Top WVAngler Moments of 2015

7.  Finally had the opportunity to help out PPKTU during the Seneca Rocks cleanup.  It's always good being able to give back and clean up our streams!  The Seneca Rocks stretch may lack in fish but it's one of the coolest spots to fish with the rocks as your backdrop! 

6.  It is always a good time when you get to fish new waters and meet fellow WVAnglers on the stream.  Ran into fellow WVAnglers on trout stream, steelhead waters, the mighty Ohio, and even musky waters.  Got the opportunity to meet Casey, Caleb, Mike, Zach, Jonathan, and several others on the water.  Always great running into new fishing buddies!

5.  It is always great being a part of the Eric Workman Memorial Musky Tournament.  The tournament is always a special time that honors a true hero that gave his life protecting others.  This year was another record year for the tournament.

4.  2015 was another good year spent with good diversity with several different fish species on the fly rod.   In total 15 different species on the fly including musky, gar, smallmouth bass, and black crappie.  Had the opportunity to fish several new bodies of water including the New finally and ot a good taste of is smallies.  Also got lucky enough to be able to land one of my personal best brook trout.

3.  2015 had some great fishing moments and a lot of citation fish but one of the most memorable was a personal best Brook trout.  While helping out during the Seneca Rocks cleanup I was able to get in some time on the water.  The area had been slammed with rain so the streams were running pretty high and full, so what better time to break out the streamer box.  With and average size of 10 inches the biggest fish of the day that whacked a woolybugger was a true gem!!

2.  2015 also brought a new fishing buddy into the year.  My wife and I were blessed to be able to welcome our second daughter Isabella Rose into the world in January.

1.  In 2015 I was very lucky to be able to fill in for Scott Hunter of Vedavoo and help man the Vedavoo booth with Joel at the Lancaster Fly Fishing Show.  It was an awesome experience and truly great being able to represent such an awesomely made in the USA product.  Check out their awesome packs and gear a Vedavoo.com

Brookies, Buggers, and Boulders

I finally got a Saturday off and was able to lend a hand at the annual stream cleanup put on by PPKTU at Seneca Rocks.  With several TU chapters , Boy Scouts from Morgantown, and some WVAnglers we were able to clean up a pile of trash!  By the time we were done and a few pepperoni rolls were consumed it was time to find some trout.  With recent rains the water was moving and there was a lot of it, pure whitewater in spots.  It was conditions that some don't look for but personally I was excited.  Conditions like these meant that it was a god time to breat out some streamers and wooly buggers, today was destined to be a day of Brookies, Buggers, and Boulders.  I knew if I could find a few seams and some slack water created by those big mountain boulders there would be some good sized fish willing to take a bugger!  Things started off slow but I was soon rewarded by a nicely colored Brookie.  With the skunk off it was time to get serious and go after some big fish.  The sun put a little bit of heat in the air made it perfect for wet wading and also perfect for a nice little blanket Caddis hatch.  The fish were on with the conditions and with the Caddis hatching they started getting aggressive and slamming the bugger or pheasant tail.  They stayed pretty aggressive to the bugger all day and fish were picked up in every good holding spot.  Some people get different joys out of fishing, some go nuts over a fish rising to a dry fly for me there is nothing better than a fish slamming a streamer especially if your fishing a light weight rod.  This day my old Orvis Silver Lable 3 wt was the rod of choice it's one of my first rods and still holds a special place in the collection especially when you take it out onto stream for an epic day.  Most people see heavy rains and streams flowing full and fast shy away me I just grab a fly box full of streamers and hold on sometimes you strike out but other times your rewarded with huge fish!  This was one of those days where the average Brookie was around the 9-10 inch range a day you can call a blessing and a success!

 

WV Birthplace of Rivers National Monument

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend The Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster, PA.  The Harrisburg/Carlisle area is not far away and with it comes such history and treasures from years past.  Sharing the Vedavoo booth with a fellow PA Native Joel LaMarco I heard tons of stories of these fabled waters.  They had a booth for the PA Fly Fishing Museum which has collections at a few places including Boiling Springs.  Even growing up fishing the Elk I often heard elkfisher talk of this area and its waters.  Attending the show it just showed how they want to preserve this rich heritage and the true pride they do have for it. 

Heritage is an important thing and without preserving it at times it gets lost or forgotten by future generations.  The Birthplace of Rivers National Monument would preserve traditional land uses like hunting and fishing for the future.  The land would be preserved for generations to come without fear of it being developed by any means. The protections created would protect the area for all to enjoy.  This is a special area as it is the headwaters of six rivers the Cranberry, Greenbrier, Williams, Cherry, Gauley, and the Elk.  This plan is not to change the area but it only will do the same thing a museum does it will preserve this pristine area for future generations.  When most people think of fishing they think of these streams whether it would be taking a backpack trip into he cranberry, fishing for Browns on the Williams, wild bows on the Elk, or catching native Brook trout in the Monongahela National Forest.  These are areas where most can say they first cast a fly or went trout fishing with dad.  By becoming WV's first National Monument it would allow our grand children and their children this same opportunity.  People will always have that opportunity to hike, camp, backpack, bike, and fish here for many many years.  Sometimes we get afraid of change but this monument would not change this for outdoorsman it would only insure others have that same opportunity.  Hopefully this heritage can be preserved and this national monument becomes a reality and we can preserve the birthplace of WV waters!

http://www.birthplaceofrivers.org

 

WVAngler.com Top Moments of 2014

6. It was the year of the game changer.  The VEDAVOO TL Beast sling made fishing so much easier being able to have a bugger beast jr box handy made wading smallie streams and throwing big flies a cinch.  The fly of the year and my go to the game changer it took several different species of fish, so many big smallies, and personal best fish it was like having money in the bank and made a good year that much better!

5. Brookies was the name of the game this year.  It was great being able to chase them on some new waters and hiking after them in beautiful streams with good friends.  This year was one I found a new love for Cain!  I was very lucky to be able to have a rod built by Phil Smith of Vandalia Rod Works it's truly a special Brookie Rod.  Had fun breaking it in early in the year with Jonathan Paine in a duelin bamboo session.  There was a lot of brookies caught and some good solid fish!

4. Had a busy year and with weather I was able to only attend one fly fishing show.  I was lucky enough to be able to make the Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster PA. It was filled with some great vendors, awesome fly tiers, and big names in fly fishing. It was great to meet up with several guys including Nick Masteller of Keystone Flyfishing, Morgan Kupfer of TLTFF, and Joel LeMarco.  Even had the chance to run into some big name guys like the crew from Mossy Creek , Harold Harsh, Beau Beasley, Pat Cohen, and one of the best Bob Cluser.  Bob did an awesome presentation on warm water fly fishing the guy is a smallmouth legend!  Throw in being able to watch Joe Humphreys on the casting pond truly an epic time.  The highlight of the trip was being able to hang out in the Vedavoo booth with Scott Hunter and rep some of his truly awesome handmade in the USA Vedavoo gear!  I can't say enough about his awesome packs check them out at Vedavoo.com . 

3. This year on the water was a year of big fish and diversity.  I set out a goal to catch 15 different WV species of fish on the fly and easily made it to that as well as catching two personal best fish.  I was lucky enough to take two trophies on the Ohio River both on a game changer.  Early in the season I stuck a 20 inch smallmouth then mid season I landed a slug of a 26 inch hybrid.  As for the diversity a few fish I came up short on but managed 21 species of fish on the fly all from WV waters.  Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Sauger, Sucker, White Bass, Skipjack, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Green Sunfish, Common Shiner, Drab Colored Rosyside Dace, Gar, Pumkinseed, Carp, Long Eared Sunfish, Shad, and Walleye.  Not a bad overall year!

2. It was a special experience getting to fish in the Eric Workman Memorial Musky Tournament.  Eric was truly a special person and a true hero that wore the WV State Police Uniform.  The conditions were tough and I got shutout but spending an evening win great WVAngler friends and telling stories about Eric is always a good time.  Throw in the fact that my good buddy Jonathan Paine took the biggest fish a monster 50" inch Musky!

1. Being able to spend Father's Day on the water with my baby girl and chase some blue gill is one of the best times I had all year.  Being able to share a fishing experience with a good friend, a kid or a loved one makes it that much more special on the water.  Being able to see the smile on my girls face is a time I won't forget!

Big Fish Big Fly

As the old saying goes bigger is always better.  We as humans like big things.  No matter if we are biggie sizing our food, going for the bigger car, the bigger tv, or wanting the bigger gift for Christmas we are obsessed with bigger things.  This year for me looking back was the year of the big fish.  I caught more citation and bigger fish than I have caught in years past.  

This year I never caught a smallmouth under 15 inches with the biggest being a monster 20 inch Ohio River brute.  I usually enjoy throwing some small poppers and picking up some average size fish and that I'm fine win.  Most of the year was spent throwing flies between the 5 and 10 inch range.  I relied on the 7 and 10wt rods, the Cheeky Mojo with a super smooth drag, big big tippet the biggest possible, and of course big flies.  Upscaled flies can be tough you might not catch tons of numbers but when you do it's more than likely memorable.  When your playing the go big or go home game your bound to be left with some moments you'd like to forget.  Yes there will be moments when the fish spooks because of the 20lb tippet, or loosing huge fish on thrown hooks (unfortunately this happened to many times), or just moments when you blow it under pressure and flat out miss the fish and the hook set.  This year I owe a lot of success to my gear the Sage One 7wt has been an absolute workhorse throwing some big flies match that with some 20lb Rio Tippet and Rio Smallmouth fly line and your ready to go.  Add in a bugger beast box loaded with some bug ugly flies that fits like a dream in e new Vedavoo sling and yor ready for a lot of success.  Speaking of success I can't say enough great things about Pat Cohen's creations his EP Game Changers were far and away magical on big fish.

Throwing a big game changer and watching a smallmouth just come out of cover and inhale it brings a rush to any angler.  The big flies like those game changers just make fish go nuts.  They are like feeding candy to Hybrids having a 25" monster inhale one as it smam through waters of the Ohio was another great moment and big fish memory of the year.  People talk about feeding candy to something and them going nuts the game changers did that for me.  I love throwing streamers especially when you have a visual take nothing beats that rush for me.  The Game Changer has became that big fish bait for me fishing it twitching it like it's an injured baitfish or even just a swim if minnow it does if all and just finds the fish .  Big fish want a big meal so when your wanting to catch the if one it always helps to biggie size.  Whe your throwing steamers try to upscale your fly and go up a few sizes and see if you get any reaction strikes and see if you can land a monster.  Big fish have hungry appetites so why not throw some huge flies and see if you can intice a big brown or smallmouth!  Small flies will catch big fish as well but big flies definitely get the attention of lunker fish and will create some wild reaction strikes!  Go big or go home!!  

Fly Fishing Gift Ideas

With Christmas under a month away most people are frantically searching for that perfect gift.  We have a few gift ideas for the fly fisherman as well as a few places to point you in the direction that will help.

Your hometown fly shop is one of the best places to look for those items on the Christmas list.  WV offers some great shops to check out Anglers Xstream in Parkersburg, Serenity Now Outfitters in Lewisburg, Elk Springs located near Monterville, Evergreen in Clarksburg, and McFly Outdoors with a few locations including Flatwoods.  There is also a few great shops that border us South River Fly Shop in Waynesboro - VA, Mossy Creek Fly Shop in Harrisonburg - VA, and Mad River Outfitters in Columbus - OH.  Fly shops provide great and personal service from people that truly understand these products.  They understand the local area as well as hatches and can suggest the flies or gear needed for area streams.  They all offer a great selection of rods, reels, waders, and tying gear.  If gear is not your answer you can always get a guide trip from one of them for anything from trout to bass to musky.  Another great guide is Harold Harsh from Spring Creek Outfitters that always shows a great time on the water.  

If you don't want to pick something out gift cards are always a favorite item for all.  You can get a gift card from one of the fly shops mentioned above or even manufactures offer one.  A few other places that offer a great idea would be Harman's Log Cabins offer great packages to stay on the South Branch as does Elk Springs on the Elk.  They both offer top notch accommodations with good fishing just out the front door.  Another place that offers gift cards to stay is one of the many WV State Parks a couple of the best Kumbrabow and Watoga.  For the fisherman looking to replicate that trophy Mount'n Critters Taxidermy would offer gift cards for a one of a kind reproduction!  

There are some great products available for the fly fisherman this Christmas and we will focus on a few.  

Vedavoo has the Little Bugger Kids Sling for the little fisherman in your family.  A kid sling pack with room for a fly box, tippet, tools, and snacks. 

http://www.vedavoo.com/shop/little-bugger-kid-sling/

Photo from Vedavoo.com

Vedavoo Mason Jar Coozie - Its a mug style Coozie that comes with with a Pint Mason Jar.  Insulated for hot or cold or those extra cold frosty beverages and made in the USA to last!

http://www.vedavoo.com/shop/mason-jar-coozie/

Photo from Vedavoo.com 

Chota STL Plus - Features enhanced styling, and durability while the comfort and stability is retained.  One of the most durable boots on the market. 

http://chotaoutdoorgear.com/shop/footwear/stl-plus-wading-boot/

Photo from chotaoutdoorgear.com

Goat Head Sole Spikes - Screw in cleats for sandals, shoes, and of course wading boots.  Traction control for those slippery streams!

http://www.solespikes.com/fishing/

Photo from www.solespikes.com/

Cheeky Fly Fishing Mojo 425 - extremely versatile reel that handles everything from e salt to the stream.  Super smooth drag that handles those big runs on steelhead, hybrids, and musky!

http://www.cheekyflyfishing.com/reels/mojo-425

Photo from www.cheekyflyfishing.com

Risen Fly Alpha Fly Line - perfect fly line for any level of angler.  Comes in line wts from 3-9.  One of the best valued fly lines on the market.

http://risen-fly.theshoppad.com/#/product/fly-lines

Photo from www.risenfly.com

Super Fly EP Game Changers - Pat Cohen ties up these awesome game changers by stacking EP fivers then coloring them up with markers.  The go to fly for me this year!

http://rusuperfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=171

Photo from rusuperfly.com

The Fly Stop - Great selection of flies for any type of fishing.  Not only tons of flies but some of the most affordable you will find.

http://www.theflystop.com/fly-fishing-flies-discount

Photo from www.theflystop.com

MFC Poly Boxes - Great for small flies to a big collection of patterns.  Awesome artwork on each box from artists like Currier and Pucket.

http://www.montanafly.com/Camo/Poly%20Boxes.html

Photos from www.montanafly.com

Rep Your Water Hats -  One of the newest edition to the Rep Your water collection is the WV.  Representing native trout they offer a stunning hat!

http://www.repyourwater.com/collections/west-virginia/products/west-virginia-hat

Photo from www.repyourwater.com

Truly Thankful

During this time of Thanksgiving allows you to look back and reflect on life and the past year and how life truly blesses us each day!  This year has been a fishing year for the record books for me.  First off I've been blessed with a great family and an amazing wife and beautiful daughter that fully deals with my absolute obsession with fly fishing.  They put up with my need to be on the water and constantly trying to catch some type of fish with a fly.  This year it seems like I've logged more days on the water and it allowed me to get back to my roots and my love for big smallmouth bass, it never gets old hooking into one and have them burn drag and explode out of the water a truly special fish.  

Secondly I am truly thankful for the fly fishing goals I've been able to achieve this year.  This year I set a few goals to start the year and wasn't sure if I would ever reach them.  Not only did I reach these goals but I was truly blessed and was able to fly past them.  I love the whole diversity of fish on a fly rod, and can't help look up to people like Jeff Currier that has taken more species on a fly than probably anyone ever.  I started this year with a goal of 15 WV species on the fly and figured I may have a chance to come near that but thought it'd be a tough battle to achieve that number.  The cold water side of things got the first attention with lots of brookies, bows, and bowns caught.  The warm water which it seems I spent more time on this year was amazing catching everything from hybrids, to smallies, suckers, saugers and carp on the fly.  With the whole month of December left I've truly been humbled to be able to land 21 different species from WV waters.  I've caught fish that were citations, and personal best, and finally just got my first walleye.  We always look at the ones that got away as I will be haunted after a fish fish was lost and a few tough trips but can't help being beyond thankful to have been able to reach these goals.  

Thirdly I've been very fortunate to have been able to share the water with some great friends and family.  I've always said the experience is sometimes more rewarding then the fishing.  There were some awesome times on Brookie streams, floats in musky waters with crazy follows, farm pond bluegill, and small stream smallie fishing.  Thankful I was able to have one of my best fishing moments ever in taking my daughter out in Father's Day and chasing blue gills.  Times with friends on the water is always one of the best times!

Lastly I'm thankful to be able to use some great gear that makes a day on the water so much better.  Thanks to the amazing building skills of Phil Smith of Vandalia Rodworks I was able to chase some brookies with a beautiful cane rod.  My friend Scott Hunter always goes above and beyond in making some exceptional packs.  I was thankful to get a quick delivery of his TL bugger beast pack that holds everything I need for any type of fishing.  Goat head sole spikes that help keep a clumsy guy standing on two feet in some seriously slippery stram bottoms.  To go along with those spikes Chota wading boots which for a person that can be hard on gear have been more durable than anything I've ever tried.  Awesome companies like Cheeky that makes a seriously smooth reel in their Mojo 425 that I put to the test a few times.  Thankful for Risen Fly and their awesome reels and one of the best guys out there in Ryan Gouldsbarry to do business with.  I can't forget Cliff Boxes as they hold any fly I need and can put in a box!  

Truly am thankful to by our lord and savior to be given the health and life to enjoy these amazing things he has created.  And so many special places in WV to fish!  Faith, family, and fly fishing leaving you thankful indeed!