Cutthroat Anglers

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What's hitting? Trout. What are they eating? Now there's the million dollar question.

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Cutthroat Anglers Owner Trapper Rudd with fish

Cutthroat Newsletter - 7/10/07

Our recent troop benefit was a huge success. We can't thank you all enough for your support in the way of sponsorships, donations of time and services, and donations of private water. Details will be provided in the next issue.

Fishing remains phenominal on most of our major rivers. If you just have a couple of hours to fish, Drakes, caddis, and PMDs are all popping in town. If you've been doing the same old wade trip year after year, it's time to step it up to the "Big Leagues" because the float fishing has been off the hook! Give us a call or check our fishing report for details.

The rest of the big news is in the articles below, so scroll down and check it out. Between the rowing during the day and typing at night I need to give my hands a rest!

Tips From The Pros;
Most Common Struggles

Recently a few of our guides took a break from the usual rude, crude, and socially unacceptable banter that generally occurs at the "Center of the Universe" and had a normal adult conversation. We came to realize many anglers that are struggling to meet their full potential are having difficulties with the same things. Here are some tips from our professional guide staff on how to eliminate some of the common angling debacles that we see on a daily basis.

Learn to manage your line. Take the time to realize where your line is at all times. The first step to proper line control is to always hold your fly line in your non casting hand and immediately button your line against the rod cork with your casting hand when the flies hit the water. You are now in position to properly strip line. Be patient and orderly with tangles and fly changes. If you encounter a tangle, never wiggle the rod. Trust us, it only gets worse. To fix a tangle or change flies, simply strip your line up to the rod tip, hold your rod under your arm, and work with both hands. Try not to pull excessive amounts of line off of your spool. Choose a reasonable amount of line for the given situation, and make small adjustments as you move. -Mike Joyce, Andrew Petersen, and Chris Hall

Become a better caster. Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. Seek some professional instruction to gain a proper foundation or tune up your cast, then take it to the grass. Casting practice should be done in your yard or an open field or a lake - anywhere without moving water and plenty of open space for a backcast. Set up targets at varying distances and try to hit them casting both with and against the wind. Do this on a regular basis- once a year won't cut it. In such a setting, you can devote 100% of your concentration on proper mechanics without the distraction of trying to catch fish. -Mitch Melichar

Learn to mend properly. Pretty casts look cool. Effective mends catch fish. Do your mends sound like you're ripping apart a thirty-foot strip of Velcro? Do they move the fly and not the line? If so, read on. Generally a proper mend involves first lifting the rod up and out to break as much surface tension as possible. As the mend is executed a controlled amount of slack line should be introduced to the system- just like you when you're letting line out on a cast. A good mend should be a silent maneuver, which requires minimal energy to reposition your line. Save the sideways rips for your next round of Frisbee golf. Now that you're really confused, we suggest you book a guide trip for personal instruction and demonstrations. -Phil Anagnost, Mitch Melichar, and Clint Rossell

Learn to recognize the strike. You'd be amazed at how many times trout take your fly without you even knowing it. Trout are notorious for inhaling an artificial fly and immediately spitting it out. Often a strike barely, if at all, registers on your dry fly or strike indicator and can be completely unnoticed by the angler. The solution is to become a "trigger happy" angler. Set the hook for every single twitch, pause, shake, shimmy, or bobble of your indicator. Never assume that it's just the current, that you're ticking bottom, or that the movement was too subtle to be an actual strike. You all know what happens when we assume! -Clint Rossell and Mitch Melichar

Here's a link to a great site for more on refining your skills: sexyloops.com

Farewell Great One!

As many of you know, my partner and dear friend Barry Kirkpatrick has retired from the rigors of running the shop (we like to say "paroled from the shop") and is movingto the waters of Montana. Barry and I have been working and playing together for over twenty years, starting our friendship when we were much younger at Copper Mountain.

After buying the shop in 1999, I finally persuaded the "great one" to join us at Cutthroat. It really didn't take much persuasion. A couple of cold beers and history was in the making. We will all miss his warm and inviting personality and he was always the sounding board of reason when crazy ideas came to us all. We are excited for Barry and wish him many large fish in the future. FISH ON GREAT ONE!!

Andrew Petersen will be picking up the reigns and tackling the chores of guiding and running the shop in my absence. You all know Andrew as one of the finest guides around and his energy is limitless. I am honored and amazed that he would jump so willingly into the fire. Andrew brings a lot to the table and the shop will only get better and more exciting in the future.

I want to personally thank all of our friends, customers, staff and anyone else who frequents the shop for their patience and understanding as we make this transition into the summer. You all are wonderful and it is a real honor to know you. Now, if I could just get Shooter to remove the micro-GPS unit he implanted in my neck to track my whereabouts.

Trapper John Rudd

Where's Waldo? Who Care's? Where's Trapper; A Much More Interesting Question!

Back to the freshwater. I just returned from a wonderful trip to Alaska as we were shooting another segment for the DVD series. We started on the Alagnak river for big rainbows and the river didn't disappoint. We stayed as guests in the Katmai lodge, nestled onto the banks of the Alagnak. You maynot see any pictures of rainbows here, you will have to waitfor the DVD!!

The King salmon were late this year and the bows were hungry and waiting for them to come in. I was hosted later in the week by a private citizen who picked us up in a fully restored 1939 De Havilland Beaver float plane and his pilot flew us to a private lodge on Lake Clark. We took a "busman's holiday" from the rainbows and wrangled a staggering amount of Pike from a shallow bay at one end of the lake.

While Pike fishing, I noticed another fish behind my fly, tracking it as I stripped back to the shore. Momentarily confused (many would say permanently confused), I stopped the retrieve and let the fly fall to the gravel below. The large fish vacuumed up the fly from the bottom and was landed a few minutes later. It turned out to be a bonus Lake Trout!!

If you or any of your fellow anglers are desiring to hit Alaksa,contact the shop and we will let you speak with our resident Alaska guide and expert, Clint Rossell. Clint has a wonderful operation on the Kvichak (pronounced: kwee-jack) River and I know I will be going there.

Okay Kids, I am off to the East Coast for another DVD shoot for Stripers, Bluefish and Mako Shark. I will be somewhere near Rhode Island and then flying across the country to pick up my good friend John Barr and hitting the deep canyons for Mako's off the coast of San Diego, California. It should be a great adventure, so stay tuned for some exciting angling news.While my butt is getting flatter from all the plane rides, I will return to the shop in the middle of July and be ready for all the fun we can handle. Wish me luck as those big toothy bastards can be one hell of a battle.

Bahamas Update!! Trapper is hosting a week of Bonefishing at Andros South bonefish lodge on the island of Andros in the Bahamas. This is one of the best locations on the planet to land some of the largest bonefish in the world.

Trapper only has two spots left forthe week of December 1st to the 8th. Contact Trap immediately if you would like to hit the warm salt water and hear your reel scream in pain!!

Tight Lines,
Chris Hall and Trapper Rudd
Cutthroat Anglers

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