We Mean Business in Omak» Meet the Crew, The Third Big R Fly Shop is Now Open! Freshwater Wolves» Spring Pike Fishing is in Full Moon

Rod Sense» Our Rod Inventory Makes Sense

MAY 2012 Farm Store Fly Fishing

CREATURE FEATURE

May 2012 • Volume 5, Issue 4

CONTRIBUTORS Sam Wike, Fred Telleen, Calvin Fuller, John Ewald, Christopher Fave, Keaton Labrel.

To keep current in fly shop happenings and the latest fishing reports, visit us @ www.bigrflyshop.com

Big R Fly Shop Magazine is a free monthly electronic publication bringing the latest perspectives, events, blogs and products related to the sport and art of fly fishing. This magazine is published online @ www.bigrflyshop.com every month. To receive email notifications when new issues are released, enter your email address HERE. All email addresses will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used for purposes connected with Big R Fly Shop.

© Copyright 2012 CSWW Inc., dba Big R Stores. All rights reserved. No portion of this maga-zine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.

Sam WikeAlfonso MartinezJohn Ewald/Rob Guevarrarobg@csww.net

EDITORPUBLISHERDESIGN & LAYOUTGENERAL INQUIRIES

Editor’s Angle Omak is Open!

iFish Playlist Music Currently Playing in Our Ears

Fish the Farm Store Find Cool Fishing Items in the Farm Store

Mystic Waters Fly Fishing Wild Alaska! Rainbows and Salmon on the Kenai R.

Fly Shop Gear Simms, Recycled Waders, Outcast, St. Croix and More!

Columbia River Recon Calvin Fuller Takes us into Canada, Accidentally.

Crew Profile New Faces: Great Falls & Omak

F3T Photos From the 2012 Film Fest

Freshwater Wolves It’s Pike Season, Bring Your Pliers!

Killer Trout Candy Snack Time!

Fred’s Fishy Tales It’s Story Time, and Nobody Tells em’ Better Than Fred

Gear Night Those Roosters Never Saw You Coming!

Creature Feature Iceout Leech by Fred Telleen

Rod Sense Reasons for our Rods

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ON THE COVERBelt Creek Brown TroutPhoto by John Ewald

A Division of Big R Stores

iFish Click to Listenplaylist

BIG R FLY SHOPPonderay, ID(208) 255-5757477181 N Hwy 95Ponderay, ID 83852

BIG R FLY SHOPOmak, WA(509) 422-98401227 Koala DrOmak, WA 83852

BIG R FLY SHOPGreat Falls, MT(406) 761-79184400 10th Ave. SGreat Falls, MT 59405

Fred TelleenJerrin UeckerMatt Hagel

Calvin Fuller Stephan AvenaGreg BennettTom McCormack

EDITOR’S ANGLE

Apr 2012 3

EDITOR’SANGLE

The Omak Fly Shop is open. Erik and I spent a few days out there this past month meeting the guys and helped set some of the new inventory, but the majority of the work came from a hard working group of new staff. We couldn’t be more excited about the new location, the look of the new shop, the staff, or the fishing in the area. Greg, Stephan, Tom, and Eric who are our starting line for fishing supplies in Omak are already sending us photos, info, and stories from the area. To kick things off in May we will be hosting the stores Grand Opening event on May 18-20. Raffles, exclusive deals, and the hottest price on a beginner fly rod combo (functional/name brand) I’ve ever seen will be some of the highlights.

Calvin and Megan in our Ponderay fly shop have been fishing hard as well. Megan has been posting photos of pike on the fly already, and Calvin has been fishing the Pend O’reille for rainbows and small-mouth, which has been hot so far this spring. However, Megan has announced she will be leaving us to pursue her photography career, and she will be missed at the shop. She did however say she still plans to be fishing in the Sandpoint area, and will stop in to say hi frequently. We wish her well in her new career.

At base camp in the Great Falls store, we have a new staff member highlighted in this month’s eMag. Jerrin Uecker, who has been learning and shopping at our store, frequently hangs out at the concrete slab in the fly shop and loves to fish, has joined the team and will be with us this summer. What does he do first? He purchases himself a 6wt Beulah spey rod and a Skagit head to throw streamers with. What else does a 16 year old need? Fred is getting fish fever as he is starting to get ready to head to Alaska soon, however, he will be part time at the fly shop until then and it sure has been great to have that kind of knowledge in the shop this winter. Matt and Shane simply want to catch Tiger Musky, and that’s about all they have been talking about… understood.

-Sam Wike-

4 Apr 2012

Editor’s Angle Omak is Open!

iFish Playlist Music Currently Playing in Our Ears

Fish the Farm Store Find Cool Fishing Items in the Farm Store

Mystic Waters Fly Fishing Wild Alaska! Rainbows and Salmon on the Kenai R.

Fly Shop Gear Simms, Recycled Waders, Outcast, St. Croix and More!

Columbia River Recon Calvin Fuller Takes us into Canada, Accidentally.

Crew Profile New Faces: Great Falls & Omak

F3T Photos From the 2012 Film Fest

Freshwater Wolves It’s Pike Season, Bring Your Pliers!

Killer Trout Candy Snack Time!

Fred’s Fishy Tales It’s Story Time, and Nobody Tells em’ Better Than Fred

Gear Night Those Roosters Never Saw You Coming!

Creature Feature Iceout Leech by Fred Telleen

Rod Sense Reasons for our Rods

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iFishWhat we currently listen to.Ratatat - Loud Pipes > John Ewald

> John Ewald

Fred Eaglesmith - Seven Shells > Rob Patton

Matt Sommers - Dawn of the Red Baron > Rob Patton

> Sam Wike

Edward Maya - Stereo Love > Eric Haugen

Tab Benoit - Shelter Me> Rob Patton

> John Ewald

Bon Iver - Skinny Love> John Ewald

The Naked and Famous - Young Blood> John Ewald

Devil’s Dance Floor - Flogging MollyDevil’s Dance Floor - Flogging Molly> Rob Patton

Cage the Elephant - Aint No Rest For the Wicked Cage the Elephant - Aint No Rest For the Wicked > Sam Wike

Thrice - Artist in the Ambulance > John Ewald

Fun - We Are Young > Erik Haugen

The Temper Trap - Down River > John Ewald

4 Apr 2012

Brand New - Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don’t

Barn StormingState Radio - Barn Storming

Click to Listen

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - HomeEdward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

Next time you come into Big R Fly Shop for anything from flies to terminal gear, apparel or fly tying mate-rials, don’t forget to shop around the rest of Big R for any useful items that may aid you in the sport of fly fishing. Everyday items that are used for farming purposes can be used in unique ways that cater to your needs, from fly tying to fixing up that used drift boat you just bought from the guy down the street.

Fish the Farm StoreREPURPOSED: (verb) Adapted for use in a different purpose

f Have loose fly tying materials? These cable ties make it easy to organize and keep materi-als from falling apart. Just zip the tie in the middle or one end of the material you want to keep together. This can also be a great tool to predeter-mine the length you want your materials to be cut at. Priced as low as $1.99 for 100 qty.

FARM STORE

FARM STORE

Apr 2012 5

h This flea comb can be found in the pet aisle as well as in the fly shop. It has become a popular tool among fly tyers. This little tool makes it easy to tease dubbing, comb larger streamers, and even to separate the finer hair fibers from bunny, raccoon, and fox. Priced at $4.99

MYS

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ERS F LY F I SH ING

From June 11 to October 15, Mystic Waters Fly Fishing is in full swing, run

ning trips daily on the Kenai River. In early June, Fred packs up and heads north from

Great Falls on a 2600 mile bonsai to the small town of Cooper Landing, Alaska, 100 miles south of

Anchorage. After dropping his drift boat and gear, he usually heads down to the Anchor River to swing up a few King Salmon before going to work on the Kenai.

F LY F I SH ING

From June 11 to October 15, Mystic Waters Fly Fishing is in full swing, run-

ning trips daily on the Kenai River. In early June, Fred packs up and heads north from

Great Falls on a 2600 mile bonsai to the small town of Cooper Landing, Alaska, 100 miles south of

Anchorage. After dropping his drift boat and gear, he usually heads down to the Anchor River to swing up a few King Salmon before going to work on the Kenai.

Fred Telleen has been a Kenai River guide since 1989 and obtained his KNWR outfitter permit in 1999. In 2001, he was joined by his Alaska fishing partner, Stacy Corbin. Together, they operate as Mystic Waters Fly Fishing, running daily guide trips on the Kenai. Occasionally, they will hop a plane and explore some remote waters with the right guests, but day in and day out, they work and fish the Kenai River.

The Kenai River runs for 82 miles from Kenai Lake to Cook Inlet, including 15 miles of Skilak Lake. Arguably Alaska’s most famous sport fishing river, the Kenai established itself on the map in 1985 when the world record King Salmon was landed weighing over 97 lbs. While Kings have long been the draw to the Lower Kenai, fly fishers typically focus on the Upper Kenai and the numerous rainbow trout. Fish over 24” are common and larger fish over 30” are landed throughout the season.

In addition to rainbows, Dolly Varden Char are plentiful with many mature fish toping 20” and running upwards to 30”. Sockeye (Red) Salmon are very popular with sport fishers. They fight hard, taste great and arrive in plentiful numbers most years. During the 2011 season from July 1 to Aug 13, 1.6 million sockeye rolled up the Kenai River. The fishing was fast and furious and the daily limit was 6 fish per angler.

Silver Salmon are also a favorite of fly fishers. They arrive in August and continue to run throughout October. Mixing it up with a few chrome silvers, while chasing rainbows and dollies during the fall sockeye spawn is hard to beat.

Fred operates one of only 20 outfitter permits in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses the wildest and most productive section of the Upper Kenai River. Mystic Waters trips also fish the downstream boundary of the KNWR below Skilak Lake and the Middle Kenai River Reach to Soldotna. Fred and Stacy follow the mantra of providing the best fishing trip possible given the conditions of the day. That might mean meeting at the boat landing at 10 am to catch an afternoon hatch or being on the water at 3:30 am to get a prime salmon run.

Visit The Kenai River Fishing Report for more fishery details including seasonal fishing reports.

If you are searching for a guided fly fishing trip in Alaska and would like more information about the trips Fred offers on the Upper and Middle reaches of the Kenai River, visit mysticfishing.com. You can also follow Fred’s blog at mysticwaters.com.

MYSTIC W

ATERS

Apr 2012 7

8 Apr 2012

GEAR

UP Turning Leakers into Keepers

The Products Each product is as unique as each pair of waders. Whether it be aqua seal splotches, patches, stains, sun bleached sections, self imposed monograms, nicknames or color patterns, each pair of waders brings their own character to the shop and they try to capture this with Recycled Waders products. The current product line includes the Messenger Creel, the ‘Nook Sack, the Greenback Wallet, the Big Fanny Pack, The Sling pack, the recycled neoprene Fly Reel Case, and the Recycled Koozie. Further prod-uct development will continue as leaky waders continue to inspire creativity.

Recycled Waders products are “deconstructed”, “de-fumigated”, cut and sewn within a 15-mile radius in Seattle, WA.

The Process 1. Once waders are received they are deconstructed by removing shoulder straps, waist belts, neoprene feet, manufacturer logos and any other straps, buckles or pockets that might get in the way of the clean-ing, cutting & repurposing process. As much as possible the components from each pair of waders are reclaimed with intent to be reused in Recycled Waders products. 2. Next the material is washed at a local cleaner. Those of you who have spent all day in your waders know what goes on in there – they need to be laundered before anyone else sees any part of them! 3. When clean, the waders are stacked in like sizes, shapes, and colors and prepared for cutting and sewing.

About Recycled Waders Recycled Waders utilizes reclaimed breathable wader material to manufacture products such as wallets, fanny packs, sling packs, messenger bags, can koozies and fly reel cases. This material comes from individuals, fishing guides, fishing lodges, wader manufacturers and local fishing clubs. Recycled Waders products are made with utility in mind – simple, light-weight, durable, water resistant, and ready to use. The original Recycled Waders product was designed to chase king salmon (namesake to the 'Nook Sack) and weigh less than a fully loaded fishing vest. The Minimalist attitude at Recycled Waders keeps all the "extras" and gadgets out of our packs. You won’t find tons of extra padding, added clasps, snaps or buckles, no extra elas-tic or fancy fold out fly trays, just simple, straight forward lines. The 'Nook Sack, and other Recycled Waders products, are designed to be simple yet functional on and off the water products.

Apr 2012 9Great Falls and Ponderay and Omak stores only.We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct printing errors. Prices are subject to change without notice. Some items limited to stock on hand. Prices quoted in US currency.

Big Fanny Pack

‘Nook SackFly Reel Case

Protect your most impor-tant fly angling tool with the Recycled Waders Fly Reel Case. Like the Recycled Koozie the Fly Reel Case is made from the neoprene feet in breathable waders or from neoprene waders themselves by our friends at Ecologic Designs. Velcro closure secures your Fly Reel Case around your most important angling weapon. Plenty of room for most reels and spare spools.

The pouch that started it all. Named after the King Salmon it was designed to chase, the 'Nook Sack keeps your fish chasing essentials slung close by without all the extras. Roomy enough for 2 large boxes of flies, a large spool of leader, hook file, nippers, bug dope, and license. One main pocket to hold your large fly boxes; a smaller internal pocket, and an external zippered pocket.

Messenger Creel

The Recycled Waders version of the traditional messenger bag. Not all of us can fish for a living, but those of us that aspire too can certainly enjoy the versatility of the Messenger Creel. Three zippered pockets to keep your smaller items separated and secure. The large main pocket has enough room to carry your laptop and docu-ments for that important business meeting, your favorite school books or your largest box of flies, rain coat, water bottle and a snack - you decide.

$2499

$3999

$4999

$1499

GEAR UP

Designed to be roomier than the 'Nook Sack, the Big Fanny adds more volume and can hold damn near anything you need for a full day chasing fish. Sling it, wear it around your waist, or both! The comfortable waist strap helps stabilize your load, the comfortable shoulder strap helps distribute added weight. The large main pocket keeps your largest fly

boxes together, a zippered internal pocket helps organize your leaders and

indicators and a z i p p e r e d outer pocket keeps your

tools handy.

Great Falls and Ponderay and Omak stores only.We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct printing errors. Prices are subject to change without notice. Some items limited to stock on hand. Prices quoted in US currency. 10 Apr 2012

GEAR

UP

Review by John EwaldSt. Croix Imperial Rod SeriesImperial I905.4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Imperial I1106.4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> $23999

$17999

Within a month or two of

the St. Croix Imperial fly rod hitting fly shop

display racks, I decided that I had to have one. The rod’s lightweight high-

modulus/high-strain graphite, deep burgundy gloss finish, and a reasonable price point seemed

too good to pass up. Now, three years later, I still own the 4-piece 9’ 5 wt. rod that has since caught hundreds of trout and

still performs as it did when I made its maiden cast. It turned out to be a great investment. This rod performs like some rods in the $500 range

should. It casts well at all short, medium and long distances. Overall, the rod is better for nymphing at medium to longer ranges when it comes to turning over tight

loops with its heavier mid/butt sections. At first, in shorter ranges I found its faster action, softer tip to be a little quick when casting dry flys. The loop tends to release a bit quickly resulting

in an unwanted curve cast. I have found that just by simply slowing my casting rhythm slightly allows the rod to load as it should, enabling the cast to be deadly accurate. When you get it right, which is almost

every cast, the fly hits the water with perfect finesse. Any rod in the Imperial lineup makes sense to me for any beginner as well as seasoned angler. It puts joy into casting, making it easier, putting less thought into the casting

stroke, and more thought into where the next feeding trout might be holding in that prime lie. This rod is also built right here in the USA in Park Falls, Wisconsin and they offer a lifetime warranty with each rod. You can’t ask for better craftsmanship and

value for a rod priced at $200 in the US. I have enjoyed this rod so much that I have even purchased an Imperial Switch rod in an 11’ 6 wt. It is a perfect rod for larger rivers like the Missouri. I can single hand cast nymphs and drys with the same action as my single-handed

5 wt., yet two hand spey cast double nymph rigs and beefy streamers on the windiest of Montana days. Not to mention, the ability to easily mend 35’ of line with its long 11’ rod length is quite an advantage. I recommend any type of angler to give any rod in the St. Croix Imperial lineup a cast; you will

be pleasantly surprised by its beauty, power and casting accuracy.

At 35lbs the OSG Commander is light-weight and ideal for hard to access

put-ins and adventure travel. The overall design includes the best features of a

kayak and a rowboat which make it easy to maneuver on both still and moving water. The

open-floor cockpit makes fin kicking an option so the angler can fish and guide the boat at the same time. The

open floor also provides an easy way to stand up and fish in shallow water without the need to climb in and out of the boat. Key

features include adjustable foot rests, cargo loops to secure gear, and ample cargo space behind the adjustable kayak style seat. The OSG Commander is constructed with a durable PVC skin to protect

the urethane bladders. The dual layer design also creates a stiff hull so the boat won’t flex when operating at full pressure. The seams are Thermo welded for stronger more consistent seems that won’t fail over time. The continuous curve

design eliminates seams on the bottom of the boat. The inflated size is 10’ long by 46” wide which makes this boat stable in rapids yet long enough to have superior tracking ability on calm water.

Commander >>>>>

GX Large >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GX Medium >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GX Telescopic Folding Landing Net

$99999

$5999

$4999

No two waters are alike, which is why the handle on the Greys GX Telescopic Folding Net can be fixed at different lengths to suit whatever landing needs your situation demands.

• Super-tough, rubberized mesh prevents harm to the fish during landing as compared to older nylon mesh nets• Unique, easily transportable folding mechanism enhances versatility• Circular head design for easier landing

Apr 2012 11

GEAR UPSt. Croix Imperial Rod SeriesWithin a

month or two of the St. Croix Imperial

fly rod hitting fly shop display racks, I decided that I had

modulus/high-strain graphite, deep burgundy gloss finish, and a reasonable price point seemed

too good to pass up. Now, three years later, I still own the 4-piece 9’ 5 wt. rod that has since caught hundreds of trout and

still performs as it did when I made its maiden cast. It turned out to be a great investment. This rod performs like some rods in the $500 range

should. It casts well at all short, medium and long distances. Overall, the rod is better for nymphing at medium to longer ranges when it comes to turning over tight

loops with its heavier mid/butt sections. At first, in shorter ranges I found its faster action, softer tip to be a little quick when casting dry flys. The loop tends to release a bit quickly resulting

in an unwanted curve cast. I have found that just by simply slowing my casting rhythm slightly allows the rod to load as it should, enabling the cast to be deadly accurate. When you get it right, which is almost

every cast, the fly hits the water with perfect finesse. Any rod in the Imperial lineup makes sense to me for any beginner as well as seasoned angler. It puts joy into casting, making it easier, putting less thought into the casting

stroke, and more thought into where the next feeding trout might be holding in that prime lie. This rod is also built right here in the USA in Park Falls, Wisconsin and they offer a lifetime warranty with each rod. You can’t ask for better craftsmanship and

value for a rod priced at $200 in the US. I have enjoyed this rod so much that I have even purchased an Imperial Switch rod in an 11’ 6 wt. It is a perfect rod for larger rivers like the Missouri. I can single hand cast nymphs and drys with the same action as my single-handed

5 wt., yet two hand spey cast double nymph rigs and beefy streamers on the windiest of Montana days. Not to mention, the ability to easily mend 35’ of line with its long 11’ rod length is quite an advantage. I recommend any type of angler to give any rod in the St. Croix Imperial lineup a cast; you will

When cold days sink their teeth into your favorite fishing haunts, the Windstopper® Softshell Jacket packs heat. This versatile performer is a windproof, water-resistant, moisture-wicking machine. And when you run out of things to talk about on the water, its iPod compatible technology lets you plug in and tune out.

$7999

Once you put on COR3™ clothing you'll never give it a second thought. This next evolution in fabric technology has at least UPF 30 sun protection rating, wicks away moisture and keeps you odor free on the water and out on the town. All of our shirts utilizing cotton or cotton blend fabrics also feature EZ finish, our easy care treatment built for wrinkle-free travel and minimal care – and right off the rack they feel like an old favorite you've been wearing for years.

Stone Cold Shirt >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

$4999Waderwick Fleece >>>>

$16999Windstopper Jacket >>>

$8999Streamtread Sandal >>>

Simms’ Stone Cold Shirt is refrigerator-engineered to keep you comfortable when the fishing gets steamy. Cool ControlTM fabric technology is arctic to the touch and absorbs and dissipates heat better than traditional fabrics. This, combined with COR3 technology, gives you sun relief in a UPF-rated shirt that effectively puts heat on hiatus.

Simms WaderWick™ fleece layers keep you warm on those cold fishing days. High-performance wicking construc-tion pulls moisture away from the body quickly.

Searching for the hammock-lounging comfort of a favorite sandal combined with the technology of a burly, river-ready shoe? Look no further. Simms’ superhero sandal features a quick-pull system for lightning-fast lace-ups and wading boot outsole technology that conquers rock, concrete, rebar, and the myriad unmentionables of your favorite carp infested waters… as well as the campfire, beach, and back again—all in a day’s work.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GEAR

UP

12 Apr 2012

GEAR UP

Apr 2012 13

GEAR UP

For most fly fisherman, the choice of a leader seems to be a simple task; walk into your local fly shop before your next outing and pick one from the shelf with the proper "x" rating. But, is there a difference between an extruded (knotless) leader and a hand tied, knotted leader? If you have fly fished before, I am sure that you have some general knowledge of the many different varieties of knotless leaders, so lets focus on the advantages of a hand tied leader. Big R Fly Shop carries a full range of custom, knotted leaders for all situations including: dry fly, wet dropper, hi viz nymphing, streamer, and spey fishing, and constructed of top quality materials from Maxima, Mason, Amnesia, and Seaguar. So what's the benefit?

Christoper Fave’s hand tied leaders are produced with a proven 60-20-20 formula, meaning that the butt section is 60%, mid section is 20% and tippet is 20% of the total leader length. This stiff butt formula provides a positive turnover that guarantees pinpoint fly placement. Adding to this, the knots increase the overall weight of the leader and prevents the "bunching up" that is typical with many knotless varieties. But even with the superior casting qualities, perhaps the best-kept secret of knotted leaders is the ability to rebuild one along the stream. With the knotted sections visible, you can easily determine when the tippet is getting low and it's time to add new. The knotted sections, also, allow for the use of different materials within the same leader. At the store, you can find dry fly leaders that incorporate both maxima chameleon and ultragreen for a subtle presen-tation, a hi viz leader that adds red amnesia to the butt section so that you can follow "the drift", short streamer leaders designed to be used with sinking tips, and countless more.

Christopher Fave’s leaders can be found at all three Big R Fly Shop locations. Before your next outing, pick up a few and increase your catch!

Take Me To Your LeadersTake Me To Your LeadersCustom Hand-Tied Leaders by Christopher Fave

Leaders for all styles of fishing!

Dry Fly...........................................................$3.99Hi Viz Nymphing.........................................$3.99Streamers....................................................$3.99Wet Droppers..............................................$3.99Fluourcarbon...............................................$5.99Steelhead......................................................$5.99Spey/Switch................................................$4.99

COLU

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14 Apr 2012

ColumbiaR verRECON

llegally crossing the Canadian border is much easier than one might think. All it takes is a little prepa-

ration. First, buy a jet boat. Second, do no re-search whatsoever on the upper Columbia River. Third, pure stupidity. And, finally, not caring once you’re there.

A few years back my friends and I decided one April to go fish the upper Colum-bia for large rainbows. We had heard the stories of huge fish, up to 8 pounds, sipping dry flies in huge eddies then running into your backing, jumping the whole way. After a long winter we decided one day to head up through Colville, WA to Northport. About half way to Colville we realized that none of us had Washington fishing licenses. Most fishermen have gone through the agony of trying to find a fishing license in small towns By Calvin Fuller

COLUMBIA RIVER

Apr 2012 15

at 5 in the morning. Most fishermen have found this task is nearly impossible. We stopped in Colville at the local Wally World only to discover that no one there knew how to run the WDFG license machine. Pressing on, we convinced ourselves that surely a place in Northport sold them. Once in North-port, which had way too many cops by the way, we waited around for a gas station to open that was fairly near the boat launch. Finally, licenses purchased, boat filled with fuel, snacks, beverages, and lunch taken care of, we made it onto the river. Staring out onto the river from the boat launch, looking at 198,000 CFS rushing by, I turned to eyeball my 19’ sled and began to feel a little under gunned to run this river. No matter, thoughts of huge fish sipping dry flies soon took over. Off we took on our adventure up the Columbia River, which was in full run-off stage. We raced up an impressive set of rollers coming off of a huge rock point. Everything made us feel so small. The distance between the

rollers was roughly as long as my boat. Puckered, we pressed on.

The river was huge, off color, and no fish were to be seen. We stopped and hit a few spots with l i t t l e s u c -c e s s . I was l o o k -ing for the infamous “rock garden.” Little did I know at the time, that the rock garden was submerged in 15 feet of water. So we pressed on. Racing up river we covered some distance, stopping at places just to look at the water...still no fish. After about 10 miles we saw the Pend Oreille River dumping into the Columbia. Brown water was spilling over top of the dam. The water above the confluence shimmered a beautiful blue/green. So we pressed on. After about another half mile, the water was high, but very clear. We found a small tributary that was dumping into the river and we decided it looked like a great place to fish. I started off on a gravel bar near the mouth of the creek, swinging

large streamers on my 5 wt. Spey. Right away I hooked up. A beautiful 24” rainbow came to my hands. At that moment the whole trip was worth it. My friend, Aaron, fished a pegged bead right in the mouth of the tributary,

hooked a good fish and landed it. It was a n o t h e r

gorgeous 20 plus inch rainbow. “Man, this place rocks!” he exclaimed. For the next 4 hours we continually hooked and released 40-50 rainbows. No rainbow was less than 16” and several were over the 20” mark. This could have been one of the best trout fishing days we had ever had in the lower 48. Prob-lem was, we weren’t in the lower 48 anymore… we were 4 miles into Canada! I would like to continue the story saying that Canadian Mounties rolled up on us with guns drawn. That didn’t happen; instead we made our way back down river, stopping at various

A beautiful 24” rainbow came to my hands. At that moment the whole trip was worth it.

A few years back my friends and I decided one April to go fish the upper Colum-bia for large rainbows. We had heard the stories of huge fish, up to 8 pounds, sipping dry flies in huge eddies then running into your backing, jumping the whole way. After a long winter we decided one day to head up through Colville, WA to Northport. About half way to Colville we realized that none of us had Washington fishing licenses. Most fishermen have gone through the agony of trying to find a fishing license in small towns

16 Apr 2012

COLU

MBI

A RI

VER places to fish. We caught a few fish on the way

back, and actually caught our biggest of the trip right across from where we launched the boat.

The next day, back at work, I decided then to do a little more research. I jumped on Google Earth and traced our path up the river. Once I saw where the Pend Oreille dumped in, my stomach dropped. “Holy buckets!” I said to myself, “We were in Canada almost the whole time!” I quickly called my friend and let him know what laws we had broken and to expect a “knock on the door” at any moment. Luckily, nothing came of the illegal border crossing, fishing without a license, and who knows how many other laws we had broken. All we knew is that we had found a new fishery that produces big rainbows and we really look forward to going back… through the border with passports this time.

The Upper Columbia hosts large rainbow trout that spawn in the tributaries late March through May. Most of the fish we caught during our recon were post-spawn fish schooled up at the confluence of a major spawning tributary. Later in the year, the river hosts normal hatches of western freestone streams. Huge caddis hatches blanket the river throughout late summer and fall. During these times fish can be found feeding in large eddies created by the deep currents in the river. Due to its size and volume, this river can be overwhelming to most anglers, but once you find your spots and unlock their secrets, the Columbia will quickly become one of your all-time favorite rivers.

CREW PROFILE

at 5 in the morning. Most fishermen have found this task is nearly impossible. We stopped in Colville at the local Wally World only to discover that no one there knew how to run the WDFG license machine. Pressing on, we convinced ourselves that surely a place in Northport sold them. Once in North-port, which had way too many cops by the way, we waited around for a gas station to open that was fairly near the boat launch. Finally, licenses purchased, boat filled with fuel, snacks, beverages, and lunch taken care of, we made it onto the river. Staring out onto the river from the boat launch, looking at 198,000 CFS rushing by, I turned to eyeball my 19’ sled and began to feel a little under gunned to run this river. No matter, thoughts of huge fish sipping dry flies soon took over. Off we took on our adventure up the Columbia River, which was in full run-off stage. We raced up an impressive set of rollers coming off of a huge rock point. Everything made us feel so small. The distance between the

rollers was roughly as long as my boat. Puckered, we pressed on.

The river was huge, off color, and no fish were to be seen. We stopped and hit a few spots with l i t t l e s u c -c e s s . I was l o o k -ing for the infamous “rock garden.” Little did I know at the time, that the rock garden was submerged in 15 feet of water. So we pressed on. Racing up river we covered some distance, stopping at places just to look at the water...still no fish. After about 10 miles we saw the Pend Oreille River dumping into the Columbia. Brown water was spilling over top of the dam. The water above the confluence shimmered a beautiful blue/green. So we pressed on. After about another half mile, the water was high, but very clear. We found a small tributary that was dumping into the river and we decided it looked like a great place to fish. I started off on a gravel bar near the mouth of the creek, swinging

large streamers on my 5 wt. Spey. Right away I hooked up. A beautiful 24” rainbow came to my hands. At that moment the whole trip was worth it. My friend, Aaron, fished a pegged bead right in the mouth of the tributary,

hooked a good fish and landed it. It was a n o t h e r

gorgeous 20 plus inch rainbow. “Man, this place rocks!” he exclaimed. For the next 4 hours we continually hooked and released 40-50 rainbows. No rainbow was less than 16” and several were over the 20” mark. This could have been one of the best trout fishing days we had ever had in the lower 48. Prob-lem was, we weren’t in the lower 48 anymore… we were 4 miles into Canada! I would like to continue the story saying that Canadian Mounties rolled up on us with guns drawn. That didn’t happen; instead we made our way back down river, stopping at various

Jerrin UeckerThe Big R Fly Shop has a new member inGreat Falls, and 3 more along with the opening of the new store in Omak, WA.

Say hello and welcome these guys to theteam the next time you are in the fly shop.

Apr 2012 17

What is your favorite fly?My favorite fly is the royal wulff.What fly patterns can you tie and what is your favorite?I can tie most of the common flies but big streamers are my favorite to tie.How big is the biggest fish you have ever caught on a fly?8 lb Rainbow.You also like to hunt right? What animal do you target most often?My favorite animal to hunt would be big Mule Deer.What do you want to do after you graduate high school? College plans? Career choice?I will definitly go to collage but I am not quite sure what I am going to do other than try my best for a high paying job.If you could fly fish anywhere in the world where would you go and for what species of fish?I would probably go to Alaska and fish with Fred Telleen for salmon and rainbows and maybe try to sneak in a moose hunt.

So you’re still in High school? What would you be doing when not in class or studying?Hunting or fishing with family and friends. Are you from Great Falls? If not, where are you from and how long have you lived here?I have lived here (Great Falls) my whole life and love it.Why did you decide to work for the Big R Fly Shop?I wanted to learn the business side of the fishing industry and to learn a lot about fly fishing from other employees and the great customers. How old were you when you started fly fishing?Ever since I was 6 years old, but just in the past few years I really got into fly fishing.What type of water (still or rivers) do you like and where do you like to fish most?I like fishing rivers and streams such as Belt Creek and the Sun River.

Great Falls Fly Shop’s

18 Apr 2012

has fly-fished 25 years, including in Western and Eastern Washington, the Gulf of Mexico and Idaho/Montana. He has landed all major species of West-ern Trout and Char on a Fly (except Goldens).

Steph's high river-caught fish (not a steelhead) remains a 22" rainbow in a Big Wood side channel. His high stillwater mark was a 7 lb'er on a tiny chironomid in his hometown Omak Lake, where the current state record Lahontan Cutthroat was recorded (19lbs.)

Stephans on the Methow above Carlton

says Steph. "I can't think of many places where you can catch a 32" steelie, barbecue a rod-warping 10lb. Triploid and stalk alpine stream cutties in an afternoon. I love it here and I think it's a great idea to open a Big R Fly Shop here."

Currently, Steph is serving as Secretary of the Okanogan County Fly Fishing Club. When not “keeping the minutes”, he's spending his minutes wading a quiet trout stream with his wife and two sons.

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has lived in Omak now for the last 5 years, but has been fly fishing the waters here since the early 70’s. He cut his teeth as a guide on the wet side of the state along the Skagit, Stillie, Skykomish, Nooksack and on the Olympic Peninsula Rivers He loves the many different stillwaters in the Okanogan

Valley and that’s what brought him and his wife there. For the past 5 years

he spent more than 200 days annually, honing his skills on

these waters, learning the hatches and the fish, on both public and private land. He guides on the Methow River for Cutthrout and Steelhead, the Okanogan River for Steelhead and small mouth bass and many small streams. He has worked hard with the

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve the opportunities for fly fishing and helped write a code of ethics that is now posted on the rivers.

Fly Fishing the BEST Rivers & Stillwaters in North Central Washington

Book a trip

with Greg!

(509) 422-9906 or (306) 391-0242web: putmbac.com • email: putmbac@q.com

CREW PROFILE

Apr 2012 19

is one of the new faces joining Big R Omak’s Fishing Team. Tom has lived in Omak, basically his whole life, with the exception of the four years he spent in college in Spokane. He and his wife raised their three girls here, now all grown, out of college, and off living lives of their own. They live on a 60 acre lake about 3 miles NW of the Big R store. The lake has very large brown trout, Kamloops rainbow trout as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass. Tom has been managing the lake for about 10 years now and it’s been a blast. He grew up fishing with his dad and brothers, primarily spin fishing

The 60 acre lake Tom has tolook at everyday. Poor Guy.

for bass and eastern brook trout in the spring. His dad was an apple farmer. They all worked hard, but always took time for fishing after the work was done. During the 1980’s Tom owned and operated a full-service sporting goods store in the downtown business core of Omak. During this time, Tom was introduced to fly fishing by an old master who taught him well on all facets of the sport, casting, entomology, fly tying and rod building. “I was very fortunate to have met him and gain his knowledge” Tom says.

“I think that Big R will give me a great opportunity to do just that. I am really looking forward to the big opening. Eric, Greg, Steph and myself will make a great team to serve our customers well. Looking forward to meeting every-one! Stop by the fishing section and say hello or come by the lake.”

20 Apr 2012

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FILE

F3T 2012

Apr 2012 21

Clockwise from top: The Simms guys never miss a good party. Fred Telleen and son Kyle enjoy the show. Paul

Considine , Rob Guevarra & Brian Holumhard at work. Folks begin �ling in as doors open. John Ewald manning the �y tying competition table.

18 Apr 2012

The Upper Columbia hosts large rainbow trout that spawn in the tributaries late March through May. Most of the fish we caught during our recon were post-spawn fish schooled up at the confluence of a major spawning tributary. Later in the year, the river hosts normal hatches of western freestone streams. Huge caddis hatches blanket the river throughout late summer and fall. During these times fish can be found feeding in large eddies created by the deep currents in the river. Due to its size and volume, this river can be overwhelming to most anglers, but once you find your spots and unlock their secrets, the Columbia will quickly become one of your all-time favorite rivers.

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resh by Keaten “Cornfed” Labrel

Freshwater wolves, swamp sharks, depth dragons, snot rockets, jackfish, toothy critters, Wesley pike, water vampires…you get the point, there are a lot of names for the fish that we call pike. As winter becomes a thing of the past and the warmth of spring begins to retract ice from the lakes and streamside banks, life within the water begins to regain its activity. Skwallas are of course the first thing that pops into everyone’s mind and on the first really nice spring day. It is apparent by the number of trailers at each access site in the Bitterroot valley. This year we counted over 30 vehicles

resh

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Apr 2012 23

resh ateraterwwat the Bell access parking lot on the first nice Friday afternoon. Ridiculous, I can’t imagine what that parking lot looked like on Saturday. If I wanted to combat fish for trout, which I don’t, I would move to Ennis and fish the Madison. So instead of staying up late and tying our latest and greatest skwalla patterns, my roommates and I have traded the #8 foamies in for 8” of flash and fur (among other various hardware). The transi-tion from trout fishing to pike fishing is a complete 180-degree turn. Instead of waking up early, throwing on our soggy waders and grabbing our 4x and floatant, we’re sleeping

almost exclusively during hoot hours (night time and low light). This is very inconvenient for most of us. How are we supposed to catch these fish if they’re not feeding when we fish for them during the daytime? The answer is somewhat simple. We trigger them to strike. Predators respond to agita-tion. Whether it’s provoking a smallmouth to eat a frog popper or brown trout to eat a streamer, all predators respond to something that aggravates them. That’s why you’re taught not to run from big momma griz when she comes into your camp; it’ll piss her off and provoke a response from her. The same

olvesin and putting on our muck boots andgrabbing our 8 wts. with steel leaders. One of the most important aspects of fishing is being able to understand the habi-tat that your target lives in. Additionally, it is important to know feeding patterns of your targeted species. Pike are a lazy fish; how-ever, they are not lazy predators. This is something to keep in mind when targeting them. River pike tend to lay up in very slug-gish water and non-moving sloughs that have access to moving water. Moving water = food source. Like most predators, pike feed

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24 Apr 2012

holds true with pike.

Now that we understand where the fish lives and that we need to trigger the fish to respond, how do we go about it? When I think of triggering a predatory fish, the first thing that comes into my mind is a rapala. Nothing is more deadly than a husky jerk rapala (red devil spoon doesn’t even com-pete) because of its size and action in the water. My roommate Mark and I argue from time to time what technique is better when fishing for pike. We’re both proponents of the fly, but in certain situations I vote for gear (I am a purist at heart). Although you can cover a lot more water with gear, it is much easier to vary retrieves with fly equipment. A lot of our eats are on strips after pausing the fly for a few seconds, something that can be really difficult with gear. It’s always a lot more fun to catch fish on the fly anyways.

When developing flies for pike, I try to incorporate materials that create radical action like the rapala. Bunny, marabou, flash, EP fibers, they all work great for this applica-tion. Try to incorporate trigger colors into your patterns; whites, reds, blacks, oranges, chartreuse, and blues are the colors that I try to work into my flies. Keep in mind that pike eat their prey head first 100% of the time, so if you are tying articulated patterns DO NOT CUT THE FRONT HOOK. I also try to mimic

something that pike have hunted before. Where we fish, there are a lot of squawfish and whitefish; around Great Falls I focus on various baitfish and perch patterns. Also, there is no cut-off in size of presentation with pike. Numerous times we’ve had 14” hammerhandles attack a 9” fly. The bigger, the better in my mind.

As for gear, you can get away with fly rods as light as you want, but I’d recommend some-thing in the 7 - 9 wt range. I would also recommend a large arbor reel with an extreme tapered or over-weighted line. This will turn over those big beefy flies with a lot less effort. I personally like to run about 15’ of sinking line (i.e. a tip) to 4’ of 40 lb mono with 15” of steel attached to that. Another ongoing argument in our household is whether or not you need steel for pike. I am a huge proponent for steel, especially this time of year when they are growing back their teeth. The hundred micro teeth they have on the roof of their mouths act like razors on mono. My roommate Tanner on the other hand feels it makes them skittish and is in favor of fishing 40 lb maxima straight to the fly. He landed a 10lber a few weeks ago on this technique, so apparently it’s working for him.

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As the warm weather makes its way to this side of the divide and you find yourself faced with decision to fight the crowds or do something out of the ordinary, chose the latter of the two; you won’t regret it. Look for lakes like Pishkun, Arod, Fran-ces, Tiber, and many others to start to fish well a week or two after the ice is off (which could be now). For rivers, I would focus your efforts to the Missouri below Great Falls. Nothing goes better with pike than shore lunch batter. Enjoy some of the overlooked opportunities Montana has to offer and don’t forget your pliers!

Apr 2012 24

Learn to tie Cornfed’s Bicurious Baitfish. It’s a great spring pattern to try for your next Pike!

Bicurious Baitfish

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26 Apr 2012

TROU

T CA

NDY

Troutkiller Candy Tantalizeany trout with this fine selection of

Karnopps Space Invader

Slap N Tickle

d-Midged-Midge

McDonoughs

Millers

something that pike have hunted before. Where we fish, there are a lot of squawfish and whitefish; around Great Falls I focus on various baitfish and perch patterns. Also, there is no cut-off in size of presentation with pike. Numerous times we’ve had 14” hammerhandles attack a 9” fly. The bigger, the better in my mind.

As for gear, you can get away with fly rods as light as you want, but I’d recommend some-thing in the 7 - 9 wt range. I would also recommend a large arbor reel with an extreme tapered or over-weighted line. This will turn over those big beefy flies with a lot less effort. I personally like to run about 15’ of sinking line (i.e. a tip) to 4’ of 40 lb mono with 15” of steel attached to that. Another ongoing argument in our household is whether or not you need steel for pike. I am a huge proponent for steel, especially this time of year when they are growing back their teeth. The hundred micro teeth they have on the roof of their mouths act like razors on mono. My roommate Tanner on the other hand feels it makes them skittish and is in favor of fishing 40 lb maxima straight to the fly. He landed a 10lber a few weeks ago on this technique, so apparently it’s working for him.

Apr 2012 27

TROUT CANDYTantalize SAVORY SAVORY any trout with this fine selection of

synthetic morsels.

peep Show

OlsonsTruckee Craw

ClousersTurkey CraY

Masons

Fred’s Fishy TalesStories by Fred Tellen

FISH

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28 Apr 2012

FISHY TALES My best friend and guiding partner Stacy Corbin is fond of the saying, “No Bad Days” when it comes to fishing. He picked up a sticker with the quote down in Cabo. He has it on the back window of his SUV. It reminds him of sunrise on the beach and mornings spent chasing rooster-fish in the warm surf. Not a bad image. While I generally agree that any day spent fishing is a good day, I know of an angler who might have a different view.

I was guiding a party for sockeye from a Kenai riverbank one summer day. A man walked in from a trail across the river and started fishing. We did not pay him much mind, because we were very busy landing fish. Some-one later noted that the fellow across the river was having no action. Eventually, he hooked a fish and we took a break to watch the battle. He chased his fish around the riffle and tried to lead it toward the bank. The salmon would have none of it and kept sprinting toward deeper water, sending up showers of spray. We all groaned as the man slipped and went down, losing his fish.

Watching him crawl from the river, we saw a cow moose come charging up the bank. I do not know if he heard our yelling or not, but the dripping wet man looked up to see the moose bearing down. With a lunge, he cleared the water and dashed into the bushes. Thankfully, the moose kept on going before turning into the trees. The reason the moose was running was soon clear. The man stepped out to stare after the moose and walked right into the path of a charging brown bear.

Those of us spending time in bear country have heard repeatedly, never to run from a brown bear. It would take a rare individual not to act as this fellow did. He instantly spun and dashed back into the woods. In hot pursuit of the moose, the bear reacted to the movement of the man and followed him out of sight.

As you can imagine, we feared the worst. The outcome seemed inevitable. You could have cut the tension with a knife. I had visions of a Life Flight helicopter coming in from Anchorage to salvage the wreckage. Thankfully, within a second, the man appeared. He was followed by the bear, which turned down the bank to continue pursuit of the moose. Good thing the guy was wearing waders. No bad days? Well, it depends on how you look at it. When it comes to Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing, it is important to have a sense of humor and be ready for anything.

NBADDAYS

Apr 2012 29

GEAR

NIG

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30 Apr 2012

Gear Prior to traveling to a hosted fly fishing destination, the Big R Fly Shop holds a gear night at the fly shop to get guests ready for the trip. We show you what flys will be best to stock up on, what leaders and tippets to arm your fly line with and what best weight rod to start practicing your double-haul on. Over-all, it’s just a great way to spend some time with other fish heads, learn a thing or two and to get the adrenaline pumping for the upcoming trip.

Apr 2012 31

Gear NightGEAR NIGHT

My best friend and guiding partner Stacy Corbin is fond of the saying, “No Bad Days” when it comes to fishing. He picked up a sticker with the quote down in Cabo. He has it on the back window of his SUV. It reminds him of sunrise on the beach and mornings spent chasing rooster-fish in the warm surf. Not a bad image. While I generally agree that any day spent fishing is a good day, I know of an angler who might have a different view.

I was guiding a party for sockeye from a Kenai riverbank one summer day. A man walked in from a trail across the river and started fishing. We did not pay him much mind, because we were very busy landing fish. Some-one later noted that the fellow across the river was having no action. Eventually, he hooked a fish and we took a break to watch the battle. He chased his fish around the riffle and tried to lead it toward the bank. The salmon would have none of it and kept sprinting toward deeper water, sending up showers of spray. We all groaned as the man slipped and went down, losing his fish.

Watching him crawl from the river, we saw a cow moose come charging up the bank. I do not know if he heard our yelling or not, but the dripping wet man looked up to see the moose bearing down. With a lunge, he cleared the water and dashed into the bushes. Thankfully, the moose kept on going before turning into the trees. The reason the moose was running was soon clear. The man stepped out to stare after the moose and walked right into the path of a charging brown bear.

Those of us spending time in bear country have heard repeatedly, never to run from a brown bear. It would take a rare individual not to act as this fellow did. He instantly spun and dashed back into the woods. In hot pursuit of the moose, the bear reacted to the movement of the man and followed him out of sight.

As you can imagine, we feared the worst. The outcome seemed inevitable. You could have cut the tension with a knife. I had visions of a Life Flight helicopter coming in from Anchorage to salvage the wreckage. Thankfully, within a second, the man appeared. He was followed by the bear, which turned down the bank to continue pursuit of the moose. Good thing the guy was wearing waders. No bad days? Well, it depends on how you look at it. When it comes to Kenai River sockeye salmon fishing, it is important to have a sense of humor and be ready for anything.

CREATURE FEATUREFred Telleen ties up the Iceout Leech

CREA

TURE

FEA

TURE

Fly Recipe:Mustad streamer hook size 8Ultra 70 denier threadHareline Olive Rabbit StripsOlive UV Polar Chenille

Have you ever wondered how that Royal Wulffor Parachute Adams you use so much was tied or how to tie it? EMAIL US. We would be more than happy to tie up the pattern as close to the original as possible for your viewing pleasure. Describe the fly as best as possible or better yet, send along a pic of the fly and the name of it.

Don’t forget to check out the fly tying section up on the Big R Fly Shop website HERE. We upload a new fly tying video weekly as our featured Fly of the Week, and the fly tying section continues to grow with some of our most popular fly patterns.

32 Apr 2012

The Iceout Leech is a great pattern for seeking out hungry trout on stillwater, just after the ice has melted from the surface. Trout begin to migrate towards the banks of many lakes after a long winter, foraging for food and and eggs. Most hatchery lake trout spawn in the spring and will return to the very spot where they were put in as fingerlings. The Iceout leech will imitate a leech, baitfish or other coomon food item for the trout. It’s best fished slow, with quick twitches, enticing an agressive bite.

Did you Know?!The Big R Fly Shop Website Provides Up-to-Date Info on :Area Waters, Fishing Reports and Stream Flows.

You Can Also Find Other Fun and Informative Info :Photo & Video Galleries, Fly Fishing Destinations,

Quick Tip Videos, Fly Tying Videos, Fly of the Week,Bug Blog and Upcoming News and Events!

Photo & Video Galleries, Fly Fishing Destinations,Quick Tip Videos, Fly Tying Videos, Fly of the Week,

Bug Blog and Upcoming News and Events!

Photo & Video Galleries, Fly Fishing Destinations,Quick Tip Videos, Fly Tying Videos, Fly of the Week,

Bug Blog and Upcoming News and Events!

UPDATE YOUR

MIND NOW!

Apr 2012

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:We Carry Our Selectionof Fly Rods for a Reason.

My truck wouldn’t start at the Town Pump in Butte. Christie and I, as well as our two friends Ethan and Bobbi spent the next 10 minutes watching the corroded battery of a van fail to jump the battery in our truck. Then we listened to a friendly 30 year something, who we watched trip out of the establishment next to the gas station, try to enlighten us by asking if we had oil on our spark plugs. At this point we had already concluded that our starter had retired and the tow truck was on the way but we listened to the guy anyways because it was kind of entertaining. This was Ethan and Bobbi’s first real fly fishing experience, and our intention was to be on the Big Hole for lunch. However, our situation instead found us in a courtesy van, driving to McKenzie River, and sitting in the service room at the GM dealership eating popcorn and playing Words with Friends. Yep, it was awe-some.

By 3:30, I had been ripped off so bad to get a new starter in my truck that I was determined to get the boat on the water at Melrose. By the time we got there all of the fly shops were closed but the cook at the Hitchin’ Post made a phone call and found us a shuttle. When you take someone fly fishing for their first time, it is important to make the sport approachable, people don’t need to understand everything about fly fishing the first day.

They need to know how to get the fly to where a fish could possibly be, then they need to be with someone that is patient and can help with knots and choosing flies, and then they have to struggle a little so that they quickly learn what not to do. So we went through all of that, and both of them did extremely well, in fact Bobbi landed her first fish on the fly that evening, and it was even a brown trout (followed by an unexplainable “brown town” dance performed by myself and my fiancé Christie which I am sure weirded out our friends, and had them questioning their participation in our week-end of “fun”). However, I can say, that by the time we got to the take out that

by Sam Wike

ROD SENSE

Apr 2012 35

combo until I was a junior in high school, and after that it went on to teach two other beginners and to my knowledge it is still being fished. So this year when we had the opportunity to purchase a few hundred of these from Cortland, we saw it as an opportunity to get that many new people in to fly fishing. However, when they came in to the stores I had pushback from a couple employees saying “This makes us look like a big box store”, and other such comments. I had to think about that for a while because I have never really put our style of store in to any kind of class at all in my mind. I realize we are not a standalone fly shop because we are inside a farm and

evening our friends were fishing fairly flawlessly right alongside us, and they were smiling which was encouraging based on our whirl-wind of a day.

Earlier in the week, Ethan decided he wanted to get his own fly rod set up, and I said I would help him with it. I have done this quite a few times with quite a few people, and so I would consider myself somewhat experienced in getting first timers the right gear. Usually budget is what ultimately comes in to play. However, Ethan was interested in getting abso-lutely whatever I thought was right for him and was pretty much willing to get whatever I decided to recommend. This situation is what drives our fly shop, and our number one goal when we origi-nally started selling fly fishing gear was to make the sport approachable and affordable for anyone. My first combo was from Cabelas and it was an 8’ Cortland set up that my Dad got me for my birthday when I was in elemen-tary school. I fished with that

ranch store, however I think it would be hard to call us a big box store because the product mix, amount of employees, and the way we run our business is much different from one. I came to the conclusion it doesn’t really matter what we are as long as we service our customers the best that we can, and I asked a couple of those employees how much money they had when they were 10 years old for new fly fishing combo. They answered with a smile and saw my point. Then I asked, “Do we want these new fly fishers who are 8-16 years old buying their first fly rod set up from someone that knows nothing about fly fishing because that’s what they can afford, or should we sell it to them for the same price, they can get a useful rod set up, and it will come with some knowledge to get them started off on the right foot?” I don’t think it is smart of us to protect an image of what a fly shop is by alienating a segment of the market, especially one as important as young kids wanting to get in to the sport. One thing that has been cool about our fly shops is that while we all have different opinions about gear and flies, and we may go back and forth a bit on it, when we make a decision to do something we all get on board, and

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Although the fishing on the Big Hole was mediocre this weekend since the river had just blown out earlier in the week, we did manage to catch some nice fish. We had a great time staying in Melrose at the Sportsman’s Inn, we had some perfect après fly fishing dinner at the Hitchin’ Post, and we even got a community Easter Brunch in Wise River (and I’m pretty sure we were the only non-locals with reservations). We had an adventurous but fun weekend, and the Scott A4 that Ethan got earlier in the week landed fish for two brand new fly fishers.

I believe we are all on board on getting people in to fly fishing no matter what their level of experience or budget may be. We offer a number of combos under $100 that are ready to fish, and they all are very functional combos.

So last week when I had the chance to get Ethan any rod off the shelf that I thought would be a fit for him, I showed him our Cortland combos that start at around seventy dollars, and I showed him the St. Croix rods which I believe have a good value, and I showed him the Scott A4 which is an updated version of Scott’s mid –priced value rod series. It honestly made no difference to me which one he purchased because I think the first rod you buy and are going to learn to fly fish with you just have to like. At that point, it’s not about the action (I realize a beginner needs the appropriate action but most options in that price range are set up for that), and the important part is that the person is excited to go fishing.

MOLLY SEM

ENIK

4(406) 761.7441

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(406) 761.7441

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