Monic Covert Clear Fly Line – A First Look

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

Monic Covert Clear Fly Line – A First Look: A couple of days back my 8-weight fly line bit the dust. It was a Rio Bonefish floater, I purchased two years ago. The thing was a twisting, tangling, snarled up mess. Ugh, had to ditch it. And given the cost of fly lines, I was none too happy.

Monic Covert Clear Fly Line

That had me in the market for a new line. Of course, I looked at all the usual suspects. But then I came across something unique – a clear floating fly line. Wow. I had heard about these Monic fly lines, but had no experience with them. Nor did I know of anyone that owned one. Still I was intrigued by the idea. Particularly the possibility that a clear fly line might not spook “tailing” redfish.  That would be cool, if it worked.Ummm.

Monic Covert Clear Fly Line

Well I decided to take a chance on a Monic All Weather Covert Clear WF-8-F. Got it from Bear’s Den. And at this very moment its sitting here on my desk ready to fly. No on the water experience yet, but that doesn’t stop us from taking a first look.

Monic Covert Clear Fly Line

This is an “all weather” line. Which means its designed for a wide range of water temperatures. Love that. I can use it on the New England coast for striped bass, blues, bonito, and Little tunny. And use it down in Gulf of Mexico for “tailing” redfish. And use it in the Caribbean for bonefish. Great. The line is 90′ long. Was manufactured here the USA and has welded loops at both ends. And Monic offers a one-year warranty against defects.

Monic patented the clear floating line process over 20 years ago. And tells us it has been working to steadily improve the product ever since. (This line is the only hollow clear floater on the market.) The line is PVC-free. I’m down with that. The belly is 25′, the running line 54′. And overall, the company projects a “green” pro-environment attitude. I’m down with that too.

Naturally I had to see it float for myself. Couldn’t resist. So I filled the sink and tossed a few loops in the drink. Bingo it works. The line floats and is quite stealthy (Or should I say covert?). Well, we both know the true test of this baby will come later on the water. That’s where the rubber meets the road. So I’ll be sure to report back on the line’s performance in the field. Should be interesting. I’m looking forward to it myself.

Monic Covert Clear Fly Line

 

 

Posted in Fly Fishing in Salt Water, Gear | Leave a comment

The Solar Eclipse has Arrived

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

The Solar Eclipse has Arrived: Okay, today is the day. The solar eclipse has arrived. Here in Connecticut were not directly in the path, but we should see some effect, although its very cloudy where I’m at. Its scheduled to begin at 1:25PM, reach maximum at 2:45, and end at 3:59.

Fortunately I have the correct eye wear. Hope you do too. My pair conforms to transmission requirement ISO 12312-2, and were made by American Paper Optics of Bartlett, TN. You’ll see them below.

The Solar Eclipse has Arrived

As you can imagine down through the ages solar eclipses have been the source of many a myth, most predicting doom and gloom.  For ancient people, the sun’s disappearance must have been terrorizing, striking fear in their heart. And they would seek a way of making the light return. For example during a solar eclipse, the Chippewa, one of the largest indigenous tribes of North American, would shoot flaming arrows skyward in hopes of rekindling the sun.

Don’t use these! LOL

Posted in Environment, Looking Upward | Leave a comment

We Need Small Stripers Too

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

We Need Small Stripers Too: Yesterday I fished with Mark Kuz. Mark is one of the best salt anglers I know on the Southern New England coast. Fishes smart and fishes hard. We sailed out of Niantic in Mark’s boat, seeing what the tide would bring. It was sure a nice day, but the bite was slow. Typical for this time of year.

We Need Small Stripers Too

Over the years, both Mark and I have caught big bass on a fly, stripers well over 40″.  But on this sunny August morning our largest one was barely two foot. And yours truly got the smallest linesider of the trip. Maybe 10″! Now, that’s a dink folks. Had it been born right here in Connecticut waters? Or had it boogied over from the Hudson River? I can’t tell you. But regardless, I had Mark snap a pix of the young lad. Yes, we all want the big bass, but we need small stripers too. They’re the future.

 

 

Posted in Fly Fishing in Salt Water, Fly Fishing on a Boat | 3 Comments

Simms Headwaters Waders – A Review

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

Simms Headwaters Waders – A Review: Last spring calamity struck. I was up in Connecticut wading the Farmington River when my waders let go. Oh man, not good. The river at that time of year is running in the 50’s so getting soaked is zero fun. Back at the car I peeled off the wet pants and got warm clothes. Fortunately for me, just down the road was Upcountry Sportfishing. A quick trip there was in order.

After some conversation with Grady, the shop owner, I steered toward a pair of Simms Headwaters stockingfoot waders.  I knew they were extremely popular. And the construction was

Simms Headwaters Wader – A Review

clearly top notch – and built to last, real tough. Yet were they worth the asking price? Ummm. Over the years I’ve likely had 30 pair of waders, but these were the most expensive I had ever purchased.

Well, I walked out with them. And I have to say they have been excellent waders. The best I’ve ever owned. Nonetheless I do have two things I should tell you about. One is  – mildew. The other is sizing. Lets deal with sizing first.

Most waders I’ve owned are cut generously; some too generously. Hell, I’ve had some that practically flapped in the breeze. These Headwaters waders, on the other hand, run tight. I mean it. A Milwaukee goiter is going to be a problem. And NFL Offensive Guards and Sumo wrestlers need not apply.

The best size for me was L12-13. It fit my feet, my inseam, my height, and midsection. Yet it proved snug at the chest. Still the main issue lie down below. My calves (17″ in jeans) were wedged in solid. Never had that happen before. And it made getting the waders on, and especially off, a job. Grady insisted the waders would loosen in time. Okay, he was right. Now in the second season, the calf issue is resolved. Glad that’s over.

Onto the mildew. After using the waders all season up north, I took them to Florida in the winter. You may be asking yourself why on earth would anyone wear waders in the Gulf of Mexico? After all, the water is piss warm. Well, on occasion folks in Florida waters contract flesh-eating bacteria. Yes its extremely rare, but its nasty, nasty stuff. So if I had a cut, scratch, mosquito bit or anything that broke the skin, I wore the wader for protection. (with shorts underneath).

Mildew Stains

Mildew Stains inside Waders

Soon I notice a tan colored stain appearing on the inside of the waders. Turns out it was mildew or worse. Frankly in all my years wading, that has never happened to me before. Never. But it was time to take care of it. I asked around, looked on the net, and then took action. Turning the waders completely inside out, I dropped them in a bathtub filled with water and Dawn liquid detergent. After a 15 minute soak, I was able to remove the stains by lightly rubbing with a soft sponge. Then I took the waders outside, hosed the soap off, and let the waders thoroughly dry. Inside and out! We’ll see if the stain returns anytime soon.

Simms Headwaters Waders taking a bath

Here’s one last though. Wearing these wader with just shorts underneath may never be a good idea.The moisture from your skin is apt to promote mildew. Consider long pants, even in the summer months, or shorts with knee socks. I’ve been going that route. And take time after every trip to be sure the waders are dry inside and out.

Posted in Gear | 2 Comments

The San Juan Worm

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

The San Juan Worm: The San Juan Worm may qualify as the Rodney Dangerfield of the fly world. Believe me, its gives some serious anglers the heebie-jeebies. They love to hate it. Wouldn’t be caught dead with one in their fly box. To them it’s pure bush league, something only a greenhorn would tie to a tippet. Wow, are they ever wrong!

The San Juan Worm came to my attention back in the 1980’s while fishing- you guessed it – the San Juan River in northern New Mexico. My guide showed me the fly but wasn’t crazy about using it. He felt nymphs were a more “respectable” choice. (even back then this fly was getting prejudicial treatment) Nonetheless I asked him if the San Juan Worm actually imitated something that lived in the river. He said it did and after a little digging around pull a small reddish worm off the bottom. So there it was – solid proof. The San Juan Worm wasn’t just some off-the-wall attractor pattern. It matched the hatch.

The San Juan Worm

I left New Mexico wondering if that aquatic worm was unique to the San Juan. Well a few years later I discovered it was not. This time I was in northern New Hampshire. Where the lodge I was staying at had the San Juan Worm on their list of favorite flies. Really? Naturally I had to ask. “Are there aquatic worms in this river too?”  The answer was yes. And boy did the San Juan Worm work on that trip.

Since then I’ve learned that aquatic worms are found in just about all rivers. The science literature says they live on muddy bottoms, but in my experience they are just as often associated with algae covered rocks, the kind you see in shallow riffles. But wherever you encounter them, the San Juan Worm is a very good fly. Thinking I’m kidding?  In 2005 it won the “One Fly Tournament” in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The San Juan Worm

Tying the San Juan Worm is a snap. Typically all it involves is lashing a piece of red Ultra-chenille (or Vernille) to a size 10 scud hook . Thread works, of course,  and I like to add a ribbing of copper wire. (I have seen some tied on longer curved shanks,but they don’t seem to work very well.)  Now other colors catch fish too, and in some situations they’re even better than red. I’ve used pink, brown, white and even chartreuse. If you fish fast or deep water, consider covering the hook shank first with lead wire. More recently I’ve seen a few San Juan Worms tied with a brass bead to help them sink. Give the San Juan Worm a try!

( These days the San Juan has reincarnated itself as the fabulous Squirmy Wormy)

Posted in Firewater, Flies and Fly Tying, Fly Fishing in Freshwater | Leave a comment