Our fishing tactics should change a bit as we move into summer conditions. This week, Jim Kukorlo, our head guide, gives us some pointers on how to be more effective anglers at this time of year.

Summer Tactics

Fishing the Dry Fly Dropper

Cathy asked me to write something on summertime fly fishing tactics. Which is usually perfect timing since July usually means lower water conditions and hot weather conditions. Well, almost perfect timing expect with all of the recent heavy rains Fishing Creek looks more like May then July. Which is good for the fish and it keeps us fishing longer into the summer.

The dry drop is simply tying a piece of tippet material 18 to 30 inches long to the bend of your dry fly hook and then tying a nymph to the tippet as your drop fly. The dry fly now becomes your strike indicator if a trout takes your nymph. Just remember if your dry fly goes under the water set the hook! The trout took the nymph.

Well nothing is that simple, so what dry fly do you use, what nymph, what size, how long and what size of tippet for the flies you’re fishing.

Dry Fly/Emerger Drop

If you are a dry fly fanatic you are missing the boat if you don't attach a trailing fly off of your dry fly. If you are fishing during a hatch with rising fish and the fish are taking the dun and the emerger, or you don't know what they are taking, it's the perfect time to trail an emerger or nymph behind your dry fly. If there are multiple hatches on, then I like to trail a smaller size dry fly. A trout will often look at the larger fly and take the smaller trailing fly. Keep your tippet about 18” long so you can better control the drift of the trailing fly.

I really like fishing a dry fly and trailing an emerger to cover all of my bases just in case the trout are focused on the emerger or smaller fly. Because both flies are about the same weight you can get a good drift with this method on both the dry and the emerger. Switch up the drop fly to include soft hackles, pheasant tails (PTs), and other nymphs.

Hopper/Dry Fly Drop

When I use this method my primary focus is fishing the nymph. Select a hopper or dry fly that will float well enough not to sink from the weight of the nymph. I'm basically using the hopper as my strike indicator and searching to see if the trout are looking up. If I have more strikes on the hopper I will take the nymph off and just fish the hopper. It's almost impossible to get a good drift on the hopper because of the trailing nymph. The primarily focus is on the nymph. If the trout are taking the nymph and not the hopper/dry I will switch to a two fly nymph rig with a Dorsey indicator.

Several years ago I was guiding a client who was fishing a big hopper with a copper john nymph as a trailing fly and he hooked a large brown on the nymph. As he was fighting the trout the hopper was just touching the surface of the water and another large brown hit the hopper. Two big browns on at the same time didn't last very long but it was really cool to watch it happen.

Large Cathy’s super beetles, hoppers, and large stimulators and are my go-to choices when I'm using the hopper/dry drop. Match the size of your tippet to the fly size. Using too small a tippet on a large foam hopper will twist you leader. A 4x tippet or even a 3x with prevent that from happening.

Nymphs like copper johns, PTs, green inch worms and even an ugg bug can produce some good bows and browns in the early morning or late evening.

When using a smaller hopper/dry such as a smaller Cathy’s beetle, foam ant or hopper pattern I use size 16 to 20 nymphs like a green inch worm, rainbow warrior, copper johns, PTs, or lighting bugs. Using flies this small requires your tippet to be 5, 6 or 7x. This a great way to float small nymphs through a run or quite pool without hanging up or spooking the fish.

Anytime you start adding flies, split shot, strike indicators or trailing flies it affects how you cast the fly line. If you are new to using this method try fishing a small riffle where you are casting a shorter distance so you can learn how to adjust your casting stroke. Open up your back cast and keep the line tight in your back and forward cast to help prevent the flies from tangling.

In summertime conditions you need to have more stealth as you are approaching the stream. Keeping a low profile and wearing earthy colors is very important. Start early in the morning when the water is the coolest and fish the shaded pools and riffles. Don't stay too long in one pool. Pools and runs are only good for a few fish and you are limited on the number of casts per pool.

June, July, August and even into September trout can be feeding off the top as well as anywhere in the water column. With not many mayflies this time of year a hungry trout will eagerly take a juicy terrestrial floating down the stream so why not have the best of both worlds by fishing the hopper drop method.

We are already four months into the season. Time does fly when you're having fun. Here on Fishing Creek water conditions are great and guiding has picked up a bit.  I hope to have a few photos for the blog next week.

Jim Kukorlo
Head Guide

RIO's Viewer's Choice Awards   

The 2019 RIO Amateur Fly Fishing Film Awards is now over. With 41 great entries, more than 32,000 views, and over 5,000 votes it has been the most successful RAFFFA year ever.

Now RIO needs your help in selecting the overall “Viewer's Choice Award” winner. Follow the link, watch the Grand Final films, and vote for your favorite overall film! The winning film maker will win $1,000 worth of RIO, Sage and Redington gear of their choice. 

You only get a single vote from each IP address so use your vote wisely! We'll announce the winner.

Have fun viewing and voting!

https://www.rioproducts.com/learn/make-the-connection/rio-film-awards

Tying the Crackleback by Tim Flagler

What Jim didn't tell us in his story above is that one of his favorite summer flies is the Crackleback (I have the inside scoop). Watch as Tim Flagler takes us through tying it and then make sure you have a few in your summer fly box!

How to Tie the Crackleback with Tim Flagler. Midcurrent & Marshall Cutchin
https://midcurrent.com/videos/how-to-tie-the-crackleback/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c9b46e3c97-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_12_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8efbf3b958-c9b46e3c97-18929377&mc_cid=c9b46e3c97&mc_eid=bb6eaedbe9

Looking Back on Slovenia

From Barry

 Brooke is my right hand in the office and she is telling me that I have two paragraphs to describe our recent trip to Slovenia, that's a hard thing to do. Honestly I think I might need more of a book to tell you about the trip, it was that good. We were based in the Julian alps where the country is stunning with gin-clear rivers and tributaries and better fishing regulations than any other country that we've ever visited. Fly fishing, catch and release, is the norm, great hotels, great food, very friendly people and a terrific guide, a young woman, Tina Possnig.

This was an exploratory trip for a group of ten and we found all our guides to be excellent, but Cathy and I spent most of our time with Tina, a true professional who spends her time tying and selling flies and related products online and introducing her clients to the best of Slovenia rivers. She has an outgoing personality and her goal is to get her clients into a great fish which she easily does. She is a trout hunter first, stealthy beyond words with great eyes to find fish. Will we return? Absolutely. So, if you haven't fished in Slovenia, make sure you put it on your bucket list and consider joining us on a return trip. View our album.

2 Rods in Spain 

A room just opened up for our trip to the Pyrenees for a week of beautiful fall fishing, October 4-11, 2019. There are lots of pretty places to fish in the fall and the eastern Pyrenees is one of them. Our week will include a variety of fishing experiences – high mountain freestone streams, spring creeks, larger streams, and tailwater fisheries. Browns, rainbows, an occasional brook trout, wild zebra trout and barbel. Cool mornings and warm afternoons make this a very special time of year in the mountains.

Spain is also a great destination for a non-fishing partner as they have their own tour guide and transportation. Each day is a new adventure visiting wineries, medieval villages, cathedrals, and castles. For anglers and non anglers alike, this is a wonderful trip. 

Check out our trip itinerary, browse through the photo gallery and then contact us or Frontiers to grab the spot!

Country Life Experience

Here at home we are well into summer with good water levels and beautiful summer weather. If you're looking for something fun for the family, young and old, we still have dates available for our Country Life Experience. We customize this program for each individual family depending on the interests and ages of everyone from young to not-so-young.

Come see us and let us show you our waterfalls, the horses at Springdale Farm, fly fishing, campfires, kayaking, and more. The younger set can sleep in a tent while the older set enjoys the comforts of the Lodge at Raven Creek, which is exclusively yours for your stay. It's fun for everyone.

Check us out at https://www.barryandcathybeck.com/site/index.php/instruction-guiding-programs/country-life-experience and call for more information and available dates.

Come on out. We'll show you a great time.

Availability on the Bighorn

We still have a room or two on the Bighorn this summer. Either August 22-29 or Aug. 29 – September 5. It's a great time to be on the 'Horn. We've been doing this departure for more than 30 years and this river still amazes us. No two years are ever the same. It's the end of the summer, fall is in the air, and it's a beautiful time of year to be in Montana.
We have 7 night/6 day or 5 night/4 day stays available. Here is the itinerary. Check it out and join the fun!

Here Comes An Inch Worm
by Barry

It hangs from a thread like string almost in front of my nose. It's the first inch worm of the season and it's right on time. This is inch worm season here on Fishing Creek. I have written about it often and for good reason for our trout like inch worms – enough said. The sun is trying its best to make an appearance on this early morning and because we have had a wet spring and early summer, it's a welcome sight. Inch worms are most active on hot sunny days and our extended forecast promises sunny days and warm weather. My fly box is full of sinking inch worm pattens (see my favorite in our store), and hopefully my friend Phil Balisle can convince me to put my cameras down and catch a fish. It doesn't last long so I will enjoy it while I can.

2020 Trips

We're spending a lot of time in Argentina for 2020. If you've got Argentina, or one of our other destinations on your mind, check out our web site and then contact us. Here is all of our 2020 line up. We hope you can join us.

January 11-21 Suinda & Pira, N. Argentina
February 8-15 Laguna Verde, Argentina
February 16-20 Dorado Cruiser, Argentina
March 13-20 Villa Maria, TDF, Argentina
March 21-28 Estancia Tecka, Argentina
Dates TBA San Huberto, Argentina
April 25-May 2 Turneffe Flats Lodge, Belize
June (TBA) Ireland/Scotland
August 6-15 Reel Action Camp, Alaska
August 22-29 Bighorn River, Montana
August 29-Sept.5 Bighorn River, Montana
October 4-11 E. Pyrenees, Spain
Nov/Dec Tres Valles, Argentina

Don't Snooze, You'll Loose!

We have had a last minute cancelation for our East Africa safari, July 26 – August 9. We're trying to help these people recover some of their money so if Africa has always been on your Wish List, this is a great opportunity at a substantial savings. The best appointed lodges and best preserves. View the photo album and itinerary – then call Kathy Schulz at Frontiers (800-245-1950) to get it started! Don't miss out, it's an incredible trip.

In Search of Magic Waters

No one says it better than James R. Babb, when talking about Andriano Manocchia's work:

"Artists—real artists, serious artists, memorable artists—work not in oils and watercolors, clay and stone, verbs and nouns and harmonic vibrations from reeds and strings, but in emotions. Artists paint and sculpt, write and sing, finger the necks of a Stradivarius or a Stratocaster using passions so visceral our ancestors knew them only as Magic. And Magic is exactly what I feel when looking into an Adriano Manocchia painting."
James R. Babb, Editor, Gray’s Sporting Journal

Here we present a beautiful short video featuring Adriano Manocchia and his search for magical waters. Vist his website.

Video Hatch: “In Search of Magical Waters”  Thank you Midcurrent!

Up and Down

That's a good description of our fishing season so far, but we've been fortunate in that even though we've had more water than usual this season, for the most part Fishing Creek has fished well. Here are a few shots from our clients this week. As this goes to print the levels are high again, but give it a day or two and we'll be back in summer fishing.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Still need a gift for dad? We've got you covered (dads, better pass this idea along or you may get another tie.)  

We are all about last minute shopping around here, so you're not too late for a Father's Day gift certificate that dad can use toward guiding, instruction or flies. This feature will soon be available from our online store, but for now if you give us a call us at 570-925-2392 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before end of day on Thursday, (eastern time), we'll get you going. Provide us with the amount, your email, and payment information and we will email you a printable gift certificate to put in your Father's Day card.

Fish Snaps From This Week

I don't know if we can say that summer is here yet, but our wet, cold, spring is gradually turning into summer. The stream is beautiful and our high water is finally dropping to more seasonable levels. Sulphurs, slate drakes, terrestrial fishing are all good and we're excited. Here are some pics from this week.

Our Tribute to Dads Everywhere.

Happy Father's Day. Thank you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvdO9iY0Yp8

Duns & Spinners

With summer upon us, mayfly duns and spinners make up a good part of our fishing. At this time of year we often see duns hatching and spinners falling not only at the same time, but different species as well. For instance, in the evening we might have March Brown and sulphur spinners on the water and sulphur duns hatching at the same time. What's an angler to do? This week our head guide, Jim Kukorlo, helps unravel the mystery.

Duns and Spinners

A mayfly life cycle has four stages: egg, nymph, dun and spinner. But let's include the emerger which is the nymph rising to the surface to become the adult dun. The dun has upright wings and they look like little sailboats floating downstream. Wings of the dun are semi transparent with a smoky brown, gray, or yellow tinge. The dun will hatch on the water and will float downstream until the wings are dry which will enable them to fly off the water and into the trees to molt. The life span of a dun is about 12 to 24 hours which will vary with different species. The dun will sit in the trees or other vegetation until it molts into a spinner. Duns have no mouth and don't eat anything. Fly fishermen uses a dry fly to imitate the dun stage of a mayfly. Since the dun floats on top of the water you can actually see a trout eat the duns that are riding on the water surface.
For all of my matching-the-hatch mayflies I prefer comparaduns or thorax style duns, the later made famous in Vincent Marinaro’s book, A Modern Dry-Fly Code. Comparaduns have split tails and the position of the wing gives it a more life-like look than traditional Catskill patterns. Without hackle the body lies closer to the water and the micro fiber tails keeps the fly upright, although I find that the thorax style flies with the crisscross hackle float better in riffles and fast runs than a comparadun. I also prefer traditional catskill patterns for my attractor patterns and for the flies I use when fishing the dry-dropper method.
With so much focus on the duns during a hatch, it is important not to forget the emerger. If the trout are taking the emerger the ring of the rise will be different and sometimes overlooked. When the trout are taking emergers you will see the dorsal fin break the surface of the water. This is a great time to use a dry dropper. Attach an emerger pattern to an 18 inch piece of tippet in the bend of the dry fly hook. The dry fly will also be you indicator if the trout takes the emerger.
The length of time that a dun molts into a spinner will vary with different species, but on an average it is between 12 to 24 hours. Once a dun molts it takes on a new appearance. Tails are longer and the body is slim and usually darker in color and the wings are clear and transparent. The sole purpose for the spinner is to mate and for the females to lay eggs. If you look closely you will see the egg sack on the female Hendrickson in the photo.
The male and female spinners form in a swarm usually over water but in some cases over land. In some species this occurs in early afternoon or late evening. As they hover over the water they do a up- and-down dance. Once the spinners mate, the females will begin laying eggs by dipping several times into the water. When all the eggs have been released the female dies spent on the water with her wings stretched out flat. This is what fly fishermen calls a spinner fall.
That's the short version of a mayfly adult life cycle, enough information for a fly fisherman to identify a spinner from a dun and to know when a spinner fall is happening. You can google the life cycle of any mayfly for more in depth information on individual species.
Sometimes duns and spinners can be on the water at the same. When there are duns, you can see the trout eating the adult insects on the surface. When a trout is eating a spinner the rise can be deceiving. The spinner is dead and not moving so the trout simply sips the dead insect slowly into its mouth. These rises can be hard to detect especially in the late evenly hours. I always carry a pair of binoculars in my pack just for occasions like this.
Fishing a spinner fall can be difficult for several reasons. If you’re fishing in a flat quiet pool with not much current, presentation becomes critical. Use at least a 5x tippet or even 6 or 7x in some cases. I find the downstream slack-line presentation to work best in these conditions. On very selective trout I will fish a sunken spinner and have found this to be effective especially during the trico hatch.
Have you ever been on the water early on a summer morning and see rising fish but can't see anything on the water that they are taking? The morning after a good spinner fall can offer some really good fish taking left over spinners from the night before. One of my favorite flies to use in a situation like this is the rusty spinner. Be sure to tie it in several different hook sizes.
Spinners are easy to tie. I use micro fibers for the tails and thin strips of white poly for the wings. Be sure to split the micro fiber tails.
Switching from spring to summertime can mean fishing smaller flies, longer leaders and smaller tippet sizes. Late afternoon and late evening fishing can be very productive so be sure to stay until dark and be on the lookout for spinners showing in the air above you. Sometimes it's the last half hour of day light when the spinners hit the water and it can a very exciting 30 minutes of fly fishing. Be sure to carry a head lamp or flash light for late evening fishing and a wading staff can come in handy when wading in the dark.
If you live close enough to a trout stream you can eat an early dinner and still have time to get on the water for the evening spinner fall.

Click here to view comparaduns and other mayfly patterns in our store.

 Getting Soft Hackled

While Jim talks to us about mayflies, there are often times when caddisflies will be mixed in with the mayflies or when the hatch is all about caddis. While mayflies and caddis are both aquatic insects, the caddis behave differently and the observant angler will know how to identify and imitate the sometimes subtle differences. Chester Allen talks to us about caddis soft hackles in this excellent story.

https://midcurrent.com/experts/getting-soft-hackled/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d8da46573e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_22_19_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8efbf3b958-d8da46573e-18929377&mc_cid=d8da46573e&mc_eid=bb6eaedbe9

Back at the Office

Meanwhile back at the office we are busy with 2021 calendar submissions. One of the calendars we submit to is “Inspirations” and while working on Barry's submission and admiring the images we decided that we want to share the photos with you so we've put them in an album for all to enjoy.  See them here.

RIO- Last Chance to Enter

Time is running out for a chance to enter an all expenses paid trip to Idaho to fish with the RIO guys.  See details below

https://mailchi.mp/rioproducts/last-chance-to-win-an-all-expenses-paid-trip-to-idaho?e=8b5f86f70f

First Cast to Double Haul Now on YouTube

Cathy is posting the chapters from her video, From First Cast to Double Haul, on YouTube for all to view. With cds and dvds going the way of 8-track tapes and cassettes (remember these?), we decided to share the information online.

This week we feature her segment on drag, but all the chapters can be viewed on our YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq7haQMuYLk

Interview with Kirk Wallace Johnson

If the name sounds familiar but you can't place it, it might be because we blogged about his book, The Feather Thief, several months ago. As I mentioned then, people kept telling me about the book but I didn't get around to reading it for awhile and then I got hooked on it. Still now, months later, I love to talk about the heist. There's a lot more to Kirk Wallace Johnson than The Feather Thief though. He's the kind of American that makes you grateful, thankful, and appreciative. Here's a brief look into his life and if you're in the Steamboat Springs area on June 26, stop by the Bud Werner Memorial Library. I sure wish I could be there. (And, if you haven't read the book, do so!) Thank you MidCurrent, Steamboat Magazine and Alesha Damerville.

 http://www.steamboatmagazine.com/2019/05/10/199759/meet-kirk-wallace-johnson-author-of-the-feather-thief-

Fishing is Good

Here are a few shots from our guides this week. The stream is in great shape and fishing is good. Hope you're getting out to enjoy it!  

Putting Kids to Work

This week we stocked sections of Fishing Creek and asked our grandkids to help. They thought it was the coolest thing ever. Of course, they fish and I would say they even fish quite well but never had the opportunity to help stock.

We talk about kids being the future of fly fishing and there are great kids projects. This week I had a young boy working on his fly fishing merit badge come to me for help in casting and learning about insects and flies. I think this is all important stuff, but I also know that our boys would never help stock fish on their own initiative.

We adults have to make the opportunities available to our kids and then stay involved with them. There is a lot to distract these days, but fishing opportunities do come along and it's up to us as parents, grandparents, councilors, teachers, family friends to make sure the kids get the chance to participate.

This is a long weekend. Is there a kid that you can take fishing, or hiking? Maybe your own kids or the neighbor? We hope so! We wish you all a Happy Memorial Day. Get out and Enjoy!

Fly Line Mending

Mending is the ability to position the fly line on the moving current in a manner which counteracts the effects of the current, thus allowing the fly to present itself naturally on or in the water. Mends can be upstream, downstream, and often content with varying speeds of water. These tips and techniques will help us all become better fishermen.

Thank you MidCurrent and Takemefishing.org.

https://www.takemefishing.org/fly-fishing/fly-fishing-basics/fly-line-mending/

Add Some Color!

With 9 new colors of fly line backing in 20 and 30 lb strengths RIO is sure to have a color to suit your mood! (Their words, not mine).  

Brighten up your fly reels!   

https://mailchi.mp/rioproducts/check-out-rios-new-backing-options?e=8b5f86

Upcoming Trips:

We've got a few spots here and there on the rest of our 2019 trips and we'd love for you to get in on the fun. Here's what we have coming up:

June 20-28 Slovenia, Departure is full
July 26-Aug. 9 Africa, Departure is full
Aug. 24-31 Bighorn River, Montana, 2 Rooms
Aug. 31-Sept. 7 Bighorn River, Montana, 3 Rooms
Sept. 28-Oct.5 E. Pyrenees, Departure is full
Dec. 7-14 Tres Valles, Argentina, 2 Rooms

Please visit our website Hosted Trips for details, itineraries, and photos galleries.

Fly Fishing Tip #49

Your Line Hand. Domenick Swentosky's tip #49 (of 50) reminds us of how important our line hand is and gives up tips on stripping flies, shooting line, and all the things our line hand does without thinking about it – and we get some tips on how to do all these things better.

As always, thanks Domenick and MidCurrent.
https://troutbitten.com/2018/07/08/fifty-fly-fishing-tips-49-your-line-hand/

Fishing Is Good

Little Blue Quills, done. Quill Gordons, done, Hendricksons, done. Spring is fast slipping away from us. We're now seeing March Browns, tan caddis, and someone reported seeing the first sulphur this week. We hope you're getting out to enjoy the spring hatches. It is a beautiful time of year and it won't last long!

We're busy with guiding and lessons. Here are a few shots from the season so far.

Remembering Belize

Last week found us at Belize River Lodge with amazing weather and perfect tides. We didn't put on a raincoat all week. You would think the fishing to be amazing – but truth be told, our group had a difficult week finding fish. The week got a little better toward the end, thank goodness. Thank you to an amazing group of anglers and the staff and guides at BRL who understand saltwater fly fishing and hung in there to make the best of it. We hope you enjoy the photos.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/barryandcathybeck/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2656963891011333

Tim Flagler and the Sulphur Perdigon

With sulphur season fast approaching here is an interesting Perdigon sulphur nymph to add to your box. We've had lots of water so far this season and this is a good pattern to get your fly down to where the fish are holding, and Tim always has tying tips to make the job easier. Thank you MidCurrent, Marshall Cutchin and Tim.

https://midcurrent.com/videos/how-to-tie-a-sulphur-perdigon/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b58f904969-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_08_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8efbf3b958-b58f904969-18929377&mc_cid=b58f904969&mc_eid=bb6eaedbe9

High Sticking Nymphs by Jim Kukorlo

The fly line is a necessary evil. We need a fly line to cast our flies but the fly line on the water creates drag. Not only the fly line but the leader too. To help eliminate drag get as much line and leader off the water as possible by getting as close as possible to the pool and lifting the fly rod up and extending your arm out over the water. Do same when fishing at a distance by reaching out and lifting the rod higher.

High Sticking is basically lifting your fly rod and extending your casting arm to lift your fly line off the water. Lifting the fly line off the water will help to eliminate drag and give you a better drag free presentation, allowing your flies to go deeper and be in better contact with your strike indicator. Did you catch the part about extending your casting arm? If you are using a 9ft fly rod by extending your arm out and up you now have a 11ft fly rod depending on the length of your arm. For sake of argument lets say you gain about 2ft. It's a lot easier to mend your fly line in the air then it is when the line is lying on the water.

The Drift – The object of a drag free drift is to keep the fly, leader, strike indicator, fly rod and your arm in a straight line as the fly drifts down stream. In order to achieve that you must mend your fly line and follow the line downstream with the tip of your fly rod.
The current is never the same all away across the stream. Learn to read the water and look for seams in the current and along the edge of a riffle. It's easier to control your drift in these seams with short casts and short drifts then it is making long cast and trying to mange more fly line on the water. Trout will feed on the edge of a fast running riff and in pools behind rocks.
The flow of the current also dictates how I present my cast. Nymph fishing 101 is a three quarter upstream cast – one mend and a perfect drift through the hole. With multi currents sometimes I prefer to cast across stream and drift the fly slightly downstream allowing the fly to drift into the trout keeping the fly line behind and out of sight of the trout. This is especially good to do on bright sunny days to keep your shadow and the shadow of the strike indicator from spooking the trout.

Leaders - For whatever reason I have never gotten into making my own leaders. It might be something I should look into. I use a 9ft. 4wt RIO monofilament leader and adding a 3ft section of fluorocarbon tippet. Tippet size is determined by the hook size of the fly that I'm using. Hook size 12 and larger I use 4x, hook size 14 and 16 usually 5x and size 18 and smaller 6x. Of course that can vary with the water flow and water color. I always use two nymphs by attaching a 18 to 24 inch section of fluorocarbon tippet material, which will lengthen my leader to around 14ft. Longer leaders create less drag by allowing me to keep more of the fly line off the water.
I don't use the loop to loop method to attach the leader to the fly line, it adds bulk and creates issues when landing fish and can damage the guides on the fly rod. Instead I simply attach the leader to the fly line with a clinch knot. It makes a slim profile and the leader will go through the guides without hanging up on the guides.

Flies – Along with using two flies I found that high sticking with an indicator can be a very effective way to dead drift a wooly bugger or a streamer through a deep pool or fast riffle.

Split Shots - Although I try to stay away from using split shot by using at least one fly with a tungsten bead but there are times I do have to add split shot. As the saying goes “You are one split shot away from catching fish.” Generally I add the split shot between the two flies. But that depends on what fly I'm using and where I want the bottom fly to be. For example a size 10 Ug Bug as the first fly and a size 18 Pheasant Tail as the bottom fly with no split shot between the two flies allowing the pheasant tail to float several inches off the stream bottom.

Strike Indicator – Years ago, long before the idea of using a strike indicator, I used to paint my nail knot with bright orange fingernail polish which would help me see the strike better by watching the end of my line. And it did work and it was a pretty cool idea that I learned from a friend of mine but strike indicators work much better. Keep in mind the strike indicator also suspends the fly in the water column which helps to keep from hanging up on the bottom of the stream and allows you to drift the fly at the depth you think the trout are.
By watching your indicator you can see the effect the current has on your drift and how your fly is being presented to the trout.
How far from the fly you put your indicator is a question I get a lot from fishermen. The rule of thumb I use is to put the indicator 1 to 2 ft higher then the depth of the water you are fishing. Most indicators will slide up and down your leader and are easy to adjust. Adjusting the indicator and being sure you have the right amount of weight are two very important factors in nymph fishing.
There are hundreds of strike indicators on the market and after years of trying different ones the Dorsey indicator is my favorite. (More about different kinds of indicators in a future article.)

Fly Rods – As a kid using sticks as swords the guy with the bigger stick usually wins. A longer fast action fly rod greatly helps in mending and managing the fly line. My go to fly rod for nymph fishing is a 9ft 5wt Sage X, and depending on the size of the stream I'm fishing, I also use a 9.5ft or a 10ft 4wt.

If you are new to nymph fishing or struggling with getting good drifts and having confidence in your nymph fishing. Just by learning to lift your fly rod up and out you will see immediate changes in your drift. Once you establish confidence you will start catching more fish and having fun.

We're busy working on our 2020 trips. Here is a look at what we have to look forward to:

January 11-21 Suinda & Pira, Argentina (golden dorado)
February 8-15 Laguna Verde, Argentina (rainbows)
February 16-20 Dorado Cruiser, Argentina (golden dorado)
March 13-20 Villa Maria, TDF, Argentina (trout)
March 21-28 Estancia Tecka, Argentina (trout)
Dates TBA San Huberto, Argentina (trout)
April 25-May 2 Turneffe Flats Lodge, Belize (bones, permit, tarpon, etc.)
June (TBA) Ireland/Scotland (trout/Atlantic salmon)
August 6-15 Reel Action Camp, Alaska (trout, char, pacific salmon)
August 22-29 Bighorn River, Montana (trout)
August 29-Sept.5 Bighorn River, Montana (trout)
October 4-11 E. Pyrenees, Spain (trout, barbel)
Nov/Dec Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)

Argentina in the Rearview

We just returned from our March/April trip to Argentina where we visited three estancias with three amazing groups of clients, never put on a raincoat, and had beautiful weather – with just a bit of wind. After all, it wouldn't be Patagonia without some wind! The places you'll see in the album are Tres Valles Lodge, San Huberto Lodge, and the Limay River Lodge, all amazing. It seems like a long time until next year. There is just no place like Argentina!   Click here to see more photos

Sage Igniter  

We've all heard the news about Sage's new rod, the Igniter. If you're looking for a fast rod with backbone for longer casts, bigger flies, and one that will step up to the plate should the wind come up, but is still fun to cast without being too fast, try to Igniter. Here's an interesting short MidCurrent review of the rod by fly fishing gear reviewer, Robert Morselli.

https://midcurrent.com/contributors/robert-morselli/

Check it out at your local fly shop or at:

https://www.sageflyfish.com/product/freshwater/igniter-freshwater

From Home

Fishing is good here at home. Hendricksons are the order of the day with March Browns soon to follow. Here are a few shots from guiding recently. Spring fishing doesn't last long, we hope you're getting out to enjoy it!

Opening Day & Tornadoes

We kicked off mid-April with a beautiful weekend for the opening of trout season. Pictured here is our most popular fishing spot on opening day, the Benton Dam. Then the following week, just so we don't become too complacent, Mother Nature threw tornados (tornados in PA, you say?) at us in the middle of the night.  

Our little town of Benton, having just recovered from a devastating flood last summer, was now devastated again with tornados. Our lovely Mill Race Golf Course was just about obliterated, barns torn apart, homes lost or damaged, beautiful 100 year old trees uprooted like pick-up sticks. Everyone was without power for days and it felt like a war zone. Luckily no lives were lost.

So now we are trying to get back to normal, but we're not sure what normal is anymore!

Here, we're busy getting out fly orders, lots of Hendricksons and March Browns are rushing out the door so we can tell that the spring hatches are in full bloom here in the east. Trout lilies and Dutchmen's Britches are blooming, fish are rising, it's a beautiful time to be outside and we hope you are making time for spring fishing. It won't last long.

2 Unique Opportunities

Tres Valles, Argentina

Tres Valles, Argentina, in the fall (their spring) is beautiful with full rivers, hungry fish, and snow capped mountains. Easy wading, float trips, spring creeks, small rivers, lakes. It's the fly fisherman's dream destination. You may not be a lake fisherman, we weren't either until we got to Argentina. Lakes are different here, clear, cold, with hatches and big fish. With spectacular scenery and rising fish, lakes here can be a lot of fun.

But there are also pretty little spring creeks with browns and rainbows that will surprise you (and fill up the net), small rivers where an Adams dry fly and a PT nymph will catch fish all day long, float trips through beautiful canyons, and walk wading small rivers.

This is a small lodge, only 4 guest rooms, with big variety! Come with us to this special destination, December 5-16, 2019. Includes a day in Buenos Aires, our favorite city. See the details.

Villa Maria, Tierra del Fuego

We're very excited to have a week at Estancia Villa Maria in Tierra del Fuego next March 13-20, for sea-run brown trout. This small, 6-guest, lodge is sold out annually and for years to come. It is only by a stroke of luck that we were able to get a week here and it may not happen again.

If you have Tierra del Fuego on your bucket list, come along with us to this very special destination. It will be a trip that you won't soon forget!

Details  https://www.barryandcathybeck.com/site/index.php/hosted-travel/2020/argentina-tierra-del-fuego-villa-maria-lodge

Photos  https://barrybeck.photoshelter.com/gallery/Villa-Maria-Lodge/G0000B5IQEqsCa28/C0000jGQJ2sR7aVI

Itinerary https://www.barryandcathybeck.com/site/index.php/hosted-travel/2020/argentina-tierra-del-fuego-villa-maria-lodge/itinerary

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8P3df4kTQI

The Top 3 Reasons to go to Tres Valles from Barry

Not Bitten

Oh, drat. I finally get a day off to fish and the fish won't bite! Our head guide, Jim Kukorlo, tells us what he does when this happens. (now we all know his secrets....)

What Does a Guide do When the Fish Aren't Biting?

This might sound like a tough question to answer. But it is a situation that I do find myself in from time to time. Not only when I'm guiding but when I'm fishing too. I know the water well and I know the fish are there but they are simply not biting.

As a young boy I was either playing baseball or fishing in a small creek behind my house. As were all of the kids in the neighborhood in those days. What I noticed was that when the fish weren't biting the other kids started to throw rocks or play in the creek but I didn't. At least not right away. I always wanted to catch fish when no one else was. That hasn't change I still like to catch fish when the bite is off.

As a guide I always do my best to give the client a good day on the water. Which of course includes catching fish. Doesn't take long to sense that the bite is off. Now that can mean several things. One - the strikes are soft, we are rolling fish or getting head shakes but can't keep them on the hook. I immediately switch to smaller flies and that sometimes can make a difference. Or Two - the fish are simply not biting.

Before I start changing flies I will add split shots, adjust the strike indicator and correct any mistakes my client is making in his presentation to ensure a drag free drift. I read a great article on patience vs. persistence by Domenick Swentosky on his website Troutbitten. “Patience is waiting for something to happen and persistence is making something happen.”

Another way of putting this is “Think Outside the Box” and when the bite is off and I'm guiding it's definitely time to “Think Outside the Box” and be persistent. I usually start on a certain section of water for a reason. On a summer day I like to hit the quiet pools first before the sun is on the water. Colder early spring or autumn days I like to start where I will be in the sun and later in the day move to the shady pools as the day warms up. But what if I'm in the pool I thought would be the best in the morning but it isn't. Once we are in the beat for awhile I like to move up or down stream to different water. We will not only rest the pool but it will give us different type of water and fish that haven't been fished over yet.

If I start out using nymphs I like using the two nymph set up. Using an attractor fly such as a San Juan worm, squirmy wormy or some sort of egg pattern as the top fly with a go-to nymph such as a size 18 pheasant tail or caddis pupa that can sometimes trigger a strike. I continue to change the bottom fly with an assortment of flashy flies with orange, green, red and even purple bead heads and different color hot spots on the fly. If using 4x tippet, I will drop down to 5x or even 6x.

Many clients have never fished without an indicator so having them high stick a nymph is something different and new for them to learn and can be productive in certain pools. The fly will get down quicker and deeper and it will be a different presentation to the trout.

If still no success underneath I switch to a attractor dry fly such as a hopper or a yellow body Crackle Back dry fly (more on that in a future issue). If there is no interest in the dry fly I can always add a dropper fly such as a soft hackle, beetle or many other options.

Thinking outside the box doesn't mean just using different types of flies. It also means using different types of presentations. Early afternoon is a great time to swing a few wet flies through a nice riff or working them slowly in a deep pool. When was the last time you heard the word wet flies? Old school I guess but they still catch fish.

I always have a fly rod setup with a sink-tip line and a streamer ready to go in hopes of hooking into a good fish who is looking for a bigger meal. A dead minnow or sculpin pattern just dead drifting off the bottom can be a easy meal for a lazy trout. Or dead drift a super bugger with a small nymph as a drop fly off the bugger.

These are a few of the different flies and techniques I try when the fish aren't biting. Weather and water conditions really play a big part in where I fish, what flies I use and what type of presentation will be best.

On a day when my client is catching fish there isn't a need to change techniques or even fly set ups. So on a day when the fish aren't biting, clients can experience some different ways of fly fishing that he/she might not have had the chance to do before.

Trout live in beautiful places and most clients are just happy to be on the water. As the old saying goes “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.” So what does a guide do when the fish aren't biting? I work hard, I'm persistent, I think outside the box and I do the best I can to give the client a good day on the water.

If you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see here, please let me know. I like hearing from our readers.

Hope to see you on the stream.

Jim

50 Women Who Fish

This week Wild River Press is releasing Fifty Women Who Fish, of which Cathy is one of the fifty. It is a gorgeous large-format hardcover production of more than 300 pages with hundreds of color photos.  

For two full years, author Steve Kantner sought out a wide range of female anglers, extraordinary individuals from ages 20 to 90, from the Florida Keys to Alaska. All are passionate about their favorite outdoor sport and their personal stories are fascinating.

To read more and to order your copy visit: https://www.whywomenfish.com/

The Importance of Proper Position in the Stream

By Phil Monahan

How many times have we all been in this angler's situation? Next time let's remember to change our position and our angle. It might just make the difference needed to hook the fish. Thank you Orvis, Dave, and Phil.

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/master-class-monday-position-in-stream?adv=352841&cm_mmc=linkshare-_-je6NUbpObpQ-_-1-_-352841

From the Limay

Cathy & Barry are wrapping it up on the Limay River in Argentina and have two more days of fishing before starting home. They have visited three destinations— Tres Valles, San Huberto, and the Limay, and have not put on raincoats the entire time! Weather has been good and their guests are taking home great memories of good times and good fishing. We will have more when we get Barry’s photos home and edited.

Country Life Experience

Fun! Fun! Fun!

We're excited to tell you about a new program we have for families and kids who don't get nearly enough time to play in the country.

We have partnered with The Lodge at Raven Creek and Springdale Farm (both next door to us) and have put our heads together to come up with a fun family experience.

There is something for everyone – fly fishing, kayaking and fishing on the pond, grooming the horses (and giving them treats), gather eggs, eat beans from the garden, learn about the woods, do the waterfall trail, and lots more – wind down at the end of the day around the campfire and then sleep under the stars. 

A sample itinerary and all the details can be found here

Programs are designed for families and kids of all ages and we'll always be as flexible as possible with specific requests so give us a call for dates and availability.

We hope to see you and the kids in a couple months!

Fishing With Kids
If you fall, get up

Since we're talking about families, I thought this would be a good time and place to share Domenic Swentosky's excellent advice on fishing with kids. It's fun to read even if you don't plan to take kids fishing. Thanks Domenic!

https://troutbitten.com/2018/09/18/fishing-with-kids-if-you-fall-get-up/

Beck Departures:

2019:

January 10-20 Coyhaique, Chile (trout)
February 7-18 Estancia Laguna Verde, Argentina (trout)
February 15-25 Estancia Tecka, Argentina (trout)
March 14-24 Estancia Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)
March 22-Apr. 1 San Huberto, Argentina (trout)
Apr. 27-May 4 Belize River Lodge (bones, tarpon, permit, snook)
June 20-28 Soca Valley, Slovenia (trout)
July 26-Aug. 9 E. Africa Photo Safari
Aug. 23-30 Bighorn River, Montana, Wk. #1 (trout)
Aug. 30-Sept. 7 Bighorn River, Montana, Wk. #2 (trout)
Sept. 28-Oct. 5 E. Pyrenees, Spain (trout)
Dec. 7 – 14 Estancia Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)

2020:

January 11-18 Coyhaique River Lodge, Chile
February 8-15 Laguna Verde, Argentina
February 16-20 Dorado Cruiser, Argentina (dorado)
March 13-20 Villa Maria, TDF, Argentina (sea-run browns)
March 21-28 Estancia Tecka, Argentina
March 29 – Apr. 4 San Huberto, Argentina
April 25-May 2 Turneffe Flats Lodge, Belize (bones, tarpon, permit, snook)
June (TBA) Ireland/Scotland (trout, Atlantic salmon)
August 6-15 Reel Action Camp, Alaska (trout, pacific salmon, char)
August 22-29 Bighorn River, Montana
August 29-Sept.5 Bighorn River, Montana
October 4-11 Spain, E. Pyrenees
Nov/Dec (TBA) Tres Valles, Argentina

New Programs

We've been busy here this winter and are excited to announce our expanded Guiding & Fly Fishing Instruction programs to include a One-Day Learning Package and Family, Friends & Corporate events. We changed The Weekender to The Overnighter since weekdays are almost always more popular than weekends. But, no changes on the Guiding and Private Instruction, they are popular just as they are.

The One-Day Learning Package includes a half day instruction and a half day on the stream with a guide. This is already proving to be very popular.

The Family & Friends is designed as a one-day event and Corporate for two days, but we are flexible and can plan a fun filled event for your small group that will fit your needs.

Take a look around our website and contact us if you have any questions at all. We're scheduling now for Spring & Summer!

Country Life Experience? I'm saving that one for next week. Make sure you check back then!

Dangerous Roads

Curious to know where the most dangerous roads are in the World? Wonder no more. Take a look at these photos and descriptions. Thank you to The Travel Insider for this dizzying experience!

https://www.editorchoice.com/dangerous-roads/

Last Look

Let's take one last look at Laguna Verde and Tecka before we move on to other projects. Barry is done editing so we pulled for few of his photos for an album. The Becks are back in Argentina as this goes to print and we'll soon have some photos from Tres Valles and San Huberto. In the meantime, here's one more look at Jurassic Lake and Estancia Tecka. 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2508805489160508&type=1&l=91fd597d91

Buying Flies

Brooke (she's our social media guru) tells me that I have to do this. She says I have to tell you why you should buy flies from our store. She says I need to tell you why we pick the patterns that we do, and the tiers, and she says we need to tell you about Jim Smethers. Okay, okay, I said. I'll say something.

So, the long and the short of it is that Barry and I have been selling flies since 1980. He was selling flies long before that in his parents sporting good store – and later ours, Berwick, PA. He owned a small company called Cahill House which sold bamboo rods and flies, and probably other things but I don't remember. What I do remember from those early days is that neither his mom or dad had an inkling about fly fishing, but their son did. Barry was also working for Letort Limited, in Boilings Spring, PA, at the time and ran the little fly fishing department at the store on weekends. His mom (not to get off track) was in my mind an expert in guns, reloading, and ammunition. It's funny because I don't ever remember her shooting a gun but she knew her stuff when it came to reloading. Anyway, Jim Smethers was tying flies for Barry when I met him in 1979, and he's still tying for us today.

It's always been important to us to buy flies from tiers who fish. It's harder to do that today and we have to get some of our flies from Solitude, Umpqua, and other fly suppliers but it's nice to think that those patterns are, at least, designed by fly fishermen. But, Jim still ties lots of patterns for us and he fly fishes...albeit not like he used to, but still.....

Anyway, here's thanks to Jim who is, has always been, and will always be a great friend and fly tier!

“Paul”

Think you have problems? We found this video on MidCurrent by Erin Block, presented by Orvis. It kind of puts everything into perspective. Thank you all for sharing the story. We're behind you, Paul.

https://midcurrent.com/2019/02/28/video-hatch-paul/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=616cd53785-

Winter, Winter Go Away

Ah, the ides of March are upon us. While we don't know what that means to you, if anything, to us it means that spring can't be far off. While we still have plenty of snow on the ground here, everyday this week is above freezing and we can see 50's in the forecast. So, we are celebrating spring!

And with spring comes the hallowed opening day of trout season. Fly orders picked up several weeks ago and we can tell that anglers are looking at their boxes and filling in the spots. With that in mind I asked Jim Kukorlo, our head guide, to tell us how he organizes his fly boxes. Is it by season, by types of dries, by color, what? So, we have his thoughts and suggestions for you below and we have a tying video by Tim Flagler (my favorite presenter....besides Barry, of course) on tying the bead head baetis nymph, another great pattern for spring fishing. He'll tell you why.

Barry offered to write about super buggers and I said, “Are you crazy? We can't keep them in stock now!” It is without a doubt our most popular pattern with the super beetle running a close second. The super bugger is a great early season fly because it has weight and bulk which makes it very effective in deep, fast, cold water. Strip it slow or dead drift and hope for a lethargic hungry fish to see it coming. But anyway, I'm not talking anymore.

We're off to Argentina for our March trip. We'll be at Tres Valles, San Huberto, and the Limay River Lodge. Brooke, Susie and Eddie will keep things running smoothly here and we'll talk to you from the road. Hope spring has sprung where you are.

Cathy & Barry

Organize Your Fly Box

Weather I'm guiding or fly fishing myself I like to keep things simple. I switched from wearing a vest years ago because I couldn't find the things I wanted. Just too many pockets. I now use a sling pack with a lot less pockets. But big enough to carry what I need and to find it easier.
The same is true with my fly boxes. Over the years I've used large ones with all of my flies in one or two boxes. Which meant that I spent time looking through the boxes to find the flies I wanted to use.
Now I really like the slim fly boxes that you can buy in small, medium and large sizes to fit into my sling pack or fishing vest. Four small slim boxes and two large slim boxes fit nicely in one compartment of my sling pack. I also have one medium size slim box that is magnetized for my size 18 to 22 size nymphs. These boxes are so thin that I can even carry an extra one in the small pouch in front of my waders. The boxes have a clear top so you can see the flies in the box, or you can write on the box with a magic marker.
The large box holds most of my size 12 to size 16 nymphs. I have one box with only my (darkside flies) eggs, sucker spawn, San Juan worms, squirmy wormies, etc. Another box has only my larger weighted nymphs and I have a box of unweighted nymphs. And of course a box with an assortment of streamers. In the sling pack I always keep the fly boxes in the same order so I know what flies are in each box and can easily pick the box I need.
I have several dry flies boxes. One will hold all of my mayflies and caddis dry flies. Another one will have my terrestrial flies along with small midges.
At the end of the day I can easily check the boxes to see what flies I need to replace for the next day on the water.
By knowing what box holds what flies and having easy access to them, you’ll spend less time fooling around looking for stuff and more time fishing. This is important to me and to my clients!
If you have any questions or if there is something you’d like to see here, please let me know. I like hearing from our readers.
Hope to see you on the stream.

Jim

Tim Flagler's Bead Head Baetis Nymph

A go-to pattern for any time of year, but especially in the spring. It should be in your box. If you don't tie, check ours out in our store. Thanks Tim and MidCurrent.

https://midcurrent.com/videos/how-to-tie-a-bead-head-baetis-nymph/

Pebble Mine

Last week we asked you to help stop Pebble Mine. If you haven't sent your message, please do so real soon. Time is running out.    

Please don't glance at this and move on. Everyone is tired of hearing about Pebble Mine and that is just what our government wants from us.
In the Army Corp EIS (Environmental Impact Study) the Corps only examined a tiny discharge from the tailings storage facility. Independent studies suggest a realistic dam failure would involve 10,000 times more material flowing downstream than the Army Corps studied.
“Because the Army Corps didn’t do their job, Bristol Bay fishermen had to hire a scientist to take a hard look at a catastrophic tailings dam failure in Bristol Bay like those that have recently occurred in British Columbia and Brazil. Dr. Cam Wobus is an MIT-educated earth scientist specializing in hydrology and geomorphology. He is a peer-reviewed expert on this subject. What he found was horrifying. If the Pebble tailings dam fails, the Nushagak River basin downstream of the mine is going to be coated with a layer of mine waste. Summer or winter, wet or frozen, it doesn’t matter: nothing will stop the flood of debris. “
And this is just the beginning. Please help preserve this fragile wild untouched part of our country from drilling by a non-American company! This is too fragile an area – failure will occur. Make the mining companies find a way to extract the copper while still preserving environment and the billion dollar plus salmon industry. We know we need copper and we are not against mining, but we are very much against this type of mining. We only have a short window to voice our opposition, so we are begging you to help us by clicking through and completing the message to the Army Corps.
Make Pebble Mine Go AWAY!
https://action.savebristolbay.org/page/s/pebble-mine-draft-environmental-impact-statement-comment-submission-form
It only takes a minute to let your voice be heard.

Survey

We just wanted to say a big Thank You to everyone who took time to complete our survey last week. Your input is invaluable as we plan our blog content for the coming months. It’s also great to hear from our readers! As promised, the winner of a RIO hat and Buff is Phil Brna. Congrats Phil & thanks again to all of you!

More Jurassic Photos

We have a few more photos from the group who was with us at Laguna Verde, aka Jurassic Lake, that we missed adding last week. More big fish!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2508805489160508&type=1&l=91fd597d91

Urgent! Your Help is Needed   

Please don't glance at this and move on. Everyone is tired of hearing about Pebble Mine and that is just what our government want from us.

In the Army Corp EIS (Environmental Impact Study) the Corps only examined a tiny discharge from the tailings storage facility. Independent studies suggest a realistic dam failure would involve 10,000 times more material flowing downstream than the Army Corps studied.

“Because the Army Corps didn’t do their job, Bristol Bay fishermen had to hire a scientist to take a hard look at a catastrophic tailings dam failure in Bristol Bay like those that have recently occurred in British Columbia and Brazil. Dr. Cam Wobus is an MIT-educated earth scientist specializing in hydrology and geomorphology. He is a peer-reviewed expert on this subject. What he found was horrifying. If the Pebble tailings dam fails, the Nushagak River basin downstream of the mine is going to be coated with a layer of mine waste. Summer or winter, wet or frozen, it doesn’t matter: nothing will stop the flood of debris. “

And this is just the beginning. Please help preserve this fragile wild untouched part of our country from drilling by a non-American company! This is too fragile an area – failure will occur. Make the mining companies find a way to extract the copper while still preserving environment and the billion dollar plus salmon industry. We know we need copper and we are not against mining, but we are very much against this type of mining. We only have a short window to voice our opposition, so we are begging you to help us by clicking through and completing the message to the Army Corps.

Make Pebble Mine Go AWAY!
https://action.savebristolbay.org/page/s/pebble-mine-draft-environmental-impact-statement-comment-submission-form

It only takes a minute to let your voice be heard.

Our Trip Schedule

2019 Beck Departures:

January 10-20 Coyhaique, Chile (trout)
February 7-18 Estancia Laguna Verde, Argentina (trout)
February 15-25 Estancia Tecka, Argentina (trout)
March 14-24 Estancia Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)
March 22-Apr. 1 San Huberto Hosteria, Argentina (trout)
Apr. 27-May 4 Belize River Lodge (bones, tarpon, permit, snook)
June 20-28 Soca Valley, Slovenia (trout)
July 26-Aug. 9 E. Africa Photo Safari
Aug. 23-30 Bighorn River, Montana, Wk. #1 (trout)
Aug. 30-Sept. 7 Bighorn River, Montana, Wk. #2 (trout)
Sept. 28-Oct. 5 E. Pyrenees, Spain (trout)
Dec. 7 – 14 Estancia Tres Valles, Argentina (trout)

2020:

January 11-18 Coyhaique River Lodge
February 8-15 Laguna Verde, Argentina
February 16-20 Dorado Cruiser, Argentina
March 13-20 Villa Maria, TDF, Argentina
March 21-28 Estancia Tecka, Argentina
Dates TBA San Huberto, Argentina
April 25-May 2 Turneffe Flats Lodge, Belize
June (TBA) Ireland/Scotland
August 6-15 Reel Action Camp, Alaska
August 22-29 Bighorn River, Montana
August 29-Sept.5 Bighorn River, Montana
October (TBA) Spain
Nov/Dec Tres Valles, Argentina

Laguna Verde & Estancia Tecka

Barry is still editing photos from our trip, but we have a few cellphone photos from the group that we'd like to share with you – until we can get to Barry's.  Click here to see them

The first week at Laguna Verde, aka Jurassic Lake, aka Lake Strobel, was not without wind (seldom is there), but everyone caught big beautiful fish and the landscape of this fishery still amazes and impresses. The lodge is bigger, more comfortable, and the guides are top notch. Can't wait to get back next February!

Estancia Tecka was our second week, and after casting big rods in big wind for big trout, it was nice to be in warmer weather on the Tecka and Corcorvado Rivers casting 5 & 6-weights to rising browns and rainbows. The estancia is amazing with great guides and staff and we're happy to have this destination become a regular stop for us each year.

 Last Minute Room

Limay River Lodge, Argentina
March 28-Apr. 8

We just had a cancellation on a room at the Limay. Timed for big migrating browns on a beautiful river at a very special time of year — fall in Patagonia.
Join us and a small group at Limay River Lodge for an incredible week.
Trip Details.

We Need Your Help

We have a few questions that we are hoping you will answer for us. We've put this blog out weekly since 2016, and I've always wondered what does you, our reader, find most interesting? What catches your eye? We'll use your answers to plan future blog content.

You can do the survey in less than 5 minutes. You can answer anonymously or you can give us your email and we'll put your name in a drawing for a RIO camo mesh cap and a matching Buff. We will be collecting answers until  March 7th.  We thank you for participating.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N2BVFWG  

Contest Winner

Congratulations to Joe Koziara on being the first person to correctly answering our quiz. What do these 5 Umpqua flies have in common? Bonefish Deep Minnow, Drowned Spinner, Bennett's Lunch, Neon Nightmare, and Gen-X Bunny
***They all have 3 N’s in the name***
Your fly selections are on the way! And thanks to everyone for participating, we love hearing from you! Stay tuned for another opportunity next week!

 Headed to the Flats?  

From the looks of the fly orders going out the door, a lot of you are planning trips to the flats. Lucky you. It's a great time to get out of winter and enjoy some tropical fishing.

Thinking of the warm tropics, RIO has recently introduced their new DirectCore Bonefish line.

Winner of the Best New Saltwater Fly Line category at IFTD (International Fly Tackle Dealer Show), meet the big sister of RIO's Bonefish QuickShooter. While the Bonefish QuickShooter, another favorite, has a short head for quick loading when fish are close, as in wading, the DirectCore Bonefish has a long head and rear taper to smooth out the loop and a mid length front taper for turnover and easy presentation. Read about it here.

https://mailchi.mp/rioproducts/get-ready-for-your-next-bonefish-trip?e=8b5f86f70f

If you're planning a trip to the jungle for peacock bass, dorado, and pacu then you'll need a line designed for hot sticky  tropical conditions. The RIO DirectCore Jungle Series is built on their signature DirectCore, it's easy to stretch and lies perfectly straight on the water, but maintains the stiffness needed to cast in hot conditions. With a short, quick-loading head these lines easily turn over large tropical flies. The perfect line series for tropical freshwater environments worldwide.

https://www.rioproducts.com/products/floating/directcore-jungle-series-f?utm_source=RIO+Newsletter&utm_campaign=26d624ccaf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_16_09_49&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1049359efc-26d624ccaf-85110573

The Feather Thief

Finally this week, everyone's talking about this book. The Feather Thief is a fascinating true story of an obsessive young man and his addiction for fly tying and the rare hard-to-find feathers needed for classic salmon flies. It's a page turner, I couldn't put it down. And the fact that is really happened, and not too long ago, makes it even the more amazing. Download or pick-up a copy. Even after you know, you'll still be asking yourself, “How did a young talented New Englander, the kid next door, pull this off at the London Tring Museum?” By Kirk Wallace Johnson.