Stuff You Catch in Mexico When Not Catching Roosterfish

I finally a much needed fishing vacation that did not involve freezing or sweating my balls off in a pair of waders. As my friends know, I am not a saltwater guy. Hell I give a shit about fishing flats chasing Bonefish or chasing Tarpon. This kind of fly fishing just isn't my cup of tea, but Roosterfish, well they always made me wonder. So last month I got my chance to see what this kind of fishing is like and just like steelhead fishing, got to experience the beatdown. Apparently there needs to be bait in the area to catch these guys and Sardina their primary food source was nowhere to be found in the area I was fishing. Still I got to experience seeing them and having a few of them fin while chasing various offerings I threw at them. I also got to see a huge school of Mullet get pounded by at least a dozen Roosters. A National Geographic moment for sure. In the end I wish I would have stuck to the beaches to fish for them, but even the few opportunities I had made it well worth the trip. I guess there is always next year and I did come back from Mexico with my head.

But I did get to tangle several new species.

The easiest way to describe a Pacific Jack Cravalle is grumpy. These guys just beat you up and bark at you when they are pissed. If I couldn't get a Rooster, this was a close second for sure.

Sorry for the postmortem pictures, but Dorado went home for dinner. Everything you hear about these guys is correct, they are a blast on light tackle and like to take flight.

Trumpet fish, interesting catch the first time, but not the 42nd. These guys were everywhere and swam backwards when hooked. Really the swimming backwards thing was the only interesting thing about them.

Pacific Ladyfish, the Whitefish of the Sea of Cortez. These would be a blast on a six weight and run, jump, thrash, etc. We found schools of them and even one huge school that was herding baitfish.

Spotted Porcupinefish or Spotted Pufferfish were interesting to see swimming to your fly, but not so much to hook. Still cool aquarium fish to say the least. Great fight on ten weights.

Pacific Needlefish, these guys are everywhere and aggressive as hell. The only problem is you cannot hook them in the beak and shred up your flies. Still having them around fills the boredom with explosive takes.

Barred Pargo, these tanks will wreck you in the rocks if you give them a chance.

Panamic Grasby, one of the many Cabrilla found in Baja. Very cool guys that eat up nice and give you hell when fishing in the rocks and coral beds. Give them an inch and they are gone.

A Pinche Cabrilla, I mean Clown Hawkfish. The locals call everything Cabrilla down there, Always cool to catch something you cannot identify.(Thanks for the ID Mr Note.)

Steelhead on the Menu Again

On the menu at Cutters Crabhouse in Seattle. I remember years ago while in college eating there and seeing steelhead on the menu. I new nothing about steelhead at the time, but since then Cutters promised to take steelhead off the menu due to the obvious. If you are interested, speak your concerns to the restaurant or review them here.

Skagit Master 3

Modern concepts in steelhead patters. Are we over thinking things, or is this the missing link?

Detonation Studios, Ian Majszak and Bryan Gregson are working together again. This time they won the show at the Simms annual Shoot Out videography contest, held during the Simms Ice Out event earlier this April in Bozeman, Montana. Each group that participated in this years event,  worked with some of the West's top fishing guides, bringing in it all together with just a few days to put it on the screen.



Ryan Thompson's Swift Current Productions entry.
Bryan Husky's Fishbite Media   
Brant Oswald's Raw Waters Production

This is a one of a kind event with the competition sponsored by Costa and The Drake Magazine. It is nice to see the industry celebrating fly fishing filmmaking and the fishing guides that help to educate the world about what fly fishing, conservation and being out in nature.

Hipsters and I Are Alike in One Way....

...we are both getting ripped on. Check out, "This Machine Kills Hipsters," on the Echo Fly Fishing Blog. The Echo Solo Spey Rods are the best spey rod for the money hands down.

Keep Talking

For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas, enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible. Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. It doesn't have to be like this. Our greatest hopes could become reality in the future. With the technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.

-          Stephen Hawking

Every year, my home water sees more fishing pressure, and becomes more and more crowded.  I’m not sure why, exactly, but there are a number of reasons that have probably contributed to the growing numbers of steelheaders on the river.  

It’s easy to complain.  10 years ago we had our pick of the prime runs, even on weekends.  Things have changed.  Now, we often share the water with others casting flies or lures or bait.  But complaining won’t change things, or turn back the clock.

Confronted with the reality, I have spent a lot of time wandering and wondering what an angler can do in the face of growing fishing pressure?  Quit fishing?  Become more and more aggressive and territorial when it comes to fishing?  Keep fishing and find new ways to appreciate the experience?  Start a blog and complain about it?

Personally, I’m not willing to quit fishing my home waters, no matter how crowded they become.  I love them too much, and the memories that I often “fish for” are well worth the time spent.  I also refuse to become more aggressive and territorial like some anglers have become, resorting to tactics that range from camping in sensitive areas or trails to “claim” a spot, to outright displays of aggression and bullying toward other anglers, to belligerent refusal to share the public water.  I’m happy to blog, but I’m not going to become a complainer, an armchair steelheader, or another part of the problem.

So, I ask myself:  Faced with increased numbers of anglers concentrated into a finite amount of water during the prime season, how can I/we maintain a river environment where everyone can have a positive experience?  

This year, more than ever, I have tried to embrace a river ethic and angling presence that is embodied in the essence of Stephen Hawking’s words.  

“It doesn't have to be like this.”

“All we need to do is make sure we keep talking.”

 It seems simple, yet this is difficult sometimes.  We steelheaders can be a solitary and socially challenged group.  We go to the river to find some solitude and perhaps, some fish.  Working through a piece of water, alone, at your own pace is one of the joys in steelheading.   

But as more and more anglers share the resource, having an entire run to yourself isn’t always possible anymore.  There is a certain anxiety that we have all felt when another angler shows up at a run that you had to yourself for a while.  It’s easy to wonder what’s going to happen, and to think the worst.  Competitive thoughts sometimes pop up.  Is he going to low-hole me?  Or crowd me out?  We stop thinking about fishing.  We stop enjoying the process of fishing and start worrying about the other angler.  Some of the joy is lost.

So, what can we do to preserve the quality experience?

I propose that the best thing that we can do is to all let down our guard a little bit, and start communicating with other anglers that we meet on the water.  I know some anglers who have always done this, perhaps as a reflection of their personality, but to me, being outgoing towards strangers is not my first thought.  

So, what can we do?  First, be the one to take the time and put in the effort.  If you see another angler, walk up and introduce yourself.  Ask how things are going, and ask how that person is approaching the water so that you can consider a way to approach it that does not interfere with that person’s experience.  Be friendly (some of us have to fake this).  Ask if you can share the run with the other angler(s), and explain how you would be fishing (swinging flies, drift fishing, running bobbers and jigs).  If the spot is small, don’t hover or creep without saying hello. Mention to the other angler to take as much time as they like and then patiently wait for your turn in the spot.   I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Start a conversation!   Work it out.  Expect occasional negative reactions from people, but don’t be discouraged.  The great encounters will outweigh the negative ones.

Keep talking.

You might be surprised.  If nothing else, you will become a better ambassador for the sport of fly fishing.

And maybe you and everyone else will have a better experience on the river.

Take care and fish on.

Matt

PS - This one is also running as the Sexyloops Frontpage for Wednesday, April, 25, 2012.  If you dig STEEL, you might also dig Sexyloops.

Earth Day 2012

A hen coming to the surface while a buck tries to sweet talk her. 

How you doing?

On April 22, 1970, a group of tree hugging hippies got together and started Earth Day. This day and anniversary is considered the day that the modern environmental movement was created. Today this day has since taken off and is used by environmentalists throughout the country in a wide variety of different arenas. This year I chose to celebrate this weekend by joining a group from the Native Fish Society, consisting of both gear and fly fishermen doing stream surveys. We were looking and counting steelhead spawning beds and fish in the tributaries of one of the local drainage's.

Steelhead redds

Steelhead spawning beds or redds can generally be easy to distinguish, because they create a noticeable pit and tail spill in the gravel bottom. At times they are associated with tailouts where sweeping gravel can also be bare and confuse those looking for them. Due to this, it is important for anglers to stay off of all of them this time of year to avoid a catastrophe.

Two bucks dancing in a tailout, looking for a partner.

A  buck chillin on a bed, waiting for a partner. 

The life cycle of steelhead and all anadramous fish start and end here in the gravel. It is imperative that all anglers and outdoorman alike understand the importance of these spawning beds. By doing hands on field research, much of which is done on a volunteer basis we can gather needed information about both the escapement for each river drainage. It also allows us to better understanding how each watershed is affected by environmental stressors such as logging and warm water runoff. Groups like The Association of Northwest Steelheaders, Native Fish Society, Wild Steelhead Coalition and Trout Unlimited work together with each individual state's Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish the data needed for escapement numbers. By doing so throughout the late winter, spring and early summer, we are able to make sure there are numbers allowing for recreational fishing. Most importantly we are able to make sure this prized possession in the Pacific Northwest is allowed to live and thrive despite the obstacles of over population and harvest.

Selective tree harvesting in the drainage.