An Essential Tremor Will Not Stop Me From Fishing

About ten years ago I was diagnosed with an Essential Tremor in my right hand. An Essential Tremor is a neurological condition that causes trembling in the hands, head, legs, voice, or trunk. This condition makes simple tasks difficult to complete. It was especially noticeable when eating. Holding a fork and spoon steady became a challenge. In those ten years the tremor has progressed, and now my left hand also has a tremor, although, at this time, not as bad as my right hand. There are medications for a tremor. The most popular seem to be beta blockers. But, because of an already slow heart rate, I cannot take a beta blocker, as it may kill me. Medications for the treatment of seizures can also be used to treat tremors but there are some nasty side effects to those drugs. So, I’ve opted to go without any medication as long as I can still function, which brings me to the fishing part of this story.

When I got back into fishing six years ago after a long hiatus I realized the tremor was causing me some frustration, especially when tying knots and using split shot. It seems the smaller the item I use, the more difficulty I have. I didn’t want the frustration to affect the fun of fishing, so I had to adapt, and do things differently. Some of the things I do I’ve seen other people use the same techniques and tools. I’m going to list and explain the steps I take to minimize frustration and maximize fun. Hopefully, others can use some of these steps, whether they are afflicted with a tremor, or not.


Rig your rod the day or night before

I learned this from my wife. Her passion is photography, so she would go along with me when I hit the rivers. She saw first hand how frustrated I was getting trying to rig up in the back of car. The first couple of years fishing I would show up at the parking lot, begin to assemble the rod and attach the flies. Wanting to hit the water fast I would try to hurry, and that’s where the frustration started. It seems that with a tremor, the more excited and uptight I got, the tremor got worse. Fumbling with knots that often had to be retied several times was aggravating to say the least. My wife suggested rigging up the day before at home. I tried it, and it was like night and day. I am able to spread all the supplies on the table and take my time. So, by rigging at home I eliminated that initial frustration and am able to hit the water quickly.

For steelhead season I only rig one rod, my 8 wt. During smallmouth season I will rig two rods, a 4 wt and a 6 wt. One will have a topwater popper or slider. The other will have a streamer. This will save me from retying on the water. I can switch back and forth between the streamer and the popper. I will change flies on the water, but having a second rod eliminates one or two changes. And for me, that’s big.

 Rigging up the day before allows me to take my time. Good lighting also helps.

 (Click on image for larger view.)

Use forceps to hold the hook when tying a knot

Holding a small fly and trying to tie a knot is normally a relatively easy task for most people. For me, it’s like going to the dentist. When I have a small fly in one hand and a 4X tippet in the other hand it makes me want a root canal instead of trying to tie a knot. It wasn’t until I thought about using something to assist me that I felt comfortable tying a knot. Now, I use forceps to clamp on the hook. In essence, a small fly becomes a large one, and more manageable for me. After threading the tippet through the eye, I then turn the forceps to wrap the tag end around the tippet.

Using forceps to hold the fly gives me a little better control when tying a knot.

Use big loops and long tag ends when tying knots

I’ve seen some fishermen use very short tag ends and small loops when making a knot. I have found that just the opposite works for me. I need long tag ends and large loops. I end up using more tippet material, but that is a small tradeoff for a good, clean knot, without any frustration. The extra length tag end and large loops make it much easier for me to complete and secure the knot.

Having large loops in which to pass through the tag end is the only way for me to secure a good knot.

Use split shot with small wings that are used to open and close the shot

Trying to attach small split shot to the tippet has always been the most frustrating part of fishing. I began using the oval shape shot, and found it difficult to hold while attempting to place the tippet in the small opening. So, one day I was spending time at a fly shop and saw a round split shot with small wings. I bought some, and liked how much easier it was to attach and remove. To make them even easier to use, I open up the shot further when I first buy them. That way, on the water, it’s actually much easier to use.

One downside to using this style of shot is it seems to make a little more noise when it hits the water. To adjust for that I will cast the line further upstream, to dissipate any disturbance before the drift gets to where the fish hopefully lie.

Split shot with small wings are easier to use than the oval style. I open the slot wider when I buy them..

Review leaders and add tippet the day before

This goes hand-in-hand with rigging the rods. By reviewing the leaders, I can add tippet using a tool with minimal frustration. Blood knots are out for me. I have practiced making blood knots and have a 1 in 8 success rate. That doesn’t cut it. So, I use a double overhand knot using a tool. Two wraps and one pass through seems to work best for me.

I use a knot tying tool to add tippet to the leader.

Two wraps and one pass through works for me.

For more information on Essential Tremors, click on the link below.
Essential Tremors


Go out and fool a fish!

Support Your Local Retail Fishing Shops

In trying to keep up with the fishing industry I will spend some time surfing the internet and will often visit a few fishing forums. One topic that seems to be discussed on almost all the sites is the local fishing shop vs the big boxes. In fact, this topic is only second behind the never ending discussion of stocking fish over wild ones.

My father owned a retail auto parts store, and I spent many hours working there, so I have some insight to how important local support is. For the most part, small, local retail stores catering to the fishing trade, whether it is a fly shop or a bait shop, are run by the owners who grew up in the area. They love what they are doing. It’s not just a job, it’s a career fueled by passion.

The owners I have met are happy to see you. They are very knowledgeable, and are willing to share that knowledge. Ask them a question and you’ll get the right answer. What flies are working? They know. Which rivers are producing? They’ll tell you that also. It’s never an intrusion.

Did you ever ask a clerk in a big chain to explain the differences between two products and get a blank stare? I’m sure we all have at one time. It’s not necessarily the clerks fault. If big chains don’t provide proper training then the clerk will have a hard time servicing the customer. To me, part of training is using the products. There’s a faster learning curve when someone uses the product as opposed to being told about the product. In a big chain I’m sure the clerks don’t use all the products. But, ask a local shop owner the difference between two brands of waders and you’ll receive enough information to make a decision.

I also believe the local fishing shops can help make you a more successful fisherman. I’ve learned a lot from the shops I deal with. Whether it’s help with casting, how to read water, or setting up a steelhead rig, they can help. The best part of dealing with the local shops is you are forming a long term relationship with someone just as passionate about fishing as you are.

Brian Trow (left), and his brother, Colby (not pictured), from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, have made me (right) a better fishermen.

So, if you’re going through your gear in anticipation of getting on the water, make a visit to your local fishing shop. You’ll be glad you did.

In ending, I want to give a shout out to the shops I deal with. You have made me a better fisherman.

Mad River Outfitters, Columbus, OH
Contact Mad River Outfitters


Mossy Creek Fly Fishing, Harrisonburg, VA
Contact Mossy Creek Fly Fishing


Rodmakers Shop, Strongsville, OH
Contact Rodmakers Shop


Chagrin River Outfitters, Chagrin Falls, OH
Contact CRO


George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler, Livingston, MT
Contact Yellowstone Angler


Go out and fool a fish!

The Grand River Was Rockin’

Crack of dawn on the Grand

(Click on image for larger view.)

Dry conditions the last week or so helped the Grand River find its prime flow, at least for me. The water steadily dropped to under 600cfs, which is about my upper limit. I found that higher than that, and I have to put so much weight on the line, it feels like I'm casting an anchor. Maybe if I had better technique it wouldn’t be a problem. But, that’s for another post.

Easy access and good fishing makes the Lake Metroparks a popular destination for steelheaders.

Accessing the Grand at Helen Hazen Wyman Park, I managed to fish for about three hours today with 20 of my closest friends. Doesn’t anyone work anymore? Overall, the steelhead action was brisk, as many fishermen had multiple hookups. But for me, and a few others who started fishing the riffles, it was a slow start. I don’t know about other fishermen but when I’m not catching anything and others are, I feel like I’m watching a movie instead of having a part in it. Early on, all the hookups were in the slower, deeper sections of the river. I did find a spot in one of the pools, changed from an egg pattern to a chartreuse woolly bugger, and started to see some action. So, today, the movie had a happy ending.

A nice 18" fattie. Been in the river just long enough for some color.

Stay tuned for the sequel!

Go out and fool a fish!

Early Morning on the Chagrin River

When I retired almost two years ago I told myself that there’s no need to fish for steelhead on the weekends. Why fight the crowds, standing shoulder to shoulder, when the weekdays will be less crowded, and the good fishing spots open. For the most part, I followed my advice until today. So I figured to get out really early and stake out a spot. Plus, I wanted an excuse to use my headlamp, which was a gift from my wife.

Arriving at the North Chagrin Reservation, there was just a hint of light in the sky, none of it reaching the ground. Thankfully, I rig up the night before, eliminating having to fumble in the parking lot. Arrive, put on the headlamp, grab the gear, and go. Starting down the trail, I noticed my senses were in overdrive, especially sight and sound. Could this be due to the darkness that enveloped me? Each stride made a distinctive crunch. Birds, near and far, made their morning calls as if they were following me down the trail. The river, while not yet in view, seemed to roar as though it was a Class IV rapid. But it was my sight that seemed to overtake me.

First light at its finest. In a little more than a month those trees will be filled with green.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

The headlamp worked great, illuminating the area all around me. But it also accentuated the shadows. Walking down the trail, immersed in leafless trees and bushes, the branches seemed to come at me like tentacles wanting to grab my arm and pull me into a place that only Stephen King can describe. I don’t scare easily but I was happy when the light made itself known.

As for the day on the water, the best part of it was the photo of the sky, with a shade of blue not often seen. The fishing was slow. I worked a few runs with no takes. I wanted to hit another section of the river but about a dozen fishermen filled the spots, so I called it a day.

Part of the posse that combed every inch of water for chrome.

I think I’ll go back to weekdays.

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!

60 Seconds With Greg Heister, Seasons On The Fly

This is the second in a series of short interviews with people close to the fishing industry. Today the interview is with Greg Heister, host and producer of the NBCSN show, Seasons On The Fly. Anyone familiar with fishing shows will agree that Seasons On The Fly is one of the best produced shows.

Greg, when he is not producing Seasons On The Fly, is a sports broadcaster. He can be heard doing basketball for Gonzaga, as well as other games for ESPN, and the PAC-12 networks.
Enjoy the interview.

Q: How did a boy from upstate New York end up as the voice of Gonzaga basketball?


My idol growing up was Curt Gowdy, a Hall of Fame Sportscaster, and the host of the American Sportsman. So I went to college hoping to one day work on-air in television, wanting to be a play-by-play announcer and to work in the field of producing documentaries, specifically on the outdoors. I have worked in television for better than 25 years, and the opportunity to do play by play presented itself about 16 years ago while living in Spokane, WA. I was the Sports Director at the NBC station and they had just landed the broadcast rights to Gonzaga Basketball and I was in line to do the job. I am now an independent contractor. I still do GU games, but also do games each year for ESPN and PAC-12 Networks. Like everything else in this world it's been about developing relationships and when you can do that successfully doors open up.

When Greg's not fishing he can be seen broadcasting basketball games.

(Click on image for larger view.)
(Photos courtesy of Greg Heister) 

Q: Seasons On The Fly was one of the first fishing shows to use GoPro technology. How has that changed and enhanced the filming of the show?

I love this question! When GoPro's first came out I didn't use them. They were cool and ground breaking, but I didn't think the quality of the footage was good enough for a national program. Well, how things have changed! When SOF first started, I used to carry a mechanical underwater housing on my back, up and down rivers, sometimes for miles just to get those underwater shots. That housing with a camera in a backpack weighed in excess of 60 pounds! It was incredible, and in some of the early shows you can see me fishing with it on my back! It was incredibly hard work to carry that all day. Now the quality with a GoPro is so great I use them all the time. I always have one on my chest, and one hooked to an underwater pole. When possible, I have them clipped to something all the way around us, set up on their remote starter. It's fantastic. And of course they sponsor the show (have for 5 years) now, and they are committed to those of us working in the hook and bullet fields. They are a great company, and the camera just keeps getting better. I also lead a large scale production each year on The Iditarod Trail in the Arctic, and we use GoPro's everywhere there as well.

Greg on a river with a beautiful fish.

Q: As you develop an episode of Seasons On The Fly, is there always a plan B in case the fishing and/or the weather is bad? Have you had to move to plan B often?

Rarely do I have a plan B. Because of the nature of what we do and where we go to do it, plan B's are difficult. Often times we are remote, however if there is a chance to get to another watershed without great expense in the time we have then we will certainly do it. But we will never air a show if we don't catch fish, or if the experience isn't interesting, or a good representation of the operation we are working with. On many occasions we have had to make two trips somewhere to finish a show. I live by this one simple philosophy when producing these shows, if I wouldn't watch the show I don't waste someone else's time and make them watch a show that doesn't involve catching fish. It does cost us a more, but at the end of the day I want people enjoying what we produce, and that is why the show always opens after the standup with a hook set. I want to get their attention and keep it. I don't waste valuable time in the build-up, ie: plane, trains, automobiles, motorcycles, bikes etc. When I'm in Iceland I'm assuming people know that I travelled there, and I don't want the show to be about my trials en route.

Q: Conservation is very important for the long term survival of the fishing industry. In your travels, are you able to say if we are winning the battle to protect the resources?

This is a tough one. And you'll get all kinds of answers. I think in some cases yes, and in some cases it's too late to even try. I live near the Columbia River, and in the current years we are enjoying historical returns of king salmon and steelhead. While in Alaska there are biologists who believe the pacific salmon is going extinct, specifically the chinook salmon. We as sportsmen have a tendency to only care about the issues that are in our neighborhoods. We must all band together and find a way to affect global warming (if we can) and to slow down industries that cause harm to our environments, ie: commercial fishing, poor mining practices etc. There isn't enough wild protein in the world to feed all of us, we have to start showing communities how much more valuable a salmon or any other fish is to a local economy. We are allowing an industry to bring a population to extinction before they move on to the next fishery. This has been going on for hundreds of years. This is a question that runs so deep and is so layered and complicated.

Thanks Greg!


Go out and fool a fish!

60 Seconds With Mike Durkalec

Today I am beginning a series of quick interviews with people close to the fishing industry. Some of the people you may recognize, others you won’t, but all will have something of interest for everyone. The title, “60 Seconds With”, hopefully will be the time it will take to read the interview.

The first interview will be with Michael Durkalec, Aquatic Biologist, for the Cleveland Metroparks. Mike is very close to the fishing community in northeast Ohio. To update local fishermen on current fishing conditions Mike publishes a weekly fishing report on the Cleveland Metroparks website. He is extremely knowledgeable in all types of fishing methods, and has been the guest speaker at many local fishing expos.

Mike with a huger brown trout from a recent fishing trip.

Q: Growing up, a lot of kids want to be a policeman or fireman. I don't know of any who have said they wanted to be an aquatic biologist. How did you decide that was going to be your path in life?

A: I had an affinity for fishing and water from a very early age. I also performed well in the sciences. But it wasn't until early in college when I was majoring in biology I came to an epiphany. I was enjoying a beautiful spring day fishing for steelhead on the Rocky River, thinking about what I could do with my life when it came to me - could I find a career option in which I could enjoy my love of fishing AND my inclination toward sciences together? Follow up research revealed the field of fisheries biology as an option, and after obtaining my B.S. in Biology I followed up with an M.S. in Fisheries Management from Ohio State University, and ended up on the track which brings me to where I am today. I have zero regrets that I found the right path for me.

Q: What are your responsibilities as an aquatic biologist for the Cleveland Metroparks?

A: I oversee all aspects of the Park District fisheries program, much of the water quality monitoring, and serve as an advocate and expert on water issues. The fisheries program involves active fish management (ie- stocking, population surveys, and habitat improvement), providing fishing information to the public in many forms, and hosting fishing programs. But I do have great diversity in my job, which I love, and never quite know what surprises will come up from day to day. That's part of what I find so rewarding about public service.

Q: The Rocky River Reservation is one of the crown jewels for the Metroparks. What is it about the Rocky River that makes it one of the best rivers in the country for fishing?

A: A combination of lots of public land on 31 miles of the Rocky River protected by our parks coupled with an excellent stocking program (Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Metroparks collaboration) and a diversity of native resident and migratory Lake Erie fishes. We are proud to be the largest landowner in the state of Ohio on a particular stream. I owe this is large part to the forward looking vision of our park founders.

Q: Several weeks ago you published a portion of the fishing log you kept during the 1990's and early 2000's. In a three day period you hooked 228 steelhead. Those are numbers we don't see these days. What changed from then to now?

A: There were more steelhead, and far less pressure in those days. That instance was in a remote valley on a western NY stream that is now much more heavily fished. Why were there more fish then? Likely a combination of more sea lamprey parasites now impacting their numbers adversely, coupled with changes in the ecosystem. For example, the massive number of non native quagga mussels in the lake filtering out plankton (the base of the aquatic food web) has undoubtedly had some adverse affect on food availability to fishes. Expansive, late summer dead zones (oxygen void areas), due to algae blooms is likely another factor. Asian carp knocking at the door of the Great Lakes is another concern. It's a huge, complex system that is affected by many interwoven factors that scientists are continually learning about.

Q: What are the chances of seeing those numbers again?

A: Hard to say, but I'm guessing the number of anglers out there are more likely to increase than the reverse. BUT- I can tell you from experience that you don't need that many fish to have a great day. In fact, catching a good number of fish, yet few enough that each one is memorable, makes for a better quality outing. I can say this from experience. My perfect day is a beautiful day on the water with a good friend where we fish thoroughly, and hook 20 or so steelhead. Far from my best numbers, but great by any standard, and enough fish to keep things very interesting. And still a very realistic goal in the scope of our current steelhead program, which, frankly, is among the best anywhere. And I've fished all over the US and Canada, so I feel I have a good perspective to appreciate that.



Thanks Mike for your valuable insights!

Go out and fool a fish!