Friday Footnotes for April 24
I don’t have much time while I’m typing this tonight. It’s for a good reason, I promise. I’m getting up early to go fishing tomorrow. Still there are a few things I want to highlight on Friday for you unfortunates stuck in front of a computer monitor.
I received a couple of boxes of flies from James Marsh over at Fly Fishing the Smoky Mountains. They’re a selection from his Perfect Fly Store. He sent me quite a variety from tiny midge patterns for trout to big hair bugs for bass to crab patterns for permit and bonefish. I’m going to take some photos soon and give you a report on how some of them work. I may try a couple patterns tomorrow for bass and bluegills. All of the patterns look great. I was really impressed with the quality of his spun deer hair flies and the caddis patterns. Check out his sites often. I don’t know how he finds time to update his blog so often. I can’t even keep up reading it all.
Matthew Crampton sent me a copy of the book I highlighted two weeks ago, Tales from the Angler’s Retreat. I’ve already begun reading it, and I’ve loved it so far! It’s such a neat little book. Before Matthew contacted me, I wasn’t even aware of the fishing on the island of South Uist off the coast of Scotland. Now they’ve got me wanting to pack up and head over. Just what I needed…another destination to add to my wishlist of places I’ll probably never get to. The book isn’t just a collection of fishing stories. It also tells a bit of the history, environment, culture, what it’s like to fish there, etc. I’ll talk more about it once I finish, which might actually be awhile. You see, I have this problem where I can’t wait to start a new book when I get one. Since I’m a book-aholic, I’m constantly getting new books. This in turn means I’m constantly starting new books before I finish the old ones. I’m currently reading seven books, no, I think it’s closer to ten…especially if you count a couple of destination books I’ve been scanning. Anyway, at least check out the excerpts on the site dedicated to the book. I think you’ll enjoy them.
Twisted Root and Waterfall - Monte Sano State Park
One of my favorite blogs recently changed both its name and web address. You might have noticed if you’ve kept up with the blogroll. Best Fly Fishing Yellowstone has changed to Chi Wulff. Interesting name, huh? There’s a neat story behind it that’s worth checking out. It sounds similar to the story surrounding a beaten-up gold Rattletrap that I used back in my bass fishing days. I still have it. It’s sitting in my old tackle box, retired. I caught two bass over 8 lbs on it, one over 7, and one over 6. Plus there were many in the 4 and 5 lb range. It was eerie. No other gold Rattletrap worked as well. Anyway, back to Chi Wulff. This is absolutely the best site out there for up-to-date information on the fishing in the Yellowstone area. Nothing out there comes close in my book. Last year before our trip to Yellowstone, I agonized over their website every day looking for updates on the runoff and which rivers had turned on. If you’re going to the Greater Yellowstone area for some fly fishing, you need look no where else.
I wanted to highlight a new blog I’ve added to the blogroll. It’s called Fly Art Studio and is run by Neal Osborn. I found the site through Zach Matthews’ Itinerant Angler board. Mr. Osborn has put together one of the most useful and practical blogs out there. Really excellent stuff! If you’re looking for information on shooting macro photography of flies, Fly Art Studio is the place.
Finally, I added the last photo from Monte Sano to the photoblog. It’s of the waterfall just below the picnic area. I forget its name right now, and I don’t have the energy to look it up. Anyway, I think the shot turned out pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Obviously I did some post-processing work (and I’ll probably do a little more before I leave it alone). Once again, the colors were rather bland due to the top of the mountain still being in winter mode, but I like how the split-toning and saturation tweaks brought out some interesting textures.
Take care,
Nathan
Tags: books, flies, fly fishing, Monte Sano, Photography, Scotland, waterfall, Yellowstone
April 24th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Funny, I have an old silver/blueback rattletrap with a red lip that is so worn out for similar reasons as yours. It just always seemed to catch fish on that lure. Try a new one of the same color and … go back to the old one. Mine is almost fifteen years old. I will have to check out the Chi Wulff story, when I get a chance.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Nathan,
Thanks for the shout about our new site. We’ve rounded up some folks that are much smarter than us to help put up some more interesting content. Nice pic from Monte Santo, and we’re still ready to fish with you guys anytime you’re up in our neighborhood.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Scott,
I once owned a Zara Spook that also fit this mold. My father liked to borrow it for bass tournaments. It was a commonly available color, but for some reason caught far larger fish than any others. I broke it off on a 5 lb largemouth during a scouting trip to Wheeler Lake. I think my father still hasn’t forgiven me for losing it.
Mark,
Thanks for the compliment on the photo. We’ll certainly give you guys a yell next time we head that way. If you’re ever down this way, let us know and we’ll get together for some bass fishing or go after mountain trout up in Tennessee, Georgia or North Carolina. Not the same as out West, but really great fishing in its own right.
Take care,
Nathan
April 28th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Hello Nathan
Hope you are well, that photo is really super, well taken, there is nothing better than a tranquil place to go fishing good for clearing the mind and even better for the sole.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Amy,
Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, there is no fishing at Monte Sano. It’s simply a pretty place to do some hiking. The little streams do, however, remind me of my favorite haunts in the Smoky Mountains. So, in a way, it’s like fishing because of all the memories it inspires.
Take care,
Nathan