Bobber Talk

2014 Exposed

It was a fun year with fly rods, great friends, clients and the camera. Here are some of my favorite exposures from 2014.

trademark

Eagle River Cuttbow

THE Duane Redford...good addition

I didn't take this one but I like it

Early summer honeyhole and a pretty Brown Trouts

Lots of handsome here

Webbs lower Eagle beast

Just after this picture was taken my man Scott Thompson swam to re-catch this beast with his bare hands. Absolutely sure that the client had no idea how large a miracle happened before our eyes.It was a guiding moment I will never forget , everything but his face was wet for the rest of the day.

http://bobbertalk.blogspot.com/2014/02/lower-colorado-river-monster.html

There seems to be less and less grip and grins in my highlight reels nowadays. I'm proud to say my soul knows the wild fish and the magical places I guide are the true stars of my wonderful job. Not everyday is easy,or successful but I am thankful everyday for what I do, where I do it and especially the great guides I work around.

I have but one regret from a great year, it has weighed very heavy on me and this little blog. This spring I wrote a blog titled "Bought Fish" that wasn't public for very long. It was something I felt very strongly about, still do, but I was forced to take it down or loose my job. I have thought long and hard about the subject since (how could I help not to, these fish come to my net almost daily now). Sam and Kit will always be first so I had to do something I didnt feel comfortable with for my paycheck. Did I sell out? Should I have pressed my right for free speech? Could I have ended up further ahead in the industry as the guy who got fired for hating stocked fish? I still have a copy in the dark corners of this place waiting for the book deal. I even read it on occasion just to see if I might feel differently about things. I don't.

Have a GREAT NEW YEAR, go fish!

-Bobber

The Ice Berg Mend

There is a certain stretch of my favorite river that becomes un-fish able during the winter. High ridge lines, low sun and short days make this prime stretch hard, hard as ice. With the last of our extended fall weather quickly becoming a memory a few of the beards in my life and I decided to check things out. All day slush wasn't going to stop any of us after the effort it took to slip in there. It just took more split shot and an occasional mend around one of the many ice bergs in the drift. No big deal.

More winter footage

Good getting out one more time close to home. It's been great fishing with the video camera the last few weeks. The river has really given up some gold while the camera was running which is usually rare. The rest of the winter fishing and guiding is going to require a further drive as our night time temps become more seasonal.

Fish continue to gorge on big and small midge in various colors but red, purple, gray and olive remain strong. Larger point flies like soft hackle hares ear, large caddis larva and stones are also working on these extended season fish.

Winter Fly Fishing Video

Little winter yum yum mix, enjoy the crappy music. Come fishing, booking 2015 now but this winter shit is not to be missed.

MIDGES, Tame-Trashy

Those first few snow storms and the drop in temperatures as usual have me poking around my boxes trying to figure out which hole to plug first. Since I am never months or even weeks ahead I tend to start with what I need now and that is the Midge. I really enjoy tying midges, they are small so I feel like I get a lot accomplished and despite their size there is really a lot of room for creativity once you get used to proportions.

I fish and guide mostly freestones and midges are the most abundant food during the winter months. Unlike Tailwaters where Midges can be the preferred morsel all season, freestone trout switch over to these tiny bugs out of necessity. I have found that when the cold temps first set in and the trout have begun to concentrate on midges I can get away with a larger and flashier pattern. Maybe its the fact there is less food a drift, maybe they are conditioned to try and beef up for winter or maybe they just got done spawning and need to re-charge. Either way making a pattern stand out this time of year doesn't hurt like it might in January.

Here's a video the weather forced out of me all about some options for your early season Midge junk.

Fly Tying fer real

One of the coolest ties I have laid eyes on. Next time I have a whole day to invest I may try and whip one up.
Loves me some Franken Fly

Think you run a bobber with this?

I also promised my most effective non bead guide fly of the year.

"Effing Lethal"

All season long, day in, day out, this is my go to filth. Not sure what they ate it for but I tied it in size 14-24 and fished it for BWO's, Sallies, PMD's and as a general attractor with great success.

Fly Fishermen love BOOBS!

No seriously, I'm not just trying to mess with my SEO by using a buzz word like #boobs. It's no big stretch to say fly fishermen love boobs. I do and happen to live with an incredible pair that thank god are healthy.
We all have been touched in some way by breast cancer,

So here's the challenge to all the big, strong, manly, bearded, boat rowin, non sensitive fishing guides out there.....wear a pink hat this month.

Miss you Dee

Send me your best picture fishing this month with a pink hat on and win a dozen of my by best flies.

My boys aint scared

My Summer All Star Team

Fly Fishing is hard work and I would like to recognize parts of my club for their hard work and willingness to give themselves up for the greater good of the team.

Beadheads are a very big part of my game especially from a boat when fishing dry dropper and 5/64th tungsten has been my bead of choice for a long time. While black beads have long dominated my orders, 2014 has officially been the year of the Whitehead.

Don't be scared

They aint

Big time producer in #18-24, gray, olive & black

Knocked off just about everybody (Silvey) with some new fun stuff from Hareline. Check this wiggle dub out when you get a chance

Flies are getting more expensive everyday, so it pays to tie now more than ever. Being a mad scientist and taking some liberties with tradition and leaving the manual on the shelf can pay off, just think outside the box and be brave.

How many flies are you finding in your local shops with white beads?
What color do fish see the best? hint, hint