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46 | Book Review: Dynamic Nymphing by George Daniel |
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Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2012/5/7 (304 reads)
Throughout the year trout feed a disproportional amount of the time under the water. For me even during a recent sulphur hatch on Spring Creek trout were not rising and could be seen actively feeding below the surface. George Daniel's book, Dynamic Nymphing, offers an extensive look at tactics and strategies that get to the heart of subsurface nymph fishing.
I enjoy all the puzzles that fly-fishing provides and always appreciate ways to overcome those challenges. George shares the best of these techniques in solving many of these trials with his book in a wonderful format of instruction, photography and sketches for some of the best approaches to nymph fishing.
A range of chapters provide: a nymphing systems overview, riggings, casting techniques, tight-line tactics, fly patterns, small streams, challenging locations and much more.
Anglers not as familiar with all aspects nymph fishing or looking to extend their subsurface skills will quickly enjoy all facets of this book.
For example George provides details for the Curly Q rig, which is ideal for shallow water and longer casting requirements. This may be a more advanced technique for some and is broken down into a couple parts within the book for use and clarification. Explanations of how to make the Curly Q and ways to cast this rig are completely covered. In addition, he provides many other detailed leader formulas making it easy to understand where and when to implement these different strategies.
Dynamic Nymphing provides several for tight-line tactics, which is a method of nymphing without the use of a suspension support device. Joe Humphreys mentored George and details of the Harvey/Humphrey high-stick methods are explained along with several European nymphing styles as well.
George provides well over 60 detailed fly patterns ranging from pheasant tails to Czech nymphs. All these flies are beautifully photographed and chronicled.
For those looking to explore wild brook streams or find themselves in other challenging spots there are several chapters that take you off your typical stream and provide options in some adverse nymph fishing situations.
While I have been fly fishing for quite some time, I can get bit lackadaisical with my approach to the sport. Too often I stick with what I know. What I liked most about Dynamic Nymphing for me was getting me out of my comfort zone and to try some techniques I have not yet mastered. For those newer to the sport the Dynamic Nymphing provides a wealth of information that will certainly help improve their fly-fishing opportunities at many levels.
Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World [Hardcover] by George Daniel can be found on Amazon here
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George Daniel is assistant manager at TCO Fly Shop, in State College, PA. He travels the country conducting fly-fishing clinics for various groups and organizations. George is a former member and current Head Coach of Fly Fishing Team USA. Some of his accomplishments include being a two time national fly fishing champion, won The Fly Fishing Masters, and ranked as high as fifth in the World along with other competitive achievements. The title of the book will be “Dynamic Nymphing.” He lives near Lamar, Pennsylvania. If you want to keep up with George in the Internet you can follow him on his Facebook page here.
I enjoy all the puzzles that fly-fishing provides and always appreciate ways to overcome those challenges. George shares the best of these techniques in solving many of these trials with his book in a wonderful format of instruction, photography and sketches for some of the best approaches to nymph fishing. A range of chapters provide: a nymphing systems overview, riggings, casting techniques, tight-line tactics, fly patterns, small streams, challenging locations and much more.
Anglers not as familiar with all aspects nymph fishing or looking to extend their subsurface skills will quickly enjoy all facets of this book.
For example George provides details for the Curly Q rig, which is ideal for shallow water and longer casting requirements. This may be a more advanced technique for some and is broken down into a couple parts within the book for use and clarification. Explanations of how to make the Curly Q and ways to cast this rig are completely covered. In addition, he provides many other detailed leader formulas making it easy to understand where and when to implement these different strategies.
Dynamic Nymphing provides several for tight-line tactics, which is a method of nymphing without the use of a suspension support device. Joe Humphreys mentored George and details of the Harvey/Humphrey high-stick methods are explained along with several European nymphing styles as well.
George provides well over 60 detailed fly patterns ranging from pheasant tails to Czech nymphs. All these flies are beautifully photographed and chronicled.
For those looking to explore wild brook streams or find themselves in other challenging spots there are several chapters that take you off your typical stream and provide options in some adverse nymph fishing situations.
While I have been fly fishing for quite some time, I can get bit lackadaisical with my approach to the sport. Too often I stick with what I know. What I liked most about Dynamic Nymphing for me was getting me out of my comfort zone and to try some techniques I have not yet mastered. For those newer to the sport the Dynamic Nymphing provides a wealth of information that will certainly help improve their fly-fishing opportunities at many levels.
Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World [Hardcover] by George Daniel can be found on Amazon here
.
George Daniel is assistant manager at TCO Fly Shop, in State College, PA. He travels the country conducting fly-fishing clinics for various groups and organizations. George is a former member and current Head Coach of Fly Fishing Team USA. Some of his accomplishments include being a two time national fly fishing champion, won The Fly Fishing Masters, and ranked as high as fifth in the World along with other competitive achievements. The title of the book will be “Dynamic Nymphing.” He lives near Lamar, Pennsylvania. If you want to keep up with George in the Internet you can follow him on his Facebook page here.
Published by David Weaver [Fishidiot] on 2012/3/5 (608 reads)
This article is another in Dave Weaver’s on going “Casting through History” series. His previous article in this series was John Brown’s Bass.
Over the years many of you, if you’ve visited Yellow Breeches Anglers in Boiling Springs, have probably gazed at one particular dusty old mounted brown trout. When I was a kid, I’d look at this fish and think that it wasn’t the best taxidermy job. If you’re a Cumberland Valley regular or otherwise familiar with the writings of Charlie Fox and others, you’re probably aware of the story behind this fish. If not, we’ll re-tell the story behind this dusty old trophy…..a veritable sacred relic of Pennsylvania fishing history.
Ed Koch is part of Pennsylvania’s unique fly fishing heritage. His book Fishing the Midge is a classic and, like many of the writings of his generation, is always worth a re-read. Ed was also the long time owner of the Yellow Breeches fly shop. Many of you may remember chatting with Ed in the shop. This was Ed’s great trophy, caught from Letort Spring Run in August 1962. Charlie Fox recollects the story in his classic, This Wonderful World of Trout: Ed had hooked the fish three times previously. Finally, he saw the giant again and, after several casts, the big brown rose and ate a Letort Cricket, a popular deer hair dry fly. After a tough, twenty five minute fight in the weeds, the fish came to the net: 27 and a half inches and over nine pounds. Fox describes Koch’s trembling hands when the fish was weighed and photographed. Shortly later, the Fish Commission announced that this was the largest brown trout ever caught in Pennsylvania on a dry fly. Does this fish still hold this distinction today? I don’t know - perhaps. I think every fly fisherman dreams of that fish of a lifetime; a fish that takes perseverance and effort to finally catch.
This was Ed Koch’s fish of a lifetime and he had it displayed in his fly shop where it still hangs today. In the future, this famous fish from the golden era of Cumberland Valley fly fishing will likely be part of the collection of the Pennsylvania Museum of Fly Fishing where it will continue to remind us that a fish of a lifetime is out there…. waiting for us to make that perfect cast.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Museum of Fly Fishing
Excerpts and black and white photo above from:
This Wonderful World of Trout, by Charles K. Fox
Rockville Center NY: Freshet Press, pp 172-178
Over the years many of you, if you’ve visited Yellow Breeches Anglers in Boiling Springs, have probably gazed at one particular dusty old mounted brown trout. When I was a kid, I’d look at this fish and think that it wasn’t the best taxidermy job. If you’re a Cumberland Valley regular or otherwise familiar with the writings of Charlie Fox and others, you’re probably aware of the story behind this fish. If not, we’ll re-tell the story behind this dusty old trophy…..a veritable sacred relic of Pennsylvania fishing history.Ed Koch is part of Pennsylvania’s unique fly fishing heritage. His book Fishing the Midge is a classic and, like many of the writings of his generation, is always worth a re-read. Ed was also the long time owner of the Yellow Breeches fly shop. Many of you may remember chatting with Ed in the shop. This was Ed’s great trophy, caught from Letort Spring Run in August 1962. Charlie Fox recollects the story in his classic, This Wonderful World of Trout: Ed had hooked the fish three times previously. Finally, he saw the giant again and, after several casts, the big brown rose and ate a Letort Cricket, a popular deer hair dry fly. After a tough, twenty five minute fight in the weeds, the fish came to the net: 27 and a half inches and over nine pounds. Fox describes Koch’s trembling hands when the fish was weighed and photographed. Shortly later, the Fish Commission announced that this was the largest brown trout ever caught in Pennsylvania on a dry fly. Does this fish still hold this distinction today? I don’t know - perhaps. I think every fly fisherman dreams of that fish of a lifetime; a fish that takes perseverance and effort to finally catch.
This was Ed Koch’s fish of a lifetime and he had it displayed in his fly shop where it still hangs today. In the future, this famous fish from the golden era of Cumberland Valley fly fishing will likely be part of the collection of the Pennsylvania Museum of Fly Fishing where it will continue to remind us that a fish of a lifetime is out there…. waiting for us to make that perfect cast.For more information on the Pennsylvania Museum of Fly Fishing
Excerpts and black and white photo above from:
This Wonderful World of Trout, by Charles K. Fox
Rockville Center NY: Freshet Press, pp 172-178
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2012/2/19 (381 reads)
A Dance for Steelhead from Matthew Grant on Vimeo.
Adam Kryder, Lucas Carroll & Matt Smythe are in production of a winter fly fishing film called "No Off-Season". The guys have put together a BTS show reel as they are shooting this winter. I had a chance to catch up with the guys at the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset and enjoyed hearing more about the project. You can follow more on the Raw Water Productions blog.
I am looking forward to more updates from the guys.
Published by Greg Yothers [albatross] on 2011/10/2 (2170 reads)
The rivers and streams of the northwest portion of the lower peninsula of Michigan are teaming with wild salmonids. Bruno and I discovered this almost by accident in October 2010 when we detoured to NW Michigan on a trip to the Salmon River in Pulaski New York after Tropical Storm Nicole blew the Salmon River out to 20,000 CFS. Bruno called fellow board member Acristickid on his cell phone as we headed up Route 79 North from Pittsburgh and Acristickid told us to turn left when we got to Erie and head for Michigan!
The heart of the fishing near Wellston in Northwest Michigan is 8 hours driving time from Pittsburgh which compares favorably to the seven hour drive to Pulaski New York for anglers in Western Pennsylvania. We fished October 10-12 in 2010 which was a little late for the salmon in Michigan.
This year Bruno, Brian Charlie and I made our way north again. We fished September 18-21 which was close to the peak of the Chinook Run. The Coho salmon also were out to play this year. Our trip was a little early for the steelhead, they run late October to late April. Part of the appeal of fishing in Northwest Michigan is that nearly all of these fish are naturally reproducing from ancestors stocked decades ago. The spawning gravel in these rivers and streams is immaculate!
We caught a few King salmon on our own, but the best day of the trip was our day our on driftboats with guides from Schmidt Outfitters on the Manistee River. They put us over a Coho hotspot. Bruno and I hooked and landed many of these wonderful fish that really love to take a fly. We also hooked a few King salmon with the guides, but the landing of Kings was more difficult.
"We had a wonderful trip. I have to also thank the guys from Ray Schmidt Outfitters. Guide Nick Homan was awesome to spend the day with. He did a great job and provided the best river lunch I have ever had," shared Bruno. The nature of these rivers and streams is that a lot of fallen trees litter the streambed. The fish know where these obstacles lay and seek them out to ensure their freedom. The resident trout, browns, rainbows, and brooks, can all be caught with egg patterns once the salmon start getting active on the redds. We caught some smaller trout this way, but many of the locals look forward to the opportunity to catch bigger resident and lake run trout into his manner.
The bigger rivers in this region are tough for the wading angler and a driftboat is almost a requirement. But there are smaller rivers and streams suitable for the wading angler. Bruno and I were fortunate to meet a pair of anglers from West Virginia while fishing the Betsie River. One of the anglers had a nasty tear in his neoprene waders. I was able to patch his waders with the UV adhesive I carry, which made us instant friends with this pair. They shared a shot of bourbon with us and promised us a mule trip on the Cranberry River in West Virginia. Always nice to make a new friend!
More pictures from our trip can be found here.
Published by David Weaver [Fishidiot] on 2011/9/21 (2648 reads)
By Dave Weaver
President of the United States and General of the Armies Dwight Eisenhower was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed a wide range of shooting and fishing pursuits. His retirement home here in Gettysburg is managed now by the National Park Service as a museum and historic site. NPS archivists and historians currently hold many of Ike and Mamie’s personal possessions in a separate storage area where they’re being conserved and catalogued. I was able recently to get access to this storage site to photograph Ike’s fly rod and some of his other fishing gear. Also on display at the farm’s reception center is a fly/spin combo rod.
Ike undoubtedly owned a good many rods and reels and some have perhaps been lost to history, held in private collections, or may be stored at Abilene. While he enjoyed all manner of fresh water fishing, Ike was particularly fond of fly fishing for trout. Local rumor has that streams around Camp David were stocked with trout whenever Ike was visiting and local anglers, upon hearing that Ike had been at camp, would flock to fish the downstream areas of these creeks and catch the remaining fish.
I’m not sure if he spent much time salt water fishing however there are three different sand spikes and a chum pot in the NPS collection. The fly rod is a Pflueger R3780 in eight foot length and made of fiberglass. The White House tag can be seen on the rod bag. The small bottle is dry fly treatment and labeled Silicote Dry Fly Dressing, copyright 1946. I’d like to believe that this fly rod and some of the other gear might have some neat stories to tell. Ike loved fishing and, with the great responsibilities he carried on his shoulders, one certainly can’t begrudge him his days on the stream.
For Eisenhower, like many of us who love fly fishing, the sport probably served as way to make a point about something else. In the next photo, Ike has just been nominated and is getting acquainted with his new VP Richard Nixon in Fraser, Colorado. The renowned historian Stephen Ambrose wryly wrote of this photo, In casting, as in politics, Eisenhower was terribly earnest in his attempts to educate Nixon, with frustrating results in both cases.
(Photo and quote courtesy Eisenhower Soldier, General of the Army, President- Elect 1890-1952 by Stephen Ambrose, p 170
Perhaps the most famous wartime photo of Eisenhower is just before D-day when he’s chatting with paratroopers from the 101st Airborne getting ready to jump into Normandy. For years I’ve wondered what sort of pep talk was he was giving them? Well it turns out that the tall lieutenant on the right in the photo was from Michigan and later told the story that, when he told the general where he was from, the discussion turned to – no surprise – fly fishing. The cameraman just happened to shoot the photo as Ike was demonstrating the intricacies of fly casting to his rapt audience of Soldiers. Perhaps we can hope – and I’d like to believe – that this brief focus on fly fishing, at least for a few moments, served as a brief escape for these troops from the onerous duties awaiting them over the next days.
The author would like to thank Mike Florer of the NPS for assistance with access to these artifacts. For more information on the Eisenhower National Historic Site or to plan a visit, please hit:
http://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm
President of the United States and General of the Armies Dwight Eisenhower was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed a wide range of shooting and fishing pursuits. His retirement home here in Gettysburg is managed now by the National Park Service as a museum and historic site. NPS archivists and historians currently hold many of Ike and Mamie’s personal possessions in a separate storage area where they’re being conserved and catalogued. I was able recently to get access to this storage site to photograph Ike’s fly rod and some of his other fishing gear. Also on display at the farm’s reception center is a fly/spin combo rod. Ike undoubtedly owned a good many rods and reels and some have perhaps been lost to history, held in private collections, or may be stored at Abilene. While he enjoyed all manner of fresh water fishing, Ike was particularly fond of fly fishing for trout. Local rumor has that streams around Camp David were stocked with trout whenever Ike was visiting and local anglers, upon hearing that Ike had been at camp, would flock to fish the downstream areas of these creeks and catch the remaining fish.
I’m not sure if he spent much time salt water fishing however there are three different sand spikes and a chum pot in the NPS collection. The fly rod is a Pflueger R3780 in eight foot length and made of fiberglass. The White House tag can be seen on the rod bag. The small bottle is dry fly treatment and labeled Silicote Dry Fly Dressing, copyright 1946. I’d like to believe that this fly rod and some of the other gear might have some neat stories to tell. Ike loved fishing and, with the great responsibilities he carried on his shoulders, one certainly can’t begrudge him his days on the stream.For Eisenhower, like many of us who love fly fishing, the sport probably served as way to make a point about something else. In the next photo, Ike has just been nominated and is getting acquainted with his new VP Richard Nixon in Fraser, Colorado. The renowned historian Stephen Ambrose wryly wrote of this photo, In casting, as in politics, Eisenhower was terribly earnest in his attempts to educate Nixon, with frustrating results in both cases.
(Photo and quote courtesy Eisenhower Soldier, General of the Army, President- Elect 1890-1952 by Stephen Ambrose, p 170
![Click to see original Image in a new window](javascript:CaricaFoto("http://www.paflyfish.com/uploads/img4e793d7ee0137.jpeg");)
Perhaps the most famous wartime photo of Eisenhower is just before D-day when he’s chatting with paratroopers from the 101st Airborne getting ready to jump into Normandy. For years I’ve wondered what sort of pep talk was he was giving them? Well it turns out that the tall lieutenant on the right in the photo was from Michigan and later told the story that, when he told the general where he was from, the discussion turned to – no surprise – fly fishing. The cameraman just happened to shoot the photo as Ike was demonstrating the intricacies of fly casting to his rapt audience of Soldiers. Perhaps we can hope – and I’d like to believe – that this brief focus on fly fishing, at least for a few moments, served as a brief escape for these troops from the onerous duties awaiting them over the next days.The author would like to thank Mike Florer of the NPS for assistance with access to these artifacts. For more information on the Eisenhower National Historic Site or to plan a visit, please hit:
http://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2011/7/27 (1730 reads)
To keep up with a some of regional fly fishing I turn to few favorite blogs. I have been looking for a few more new blogs and recently received some help from the forum. The number that have turned up will keep me busy for the rest of the summer.
I have added to the list a few of my favorites as well. Lately I have taken time to follow Troutrageous. Michael over at Troutrageous is out of Limerick, Pennsylvania and takes time share some real good posts on fly fishing gear reviews, Tenkara and best bets for 100 degree days. I smell a beer post!
Another prolific blogger is The Jersey Angler. You will find a lot of fun posts and photography on some of the fly fishing happenings over in Jersey, but can keep up with trips out west as well. Also out of Jersey is the blog Fly & Fin. Seems like both these guys are having fun this week out in Yellowstone while we are sweating out in the heat.
One not to be overlooked is the blog Mr. Brownliner for fans in Pittsburgh with his musings on fly fishing for carp, trout, bass and drum.
What I like best is the diversity of thought from all these local bloggers. It is not just about their fly fishing adventures, but also includes life's little journeys too! Here is a some fly fishing blogs in the region. Feel free to add to the comments on others that I should know about.
Troutrageous
Casting Around
Dubthethorax
My Life on the Fly
Eastern fly angler
Lvlimestoner
This river is wild fly fishing
The Jersey Angler
Fly & Fin
Adventures in Brown Lining
The Slippery Trout
Twin Tiers Anglers
Wade Rivers Wild Tramps
Grobe Anglers and Adventures
Proven Patterns
Up'North Maine Fly Castings
Hatches Mag
I have added to the list a few of my favorites as well. Lately I have taken time to follow Troutrageous. Michael over at Troutrageous is out of Limerick, Pennsylvania and takes time share some real good posts on fly fishing gear reviews, Tenkara and best bets for 100 degree days. I smell a beer post!Another prolific blogger is The Jersey Angler. You will find a lot of fun posts and photography on some of the fly fishing happenings over in Jersey, but can keep up with trips out west as well. Also out of Jersey is the blog Fly & Fin. Seems like both these guys are having fun this week out in Yellowstone while we are sweating out in the heat.
One not to be overlooked is the blog Mr. Brownliner for fans in Pittsburgh with his musings on fly fishing for carp, trout, bass and drum.
What I like best is the diversity of thought from all these local bloggers. It is not just about their fly fishing adventures, but also includes life's little journeys too! Here is a some fly fishing blogs in the region. Feel free to add to the comments on others that I should know about.
Troutrageous
Casting Around
Dubthethorax
My Life on the Fly
Eastern fly angler
Lvlimestoner
This river is wild fly fishing
The Jersey Angler
Fly & Fin
Adventures in Brown Lining
The Slippery Trout
Twin Tiers Anglers
Wade Rivers Wild Tramps
Grobe Anglers and Adventures
Proven Patterns
Up'North Maine Fly Castings
Hatches Mag
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2011/6/23 (999 reads)
I couldn't help share this behind the scenes video of the folks at Scott. Their craftsman ship and dedication is truly to be admired.
Scott | behind the scenes from Scott Fly Rods on Vimeo.
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2011/5/16 (1223 reads)
I was looking through my photographs from last year and found a Green Drake snapshot, which is one of my favorites. Green Drakes (Ephemera guttulata) are one of my favorite flies to observe, too. I say observe as I usually find myself on Penns Creek fishing while a huge Green Drake hatch is coming off and I am doing anything, but catching a lot of trout. The mixed hatches that occur during this time of year are exciting and frustrating as many angler's would agree.
So this year I am going to stop practicing the fine art of talking to myself during the hatch and I might even throw on a sulphur or a should I dare say a emerger on during the madness?
The Green Drakes can starting showing up around May 20th and are complimented by the Coffin Fly spinners which provide equal splendor during this time of year. So sit back and get ready to enjoy the show.
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2011/5/2 (969 reads)
I caught up with Tim Flagler at Tightline Productions about his recent Hendricksons video. I couldn't help but post this right away as the macro video on this is awesome. Tim shared with me that he started with this video about two years ago and took quite a bit of effort to produce. Much of it was completed in fish tanks to get the best light and control of the environment.
Tim collected Hendrickson nymphs and duns from the South Branch of the Raritan River near Califon, NJ. Tim does not claim to be an entomologist, but is pretty certain that these are all Hendricksons (Ephemerella subvaria).
Great details and nice job.
Tim Flagler can be contacted through the company website at Tightline Productions.
Published by Dave Kile [dkile] on 2011/4/6 (1420 reads)
By Chris Frangiosa
Fishing has taken me too many beautiful places and one of my favorite destinations is Belize. Belize is located in Central America and borders Guatemala. Boasting the second biggest reef in the world, Belize is a mecca for divers and fisherman from all around the world. In particular, the Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon fishing is world class and can be had within a short boat ride from one of the many coastal towns.
Our last expedition to Belize was in March of 2011 and was a very successful venture. The recent ban on killing Bonefish for food has increased the average size of Bonefish greatly and many were caught and released on our last excursion. This particular trip was to the northern part of the country to an area called Ambergris Caye. Ambergris is a great area in that it offers great fishing opportunities, beautiful accommodation options and many restaurants, shops and bars to hit after a long day on the water.
If you haven’t fly fished in saltwater before I definitely suggest that you give it a try. Belize is a great place to learn as there are tons of fish and it is relatively easy to escape the strong winds that often accompany ocean fishing. I have a fall trip that is booking now, let me know if you are interested and we can discuss more details.Chris is putting together a fall trip to Belize and to learn more you can contact him at tcoflyshop@tcoflyfishing.com
Chris Frangiosa - is the Retail Manager for TCO Fly Shop. Chris has spent the last decade or more on the east coast and working in the fly fishing industry. I am huge fan of Chris's photography and he can be found at the Bryn Mawr location. You can follow Chris on Twitter here: @tcoflyfishing
Montana Fly Fishing
