This area that has been set aside for pictures of events that one would like to forget but have been captured digitally by your "friends".  They have been reduced in size to minimize embarrassment but can be seen clearly by clicking on them.

After a 500 mile journey, Paul Prentiss scores big in Nebraska.

 A "friend" of Ted Thompson gets a terrific picture of a nice rainbow fish just prior to its release.  Next click here to see how Ted told his host, Larry,  about the the size of the fish...note expression on Larry's  face.

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Better Fishing Pictures

Martin Joergensen one of the orginators of The Global Fly Fisher (if you're not familiar with this great site click here ) put together a piece on how to improve your digital photography.  You probably can skip this article if you prefer blown (lack of detail) images to show your friends or to hang on your wall....click here

ACTIVITIES

June - Carp Fishing Clinic- June 15 & 16
Flies, techniques, and on-the water instructions - 1.5 days (includes 8 hrs of fishing & 4 hrs in the shop) -  $185.00 for up to 6 anglers - two guides.  Learn what flies work (free guide collection of 12 flies), pattern options with how to tie/fish, proper rigging, and tactics.  On day two you will spend a full day applying what you have learned.

July - Bass Slam Clinic - July 14
Techniques and on-the water instruction - 1 day - $150.00 for up to 4 anglers - two guides

August - Bass After Dark - August 4
Hosted fishing on private water $100.00 for up to 4 anglers - two guides

Front Range Anglers and Hecoma Guest Ranch has put together special discount packages for Fathers Day and Independence Day - click on these days to find out more

We didn't get any patterns from readers so we'll wait another month.  Here's a idea of the kind of pattern we'll share if we get some input.

Send us a picture or the actual fly along with a recipe...click here

The Backstabber

Denver Trout Unlimited is hosting the First Annual South Platte Pro-Am Carp Slam on July 14th 2007. The event is $175 to enter and each participant will be placed with a Fly Fishing Pro.  The object is to catch and release as many Carp as possible.  The event will have 2 different sessions.  One in the morning and one in the afternoon. The prizes include a Scott Fly Rod and a great Trophy.  Barry Reynolds* will be the master of ceremonies and will be giving a demonstration on Carp Fishing in the South Platte.  The headquarters for this event will be "Old Brooklyn's".  Please log on to the Denver TU site for more information or call Tim Emery 303.517.9197.

*Barry Reynolds is very well known across the US as a master angler, writer, and video producer.  He has written numerious articles, co-authored Carp on the Fly, and produced TV specials (including one on the South Platte) on catching these fish ..... click here  for more information on Barry.

 In previous newsletters we've talked about some of the angling podcasts you can run down on the Internet.  There are also some great free videos that will definitely entertain you.  Here's one from http://www.fliesandfins.com/ about chasing schools of Bluefin Tuna as they smash silversides on surface.  After watching this I'm ready to go!  click here

The CTU Steering Committee for the National Fly Fishing Championship in Colorado during the the first week in October of 2007 has finalized the fishing venues

One area on the Big Thompson, two sections of the Poudre River, and two lakes in the Red Feathers region.  Each of these sites will be challenging and different.

 STRAIGHT TALK

"Former Olympic skier, Andy Mill, got hooked on tarpon the first time he got one to eat a fly. He has been perfecting his skills ever since. One of his biggest keys to success is knowing where to throw the fly as a fish approaches.

"The biggest mistake most people make is they throw to the fish," Mill said. "If the fly lands on top of the tarpon, he's going to duck it."

Instead, said Mill, you have to cast the fly to a spot where it can "intercept" the tarpon. To do that you figure out where the fish is headed, make your cast and have the fly waiting for the tarpon, then use the fly rod to sweep the fly into position as the tarpon arrives"......read more from Steve Waters column in the Sun-Sentinel

Shooting a few feet of line into your backcast can give the rod an optimum load on the forward cast.  Three to six feet is about right.  This is far more effective than pushing too much line out on the forward cast which can overload the rod. 

The scientific name of Northern Pike is Esox lucius. Esox is the genus (pike, muskie and pickerel) and lucius comes from “luce”, which translates to wolf or water wolf. A perfect description of a fish designed as the top end predator in any water they inhabit.  click here

During the Retailer Fly Fishing Show in September of last year I happened to notice two new TiCr X series rods from Temple Fork .  While the last thing I need is another rod, these 7 1/2 foot dynamos in 6 and 8-weight were hard to resist.  I ordered the 6-weight and after using it for the last two months I want the 8 weight!

So far it's taken Bonefish and Barracuda in the Bahamas, snook in Costa Rica, pike in Nebraska, and bass in Colorado. 

I've fished it with 6, 7, and 8-weight lines and it handles them with ease.  It's got tremendous power to bang out long casts without difficulity.  In tight quarters the size is a godsend.

This sounds pretty good but it get even better.  It's a four piece, has a fighting butt and oversized titanium oxide stripping guides (great for multi-tip lines), and sports channel lock sliding rear hoods with double locking rings. To top things off it's finished in a rich blue blank color, with a reversed full wells grip.  The retail is $249.95 and in my book well worth it.

One last comment.  If you decide on one of these rods, you are going to have trouble putting it down.

There are a number of reasons including exposure to heat, solvents found in insect repellents, sun screens, some fly line floatants, dirty water and casting practice in the back yard. Cleaning your line will reduce friction in the guides (longer casts), reduce tangling, and improve floatation.  There are lots of commercial products but here's my approach.

Wash the line with warm soapy water, and then dry it off.  Next, apply ArmorAll to the line with a cloth or sponge.  I've been using this method for 15 years and it works great.  Some anglers (salt water guys) apply silicon to the line in place of ArmorAll.

I clean my lines after every extended fishing trip and after after a day or two of excessive use.

Jay Zimmerman designs and refines his fly patterns over a long period of time.  When he rolls one out, its not a good fly, it's a great fly.  This pattern will nail both bass and pike...click here for the recipe and tying instructions .

Front Range Anglers will be offering a line of speciality hooks made in the Czech Republic for competition and general purpose angling.  These are high-carbon steel (black finish) with a forged bend that have been chemically sharpened.  They have a "reverse sticky point" which grabs hold of your fish .

I've been using them for a month and they are awsome!...I strongly recommend them - Paul Prentiss

Click here for a picture of some Carp flies tied on the nymph version of this hook in a size 8. 

They come in dry fly, wet fly, nymph, streamer, terrestrial, midge scud/czech nymph versions.  If you want some specifics send me a note

Looking Back

The reel ran on ball-bearings and could be taken apart for easy cleaning, unlike its predecessors. This ease of disassembly was the key to the Perfect's success. Prior to the Perfect, the side plates of reels were held together with screwed intermediate bars, and a reel that had grit inside it was a nightmare to clean...click here 

 Making a Difference

The End