I Guess I’ve Entered My Golden Years

 

I woke up one morning last week and all of a sudden I’m 70 years old. Whoa! Where did the time go? Those sands in an hour glass are dropping faster than they did even a few years ago. The funny thing is, now a minute on the treadmill feels a lot longer than it ever did. But, everything beats the alternative.

So, what does a guy who turns 70 do? Well, this guy went fishing, and I managed to find myself a present in the form of a nice, resident smallmouth bass. 

                                                           Nice, 12" smallie for the old man!  
 

As long as I can put one foot in front of the other, tie a knot and cast a fly I’ll be on the water. Hopefully I will have a little story to tell when I reach 80.

Go out and fool a fish!

Find A Pond Near You

 

For many fishermen, their first experience with catching a fish was at a small pond. Hooking that first sunfish has put a smile on the face of many kids. I know that was the first fish I caught almost 65 years ago. In my case, I caught it in Marblehead, Ohio, near Cedar Point, long before the park became a popular destination. Now, maybe in an attempt to reinforce my belief that the size of the fish doesn’t matter,  or to smile like that kid again, at least once a summer I head to one of the local ponds near my home. It’s usually during the hottest and driest portion of the season, when the rivers are low, and in need of a good rain to freshen the flow. 

 

Hot summer day on a small pond.

Instead of a cane pole and worm, my tackle of choice is now a 3wt fly rod and a small popper. But, any lightweight rod will make catching these willing panfish a lot of fun to land. And, if you happen to hook a bass, so much the better. Panfish are not shy. They will sip just about anything off the surface.

Panfish love small poppers.

So, find yourself a pond, and spend an hour putting that kid smile back on your face.

Go out and fool a fish!

Summer

Summer is here. Low water, temperatures reaching the 90’s and bluebird skies means hitting the rivers early. Forget the waders, it’s time to get wet. And, if you are targeting bass, load up on topwater poppers.

Since the weather turned hot in late June I haven’t had a subsurface bite. It doesn’t matter the size or color of the streamer, the bass don’t want it. But, the topwater action is making up for it. Tossing a popper up against the bank or next to a rock has produced some explosive takes. Not much beats having a smallie hammer a popper. I believe that the smaller sized bass think they’re two pounders, they fight that hard. Even the rock bass are getting into the action.

My last outing was unusual. Every one of the six takes I had was immediately after the popper hit the water. One was so fast it took me by surprise and I whiffed the hookset. Next time I’ll be ready.

Go out and fool a fish!

Even the small ones fight as though they are a 2 pounder.

Rock bass want their meal too.

Every once in awhile you rewarded with a prize. This 3 pounder smashed a popper.

You Can Laugh Too

I laugh at myself… a lot. The old saying “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result” comes to mind. And I have it documented. A couple of days ago my wife wanted to go fishing with me and take a few photos. She was taking a movie clip of me and captured a sequence that shows why I laugh at myself.

To set up the scene, I’m standing on the edge of run with some trees behind me that I think will not present a problem. The camera was rolling when I made my second cast. Here it is in gif format.

My fourth cast produced this result.

My fifth cast made it to the water.

Go ahead, laugh. I will..again.

Go out and fool a fish!

Ramblings From A Riffle

How many thoughts go through your brain while on the water? Do you solve the world’s problems? I know, when you are in the middle of a stream you should be concentrating on catching fish, but my self-diagnosed ADD gets in the way. I’ll be fishing a pool or riffle when two or three thoughts enter my brain. I never know what the next thought will be. But, to get an idea of what I go through here’s a few thoughts from a recent outing.

Enjoy the warm weather and solitude now because steelhead season is right around the corner. Four layers of clothing and iced guides will be here soon.

Summer is never long enough. We’ve lost about two hours of daylight since late June. Used to be on the water at 5:30AM. Now it’s closer to 7:00AM. Hate that.

Term limits would solve a lot of the problems with the government. One term, eight years. Eliminate reelections and maybe Congress votes for what is right, and not a vote to protect their seat.

Why don’t the smallies like this fly?

Most business meetings are twice as long as they need to be.

I still can’t understand why tippet manufacturers don’t color a section of the tippet near the end of the spool. It would be a perfect warning that the spool is almost used up.

Why didn’t I take up fly fishing 20 years ago?

I’ve got a great wife. She’s never said no to a fishing trip. 41 years and going strong!

Some day I’m going to float the Shenandoah River for smallmouth.

Are the Browns really going to be that bad? Projected one win. Doesn’t matter, still watch them.

Wouldn’t a Cubs, Indians World Series be fun?

Why does a round of golf seem to take forever yet the same time on a river will go by way to quickly?

I hate plumbing repairs.

Go out and fool a fish!

60 Seconds With Pete Kutzer-Orvis Fly Fishing

This is the third in a series of short interviews with people close to the fishing industry. Today’s interview is with Pete Kutzer, Orvis Fly Fishing Instructor.

 Pete Kutzer doing what he does best, teaching.

(Photo courtesy of Pete Kutzer)

 

If you are new to fly fishing and want to learn the basics of the casting stroke, or a veteran who wants to improve your casting, more than likely you have seen an instructional video featuring Pete Kutzer. In fact, google “fly fishing instruction” and one of the first sites listed is orvis.com. Visit the site and you will find dozens of instructional videos showing all the various casts that a fly fisherman needs. And when it comes to explaining the techniques, no one does it better than Pete. He has a down-to-earth style that is easy to understand, which is especially important for a beginner.

Let’s spend a quick minute with Pete.


Q: How did your path in life get you to be one of the best fly casters and casting instructors in the US?

Well, that is a very flattering question, and I wouldn’t call myself one of the best casters or instructors, but thank you. I can think of quite a few individuals that have taught me so much throughout my career as a fly fishing instructor. I will say that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Truel Myers, the head fly fishing instructor for the Orvis Company, and an honest love for teaching.


Q: Is casting more art or more science?

This can become quite a topic of discussion, but in my opinion I feel it’s more of an art form than science. To make a cast with a fly rod you simply have to move the rod, then make it stop. How you move it is completely up to the individual. You can have really good “wristy” casters as well as casters who use their entire body. All fly casters are artists, our medium just happens to be a rod and string instead of paint and a brush. With that said I think fly casting is more like playing a musical instrument than painting.


Q: You have spent thousands of hours instructing fly fishermen. What one or two areas can most fishermen work on to be better casters?

Without a doubt it’s the back cast, and breaking the whole cast down into two separate casts. If you want to get good at fly casting you can’t get a good forward cast without a good back cast. Watch your back cast, or more specifically watching where your rod tip stops has helped a lot of fly fishermen. I still practice making a low angle/sidearm cast, and lay the line down on the back and forward cast.


Q: Using a golf analogy, some golf clubs are made to be forgiving, so the once a week player can get the most out of every shot. Is there a fly rod, or a tip action, that is more forgiving for a fly fisherman?

Mid flex or medium action rods are more forgiving, and it’s easier to feel the rod load. A softer action rod also bends more when you have a fish on making everything a little more fun.

I find it funny that a lot of fly lines are actually 1.5 to 2 times heavier than the standard. I believe it’s mostly to help load super-fast action fly rods and tune them down closer to mid flexing rods. The stiffer the rod, the more line, or weight you need out past the tip to feel it load.


Q: You are fishing with a relatively new fly fisherman, and you notice they are doing something wrong in the casting stroke. From your years of experience, what is most likely the problem?

I would say working too hard, or moving the rod too much. It’s amazing how well one can cast, far and into the wind, with little effort compared to how hard I’ve seen many people try to get a fly out to a fish.


Q: Does a casting instructor have a bad casting day?

More often than I’d like to admit. Certain fish show up, and I fold like a lawn chair.


Thanks Pete.


Go out and fool a fish!

Cable TV Fishing Shows To The Rescue

The rivers are locked up. What to do? What to do? Where's the remote?

It’s late January and the rivers are locked up with ice. There’s no place to throw a fly, and I can only spend so much time checking equipment for the next outing, whenever that is. I never thought withdrawal would be part of fishing, but weather permitting, year-round fishing is possible, especially with steelhead in the rivers from October to April. So, any layoff longer than a week brings on heart palpitations and nightmares. The only medication for this type of withdrawal is the fishing shows on cable television shown this time of the year.

My cable provider pipes in the Outdoor Channel and NBC Sports Network. Beginning in early January, these channels begin a new season of shows geared toward fishing. The shows have just about all types of fishing covered, from saltwater to freshwater, from bass to bonefish. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for my wife, we do not receive the World Fishing Network. This network broadcasts fishing shows 24 hours a day. My wife is afraid I wouldn’t get off the couch for days at a time.

While I’m a fly fisherman, I will watch shows that feature spinning and bait casting gear as well. I find that the best way to watch all the shows is to DVR them. This allows the viewer to blow through the commercials. Total watch time for a 30 minute show can be reduced by about 12 minutes. I’m sure many of the sponsors aren’t happy about that but they get product placement throughout the show.

Some of the shows do have teachable moments where tips on how to use a fly or lure, where to use it, and why, are given the viewers. To me, this is something all shows should do. Think about it. For every older viewer like me, there may be two or three young kids watching who want to be better fishermen. But there is a downside to some of the shows that I believe should be addressed, and it has to do with how the fish, a valuable resource, are handled.

With all the young kids watching it may make sense for the hosts and fishermen on these shows to set a good example on fish handling. Many shows talk about preserving the resources but will then mishandle the fish they catch. I am surprised how poorly some the fishermen on these show handle fish. There is one host that will go nameless who will place his hand in the gills of almost every fish he catches. In addition, he’ll bend the neck of the fish while holding it by the gills. Then he’ll release the fish by tossing it back into the water from a distance of four feet.

Also, once a fish is caught, every host will start talking, all the while holding the fish. I've never timed it but I'm sure some of the fish have been kept out of the water much longer than they should be. No one knows if the fish survives after being held out of the water.

Now, I’m sure we all regret having handled a fish incorrectly, and have learned from the experience, but some of these fishermen who host the shows have been on television for over 30 years. I don’t think the hosts even realize that they are teaching the wrong way to handle fish to young viewers. In a way I blame the sponsors of the show. I wonder if they even watch the shows. If I was a sponsor I would request that the hosts change their method of handling the fish. After all, the fish are the stars of the show, not the hosts.

Go out and fool a fish!

Website Review – Ohio Game Fishing

Ohio Game Fishing (OGF) is a website that mirrors the opportunities that the state of Ohio offers fishermen. Like many online communities, OGF is full of forums to post and discuss just about any species of fish found in Ohio waters. Do you want to know how the walleye are biting, and what bait or lure is being used? You can find out quickly. Looking for crappie in one of the many inland lakes? You can find it. Smallmouth bass? No problem. Catfish and stripers from the Ohio River? Oh yeah, OGF has it. I could go on and on, but I’ll quit there. You get the idea.

One of the unique features of the site is that there are different forums for different parts of the state. If you’re looking for information about Alum Creek, visit the Central Ohio forum. Smallmouth bass in the Little Miami River, visit the Southwest Ohio forum. This makes finding information easier, and brings users closer together. Many of the fishermen in the OGF community often fish together.

Besides visiting the site for information on fly fishing, steelhead, and smallies, I like the site because it is monitored, and any discussions that involve name calling or profanity are eliminated, and the people involved will be banned from posting for a period of time. I believe there’s been more than one person who’s been banned for 30 days. Of course, this behavior is not limited to OGF, many sites on the internet have to closely monitor the activity.

While you can find information about how your favorite lake or river has been fishing, the forums do have the look of a brag board, where fishermen post their latest catches. In fact, I think knowing how to take a selfie while holding a fish is a prerequisite for OGF. I give the selfie artists a lot of credit. I couldn’t hold a fish in one hand with a cellphone in the other, while balancing myself in a kayak.

If you are a fishermen in Ohio, or plan on making a trip to Ohio, the OGF site is for you. Just be sure to practice taking selfies. It will come in handy. There are some trophy fish in our waters.

Here’s a link to the site. Enjoy.

http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/

Golfing and Fly Fishing

So, what does golf and fly fishing in common? First of all, this is not a trick question. Actually, the golf swing and putting stroke have a lot in common with fly fishing, and the casting stroke in particular. Having golfed for over 40 years I understood the commonalities rather quickly when I first picked up a fly rod five years ago. Funny thing is, what I do wrong in the golf swing I do wrong in the casting stroke. Let’s take a look at a few things that can help the golfer and the fly fisherman.

Golf Clubs and Fly Rods

Both a golf club and a fly rod flex. This flexing is important as it stores and transmits power. The golf swing is designed to load the shaft of the golf club. If the shaft isn’t properly loaded, power cannot be transmitted to the golf ball. I can say from experience that when I play with golf clubs that do not have regular shafts I cannot hit the ball my usual distance. That’s because my swing speed isn’t fast enough to flex, or load a shaft that is stronger than regular.

In a way, the same thing can be said for the fly rod. The casting stroke is designed to flex, or load the fly rod. If it isn’t properly loaded, power cannot be transmitted to the fly line and the cast will go nowhere.

The Golf Swing and The Casting Stroke

To properly load the golf club and the fly rod, the golfer and fisherman must go through a range of motion. In golf this motion is the swing, in fly fishing it is the casting stroke. If the swing and the casting stroke are done correctly the end result will be a good shot and a good cast. Done incorrectly, the golf ball will go off line and the fly line will not straighten out as it should.

When thinking about my golf swing and casting stroke I laugh because I have the same fault in both. The golf swing should never be rushed, and the transition from backswing to forward swing should be smooth with a gradual increase in speed. Instead, I finish the backswing and then in an attempt to hit the ball as far as possible swing too fast at the beginning of the forward swing. Not only will this result in a poor shot it also does not properly load the shaft. By the time the club reaches the ball a lot of the energy in the swing is gone. I commit the same fault during the casting stroke. All instruction for the casting stroke discusses the need for gradual acceleration to an abrupt stop. This motion will transmit power to the fly line sending it behind you on the back cast and out toward the target on the forward cast. As you can probably guess I often apply the power too quickly resulting in a poor cast.

The Putting Stroke and The Casting Stroke

To me there are a few parts of the putting stroke that a fly fisherman can relate to the casting stroke. The first element is the mechanics of the putting stroke, how the putter is held and swung. Putting strokes are unique to each golfer but there are certain aspects that all golfers share. The putting stroke is performed with a gradual acceleration by moving the shoulders, arms, and hands in one piece. During this movement two things can go wrong. First, some golfers, while putting, will break their wrists, resulting in a putt that is off line. Secondly, instead of accelerating the putting stroke the golfer will decelerate the putter resulting in another poor putt.

This putting stroke is flawed as the left wrist has broken down. It should be relatively straight.

Now, in fly fishing, for a cast of about 40’ or less the wrist, on the backcast, should be relatively straight and not bent. If the wrist breaks, the line will not straighten out properly, resulting in a poor cast.On the forward cast a slight wrist snap at the end of the stroke is acceptable, and some say required. It’s the “flick the paint brush” action that finishes a good cast. The photo below illustrates what happens when the wrist breaks down and the fly rod is almost horizontal. In this position the line will likely hit the water or a bush behind the caster.

 In this position the fly line will most likely hit the water or a bush behind the caster.

The fly rod should be closer to vertical.

As for deceleration in the casting stroke, the line will not straighten out, but will land on the water in a pile. Remember, a properly executed cast will have gradual acceleration to an abrupt stop.

The last comparison to make between the putting stroke and the casting stroke is distance control. Part of putting is learning how hard to hit the ball for it to travel a certain distance. This can only be learned by practice and playing. On a level green to hit a putt 3’ may only take a putting stroke of a few inches. To hit a putt 30’ it may take a stroke of about 18”. Again, this has to be learned. Golfers who are good putters have good feel or touch. They have the ability to hit a putt consistently the correct distance.

As for the casting stroke, fly fishermen who are accurate casters, have learned how long the stroke will be for a given distance. A 15’ cast will take a short range of motion while a 40’ cast will take a much longer range of motion.

Hopefully, this basic information can be used for the golfer who may want to take up fly fishing or for the fly fisherman who wants to learn how to golf. Having common reference points to the motions involved may be able to speed up the learning process.

Go out and fool a fish!

South Chagrin Reservation

I was able to get out for a few hours this morning and decided to fish the stretch of the Chagrin River in the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation. Its been several years since I fished this stretch of water. When I took up fly fishing five years ago I fished here and it was the spot where I hooked my first fish on a fly, so I was looking forward to hitting it again.

In many spots the section of the Chagrin that flows through the South Chagrin Reservation has a small stream look to it. There are tree-lined banks where you can’t make a backcast. Or, if the trees are on the opposite bank, you have to skip a cast low to get a drift. Also, most of the casts don’t have to be more than 20’ to get to the fishable spots.

Starting at daybreak I have learned to be ready for a first cast hookup. Today it happened, as I drifted a wooly bugger through a run and a smallmouth hit it. It doesn’t get any better than that….and it didn’t for about an hour. I was thinking first cast curse. Then after moving upstream a small, feisty rock bass hit the bugger.

 Feisty rock bass hit a wooly bugger

(Click on image for a larger view)

After another 45 minutes I hopped in the car and drove to another location in the reservation. This section of the river is a little more open with a sand bar on one side of the river and a shear wall on the opposite side. There were some downed trees that made good structure to concentrate on. This turned out to be a good spot.

The closer I got my cast to the bank the better it was. Throw the fly short by a couple of feet and there would be no action. Throwing the fly almost bouncing it off the bank would produce a strike. In a short period of time I was able to land a nice resident smallmouth and two rock bass.

Always fun to catch. This resident smallmouth put on an aerial display befoe coming to hand.

Driving home I started thinking about the success I’ve enjoyed this summer. Even though I’m no longer a beginner I still learn something every time out. That’s what makes fly fishing so interesting. Funny how it works out. Learn a little, get a little better.

The following are some of the keys to the success I’ve had. I’m sure these aren’t new to anyone who fishes but I can tell from experience that I did not know these things when I started. That explains why I was skunked most of the time that first year.

• Start early before the sun has a chance to hit the water or late in the day near dusk.
• Work shallow first, deeper pools later.
• Concentrate on faster moving sections of water. There’s more oxygen for the fish.
• Stay in the shade. It seems as though when the sun hits the water in the summer fishing slows down.
• Get the cast as close to structure as possible. A foot or two makes a big difference in hookup rate.
• Cover water. The fish are there. You just have to find them.
• Don’t fall in love with one color, one fly.

Go out and fool a fish!

Waking Up Early Creates A Blog

First time fishing for trout. Beavercreek, Virginia with Brian Trow, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Having retired eight months ago and now sleeping soundly again it surprised me when I was awake looking at the ceiling at 3:00AM. The quiet only made that voice in my head louder. Over and over it said “Start a blog”.

Me: “Start a blog.”
Me: “What?”
Me: “Start a blog.”
Me: “About what?”
Me: “Something you like.”
Me: “Money?”
Me: “No, something interesting that other people may relate too. Maybe write about a hobby.”
Me: “Well that boils it down to golf or fishing.”
Me: “OK, good. But pick one. After all if you start a blog on golf and one on fishing you won’t have time to enjoy either sport.”
Me: “But I don’t know how to start a blog.”
Me: “Hey dummy, your wife has five successful blogs. Maybe she can help.”
Me: "That might work.”

By that time it was 3:02AM and then my mind went into overdrive. With a balky back and diminishing skills I never know how much golf I’ll be playing. And ever since I started fishing again after about a 40 year layoff I much prefer wading a stream casting for anything I can fool. So, fishing it is.

After deciding on fishing the memories of my youth started pouring out of what is left of my brain. In future posts I’ll be sharing these memories with you in hopes they stir similar memories for you. Thanks for listening, stay tuned, and get out and fool a fish!