ZERO Reel and RIO Gold fly line.

If you’ve read my other reviews, you know I am a big fan of RIO lines. The Gold line is no exception.

The RIO Gold product sheet says that it has incredible loop stability, a unique taper that easily loads fly line at close range and perfect presentation of flies between sizes #22 and #2. I would agree with these statements, and add that the overall quality is in line with other RIO products.

The ZERO reel is light for a large arbor reel, and the click system is smooth and easy to use. The Dreamcicle Orange color is an added benefit and compliments the colors of the Butter Stick.

I started by taking the Butter Stick to the local paddling lake, my go-to for rod testing. It allows me to cast from different perspectives. The wind kept me from staying long, but using a thin mint woolly bugger, I caught this perch.

Next stop was a nearby farm pond. The winds subsided, and I proceeded to pick up a string of these. The Butter Stick’s sensitivity allowed me to detect the subtle takes.

What I noticed about the new Butter Stick is that it has the backbone to bring a fish to the net quickly, while delivering the soft presentation you’ve come to expect, even when chucking streamers. Distance casting is solid and straight for a fiberglass rod, yet it still has that familiar waggle.

The ZERO reel complements the Butter Stick, both functionally and aesthetically. It’s light and effortless to retrieve. I did give it a chance to play a fish and it was happy to see how smoothly it performed.

I attribute some of the softness of delivery directly to the RIO Gold line. The quality and performance of these lines is undeniable.

What I like about this combo:

The Butter Stick did well even in windy conditions. I used it to cast dry flies, nymphs and streamers. It delivers a smooth presentation, solid distance casting, but never lets me forget the forgiving nature of fiberglass
The ZERO reel feels like it was made for this combo. The simplicity of the click system adds to its appeal
RIO Gold line loads well for short range but also shoots effortlessly for distance and target casts

The bottom line: If you’re a fiberglass rod enthusiast, or are looking to add glass to your collection, the Butter Stick is a great choice. I thought it would be hard to improve on the original Butter Stick, but Redington has done it.

I’m not the only fan of the Butter Stick. Check out the reviews below.