CCO Fly Fishing Spring/Summer Newsletter 2013
Playing, Landing and Releasing Fish
Thy Rod and Thy Arm. When playing fish, think of your arm as an extension of the fly rod. Keeping your rod tip high and arm extended above your head provides additional shock-absorption and makes it less likely that your line or leader will touch an underwater obstacle. Larger fish, especially once they are closer, can be beaten more quickly with sideways pressure, but extending your rod arm when they surge away is good practice.
Avoiding Break-Offs. Sudden movements of a fish or setting the hook too hard are more likely than a steady hard pull to cause a tippet to break, because the tensile strength of monofilament and fluorocarbon is greatly reduced by high-speed stretching.
Don’t Touch That Drag. Don’t adjust your drag during the playing of a fish unless you are very familiar with the drag system. It’s almost impossible to measure the amount of pressure your drag is adding once a fish is on the line.
Practice for Big Fish. If you plan on fighting big fish, first learn how much pressure you can put on a fish by tying your tippet to a fence post or other stationary object, reeling the line tight, palming the spool, and pulling as hard as you can without breaking the tippet. Practice keeping your rod at a 45-degree or lesser angle to the fish to ensure that you do not break the rod and that you are pulling with the bend in the butt of the rod and not the tip.
The Saltwater Strike. In saltwater, swinging your rod tip up or to the side when you see fish take the fly — especially if you are not first tight to the fish — can cause the hook to pull and make it much harder to get a good hook set. Unless a fish is speeding toward you as it eats the fly, feel for the fish with your stripping hand first, then raise the rod only after putting tension on the line with your stripping hand.
Always play and land fish as quickly as you can, but especially in warmer water, when additional stress may prevent a released fish from surviving.
Play and Land Fish Quickly. Always play and land fish as quickly as you can, but especially in warmer water, when additional stress may prevent a released fish from surviving. Most trout prefer water that is 50-68 degrees fahrenheit, and brook trout and cutthroats prefer even colder water. If you know that the water where you are trout fishing is 70 degrees, pay particular attention to releasing fish quickly, and if the water is 75 degrees or higher, simply don’t fish. Bass and saltwater fish are more tolerant of heat, but you should take special care in reviving any fish that is landed in water over 90 degrees.
Releasing Fish. You don’t usually need to handle a fish or take it out of the water in order to remove a hook or take a picture. Remove flies with forceps or a similar device, and use a net rather than your hands if you must control the fish.
Check Your Fly. Especially when casting often or in strong winds, examine your tippet and fly every four or five casts. Wind-knots (overhand knots) weaken your tippet by at least 50 percent, and tippets can get tangled in your fly or even knotted around the hook bend — things you won’t notice on a fly that is 40 feet away. Also check the action of the fly on the surface or in the water next to you; trout flies that don’t float well or straight and saltwater flies that “foul” (have materials wrapped around the hook bend) often prevent fish from eating a well-chosen fly.
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.
Elk River, British Columbia
We are gearing up for another trip to Fernie, BC this August, fishing the Elk river and it's tributaries. This is our 8th year going, and we still have not explored all of the streams and rivers the area has to offer. The dry fly rules here, and we explore remote and pristine streams for westslope cutthroat, bull trout and some rainbows and browns!This trip is sold out.Stay tuned for our trip report and photos in August!Alberta Trout Odyssey
We are hosting an August trip to fish the rivers and streams of Alberta, Canada. We'll be fishing the mighty Bow river, and smaller streams such as the Crowsnest, Oldman, Castle and Waterton. This trip is sold out. Stay tuned for our trip report and pics from our Alberta trout Odyssey!Testimonials from our 2013 trips:
"Vince, Thank you for introducing me to the spectacular opportunity Inagua offers to the DIY flyfisher, to wade for and hook big Bones and Tarpon in the same day! Our accommodations were convenient, clean and well tended; the food was fresh and plentiful; and all of the people we met were friendly and delighted we were there. But above all, the vast flats we had to ourselves day after day made the trip remarkable. I have been to other islands in the Bahamas, and this was well worth the visit. I plan to go back!"
Randy Oppenheimer-Buffalo"Hi Vince, I wanted to thank you for organizing a truly memorable trip to Crooked Island. This was my second use of your services. Both the Ivels DIY trip and the hosted Crooked Is. trip far exceeded my expectations. The guides at C.I. did a great job under difficult weather conditions, one of the more enjoyable days was the day we couldn't Bonefish but instead fished for Mutton Snappers. Its great that there are alternatives.
Dan did a fantastic job of coordinating the trip and offering his insights. It was great to have him along on two of the days, 2 guides for the price of one.He and guide Kenny are a lot of laughs when they're together.
The food at Willies was A1, with even seconds offered, and probably the best I've experienced in many trips to the Bahamas over the years. The accommodations at the Villas were fine. You can't beat oceanfront.
I would surely love to do the trip again."
Charles Wahl-Eastham MA"Vince, the late March trip to Crooked was nothing less than spectacular! Although the weather could have been a bit better for bonefishing, the excellence of the Landrail Point guides and their knowledge of the flats and creeks put us on fish everyday. The accommodations at Casuarina Villas coupled with the food at Gibson's Lunchroom, hosted by Willy and Tony, was great. Our CCO host, Dan Pangaldi, made sure everything went according to plan, always showing the greatest concern for all members of our group. As we would say on Cape Cod, "he's a "keepah". Don't let this fellow out of your sight!
I've fished with guides for bones on Andros and did a DIY trip to Long Island but Crooked was the best. I could go on but will sum it up by requesting you get me the dates for the 2014 trip as soon as they're available. I'd be disappointed if I were shut out next year. Thanks again for pulling together a great trip.
Bill ReiherOrleans, MA/ Ft. Myers, FL. For more information, or to book a trip, contact us anytime @ 716-479-2327 or e-mail [email protected]
2013 Hosted Trip Photos & Reports
2014 Hosted Trips
Here's our lineup of hosted saltwater trips scheduled for the winter and spring of 2014. If you're considering joining us for a fly fishing adventure, please get in touch now to reserve your spot. Call us at 716-479-2327, or e-mail us. SINGLE ANGLERS WELCOME!! (at double occ. rates)Our January Belize Live aboard trip is full. We have two boats, the Rising Tide and the Mecca, that we'll use to explore the great bounty that the coastal water of Belize offer for Tarpon, snook, permit, bonefish and more!
We are returning to Crooked Island again in 2014 for two weeks. Crooked offers one of the best deals in bonefishing anywhere. Great guides, food and lodging, and a diverse fishing program make Crooked Island a must visit for all anglers. Many of our guests return each year, and some stay for two weeks.
We have added Great Inagua to our list of hosted trips. Let our friend & Native Inaguan Henry Hugh be your host on this extraordinary island in the southern Bahamas that offers top rate bonefishing and tarpon fishing, as well as some permit, snook, and lots of barracuda and jacks.
Your trip host will be available to help with any tackle questions or problems that arise, as well as offering any guidance or advice on fishing techniques. We will have extra gear in the event of equipment failure or breakage. Extra leaders, tippet and flies will be available too. If you need help booking your flight and making travel arrangements, we can help. Our goal is for all guests to have the adventure of a lifetime!
Our hosted trips are great for single anglers, and we'll pair you up with another angler so you can enjoy the double occupancy rates. Our hosts travel with all guests, and we bring extra flies and equipment, so no one will ever be lacking flies, or a good rod and reel in the event of breakage. We're also there to assist in many other ways--from rigging and knots, to fishing techniques and photographs. Our goal is for all guests to have a truly memorable adventure.
Belize Liveaboard (January 29-February 5) Full
Crooked Island, Bahamas (March 15-22 & 22-29)
Catskills Trout Camps (June dates TBD)
Alberta Trout Odyssey (August dates TBD)
Fernie, British Columbia (August dates TBD)
We hope you can make it--these trips are a blast--great fishing, food and camaraderie, and some of the most spectacular scenery anywhere. We accompany all anglers on our hosted trips to help with tackle, rigging, fishing techniques--anything our guests need.
Great Inagua Outback Lodge
Great Inagua offers a true wilderness fishing experience. Remote Oceanside flats and creeks, as well as the interior lakes and their maze of channels and lagoons, offer anglers outstanding opportunities for bonefish, tarpon, barracuda and more species. Above average sized bonefish are the norm here, and the tarpon fishing, with fish running from 5-50 lbs, can be outstanding!
Inagua is Great for the DIY Angler!!
The prolific and varied bird life found in and around the interior lakes adds to Inagua's charm. Thousands of west Indian flamingoes, native Bahama Parrots, the Bahama woodstar hummingbird, Bahama pintails, Brown pelicans, Tri-colored herons, Snowy egrets, Reddish egrets, Stripe-headed tanagers, Cormorants, Roseate spoonbills, American kestrels, and Burrowing owls are a regular sight for anglers. There are also wild donkeys, pigs and goats, but they are wild and reclusive, and only occasionally seen.
Inagua Outback lodge is the result of the hard work and vision of native Inaguan Henry Hugh. Henry's dream after he retired from Batelco (the phone company of the Bahamas) was to relax in his own quiet island paradise, far from the daily routine of the island's only settlement, Matthewtown. The lodge is located along a remote section of beach, more than 15 miles from Matthewtown, but within walking distance to good beach and flats fishing. You will be amazed at the celestial display on a clear night--there are no city lights to detract from the magnificence!
Inagua Outback Lodge is powered by wind, with a back-up generator just in case. The comfortable lodge has ceiling fans and a small fridge to keep your kaliks ice cold! Water is supplied by a 500 gallon cistern. The lodge also has superb wi-fi, satellite TV, free international calling and even cell phone coverage!
Watch these HD videos full screen, and select 1080p HD quality prior to playing.
"Almost nothing makes me happier than to leave on a fishing trip."
--Bill Barich
Cattaraugus Creek Spring 2013
The Spring rains kept the Catt a bit high and made for less than ideal fly fishing conditions most of the Spring. The smaller and medium creeks fared better however, and were a good alternative when the Catt did not cooperate. The smallmouth bass began moving into the creeks early this year because of some warm weather we had. Mid April saw decent #'s of bass in the area tribs, and they provided a good alternative when the steelhead were not cooperating. Bass are still in the lower ends of the tribs to Lake Erie.Our inland trout fishery is under way and our streams get excellent hatches and we have good fishing on many scenic waterways. Don't forget about the great carp fishing too-it's like stalking bonefish on the shallow flats of Lake Erie and the Niagara River. It's very challenging, and precise casting is necessary to be successful.We're looking forward to another good fall season on the Catt! If you're interested in a guided trip, please contact us, as space is limited and we are filling up quickly for the Fall season.Seneca Nation Fishing Update
Still no change on this front. We are working to get permission to guide on Seneca Nation lands again.As of January 1, 2010 the Seneca Nation of Indians has banned ALL guiding on their land. In the ruling by the Tribal Council, depletion of fish stocks was cited as the reason for the ban. No one is allowed to guide on Seneca Lands at this time. If found guiding or being guided, you may be punished with a $2500 fine, and forfeiture of all equipment. 2013 Steelhead Trip Rates
$350 one angler; $450 two anglers; $600 three anglersWe are not hosting our steelhead camps this year. If you'd like guided fishing, please contact us to arrange dates. If you have a large group of anglers, we can set up a trip specially tailored to your needs.Zoar Valley Escape on the Catt
We have two comfortable and modern cabins which sleep up to five anglers each. Both are located a short walk from the Catt, and no steep hikes are required to get to the stream. You can even drive to our upper property and park 50' from the creek, over looking the Magic Tailout pool. Contact us now to reserve space for the Fall season. Speaking of the Magic Tailout, we have named all of the pools that are along our property. The names of the pools are located on the aerial maps inside each cabin. You'll be fishing pools such as Half Pool, Bird House, Ed's Run, the Ledges, Magic Tail Out, Trailer Pool, Trailer Pool Tail Out, New Bend & the CliffsCatskills Trout Camps 2013The camps are in the books! The first week, June 2-5, saw the west branch of the Delaware too high for safe wading, so we spent most of our time fishing the famous Beaverkill, where conditions were perfect. Good hatches included green drakes, isonychias, caddis, sulphurs and bwo's. We hit some great evening hatches and everyone caught fish.Week 2, June 9-12, saw the West Branch at a more manageable level, and guests split their time between the beaverkill and the west branch. A good time was had by all!Fall Spey Casting Schools
Dates: October 5-6, 2013
Spey Instruction by local Spey casting experts Nick Pionessa & Bill Ingersoll
Guided fishing by Vince Tobia & CCO staff
Location:
School will be based at Zoar Valley Escape, our cabins located on a private section of Cattaraugus Creek in New York. The cabins are located within 10 minutes of Springville, NY.
Costs & Services $550 US dollars/person
Cost of the school includes the following services: 2 nights lodging, 2 mornings of spey casting instruction and 2 afternoons of guided fishing, 2 lunches, use of equipment.
Contact us to sign up!
The Oak Orchard Fly Shop in Williamsville has everything you need to be outfitted for our great steelhead fishing, including many custom tied flies that are unique to our area. In fact, all of the flies tied at the OOFS are done by local tyers.The fly shop carries Bauer, Galvan, Ross & Nautilus reels, as well as Scott, Thomas & Thomas & Echo rods, and is a great place to get your spey fishing equipment too. They are a Patagonia, Fishpond, William Joseph and Chota dealer as well. Check out the Fly Shop's interactive forum. There are fly tying tutorials on great original patterns, as well as lots of sage advice on many fly fishing topics. Click here: OOFS Forum42 Great Fly Fishing tips (from Midcurrent)
Choosing Flies
Size Matters When choosing trout flies & the relative importance of fly characteristics in your selection, in order, should be: size, shape, color, and action (for stripped flies). In saltwater, action is often more important than exact size and shape.
Dropper Flies or Tandem Rigs Dropper flies are a trout angler’s secret weapon. A simple dropper rig can be made by tying a small nymph onto 14-18 inches of tippet material tied to the bend of a dry fly. If the trout takes the nymph, the dry fly serves as your indicator. Nymphs can also be tied in tandem, enabling you to find out which nymph is working better.
Wet vs. Dry. A fly’s construction determines whether it will float above the surface (dry flies), ride partially or completely submerged (emergers), or sink (nymphs and streamers). Fish expect their food sources to be in a particular part of the water column, and knowing where that is is important key to good fly selection.
Fly Color: Think Seasonal Don’t know where to start with your fly selection? Think first of seasonal color patterns. Early spring, late fall, and winter flies tend to be darker, matching the colors of their environment. Lighter flies typically appear in warmer weather.
Imitation vs. Flattery. Fishing flies can be either impressionistic or exact imitations, and their effectiveness often depends on how selective the fish have become due to food availability, weather conditions and fishing pressure.
Think Subsurface for Trout. At least two-thirds of the diet of trout is made up of subsurface food sources. Even if you prefer dry fly fishing, knowing what nymphs, larvae and crustaceans are available beneath the surface with help you decide on fly selection.
Stalking Fish
Approach Outside the Cone of Visibility. When stalking trout, approach from behind or stay low if approaching from the side or front, since the height of objects is exaggerated in the fish’s perspective. And remember that fish that are submerged can see you from farther away than fish that are close to the surface, due to the refraction of light by the water’s surface.
Think Position First. Before you try a very difficult cast to a fish make sure that there is no way to get yourself into a better position. Putting yourself where you can make an easier cast and get a better drift is always time well spent.
When casting to trout in the still or very slowly moving water of a lake, pond or large run, make as straight a cast as you can and finish with little slack in your line or leader. As long as no current is causing drag, this will improve your hook-up percentage.
Timing and Planning. The biggest difference between trout fishing and fly fishing in saltwater is that in the ocean, fish are almost always moving and give you little time to strategize. When trout fishing, take advantage of the time you have to consider what the fish are eating and what position will give you the best, drag-free presentation. In saltwater, the challenge is to stay attentive and ready over long periods while hunting fish.
Walk Softly. Fish are as sensitive to sound and vibration as they are to visual warnings. Walking lightly on the bank and wading without pushing water are important tactics. In saltwater, noisy or rocking boats and slamming cooler lids scare fish.
Prospecting and Blind Casting. While prospecting in fresh water, fish the close water first. A common mistake is to cast over fish in the excitement of making a long cast. In saltwater, longer casts are usually better unless you are fishing to mangroves or a shoreline, where structure and changes in current matter most.
High Water. During high water, fish often seek out the calmer current near the bank. Fish the slower, bank-side water from land before wading in.
Learning to See Fish. Learn to see fish underwater by watching a released fish swim away. It will provide you clues about which parts of a fish are visible and which are not. Watch for even the slightest bulge when looking for rising trout, and in saltwater “nervous water,” or water that has a slightly different surface texture, may indicate fish locations.
Sharing the Water. On-the-water manners are simply summarized: if in doubt, err on the side of etiquette, and learn the local customs. Though on most trout streams anglers fish upstream, some rivers are best fished downstream. And while 25 yards may be acceptable separation on a spring creek, 100 yards may be the bare minimum on many major rivers. Fish density, the size of the water, and custom all play a part in determining what is acceptable. It pays to be patient and polite and be sure you are not moving into water that another angler is planning to fish.
Presentation
Drag is a Drag. “Drag” is the number one problem in most presentations of flies to trout, whether fishing with dry flies, emergers or nymphs. Before changing flies, consider whether you are making drag-free presentations.
Ideas for Drag-Free Presentations. Having trouble with drag? Changing to a lighter or more supple tippet material, lengthening your leader and tippet, and tying your fly on with a loop knot can all help reduce drag. And sometimes tying on a fly that is more visible helps you to see drag that you might otherwise not notice.
Leader Length. Nine-foot leaders are the standard for both fresh- and saltwater fly fishing. But some situations — for example when fishing small dry flies on still water and spring creeks, or when casting to tailing bonefish — 12-foot and even 15-foot leaders are needed. Fishing streamers often requires no more than 7-8 feet of leader material, and shorter leaders make casting heavy flies easier.
Watch Fish Behavior. When you spot a feeding trout, don’t immediately start casting. Watch the fish’s behavior to determine what it may be feeding on and the timing of its rises, so that you can put the right fly on the water and have it arrive as the fish begins to look upward again. In saltwater, learning fish behavior — especially the speed at which your target fish takes a fly — is often critical to success.
How Far From the Rise Ring? When casting to a rising fish, don’t target the rise rings. Put your fly at least 3-4 feet in front of where you saw the fish last rise, remembering to give yourself time to thrown an upstream mend into the line if needed. Difficult currents that quickly create drag may require you to throw close to the fish, however, so that the fish sees the fly before it begins to look unnatural.
Look for opportunistic trout on the edges of gravel drop-offs where water suddenly slows and changes direction.
Feeding Lanes. Trout food tends to collect along “seams” or variations in the current. Look for rising fish to hold in or next to these seams where slower water meets faster water, and for opportunistic trout on the edges of gravel drop-offs where water suddenly slows and changes direction.
Read the Water Speed. “CFS” stands for “Cubic Feet per Second,” a measurement that matters greatly in the fishability of most freestone and tailwater rivers. While a large river like the Yellowstone might average 10,000 cfs, a mountain stream might average only 10 cfs. Trout feed in currents that are running at 2-6 cfs — usually in the transition areas between faster and slower water, like the tails of pools and the transitional edges between deep and shallow water.
Effective Nymphing. Effective nymphing requires two ingredients: drag-free drifts and staying in touch with your fly. Oftentimes this is best achieved by extending your rod and keeping as much line as possible out of the current, or even “high-sticking” with only the leader touching the water.
Get Down with Nymphs. When nymph fishing, be sure your fly is getting down to the fish. One or two split-shot may be needed, and keeping your nymph drifting downstream of your leader and fly line help it sink.
Turn Your Nymph into an Emerger. If you notice trout taking flies just beneath or in the surface film and don’t have an emerger pattern handy, floatant can be applied to lighter-weight nymph patterns to keep them at or near the surface.
Indicators: Striking Too Late. When fishing with indicators, the tiniest pause or movement of the indicator may mean a fish has eaten your nymph. Beginners often make the mistake of waiting for the indicator to “bob” and therefore miss many takes.
Learn to “Read the Rise." Fast current and flies that emerge quickly — like caddisflies — or skitter along the surface cause trout to make loud, splashy rises. Classic rises make dimples in the water and leave behind a few bubbles, indicating feeding on mayfly duns and other flies riding above the surface film. Small dimples that leave no bubbles but sometimes include the dorsal and tail appearing usually indicate emergers or small flies dangling in the surface film. Bulges or swirls are the hardest to see and often indicate a fish feeding just beneath the surface.
“He Missed It!” Trout rarely “miss” a fly. A rise followed by a disturbance in the surface usually means a refusal.
Swing and Lift. When swinging wet flies, master the art presenting the fly so that it starts to rise just as it reaches a good lie — a technique known as the “Leisenring lift.”
Straight Lines for Stillwater. When casting to trout in the still or very slowly moving water of a lake, pond or large run, make as straight a cast as you can and finish with little slack in your line or leader. As long as no current is causing drag, this will improve your hook-up percentage.
Going Downstream. Although classic presentations are typically made upstream to trout, sometimes complicated currents can make good presentations with upstream casts impossible. In those cases, try getting well above the fish and making an S-cast with plenty of slack directly downstream. If done right, your line will straighten (but not your leader) just before the fly reaches the target.
Saltwater Casting Distances. Most saltwater fly fishing requires casts of no more than 50 or 60 feet and many fish are hooked when they are 30 feet away. Equally, if not more, important than the distance you can cast: the speed at which you can deliver the fly, your “situational awareness” about the fly line at your feet, and your ability to pick up and make additional casts to the fish if your first cast is off the mark.
Saltwater Stripping. When fishing in saltwater, always strip with the rod tip at or near the water’s surface. This guarantees that your retrieve imparts action to the fly, and it ensures that when a fish takes your fly the line will come tight immediately. And remember that if a particular strip is not working, a change in tempo or strip length can work magic, especially if you notice a fish following but not committing.
The “Season” Never Ends. Cold weather doesn’t mean an end to trout fishing, only smaller bugs and fewer hatches. But warm afternoons in winter can produce spectacular midge and baetis hatches, and nymphs that match these bugs can be very effective when no fish are rising.
Keep It Sharp. Occasionally check your hooks for sharpness while fishing and carry a diamond hone or stone to touch up points that might have struck a rock, the side of the boat or other objects during your casts.
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