This week’s picture is brought to you by Cody.
A great closeup of a beautiful brown. Thanks Cody for this awesome shot!

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With ever increasing numbers of anglers on our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans it’s important that we all know and practice a little etiquette at times. Luckily fly fishers as a whole are generally very courteous but it’s sometimes good to just remind yourself of a few rules to go by on the water.

Remember to leave space for the next guy. Nothing is more frustrating than going around a corner on a stream to find that you’ve been following someone who jumped in just above you. The space you give can depend on several factors but make sure it is appropriate for the water you’re fishing. On a large popular river with many fish that may mean fifty or a hundred yards. On a small rarely fished creek it may mean a half mile, mile, or more. Always remember to give the angler moving upstream their space.

Remember to respect private property. In some states or regions the public is allowed access to streams running through private property. This does not mean that it is ok to damage fences or other property, to disrupt livestock, or to take care of your personal business on their land. Do take care to not hurt the reputation of fly fishers, it only takes one bad apple.

Take care of your streams, rivers, and other waters. There is nothing more frustrating to me than showing up in one of the most beautiful settings in the world and seeing strike indicators, line, and other trash littering the stream. Remember, if it comes with you to the water, take it with you when you go. Everyone loves a pristine environment in which to wet a line. Let’s make sure we keep places pristine for the fish and for our future generations of fly fishers.

Just be generally courteous. I have met and learned from so many great people on stream. Be sure to offer a little tip, a fly, or just a hello to your fellow fly fishers. It will come back to you somehow, hopefully in tight lines and good times.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Wade.
During last weeks filming of Fly Rod Chronicles with the Riverbum Partners, many fine trout were landed. Spencer Higa, from Falcons Ledge landed this awesome 20+ inch Brown. All the flies and products were supplied by RiverBum.com.

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We’ll announce more information about the show when we get the air times. If you want to check out information about the show go here: www.flyrodchronicles.tv

A group of the RiverBum partners were fortunate enough to spend a few days last week on the water together filming a few episodes for the new Fly Fishing TV show, “Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming”.

Just being out there with the RiverBum boys and the Fly Rod Chronicle crew reminded us exactly why we love fly fishing and working in the industry. While it’s great to catch fish, it’s even better to share the joy of fishing with friends.

So remember to laugh at each other and yourselves when you get hung up in the trees behind you, shrug when the big one gets away and just spend some time on the water while wearing a big smile.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Bones.
An awesome catch from the Big Horn River, Bones hooked up with this big boy using a Prince Nymph. The guide has been pursuing this fish for 2 years.

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Sometimes you fish a run or pool and catch a few but just can’t seem to pull all the fish out of it that you know are there. The following tactics could help you to mop up after your standard methods have been tried.

Move your flies - After several attempts at standard dead drifts try lifting, twitching, or stripping your nymphs or dry flies. This will often entice an aggressive fish.

Dredge the bottom - A couple of really heavy nymphs like Tung Teasers or Wired Prince Nymphs fished Polish or Czech style will bump along the bottom and get down deep where fish like to hold when they aren’t particularly hungry.

Pull a streamer - Occasionally fish will attack a streamer even when they have refused dries and nymphs. Simply tie on a streamer like a Slumpbuster or Zonker and work it through the likely spots with erratic strips.

Try one or two of these tactics the next time you’re sure that a run just has to be holding another fish or two.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Brett.
Dubbed Troutzilla, this monster was caught at Hot Creek in the Eastern Sierras.

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Although it is usually best to do everything you can do to avoid moving your dry fly on the water occasionally it works to break the rules a little.

Recently I was casting to cruising fish on a lake and found this to be the very best way to catch them. As the fish cruised, it was difficult to always get the fly right in front of them but if I got it close and then gave it a twitch the big rainbows would see it and come right over and slurp it.

This probably only works when fish are acting reasonably aggressive and probably isn’t the best tactic when fishing mayflies or other hatch matching bugs to rising fish, however, if you find yourself throwing hoppers or other terrestrials on stillwater or even on slow moving rivers or streams try giving them an occasional twitch and then hang on.

This week’s picture is brought to you by Gary.
The grin says it all, what a catch! Caught in the Corcodova River, Patagonia.

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Everyone knows that the big boys come out to feed at night. Here are some of my favorite nighttime tactics.

Fish big - Lots of times fish lose all caution at night and just want to eat a big meal, not unlike myself. This is when I pull out the size 8 PMXs, Stimulators, Chernobyls, Mice, and other such patterns. Either fish these to visible risers, blind cast and listen, or skate them across the surface of your favorite big fish lairs and hang on.

Fish into the glare - When it is getting too hard to see position yourself so that you are casting into the glare left by the sunset or the glare of the moon. This way you can often pick out the silhouette of your dry fly or at least see the rise of a fish and try to get close.

Fish streamers - If seeing is just impossible trying fishing by feel with streamers. Cast across current and either strip or swing your fly through spots that you know hold fish. You may have to scout these spots in the light and then come back. The feel of a big fish grabbing your fly will be enough to make this worth tripping your way back to the truck.

Try these simple things the next time you’re out after dark and looking for the lunker that you know is in your favorite hole.