Newsletter 01/01/08 - Cutthroat Anglers

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Cutthroat Newsletter - 01/01/08

Happy New Year! Hopefully by March I'll stop dating everything 2007. I'm really glad you all made New Year's resolutions to fish more. You'll be much happier in 2008, I promise.

How about that cold snap? Whew! Glad that's over. I got a really bad itch to fish last week and scratched it on the Colorado against my better judgment. The result was sub-zero wind chills, heavy ice floe, bottom ice, and no fish!

Luckily things have warmed up quite a bit and we expect conditions to improve dramatically throughout the week.

By the way, we still have a few openings for the saltwater trip to Pesca Maya Lodge in Ascension Bay, Mexico April 5-11. It's good, cheap fun, so give us a call to book your spot!!!

Why Fishing Guides Get Excited When it Snows

Since I've been spending a lot of my time shoveling snow, scraping snow from my windshield, kicking snow off of my boots, and sliding around on snow, I might as well stick with the theme and write about snow - as it pertains to fishing, of course.

Before I get too far into this, I feel that I need to make a quick disclaimer. I'm not any kind of scientist (I'm sure you all thought I was, right?), I'm just writing this based on my own personal observations.

There is generally a correlation between winter snowpack and the overall quality of the fishing during the ensuing summer. A big snow year is likely to produce a longer runoff period, but will sustain favorable flows and water temperatures throughout the dog days of summer. Following a light snow year, we are likely to experience a shorter runoff period, but are plagued later in the summer with low flows and warm water.

To predict what the coming year has in store, you can look at the NRCS Snotel Site. The number to look at is the basin-wide percent of average snow-water equivalent. This number tells you not how much snow has fallen, but rather how much water is in the snow. Keep in mind that these figures are relative to the date you specify, hence, the percentage may be higher in May than in February.

This data should be used as a general guideline. Percentages may fluctuate greatly due to warm spells or periods of heavy snow, particularly in the spring and fall. For example, if we get no snow for three weeks, the percentage will drop over time. On the contrary, a heavy snowfall could cause a sudden increase. So far, so good this year for most of our local watersheds. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Give it a try sometime and see if your predictions correlate with your fishing success. It's kind of fun in a geeky sort of way!

If You Want the Best Bread in Town, Go to the Bakery

In the past several years, the sport of fly fishing has been growing like weeds- especially since "The Movie" came out in 1992. Many thought it would be a passing fad, but 16 years later, things are still growing as fast as ever. At this point in time I think we can safely say that the sport of fly fishing is here to stay.

Of course, everyone wants a piece of the pie, and the numbers of manufacturers and reatilers continues to grow as well. We now have more choices than ever as to what equipment to buy and where to buy it.

The way I see it, there are three main types of retailers who carry fly fishing equipment; the General Store, the Big Box Sporting Goods Store, and the Specialty Shop. Let's take a closer look at each...

The General Store

This is one-stop shopping. Here you can get your groceries, housewares, office supplies, and eye exam without parking twice (you all know who I'm talking about). You can also purchase everything you need for a day on the water at an affordable price. The problem is that the only vest your clerk has worn in the past year has likely been a blue one with a name tag pinned on it rather than a fly patch. The end result; poor quality gear and no knowledge as to what to do or where to go with it.

The Big Box Sporting Goods Store

This store carries all of your outdoor needs. Sleeping bags, clay pigeons, coolers... you name it. It often carries an assortment of store-brand fly fishing equipment, and may or may not have quality gear to supplement. The staff generally has some, but often limited knowledge of the gear, and the local water. You could luck out here, but you're certainly rolling the dice.

The Specialty Shop

Specialty shops sell quality equipment at varying price points that is manufactured by fly fishing specific companies. In addition to this, such a shop provides intimate knowledge of local fisheries. The staff members at such an establishment generally spend their lives working and playing on the water. They fanatical types who have big arms and skinny legs from pulling oars and eat bugs just to see what they taste like to trout, and can legitimately stand behind their products.

One common misconception is that you can buy the same equipment at a big box store at a lower cost. The truth of the matter is that most quality manufacturers set the prices on their products, so there are no savings to be made in cost- just losses in knowledge. Using a specialty shop ensures that you are making informed purchase decisions, and also that you are making informed fishing decisions when you walk out the door.

The Bottom Line

Whether you stop in to see us here at Cutthroat Anglers, or use one of the other "little guys" across the country, if you want to get the best bread in town, you have to go to the bakery.

We've Got A Winner!

Congratulations to Bill Greve from Springfield, MO! He has won the "Tony Danza" fly tying contest with this sexy little glass bead emerger. Besides the fact that this is a great looking bug, it was sent in on something called a "Happy Gram," which earned a few style points as well. Bill will be receiving a $25 Gift Certificate from the shop, but won't be getting his fly back because I'm going to fish it. We have also arranged a spot for Bill as an extra on the popular television program "Who's the Boss?"... if it ever airs again. Thanks for entertaining our strange sense of humor!

Ask the Guide Staff

We've recieved a few good questions for the staff recently, so "Ask the Guide Staff" is back!

Q: When I travel, what can or should I check and what can I carry on the plane?

A: While we've heard a few reports of TSA not having their ducks in a row on this one, we do have some recommendations. Carry your four piece rods and reels on. These items are absolute must-haves when you arrive at your destination. TSA claims that you can carry flies on as well, but none of us have tested it, nor do we want to risk it. Check your terminal tackle, flies, and other non-necessitities such as changes of underwear. To read the official TSA guidelines, click here.

Q: What is the best way to repair leaky waders?

A: If you have Simms waders, turn them inside out and spray the area in question with rubbing alcohol. Even the tiniest pinhole will turn black within seconds.Circle the holes with a sharpie and repair.

With other brands, repair is a bit trickier. Turn them inside out and visually inspect for damage. If you still can't find the leak, you will need to turn the waders right side out, hang them from a sturdy support, and fill them with a garden hose. Eventually you should be able to find the leak.

We highly recommend using UV Wader Repair from Loon Outdoors for wader repairs. This product cures in sunlight within minutes, which means no mixing compounds and no waiting overnight. Even an in-the-field repair is no problem with this product.

Q: I have big, gangly hands, and have been trying to tie the small flies that you recommend for the winter. Are there any tools out there that can help me???

A: There are a few tools out there that might help. Rotary vises are designed in such a way that you can actually spin the arm of the vise rather than the materials. Rotary hackle pliers work the same way and are a cheaper alternative. Try not to get too intricate with your midge patterns, though. One of the most deadly midge patterns is thread ribbed with fine wire on a hook. You'll also find that just like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get, so stick with it!

Tight Lines,
Chris Hall and Trapper Rudd
Cutthroat Anglers

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