The Dark Side of Fishing-Umbrella Rigs

Let me start by saying fishermen love to catch fish, and they will always look for the hot fly or lure to bring a fish to hand. For years, most lures have been made with two to three sets of treble hooks. The hooks will be near the head of the lure, in the middle, and near the end, or tail. Depending on where the fish strikes, there’s a good chance it will get hooked. These lures have been used for years, and will continue to be used by amateur and professional fishermen.

Several years ago, along came the Umbrella Rig, (Click here to see an example of an umbrella rig).” which was an attempt to make the next best lure. The rig is comprised of five thin wire rods connected to a single point. Picture a small umbrella with the spokes attached to the tip. Each wire rod can hold a lure with a single hook. Cast it using a heavy line and rod, and catch a lot of fish. If you believe the manufacturers websites, the rig catches so many fish that professional fishing tournament organizations have banned it from tournament use. But, is that the real reason?

One pleasure I enjoy since retiring is watching fishing shows, either online or on television. I’m always looking to increase my knowledge of techniques and tactics to improve my fishing. There have been several shows where the umbrella rig was used, and in all honesty, I didn’t believe what I was seeing. For every fish that was caught on a single hook there were several that were foul hooked. In one instance, the fish caught did not have a hook in the mouth. Four of the hooks were embedded in various parts of the fish’s body, one very close to the eye. In essence, it was snagged.  To me, when a fisherman reverts to snagging it's an attempt to boost their self-esteem and ego. What fun is that?

This brings me back to banning the rig from professional competitions, and hopefully, the real reason. It is my hope that the rig was banned to protect the resource, the fish. After all, without the fish, there would not be professional fishing organizations. But, as amateur fishermen, who fish for enjoyment, we should go further. Snagging is not fishing. If not using the rig protects a resource, stop using it. Without the rivers, lakes, and fish, there is no fishing.

Go out and fool a fish!

The Lower Clear Fork River in Mohican State Park

Every spring and fall my wife and I make a trip to Mohican State Park in northcentral Ohio. It is a very popular park for hikers, campers, rafters, and fishermen. In fact, during the summer it is difficult to fish with all the rafters. We find that the best time to visit is while school is in session.

The part of the Clear Fork that flows through the park is considered the lower section, below Pleasant Hill Dam. Periodic releases can change the flow quickly, as we found out this last trip. When I planned our trip this past week the depth at the gauge was .75 ft. However, by the time we arrived there was a release that bumped it to 1.8 ft. That bump stained the water, and the fishing was not the best.

You can see from the photos the river has a lot of structure, good riffles, and deep pools. In fact, the lower could pass for a Pennsylvania stream. The river can get a lot of angling pressure, so the fish are wary. The most popular fishing spots are between the dam and the covered bridge. But for someone who will take the time to hike downstream, there are some very good spots that are less pressured.

Excellent structure will hold  fish.

(Click on image for larger view.)

A great run with good flow.

With a scene like this you could forget you're fishing.

Every fall the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stocks the Lower Clear Fork with brown trout. The brownies are found throughout the entire five miles of the river in the park. The park has a 12” length limit for any trout, so any trout caught right after the stocking will be released to be hooked another day.

In addition to brown trout, the river will give up smallmouth bass, bluegills, carp, creek chubs, and every once in awhile, a musky. It seems like a musky ends up in the river after getting caught in the flow when the gates are opened for a release.

Fly fishermen will have success using streamers, nymphs, and dry flies. The river can have some good hatches of midges, caddis, and mayflies. Last spring I had a good day drifting a Griffith’s Gnat on top. This past week, there were tan caddis everywhere, but no fish were rising.

This brownie fell for a Griffith's Gnat in the spring.

Summer will take a toll on the trout. Even though the river has good overhead coverage, the water warms to a critical temperature that is harmful to all but the heartiest trout. It’s a shame that something can’t be done to lower the temps, as the river could be a top trout stream. I don’t pretend to know all the intricacies of dam releases but if the Chattahoochee River, that runs through Atlanta, can hold trout year-round the lower Clear Fork should be able to.

Our favorite time to visit is during the fall when the leaves change from green to bright orange, red, and yellow. My wife, with her ever-present camera, takes care of the memories. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

Go out and fool a fish!

Mother Nature be Kind to Steelheaders

Low flows have prevented good numbers of steelhead from coming up the rivers

Mother Nature has not been kind to Steelhead Alley so far this fall. Since early September, when the first reports of chrome in the rivers started circulating, the Alley hasn’t received any significant rain. Every time a front would come through, with the promise of rain, it dries up before reaching northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania. All the rivers would get a minor bump in flow, but not enough to get the steelhead moving upriver in decent numbers. There are reports of some good numbers being caught at the mouths of the rivers from fishermen in kayaks, canoes, or boats. It just doesn’t seem like many of the fish have been able to make it past the mouth. A few steelhead have been found upriver, but by now there should be a lot more action than there is.

I tried to find my own action yesterday. The area had a little rain the night before and the flows bumped up a little, so I gave it a try. Living between the Chagrin and Grand Rivers, it is always a flip of a coin as to which river to hit. I thought the Grand would give me the best shot, so I made my way to one of the Lake Metroparks access points. Hitting the water at sunrise, even with the bump in flows, the water was about as low as I’ve ever seen it. After working the usual spots, where I had previous success, I began to think of a skunking. When chasing steelhead, a skunking is not anything to be ashamed of, but I decided to go down fighting. After all, in my last post I mentioned patience and covering water as keys to success. Practice what you preach.

If I was going to find chrome, I had to find deep water, even it was a small pool. There’s a section of the Grand at this access point that I never fished. It is about a half mile downstream. After making my way to this section, I noticed some darker water. Add to that, a couple downed trees and moving water, and my first thought was “there has to be a fish in that spot”.

Normally, when fishing a streamer, I’ll make a standard across and downstream cast, letting the fly swing through the pool. But with the downed trees, and limited space for a backcast, my only option was to make an upstream cast and dead drift the fly. On the second drift the fly line twitched, so I set the hook. For a split second I thought it was a snag, but a snag doesn’t move the line. The fish took off and the fight was on. It jumped, revealing itself to me. It wasn’t a big steelhead, but it was fresh and full of vinegar. The fish gave a good account of itself, and put up a nice fight, but finally found the bottom of the net. Skunk off.

This fresh jack put up a good fight.

So, covering water and patience does pay off. I not only found a spot that will be visited again for a shot at chrome, but it has to hold some smallmouth bass in the summer.

I wonder what’s around the next bend?

Go out and fool a fish!

Steelhead Season Arrives in the Alley

Changing leaves and low cloud cover. Steelhead season has arrived in the Alley.

Even though I’ve been back fishing for about five years after a long, long layoff it’s obvious that around the middle of September a change takes place in northeast Ohio. It all revolves around cooling temperatures and a bump in the river flows. Get a good rain in September and the steelheaders dust the cobwebs off their gear and hit the river. Gone are the warm days of summer, all alone on the Grand and Chagrin rivers. Gone is the ability to wet wade in warm water searching for smallmouth. Say hello to layers of clothing, crowds, and in about six weeks, iced guides. Can’t wait!

See ya in the spring, Mr. Smallie

Hello Mr. Steelie

Won't see an empty river until late May

A couple of weeks ago we had some rain and cool temps that brought some steelhead into the rivers. There have been reports of fisherman catching a few but not in numbers usually seen when the big run is on. I even hooked into one but was using my bass rod with a light tippet, and the fish made a run and broke off. Everyone I talked to is waiting for the big rain event that should really get the fish moving. The rain we had yesterday did not move the water levels much. Fishing may be tough for awhile as the fish in the system battle low water, and fishing pressure.

For anyone who has visited some of the fishing message boards and forums has seen an increase in discussions about steelhead, with most of them questioning where the fish are. Steelheaders are just as tightlipped as anyone on exactly where they find the fish, so don’t expect a straight answer.

The other noticeable change is the amount of steelhead expos and classes put on by local organizations and fly shops. Seems like just about every week from late September through October you can visit an expo or take a class on how to catch steelhead with all types of tackle, baits, and flies. One of the better expos is usually put on by the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders at the Rocky River Nature Center. This year’s was October 3, and was well attended. Exhibitors range from fly tiers to organizations working to improve watersheds. There were also presentations on a range of topics, including gear for steelheading, and an update from ODNR on the stocking program.

Steelhead seminars start the season

Local fly tiers crafting steelhead flies

In closing, as a word of advice, if you start fishing for steelhead, have patience. It will take you awhile to learn their holding lines. Also, cover water, and don’t be afraid to change flies and lures.

Go out and fool a steelhead!

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!

Website Review – PA Fly Fishing

From time to time All Things Fishing will review websites that are geared to the sport we are obsessed with. The first one is probably the best non-commercial site I’ve run across. Non-commercial is a site that does not sell anything. A visit to this site will give you a good idea about fly fishing in Pennsylvania.

I’ve been visiting the site for over two years, and have absorbed tons of information on all aspects of fly fishing, from how to read the water to how to fish for smallmouth. I also now know what a “green weenie” is. This makes the PA Fly Fishing site valuable to any newbie in the sport.

The thing that fascinates me about the site is the passion that the members have for the sport. It comes through in many posts. Take the time to read some of the posts and you will agree. Of course, when some of the biggest names in fly fishing like, Marinaro, Shenk, and Humphries, are from Pennsylvania, that passion is understandable.

There are certain topics that take that passion to a new level. Any post about stocking trout will always ratchet up the discussion. A post that gives away the name of a relatively unknown blue line will cause the screen to turn red. Not really, but you get my drift. A newbie recently made a post not knowing this, and within minutes there were 10 posts instructing the person on how best to post without giving away the name and location. Because he was new, the group went easy on him. If a regular had done that he would be hammered by the group.

One of the things that make this community unique is their desire to instruct and pass along good information, especially to newbies. There are several fishing “jams” throughout the year. These jams bring as many as 20-30 fishermen together for a weekend of teaching, fishing, and maybe a little drinking. For example, every fall there is a steelhead jam where they exchange information, introduce someone new to steelhead fishing, and of course on-stream instruction, and fishing. I have yet to attend one of these jams but they sound like fun.

So, if you want to kill some time, and possibly learn something just click on the link below. You won’t be disappointed.

Go out and fool a fish!

http://www.paflyfish.com/

Topwater Smallmouth Action

It was going to be a hot, late summer day with a cold front coming through tomorrow. The Labor Day weekend was over, so it was a perfect setup for a few hours on the water. I pulled into the South Chagrin Reservation around 6:30AM and had the place all to myself. Just how I like it. Lately, I’ve been stringing up two rods, one with a streamer, and the other with a topwater fly. I’ve learned that having two rods helps maximize fish time. This is helpful for someone like me who occasionally has problems with knots due to a tremor in my hands. I’ll start with the streamer but will quickly change to the topwater fly if the day starts slow. Today started slow, so a change was made, and things picked up right away.

One of the pools I work has a few large boulders that are completely submerged. This should provide good structure for smallmouth bass. After swinging and stripping the streamer through the pool with no takes it was time for the topwater slider. I sent the cast down and across and stripped in a little line, to let the fish know something is disturbing the water. I let the slider drift right over the boulders when a smallmouth attacked it. After a nice little fight the smallie found the net, and it was one for the good guys.

Resident smallmouth bass fooled by a topwater slider.

(Click on image for larger view.)

I moved downstream to work the water by an overhanging tree. Three casts later, another smallie hit the slider. This one put up a good fight as well, but in the end, it also found the net.

Another smallie in the net.

keepemwet

What a perfect combination; a 4 wt rod, a topwater fly, and a smallmouth bass.

Go out and fool a fish!