I cut my teeth on this water, fishing it after hours, after dark, blizzard conditions, throughout the year. South Park's like that - its own world you never want to leave. The grass is never greener on the other side when you're on the Dream Stream.
Thousands of people fish this segment every year, using the same gear, the same flies, the same techniques, targeting the same fish - but they don't catch them like Landon does.
Do you know you're home waters this well? We've all got work to do.
A few weeks ago Larry asked me if he could write a post for my blog - of course he can. Here you go:
Mousing for Trout
There is no denying that fish are aggressive predators much like a wolf or jungle cat. Proof can be seen in the reaction that a mouse pattern creates among hungry rainbow trouts. If you haven’t tested this rodent like lure it might be a good back-up plan for you the next time you are searching for a trophy fish.
Basic Appearance
Some of the mouse patterns available in the commercial market will actually have nose, whiskers and ears on top that really look like a rodent. However, the main appeal of the lure is the bulky body covered in hair along with a long tail. Since the fish will likely catch a glimpse of the lure from underneath or at a slight angle, the top of the pattern can vary a little bit and still be effective.
Movement of the Lure
Mice, as you know, have 4 legs. So they can jump, swim, crawl and skitter on just about any surface. Thus, moving the lure like a swimming, sputtering, jumping mice is the attraction that leads to big strikes. Imitating movements of a mouse will likely lead to some strong reactions from the trout that could leave you breathless and laughing at the same time!
Getting a Good Hook Set
Rainbows will often hit this lure in hopes of drowning it and then circling around in search for the lure. Therefore, it is important to be alert and watch the fish. If you see a huge mouth opening up to snatch the lure, the fish is likely trying to get it in a single pass. Otherwise, you may have to wait a second or two to give the fish a chance to actually get the lure in its mouth. Once you feel that familiar tug, sweep your rod hard to one side in order to really get a good hook set. Avoid setting the hook when you first see the fish take the lure. You will likely pull the mouse away too soon.
Places to Try Mousing
One of the best places to try your hand at the mouse pattern is during the month of August in Alaska. The spawn in on full force and fish are hungry for protein. If you are in Alaska at all during the summer months, a mouse pattern can produce a good bite.
But Alaska is not the only place to use these ingenious lures on beautiful rainbows. Any body of water that holds trout along with lemmings, mice and voles is a good spot to try. Yellowstone reported good results from mouse patterns in 2009 during a time when coyote numbers were down and the mice population was up. Penns Creek in Pennsylvania has boasted a trout of 24 inches caught with the rodent lure. And Steamboat, Colorado has good waters on the Yampa River that are perfect for landing a nice trout.
You can try your hand at tying a mouse pattern using readily available information on the internet or you can buy one from one of the big manufacturers. Either way, give it a try. It is a new way of fishing and could lead to a new trophy for you.
Simms Ice Out is here. Checking over the itinerary it look something like this:
Day 1
Drinking
Watching fish porn
Drinking while watching fish porn
Day 2
Product testing (fishing)
Fish porn watching
Guide Olympics (lawn games)
More fish porn
Drinking
Day 3
Same as Day 2
Possibly more drinking while watching fish porn
There are a few things I'll point out. Robert Younghanz knows his little critters and will be giving a presentation on streamside ecology. He guides out of Anglers Covey in Colorado Springs, good friend and good flyfisher.
So last summer, while wearing rubber-soled boots, forging a creek to retrieve the umpteenth fly a friend snagged on a rock, I broke my leg. This led to x-rays in Seward then surgery in Anchorage two days later. I have a plate a screws to show for it... see HERE.
Patagonia has taken a page out of the mountaineers handbook with this nifty piece. Something I'm including in my next order.
Why, because they're awesome. You can take them off (which is great if you spend any time in boats). They're not studs so they won't rip stuff up when you step in the wrong spot, and hopefully they'll save my legs. I'm completely convinced, they are one more piece of gear to keep track of, put on and take off, and actually seem a little unstable. But I trust Chouinard
Yvon Chuinard is a blacksmith by trade, and this came right from his workshop.
A few friends of mine from Colorado have recently returned from an adventure to learn about, teach and experience the value of headwater systems. They skied to the headwaters of the Stikine, Skeena, and Nass rivers in British Columbia, the proposed location of a new mine.
You may have read HERE that Patagonia is releasing Patagonia Provisions, a "naturally perfect food." It has arrived and is available online and in these stores:
New York Soho
Chicago Lincoln Park
Boston
Seattle
Portland
Ventura
Atlanta
For $12.50 you get salmon that is "healthy, delicious, and sustainably harvested from the clean, cold waters of Northern British Columbia."
For those in Colorado, make sure you check this out.
Join Simms at Anglers All April 21, 2012 for the 3rd Annual Anglers
All Trout Clave! Beginner and expert fly anglers are welcome to
come explore the wealth of information provided by a collection of signature fly tyers, guides and angling personalities. Trained Simms staff will be there to assist you with the exciting
2012 line of Simms products. In addition, there's a lot more at Anglers All:
50% off Trout Flies from 9am to 11am
Spey Casting demonstration with Dec Hogan
Fly Tying and Rigging Techniques with Frank Smethurst
Anglers All Guide Service Presentation on Streamer Fishing
15% off guide trips booked during the event!
Fly Fishing Turneffe Flats with Wes Osborne
Wader fitting for men and women by Simms Trained staff
Win a $500 Simms Shopping Spree! - Must be present to win
Winter clothing clearance sale
Door buster specials, free hot dogs & drinks
End-of-Day Gear Giveaways - Prizes TBD, Must be present to win
We hope to see you at this one-day-only event to help get
For hundreds of years the ability to use and continue to use has been the motive behind conservation. Hunters, anglers (who until recently killed what they caught), farmers, ranchers, even loggers concerned themselves with their resources, their interests, their livelihoods. Today it's rare to see an environmental organization, such as the Sierra Club, ally with Ducks Unlimited, or Colorado Cattleman's Association, but now and then it does happen. (TU is more of a "green group" when it comes to use.) Green groups , NRDC, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, have their ideological anchor fast in the rocks of righteousness - I mean no harm, however, time and again it would behoove those groups to partner with Pheasants Unlimited to help save the Greater Sage Grouse from being listed as Endangered, or to back the RESTORE Act and give millions of dollars to rehabilitating gulf estuaries and coastlines (despite 35% going to 5 shitty Governors who hate clean water). It's great that they throw their weight behind national causes such as Keystone XL, Pebble Mine, National Monuments, student activism, but teamwork, even in compromise, lightens the load.
These middle-ground platforms are not unheard of in conservation; they've been around for decades. Conservation was a republican ideal, Theodore Roosevelt, designator of the Grand Canyon, hunted around the world, Ducks Unlimited actually likes ducks, and now Patagonia has established another middle-ground, use-based platform this time for salmon production. As they've done with clothing, they hope to take a big enough share of the market, by selling to smart and caring consumers, to pressure other manufacturers to adopt some of their ideals and practices. This is conservation based in use.
