Give it Your Best Shot!

Join in the fun. Here is something to keep you thinking about fishing when perhaps you can't be fishing. This is a 4 compartment box, 4-1/2” x 2-3/4” x 1”. Be the first to give us the correct number of parachute Adams in the box and win it and the flies!

Answers must be submitted through the Comments section so make sure you're viewing this on your browser (if not, click here to view online at the top of the blog) and give us your best guess.

Answer announced next week. Do it today.

Good Luck.

Cathy's Handbook

Are you or someone you know new at fly fishing? Perhaps you're struggling with knots or are not sure what the difference is between a nymph and an emerger. Cathy's Fly Fishing Handbook covers everything from A to Z, and is the perfect tool for helping you through the learning process.

With your cellphone and a QR Barcode Scanner (free from App store), you can view video clips on key subjects as you go along. And we all know that a visual can be the difference in understanding the written word.

Now in the third printing, Cathy's handbook has become a standard reference for the entry level fly angler. All copies are signed but can also be personalized upon request. 

$21.95 Order Now and we will include 8 of Cathy's favorite flies in a pocket pak box.  

Becks at Argentina Waters & Tres Valles

Susie and I are very jealous that the Becks are with a group in Argentina this week. AW is a new lodge, this is their second visit, and Tres Valles is a regular stop at this time of year for them. It's spring time with cool, crisp mornings and warm, sunny afternoons. Fishing season is just getting started and the stream fish are hungry and looking up for spring hatches. Again, the Adams is often the go-to fly sometimes trailed with a PT or copper nymph. Simple as it gets – sometimes.

The Becks are probably searching the lakes for a photo fish, using big foam flies, streamers, and nymphs. I understand that not everyone likes lake fishing, but sitting in a boat on a warm sunny afternoon casting and twitching a Chernobyl and looking for a big fish sounds good to me!

We'll probably have a fishing report from them next week. For now, it's back to work for me. Thanks for reading our blog. Please give us your comments, we love to hear from you. Brooke

Did You Know?

Over the River and Through the Wood is also known as “The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day”, originally published in 1844 in Flowers for Children, Volume 2, written by Lydia Maria Child.

Although many people sing “to grandmother's house we go”, the author's original words were “to grandfather's house we go”. Child was a novelist, journalist, teacher, and poet who wrote extensively about the need to eliminate slavery.

Want to know more? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_River_and_Through_the_Wood

Who Said it?

And from last week's blog, did you recognize the writing? Maybe you made a lucky guess? Or, slipped to the dark side and asked Google? For those who didn't know the answer and didn't Google it, the author was Ernest Schweibert. It was a beautiful answer to the question, “Why do you fish?”

If you're viewing this from a browser you can easily scroll back to see it again.

Estancia Tecka

We have just two spots left for anglers to join us at Estancia Tecka, Argentina, March 21-28, 2020, excluding travel time. Estancia Tecka is an amazing 435,000 acre privately owned sheep ranch with more than 100 miles of private water on the ranch. Fish dry flies on the lovely little Tecka River, look for a big fish on the Corcovado River and go after trophies on the lakes. It's all fun.

We have a rod for one woman who will share an accommodation and guide with another woman already signed up, and the same for a guy – one rod to share an accommodation with another gentleman already signed up.

Check out the itinerary and details and grab the opportunity!

Women in the Outdoors Fly Fishing Expo to be held in NE PA on Nov. 23

On Saturday, November 23, the Women's Fly Fishing Film Tour Expo will be held from noon until 5:30 PM at the Brooks Theater on the campus of Keystone College in LaPlume, PA. There will be two showings of the Fly Fishing Film Tour along with presentations on fly tying, fly casting and a women’s panel discussion. Door prizes and raffles will be featured, and vendors will be on hand with the latest in fly fishing gear.
The Expo is sponsored by the TU chapters of northeastern Pennsylvania, along with the Keystone College 5 Rivers Club and the NEPA Fly Girls. Tickets are just $10 for adults and $5 for students at the door, or save $2 by purchasing your ticket in advance. Contact Rosangela Freitas-Charlesworth at 570-954-5042 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information and to purchase tickets in advance.
Hope to see you there!

I Fish Because of Beauty

A few years ago, a great American fly fishing author died. He was often asked why he fishes and his beautiful answer is below. Now, I know you can simply copy and paste it in Google and the author's name will pop up, but before you do that take a minute to read his answer to see if you can guess the source. And, just in case you're not research-it-yourself type, we'll give it to you next week.
I fish because of Beauty. Everything about our sport is beautiful. Its more than five centuries of manuscripts and books and folios are beautiful. Its artifacts of rods and beautifully machined reels are beautiful. Its old wading staffs and split-willow creels, and the delicate artifice of its flies are beautiful. Dressing such confections of fur, feathers, and steel is beautiful, and our worktables are littered with gorgeous scraps of tragopan and golden pheasant and blue chatter and Coq de Leon. The best of sporting art is beautiful. The riverscapes that sustain the fish are beautiful. Our methods of seeking them are beautiful, and we find ourselves enthralled with the quicksilver poetry of the fish.
And in our contentious time of partisan hubris, selfishness and outright mendacity, Beauty itself may prove the most endangered thing of all.

Just Be With Me

In recognition of the Women In the Outdoors Expo this weekend, please enjoy this short video of a mother and daughter who fish together. Thank you MidCurrent.

https://midcurrent.com/videos/just-be-with-me/?mc_cid=8a8ac6fd7d&mc_eid=bb6eaedbe9

We'll see you next week.

Swing Season – Sage

Misty apparitions amongst pines. Relentless raindrop patter. Chest deep in frigid water. Heart beating in your ears. This is Swing Season. This is steelhead season.

Everywhere you find steelhead you find crazed, dedicated, can-think-of-nothing-else fishermen. Whether it's the pacific northwest or the local Erie tribs, these anglers are on the water in any kind of weather. There is beauty in a spey cast as it unrolls across the river, in misty frosty mornings, and most certainly in fresh chrome fish.

https://www.sageflyfish.com/experience/seasons/2019-swing-season?utm_source=Sage+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7a73edeb24-7a73edeb24-85101789
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Our Fly Sale Continues

We're cleaning up our fly bins. Maybe to make room for new patterns that are coming, or perhaps we're discontinuing certain sizes, or changing the way a pattern is tied. What is important is that we need to move some flies and we're offering you a super buy!
Not all sizes and colors are on sale on the patterns below, but what is on sale will show when you go to the fly on our store. It may not show until you use the drop down menu, but you will see the sale price.

We don't do this often so stock up now! Click here to order

Tungsten Bead Head Copper Nymphs #12, #14, #16 $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Ug Nymph, Weighted, brn/olv, brn/yel, blk/brn, #8 $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Adams Parachute Dry Flies, grey body $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Adams Parachute Dry Flies, black body $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Articulated Sculpin, natural, Size 6 $1.75 each (reg. $3.00)
Super Fur Leeches $1.75 each (reg. $3.00)
White Conehead Bomber #4 $1.75 each (reg. $2.75)

Fly Fishing Tip #16

 If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know that I like the way Domenick Swentosky writes, and today I bring you his Fly Fishing Tip #16. One of the things that I like about Domenick is that he’s flexible, and you have to be in this business. Nothing is an absolute. So, enjoy Tip #16 — You Don’t Need Big Flies to Catch Big Trout.

https://troutbitten.com/2017/11/13/fifty-fly-fishing-tips-16-you-dont-need-big-flies-to-catch-big-fish/

Fly Sale  

 We're cleaning up our fly bins. Maybe to make room for new patterns that are coming, or perhaps we're discontinuing certain sizes, or changing the way a pattern is tied. What is important is that we need to move some flies and we're offering you a super buy!

Not all sizes and colors are on sale on the patterns below, but what is on sale will show when you go to the fly on our store. It may not show until you use the drop down menu, but you will see the sale price.

We don't do this often so stock up now!  Click here to order

Tungsten Bead Head Copper Nymphs #12, #14, #16 $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Ug Nymph, Weighted, brn/olv, brn/yel, blk/brn, #8 $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Adams Parachute Dry Flies, grey body $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Adams Parachute Dry Flies, black body $1.50 each (reg. $2.25)
Articulated Sculpin, natural, Size 6 $1.75 each (reg. $3.00)
Super Fur Leeches $1.75 each (reg. $3.00)
White Conehead Bomber #4 $1.75 each (reg. $2.75)

Argentina in February & March

Our spring departures are looking good for Argentina. We have a room here and there as follows and would love to have you join us. As our readers know, we love Argentina and think you will too. Take a look at the Argentina itineraries on our website for prices and additional information, and do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions. Don't let another year slip by without joining us to these amazing fishing destinations!

Laguna Verde (Jurassic) February 6-18 (1 room)
Villa Maria (TDF) March 11-20 (1 room)
Estancia Tecka March 19-30 (1 room)
San Huberto March 27-Apr. 5 (2 rooms)
(Dates include travel time)

Living the Good Life  

Boy, the stories this old van could tell. It's been on many fishing trips around the country. It's current captain is Alex Blouin and here he talks of his travels through the Rocky Mountain West.

https://www.sageflyfish.com/experience/sage-blog/trout-season-2019-fishing-with-cal

To read more of their adventures and guest articles from the Sage ambassadors and others, bookmark the link below.

https://www.sageflyfish.com/experience/sage-blog

Jim's 7 Tips to Improve Your Fly Fishing

1. Fish More – I know it’s hard to do that. Life gets in the way. The more days, weeks, months and years on the water equals a better fly fisherman.
So fish when you can and don't wait for that perfect day because there is no such thing. Fishing in all kinds of different water and weather conditions can be challenging and very rewarding.

2. Use longer leaders – This is a very common mistake among not only beginners but others have been fishing for a few years. I often use a 9ft 4x RIO leader. For nymph fishing I attach a 3ft piece of 4x tippet and tie on the first fly. Then attached a 2ft piece of fluorocarbon tippet and tie on the second nymph. The hook size determines the size of the tippet.
Why longer leaders? Everything that touches the water creates drag. When fishing nymphs try to only have your leader on the water. An easy way to achieve that is by simply lifting up your fly rod which will lift fly line off the water helping to eliminate drag.

3. Strike Indicators – They suspend your fly in the water column and help prevent the fly from hanging up on the bottom of the stream — and you will detect more strikes and catch more fish. As you move up and down the stream remember to move the strike indicator as the depth of stream changes.
Keep in mind the that water on the surface is moving faster than the water on the bottom of the stream. Your flies need to be on the bottom and in contact with your strike indicator. When the indicator is moving slower than the bubbles on the surface, you know the flies are where the fish are and you will catch more fish.

4. Weight – Most fly fishermen don't use enough weight and aren't fishing deep enough. As the saying goes “You are one split shot away from catching fish.” By not fishing enough weight flies are drifting over the fish and not in the fish zone.
I use small Blackbird split shot in sizes BB1- BB4. Sometimes just adding one more split shot can make a big difference in the presentation of your flies.

5. Casting Lessons – The average fly fisherman has already invested hundreds of dollars in equipment that they don't know how to use properly. Why not spend a few more dollars for casting lessons.
Learn all of the various types of casts that will help you in different situations on the water. Such as the roll cast, drop cast, curve cast and slack cast just to name a few.
By becoming a better fly caster you will tangle less often, catch more fish, and have a more enjoyable time on the water.

6. Knot tying – Most anglers struggle with knot tying. I'm convinced if you become a good knot tier over a course of a season you will catch more fish. You can't catch fish when the flies are in your hand.
For tying a tippet to your fly I like the Eugene knot or you can use a clinch or improved clinch knot. When adding tippet material to your leader you can use a blood knot or surgeon knot.

7. Fish the four seasons – Spring offers most of the major hatches and dry fly fishing opportunities. It's also when most fly fishermen are on the water.

By summer we will see lower water and warming water temperatures. Early morning starts on the water are now the order, smaller flies and the start of what I think is some of the best dry fly fishing of the year.

Fall has a lot to offer that most fly fishermen don't realize. Crisp early morning nymph fishing and as the day warms up hatches of brown caddis, blue winged olives, flying ants, and rising trout. It’s a great time to be on the stream.

Winter – Well winter is winter and when it cooperates it can offer a few good hours on the water. And on a bright sunny day you might find blue winged olives and early black stones with rising trout and some dry fly action.

These are just a few tips to improve your fly fishing and some common mistakes I see fly fishermen do throughout the season.

Fish more and fish hard. I’ll see you out there.

Jim Kukorlo,
Head Guide

Well, what did you think? Care to ask a question or leave a comment? If you're reading this from a browser, please scroll down to Comments. We'd love to hear from you.

 Down By the River By Andrew Weiner

One beautiful autumn day, Art sets out with his mother and grandfather for a fishing trip. Fishing days are Art's favorite. He loves learning the ropes from Grandpa – the different kinds of flies and tackle and the trout that frequent their river. He especially likes Grandpa's stories.

Down By The River is a beautiful book; fun and informative, lovely to look at. If you have children and you want to spark an interest in fly fishing, this book should be on your book shelf. Illustrated by April Chu. Suggested Retail: $17.99. It's available from The Rogue Angler

It's not too early to put it on a Christmas List!

Susie 1st Fish on a Fly Rod!

If you're called our office, or placed an online order, or sent an email, there is a good chance that Susie took the call, answered the email, or filled the order. We've taken her fishing a couple times this year, but this week she caught her first trout with a fly rod. Congratulations, Susie!

IFTD Recap

Barry and Cathy were at the IFTD show last week in Denver. IFTD stands for the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show and is the largest international gathering of fly fishing manufacturers, retailers, sales reps, media and fly fishing organizations in the world. It's an annual gathering of industry connected people in one place to discuss trends, equipment, innovations, and a chance to lead and see leading brand presentations for upcoming fishing seasons.

The crowning highlight of the show (if you discount the Simms after show party) is the presentation of the “Best of Show” awards. There are over 30 categories ranging from the best under $100 accessory to the best boat/personal watercraft, and everything in between.

What we are excited to tell you about are the awards Sage took home for the Best of Show New Fly Rod in Freshwater and the Best of Show New 2 Handed/Spey Fly Rod. The new Sage LL took it for freshwater and the Trout Spey HD for the 2 handed spot.

You might ask how do they keep reinventing the wheel, but the rod designers at Sage continue to lead the way with innovations in new materials and technology to bring us the best fly rods in the world.

Congratulations to everyone at Sage!

Another really neat thing going on at IFTD was the Kick Plastic movement. It's something we can all do in our own homes, at parties and events, and just about everywhere. Being alert is 90% of the game because there are ways that we can all help cut down on the amount of plastic that we toss into the oceans and landfills.

There were lots of changes at the show that resulted in less waste and some are pretty innovative, but three of the biggies were:

1. Plates, eating utensils and cups from concessions were all recyclable or compostable.
2. No water bottles. Each attendee was given a reusable Kick Plastic water bottle and there were Yeti refilling stations throughout the show.
3. They strategically scheduled lighting and air conditioning for show hours, providing a comfortable, welcoming space while avoiding consumption during unoccupied hours.

There was a lot more. Read about all at https://www.affta.org/2019/09/26/affta-costa-commit-to-kickplastic-and-reduce-energy-waste-at-iftd/. Let's all do our part to Kick Plastic!

Fall is Hanging On

I don't know how it is where you are, but we are still enjoying specular fall weather. Bright sunny days, beautiful fall foliage, good water and some very big fish continue to be highlights of each day here. As we approach November our fish will start to make redds and spawn, but now in the weeks prior to that the fish are coming into their fall spawning colors. Here are some shots from the past week.

Fly Clearance!!

We have to make room in our fly bins for the new patterns that we'll soon be introducing for next year.
In the next couple of weeks we'll be announcing great buys on patterns that are going and telling you about what new patterns are coming. Watch for the sale!

Argentina, Fly Fishing Mecca

It's no secret that we love Patagonia, a land of mountains, valleys, spring creeks, freestone streams, rivers, and high mountain lakes. We often say that there is more water in Patagonia than one can fish in a lifetime.

The lodges we visit are varied, from the wild and untamed Laguna Verde, better known as Jurassic Lake, to the dry fly fishing found in the gentle riffles and currents of the Rio Negro and Malleo Spring Creeks and the little Tecka River. Then there are rivers that we float in skiffs and rafts and others that are waded, big rivers to throw heavy lines and big flies and small streams where a parachute Adams and pheasant tail nymph dropper will catch fish all day long. If you're looking for something different, head to one of the many prolific lakes and cast big foam dries and hope for a trip fish which could go 10 pounds, or more. On a size 8 Chernobyl, he will give you a run for your money!

All of the accommodations are cushy comfortable and some are rather elegant to say the least. Some of the ranch homes have hosted many generations of visitors and one will find mention of anglers and fish going back years, sometimes these anglers are famous but more often ordinary folks like you and me. The cuisine is mouth-watering good and chefs come from around the world to work here. You have to see these places to believe them. They know how to do hospitality and they do it well!

Some of the ranches have been in operation for well over a hundred years raising sheep, cattle and horses. These are working ranches and you might find gauchos (cowboys) on horseback moving herds of animals or maybe a gaucho and his dogs out on the plains checking fences. In many ways it's like a step back in time.

If you're thinking about Argentina for 2020, and if you enjoy spring creeks and dry fly fishing, we invite you to take a look at Estancia Tecka (March 21-28) and San Huberto Lodge (March 29-Apr.4) on our website. The itineraries include trip information, dates, and prices. The two trips are dovetailed for those anglers who want more than a week of fishing. Do one or both. After an overnight flight enjoy a day and a night in Buenos Aires, our favorite international city and arrive the next day at the lodge, rested and ready to fish.

Patagonia is an extraordinary place. We hope you can join us in 2020. If you have questions, please contact us.

 Fall Fishing in PA

We're having a beautiful month of fall weather here on Fishing Creek. Time is running out though, and it will soon be over for another year. If you haven't gotten out to enjoy it, we encourage you to do so quickly! It will soon be November and then it's a long winter until April and opening day. Here are some fall fish from our guides and clients.

Spain in the Rearview

We have been home for a week from our Spain trip and memories are still very fresh. It was an incredible week of perfect weather, perfect water, and great fishing. We had a few not-so-serious-about- fishing wives who didn't think that they wanted to fish all week and when the opportunity came to do some sightseeing and not fish – they fished!

Spain is a great destination for us because there is always the non-fishing option – and it's a good one. There are medieval villages to explore, magnificent cathedrals, watch towers, interesting villages, wineries.....but they fished. I think that says it all.

Here are some of Barry's photos. Thinking about Spain for 2020? We'd love to have you join us.

And The Winner Is....

The winner of our guess-who's-in-the-photo contest is Roger Mulrooney. In the photo is Cathy and Walt Dette. Thanks to everyone who participated.

As a reminder, the Comments section is only viewable if you are reading the blog from an internet browser. If you are reading it from email, you have to click over to a browser to see the Comments section. We had a couple entries come through on email and unfortunately we couldn't consider them.

Recap on Spain

We had a fantastic trip to Spain in late September. The weather was perfect, cool mornings and warm afternoons, no rain in sight, rivers in great shape. It was early fall in the Pyrenees and the timing was just right.

Here are a handful of photos submitted from the group. Barry is still editing and maybe we'll have his to share next week. Two anglers did a day of heli-fly out fishing and we should have photos from them to share soon.

Our Spain departure is perfect for both anglers and non-anglers. Our anglers have a wide variety of waters to fish and fish to catch, from wild 12” browns to tailwater bruts that can go 10 pounds. The water is easily waded and the scenery amazing. Non anglers have a guide and transportation to sightsee and explore medieval villages, castles, cathedrals, wine tours and lots more.

Think about joining us in 2020. Click here to view the itinerary and image gallery. The dates for 2020 will be announced in early November, but will be close to the same time as this year.

Real ID

There is a lot of talk on the travel blogs about what's happening to ID requirements for air travel. There are changes coming for sure and this article from PointMe helps us understand what it will mean for air travel passengers as of October 1, 2020.

 https://pointmetotheplane.boardingarea.com/tsa-real-id-requirements-air-travel/?utm_source=BoardingArea&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=BA_Email_Oct0919)

Tips for Fall Fishing

Tom Rosenbauer has always been a favorite author of mine. He's articulate and down to earth. Just good information in an interesting and pleasing delivery. We found this article in MidCurrent recently and you might find a couple new takes on fall fishing. Thanks Tom and MidCurrent.

https://midcurrent.com/2019/09/21/tips-for-fall-fishing/?mc_cid=75ca3274f3&mc_eid=bb6eaedbe9

Contest! Contest!

Can you correctly identify both people in this photo? You have until 11:00 Tuesday morning, October 8, to submit your answers in our Comments section below. Be the first to get both names correct and win a RIO WF5F InTouch Perception fly line (retail $99). Send your answer in now! We'll announce the winner in next week's blog.

  When to Switch Flies

In this article Dan Zazworsky reminds us of when it's time to switch flies. Our clients often comment that our guides change flies a lot. Well, it's their job to put you on fish and they like nothing more that seeing your fish in the net. Sometimes the fish are hard to please.

http://postflybox.com/blog/2019/09/18/how-to-know-when-to-switch-flies/

Thanks to Dan, MidCurrent and The Wade.