Fishing In Connecticut

Had a very nice bit of fishing and conversation with Charlie Place. We met to fish and hang out on the Willimantic River. The place to fish is adjacent to the rest stop on Rt. 84 West between exits 69 and 70. We both got into some trout, enjoyed the warm weather and had the river all to ourselves. Now is the time to go as the water gets warmer and lower around mid-May.

Tying One On For Team Japan

The Fly Fishing World Championships are coming up in early June in Scotland. I have been enlisted to tye flies for the members of Team Japan to use at the Championships. Team Japan Captain, Misako Ishimura, a friend and colleague, has requested the flies. She has been familiar with my fly tying for several years and from when I was the Official Team Fly Tyer for Fly Fishing Team USA at the 2006 World Championships in Portugal. Alas, I will not actually be going to Scotland, but I will be there in spirit and, of course, in fly boxes. Sorry, I cannot reveal the exact nature of the flies I am tying. More on that after Worlds.

New Technique To Net Fish On The Fly

Charlie Place, who is a New England celebrity and writes a column for On The Water, sent me a picture depicting how to simultaneously corral and measure a fish while in a float tube. Nice work and excellent technique.

Mayfly And Co.

Spent a few hours tying at the open house for a local fly shop, Mayfly & Co. There was keen interest in learning fly tying skills by many of the attendees. Great to see a few kids show interest. Mayfly is located in Newton, MA and has some nice goods with an old-school fly shop feel.

Charles River

Went fishing today on the Charles River below the dam in South Natick. The fish are all safe and undisturbed. Nobody that I saw caught anything either.

New Nymph-Head Bead Colors

Nymph-Head tungsten beads and RealFly Color Beads are out in four new colors: Steelhead Blue, Shrimp Pink, Tangerine Orange and Bloodworm Red. I have a few samples, but have yet to put them on hooks. These new colors should add interesting dimensions to flies. I think trout really key in on flies that contain blue or red accents.

Float Tube Mary

Is that smiling Mary Edwards out on the Willimantic River too? I bet she is smiling because she is fishing the BTF.

(See 2/19/09 post for details on the BTF.)