How to Properly Layer to Stay Warm Fishing This Winter

Proper layering is the key to fishing comfort when the weather turns cold and damp. In order to stay dry and comfortable while chasing steelhead and trout in the winter months it is important to know how to dress, what to wear and how to properly hydrate in the elements.

With all the great products on the market from base layers to outer layers and all that goes on in between you can stay warm, dry and comfortable on the stream in all the weather the upper Midwest can throw at you in the winter months.

Start with the proper base layers: Redington RediLayer Wool and Synthetic Blends, and Simms RiverTek base layers for top and bottom are key. These offer fast wicking, quick dry, anti-microbial features that pull any and all moisture away from the skin to the next layer of high-tech fleece. Remember-cotton is cold and holds moisture against the skin. Proper base layers should be contour fitting and worn next to skin.

The next layer should be a fleece bib, such as the Simms Fleece Bib followed by fleece pants, Redington Fleece and the Simms Waderwick Fleece pants are ideal for this third layer. On the top, we use the Simms Guide Top, or the Waderwick Fleece. All these layers continue the wicking process to pull moisture from the skin to the outer layers and then to the Gore-Tex or other breathable waders to add to the overall comfort.

On top the guides prefer a softshell hoody or jacket like the Simms WindStopper Softshell Jacket or Redington Kispiox Hoody. These provide great warmth without the bulk of other fleece. Then an outershell for rain and additional wind protection. This is a great layer that has handwarmer pockets, hood, and pockets for fly boxes, tippet material and other gear. There are many great shells on the market ranging in price from $129 to $425. We stock all sizes of the Redington Stratus II Jacket, Simms G3, Guide and Freestone Jackets at the shop.

Your feet are also not to be overlooked in cold weather fishing. Start with a liner sock and then a high quality wading sock made with a breathable material. Allow a bit of extra room in your boots to allow you to wiggle your toes for extra warmth, as it is important not to make your feet too confined.

The extremeties are the next thing to focus on properly covering. On top of the head where much of your heat is lost where, at the minimum a stocking cap, preferablably with a WindStopper Lining or even the Simms ExStream hat which features GoreTex Shell, fleece earflaps and a brim for added protection. On your hands wear fleece or wool fingerless gloves, or a fold-over mitt for added protection.

The final step to maintaining comfort in cold weather fishing is proper hydration. Be sure to drink plenty of water! While fishing you are burning calories and using energy to stay warm. Make certain you are staying properly hydrated...stay away from alcohol.

At The Northern Angler we have a knowledgeable staff that can help you with your layering needs and get you out on the stream in the colder months of the year. The fishing is good and the crowds are gone whether you are chasing steelhead or trout, it is a great time to get out, find some solitude on the river. We stock a full range of gloves, hats, fleece and outerwear that will make your next outing more comfortable. Let us help, that's what we are here for!

Fly Fishing for Carp- Traverse City

Fly Fishing for Carp - Flats Style

by Brian Pitser

On a whim, I was first introduced to a wonderful new sport of flats-style fishing on our own Northern Michigan waters of Grand Traverse Bay. These wonderful fish are known by most people as a rough fish or even a trash fish. Fishing Lake Michigan for these “Golden Bones” has become a passion for me throughout the late spring and summer months. These carp are a very worthy opponent with a person equipped with a fly rod, a good cast, and a keen fish-fighting ability.

One of the most widely dispersed type of fish in the United States, the common carp can be found virtually anywhere that holds water. From city park ponds to the Great Lakes and everywhere in between, these carp roam the waters in search of food. Carp were imported from Europe by some of the earliest settlers as a food source. Most people in America today do not look at these fish as a food source, but more as a common fish, not worthy of taking the time or energy to catch on a rod and reel. As a boy growing up in the middle of Indiana, these were the only large fish available to catch that would really put a bend in the rod. My friends and I hunted them with bow and arrow in local creeks and fished for them in the rivers through much of my childhood. Now I have graduated to fishing for them with a fly rod and fly. Usually I wade the flats of Lake Michigan for these “golden ghosts” armed with a 8 or 9 weight rod rigged with a floating line. I like tying on a bonefish pattern or crayfish imitation fly, fishing from a boat similar to the flats-style fishing of Florida, the Bahamas or Belize.

Fly fishing for carp is most productive from early to mid-May through the middle of July. During the warmest months of the summer the carp fishing drops off a bit at the fish move to colder water off the drop-offs of Lake Michigan. During the peak months the carp move around the extensive flats of Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan. The carp move in to spawn in the shallow water. They move in groups of two to schools of fifty or more during these early summer months. At times they will just be “laid up” facing into the waves in the flats feeding on nymphs, or seeds that are blowing into the warm shallow water. Other times they are actively cruising looking for minnows and crayfish to forage on. Carp will actually tip down and “tail” just like a redfish or a bonefish to feed. These are prime targets with a fly and can usually be fooled with a well-placed cast. Carp have an extremely sensitive lateral line so it is important to wade quietly and avoid false casting over the fish. Once hooked they offer a long fight and will take you into the backing once or twice before they reluctantly tire and come to hand.

The flats of GT Bay look blue and green, just like a tropical destination where you would have flats style fishing opportunities. The water is clear and clean and the carp are very firm and large in size. With a diet of mainly crayfish and minnows, they can get up to 40 pounds in a few short years. There are great areas with public access to wade flat and target these fish. The majority of the fish are in situations where sight fishing is a necessity, so make sure you have a quality pair of polarized glasses. Carp can be extremely finicky, which may try your fishing patience and casting ability. You will get the fly in front of a fish and think that they turn down on the fly as you hop it along the bottom, just to have them turn away for no apparent reason. The proper presentation does not always equal a fish that will eat the fly. When fishing for carp, it is important to keep your rod tip low and strip-strike the fish just like you would a bonefish or red on the saltwater flat.

If you have considered doing any type of saltwater flats fishing, but can’t travel 3000 miles to have this experience, check out the flats of Lake Michigan during the spring and summer months for our own Lake Michigan version of a flats fish, the carp. Who knows maybe you will hit our “grand slam” composing of a carp and smallmouth bass. If you are interested in checking this out with a guide or on your own, give the Northern Angler Fly Shop a call and we will be happy in assisting you with information on this fun trip. If you’re staying up in Traverse City with your family, we can even pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or resort.

Fall and Winter steelhead fishing on the Manistee river is getting going. Fish are keying on egg patterns, but look for that to change in the next couple of weeks. Starting now, it is a great time to swing flies for steelhead with a switch rod, or spey rod and a sink tip. It is also a great time to fish for these chrome beauties with a floating line and indicator as the fish start to move to slower "winter water."

The Northern Angler Fly Shop and Outfitter has you covered for equipment to get you set up to go after these bad boys of fall. We stock Spey rods from Sage, Redington and Scott and Lines from Rio, SA and Airflo. Our staff will be happy to help you chose a rod for spey or float fishing. Switch rods are ideal for both scenarios and offer incredible versatility for the streams of the Great Lakes region.

This is Fly Article on Fly Fishing The 45th Parallel!!

Our area and fly shop, The Northern Angler is featured in the new edition of the on-line magazine, This is Fly. Check out the article on Northern Michigan with some great photography by Jon Ray of Mangled Fly Media and text, by yours truly. Jon's photography is great and adds a ton a character to the article. He does a great job of capturing life in the Traverse City area and the livelihood of being a fishing guide and fish bum! Check it out when you get a chance.

Be sure to download the soundtrack for the magazine, great choice of music in this month's edition!!

Hot Shot River Guide Pictures

Since steelhead season is here and trout season is right around the corner, I thought I'd post a few guide photos to whet your appetite!

The Northern Angler

Stop Asian Carp Rally

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

Northern Michigan Lawmakers Take on Illinois Over Asian Carp Invasion

Web site allows you to ship virtual boatload of Asian carp to ILL., demand closure of locks

TRAVERSE CITY – On Saturday, Feb. 6, state lawmakers will stand with local business owners, anglers and many concerned residents on the banks of the Boardman River to launch a campaign to demand that Chicago bureaucrats and Illinois politicians close two shipping locks to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The move comes as Great Lakes governors plan to gather to discuss the Asian carp threat on Monday in Washington, D.C.

If the invasive species enters Lake Michigan it could destroy the native fish and plant life in waterways throughout Michigan and surrounding states, disrupt the delicate ecological balance in the Great Lakes, and destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs by crippling Michigan's multi-billion-dollar fishing and boating industries. Illinois is the only state opposing action.



WHO: State Representatives Dan Scripps (D-Leland), Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) and Andy Neumann (D-Alpena); Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau President Brad Van Dommelen; Grand Traverse Area Sport Fishing Association Treasurer Wendy Sak; Derek Bailey, The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Chairman; Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited President Dave Stellingworth; and many concerned residents



WHERE: Traverse City, Union Street Dam Fish Ladder

(Between Union and Cass Streets on the

south side of the Boardman River)

Traverse City



WHEN: 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6



###



Daniel Horn, Community Organizer
Michigan House of Representatives
Desk: (517)-373-4849
Cell: (517)-242-1028
Fax: (517)-373-9555

Asian Carp Update

I received this letter yesterday and thought I'd share....

Dear Kirk,

As you may know, the Great Lakes are threatened by the spread of the invasive Asian carp, an extremely large fish that is so aggressive and reproduces so rapidly that it could devastate our fish populations. These fish can weigh up to 100 pounds and grow to up to four feet in length. They were accidentally released into the Mississippi River system in the 1990s and have been steadily moving upstream.

Today, I introduced the CARP ACT in the U.S. Senate. This bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to construct additional barriers and immediately close the locks between the Chicago waterway and Lake Michigan to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. Congressman Dave Camp (R-Michigan) has also introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Yesterday, scientists announced that carp DNA has been detected above the electrical barrier that was placed in the locks to prevent the carp from entering the Great Lakes. While finding the DNA is not conclusive proof that carp have actually crossed the barrier, it is urgent that we respond quickly to keep them from crossing into the Great Lakes. These fish pose a grave risk to our state, especially Michigan's $7 billion boating and fishing industry.

I have been working to ensure that federal and state experts have all the tools they need to protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp, and so far, the efforts have been very successful. However, the recent announcements by scientists are a troubling development that requires an urgent response. Therefore, the bills that Congressman Camp and I introduced call for immediate action to:

Immediately close the barriers and locks into the Great Lakes

Expedite the installation of interim barriers in rivers where no barriers currently exist

Enhance existing barriers and monitoring systems to prevent fish from crossing into the Great Lakes

Grant full authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to eradicate the Asian carp and prevent them from entering the Great Lakes.

As your Senator, I will continue to work to protect our Great Lakes, which are critical to our state's livelihood. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

Your Opportunity to Speak up on Michigan Trout Regulations

The following email letter was sent out by the Michigan council of Trout Unlimited and it is of interest to anyone that fishes for trout in Michigan:

For nearly the last year, Michigan Trout Unlimited and other coldwater fisheries stakeholder groups have been working in cooperation with the MDNR Fisheries Division to improve the current regulations for inland trout and salmon streams. As part of this process, the MDNR is now soliciting public input on sections of streams that would be good candidates for addition into gear-restrictions.

By definition, “gear-restricted” waters are where only artificial lures and flies are allowed to be used. State law limits the maximum number of river miles that may fall into this designation to approximately 212 miles. Presently only 97 miles of river have been designated with gear restrictions. It is the intent of the MDNR Fisheries Division to undertake a comprehensive review of possible candidates for addition to this category.

Starting on January 7, 2010 an internet email address, dnr-gearrestricted@michigan.gov, has been established for the public to provide these nominations directly to Fisheries Division staff. They will be accepting input until February 5, 2010. They are requesting that nominations be as specific as possible and include information such as; the specific section of stream being suggested (use road/bridge or landmark boundaries to identify the section being nominated), brief description of the rationale for why you believe the nomination is justified, and what you think the gear-restricted regulation should entail. Fisheries Order 213 is useful in providing general criteria to be considered for gear-restricted waters, and can be found at http://www.michigantu.org/index.php/conservation/54-resource-management.

Please take the opportunity to have your thoughts and opinions heard on this topic. Michigan TU will continue to be involved in the review process for those stream sections that become nominated. Thanks for taking the time to participate!

Thanks,

The Northern Angler

The Hatch 2 for the iPhone

I wanted to share something that I recently downloaded for my iPhone, the Hatch 2 app. The coolest thing about the iphone has to be the thousands and thousands of apps that you can get for it and The Hatch definitely belongs on any flyfisher's phone. The app is basically a giant hatch chart that covers over 300 rivers in 30 states with pictures, fly recipes, emergence dates, pattern recommendations, and more. It is impressive indeed. The interface and navigation is quite easy and fun to use on The Hatch. Basically, fire up the app and go to rivers, then you choose the month and state that you want. When you get to the state, a list of rivers pops up, then you choose the river and hit "Get Hatch Chart" on the bottom of the screen, and voila! A list of bugs comes up categorized by nymphs, emergers, and adults. Click on any bug and a new page comes up with a photo (for most bugs, more pics are being added with the updates), suggested sizes, and recommended patterns. Now for something with the scope of a nationwide hatch chart for so many rivers, there are bound to be a few patterns or hatch times that you may disagree with, but that's fishing. I did notice a few negative reviews in the app store from guys that were complaining about the completeness and accuracy of the info in the app, to them I say "then do it better" and you know what? I am sure they can't. The Hatch app will never replace a fly shop, or personal experience in a particular river but it doesn't claim to either. For someone that is traveling to a new state or is new to an area and is looking for a wealth of info in a cool, easy to use, one stop format, The Hatch is a wonderful app. The number of places, flies, and pictures included here is truly awesome and it is a constantly improving project. I have seen some significant additions to the app just since I got it this summer. To top it all off, the price is only $.99. It is available at the app store and you can get more info and see a demo at www.thehatchapp.com. Enjoy!

The Northern Angler

A Few Favorite Links From The Northern Angler

I recently read an article that prompted me to do a quick blog entry that shares a few of my favorite sites, blogs, or businesses just for the sake of sharing, the article referred to it as "link love". So in no particular order here are a few sites that I feel are well worth a look, share the love.

www.catchmagazine.net - an online magazine that is full of absolutely awesome flyfishing photography
www.current-works.com - this is Ted Kraimer's site, one of the best guides and instructors in Michigan
www.homewaters.net - if you are interested in riverfront property, Chad Brown and his team are top shelf
www.truenorthtrout.com - Jordan Lindberg has put together a very informative and entertaining blog
www.flyfishmap.com - an very cool idea that continues to grow and is well worth a look especially for travelers
www.pikeflyfishingarticles.blogspot.com - if you fly fish for pike or tie pike flies, this one is a must
www.entrepreneur.com - kinda random but it's where I got the idea for this post and it's full of good biz info

I wanted to keep the list small so that people will spend the time to check the sites out. I welcome feedback on these sites and would like to hear about some of your favorites. Thanks!

The Northern Angler

Carp Fever!

Carp on the fly in Grand Traverse Bay is HOT! It has been a lot of fun in the shop the last couple of weeks, especially the last few days, chatting with people that have been out on the flats fly fishing for carp. This week, Steve from Florida (Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing) went out after a quick strategy session in the shop on Saturday and came back to tell me "I have never seen anything like that!" after catching 9 carp on Sunday morning. Now this is coming from a guy that guides in FL for snook, tarpon, redfish, and whatever else swims down there and he couldn't believe what a great fishery this is. He went back out the next day and landed 15 carp, including one that, based on the picture, easily topped 30 pounds! We also have a guy in town this week from Scotland that came over after reading about our carp fishing and wanted to give it a try, all the way from across the pond to try carp on the fly. I saw a few pictures of him fishing and based on the smile and our conversations, it sounds like it's been worth the trip. Pictured above is a bruiser taken by Jeff who went out on the bay with a group of college buddies on Sunday. Numerous fish were hooked and a good time was definitely had by the gang. The guys came back to give me the report and then went to hit the evening hatch for trout. That's one of the great things about the carp fishing, the best of it is from 8:00am-4:00pm and then it's pretty much done, just in time to go hit the river for the prime evening hatch for trout. I would have to say based on weather and the recent reports that we are really peaking right now for the carp but there should be at least 3 good weeks left to get out there. The smallmouth are moving in shallow too, I know of one guy that hit an 18" and a monster 23" smallie last Friday at Old Mission (of course no pictures, but personally I believe the guy). If you haven't tried it yet, stop in and we'll point you in the right direction, hook you up with the right flies and leader, and eagerly await your report and pictures!

The Northern Angler

Cleaning Fly Rod Handles

I get a number of fly rods in the shop that people want me to look over and a lot that I sell for people on Ebay. If there is one thing that will improve the appeal of a used fly rod more than anything else, it's a clean cork handle. Not only does it look much better but it works better too. A clean cork grip is easier to hold and nicer to fish with. I thought I'd share a quick trick that I have figured out for cleaning cork rod grips that works on everything from a bit dirty to absolutely grimy grips and it will make them look new. I have heard and tried a number of things and many of you may know or have a method that works for you but this is quick, easy, and works wonders. It's very simple really, the best thing that I have found is the Scotch-Brite heavy duty dishwand replacement heads and just about any liquid hand dishsoap. I wet the cork then rub on a generous amount of dishsoap, then wet the sponge down and start scrubbing. Lots of soap, lots of water. The Scotch-Brite is abrasive enough to get the hardest dirt off but has yet to damage any cork grip that I have tried it on and that's quite a few. I have used it on newer high end fly rods down to 50 year old garage sale specials and expensive bamboo fly rods too, the results are always very good! One exception or area to be careful with is if there is already a large chunk missing or the cork rubs/flakes away in your hand. So the next time I disappear to the back of the shop with a ratty old fly rod only to return 2 minutes later with a new looking fly rod, that's it (who says a magician never reveals his secrets). Just remember to mark the one sponge for "dishes" and the other for "rod grips" please.

Now go scrub, fish, repeat!
The Northern Angler

State of Michigan Proposed New Trout Regs

The state has proposed changes to the existing trout regulations. The document can be found here at this link: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364-214282--,00.html

Public comments will be taken until June 12th. I am not going to throw my two cents in on the blog except to say that you are not allowed to bitch about the regs and the job that the DNR is doing if you don't send in your comments to the state. Much like election time, it is important to make your voice heard.

Thanks,
The Northern Angler

The State of Michigan Proposed Changes for Pike Fishing Regulations

Sorry I was late to this one as the public comment period ends today (April 30) but I thought I'd share this as it is encouraging to see that the state fisheries folks are concerned with the pike fishery and are looking for ways to improve it. Here is a draft proposal

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/PikePlan_270285_7.pdf

Ironically, the cover photo for the draft sure looks to me to be part of the problem, note that the three healthy, prime spawner sized pike are attached to a stringer! I gave it a quick read and shot off my two cents, if anyone cares or has their own two cents to throw in, here's what I wrote:

Hello,

After a quick read and my limited understanding of fisheries management (I'm not a fisheries biologist, just a fisherman), I strongly favor the idea of a slot limit. The idea of protecting the "prime" fish seems smart to me, they are the most effective spawners and therefore key to the future of the fishery. Most people don't/won't keep the really small fish and if someone catches a real trophy fish, there (unfortunately) is going to be a tendency to keep it regardless of what the regs say. I also believe with the really large fish, they are approaching the end of their natural lives anyway so if they are harvested, it's not as much of a problem. If a 48" fish is 15 years old (for example, I have no idea what the actual size/age breakdown would be) and will live to be 16 or 17 then what's the harm in taking it. Protect those fish in the "prime of their lives" as they will reproduce many times and if released may provide another opportunity for an angler to catch them again (and again). As an aside, I think the slot limit idea is a good idea for many of our state's trout waters.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kirk Novak
The Northern Angler
803 W Front St
Traverse City, MI 49684
231-933-4730
www.thenorthernangler.com

So here's two more cents, why do we need to spear pike (or any fish for that matter)? Anyway, I am happy to see that pike are "on the radar" for the state fisheries department and hope to see some effective new regulations in the future.
By the way, pike season is open and the spring is the best time to get after them with the fly rod!

Thanks,
Kirk

The Fly Fishing Film Tour in Traverse City - Success!

Sunday, April 5th - The Fly Fishing Film Tour, presented by The Drake came to Traverse City and on behalf of The Michigan Anglers for Conservation, The Northern Angler, and all of the sponsors (Homewaters Real Estate, Olson, Bzdok & Howard, NM3 Magazine, Right Brain Brewery, and Signplicity) we would like to say a huge "THANK YOU" to all that attended! We had a great crowd. The final headcount was 254 people that filled the State Theatre and got to see some pretty incredible fly fishing footage.
At the halfway point we had a brief intermission at which point a Fishpond Dakota Rod /Reel bag, a softshell jacket by Current, and a $50 gift certificate to The Northern Angler were given away with a random drawing and then it was back to the film. After the movie it was over to the Right Brain Brewery for beer, free pizza, and discussion of the film and the newly formed Michigan Anglers for Conservation. The after party drew a nice crowd too, I would put the number at around 100, the place was full and we put the hurt on nearly 20 pizzas. There were sign up sheets for M.A.C and cards to fill out for a chance to win a trip to Belize through the fly fishing film tour national website. It seemed that the best received film short/preview was for Eastern Rises by Felt Soul Media, an awesome looking film about Kamchatka(caution: one F-bomb at about the 4:30 mark).
Eastern Rises | teaser from felt soul on Vimeo.
I personally will make sure that The Northern Angler gets and keeps that one in stock as soon as it is available on DVD!
That was the one negative that I saw in the film tour presentation, more than half of the featured films are not yet released on DVD, a missed opportunity for the film makers to sell some DVDs. Other than that, it was an enjoyable show that was definitely sweet on the big screen with a great soundtrack too (OK, small complaint #2, if there was a soundtrack available, 100-150 copies would have sold right then and there, 1 of them to me!).
So a good time, great films, great music, great beer, and a nice chunk of money raised for conservation. Stay tuned for more info on Michigan Anglers for Conservation.

Thanks again to everyone and keep an eye out for next year's event!

The Northern Angler

The Fly Fishing Film Tour Presented by The Drake

Well, it's finally confirmed! The Fly Fishing Film Tour is on its way to Traverse City on Sunday, April 5th at 3:30pm at the State Theater. The Northern Angler, along with Homewaters Real Estate, The Law Offices of Olson, Bzdok, and Howard, and Right Brain Brewery, and are proud to be the local sponsors of the event. The tickets are on sale online at www.flyfishingfilmtour.com and at The Northern Angler. The tour is in its 3rd year and is a 90 minute collection of some of the best fly fishing footage ever taken. Seriously awesome fish porn! The trailers are available for viewing on the FFFT website. This is not a bunch of fish bums and their Youtube videos, these are professionally done, along the lines of some of the Warren Miller ski flicks - good stuff. If you can watch all of the trailers and not get fired up then it is time to sell your fly fishing gear!
The ticket price is $15 and with your ticket stub, there will be a free beer waiting for you at Right Brain Brewery after the show. That's right, FREE BEER! The proceeds from the showing go to the newly formed Michigan Anglers for Conservation, a registered Michigan non-profit group dedicated to conservation and habitat restoration projects. This will be a fun event and great viewing - put it on your calendar and tell your friends. The reviews from the other tour stops so far this year have all been great, so make plans to be there Sunday, April 5th at the State. See you there!

The Northern Angler

November Sights in Michigan

So this post isn't directly related to fly fishing but it is a video of something cool that we get to see in northern Michigan in the fall. The video was taken about a week ago and it is a clip of what I call the "screensaver birds" (they remind me of those old Windows screensavers). It's one of those mesmerizing flocks of mixed blackbirds (cowbirds, starlings, redwings) that mass in the fall and spend hours twisting, turning, splitting, and converging in some sort of chaotic dance. I still haven't found a solid explanation of why exactly they do this but it is fun to watch. This was by the Tom's at 14th and Division here in Traverse City.

Think Outside the Trout

Note: I originally wrote this for northern Michigan but much of the article is applicable to anywhere in the country that people flyfish.

Quick Man-on-the-Street quiz: When I say “fly fishing” what is the first image that comes to mind? The majority of answers surely include something along the lines of trout fishing in a river or stream, right? That perception does define some fly fishing and it is certainly a big part of our northern Michigan tradition. Trout Unlimited was founded in Grayling 50 years ago, the brook trout is our state fish, the world famous Adams fly was created for fishing the Boardman River, and we have over a dozen blue ribbon trout streams in northern Michigan. However, with regard to fly fishing, it’s time to think outside the trout.

Am I saying to forget trout fishing? Absolutely not! To do so would be missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. But by restricting your fly fishing to trout, you are only eating a small piece of the pie. I often tell people that are unfamiliar with the fishing in our area that we may not have the very best of anything, we have very good everything. Whatever you want to fish for, it’s here: trout, bass, pike, salmon, steelhead, carp (yes carp), bluegill, and more. They are all fair game for a fly-rodder. The only real limitation to fly fishing is depth, but if it swims in less than 20 feet of water, than it can be caught on a fly. Not only do we have lots of fish but you can fish any type of water: lakes, rivers, ponds, the bays, tiny creeks, or Lake Michigan. Just try to drive 10 minutes in any direction up here without running into some body of water! Apparently I am not the only one that sees it that way. In their February 2008 issue Field and Stream Magazine ranked Traverse City #3 on their list of best fishing towns in America! They described Traverse City as “A Freshwater Wonderland” and their choice was largely based on the diverse fishing opportunities that the area has.

Fly fishing for other species will extend your season and never leave you wondering where to fish because the river is “off” today. Open up to fly fishing for bass and carp and all of the sudden those dreaded trips downstate can become fly fishing destination trips. Seriously, have you ever fished the hex hatch for smallmouth bass on the Huron River (it can be awesome), muskies on Lake St. Clair, or smallmouth on the Grand River? Great fun!

Many people have wanted to try fly fishing for years but are intimidated by what they perceive as a very difficult sport. It can get a little complicated at times, but lake fishing is the perfect place to start, and it’s fun too. How about getting the kids or grandkids into fly fishing? Trying to fool a selectively feeding trout in a river with a tiny fly and a perfect presentation probably won’t stick as well as bluegill caught on every other cast in the boat with an occasional 14” bass surprise. Many of us started out that way and have forgotten how much fun it can be.

Alright, so you’ve decided to broaden your horizons and try to eat the whole pie. Good news, you do not need to go out and buy all sorts of species-specific fly rods and reels (although I know someone that could help if you’d like to do that). With a 5 weight and an 8 weight rod, you can effectively cover everything that swims in Michigan. Again, I don’t want to come across negatively on trout fishing, I love it (as most fly fishers do), but you are cheating yourself if you don’t sample all that fly fishing has to offer!

Kirk Novak
The Northern Angler

Fly Fishing With Kids

I was out in the yard with my 6 (almost 7) year old the other day with his fly rod and we were casting a bit (in between teasing the cat with the line, great fun by the way) and I was happy to see that he was really starting to cast a pretty good loop. He was also taking some of my gentle suggestions on how to do it and it got me to thinking again about the question of when should/can kids start fly fishing, so I thought I would share an article that I had written earlier this year on the topic.

Being around fly fishermen a lot, a very common question that I hear is “How old should my child be before he or she can flyfish?” Well, the quick answer is that it depends, as every child is different, but I think the real answer is that it’s never too soon to introduce it to them. 13 years old, 10 years, 6, 3? Sure, but the key is that I said introduce it to them, not necessarily take them “fishing”. Every fly fisher knows that patience is the key to success and teaching kids will often put your patience to the test.
When working with kids and fly fishing it is very important to go with the flow and not impose your expectations on the child’s experience. If they want to look at birds, then look at birds. If they want to throw rocks, then throw rocks. Just keep it fun so they want to come out again. Eventually it sticks and a new master angler is born!
In preparing this article, I decided to interview an expert: my 6 year old son, Michael. We went to the river a few times last year in my first real attempt at getting him into fly fishing. The interview consisted of one question, “What was your favorite part of fishing in the river this year?” Here were his responses: “Umm, catching that baby rainbow and OOOH when we saw the frogs…and the bugs on the water! Oh, and when we looked under the rocks and saw those bugs, and wearing my waders felt kinda neat” (at which point my 3 year old, Ryan, chimed in, “And I liked when we saw the crayfish!”). Michael continued, “Yeah, that was cool, and oh yeah, I liked catching fish.” The actual fishing portions of the trips were between about 2 minutes and 10 minutes, but he can’t wait to “go fishing” again this year. Had I continued to push more of my idea of fishing (actually using the rod) instead of his idea of fishing (wearing waders and exploring the river), both of us would have enjoyed it less. Kids love the experience, the fish are just a bonus (hmmmm, maybe these kids are onto something…).
So how do you get started? Equipment is not too complicated, a 7 or 8 foot, 4 or 5 weight rod is a good start. Anything longer than that is hard to wield and if the rod is too short it makes it harder to get the line off the water and to roll cast. Waders are available from a number of companies in kids’ sizes. A hat and sunglasses are a must for protection from the sun, but more importantly they are protection from errant casts. A few bigger bushy dry flies (easy to see) and you’re off! Spring for some polarized glasses and the kids will be amazed by the “magic glasses” that let them see underwater so well!
Books: A Kids Guide to Flyfishing: It’s More than Catching Fish by (8 year old) Tyler Befus and Fly Fishing with Trout-tail by K.H. Lucas are good ones for the kids to read. Both talk about equipment and emphasize the experience.
Trout Unlimited co-sponsors the First Cast Program in the summers. During the program kids cast rods, tie flies, look at bugs, and more. It’s a great option for formal instruction.
Where to go: Any lake with bluegill is a great place to start (eager fish, no current, lots of options), and fly selection is as simple as a couple of foam spiders or poppers. When it’s time to hit the river try the North Branch of the AuSable or the Platte River. They are shallow, clear, easy to wade, and lots of eager (smaller) fish should keep you busy.
Good luck, have fun, and watch out for flying rocks!

Kirk Novak, The Northern Angler