CCO Fly Fishing Spring Newsletter 2010
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. And we'll supply you with a complimentary fly box with assorted patterns that are productive at your destination.
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.
"Hi Vince: Thanks for putting the trip together. You ALWAYS do a great job. As a solo going on a trip like this, it's a concern that the guys going might not be open to a new guy but that was surely not the case. We had a terrific bunch of anglers and I for one would like to hit another spot with the same guys." Gary Rotolo--Colorado For more information, or to book a trip, contact us anytime @ 716-479-2327 or e-mail [email protected]
2010 Hosted Trip Photos & Reports
2011 Hosted Trips
Here's our lineup of hosted saltwater trips scheduled for the winter and spring of 2011. If you're considering joining us for some saltwater action, please get in touch now to reserve your spot. We are returning to Crooked Island in 2011, after taking last year off. Several of our guests specifically requested a return to Crooked, and we understand why. Crooked offers one of the best deals in bonefishing anywhere. Great guides, food and lodging, and a diverse fishing program make Crooked Island in the southern Bahamas a must visit for all anglers.
We are also hosting a week on Los Roques, Venezuela, which has quietly become known as one of the best bonefishing destinations anywhere. It is located near the equator, and less likely to be affected by winter cold fronts. It's known for #'s bones and big bonefish.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.*Los Roques, Venezuela (January 8-15, 2011)
(January 8-15, 2011)*Acklins Island, Bahamas Hosted DIY (March 19-26, 2011)
*Crooked Island, Bahamas (March 26-April 2, 2011)
*Eleuthera Hosted DIY Bonefishing (April 16-23, 2011)
*Catskills Trout Camp (June, 2011)
(June, 2011)*Fernie, British Columbia (August, 2011)
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.
New DIY Lodging on Acklins Island
This new and modern bed & breakfast is located on the water in north-central Acklins Island (Mason's Bay) and is extremely comfortable! All suites are A/C and have satellite tv. The bonefish suite is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment with a full kitchen that is ideal for groups of 4 anglers. Rooms are separate from main residence which insures privacy. Pure, unlimited fresh water is supplied by their modern reverse osmosis system. Ivel's is a wonderful place to spend a week exploring all that Acklins Island has to offer. All packages at Ivels include truck rental!Ivel's is located just north of the Spring Point airport with gorgeous views looking out into the bight of Acklins. It is the perfect place to stay for those wishing to fish & explore the middle and more remote southern end of Acklins (and the northern end is only 1/2 hour by car). There are often bonefish right out in front of Ivels. There are two blue holes right in front of Ivels, and you are a short drive from a very large & beautiful blue hole which has all kinds of fish swimming in it's deep blue waters. The flats surrounding Ivels are located anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 1/2 hours away, and there are more productive areas than could be explored in a month. A Do-it-yourself Adventure
by Andy Klein
Here we were, three seasoned anglers and one rookie that we had roped into going with us to help defray the cost of a bonefishing trip. The new guy, a 50-year-old myopic whippersnapper affectionately nicknamed "The Kid", actually wanted to catch fish, whereas we simply wanted him to pay for the opportunity of spending time with us. Also, we're not getting any younger and The Kid is a cardiologist, so we three agreed that a spare cardiologist might be a good thing to have around. The three experienced guys could spot fish, cast beautifully, and play a bonefish competently, but admittedly, none of us could do all three on the same given day, let alone the same fish. So, we set out to find a place where The Kid could have a guide and we, the frugal (okay, cheap) pros, could access flats on our own. Of all of us, Marvin was the most experienced and serious about fishing. He's the guy who arrives on trips with one shirt, one pair of pants, and hopefully some underwear. But he has 1400 flies, extra rods, extra reels, extra backing and a complete fly-tying set. He brings bungee cords, pipe cleaners, glue, epoxy, and a tape measure. I've never, in all my years of fishing, ever needed a tape measure. Tom arrives with whatever he remembered to pack on the morning of departure. He usually comes equipped with a rod and reel, but rarely bothers with extraneous equipment such as flies or leaders. But what he does have is the most expensive stuff in the world that has not been purchased by the Pentagon. I am, quite simply, a lousy bonefisherman. And trout fisherman. I pride myself on buying the cheapest gear available. I think graphite is overrated, as are large-arbor reels, stainless steel anything, new fly lines, or reels with drag. So I buy an awful lot of junk, and end up spending more than Tom on his top-flight gear. But somehow it feels better to me. The four of us considered going to the Florida Keys, but figured a guide there would criticize The Kid's inexperienced technique, destroy his fragile ego, and send him into therapy for years, which would definitely bump up the cost of the trip. Among the four of us, we had tormented numerous guides, and just a few fish, in Belize, Roatan, Grand Bahama, Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbor Island, Long Island, Cat Island, Turks and Caicos, and Mayaguana. The latter fit the bill better than the others, but is limited by the small number of available flats. After prolonged discussions and negotiations, we all decided on Acklins - mostly because none of us had ever heard of it before and wanted to roll our eyes in fake exasperation at jealous friends and colleagues, when they asked, "Where?" Thus, we settled on this Bahamian island 225 miles southeast of Nassau, with a population of around 400 people and 60 million mosquitoes. In case you were not aware, the island just got electricity in 1998, and is best known for cascarilla bark, used in making Campari aperitif. Have you ever had Campari? Do you know anyone who's ever had Campari? Of course not - that's because it tastes like tree bark. We contacted Vince Tobia at Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters, who arranged everything for us on Acklins, from accommodations, to a packing list, to maps of choice bonefish flats. We all told our wives we were leaving for a conference and flew to Nassau on a Friday in early December, staying overnight so we could catch an early Saturday morning flight to Spring Point, Acklins. The Bahamas Air flight was only a half hour late in leaving Nassau, but the idea of fishing in a few, short hours made us giddy with excitement. It was cold back home, warm as toast in Nassau, and we had a direct flight and would be fishing by noon. We arrived on Acklins to find that the bags - which included our rods, reels, and flies - were enjoying private time back at the Nassau airport. We stormed off in search of help. We accosted the airline representative and tried begging, bribery, threats and sobbing - all to no avail. When the man barricaded himself in his office, Marvin turned to us and said, "Let me handle this." He tapped gingerly on the door and slid inside when the man opened it. Finally, after dealing with the situation in a very effective manner, Marvin, in as reasonable a tone as he could muster, asked the airline representative, "Do you promise to get our bags today? The man nodded enthusiastically as he replied, "Mmmgrndle. So he untied him and removed his gag. Anyway, that's how Marvin described it when he came out of the man's office. Dejectedly, the four of us piled into a car, and drove out of the airport. Immediately we encountered a friendly hand-painted sign, certain to raise our spirits. That is, until we read it carefully: "Welcome to Acklins Island, Bonefish Haven". A haven is, by definition, a refuge, a peaceful sanctuary. This sign gave us the distinct feeling that we were about to spend a week fishing in the Georgia Aquarium - we could look all we wanted, but we couldn't catch squat. Not a good omen. We continued northward and fortunately the road itself was in surprisingly good shape, at least for the first 33 feet, and then all hell broke loose - the tar disappeared, and the road became a series of puddles and potholes - some large and some huge. We hit a particularly massive bump and the car shot upwards. "Hang on!" I shouted, just as I heard three heads hit the roof. "What's going on? "cried Marvin in alarm, as the car plummeted into a ravine and struggled to climb out. Tom grunted through gritted teeth, "It's a carpet-bombing practice site." (Full Disclosure: Tom and Marvin said that if I mentioned them in the article they'd each buy me a beer. The Kid obviously offered nothing.) We bumped and dodged our way onward, aggravated and slightly terrified until the realization hit me: "Guys, this is a rental." All of a sudden it became bumper cars at 40 miles per hour, and loads of fun. The road improved north of Mason's Bay, becoming about as drivable as the lunar surface. We finally made it to Chester's Highway Inn, feigning relief that we lacked heavy bags to lug. We each grabbed a beer since it was nearly noon, and stared morosely at the inviting flats in front of the lodge. A welcoming school of eight bonefish swam towards us, and to add to our torment, started tailing and feeding aggressively. They scattered satisfactorily when we threw our bottles at them. "Best cast of my life," muttered Tom. Later that afternoon our bags and rods were delivered, their arrival well coordinated with the departure of the fish. The lodge is exceptional for its delightful and accommodating owners, Julius and Arnette Chisholm, as well as its unbelievably delicious food, its spotlessly clean rooms, and the flat out front that houses more fish in it than I could count. And I'm a good counter. The morning after our arrival on Acklins, The Kid and I fished with a guide, Terrance, around Lovely Bay. Terrance was a great guide with eagle eyes and an easy-going manner. He's also easy to spot around the island - he's the guy wearing a wool watch cap when the temperature plummets down to eighty-five degrees. The flats in the northern end of the island were spectacular, especially Copper Bottom and Bird Cay. We had shots at singles and pairs of fish, and I tried not be too condescending towards the young upstart when he couldn't spot fish nor cast as fluidly as I. As I vividly recall, we caught the exact same number of fish, despite his photographic "evidence" showing him holding five different fish to my one. On our final flat of the day, Terrance spotted a small school of about five hundred fish (five hundred!) so The Kid could practice casting, stripping, fighting, and releasing bonefish in the three- to four-pound range. I haughtily refused to demean myself by casting to such a large school, so I practiced wading and holding my rod in the ready position. The Kid went with the guide for two more days, with a rotation of the other two accomplished anglers. He cleaned their clocks, too. Over the next few days we fished several flats around the island, driving to Snug Corner, Delectable Bay, Mason's Bay, Pestell Point, Lovely Bay, and other gorgeous spots. We rented a car and drove wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted, and had only ourselves to blame when we did poorly. We kayaked to Atwood Harbor and explored areas that seem to have seen no one since Columbus guided his group of anglers in 1492. We found fish everywhere, including one permit that laughed uproariously at our presented fly, and a tarpon lurking at the base of a mangrove hammock. Every night we'd sit around drinking Kaliks, the Bahamas' national beer, talking about our day's exploits and offering excuses ranging from clouds to tides, wind, spooky fish, and dust storms in the Sahara. We would then run like mad to our rooms to escape the clouds of mosquitoes that enveloped us. The local islanders would swat languorously at the little nuisances, while the four of us went into fits of slapping and waving at the thirsty bastards. We each used enough DEET to be considered toxic dump sites, but it worked. The thick layer of spray prevented the mosquitoes from removing all of our blood, so by the time we returned home we were merely severely anemic. Other than my petty complaints, Acklins is truly a wonderful destination for those who want to get close to bonefish and away from other bonefisherman. During the week we were there, there were only three other anglers on the entire island. We never saw another boat out on the water, nor heard a car honk, nor heard or said a word said in anger (other than a few choice words directed at a certain tailing fish that must have been a vegan). Maybe we just couldn't hear above the whine of the mosquitoes. For those who want to go to casinos, nightclubs, spas, or water parks, I'd recommend that you look elsewhere. For those interested in fishing and more fishing, with shots at many fish, and who want exceptionally capable guides or a do-it-yourself setting, consider Acklins. Just remember to carry your rods on the plane from Nassau, and bring Geritol. Lots of Geritol. And consider taking The Kid with you. He's a nice guy who doesn't snore and will pay one fourth of the expenses. And did I mention he's a cardiologist? Explorers & Adventurers Wanted
Do you want to feel like a kid again when you were exploring the creeks and farm ponds of your youth? Join us on one of our hosted do-it-yourself bonefishing adventures, or embark on one yourself, with our help. Our do-it--yourself saltwater trips are the perfect tonic for the sluggish economy, and also a great way to beat the winter blues. They often cost less than half of a fully guided trip, yet include everything that a traditional lodge does, except the guides.For those of you that enjoy fishing and exploring on your own, without the assistance and expense of a guide, these trips are for you. There are few things in fly fishing more rewarding than successfully catching bonefish and other flats species on your own, while exploring a beautiful remote island in the Bahamas.Our hosted DIY trips will be on the islands of Acklins & Eleuthera, Bahamas, in March & April 2011.Testimonial from our Acklins DIY trip this March
"Dear Vince, With apologies from the terminally computer challenged, I am mailing a DVD of pics from our outstanding Acklins Island adventure. My spirit remains on Bahamas time, and the daydreams of azure & turquoise waters are ever present. My initial hope was to theoretically
to learn a bit of what fly fishing for bonefish is about. In reality,
it was like throwing gasoline on a fire. This trip was a life changing
experience. It is doubtful I'll ever "get over" a raging case of
bonefish fever.
Thank you for everything you did to organize & coordinate the Acklins trip!
I look forward to the next therapy session...Cordially, Jim Dowd"Catch Interactive Online Magazine
Check out this cool online magazine which has excellent photography"All men are equal before trout."
--Herbert Hoover
Cattaraugus Creek Spring 2010
This year, like last year, our Spring came early and the steelhead season was approximately 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule. This meant that the runs of steelhead peaked a bit earlier than normal, and the majority of fish left the streams sooner. Late April on the Catt saw some steelhead, but they were not as numerous as normal for that time of year, with many of the fish having already retreated back to Lake Erie. Anglers had to be mobile to find good numbers of fish. This is typical of late spring on the catt, but it's more common in mid May. Fortunately the bass came into the streams earlier, and they provided plenty of good action when the steelhead fishing was slow.As I write this on May 2, the medium tribs are low and clear, but they still contain some fresh steelhead, which will not be around for long. Again, these streams are loaded with jumbo smallmouth bass, and of course carp and suckers. You can still have fun walking the creeks looking for fresh steel, and there are always some bass around to keep things interesting.On another note, our inland trout fishery is well under way and we do receive excellent hatches and good fishing on many scenic streams. 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! I anticipate that the Catt will clear more quickly than it did last Fall. I believe that most of the sediment that was deposited in the catt and it's tributaries after last August's flash flood has washed downstream or filtered out of the system, which should result in clearer water than last fall. Seneca Nation Fishing Update
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. We are currently working with Seneca owned businesses & the Tribal Council to gain permission to guide on Seneca lands again this Fall, and we will keep you updated on our progress. In the meantime, there are many other excellent spots to fish on Cattaraugus creek, and many other tributaries to Lake Erie that have great steelhead fishing.2010 Steelhead trip rates
We have not raised our guided steelhead trip rates in several years. In order to remain competitive and to continue to offer our guests great service and fly fishing, we found it necessary to increase them slightly for 2010. We are still priced below our biggest competitors.$350 for one angler, $100 for each additional angler
($350 one angler; $450 two anglers; $550 three anglers)
Spring Bass Fishing
Bass fishing is really heating up on our tributaries here in Western New York. These are big, lake run smallmouth bass that fight well, jump and attack streamers and poppers. They are great fun, and are perfectly suited to novice fly anglers, and kids. The action will remain good well into June. Call us if you'd like to experience this great fishery. You could even hook into a steelhead, a few of which are still around well into May.We will be conducting our popular steelhead camps in the Fall of 2010. Lodging at the camps is at our streamside cabins on Cattaraugus creek, on private property. We are short 3 minute walk from Cattaraugus Creek. The camps include overnight lodging for three nights, two days of guided fishing, two breakfasts & lunches, and one dinner, cooked after a day on the water. Dates are October 17-19 (full) & November 14-16.Groups of three or six work best, though single anglers are welcome. Each camp has six total anglers, and two guides. Note: you must be physically fit and able to hike over a mile each day over rough terrain.
New Cabin on the Catt
Our new cabin on the catt was completed last October and is ready to go. This cabin is located next door to our older cabin & will sleep up to five anglers. Now, with both cabins, we can easily host groups of up to10 anglers. Contact us now to reserve space for the Fall season. New Slide Shows
Click on the below links to see our 2010 slide shows, as well as shows of the different trips we offer: last Fall's Steelhead Highlights, Steelhead Fishing in Western New York, Affordable Bahamas Bonefishing British Columbia Dry Fly Action, and our Hosted Saltwater Adventures
Catskills Trout Camp 2010
Our 4th annual hosted trout camps in the Catskills in early June, 2010 are full and everyone is looking forward to a fun few days in the Catskills. We stay on the banks of the west Branch of the Delaware river, just downstream from Deposit, NY. We'll again be hosting trips to the Catskills in the Spring of 2011. Contact us for more info.Somerset Fly Fishing Show
We took a year off from the Somerset Fly Fishing show, but we plan on attending again in 2011. We also plan to host another gathering of friends to consume fine microbrew and pizza, in the upstairs lobby of the Doubletree Inn. Details to follow in the Fall.5th Annual Fall Party
Our 5th annual fall party in Zoar Valley with the Oak Orchard Fly Shop will be this September. Spey casting demos, casting contests for prizes, great micro-brew, grilled food . . . Maybe even a few steelhead? See you in September! Kids are welcome! Date to be announced.
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: Interactive ForumMontana Fly Fishing
If you're headed out to southwestern Montana this summer, be sure to call WNY native Tom Cornell and have him float you down the Madison river, or hike and fly fish thru Yellowstone National Park. Tom has been guiding Spring, Summer and Fall in Montana for over ten years out of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT and he's a great guide.Guide Profile
Meet Rick "Fishman" Fisher, one of our steelhead guides here in Western New York. Rick resides in East Aurora, NY, not far from Cattaraugus Creek. Rick grew up in Bliss, NY, near the wild trout water of Wiscoy creek. He enjoys fly fishing for steelhead and inland trout, as well as playing the occasional game of golf. Rick is a country boy at heart, and a pleasure to spend time with on and off of the water.Elk River, British Columbia
We spent two great weeks last August in Fernie, British Columbia fishing the Elk river and it's tributaries. I have reserved two more weeks for this August. The dry fly rules here, and we explore remote and pristine streams for westslope cutthroat and bull trout! There are two spots remaining for each week: July 31-August 7, & August 7-14. We are also offering an unguided option, at $1250 for the week. This option includes your lodging for seven nights at our beautiful log home, all breakfasts & lunches, pick up and drop off at Glacier International Airport, and all transportation while in Fernie. Since you are not being guided, we'll be fishing and exploring the beautiful rivers and streams of BC together. You pay for your flight to Kalispell, MT, all dinners (which we take together), fishing licenses & alcohol.Contact us if you'd like to join our group. Or, if you'd like to go on your own, let us help you plan your trip to fish the Elk river and it's tributaries this summer.
Swinging Flies For Steelhead part 2
by Nick Pionessa
This part is going to cover techniques for small streams and what is referred to as the pendulum swing. In my experience this has been the most productive method for swinging flies on small water or in fast, seamed water in any size creek. It involves a much more downstream cast and presentation and is designed to be fished almost straight down from the angler. Positioning the floating part of the line through mending is going to direct the fly’s path through seams, off of ledges and through pocket water in a manner that triggers the predatory, feeding response we are looking for. The idea is to not have the fly come at the fish but to have it come from the peripheral of their vision and then appear to flee from their presence. It also allows the fly to be fished very slowly in very fast water and shows the fly to the fish butt first. This is a totally different appearance than a broadsided, wet fly swing. To do this correctly the angler needs to start very high in the run sometimes even in the tail out of the pool above. Let’s imagine there is a small run with a defined drop off ledge on the far side that runs pretty parallel to the current. It likely has fish lying along it from top to bottom. We would start by making a cast straight down stream but to the far bank or at least up on the ledge. This cast should be dropped just upstream of where we suspect the first fish would be lying. After the cast has been made slack is dropped into the line to allow the fly to sink, maybe just a few feet of slack, maybe more depending on the depth. When the line tightens the angle of the floating part of the line will determine the speed of the swing. The straighter the line is to the current (parallel) the slower the fly will swing from one side to the other. The more across (perpendicular) the current the line is the faster it will swing. The idea here is to have the fly hang in the current more than to have it sweep across. Once the line is tight you can adjust the speed and direction of the fly by mending the floating part of the line. In our imagined scenario we will say the water is flowing left to right and the angler is on river right (right side looking downstream). If I mend the line to my right (the bank I’m on) the fly will speed up and sweep across the pool more. If I keep the line straight it will simply hang there. If the pool is relatively straight I will simply employ a slight mend and let the fly swim across the pool. Again I feel that having the fly enter the fish’s field of view from the side then speed up and move across triggers an attack response. If the water is slower on our side then adding more downstream mend to belly the line helps to speed the fly toward the bank increasing the fleeing prey scenario. If the water is very fast an almost straight down line with just slight mends to the right will more or less hang the fly in the current and add a sideways motion to it, but slowly. Work your way down the ledge to the bottom of the pool also watching for followers that may be convinced with another cast.Once we get through that pool we can now imagine a broken section of stream bottom with small ledges and rocks causing pockets with enough depth to hold fish. This is a great area for this method and also opens up sections of the stream that aren’t considered good swing water. Making the same downstream cast, slightly above the target, the idea is to mend slightly to the right, have the fly move over with it, hang there a second or two, mend again to the right and have the fly move and then hang again. Work your way along the seams and around rocks by simply shifting the floating section slightly, maybe just a few inches. You can even work it back away from your side by mending toward the far bank. This is very effective when going down a seam. Have the fly come from one side then back over to the other as you move down it. There could be fish sitting on either side of the seam. You can imagine a seam where the fast water is on our side and the slow water is along the far bank. That seam can be swung to the far bank from the near bank by the angler being upstream but to the side and mending the line across toward the far bank as the fly sinks and then tightens. You could then easily mend the line back to the right and have it swim across to your side again. Work your way through the area swimming the fly through all of the various seems and pockets. Another use of this method is to swing under log jams from the log side. Again stand upstream of the area you want to get under and make the cast down and just outside the overhanging debris. Allow the fly to sink and then as it tightens mend against the logs to get the fly to swim under them. You can then mend to the current side again to draw the fly out from under or strip it slowly back upstream under the log. You need to make sure your fly or tip is heavy enough to keep it below the surface so you don’t hang up on the log. There is always the chance you will find a branch under there to snag on but you may also find some willing fish. This method also works well for cold water since the fly can be fished very slowly. It is a versatile technique and the angler will be amazed at the applications you will find for it. From inland trout streams to smallmouth bass fishing around structure it presents the fly quite differently than the traditional wet fly swing and for those of us addicted to this type of take, you can’t have enough ways to make it happen.Wet Wading Tips
With the heat of summer soon to be upon us, many anglers prefer wet wading to wearing hot and steamy waders. Here's what I do when wet wading.I use my regular wading boots. I also wear fairly heavy neoprene socks to fill out the boots. Sometimes I wear two pairs of the neoprene socks if the boots I am wearing are a little roomy. I believe wearing your normal wading boots (if they are good ones) will offer the best support and traction without having to buy a second pair.The neoprene socks also usually have a little clip so you can fold them down and hook them on your laces.
Sometimes I wear shorts, but mostly I wear the quick drying pants. This way I don't have to worry about bugs, poison ivy or sunburn on my legs.
