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

Ocean City Fly Reels 76 & 77

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Ed Mitchell

Ocean City Fly Reels 76 & 77: Looking for an inexpensive freshwater fly reel? One that’s simple, sturdy, reliable, reversible, and suitable for trout? Or maybe you just want a backup reel in your tackle bag? Or something your kid can use. Okay, l got a suggestion for you. Consider an old Ocean City 76 or 77. They’re great buys.

Ocean City Fly Reels 76 & 77

Ocean City is long gone, purchased by True Temper back in 1968. And fly reels were never Ocean City’s claim to fame. No, they were mainly a manufacturer of saltwater and spinning gear. But they produced fly reels for many years starting in the 1930s, constantly improving them as they went along.

I have two Ocean City fly reels – models  76 & 77. They were built in Philadelphia, likely during the late 1950’s or early 1960’s, and as such represent the apex of Ocean City’s fly reel effort. The “76” is the smaller of the two. It is 3″ in diameter and suitable for a 3 or 4-weight fly line. The larger “77” is 3.5″ and ripe for a 5 or 6-weight fly line. These reels were mass produced, and frequently mass-marketed by Sears and Wards.  I got my “77” at a yard sale for $5. And get this: it came with a beat up “glass” fly rod attached. Gotta love that. But both models can be easily found online in workable condition for $20- $25. By the way Ocean City also sold an even larger model called the “78”. That model is fairly rare. I’ve never see one, but I imagine it is a 4″ reel suited to 7-8 lines.

Ocean City Fly Reels 76 & 77

Like the Hardy Lightweight series, these fly reels are built in the traditional “spool-in-cage” design. They have a white plastic, faux ivory handle. See the screw in the center of each spool? It secures the spool in place. (works with a dime or a penny) Surrounding that screw is a narrow drag tension knob. It operates just as you might suspect, by creating friction between the spool and the frame. The resulting drag is smooth enough and plenty adequate for trout. Both reels also have a “click” switch on the back. So you can run them with a “click” or silent, as you prefer. And the line guards are reversible.

Ocean City Fly Reel

Remember I called them sturdy? Well the frames are thick by today’s fly reel standards. So even thought both reels are cast aluminum, neither is a lightweight. The “76” with a 3-weight fly line and backing aboard tips in at 6 ounces. The model “77” weight 6.2 ounces empty. But honestly I’ve never felt these reels were too heavy in the field. Still I would be hesitant about putting one on a very short light-weight rod. Say a 7′, 3-weight. Probably feel out of balance. But that “thickness” protects these reels if dropped. Yeah they’re tough puppies.

Ocean City Fly Reel “Click” Switch

Wondering what that small chrome dial high on the back is for? The one marked  C,D,E,F,H? Prior to 1961, fly lines were classified by diameter not actual weight. And each diameter had an alphabetic designation. (for example a “F” line is roughly equivalent to 4-weight. A “D’ is a 6- weight, A “B”is an 8-weight)) This dial allowed you to set a reminder for which the fly line was loaded on the reel. Not a bad idea!

Part Diagram

Are Ocean City fly reels collectible? Ahhh…..not really. After all, they were made by the thousands to be “blue collar” workhorses. But hey, nothing wrong with that.

Posted in Fly Fishing in Freshwater, Fly Reels, Gear | 4 Comments