Summer 2008 Newsletter
Catt’ Creek Spring 2008
Anglers enjoyed great spring steelhead fishing on the Catt. Despite being out of town most of April, I was keeping close tabs on the steelhead fishing this spring. Reports from my friends and guides were of excellent conditions on Cattaraugus creek with good numbers of fish being taken throughout the creek. Water flows and clarity cooperated to make this happen. The fishing continued well into May when the bass slowly started creeping into the creek, and I landed my last steelhead of the year on June 6. We have now caught steelhead 11 months of the year here in WNY, with July being the only holdout. Keep in mind that it is not the norm to catch fish in June, but sometimes they are there and if you’re willing to work and search a bit, provided water temps don’t get too warm to be detrimental to the fish, you can be rewarded with a fish or two. We normally plan on having good steelhead fishing thru mid-May. Plus, the bass fishing is hot from mid-late May thru June. These are lake run smallmouth bass that can get to 4-5 lbs and are very aggressive. I believe part of the reason for these late running steelhead is stocking by the DEC of the Skamania strain of fish, which are a later running fish more tolerant of warmer water. Also, the Catt is a long river by our eastern standards and there are many cool tributaries where the steelhead spawn, and which remain cool well into the summer. The fish returning to these tribs are in no rush to return to the lake due to the ideal water temps found in them. Hence some fish begin their journey back to the pond in May or even June.The upcoming fall season should be a good one. Lets hope for a little more water than last fall (though the fishing on the catt last fall was tremendous) so that more fish enter the Catt earlier in the season and spread out more quickly, and also so that the smaller tribs get better runs of fish in October and November.Fall Steelhead 2008
Now is the time to book your dates for fall steelhead fishing in WNY. We already have many days booked for the upcoming fall season, so contact us to reserve dates for guided trips or for either of the streamside cabins.Here's the schedule for our steelhead camps in the Fall of 2008. The camps include overnight lodging for two nights, two days of guided fishing, two breakfasts & lunches, and one dinner, cooked after a day on the water at our streamside cabin. Groups of three or six work best, though single anglers are welcome. Each camp has six total anglers, and two guides. Available dates in 2008 are November 18-19 & 20-21. Our six other camp are full. Note: you must be physically fit and able to hike over a mile each day over rough terrain.
New Regulations!
Three regulations were submitted, approved and will take effect for the 2008 regulation cycle: 1) banning all chumming with fish eggs, and 2) banning the sale of trout eggs statewide and 3) limiting possession of trout eggs to a quart per angler. The purposes of these regulation proposals are to stop the illegal stripping of trout for eggs, prevent over harvest, and stop the illegal discard of fish carcasses. They also help promote natural reproduction of steelhead in our streams, which is the ultimate management goal of the NYS DEC.
These regulations will take effect in New York State on October 1, 2008.
Book Review
Reflections on the Water: Fly Fishing Tales and Tips from a Seasoned Angler (2007)Written by Rick Kustich, Reflections on the Water is one angler’s account of memories and thoughts experienced in half a lifetime of fly fishing. In the introduction, Rick Kustich writes: “The passion of the pursuit has fueled a wonderfully fulfilling journey that provides influence, significance and levity. The challenge of this book was to portray these elements in words.” Join Rick on his journey through these written pages. I’ve read it, and it is excellent. To order, contact the Oak Orchard Fly Shop @ 716-626-1323.Need a partner for a fishing trip to split the costs of lodging and guides? What about an angling companion? Over the years I have spoken to many anglers that really desire to go on a saltwater trip or a western trout fishing adventure, but ultimately end up not going because they just can’t find a partner to go with them. Either their friends don’t like fishing that much (get new friends!) or their schedules just don’t match.We can pair you up with other like-minded anglers so that you benefit from the double occupancy rates that all lodges offer. This can be a huge savings, usually between one third to one half the cost of the single rate. Pairing up with a partner is also an opportunity to meet some really nice people who want the same kind of experience you do in a fishing vacation. It also provides a way to have spouses and friends join but not HAVE to fish. Furthermore, it's a great chance to learn from a new fishing friend and to generate a relationship that may lead to other trips. Plus, it's nice to have someone along who can capture your fish-of-a-lifetime on film.Slide Shows Online
Click on this link to see our updated slide shows of steelhead fishing in western New York, affordable Bahamas bonefishing, British Columbia dry fly action, the Seychelles and our hosted adventures. We also have a short bonefishing video from this year's trip to Eleuthera.Click here to view them: Below are the new rates for rental of our cabin on Cattaraugus creek, effective for the Fall 2008 season. We have not raised the rates since the cabin was built over four years ago, but found it necessary due to the increasing costs associated with maintaining it.We have also acquired an additional 37 acres on the creek & now have 60 acres on Cattaraugus creek, which can all be fished when staying at the cabin.CABIN NIGHTLY RATES
*During October & November the cabin is only available in conjunction with fully guided fly fishing trips.
*Rentals are for Fly Fishing, Catch & Release only.
*$100 for one person, $35 for each additional person, up to five people. A $50 cleaning fee is charged for each stay.
Check-in time is 3pm. Check-out time is 10am.
Fly Fishing at Night
by Dan Pangaldi
Federation of Fly Fishers
Certified Casting Instructor
Recently a student asked the question can you fly fish at night? Of course the answer is "yes".
Which brings us to a word about fly fishing at night.It's an issue of SAFETY when fly fishing at night which I'm certain all of you are aware of.
Tips on fly fishing safely at night
One should shorten his/her cast. There's no need to max out every cast. Many times fish are very close and we cast over them possibly spooking them. A shorter cast is safer and easily made in the dark.
When wading at night for any species make an effort to know the water & tides you're fishing and don't take any chances crossing unfamiliar water; there may be a trough or depression you won't be able to negotiate safely and currents are tough to read at night. Wear a flotation vest.
Don't wade too deeply for three reasons: 1) the fish are close and usually a short to medium cast will suffice, thus you'll spook the super close fish (not a safety issue, but a factor determining your success for that night) 2) the danger of losing your footing, taking a wake or wave over your waders and being swept in is obviously greater 3) it's much easier and safer if you position yourself for your casts from shore. Also, the tide can fool you more easily on those dark new moon nights. If you wet wade, deep wading at night may still spell trouble, as wading boots, slip-on cleats, cleated shoes etc. are bulky and hard to kick in.
Some other safety concerns:
*Use a shorter leader
*Bend down or file barbs off.
*Wear safety glasses.
*Try not to fish alone.
*Indicate a location or area were you will be fishing to someone and if your location changes notify that individual or someone who knows that individual.
We all have loved ones that cherish us, and no fish is worth not coming home to those loved ones.
CCO Fly Fishing Travel
Please consider us when booking a fishing trip. Let us work for you and help you plan your next fishing adventure. Our assistance does not add any additional cost to your trip.
Whether you want to fish for bonefish in the Bahamas, permit, snook and tarpon in Mexico or Belize, bonefish & trevally in the Seychelles or South Pacific, salmon & trout in Russia or Alaska, wild trout in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Argentina or Chile, or steelhead in British Columbia, we can help you fulfill your dream and ensure that your trip is well planned and organized.
For more information, or to book a trip, contact us anytime @ 716-479-2327 or e-mail [email protected]
Grand Bahama, Bahamas November 1-6, 2008
Ragged Island, Bahamas February 6-13, 13-20 & 20-27 3 weeks full
Crooked Island, Bahamas February 21-28
Eleuthera, Bahamas DIY April 4-11 & 11-18, 2009
Tarpon Odyssey, Mexico giants & babies June 2009
Catskills Trout Camp June 2009
June 2009Fernie, British Columbia August 2009
Catskills Trout Camp
Our 2nd annual trip to the Catskills this June was a blast. Water conditions were much better than last year, and we had good hatches in the am and again in the evenings. During the day we were able to bring up some good browns in the faster pocket water of the Beaverkill on green drake emergers. All of our fishing was done on the Beaverkill river. Stay tuned for next year’s dates.
4th Annual Fall Party
Our 4th annual fall party in Zoar Valley this year with the Oak Orchard Fly Shop will be held in late September. We'll have great micorbrew, grilled chicken, italian sausage and hot dogs, Spey casting demos, casting competitions for prizes, a bonfire, and hopefully one of our special guest Alpacas! We hope to see you there. More details to follow this summer.
Trip Hosts Dan Pangaldi & Rick Kustich
As our hosted travel business grows, we will be adding more hosted trips to exciting destinations. I would like to welcome two great anglers and good guys who will be hosting trips for Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters. Dan Pangaldi & Rick Kustich will each be hosting one to two trips per year to saltwater destinations, while I will continue to host the remaining adventures.Having a trip host to set up & organize the adventure, coordinate travel plans, ensure that all guests are well taken care of at the lodge, provide emergency gear and flies and offer assistance with casting, rigging, and angling technique is what makes our hosted trips so popular.We are there to assist you in any way possible. The other reason our hosted trips are so popular is that we bring together fun and interesting men & women who get to share an exciting angling adventure in beautiful locales. Many new friendships have been forged on our hosted trips. To read more about Dan and Rick click here:Credit Cards Accepted
You can now pay with your credit card via PayPal. If you decide to use this option, let us know and we’ll e-mail an invoice with instructions to pay online. Or just visit paypal.com and pay to our e-mail [email protected]. It’s fast and easy. Helpful Tips
- I have read tips about carrying photocopies of credit cards and the photo page of passports. In addition, it's a good idea to scan these things into a .jpg or .pdf and email them to yourself or store them at a readily accessible remote site such as Yahoo or Hotmail. That way, if the originals and/or copies get lost or stolen, you can still access the information at a US embassy or Internet cafe. (from Medjetassist)
- If heavy rains leave the upper steelhead section on Cattaraugus creek off color or too muddy to fish, the lower section on the Seneca Reservation is often clear or at least fish-able. This is especially true if the rains came the night before and were heavier in the upper reaches. The muddy water can take a full day to reach the lower sections, buying you some time to fish before the whole creek is blown out.
- Never take steelhead out of the water over dry land. I always net the fish in the water and remain there, only moving to a shallow location for a photo, but remaining in the water. Fish can be held out of the water while standing or kneeling in the water, with the net underneath the fish. That way if the fish is dropped, it lands in the water and not on the rocks or in the mud. If you don't use a net, guide the fish into the shallows until she turns on her side, and then you can approach to remove the hook, take a quick photo and then release. Always remain in the water with the fish.
Airtravel Tips
Article courtesy of medjetassist
In light of multiple airline stories ranging from $15 for the first checked bag to $2 sodas, I thought I would offer up a few tips that will come in handy now that everybody and their mother will be just packing carry-ons. Here is the list
First, get yourself two good 20″ soft-side suitcases. These will fit in most overheads and on smaller planes you can check at the tarmac. Why make sure it is a soft-side? They squish better… Look into a courier service. Legendary travel expert Peter Greenberg once told me at dinner that he never travels with his bags. Just Google “Ship your luggage” and you will have many options to choose from. Skins - I really want some of these and plan on getting some. Shoes are most definitely the bulkiest items to deal with. These revolutionary kicks provide you with one hard shell that fits your foot, and then you buy the skins to slip over them. You could pack gym shoes, dress shoes and casual dinner shoes all in the same space of a traditional pair of dress shoes. The downside is they are hard to find. But I am on the hunt. Pack your own snacks and buy your water and sodas at the airport - past security… Some airlines, I won’t mention names but they know who they are, have gotten so lazy they will not even offer a beverage service if the flight is an hour or less. And others will charge you now just for a soda. BTW, in Europe they will serve full beverage and snacks on a 30 min flight for free. Makes you wonder why our service in the States is so bad… Pack multiple sets of quart bags for your liquids. That way if you're home for a day and out the next you don’t have to worry about unpacking and repacking - I just grab my other pre-packed bag and go. Be an A-Lister - If you fly Southwest you will need a good place in line so use your smart phone to check-in from the road. It is as easy as browsing to http://mobile.southwest.com. You can print your pre-assigned boarding pass at the airport. Check the overhead bins on both sides. Sometimes they are larger on one side of the aircraft than the other. Be nice and use your space under the seat. We will all need and appreciate the bin space so don’t use more than you need. Don’t carry more than you can lift. Most flight attendants can’t or won’t help you. Oh, and if you see some poor soul on crutches give them a hand. Trust me it is not fun having an entire row of first class passengers and a flight attendant look at you in wonderment to see if you can actually get your backpack up there by yourself. If you can still manage to keep a sense of humor about this whole situation, check out this YouTube video that is being sent around now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCz8he36hsk. Angling by the #’s
*The sport fishing industry supports twice as many jobs as the US postal service.
*Spending by hunters and anglers is more than the combined revenues of Microsoft, Google, Ebay & Yahoo.
June carp from Niagara River
Fly fishing for these guys can
be fun!
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” Henry Thoreau
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