Packing List for Fishing

“Last summer, I had a great opportunity to head up out of the Arizona heat to the float the Deschutes River in Oregon, with my good friend, Eric. Since this was a do-it-yourself fly fishing trip, it was absolutely important that I show up with all the gear that I needed. Here is the list that I drew up that served me very well on our 4-day float down the river.

Fishing gear - I had a good idea of the type of fishing I was going to be doing, and with a little help from my contact there, I was able to pack accordingly.

• 2 Rods
• 2 Reels”

Read the Full Article over at Filson Life

Krystal Flash Emergers in Green, Red, and Black

The KF Emerger is one of the easiest and most productive midge patterns to tie. The material needed is very minimal but the results are dynamic fly that will catch fish. It can be tied in any color combo to meet the needs of any piece of water. The Krystal Flash Emerger is a must have pattern for water systems that have prolific midge activity.

Krystal Flash Emergers in Green, Brown, and Purple

Materials:

Hook: Curved caddis hook size #16-24

Thread: UTC 70

Rib: Small Wire

Wing: Krystal Flash

Head/Thorax: Dubbing (I love Hare Tron Dubbin. It’s buggy looking.)

Tie on thread

Tie in wire. Wrap thread evenly back up behind the eye of the hook.

Wrap wire rib forward evenly. Secure with thread wraps.

Tie in Krystal Flash

Fold Krystal Flash back and secure with thread wraps

Dub a small thorax/head, whip finish, trim Krystal Flash

The KF Emerger can be tied in many different thread and rib variations. Black/Copper, Black/Silver, and Brown/Copper are two that should definitely be included in any tailwater arsenal.

Arizona Wanderings

I am halfway through my third full year of posting here on Arizona Wanderings, and honestly I love it. Living in the desert puts me at a distinct disadvantage to some of my blogger friends who are blessed with what I consider destination fishing and hunting locations. Writing and posting on AZW gives me an outlet to write, and ultimately it keeps me sane until I can get back in the woods or on the water. I have always enjoyed writing and photography, and pretty much from the beginning, I write, and if someone shows up to read, that’s great. Numbers have never concerned me too much, but of course I enjoy hearing from people and knowing that they have found something that I have written to be useful or interesting.

I fully intend to continue writing trip reports, gear reviews, book reports, and tying tutorials. I have some plans to increase the selection of flies that I tie, AZWanderings clothing that I sell, and hopefully some more informative e-books on hunting and fishing here in the Southwest. I also will be periodically highlighting some of those great outdoor organizations here in Arizona that are dedicated to wildlife and the heritage of hunting and fishing.

I guess what I want to say is that as much as Arizona Wanderings is for me, I also want it to be a positive experience and resource for my few cherished readers. What I want to know is this:

1. Who are you and where are you from (state or country)?
2. How did you find Arizona Wanderings?
3. Are you a hunter, fisherman, both, or other?
4. What else can I do to make Arizona Wanderings better?
5. What topics are you most interested in reading about?
6. What type of flies/products/e-books would you like to see in the Arizona Wanderings Shop?
7. Any other feedback?

Feel free to leave a comment or if you are more comfortable, please shoot me an email. (ben@azwanderings.com) Wether you are a regular commenter or a “behind the scenes lurker,” I want to hear from you. Thanks for all your help and I look forward to hunting, fishing and writing for many years to come.

Ben

Fall River South Fork Fly Rod

Why:

The opportunity to fish the Fall River South Fork Rod, along with the Montana Fly Company reel and Rio line, came through the Outdoor Blogger Network. I am the first of 18 “hosts” for this rod and reel and over the next several months, the South Fork rod will travel across the U.S. and be fished, analyzed, and loved by some great fly fishing bloggers. At the end of it’s journey, one of the lucky hosts will be randomly chosen to own this pretty blonde fly rod. My fingers will remain crossed for the next couple of months hoping that it’s me.

I am a teacher and an average guy. I like equipment that can stand up to abuse in the field but does not break the bank. These basic facts have kept me from purchasing a bamboo rod even though I have cast and drooled over several. This opportunity to fish and play around with a beautifully handcrafted fly rod is a true blessing.

Fall River South Fork Fly Rod

First impressions:

The Specifics - The Fall River “South Fork” Bamboo Fly Rod is an 8′ 5wt rod with a described moderate/fast action.

The Case -  When I first opened up the postal package and pulled the rod tube out, I was blown away. This is not your run of the mill rod tube, nor is it a standard metal tube that comes with most bamboo rods.  This hexigonal oak case is a work of art and a beautiful way to transport this fly rod.

The Color -  Blonde bamboo rods are beautiful. They show off the quality of the bamboo and the workmanship of the craftsman. I liked the dark green wraps against the blonde bamboo too. The color combo really made the rod pop.

Two tips - Having very little experience with bamboo, I knew that some rods came with two tips, but I did not fully understand why. I asked the rodmaker and he explained that it was more or less an American tradition to sell a rod with two tips as a “just in case.” Since many early fly fishermen relied on their rod to catch a meal and sustain life, any rod tip damage could mean serious trouble. Having the spare tip allowed for the owner to get the other repaired while still being able to fish.

Rod Wraps

Field Use:

Typically, when reviewing gear on Arizona Wanderings, I spend copious amounts of time in the field putting gear through the paces. For fly rods I generally like to spend multiple trips putting the rod through all kinds of different scenarios and seeing how it puts up with standard abuse that comes with its owner. With only three days with this beautiful fly rod, here is what I found.

Fall River Fly Rod

I fished this rod on two different creeks. Both creeks present different challenges. One is very brushy requiring short acurate casts and a good amount of finesse. The other is a bit more open, requiring longer more delicate casts. I also spent some time on a local pond messing around finding a nice casting stroke and laying out some serious line. The Fall River South Fork Rod performed flawlessly.

Jason Zicha, the rod maker, had written to me and said that the casting stroke of the South Fork Rod was a bit on the faster side of bamboo. Still, I had to remind myself to slow down and let the rod load. Having fished mostly graphite, it is difficult to compare the two, but the benefits of that soft presentation are hard to miss. By the time I had the rod figured out, I realized that I was actually fishing slower and taking my time. There was no “hurry up and fish” moments. Instead, I was enjoying the actual casting and finesse of the rod as much as I was pulling fish out of the creek.

Fall River Fly Rod

A bit more quality time on the water with this fly rod would have yielded more information and insight to the different dynamics of its character, but by my estimation, the South Fork fly rod made by Jason Zicha is truly a work of art. The couple of bamboo rod makers that had a look and cast it a bit were more than impressed and had nothing but compliments for this flawless piece of wood.

Pros:

Beautiful custom craftsmanship

Delicate presentation

High Quality material and components

Handcrafted rod tube

Price – for a bamboo rod with two tips, this is a reasonable price

Cons:

Price – on a teacher’s salary, my wife just looks at me and laughs.

Weight – bamboo rods are heavier than graphite, comes with the territory

Prognosis:  I thoroughly enjoyed fishing the South Fork bamboo rod and would highly recommend anyone interested in looking for a bamboo rod to check out the beautiful craftsmanship of Jason Zicha at Fall River Fly Rods.

Master craftsman Jason Zicha

* Disclaimer:

The reviews at Arizona Wanderings are my honest opinion. The Fall River South Fork Fly Rod was provided by Fall River in conjunction with the Outdoor Blogger Network. Arizona Wanderings is not sponsored by or associated with any of the stated companies and is accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review.  My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established.

Grasshopper Forecast for 2012

Looks like there is going to be some serious pockets of hoppers across the west this summer. I like thinking that those dark red spots in AZ are right over the Rim creeks. Make sure to stock your fly box with a fistful of Mini-Hoppers (aka the “ultimate small stream dry fly”)

Mini-Hoppers – Available in the Arizona Wanderings Shop

Mini-Hopper Strikes again

Turkey Tracks

Friday - I woke at 3 AM to what sounded like a hundred coyotes right outside my tent. Although I knew I was safe, I still reached over and felt the cold steel pistol which brought me comfort. A half hour later, I shivered my way into my cold hunting clothes and drove over the washboard road to my predestined spot. Once out of the truck, I shrugged into my turkey vest, double checked to make sure I had everything and waited quietly. Before the sun came up, I heard the first gobble.

I slipped my way into the woods and set up about 150 yards from where the turkeys were gobbling. After setting up my decoy, I scraped away the noisy leaves and sat with my back against a big juniper where I would be nice and comfortable. I called periodically, occasionally glancing at my watch so as not to call too often. The sound of a softly putting turkey sneaking in behind me, caused my muscles to tighten and my breathing to quicken. The small hen walked confidently up to the decoy and stopped only a foot away, cocking her head to the side curiously. She mulled around, pecking at the ground before finally working her way silently into the forest.

The gobblers continued to sound off every time I clucked and purred on the little push-button call, but as far as I could tell, they never came closer than a hundred yards. The first morning of turkey season, and probably my best chance at bagging a tom, slipped away.

I will not bore you with the details of a very uneventful evening, wandering ridges and hammering away on a box call into the howling wind.

Arizona Turkey Country

Saturday - I woke early on Saturday, and my friend Tom and I headed out to check out a different section of woods. Aside from some early morning gobbling, things were pretty uneventful. The crowds were out in full force and we must have seen at least a dozen other trucks and hunters throughout the day. We saw plenty of sign and even came across a well used turkey dusting area.

I spent the evening scouting some different areas trying to locate birds, but the higher winds made calling very difficult if not impossible.

Turkey Calls

Sunday - The previous two mornings had showed me that if I was going to have any success, morning was going to be the best time. Tom and I again headed out early and found some very vocal birds. I climbed the ridge they were roosting on and stalked in to about 100 yards and set up. Two gobblers gobbled their fool heads off at my calls and at nothing at all. I heard them fly down, gave one more set of calls, and shut up. Seconds passed and I expected them to come walking through the woods at any moment, but nothing, They continued to gobble about 100 yards in front of me and for the next hour and a half, I periodically switched up calls but to no avail. Finally the woods got quiet and I waited another hour for something to happen.

With the sun high in the sky, I walked up about a quarter mile to scout the rest of the ridge. I was working my way through trees when I heard a rustle to my left. I froze and slowly turned to see two red heads about 80 yards away. The one gobbler continued to walk parallel to me, and as he cleared the log, I could see his beard. After they disappeared from sight, I sat down and waited. After 15 minutes or so, I started calling again, but for the next hour, neither saw nor heard a thing.

With a pretty wife waiting at home, I cut my losses and drove back to the Valley of the Sun.

Score: Turkeys – 3, Me – 0

Critter Tracks

Turkey hunting is tough here in AZ. I’m convinced that it is about 25% skill and 75% being lucky and in the right spot. If your heading out in the near future here in AZ, my only advice is find that turkey early in the morning and try and get yourself in between him and where you think he is headed. I did not have much luck with calling anything in. If you’ve been out or had some success, I’d love to hear the story. Best of luck.

Flowers

Trail

Turkey Tracks

I had a nice three day weekend in the mountains trying to seal the deal on a spring gobbler. No dice. I’m dog tired but will give you a full report tomorrow on how things played out. Good luck to the hunters that have a tag next weekend.

Chasing Wild Trout: A Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing Small Streams

The Beatles song, “With a little help from my friends” is rolling around in my head as I write this short post. With the release of my ebook Chasing Wild Trout: A beginner’s guide to fly fishing small streams, I sent a couple of copies to some fishing friends to hear their thoughts. Check out their reviews below.

Andrew Wayment from Upland Equations: Chasing Wild Trout Review

Mike Agneta from Troutrageous: Chasing Wild Trout Reveiew

A big thank you to both of these guys for reading and reviewing my ebook. I find it ironic that both Kenny Rogers and Einsten were referenced in a review of my book. I honestly don’t know what to make of it. Thanks again Mike and Andrew.

Pick up your copy of Chasing Wild Trout: A beginner’s guide to fly fishing small streams

Chasing Wild Trout: A beginner's guide to fly fishing small streams

Marvin Robbins Memorial Juniors Turkey Hunting Camp

I had the distinct pleasure to meet Rich Williams of the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation at the HAHWG event that I went to back in January. Rich got to talking about the Junior Turkey Hunting Camps that the NWTF puts on every year and invited me to come up and see what the NWTF is all about. There are several Junior Turkey Hunting Camps put on in Arizona, depending on where a junior hunter draws their tag, and each camp is 100% free of charge for the hunter and their family to come up and enjoy. The camp provides the hunter and their family with food, a mentor hunter who heads out into the field with the junior hunter and their guardian, giveaways/raffles, seminars, and a great atmosphere to enjoy the outdoors.

NWTF Valley Longbeards Chapter

So Friday after work, with my truck loaded and ready to go, I headed north to check out the Marvin Robbins Memorial Juniors Turkey Hunting Camp at Colcord Ridge Campground. As I shook hands with some old friends, a truck pulled up with a successful junior hunter (pictured below). After the high-fives and handshakes were over the youth hunter (Ben) relayed the exploits of the afternoon. Ben had done all the calling himself and when the first gobbler presented himself, Ben let loose with his shotgun and bagged his first Merriams tom. He was cool, calm and collected and recounted the story like an old pro.

A successful first time hunter

After setting up my tent, I toured around the camp, checking out all the different things that were offered to hunters and non-hunters who were in camp. The Arizona Elk Society graciously had set up and done all the cooking for the weekend. Even though this was not an elk hunting camp, it showed that promoting the heritage of hunting is important, no matter what style or species you like to hunt. The Arizona Elk Society did a fantastic job feeding all the people in camp and the food was absolutely delicious.

Arizona Elk Society grilling up the goods

There were other activities going on while the hunters trickled back into camp. The Arizona Game and Fish had set up a small archery course for those who wanted to fling a few arrows. The Phoenix Varmit Callers showed up and did a short seminar on predator calling, and Mike Stewart, from Arizona Flycasters, and I did a brief fly casting demonstration and talked about fly fishing in Arizona. The goal of the camp was to not only give junior hunters a great experience in the field, but to introduce non-hunters to the outdoors in a positive way.

Archery Range

Hunters trickled back into camp and dinner was served by the Arizona Elk Society. Camp came alive as hunters relayed the stories of the afternoon and comparing notes on turkey activity. Several birds had been harvested that day, and it was one of the amazing experiences to see a young hunter’s animated face as they recounted the experiences in the field.

Dinner time at Turkey Camp

Even though this is a “Turkey Hunting Camp” put on by the Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, multiple organizations were represented in a collaborative effort to make it happen. Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Flycasters, Arizona Game and Fish, Hunt of a Lifetime Arizona Chapter, and Phoenix Varmit Callers were a few of the several organizations represented at the camp.

Mike Stewart of Arizona Flycasters dishing up some grub

After dinner, hunters poured over maps and discussed plans for the morning hunt. Turkeys had been responsive throughout the day, and many hunters had roosted birds in hopes of finding them in the same spot in the morning.

Making plans for the next day

Brenda Valentine, “The First Lady of Hunting”, made an appearance at the Colcord Ridge Camp.

Rich Williams, Steve Clark, Brenda Valentine, and Steve Sams

I was honored to meet up with Matt Minshall from Hunt of a Lifetime, and he asked if I’d be interested in heading out in the morning with his group. I jumped at the chance and made plans to head out with a youth hunter, Josh and his older brother.

More plans

We were ready to go at 4 in the morning and out of the truck, we walked a couple hundred yards and blew on the old crow call. Immediately, we heard a gobble a bit deeper in the woods. We made several setups and called to the bird, but were unsuccessful at fooling the gobbler. We walked quite a bit and were able to get some responses, but it seemed most of the birds were “henned up” and not interested in coming in to investigate our calls.

Morning Turkey Hunt

Midday Saturday consisted of lunch, a couple of special seminars, a fly casting demonstration, and then gearing up for the evening hunt. Saturday was a tough day of hunting and unfortunately, no one in camp was able to call in any birds. That all changed on Sunday.

French Toast and Sausage Breakfast

After a long day on Saturday, I had plans to head out early on Sunday for some early fishing before heading home. My plans were thwarted when I found out there was french toast and sausage for breakfast. I hung around a bit, ate breakfast and talked to some of the folks who were milling around camp. Before I left, two youth hunters came into camp with beautiful gobblers. They were all smiles as they told the tales of calling in these toms.

A successful junior turkey hunter

As I left camp, I could not help but feel as if I had been a part of something important and timeless. The Arizona Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is actively sharing the joy and heritage of hunting with youth hunters. Other organizations involved in the HAHWG are doing the same thing.

If you are looking to get involved with mentoring new hunters or if you are interested in getting started hunting, there are opportunities all across the great state of Arizona. I actively am trying to share these on Facebook and the Arizona Outdoor Events Calendar. The Arizona Game and Fish Department also posts this information on their site. As Rich Williams shared with me this weekend, “Someone took the time to teach you the joy of hunting. Who are you going to share it with?”

What turkey camp is all about

Marvin Robbins Memorial Junior Turkey Hunting Camp

Spent an unbelievable weekend up north helping out at the Marvin Robbins Memorial Juniors Turkey Camp. The free camp is put on by the National Wild Turkey Federation Valley Longbeards Chapter to get young hunters into the field and bag their first turkey. Good times were had by all and I walked away energized and more impressed by the work of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Arizona Elk Society, and all the volunteers. I’ll be sorting through photos and putting up the full writeup here in a little while.