Arizona Wanderings

ACLS Recreational Expo: Cottonwood, AZ

October 21st, 2011

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My good friend Paul Freeman is the principal over at the Accelerated Learning Charter in Cottonwood, AZ. His school is putting on their first ever Recreational Expo that offers some workshops, raffles, and all kinds of festivities with the focus of getting families together and kids outdoors.

Paul was kind enough to invite me up to tie some flies from 10-2, so if you are looking to get out of the heat for the day and up into the cool mountain air, swing on by and say hello. I will be focused on tying up the ever popular mini-hoppers along with some of my other favorite patterns for Arizona’s small streams.

I’ll also bring along a batch of Arizona Wanderings T-shirts that are currently on sale for 15$. Hope to see you on Saturday, October 29th at the ALCS in Cottonwood, AZ

Book Report: “Blue Lines” by Tom Reed

October 19th, 2011

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Growing up in the Adirondack Mountains, my parents never sprung for the fancy new Nintendo gaming systems where my brothers and I could play Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. Instead, they pushed us outside and into the back woods to build lean-tos and splash in the creek. When we did have down time, we were encouraged to read a book, and everyday I am thankful for my parent’s conscious decision to build our love for reading.

Over the years, my library has grown with history books on different time periods or historic events and I went through a phase in college where I tried to read everything I could from Plato and Thucydides. My tastes have changed and with life continually gaining speed, I find the time that I have to read growing smaller and smaller. When I do pick up a book, I truly have to make thoughtful decisions on reading for pleasure and focusing on those topics that truly bring joy to my life.

I recently picked up the book Blue Lines by Tom Reed and was so consumed by his stories that I read it cover to cover as fast as I could. When I finished I went back for a more thoughtful read through and enjoyed it even more. Without a second thought I could definitively say that Tom and I would be good friends, were we ever to meet in person. In Blue Lines, Tom tells personal stories from a lifetime of small stream fishing and the places it took him to and the people he met along the way.

Tom’s heart and soul are embedded in his words and you can truly feel the love that he has for the small streams in the West. One of the stories that is the most memorable to me out of the book takes place on 9/11/01 titled “Beneath an Untracked Sky.” Blue Lines will always have a special place on my bookshelf and the dog-eared pages will be revisited for many years to come.

Simi Seal Buggers for Sale

October 17th, 2011

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Simi-Seal Buggers for Sale

The Simi Seal Bugger is one of the most productive patterns that is in my fly box. Wether fishing on the urban ponds for bass and carp or drifting a large pool full of hungry brown trout, the Simi Seal Bugger is a must have pattern for all kinds of different waters.

The Simi Seal Bugger is tied with John Rohmer’s genuine Arizona Simi Seal, multiple wraps of lead-free wire and a glass bead. Simi Seal Buggers are sold in a 12 pack with green, red, black, and brown.

Bruce Smithhammer’s Review of the Hunting Gambel’s Quail E-book

October 14th, 2011

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I have had a pretty amazing week starting with a short tale I wrote being posted on Filson Life. As if that was not enough, the Bruce Smithhammer wrote up a really nice review of my Hunting Gambel’s Quail Ebook over on a Mouthful of Feathers. Not only is Bruce a well known figure in the Outdoor/Fly fishing/Hunting/Photography arena, but he is an extremely talented writer himself. So, having him give my book the nod was one of those things that pretty much makes my month.

If it is your first time heading out into the field and you are a little unsure of what to expect in the Sonoran desert, swing by the AZW Shop and purchase your copy of Hunting Gambel’s Quail…Bruce Smithhammer said to…

End of the Road: A Guest Post on Filson Life

October 13th, 2011

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I had a pretty cool opportunity to write my first piece for Filson on their blog at Filson Life. I have never done much writing outside of Arizona Wanderings and I owe a big thanks to the kind people over at Filson.

The heavy truck tires crunch the small stones as I make the turn onto the washboard road that will take me to the trailhead. Even though I left the house at an ungodly hour and have never been beaten to the parking lot, my body still tenses at thought of someone else being the first at the pullout. To be on the water before anyone else, guarantees the angler a full day of wild small stream trout eager to take a well presented fly…

Click here to read the rest at Filson Life

Quail Hunting Arizona: Wickenburg

October 12th, 2011

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With lungs burning and legs pumping I climbed up and down the hills outside of Wickenburg chasing Gambel’s from one side of the canyon to another. As luck would have it, I was able to connect on some decent birds in some really beautiful country. The draws and slopes that I stumbled through and ascended up were home to a good number of quail and I am looking forward to shouldering my grandpa’s old twenty gauge again very soon.

Most of the areas I have hunted this year have been extremely dry. The cactus are looking thirsty and most of the stock tanks and seeps that were wet and full in the years before are dried up. Anytime I have found birds, there has been some water very close by. If you have been out and had some success, swing on by the Quail Hunting Forum and share your story.

The Quail Hunting Forum

Arizona Quail Hunting: Gambel’s Quail

October 10th, 2011

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The quail season has started very slowly this year with birds sleeping late and not being vocal. Usually the birds are up and chirping as the sun lightens the sky but this year they are not really talking until about 8.

This past Saturday, I had a great opportunity to get out with my buddy,Kyle and his pup, Chase and try and find some Gambel’s. We met up at dark and made our way back into some great looking country.

After covering some serious ground we were finally able to find a couple of coveys with a good amount of birds. We were each able to put a couple down and into the vest, although I should probably buy stock in an ammunition company with the amount of shooting and missing I was doing.

It was great getting out into the field with Kyle and Chase and I had a great time hunting over a dog. Chase is only a year old and I think it will be pretty cool to see how he grows and matures over the upcoming season. With more warm weather on the way, it will also be interesting to see how this quail season turns out.

Quail Hunting Forum

If you are looking for more information on quail hunting or wanting to share a report, head on over to the Quail Hunting Forum and lend your voice.

Fly Tying: The Red Hot

October 7th, 2011

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Fly Tying: The Red Hot

The Red Hot pattern is a simple but highly productive pattern on the San Juan River. The annelids that float down this river are a constant food source for the big trout that swim in its waters. On my last trip to the San Juan, I found that a double nymph rig was a great way to fish this pattern.

Step 1

Finding beads that are small enough to fit on a size 22 or 24 hook can be a little bit of a trick. Normally, I would head to the craft store, but even their smallest glass beads are too big for these small hooks. I found these Killer Caddis Beads at Cabela’s and they seem work just fine.

Step 2: Tie on thread. I tend to use UTC 70 Ultra Thread on these small flies.

I really like this midge size vinyl rib.

Step 3: Tie in vinyl rib.

Step 4: The vinyl rib as two sides: a flat and a rounded edge. I like to tie the Red Hot with the rounded edge up as it gives it a more segmented and clean look, but I have seen it tied both ways. Tie rib forward, secure, and whip finish.

A great tailwater fly that is quick and easy to tie. (Note: I think I can easily talk myself into a macro lens…)

The Red Hot is a part of the San Juan Fly collection now available in the Arizona Wanderings Shop.