I hadn’t been out on the water in nearly a week, which felt like a long time since I had fished more than ever this summer. I moved into my dorm room a week ago, and had been busy with classes and studying. I decided to take a break from my studies, and drove to a local stream not more than 20 minutes from campus.

It was a lovely Friday evening, with the air cool and the sun beginning to set. It had rained a couple of days ago, so I was curious as to  how the water levels and color might have fluctuated. Small streams like this might see a slight change with a little rain, but can change drastically if higher amounts of precipitation occur.

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I did not stop at a fly shop on the way to the water. I was too excited to fish, that feeling when you are going on an adventure but don’t know the outcome. Isn’t that why we all go fishing?  

I had enough flies to get me through an evening, and had even tied a couple of nymphs the night before at the desk in my dorm room in anticipation. My favorites of course, the Pete’s Red Neck and the Lightning Bug Nymphs.

I opened up my fly box, rigged up my rod, and walked to the stream. With the water being fairly close to town, it does see quite a bit of pressure and foot traffic. On a Friday evening, I expected to see a few people, but know my way around and did not think twice about other anglers.

I arrive at the first run, a long slow riffle with foam running right down the middle. I see a couple of smaller fish rising at the head of the run, but with the brush and tight quarters cannot make the cast without getting hung up.

I find that I lose a lot of flies and setups this way. Not being attentive enough to look where my back cast is going, and soon enough I am wrapped every which way in the bush standing 10 feet from the river bed. With no choice but to point the rod and pull hard, I am left with a broken line and the option to re-tie or call it.

Of course, I tie another fly on and work my way up the riffle. With no takes, I move through the shallow pieces of water up towards another deep pool. No luck here either, so I round the corner to make a couple of casts in my favorite pool in this stream.

To my surprise I find someone working the pool. At first I am curious at how someone found this place, but then begin to understand. He is an older gentleman, maybe 50-60 years of age. He has a tan fishing vest on, a net attached to his back, and a classic looking hat full of flies.

He was making delicate casts, one after another in the same place, with small dry fly patterns. Watching his cast and present the fly so delicately was incredible.

He turned around to change flies and saw me standing down the stream maybe 50 feet. He gave a subtle wave and a smile, and went on changing his fly pattern. I watched him make a couple more casts, and then turned around and headed back downstream to the car.

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Something about the older man on that stream, his delicate cast and attention to detail, the subtle wave, and his general way he looked to carry himself resonated with me. It reminded me of my Grandpa, fishing those small streams of Northeaster Iowa.

In a sport like fly fishing you can bridge this sort of generational gap that is more difficult in other activities. The young anglers who dive deep into the science of the sport, and the older anglers who can catch just as many fish as you on a single soft hackle fly.

We had made a few nice casts through the first couple of pools, but had no luck on the olive streamer pattern we had tied a couple nights before. This was our second consecutive day on the same stretch of water, and we decided to return because the fishing was so spectacular the day before.

 It was Saturday that had been one of the best days of fishing I had had in a long time, and I was alongside my friend John who I met in Writing class at the beginning of the school year. We started talking fishing before class one day and became friends instantly, and before we knew it we were tying up developing streamer patterns in his dorm room together.

He had been to this spot only a couple of times before, and told me that it had potential to produce some large fish. I was excited, and at the same time a bit nervous. Fishing with a friend is great, but there is a small unspoken sense of competition between the two of you when you get on the water.

This was eliminated after the first couple of casts, when John pricked two fish on a streamer and I pricked a fish that waked so much water we believe it was larger than 20 inches, all in the same pool.

It was a cool morning, with the sun still rising over the Bridger Mountains and the dew dripping off of the brush hanging over the banks. Waders were essential to our kits, and we decided to only bring one heavier weight rod. I brought a 6 weight and John brought a 5 weight with a sinking line. We were going to throw streamers in an attempt to catch one or two large fish.

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Turns out, we were wrong. We both caught upwards of 5 fish all pushing 16 and 17 inches, and Saturday was one of the best days of streamer fishing either of us had ever had.

We returned on Sunday to the same piece of water, but optimistic as to how the fish would react to the pressure. I have experienced this quite a bit this summer where you fish a stretch two or three days in a row, and on the fourth day nothing seems to be there. It could be because my technique or fly choice is off, but that is a never ending battle nonetheless.

We pull into the spot around 6:45 AM, an early start considering we were up to 11 PM or so the night before tying some more streamers. It is easy for me to lose track of time when tying flies when I enter a rhythm and like what I am creating. There is a lure to the act, and it subconsciously intrigues me every time I sit down at the vise.

This time, Sunday, we move through the first pieces of water quickly in an effort to fish new water. We reach a point in the stream where it is blocked by downed trees, and have to do some technical maneuvering to cross the stream. We reach the next bend, and keep fishing the banks hard with our streamer patterns.

I move upstream with John and make a few casts into a pool that does not look incredible fishy. If you spend time on the water, you know what I mean by “fishy”. The structure does not look too promising, the bank isn’t incredible undercut, and it is more shallow than other holes where we have found larger fish.

On my third cast, a large brown trout moved from the undercut bank and casually inhaled my size 4 Sculpzilla pattern. I set the hook, and the fish was on. He was a strong fish, and bringing him to hand was incredible. To be with a friend and be able to admire such a beautiful creature was special; a moment neither of us will forget for a long time.

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We move through the next couple of runs, but the early morning is starting to catch up ti us and our hunger soon overwhelms our desire for fishing. Besides, we had already hooked into 5 fish over 16 inches, and felt that putting more pressure wouldn’t be the best.

John threw a couple of casts in the last pool before we pulled off of the water, and plucked a large brown, maybe 17 inches and colorful, from a pool the size of a large swimming pool. With some photos snapped and the fish released, we fist-bumped and decided it was time for some donuts.

On our way back to campus, we relived the morning. Our smiles grew after every story we replayed in our minds, and the stoke was uncontrollable. It is hard when you find a spot like this to not tell even your close friends, but both John and I knew that this stretch of water was something else.

Fluorocarbon, monofilament, leaders, flies, floatant, reels, a variety of rods, a net, fly boxes, sunglasses, a hat, and a pack to put everything inside. Lots of people believe that you need all of the items above to simply catch a fish, but the equipment necessary is quite minimal.

When I first started fly fishing, I was exposed to so many products and methods that I did not know what I needed in order to get off the ground. I was overwhelmed, and I found myself doing lots of online research and asking lots of questions about everything.

Taking this time to learn about all of the basics was beneficial because I learned a lot about all of the products that are in the market and their many uses, what performs better in different scenarios, and so on. 

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So, after my first couple of visits to fly shops in MT I had a fly box with a decent assortment of flies along with some leaders and a spool of tippet. I had not yet purchased a fly rod yet, because I felt like this more of an investment than just another fly.

A couple of weeks and hours of research later, I owned my first fly rod. It was everything I needed at the time, and for the price performed exceptionally. It was a 9 foot 5wt Sage Approach, and to this day is still one of my favorite rods to fish.

My Dad purchased that rod for me, and to this day am so thankful for his generosity. I knew that this would be something that we could do together for the rest of our lives, and he was just excited about the rod as I was

So, if you are just starting to get into fly fishing, want to go out for just the day, or simply curious on how much money you have to spend, here are some of my suggestions for equipment.

Rods

This is arguably the most difficult decision to make when you first start fly fishing, because it is a big investment and there are so many to choose from. So how do you know which one is right for you?

I first think about the type fishing that I will be doing. The 5wt was a perfect rod to begin with because it can handle a variety of water and can cast dry flies to small streamer patterns. There are many brands out there that offer superb entry level kits, and if you are just tapping into the sport I would recommend one of these. These kits include a rod, reel, fly line, and more, and are a great option for a high quality package that is at the lower end of the price spectrum. 

Many of these packages come with a rod, reel, fly line, and maybe even a fly box. The first time I casted one of these rods, I was shocked by the quality of the rod for the price. You can find many of these kits for under $200, which is a great deal considering a couple of rods alone are pushing the $1000 mark today.

Reels

If you decide on a kit like the one I mentioned above, then you will mostly likely not have to deal with choosing a reel. If not, then you will have to pick out the items separately. I have very little preference when it comes to selecting a reel. I like something that is light, can hold backing and fly line, and has a well-built drag system.

When fishing for trout, I rarely find myself using the reel when battling a fish. Frankly, a fly reel is just a fancy line holder, and a nice color eases the mind at time of purchase. It is important though when fishing for large trout or other freshwater and saltwater species to have a well-built drag system. This can make or break your day of fishing on the water, so when selecting a reel be selective and ask questions. 

Lines, Leaders, and Accessories

RIO Products 5wt floating line

This realm of fly fishing can take you down a rabbit hole. With new products like micro trash containers, necklaces to hold all of your little do-dads, and more, it is easy to see something that you may need. I have done that many times, and never have used that item it until I cleaned out my fly fishing pack a month or two later.

With lines and leaders, my advice would be to keep it simple. With a variety of products and dimensions, find something that corresponds to what you are fishing to. For trout, a great setup would be a floating fly line, with a couple packages of leaders ranging from 3x-6x.

Accessories is a category that you can take it wherever you would like. Keeping with the minimalist theme, I love to carry only what I need. Throughout every season I will carry some dry fly floatant, which is a hydrophobic substance that helps you fly float on the surface of the water.

Bozeman Flyworks 9' Flouro Leader Pack

Besides floatant I will carry a net, some nippers (nail clippers will do the trick), sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, and a pair of wading boots. Ideally you have a little hip, shoulder, or backpack to put everything in, but shoving it in your pockets works too. Besides, having an organized pack is less important than catching fish.

This may seem like quite a few items that can put a hole in your wallet, but once you have the basics covered you are set. You can add and subtract equipment when you deem necessary, but with the basics you can do just about anything.

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Over the years I have found what works for me, and what doesn’t. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all of the new trinkets that you see online and in shops, and my advice would be to start small. Some of those new products are extremely innovative and useful, but I have yet to add one to my system that I would use regularly. 

You really only need a couple of things to get started, and from there you can add or subtract items to your liking. I have found that when I first started I had a lot of gear, and have been slowly reducing the amount of equipment that I carry on a day-to-day basis.

So start small, only get what you need to begin with, and go from there. Besides, it really is just a couple of feathers tied onto a piece of metal anyways, and in the end it is just fishing. 

Conservation has become a large part of the sport that we love today. With a variety of organizations focusing on different ways to protect and preserve the waters we love, it is easy to do our part and help protect them as well.

For myself, I feel strongly that doing your part is the best way to feel connected to your water, so doing a tangible act resonates with me the best. 

Within the last couple of weeks I have had lots of people reach out and ask how they can protect their local stream or river. Here are a couple of ways for you to do that, whether it be donating, changing your fishing tactics, or something else.

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Ways To Give Back

Organizations and Donations

Organizations that focus primarily on preserving and protecting waterways add contribute to a very important and unique piece of the fly fishing industry. Trout Unlimited, Rep Your Water, Waterkeeper Alliance, and others are some that come to mind.

With those, along with many others at the forefront of conservation in the industry, I find it important to become a member, regular donor or follower of their work. I became a member of Trout Unlimited as soon as I heard about the organization, and make a monthly donation because I believe in the work that they do.

Donating or partaking in a chapter or group is a great way to start, but there are so many other ways to protect your waters and keep them around longer. After fishing in the Driftless and in the Western U.S., I figured that the it would be a good idea to change a couple of my personal tactics to add to my participation with Trout Unlimited.  I have started to fish barbless hooks, use a net to limit the handling of fish, and practice safe wading techniques.

 

Fishing Tactics and Practices

When fishing barbless hooks, I find that it allows for less damage to the mouth of the fish and it is easier to remove when in the net. I don’t lose very many fish either which deters many people from going barbless. This is an easy change to your fishing tactics that make a big difference long term for the fishery.

Using a net is great for minimizing the time the fish is out of the water and the amount that your handle the fish. Every time you handle a fish, you are damaging its epidermis and dermis, the two layers of skin that protect the fish and contain tough connective tissues.

Aside from using a net to minimize handling and time out of the water, I have made a deliberate effort to watch where I am stepping when close to the water. It is eye-opening to see what water can do to the topography of a stream, so doing your part and not sliding down banks or moving lots of rocks will help the fishery.

Last summer I visited one of my favorite streams in Iowa, and could not believe how much it had changed. It had been a particularly high year in terms of precipitation, and the stream was much more shallow and wide.

The owner of the land along with Trout Unlimited did work to improve the structure of the stream, and even made attempts to prevent further erosion on the banks. Since then, I have seen the stream maintain its form and fish very well.

All of these things make a big difference in the long run for your favorite fishery, and adapting to them as soon as possible is the best way to do your part in preserving that stream or river.

When to Fish, and When Not to Fish

With water temperatures warming up as the summer continues, it is important to know when to fish, and when it set down your rod and prepare for your elk hunt or tie some flies. With the higher temperatures and lower flows, the fish have a harder time finding oxygen during the day. Fishing during those high hours of the day can be dangerous fish those fish, and put pressure on them that may lead to fatality.

Out West it is typically pretty easy to know when not to fish due to the Hoot-Owl regulations that get set in place when temperatures get too high. I think that this set of regulations are great for streams and rivers because it gives those fish a break. Besides, sweating through your shirt isn’t too fun either.

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I have made concentrated effort to shift my fishing practices to ones that have the fish in mind. I do my best to pinch my barbs, pick up any trash that I find, and release the fish as quickly as I can. Doing your part may not seem like it will make a difference, but if everyone does their part it will.

So go become a member or Trout Unlimited, pinch your barbs, stay off the water when it gets too warm, and pick up a couple pieces of trash the next time you are out on the water. Some of these actions are larger contributors to the overall health of the stream or river than others, but all of them play a role in the long term preservation of that watershed.

Trout Unlimited: https://www.tu.org/

I am sitting in a coffee shop in downtown Bozeman on a warm summer night. The air is warm but not humid. Someone must be smoking a cigarette outside because I am catching a draft of it. This is one of the warmer days of the summer, and my legs are sweating in my jeans. Maybe I should have worn shorts today, but I will head home in an hour or so.

I am sitting in this shop after a full day of work, and am doing some things for the website. Trying to optimize views on platforms, creatively reaching out to others, etc. All things that have become part of my daily routine after moving out west and attempting to grow The Angler’s Hatch.

Lots of posts like these that I read from other blogs across the web talk about their day on the water where they caught lots of fish, their last day on the water, and so on. I’m about to tell you a story that actually came to mind when sitting in this exceptionally warm coffee shop.

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Last fall I visited Patagonia for an adventure of a lifetime. Named “land of big feet” by Magellan, when he first came through here on his world expedition in 1520. I had seen many pictures and videos of Patagonia, heard some stories, and knew that it was wild.

Everyone I talked to or told that I was going to Patagonia for a semester told me it was “wild”. Along the way it began to get old, and I just wanted to go down there and see for myself what the talk was all about.

The date grew closer, and before I knew it I was on the 10 hour flight from Atlanta to Santiago, Chile. From there I took another flight to a region airport named Balmaceda, and then took an hour taxi to Coyhaique.

It rained the first couple of days that I arrived, and as we prepared for our mountaineering expedition we were unsure if the weather would allow for us to begin. Low pressure systems and snow caused for difficult travel on less than ideal highways, but we began with no expectations and lots of warm clothes.

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30 days later we exited the mountains and moved to the sea kayak. We then spent 30 more days paddling though the fjords and channels of Southern Patagonia, a truly surreal place that made you fight, cry, and yell in joy and pain. The mountains did that too, but on the sea it was a bit warmer which made things a bit more bearable.

After 60 days with instructors, teams of students ventured into the mountains for 8 days with only their backpacks, a map, some food, and a GPS. The goal was to get from point A to point B without having to evac. anyone or find yourself lost.

My adventure in Patagonia is so full of memories, grueling and joyful experiences, and other stories that it almost is easier to explain it in the most simple of ways.

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A thought came to my mind while I was sitting in that coffee shop. I had not truly sat down to reflect on my time in Patagonia, for after I returned I turned around and spent another 90 days in the field with NOLS in the U.S West. That trip is a whole different story, one with hot desert days, skiing in chest deep snow, and sleeping in igloos.

Looking back on it now, I can pull a couple of things from the expedition that have come into perspective. Most of the time when students come back from something like this they say that it changed their life. I have to agree, and wonder what the students who say that a trip like this didn’t were doing the whole time.

I now realize that anything I will face will never be as difficult as what I put my body and mind through in Patagonia. I pushed myself to work the hardest, learn all that I could, and take it all in because I knew that this trip would be something I look back on for the rest of my life.

Patagonia did change me. I’m not sure if it was sleeping in the snow for 30 days, the cold extremities being shoved in frozen mountaineering boots, boiling water spilled on my hands countless times, the sand flies and calluses on my hands, the lack of food, or the true endurance that it took to complete the course, but I know that after going through that I can put my head down and do anything.

I finish up my work for the day, pack up my backpack, and head to a small creek just outside of town. With the size of Bozeman it is pretty incredible that wild trout live just a couple of minutes away.

With lots of fly fishing enthusiasts in Bozeman, I find that it gets pressured quite a bit, so I do my best to spread my attention to other local water during the week. This small creek runs all the way through town, so you can fish it at many different points.

It turns in to be an exceptional night on the river. Fish are rising to small caddis flies, with some being larger than others. The mosquitos stay away and the air is cool without much moisture. It was so nice, that I got up the next morning before work to go fish.

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Knowing that I fished a piece of water that is more difficult to get to the night before, I took to walking a bit further back upstream to find fish. I plan to fish for only an hour or so, but I still put on my waders so that I can go straight to work after fishing.

My fiberglass 3 weight rod, a small box of flies, a spool of tippet, and my nippers are the items that fill my pockets. I plan on fishing a dry/dropper setup, for that is what I find has been the most effective on this small water.

I tie on a small Chubby Chernobyl and a small Lightning Bug as a dropper fly. I don’t fish this small nymph because I tie it often, I fish it because it catches fish. For this water, along with the Upper Gallatin further up the road and some other small water, it has been my go-to fly for this summer.

I move through the first couple of runs and catch a couple on the nymph. None of the fish are large, but I find that every fish I catch here is immaculate. The mandible is intact, the wild attributes, and their colorful bodies are special. Maybe it is the close proximity to town, or the small water that reminds me of the Driftless, but whatever it is these fish are memorable catches.

I get one fish to eat the dry fly in a small run, and on that note head back to the car. Putting my waders back in the car, slinging the rod in the rod vault, and packing the other pieces away, I head to work.

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As I drive the short couple of minutes to the office, I think about how much you can do every morning when you get up early. Something that has been instilled in me since my early years attending swim practice as 5:00am, getting up early has become a natural thing. Now it just becomes a game of what I can do before 9:00am.

I am currently reading a book by John Gierach, one of my favorite fly fishing authors. While reading through one of his chapters about Steelhead fishing in British Columbia, he touched on books that he brings along on his fishing trips. He wrote about books that he likes to bring along on fishing trips, ones that aren’t of his liking, and so on.

While living in Bozeman this summer, I have not found much time to sit down and read. I have many books on fly fishing, adventure, and more sitting on my desk. The stack includes mostly fly fishing literature, along with the “Algebra for Dummies” copy and a book about a particular business strategy that I open every so often to pull from. I am trying to get up to speed on some math before school starts in a couple of weeks. 

The other day I started a book by John Gierach titled A Fool’s Paradise. I have read 4 of his books before this one, and am always inspired after reading. His style is simple and direct, but portrays a side of the story that is different than the rest. I find that when reading a book, the difference between an average read and a memorable one is the authors unique choice of style.

Throughout my time fly fishing and traveling across the globe, some books come to mind. Whenever I visit the Driftless, whether just for a day or the better part of a week, I bring along a length copy of Fly Fishing Iowa and Wisconsin that my grandparents gave me a while back. This book is full of information, maps, fly recommendations, techniques, and more.

My gap year brought out some of my best reads to date. When I spent nearly 3 months out in the Patagonian backcountry, the days spent in the tent snowed in were primarily spent reading. There was the occasional nap, preparation of food, and tent maintenance that all needed to occur as well. In the interest of keeping my pack as light as possible, I only brought one book on the entire expedition. Throughout my semester in Patagonia I read Sex, Death, and Fly Fishing by John Gierach seven times. I would re-read chapters, start the book from the beginning, and so one. I got to know that book very well, and looking at those battered covers and notes in the pages bring back significant memories.

There are few books that stand out to me as “re-reads”. Many of my friends throughout high school would re-read books because they either liked them enough or found some sort of inner correlation to them. Whenever I finish a book, I do not typically think about reading it again, unless it is the only book in sight for the next 78 days.

Most of my time I spend reading revolves around fly fishing. Many of John Gierach’s recent releases are some of my favorites. I am fortunate enough to have a father and grandfather that love to fly fish, so whenever I wrap up a neat read I send it to one of them. We have a book exchange going, on which is great because I get my hands on some of my great grandfather’s favorites from when he was a young guy like me. Those are true classics, and have to be handled gently or else the pages may tear and collect grease.

Throughout middle and high school lots of my reading was structured and focused around class work, but when I graduated and started to read books more in my free time, I began to understand the value of a great read.

Lots of books I have read have inspired me to write posts, read more books like it, and think about my writing style. There is a lot of inspiration to be had from any book, it is just a matter of if the first few chapters are up to your liking.

This is the third day of a segment that I am doing called "A Week in the Driftless," where I tell short stories about fishing and exploring this incredible place. Today's post waas about fishing in the winter. 

Winter can be grueling in the Midwest. I grew up in Iowa, and throughout those cold winter months it was always a process to bundle up and go outside. The winter months have begun to warm up over the past couple of years, and fishing in the Driftless is an idea that is feasible.

I had just returned from my semester in Patagonia, where I lived in the mountains and at sea for 90 days. I had put my body through a lot, but I was itching more than ever to fish again. After not touching a fly rod for a couple of months, I had to get back up there before I left for my spring semester in a couple of weeks. 

As we pulled in to one of the many gravel parking lots on the Waterloo Creek, everything looked different. The flows were down, the grass was dead, and the water was incredibly clear. In the summer it rains ever so often so you do not get to see the water at full clarity.

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As we fished different sections of the Waterloo, and other surrounding streams, we did not catch very many fish. We saw a couple of fishing rising to minute midges, but took to fishing nymph rigs instead. I found a nice fish who had packed on some extra weight for the winter that fought very hard. Catching fish is only a bi-product of getting out with my Dad and existing in this place of significance.

Being back up in the Driftless reminded me of the change that an area like this has seen. Yes the months of the year come and go, but thinking back to when this was all created millions of years ago in the glacial and ice era is incredible.

Next time I am home for the winter, I plan on packing up the car and making the drive north to my favorite streams, even if it means frozen hands and frozen fly rod guides.

I said this in an article I wrote to be featured in a blog in Des Moines, Iowa, and it has resonated with me since then. Whenever I go out fishing in the Driftless, I always come upon a story that I was not actually planning for.

I may drive up to the Driftless for a couple of days in search of a couple of fish, some neat photos, and to come across some unique water, but I constantly find myself writing a piece after the trip about something completely different. That is why I fish.

This week I am bringing you a segment called “A Week in the Driftless” where I will tell a short story and share a photo on Instagram Monday through Friday. Follow along for the week at “@theanglershatch” on Instagram and on Facebook. 

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I’m starting this week off with a photo and story that has some meaning to me. My time in the Driftless was been spent mostly with my Dad or my Grandpa. Every once in a while I will take off in the middle of the week by myself, but most of the time I like to fish with someone.

My Dad and I have fished a lot of the water in NE Iowa, but every time we visit the area we hit our favorite spots. This photo is on a small creek right outside of Dorchester, IA. This was one of the first pieces of water I fished in the Driftless, and to this day know every curve and pool of the stream.

Taken on a disposable camera, and one of my favorites of my Dad fishing in the Driftless. 

This pool is no more than 50 feet from the gravel parking lot just above the hill in the photo. My dad and I park here every time we fish this stream, and typically walk upstream to fish the runs and pools until we reach the log jam.

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My Dad and I love to fish dry flies in the Driftless. Something about catching a fish in your home state on a dry fly is significant to us. Maybe it reminds us of the first time we went fishing together out West, or the act of the fish rising to the surface to eat.

Whatever it is, my dad ties on a big ant pattern and puts a couple nice casts tight against the bank. On his fourth cast a Brook trout comes up and smashes the ant. It fought hard, and came to the net quickly.

We both look at each other after the fish is released, and know that this moment will be frozen in time. I look back on days like this, and am so grateful for the Driftless, the fish, and the people that I have created memories with.

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I think the reason I keep going back to the Driftless is because it is different than any other fishery in the world. This place was created millions of years ago, the fish have been there for just the same, and the bluffs and the pastures are lush and green.

The fishing comes second to being in a place like this. Driving from fishing spot to fishing spot on the gravel road, climbing the steps over fences to the water, and catching a few trout in a place like Iowa is remarkable.

#aweekinthedriftless #findyourhatch #thisisiowa

I reach the trailhead in the early morning. The sun has not peaked over the ridge to the East, and the air is still crisp and cool. My small backpack is packed tightly, containing everything that I need for this short morning adventure into the backcountry. 

I had been planning to make it up to this lake for the whole summer now, but with work and the fishing being spectacular elsewhere in Montana, I have not yet. With crowds on all of the major rivers that are fishing well right now, I decided that this weekend was as good of time as any to pack my car and head into the backcountry. 

I have always liked hiking up to alpine lakes to find fish. The notion behind working harder for a couple of fish, solitude, and nature is appealing to me. This trip consisted of a short hike in search of native Cutthroat trout in a beautiful basin area. 

Four years ago I hiked up to this same lake with my family, and caught one Cutthroat no longer than 6 inches, so I was expecting the same smaller fish when I arrived. Turns out, the lake has changed quite a bit, and the fishing was very different. 

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A small box of dry flies and a couple of Wooly Buggers, a reel, nippers, and dry fly floatant fill the brain of the pack. A 3 weight fiberglass rod is tight to the left side of the pack, and a 1 liter of water in the right pocket. Inside the pack is a first aid kit, an insulating layer, light raincoat, snacks, a camera body and two lenses, and a notebook. On my right hip belt is the bear spray. Hopefully that doesn’t have to be used.

Everything that I have chosen to bring has purpose. The amount of flies I bring, what I packed in my first aid kit, and the weight of layers I choose to bring is all taken in to account. With my extensive experience in the field, I find that it can be fun experimenting with your pack to get the weight where you want it.

I lock the car and make my way to the trailhead. The sun is starting to peak over the ridge, and I begin the moderate 4 mile hike to the lake. The trail takes you through a thick forest, switchbacks in a steep meadow, and then opens up into a large basin

At the trailhead I consider putting in my headphones and playing some of my favorites, but decide to leave them in the car and be a part of the solitude that comes along with this adventure. I find it healthy for my mental space to escape the noise for a couple of hours. Some of my best thoughts have come from times like these. 

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My toes are numb in my Chacos as I begin the hike. The dew on the plants mixed with the cool air chill my toes and ankles, but my lungs ache for oxygen at this altitude. I push myself through the first two miles at a quick pace, knowing that the trail increases in difficulty later on. 

I complete the rest of the hike to the lake in stride, and begin rigging up for a couple of hours of fishing. The gnats are thick up here, and I pull out my buff I remembered packing the night before. Observing the lake, I see a few rises and a couple of bugs, but it is shaping up to be tricky fishing. 

The water is clear enough to see these fish cruising around. These fish are chasing bugs around on the surface and launching themselves completely out of the water to eat. Truly an incredible show, I reel my line back in and observe their behavior. 

They are feeding on bugs that are skittering on the surface, and are quite aggressive towards them. One of the first things I notice about the fish as they rise is their size. These fish all look to be over 12 inches, with a few looking much larger. 

After a little time spent watching the lake, I flip the switch and begin looking for fish. I rigged up a long leader and a small Stimulator pattern. My tactic begins with finding the feeding fish and presenting to them. This works early on, so I continue to make laps around the lake, hooking and landing a couple of fish in the process. 

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On my third lap around the lake I find a couple of large fish cruising in no more than a foot of water. A couple of them spook at my cast, so I target a lone fish 20 feet to the right of them. I kneel down and place a cast a couple of feet away in an effort to draw his attention but not spook him. He sees the fly and makes a dash to it. Slowly rising to the fly, inhaling it, and begins to submerge. I set the hook.  

Today I am fishing with my 3 weight rod and a little reel. This fish is strong, and takes me in to my backing quickly. I am on my feet in an instant, following the fish on the bank in hopes of keeping him on. He makes three hard runs, and I strip retrieve him in after 10 minutes. 

I land this fish and am in pure awe of it's size, beauty, and wild attributes. I play back the last couple of minutes in my mind. Seeing this fish slowly eat the dry fly, charge to the other bank, and now rest in my hands is so neat. This is the biggest Cutthroat I have caught, and seeing this specimen is exhilarating.

Truly privileged to shake his hand and take a photo, I let him go to swim amongst the other wild fish in this lake at 10,000ft. Stunned by this fish and the atmosphere, I call it a day and pack up my bag to begin the hike back down to the car. 

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The hike back down to the car is relaxing. With some music playing in my right pocket, I greet people heading up to the lake and keep to myself. People ask how the fishing went, and I humbly respond with "there are a couple of fish up there."

INTRODUCTION:

As soon as the seasons turn from spring to summer, the water levels start to drop and the hatches become active. Most people put away the nymph boxes. Yes, some evening the caddis are hatching so profusely thick that you cannot see 10 feet in front of you. Excluding those times, you should be nymphing.

When I first started to fly fish, casting a dry fly was all I knew. I took my first fly fishing trip in early August in Montana and threw small dry flies to hungry cutthroat trout. Dry fly fishing was the only way I knew how to catch fish, and it worked well.

Not long after that, I began to expand my knowledge into the fly fishing world and its broad spectrum of methods. As someone who was just opening their eyes to this new sport, I was overwhelmed by the variety of content presented to me at the time. What I found was that there was little I knew, and a lot that I didn’t know.

This may have left many people discouraged, but for a young 14-year-old, I became motivated to learn more. I started watching YouTube videos, reading magazines and blog posts, and tying my own flies. Watching and reading about fly fishing were the two best things that I did, outside of actually fishing, that has gotten me to where I am today.

One element of fly fishing that I discovered early on, and has stuck with me to this day, is the complexity of the trout’s diet. These fish live in the river all year long, and have to eat every day to survive and grow. My first question was: where do all of the bugs come from?

As I went deeper, doing research about entomology and the diet of the trout, I learned more about freestone rivers and the bugs that live in river systems in the Western US and in other waters across the country. I was a few years in to spending some of time fly fishing and had finally figured it out, or at least a simple version of it.

The bugs live in the river, go through phases in their lives, and either get eaten and/or lay eggs for new bugs to be born. The bugs that come from the laid eggs then go through the same cycles and phases as their past generation. This, being a very simple version of what occurs in rivers and streams all across the US, is quite fascinating.

After discovering this, I grew my knowledge on something that had interested me from the start: nymphing. I had fished nymphs in Montana, Colorado and Iowa, but never knew the true reasoning for it. I just knew that the fish feed subsurface and that using nymphs caught fish.

I went on a couple of guided fishing trips with my great friend Chance Lenay, and throughout those trips he taught me about the science and methods behind nymphing.

Chance explained to me that the bugs live in the water, and when they get peeled off of the rocks below the surface the fish typically eat them. The nymphs that we fish imitate those bugs that come from the rocks on the bed of the river.

Along with this new knowledge came the realization that nymphing is extremely effective. The trout do not have to work hard for the food when they are presented with it.

Fast forward to the present day where I have been fishing in Montana, the Driftless, and other places for 6 years, and have a good idea of the techniques, styles, patterns, and more that make up nymphing.

I am not arguing that you should be casting an indicator rig during a caddis hatch. I am explaining why I believe nymphing is so effective and the different ways that you can nymph throughout the year. Here is an explanation of why nymphing is so effective, ways to fish nymphs and more.

Why I Find Nymphing So Productive:

Throughout my fly fishing career, I have grown to love nymph fishing. In the Driftless it is the primary way to catch fish, due to the lesser frequency in bug hatches compared to the Western United States. I have spent many hours on the water figuring out what works, what doesn’t work, and how to make it better.

Nymphing can be a variety of things. When I say that I am nymph fishing, I am fishing with a dry and a dropper, a double nymph rig that is weighted under an indicator, a nymph and a small streamer under and indicator, or a different method.

The reason I find myself nymphing so much is for multiple reasons. My first reason as to why I like nymphing so much is because it is always changing. It is a constant game of selecting the correct flies, achieving depth, and accomplishing the perfect drift.

Another reason I love to nymph is due to its prodcutivity. In the Driftless and in the US West, you can generally find fish every day when using a nymph rig of any sort. Trout hold in the deeper depths of water, approximately 1 foot off of the bottom, and feed in that zone 80-90% of the time.

When you think about it simply, trout live in the river and never leave. They have to eat to survive and grown, and they spend almost all of their life in the lower columns of the water. The chances of finding a fish that will take your fly, if in the correct zone at the correct time, is quite likely. That is the main reason why I find nymphing to produce fish.

When you find those times when they are feeding, the nymphing game then becomes more about technique, knowledge of the water you are fishing, and your fly and rig mechanics.

BUGS AND DRIFTS:

Most of the time, trout are holding and feeding within one foot of the bottom, allowing them to feed actively and not work too hard. Down in that area are where the bugs live as well. Scuds, swimming mayflies, caddis pupae, and more are all moving through the water columns.

Keeping your flies in this zone is difficult. It takes immense practice at mending in different currents, weighting your nymph rig and more to achieve the perfect drift over and over again. In a lengthy cast, say 20-30 feet with a heavily weighted nymph setup, your drift will look good in the water for the first 5 feet of, and then look slightly unnatural for the rest of the allotted time.

Do not worry about this though; trout aren’t especially picky when it comes to feeding on the current active bugs. A good drift at the correct depth will get the job done, and a great drift is even better.

TECHNIQUES TO NYMPH EFFECTIVELY:

With all of the research I have done on nymphing, experimenting with different techniques on the water is the best way to learn what works and what techniques and methods don’t.

In a scenario like this, the feedback loop is almost instant. If you have your rig at the depth that it needs to be and make the correct drift, it then becomes dependent on your fly choices. If the fish does not take when all of the other variables are equalized, switching flies is the best way to problem solve. With so many ways to nymph, here are a couple of techniques that interest me and are productive for myself on the water. 

·      SINGLE/DOUBLE NYMPH RIG

·      DRY FLY AND A DROPPER

·      SIGHT NYMPHING

Below is an explanation of each technique and how to fish it.

SINGLE/DOUBLE NYMPH RIG:

This style of nymphing is easily the most popular right now. I also find this technique to be the most effective in the spring and fall months. Fishing one or two nymph flies with or without weight under and indicator is one of the best ways to catch fish while nymphing.

You can utilize this setup by fishing a heavier lead nymph and an unweighted trailer nymph, two heavy nymphs with or without split shot, a small streamer and a nymph as a trailer fly and more. I enjoy fishing this setup over others because you can always switch it up to optimize success.

Using the single nymph and double nymph rig works great in shallow and deeper water. When fishing shallow water, do not add additional weight to your setup. Fish a heavier lead fly alone or with a weightless trailing nymph approximately 4-6 feet underneath your indicator.

When fishing this method in greater depths, I would generally add a split shot, and continue to use a heavier lead nymph and a weightless trailing nymph. Fishing two flies in deeper water helps the flies reach their optimal depth and increases you chances of catching fish. The main variable in this method lies in your distance from your flies to your indicator. I will typically fish a double nymph rig 7-9 feet underneath my indicator.

Fishing two nymphs under an indicator is simple to put together, easy to adjust and one of the most productive methods of nymphing used today.

See this video for instruction on how to setup your nymph rigs: 

DRY FLY AND A DROPPER:

Fishing a dry/dropper setup is by far my favorite for the months of July and August. Fish are looking up to big bugs on the surface, but still feeding on nymphs in those shallow and deeper runs and pools when the water temperatures begin to rise.

There is a wide spectrum of dry/dropper rigs that I find work well in different scenarios. Larger dry fly patterns like a Chubby Chernobyl, PMX, and Amy’s Ant work well for holding up those heavier nymphs that are tied on using fluorocarbon tippet. Smaller dry fly patterns that resemble a Parachute Adams or Yellow Sally generally do well when fishing a weightless nymph underneath.

One of the more important elements to this setup is your leader length and size. Using 9-14 feet of 4x monofilament to your first dry fly is optimal, and allows you to keep your fly line off the water and keeps that drag free drift going for much longer.

The depth of your dropper below the dry fly changes on the type of water you are fishing. If you are fishing a weighted dropper like an AKA Prince or Lightning Bug under a larger dry fly, I will regularly use 20-30 inches of 4x fluorocarbon tippet to attach the nymph to the dry fly. If you are fishing the Pete’s Red Neck Nymph, a weightless nymph, I will use anywhere from 10-40 inches of 3x fluorocarbon tippet. This length allows for the nymph to reach its desired depth in an appropriate amount of time.

When fishing the dry fly with a dropper, I have had many eats on the dropper as soon as it hits the water. This may be because the fish sees the dry fly when it first hits the water, but refuses to eat it and then sees and eats the nymph. I find this very interesting, and have been experimenting in different water structures with a nymph tied closer to the dry fly. Fishing with a nymph 8-16 inches below the dry fly allows you to target fish in the heads of shallow riffles.

The dry/dropper setup also works well for fly fishing on lakes and larger bodies of still water. Fishing with the dry fly may attract the fish to the surface, and the nymph is there to catch fish when they become disinterested in the dry fly. 

SIGHT NYMPHING:

 A technique that I have not fished much of, sight nymphing is truly dependent on the water’s condition and state of the fish. With clear water and the fish feeding subsurface, sight nymphing is ideally the best way to move fish.

I have been reading about and researching sight nymphing after moving out to Montana earlier this summer. Many of my coworkers and various shop employees in the area have told me about water all over the state where sight nymphing is imperative to catching fish.

Fishing for finicky trout in shallow water is best done without an indicator, because the splash of the indicator will most likely spook the trout. This is a technique that I look forward to learning more about and using in the future.

CLOSING: 

Nymphing has been a classic method to catch fish for decades, and is still one of the most effective ways to find fish today. I hope you learned more about nymphing, it's various techniques, and why it is so productive. 

Article by Ben Nelson

Throughout this backcountry adventure I had the opportunity to fish a rod of great significance and caliber. I met up with Matt at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths in Bozeman, MT prior to the trip, and discussed fishing, their company history and story, and the bamboo rod building process. Matt gave me one of their rods for this adventure to fish and write a story to be featured on their site. Here is the story.

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We loaded up the car on Thursday afternoon with everything we thought we needed for a fishing trip. A gallon of water, bratwursts, some beverages, firewood, two cans of bear spray, and an assortment of rods, reels and flies.

I met Joe at the beginning of the summer through work, and became friends almost instantly. Throughout the summer we talked about a backcountry fly fishing trip, and this past weekend we put our plans into action.

We drove an hour and a half to a quaint cabin, and unloaded our things. In preparation for the evening caddis, we put together our rods and tied our knots. The sun was still high in the sky, but despite the heat I trekked upstream in search of some fish. 

Walking on the slippery rocks of the creek bank, my ankles quickly became sore and bruised from the constant loss of balance and abrasion against rocks.

Finding my rod getting caught more in the bushes than taught to a fish, I ventured back downstream to the cabin to enjoy the shade and some water. Joe had been reading since we arrived, and I quickly became jealous of his chair in the shade. 

After a couple of hours, we decided to go and look for some fish farther upstream than I had explored earlier in the day. Our plan was to hike 3 miles on a well-kept trail to a meadow where we were told their were lots of feeding fish. 

The trail starts down by the campground, crosses the creek a mile and a half in, and continues up through the meadow and further into the backcountry. After a mile or so on the trail we came across a couple of cows. We thought nothing of it and carried on.

The sun was setting, and Joe and I knew that we would have to maintain a nice pace in order to fish the meadow and return to the cabin before dark. When we came to the bridge, we saw where the trail would take us up over the ridge and down into the meadow. The problem was the trail was occupied by cows.

Joe and I attempted to push them along, but they were not enthused and didn’t move. Our progress for the evening was halted, and we returned back to the cabin with thoughts of the meadow and hungry stomachs.

As we sat by the fire and cooked our bratwursts, we discussed topics like school, work, relationships, podcasts, and fly fishing. On every fishing trip I have been on, the conversation may start with themes of a recent book you read or a person you met, but will eventually end in talk about fly fishing.  

The mosquitos come out and bite at our feet. Your feet get too warm trying to keep the bugs off being close to the fire, so copious amounts of bug spray are applied. We see caddis coming off, and a tempted to throw a couple casts in the run right behind the cabin. I took my 8-foot graphite rod down to the creek, and got one to rise in the seam behind a rock on an Elk Hair Caddis, before retiring to the cabin for the night.

After our dinner, we cleaned the dishes and settled in to our sleeping bags. Visions of the meadow and hungry Cutthroat trout loomed in our heads as we dosed off the sleep.

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We were awakened by the sun beaming through the dust covered windows, and rose quickly to clean the cabin and prepare breakfast. We knew there was not much time to waste, and if the cows weren’t around, we would have some miles to cover on the trail.

We set off on foot with hopes of an open trail and hungry trout. Within the first quarter mile we found the cows, and quickly after their discovery they had disappeared. We carried on, crossing the bridge and gaining elevation up the trail.

Early in the morning, with the dew on the grass and the air still cool from the night, we are refreshed while exerting our bodies at altitude. Feeling the spider webs on our hands as we travel on the trail, we are assured that no one has traveled before us this morning.

After reaching the ridge, we lose elevation and hike down into the meadow. When we lay eyes on the meadow, we simply cannot believe our eyes. Lush green grass ends quickly and is joined by the downed old growth and high peaks. With the creek winding through the valley and up into the mountains, no words are said. The vista truly took our breath away.

We think about the glaciers that came through here millions of years ago, and how that shaped things here and across the globe.

We see a moose trotting off in the distance, and begin to talk and make noise again. We see the moose move up in to the higher part of the meadow on a scree field, and carry on. The hike from the meadow to our planned destination is around 1.5 miles. The terrain is manageable and the trail is clear.

Not more than 20 minutes after the moose encounter, we come across a bear. With Joe trailing behind me, he spots the brown bear no more than 50 off of the trail. Before I even see the grizzly bear I have my bear spray out of its holster with the safety off. With our blood pumping and vision centered, we can make out details in the face of the grizzly. I have spent lots of time in the backcountry, but removing the safety on the canister is a first.

With the grizzly bear showing no signs of aggression, we re-engage the safety on our bear spray and slowly work our way back to the meadow. Joe had never seen a bear before, and is full of adrenaline for the rest of the morning. There is no hesitation in this decision, and we make quick work of the return to the meadow.

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Not many words are said to each other. We yell aloud for the next 15 minutes in hopes of deterring other bears, and are hyperaware of our surroundings. Joe palms his bear spray in anticipation for another encounter.

Humans have an interesting reaction to events like this one. We quickly develop a “fight or flight” mental state, and focus on needs to happen in order to survive. We as a human species can live through things like illness and stress, but when exposed to other creatures we are defensive, and rightfully so.

Maybe it had to do with the grizzly or lack of fish, but the atmosphere around the adventure has changed. We throw a few casts in the creek running through the meadow, but are at a loss of motivation to spend time working on particular fish. Joe takes a swim in the creek to cross it and fish the opposite bank, while I stay on the other side watching for bears and rising fish. The adrenaline has started to wear off in both of us.

As we make our way back to the cabin, I decide to work a small pool below the bridge. I take three fish, not of great size, but beauty on a fly I tied. Finding a Cutthroat in a place like this is unique. A species dating back centuries and thriving in a mountain creek like this, I feel honored to admire it in my hand before releasing it back.

Joe and I wrap up fishing at the bridge and finish the hike back to the cabin. As we hike out, we discuss the encounter with the bear, other thrilling adventures from home, and what’s for lunch. We are tired from the hiking and adrenaline our bodies used in the height of the bear encounter, but are also glad to have found a few fish and return unharmed.

While driving back to town not much is said. Even on a short two-day trip like this one, you can learn a lot. For myself, I came to realize that the story lies not in the beautiful Cutthroat and brown trout, but in the authenticity of the journey. Catching a couple of fish is the desired outcome, but even more memorable is the bear, conversations with Joe, and the well cooked meal over a fire. To me, these are the experiences that will stay with me for a long time.

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Going 5 miles back simply in search of some hungry trout, Joe and I returned with quite a story. The trout, moose, grizzly bear, deer, flowers, and birds that we saw will all go on to live many more years in this forest. We are grateful that they let us share a piece in time with them, and can live to tell the story for many years to come.  

If you are someone you fly fishes, or know of a few people that fish, you know that everyone has their secret spots that they fish, and don’t tell anyone about. Maybe they give you vague hints and small details, but not enough to figure out where it is. These places may be tucked away far from any road where the fish eat endlessly and the crowds are non-existent. It may be a stream or river where they go to get away from the busy world and fish for a couple hours. In my opinion, every angler has a desire to find a spot like this. It is something about finding fish that are farther away, exploring new terrain, and being on the water that make this an exciting adventure.

I developed quite a few “secret spots” during my time in the Driftless, and particularity in Northeastern Iowa. There is a lot of water to be fished that takes some effort to get to, but can be very rewarding. Finding these so called “secret spots” demand a variety of things. Fishing the water that you know will ultimately lead you to want to find new water, whether it be close or far away from your typical streams and rivers.

At some point, stagnancy sets in and you get tired of fishing the same water over and over again. You have the motivation to find new water to fish, and so you begin your journey that will hopefully lead you to new water.  Online resources, maps, and word of mouth are all great ways to discover other fish. The way that I found most of these places was simply walking in to the woods or following the stream up and down. You can be amazed by the side channels and pools you find just a couple of minutes off the trails.

In Montana, most of the water is marked on a map and has been fished before by many people. For someone like me who likes to find the small streams to fish near and far from town, talking to people in the shops and coworkers has been a great resource. Everyone know about the Madison and the Gallatin, so I am trying to find spots where not everyone goes. Shops in the area tell customers the same places over and over, so you have to do a bit of searching and get creative by yourself.

One evening I decided to drive away from town to find a spring creek that I had seen on the map. It ended up being very windy, and having to drive a half an hour back to town without fishing was a little disappointing. When looking back on it, I know what that water looks like and it opened up an evening to fish some water closer to town. Turns out, that spot has wild rainbows that will take your size 10 chubby if you present it well. It was like a piece of Iowa, with the fish being 6-12 inches and the stream is only 8 feet across. Your 4wt rod with a 14ft 4x leader and a couple of flies being the only things that you need to catch fish. Wading through small water, getting eaten by mosquitos, and fishing for overzealous trout only 7 minutes from your apartment is pretty neat in a place like Bozeman.

For the rest of the summer I am trying to find more places like these. I have figured that going out and fishing, seeing the water, and walking or driving around are the best ways to discover these places. The fish aren’t as big as the fish elsewhere, but they are certainly more memorable to me. It reminds me of summer trips to the Driftless, where the air is humid and the trout are hungry. Maybe it is the simplicity of the fishing in a small stream like this, or maybe it is the lack of people. Whatever it is, I enjoy it enough to write about it and go back and fish it again.

In anticipation for attending Montana State University in the fall, I worked hard and was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Yellow Dog FlyFishing Adventures team as an intern this summer. Being a part of the team, seeing how they operate, and learning lots about different things has been great for my personal knowledge and growth in the industry. My favorite part thus far has been being able to publish some of my writing for their blog. While being here for the past couple of weeks I have also done quite a bit of fishing. To be honest, I have fished 24 days consecutively. Whether it be small cutthroat trout creeks in the mountains or bigger water like the Madison and the Henry’s Fork, I have been spending a lot of time outside of the office with a fly rod in my hand.

One of my goals when moving out to Montana is to become a better angler. Not in the terms of catching more fish, but to better understand the science and mechanics behind fly fishing. Finding that the only way to do that is to fish, spending time on the water, along with working, has been my main focus since moving out to Bozeman. I have gotten to experience everything from streamer fishing on the Madison, to technical dry fly fishing on the Henry’s Fork in Idaho. Having done this before, I have prided myself on taking each day on the water to a different level than before, meaning I am fishing harder and smarter. 

While spending time on the water, I have developed a greater understanding of what needs to happen in order to catch fish. Whether it be a 14ft leader and 2 feet of 4x tippet casting to a picky rainbow trout feeding a couple feet off the bank trying to make a drag free drift, or running a deep nymph rig in seams and pockets in big water, it has become an ongoing challenge for me to better my systems.

Fishing with friends in the area has also taught me many things about how other people fish, and things that I can do better. Everyone has their own personal style to fly fishing which I think is great. A buddy of mine, Will Phelps, has been teaching me a lot about fishing on these rivers out West. With a bit of experience under my belt before moving out here full time, he has taught me a lot about where to fish, how to fish, and what to fish in a variety of water. There is a lot happening here on these rivers all the time. An experienced angler knows about the hatches, bugs to fish, and so on, which I find interesting and something I have not yet tapped in to. Learning a lot by example myself, I find it insightful to watch others and then adapt and replicate.

Spending two weeks on the water after work has opened my eyes to a new level of angling in Montana. Fishing in the Driftless is awesome and has made me a better angler in a different way. The fish out here are bigger, smarter, and more difficult to catch which is great for me to see. I have hooked and landed a couple of nice fish, but nothing to brag about. I like to see a progression in myself as an angler. That to me is the most exciting thing about fly fishing. It is easy to see yourself become a better angler simply by the way that you operate on the water, your flies and leader systems, and your knowledge of the water.

I am very eager each day to get out on the water and learn something new. Becoming a better angler has been a goal of mine for a long time, and moving to Montana has given me the opportunity to work towards that more than before. Of course, something like this doesn't happen overnight, and is a progression that occurs throughout a lifetime. You could say I have reached another stage in my personal hatch, but unlike many, this hatch occurs over decades, not months or days like the Brown Drake or Salmonfly hatches. Coming to a realization of this has me itching to fish every day, and I am very excited to spend my college career and future here in Montana.

Tying your own flies can be an undertaking at first, but once you start to gain confidence it can be pure fun. A lot of people I talk to about tying either don’t have enough time or would just rather buy their flies. I feel the same way at times too, because I have not begun to tie fishable dry flies. Here are a couple tips to get you started and help you find success.

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Start Small:

The first couple of times you sit down at the vise, begin to learn the basics. It can be easy to watch Youtube videos and then attempt to tie a number 16 Adams. Trust me, it will help you skill level and sanity if you start by tying some simple midges and nymphs first. Learn the functions of your tools and how to use them. Learn about the all the different types of flies you can tie. Learn about the materials needed for simple and complex patterns. Also, you don’t have to have all of the fancy materials as soon as you start, for this will make the process almost a bit more complicating. Begin to tie with simple equipment, and know how to use it before purchasing some of the higher end products. Starting small with equip you with the tools to succeed long term, so you can fish your own dry flies to overzealous rainbow trout on that spring creek you visit every Saturday.

Utilize Different Resources:

When I first started tying flies, I was reading tying instructions out of an Orvis catalog. Although a great resource, there are multiple other online and written platforms out there to help you learn the basic flies to the advanced patterns. I find a lot of success from watching Youtube videos of fly tiers. These channels put out great content and will give you everything you need to tie that pattern. Everything from the materials needed to tie the pattern, and step-by-step of the process behind the pattern to completion.

There are also quite a few fly tying books that give you the same amount of information and will assist you in learning. I find Youtube as the better source because I learn better by repeating someone’s actions over and over again when I see them. I also like Youtube because you can get some inspiration on patterns you didn’t know about. I find this most frequently in midge and nymph patterns because there is so much you can subtly change to make the fly look completely different.

Find Time:

Even if it is a couple of midges a night or a whole box in a week, find the time to sit down and tie a few flies. It can be nice after a long day at work to relax and focus on something else, or really exciting if you are headed out for the weekend. Before you know it you will have half a box of nymphs you didn’t know about that catch fish.

When I first started tying flies it was frustrating, complicated, and something I didn’t like to do. Over time, I began to enjoy it more and more. It came full circle for me when I started to catch fish on flies that I tied a couple of years ago. That is one of the coolest feeling in this sport, I believe. Something that you crafted by hand tricked that trout to be hooked on the end of your line.

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I learn something new every time I sit down at the vise and watch a video or tie a couple of patterns. I am currently based out of Bozeman, MT, and a lot of the dry fly hatches are happening and or around the corner, so I am focusing my attention on tying some dries.

Last weekend I drove over to Cedar Rapids, a town about two hours from my home, to visit a coffee shop and check out this small stream I had heard about through some people in Des Moines. I packed my thermos and waders, and made the drive with one of my friends. After we had our fill of coffee and an excellent breakfast sandwich, we began to search for the stream on Google Maps.

After a couple of minutes, we found it, rigged up, and drove a couple of minutes outside of town to the stream parking lot. When you look up from the bank of this stream you can see cars passing you on the major highway running in and out of town. McCloud Run is Iowa’s said only urban trout stream, and it sure was. I started fishing with a double nymph set up, but after seeing a bit more of the water and reading its geography, I quickly switch to a smaller streamer pattern to hit some of the banks. Winter fishing is quite interesting. Not only are the fish not feeding, the sun isn’t out, but half of the stream is frozen over.

So when you round the corner and hope for a promising run, chances are it is covered in ice. Nonetheless it was awesome to toss my line in again. In a way it reminds me of the summer days in Wisconsin with the sun hot and the fish jumping for you size 20 Klinkhammer dry fly. The days where you have to wear you buff all the way up so you don’t get eaten alive by the mosquitos, and go to bed with the bugs hitting your cheeks from hours before.

Throughout the years I have been fishing in the Driftless, the sunrises, days on the water, fishing, and sunsets go unmatched with all other fishing destinations. Cannot wait to tie on that bulky dry fly, toss some dry shake on it, and wait for a set.