Be a Hero- Fly Fishing the Blue River from Nolan Bluntzer on Vimeo.
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The current issue (Number 4) of Pool 32 has just rolled off the cyber press and there’s a thought provoking piece written by Bob Margulis, one of the trustees of the Wild Steelhead Coalition; the article is entitled Yes We Can – What You Can Do to Save Wild Steelhead.
Margulis reviews some of the damned sobering news about dwindling steelhead stocks around the world and offers a few more encouraging insights from steelhead giants, like this one from Harry Lemire…
He got the idea from reading about Harry Lemire, one of the only two people in the world who has mastered the art of tying a full dressed Atlantic Salmon fly in his hand, who started cutting the points off his hooks in about 1975 whenever he would get into a bunch of fish and didn’t want to waste time playing them.
“Everybody thought I was crazy,” Lemire said. “To me the whole peak of everything is the strike or the boil. Everything after that is downhill. Especially if you have to wait a long time to land the fish. When you get a fish on, you get a run and a jump and at the jump it will throw the hook. That was satisfying enough for me.”
So here’s my formula for becoming a steelhead god…
We like people (and organizations) who pitch real-world, get-off-your-ass-and-do-something ideas out there instead of (maybe that should be along with…) pleading with you to lobby your local/regional/national politicians who very likely don’t give a damn about what you say anyway.
Some powerful images from Jeff Bright add impact. Well worth your time. (And for the typology freaks out there, yep, we agree the font choice was a poor one and the article needed tighter editing. Get over it.)
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I’m sure this has already been done somewhere. Surely I am not the first. But, curiosity can be a powerful thing. So can boredom. Combine the two, throw in a can of stout and some ice cream and what do you get?
A beer float.
Think about it for a second. Sounds pretty good, right? This is something that has been at the back of my mind for a while now, but a recent conversation with a friend brought it to the forefront. She had been wondering the same thing. Is it even possible? Would it be any good?
Why yes, it is.
For this experiment I chose Guinness Draught. Why? Well.. what the hell, I’m Irish. Why not? While it is an acquired taste, the bitter, almost nutty flavor of the Guinness would be a good foil for the sweet ice cream. I would really like to try it with something a little lighter, but sadly I was all out. Blue Bell’s Vanilla Bean ice cream is always a great choice for floats.
I have to say my hopes weren’t actually that high for this. But I was pleasantly surprised. The strong beer and the ice cream balanced each other out perfectly. The flavors got a little weird once all the ice cream was gone, so I would recommend filling up your float cup all the way with ice cream before adding any beer.
Beer can be used in a lot of different ways, but I had never seen it used for dessert like this. In that same spirit, I just found a recipe for brownies that calls for a bottle of stout.. Looks like that is next on the menu.
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Northern lights over Kristiansund, Norway from FPV-Håkon on Vimeo.
Red Aurora Australis from Alex Cherney on Vimeo.
Vimeo and You Tube are full of pro and amateur coverage of the nifty aurorae after the recent solar flare / storm activity. Dig around for some more….
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In the past here on Chi Wulff, we have been pretty harsh about the fishing environment here in Texas. Most of that has centered around the “trout waters” of the Guadalupe River and the people who fish it. But there is more here than just that aquarium-like destination. Now that some of the creeks are flowing again, attention turns to a genuine native Texan: the Guadalupe Bass.
The Guadalupe Bass is the Texas state fish, and perhaps the most prominent of a handful of native species that inhabit these waters. They prefer faster moving water than their largemouth cousins and are often found in places a trout fisherman would think to look in a river. They don’t get very big (I believe the state record is something like three and a half pounds or so) but they are a beautiful fish.
Friend Winston and I have been meaning to chase these guys for a while, but due to scheduling issues we hadn’t been able to get out. Last week we got our break and headed out to Brushy Creek. Brushy runs right through Round Rock and Cedar Park, north of Austin and is for all intents and purposes an urban fishery. Houses lined the stretch we fished, but fortunately no landowners gave us much hassle.
Brushy was one of the only creeks in the area to have flowing water through the scorching summer, so the fish population wasn’t hurt too badly. It looks like a typical creek, small and meandering with limestone cuts and edges providing good cover for fish. Beer cans, old concrete, and other assorted trash offered up some good obstacles to get around.
Following Winston’s advice that we would hardly get our feet wet I left the waders at home and wore jeans. Big mistake. The creek was quite a bit more full than last time, and due to a cold front the night before the water was a bit chilly. There was some discussion about the fish not being active in the cooler weather, but we soon discovered our fears were unfounded.
The fish of the day was also the first one to hand. Slowly working a bone minnow through a complex of fallen limbs, Winston hooked into this big boy. Almost bending his 3-weight in half, he put up a pretty good fight. A good sized Guadalupe Bass like this will make you appreciate native fish, no matter where you are.
We covered a lot of water over the next few hours, bringing in a couple of sunfish. Several times while working the deeper pools large bass would follow, but we never could find the right fly/retrieve combo to get them to eat. Even though we didn’t catch a lot of fish, it was still a great day. Chasing native fish in new water will put a smile on anyone’s face.
Probably the best part of the day for me was getting a chance to break in a new rod. I recently purchased a Orvis Superfine Touch 8‘ 2-weight for use as a creek rod. A solid argument could be made for the impracticality of a 2-weight, but screw it. Its fun. I hadn’t been that pleasantly surprised with a rod in a long time. It has a full and slow flex, which works great with a relaxed casting stroke and short distance casts. It also has enough muscle to easily cast 40 feet, though it excels at 15. A lot of the flies I threw that day were way to big for a 2-weight, but this rod handled them with ease. The small CFO reel fit perfectly with the rod.
(Note: My comments about this rod were not requested, paid for, or otherwise rewarded in any way. Good equipment deserves note.)
Guadalupe Bass can be found in many waterways through the hill country, and they are found only here in Texas. While I would still rather be chasing trout in a mountain stream, these feisty natives will more than keep me occupied. If you ever find yourself in Texas, bring a light rod and a handful of flies. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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Here’s the second part of our People of Fly Fishing interview with Mark Raisler and John Arnold of the Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. If you missed the first half yesterday, read it here (and you really should).
What’s the best and worst of life on the banks of the mighty Missouri?
The best part is having a world-class trout fishery in your back yard. If and when the moment, and even if we have just a few moments, arises one can stroll 5 minutes walking distance from the shop and catch a few finicky sipping risers.
And being immersed in this bubble of fantastic fishing, and the differing folks that wander through Craig is great. The Henry’s Fork is famous, the Madison, the Bighorn, the Delaware…and the Missouri. It’s pretty rewarding to have a shop on this river and be in the epi-center of tailwater fly fishing evolution.
Being here is also a boon for a fly shop as we are fishable 12 months of the year. We were open 362 days last year. Even in high water we are fishable. When all the freestoners are blown out, we are open for business. That is one of the best parts, business wise.
The worst part is the attention the river gets in the high months. The popularity of any river will ebb and flow over the linear space of time. Based on hatches, water levels, ease of access, etc. And, any commercial entity near a public resource changes the nature of that resource. We may add to the number of folks who visit here and we are aware of that.
Right now the user days are near the 100K mark. Down from the early 2000’s when it peaked at 130K+ to the lows of 5 or 6 years ago when the user days equaled about 70K. It does become a touch crowded in July…but what river in this modern era does not receive pressure during peak seasons.
With the information available on the Internet rivers rise and fall in popularity based on fishable conditions and great hatches. A yearly Montana visitor can now fish whatever resource is fishing hot. If the Caddis are on fire on the Madison, the Missouri has PMD’s daily, and the Fork is fishing tough…a quick look on your iPhone will tell you that. So, we, the Missouri River, will rise and fall with the current fishing conditions.
What’s the strangest guide day you’ve seen at the shop?
I fellow came in and wanted to fish the left side of the river one day, then the right side of the river, then the center. No deviations. I guess that would be the strangest.
I think it is also strange to cram 3 clients in a boat. That is strange to me, because there are only 2 seats for non-rowers. But that is a common request here and on other rivers too.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t ask this one; we’ve heard it questioned in multiple venues. Is Sara single / available?
Sara is…? She has popped a few fellas in the nose for “popping off” to here in Joe’s Bar! You will have to come into Headhunters Fly Shop in downtown Craig and find out for yourself.
Now the Truth: Sara has been happily dating the same fishing guide for 3 years. And, if you did not know, Sara carries a black belt in Karate, Bando Thaing, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Sumo (although she needs to bulk up before becoming really competitive), Siliambam, and thumb wrestling. So, you may want to think about the outcome if you piss her off.
Current winter excepted, winters of late have been long and cold in your neck of the woods. What’s your recipe for sanity during the long, cold days?
Well, we approve of handwarmers, heaters, and lots of hot liquids in the boat. At home we enjoy lots of wool blankets, fly tying, and computer work. John and I stare at the computer screen more than most in the winter. John is our IT guy and manages all of our sites So, he masterminds that operation. Dreaming of warm saltwater adventures, space heaters and Jagermeister help too.
What’s your favorite time on the river – whether a season or hatch or whatever?
John likes May. Good dry fly stuff on the lower river, not as many folks around, and the calm before the storm. Yes, John likes the spring. Plus, we have lots of energy early in the season.
Mark likes the fall. Yes, my favorite time is the fall. Baetis are cool. The ‘season” is winding down and rest is on the horizon. I like spring too for the same reasons John does. The return of old fishy friends, clients and the smell of new boats…
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing in terms of stewardship this next year, what would that be?
Mark’s is “Take a Kid Fishing” and impart positive outdoors behaviors and attitudes. Passing the knowledge of how to ‘act outside’ is important to me. So, introducing the next generation of anglers is something I would like to promote.
John’s 50 cents worth: While agreeing with Mark and the comment above, I would also state, relax. I think that we all need to take the edge off the current fishing culture. Relax a little bit. Breathe. Guides, guests, anglers, all of us. It is not a contest. You know, maybe you can cast farther than me. Well, good for you. You probably catch more too. I just want to say, I’m OK with that. Remember that fishing is fun. Put the fun back in fishing.
Also, if you are one of those individuals that complain about crowding…get out and find a new fishing location. Take control of your fishing destiny. Montana is huge with lots and lots of lakes, rivers, streams. Go find a new locale while having fun fishing. It will do wonders for your fishing constitution.
Many thanks to Julie, Sarah, Mark and John for the time chatting with us. Look forward to hanging around on the Missouri a bit this year; we’ll staff the grill for a day and fire up some ribs and fixin’s. Here’s to summer…..
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I can’t remember exactly when I first heard mention of ‘the new shop’ setting up in Craig. It had to have been in late 2007 or perhaps the first weeks of 2008.
For you 1%‘ers out there who are not subject to the whims, dips and drags of the economy, back then the country’s housing market was starting to crumble ahead of the big crash in the fall of 2008. Most business folk were running for cover ahead of the coming tumult; few if any were launching new ventures.
Pub chatter in Bozeman basically characterized the new shop venture as insane; the mere suggestion of setting up a new shop on the banks of one of the true ‘blue ribbons’ which had several other (4 actually) established shops in place was deemed a sure recipe for economic suicide.
Hell, a friend from SLC, a self-proclaimed Missouri expert who grew up in Great Falls, predicted they’d never even get the doors open before they crashed and burned. (In truth, he’s about as good a fisherman as he is soothsayer.)
Yet seemingly against pretty damned impressive odds, the Headhunters Fly Shop not only survived, but by all appearances appears to be thriving. Their very strong web presence pushed more than one shop in the state to update a bit, though from what we can tell it’s their attitude that seems to be bringing customers back to the shop.
These guys and gals seem to want to make fly fishing the Missouri fun and accessible. Why they’ll even dispense honest information about the river without the typical token purchase required. What a novel concept (that appears to working very well).
(A point of disclosure is due here. While we’ve been in the shop several times, we’ve never introduced ourselves to Julie, Mark or John as the Chi Wulff guys. We’ve sorta been stealth observers and unquestionably found this place to be very different from the shops around home.
We’re not silent partners in their business, drinking buddies, investors or even long lost second cousins; though we’d probably become any of those at the drop of a hat (except the cousin thing…). We simply like the concept that the gang there has crafted.
We’ve also begun to chat via email with the guys about a potential project that we’re all trying to get our arms around, though it’s just an idea traipsing through cyberspace right now.)
You guys live and work in one of the most revered locations know to fly fishing man – Craig, Montana. Why Craig and what makes it special for you?
Mark speaking for both Mark and John: Mark (I) just wandered here on a lark. The feller at The Missoulian Angler sent me over here because the Westside was blown out. This was in May of ’92. I could see the fish, but could not catch them. It pissed me off, so I kept at it. Now I can catch a few, but have not mastered the Mo yet, and will probably die trying.
John had fished here a bunch in the 80’s and after long stints in Sun Valley and SW Montana made the move here full time in ’99. John has not moved to another river yet, which is a testament to the staying power of the Missouri. It is one of those places that gets in your blood and is difficult to shake.
Some might have called you guys crazy for starting up a new shop back in the spring of 2008. What sparked your partnership and the creation of Headhunters?
Everybody, and I mean everybody thought it was a really, expletive that starts with as “F”, stupid idea. There were already 4 fly shops on the river and why would we open a 5th? The only people who believed were John and I. I think Julie may have, but I still don’t know. Both John and I were in the Florida Keys for the winter and one of the other fly shops was up for sale. We, with the help of ice-cold beers in the Tiki Bar on Ramrod Key, decided to open a fly shop. We were both outfitters and wanted to position ourselves for the exodus from the other shop if and when it sold to a party that we could not control. So, to insure and take control of our destiny, we made the decision to open a fly shop and see how things went.
John and I have different skill sets and together we believed that the 2 of us, and Julie John’s wife, another strong asset, could create the right environment for success.
Obviously the Headhunters has gotten off to a great start; what do you attribute your success to? What do you want to do better this year?
We had no idea that the economy was headed right into the shitter and it did not seem to matter. Strong customer service, the best guides, and a kick-ass fly selection were important to us and we built the business on those concepts. We truly believed and still do today that good customer service never goes out of style.
We have a strong Internet presence and that has been important to us. We have a lot of fun providing honest information to anglers and both of us enjoy that process. Kind of ‘enjoy the journey, not the destination’ thought process.
Improvements this year include providing free problem shooting clinics for casting once a week at out Craig Casting Club Casting Lane, more BBQ’s, a couple new fresh guides, adding a couple neat lodging properties, and to stay true to our mission statement. We never want to lose sight of the customer. Ever.
There’s more water within a three-hour drive of your front door that you could really learn well in a lifetime of fly fishing. So where do you guys head off to when you need to see and fish something different?
I like the Yellowstone neighborhood and some of those freestones. When I travel to fish, I like fishing big, fluffy flies and cutthroats. Fish that race to the fly entertain me and that is my ideal experience away from the Missouri.
John likes to wander away with his family including his daughter Adair into locations with no people. It is important to fish in an environment that is free from disturbances and the shop environ. Then, and only then can you break fishing down to the lowest common denominator. 1 fly, 1 man, 1 fish.
Saltwater fishing is still a passion of both John and I. Again, the 1 fly, 1 man, 1 fish theory.
More from the Headhunter’s Gang tomorrow.
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We’ve just popped our head back into the cyberworld after being off line since about 8 pm on Saturday night, right in the middle of dinner in fact.
That’s when our hosting service fired an email stating that our server load over the past several days had crept into red-line territory and yesterday finally crossed the threshold that forced an automatic lockout for a period of time.
For several weeks Jake and I’ve been chatting about the fact that a hosting service upgrade was going to be pushed upon us here before long; it appears the time is probably here.
We’ve done some of the routine urgent stuff – trimmed some database fat, optimized the database, upgraded a caching routine – and have at least passed muster to get back up and running for a trial over the next few days.
We have some great stuff coming up when we resume scheduled programming over the next few hours, including an interview with the Headhunters gang in Craig, some positive stuff to say about urban fly fishing for Texas native bass (even more astoundingly from Jake), more on the Madison River recreational plan and so on and so forth.
We’re working to hold future outages to a minimum. Appreciate your patience.
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