Adirondack Fly Fisher

Kelly Galloup has designed some great streamers that trout love! Plus, they are a ton of fun to fish!

It was a great weekend fishing for wild brook trout; small streams, light tackle, and big flies (compared to the size fish I was targeting). One of my favorite styles of fishing and one of my most frustrating.

Check out the article done by me in the NY & NJ issue of On The Water: The Angelr’s Guide src=”http:

We need to do what we can to help protect our beloved brook trout!

Bezio’s Motor Boatman
This is a very effective Water Boatman pattern. This pattern is woven with a cobra weave using translucent chartreuse vinyl ribbing and rust/brown UV Ice Dubbing as the underbody. Giant sweeping legs generate a fish and fisherman frenzy. This boatman pattern has been fished with success throughout the year in Stillwater, ponds, and lakes. If you are not fishing Boatman patterns you are likely missing out! Size 14-12

Bezio’s Sir Caddis Poly
This emerging caddis will not disappoint! This fly floats directly under the surface. Let the current take it under and it will slowly float back towards the surface. I did not want to include a hi-vis indicator on top to keep it natural so it can be fished at any depth. The different applications of flash and ice dubbing really catches the attention of fish. The web wing cut out and natural whitetail deer hair provides the perfect caddis silhouette. This combination of materials along with rubber hackle fibers and legs make it very appealing to fish and fisherman alike. A fun pattern!

There is this unequivocal perception that sometimes gets in between the different schools of fly fishing. “I am a purist. I will only fish classic dry flies with my bamboo rod.” Or, “to catch the big trout you have to get deep with this triple tungsten, super sparkly, trout slayer nymph.” With all the different ideologies, egos, and moments of Zen in fly fishing; there is one question left unanswered, at what point does a fly fisher completely give up on flies, swallow some pride, and use worms?

I am a fly fishing enthusiast, not a purist. I spent a weekend last fall canoe camping and brook trout fishing on some remote ponds in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. I spent hours paddling and trolling streamers, nymphs, a nymph trailing a streamer, and of course old faithful, a Lake Clear Wabbler and a nymph rig. No fish! To make matters worse there was not a shortage of boats on the pond that day, and of course they were having success with, you guessed it, a “Wabbler” and a worm!

Prior to the trip my fly fishing buddy kept asking, “You are bringing worms, right?” As a good fly fishing partner would, I always brutally harass him about worm fishing. He has story after story and even some nice pictures of his trophy trout, I would ask, “what did you get him on…?” Of course shamefully underneath his breath he almost always answers, “a worm.” Much to my chagrin, I had to ask myself, do I open up my mind and buy some worms? Even just to fish from shore at night while enjoying some PBRs by the camp fire?

After hours of no fish and every possible fly rig imagined; at what point does a fly fisherman use a worm? It is no secret that trolling a Lake Clear Wabbler and a worm in a trout pond almost guarantees a hook up. This past summer the New York State brook trout record was broke using a “Wabbler” and a worm! After watching other boats land nice brook trout and watching my pal land some trout, should I swallow my pride and use a worm?

I have no shame in admitting that fly fishing and fly tying came to me later in life compared to most other anglers. Having done plenty of worm fishing as a kid and with countless anecdotes of fish eating worms, and everybody knows how productive and easy fishing a worm can be. So, should I use a worm?

My buddy is that “guy” who makes most everything into some kind of competition. He is willing to brag about the number of fish he caught. He will send picture text messages of fish he catches and without hesitation have something to say about the photos of trout sent to him. He is quick to respond, “Looks like you got another chub.” Of course this banter is all in good fun. In spite of it all, it feels so good when the number of fish I catch is higher than his (which is most of the time). Do I go against everything I value in fly fishing to combatant a one sided, testosterone driven competition? Do I use worms to one up a one upper? Oh hell no, I won’t use worms!

With all the different schools of fly fishing there is one element that we all agree on. Let the worms medicate the inferiority complexes of our fishing buddies. It just was not my weekend for catching fish. Nonetheless, just being in the woods camping, fly fishing, hiking, the mountain views and drinking cold beers with good friends are reward enough. I never was one for competing anyway and it feels better knowing that I did not betray the fly fishing gods by using worms. I am secure enough and willingly admit that I will never be a worm fisherman like my buddy is. Oh man, it sure does feel good to one up a one upper!

Insect study uncovers new revelations – AdirondackDailyEnterprise.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Saranac Lake region — Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Montana Wild Fish Reel 2011 from Montana Wild on Vimeo.