Early Summer Yosemite Report from Sierra Fly Fisher

This report came to us recently from Jimmie Morales and Bernard Yin who are getting busy in the Yosemite area. Small streams appear to be the order of the day and show no signs of disappointing the angler. Visit Sierra Fly Fisher at: http://sierraflyfisher.com
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Hello Everyone,
The rivers remain unusually high for this time of the year but the air temps are pleasant to warm and if you hit the edges of the bigger water or smaller streams, the fishing is wonderful. Summer in general should prove to be very solid this year. In the weeks to come, the Merced should be coming down to a workable level. All that said, we are getting busier and busier with fun-seeking clients of all ages from all over. A recent outing with Bernard guiding on a small stream with Chris, Jake and Logan proved nothing short of a riot as they honed their chops on some dry fly action for browns and brookies. Don't be fooled either. These small and beautiful fish were skittish and gave us a quality game. Thanks guys for a truly fun day. Bernard reports that it was excellent therapy after his recent road mishap. Everyone, please check the road conditions online with the park service. Current construction on the 41 (and other park roads) is creating hazards, delays, dusty conditions as well as reducing turnouts. Just be careful. Here's a helpful link: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. The waterfalls in Yosemite Valley proper are doing very well and we are finding happy clients who integrate a day on the stream into their Yosemite visit. Smiles all around.

Christmas Island Slide Show 2010

A slide show with some great pics from our Christmas Island adventure. The fishing keeps getting better every time we go.

Cane Mutiny BBQ It was a Small and Good Time

A nice report on this weekend's Cane Mutiny and Hardy Day activities from cane addict/aficionado and old friend Darrell Kunitomi. Darrell has agreed to contribute here from time to time on all things cane, collecting and local (LA and environs) fishing so we have that to look forward to.


It was a fine day. Is it ever not when boys and bamboo and barbecued meats get together?

We had but half a doz of the faithful -- many members were called away by honey dos and travel, fools -- so the faithful handful ate tons of grilled meats, sausages, chili, rice and salad, drank mostly water and juices, fools -- and we cast one of the finest representations of roddage ever seen in my yard. Some Brandin fella. Old Young thing, 7 1/2' of perfection. Mr. Leonard, Mr. AJ, a five-sided Mario, no dogs on Saturday.

Some fine hand-planed George Boehme (Bay-me) rods, our pal who's been ill. Watercolorman savored a cool quad, at 7 1/2' for a five line. I own two of his creations.


George in the California sunshine, sitting in the cactus garden holding his fine quad rod.


Been about three years since the last gathering, life intrudes you know. Jerry I. drove down from two hours away. Jim, jz2, stands at George's rod rack, occupied mostly by that Brandin fella -- rods 8'6 on down, with other assorted rods.

Life in California is so hard. I planned on weather, 60s, breezy, cleared the fire pit for a fire to keep George warm and dammit, it was a beautiful day. Again. Hummingbirds in the pomegranite, jays squawking around their nest, hell, just hell.

Jerry, George, John and Alan, Watercolorman, do the casting hang-around thing here. Jerry brought his Perfectionist. Found in an antique shop for a nickle, restored by Bob Summers. I cast it. Now, I'm not normally a para sort of fella, preferring the Goodwin-meets-Payne vibe, and variations thereof. But something has gotten to me. I'm liking that butt. I'm liking that firm, high butt. I'm starting to like that stiffy thing when you swing forward and drive your thumb like you're snapping a fly swatter and the rod doesn't complain but kicks. He was lucky to get away from my place.

Then again, there was that Brandin fella. We cast a three-piece, not usually seen. And I swung a Brandin hex that suited my arm nicely. John liked one model too much. He dropped a bomb. Jim grinned, it was his rod. John, a strong and precise tournament caster: "It's better than mine...".


New man Watercolorman dropped by and had a fine time. We always welcome a fellow caniac. We come not to rid ourselves of the addiction but to celebrate it.

The next day was Hardy Weekend at the Fishermen's Spot, Van Nuys, California. John Shanner who knows two tons of historical fly knowledge and can handle a lube tube and screwdriver to fix your old reel was really on-hand. Rodmaker Robert Bolt drove down.

I flexed every model he brought, about nine of them. I've owned several Howell rods, dealt them off over the years, fool, and retain one 7'. Bolt's renditions are fine rods.

He mentioned his 8' for a three. He cast a wary eye at me. I said put a damn reel on it and hand the noodle over, rover. It worked deep and medium. I liked it like I liked a fella's 40L back on the Gunpowder. In the right place at the right time, sweetness.


He found himself in a sea of asphalt. Then, he went for street cred and turned his cap around. It worked. No one shot at us.


Larry is grinning because he, like a cat with a sparrow in-mouth, was planning. He was taking a Bolt rod home. He bought the famed 7'3 for a three.

It's a collector's dream at the Spot. Several 7 1/2's showed, a Black Beauty Featherweight sold, 600. All manner of piscatoriana, wallets, tools, lures, flies, the good stuff.




The reels. Now, sure, lots of white-handled Medalists, SAs, Cortlands, Johnson automatics in Googie colors, stuff for kids and guests on rocky streams. With big old ugly lines on them, with bad knots. You know the sort you see at swap meets.

Then there's the heavy metal, Hardy fly reels to die for. Hard rubber too, bone handles, reels you don't hand over to examine. No, you can see them just fine inside the glass of the case.

Over the years I've been fortunate to have acquired some nice reels for my fishing. My drooling has stopped. But I still look, and it's a longing look -- 3" flat-head screw St. George, small Uniquas, Perfects, lots of brass and aluminum. Metal line guide St. George, then I don't have to worry about cracks in the fragile agate, hm.


You know your rods if you can recognize the fine little rod box here, and this maker's work. Beautiful work, box, form, and rod. Stiff on the flex, probably a five for the dry. Not for sale. I asked.

But the rod below was killer.


I state that it is the finest from Mr. Leonard I've ever coveted, flexed! I mean flexed! in mine hands. Circa 30s, 7' 3/2 Catskill, for a true DT2 line, deeply medium but with enough wood above the hand for a feel so exquisite I sweat right now thinking on it.

So fine so light so perfectly diminuative that the 2 9/16s St. George looks huge on it. It is a whisper in your hands. It is poetry and it is not for sale.

It belongs to a lady flyfisher who inherited her father's fine tackle. A Rube Cross fly was identified. The gear came from the finest stores from the Depression era. The sort of stuff from the sort of gentleman you'd read about in Swiebert's reminicences in Trout. The guy who gave him the new silk and gut points.

The stuff of dreams.


So it was a good weekend for the bamboo and for friends. We'll have more in the future, long as I last. The Spot guys love the old gear and the camaraderie.

Odd how so many weirdos can be united by a simple fishing tool, a fly rod made of split cane. Somehow it makes sense.

March and April Browns

We just got a great report from the Sierra Fly Fisher crew
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The annual March Brown "event" on the Upper Kings has remained true to form: Mysterious yet rewarding.

Photo: Artin Marootian

The hatch would shift in time and even location but it held enough onto tradition and we got into some action. Between the feeding frenzies we were spoiled by the amazing spring beauty and while smelling some flowers SFF guide Bernard Yin planted his face roughly two feet from a sizable rattler. "I never heard a flower like that!" As he adjusted his focus, he tells us, "All I saw were scales and huge diamonds" (as in Diamondback Rattlesnake). Luckily the only thing bitten were our flies. Pocket water hunting provided fish when the bugs were less active. Mayflies and numerous types of stoneflies were and are the predominant insect at this time. This river is truly an interesting game. What is this all about? We look for good weather but not so hot that the high country slopes start to melt. We then dash in and work hard at finding the hot zones. Upper Kings bows are strong and wild. A foot long fish is average but a few in the "teens" are always sprinkled in. Look at the bend on client Dave's rod...

Photo: Andrew Maurer

Note that this is the catch and release section of this massive river and also remember that most streams are not open for fishing until the last Saturday in April. Don't be discouraged, just know the regs.

We have been blessed with great photographers. Last year Stephanie Skiff shot a multitude of great shots. Over the last few days we had the honor of guest photographer Andrew Maurer (see: http://www.troutstreamdesigns.com ) in our company.

Photo: Andrew Maurer

The collective crew be they guides, clients or others crated a wonderful mix and camp every night was a great hang with food and laughter. Some of these shots are a sneak peek at Andrew's stellar work and look out for more photos very soon. For those of you in So. Cal. Jimmie and Bernard will be present at The Fishermen's Spot (April 8th). More of Andrew's photography, Stephanie's photography and even some exclusive 2010 helicopter footage of the drainage will be showcased. The conversation will be about Yosemite, The Kings, our Fall brown trout camp and mucho mas.

LATE BREAKING NEWS
April 1st UPDATE: The upper Kings continues to be fishable fish despite a "false alarm" on Weds./Thurs. that spring runoff might kick in.

Suddenly a cool front curtailed the rise in flows and we're seriously considering heading back on the river! April Browns we call them (nudge nudge wink wink).

Contact us if you want to talk trout or we'll see you March 8th in the early evening at the Spot. Call Ken or Steve for details.
The Sierra Fly Fisher Team

Alaska Bans felt....

I guess it's coming wether we want it or not.

Fisheries Board bans anglers' felt-soled boots
The Associated Press
Published: March 22nd, 2010 02:10 PM
Last Modified: March 22nd, 2010 02:10 PM

JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska anglers will be banned from wearing felt-soled wading boots in streams and rivers starting in 2012 under a decision by the Board of Fisheries.

The ban is aimed at preventing the spread of disease and invasive species.

The board voted 6-0 in favor of the ban Friday in Anchorage.

Anglers wear felt-soled boots in streams to help their footing on wet rocks.

Trout Unlimited pushed for the ban. Project director Mark Kaelke (CAL'-key) says felt stays wet longer than rubber boots and carries more river sediment.

He says invasive species can survive on felt while boots are transported to different fishing grounds, creating the potential to spread disease

The Fisheries Board has jurisdiction over anglers only and the ban does not apply to other stream users.

Fly Fishing Show Pleasanton, CA

Better late than never I guess. Spent the last couple of days catching up in the shop after a very busy weekend in Nor Cal.
The Flyfishing Show in Pleasanton, CA was outstanding this year and it was really nice to see the enthusiasm and excitement in all the attendees. Many of our old friends stopped by and we were able to catch up on old times and plan new ones. It was great to see Dan on Friday and finally meet Ed Given after all these years. We had fun reminiscing about our old buddy Andy Puyans and the about fishing in the 70s. Charlie Bisharat and Charlie Gonzales stopped by for a visit and Noel Guzman showed up a few minutes later followed by John Sherman making the rounds. Later in the day Lee Haskins came by and introduced himself and it was like meeting an old friend. I felt like I’d known him forever and we had a nice time visiting and talking fly tying for a few minutes. Many of the guys from the forum came by and introduced themselves and it was nice to put a face with the names that are posted online.
On Saturday Mike Costello was out and about and reporting a decent week of fishing for stripers to 26 lbs. The crowd on Saturday was huge and we were kept very busy and unfortunately we did not have time visit with the many friends who stopped by. Jimmie Morales came by in the thick of things and it was all I could do to say “Hi”. We’ll have to catch up another time. Old friend Mike Michelak, owner of The Fly Shop in Redding, Ca, stopped by to shoot the breeze and we had a laugh or two.
I was tickled to meet Ron Dong when he and some friends came by and I got a chance to tell him how much we enjoyed using his flies down in Baja each year.
Lots of other old friends were working the show including Ken Hanley, Jay Murakoshi, Howard & Janee Mc Kinney, Joe Contaldi, Gary Anderson and Al Perryman so it was a fun weekend for me personally. I’m certain I have forgotten to mention some of the folks but my memory isn’t what it used to be. It was great to see so much enthusiasm and even a few youngsters either just getting started or already seasoned anglers. I look forward to doing it again next year.

The Spot 2009 Slideshow

Pics of events and fishing trips from the past year.