Arizona Wanderings

Fly Fishing Arizona: Urban Trifecta

May 24th, 2011

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The tug of a carp was still fresh on my mind so I stole a few hours on Sunday morning to head back with Mike and Pete to see if I could redeem myself on some local Valley water. The water that had held carp the day before was not as active and so it took a little bit of time to find some fish who would cooperate.

I found an appaloosa koi tailing in the water and after a well placed cast about 10 inches in front of his face, he sucked up my fly. Once he figured out that there was something stuck in his face, the fish started taking line off the reel fairly quickly.

After a few minutes and a few more strong runs to deeper water, Pete was able to put a net under the fish. Always fun to feel that tug on a fly rod and seeing the colors on this neon fish up close was really something to behold.

After putting the fish back in the water, he rocketed into the green depths of the pond. I had several other strong looks and a couple of solid bumps from other carp, but nothing else in the roughfish department came to the net.

I was able to spot and stalk a couple of unsuspecting bass holding in some shallow water. The fight these fish have is pretty unbelievable. Arial acrobatics and fast runs to structures are not uncommon.

The past two days, I was noticing quite a few schools of tilapia scooting around the ponds. Typically, they have been extremely spooky, but we found some in a back cove that were fairly aggressive. I hooked a couple and was able to bring this really pretty fish to the net rounding out my urban trifecta.

The fly of choice for these ponds seems to be a green simi-seal bugger with a orange glass bead. The carp love it and the bass do not seem to care one way or the other. Mike challenged me to catch the “Urban Grand Slam” which would include the above three along with a bluegill and grass carp. (Am I missing any other pond inhabitants?) I think that would round out a pretty cool day, but it is definitely going to take some time and a lot of luck.

Arizona Urban Fly Fishing: School’s out for Summer…

May 21st, 2011

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Breakfast — Arguably one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever eaten...

In celebration of the school year ending, I woke up around the same time as usual and headed out to meet my buddy Mike for a little urban fly fishing. I found Mike in the kitchen doing what he loves to do.

After a breakfast burrito and a couple cups of coffee we started a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood ponds targeting the tailing carp and hungry bass. The carp were there and although both of us pricked a couple, no roughfish were brought to the net. Apparently my big fish fighting skills could use a little bit of work. I won’t bore you with details of lost fish (nor do want to relive it).

Even though the carp were not cooperating, the bass that occupy the area were ready and willing. With a full belly, no work (or students) for two months, and a bent fly rod, I was a happy camper. We fished until 10am and even though I could have flogged the water for another couple hours, I figured it was not worth the sunburn. Great day on the water testing out one of the new TFOs I recently received.

With school all finished up, I should be getting to some great looking water this summer. Arizona have some great backcountry waters that I am looking forward to bushwacking back into. Trips to Oregon, Alaska, and back to the Adirondacks will give me a great opportunity to test out some new gear. Stay tuned…

Fly Fishing Arizona: Rainbow Trout on the Mogollon Rim (Part 2)

May 17th, 2011

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Our mid-morning change of plans put us on to a different part of the same creek. From the ponderosa pine, drop and plunge water, we entered a completely different world of steep canyon walls and deep pools.

The rainbows we were catching here were equally as beautiful as the ones above.

I switched over to the streamer as we fished these deep pools and fish started to come out to play. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the fishing slowed considerably, but heavy streamers and patience payed off.

We continued to work the stream back up towards the truck and encountered several of the slot canyons that this creek meanders through. We had two options. One, we could hike around and skip about a half mile of productive untouched water. Two, suck it up and go for a swim.

The swim was cold but refreshing and gave us an opportunity to test out Antonio’s Patagonia dry pack. The water we were able to access was beautiful and several small fish came to hand. We were both slightly disappointed that nothing of size could be found. The water was slightly off color and not its normal crystal clear quality. Overall, the swim was completely worth the view.

Above the canyon we fished till we found more pocket water which gave me a reason to go back to the mini-hopper. The sun started to make its way towards the canyon walls and the creek came alive with bugs and fish coming to the surface.

The mini-hopper reigned supreme and got pounded by fish after fish who were feeding greedily on anything floating by.

The truck was a welcome sight and with a couple of dry t-shirts and a cup of camp coffee, we were feeling pretty good. Bouncing our way over the backcountry washboard road we made our way into town for the standard Mexican food/Dairy Queen fan fare which always leaves me smiling but uncomfortably full. I will never learn. It was a beautiful day in Arizona.

Fly Fishing Arizona: Rainbow Trout on the Mogollon Rim (Part 1)

May 15th, 2011

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My wife thinks I am insane, but does not even budge when my alarm rings at 2:15 in the morning. Coffee, gear, and a granola bar keep me company for the hour drive across town to meet up with Antonio where after a refill of coffee from the thermos, the cruise get’s set on 75 for the rest of the drive to washboard road that leads to the creek. This is a typical Saturday in Arizona, and even though it is 90 degrees in the Valley, the brisk mountain air helps make the decision to wear a longsleeve t-shirt.

We rigged up and were on the water shortly after the sun started to warm the surrounding hills. The first couple of pools started to produce and the small, wild rainbows who call this creek home were hungry and looking up.

These rainbows are so unique in their spots and colors. For such little guys they fight and pull all the way to your hand. I never get tired of catching beautiful wild fish.

I stuck with my standard mini-hopper with a rotating variety of droppers and I imagine 90% of the fish that I brought it in were from the surface. There is something about seeing a splashy surface attack or a nose come out of the water in a riffle for a dry that makes my soul smile. Antonio stuck with a streamer which he is extremely productive with. “The fly which shall not be photographed” (Harry Potter reference for my wife) is an Antonio original that pulls fish from every part of the stream. Luckily, I think Antonio and I are good enough friends now, where if I tied a few up I think he would be ok with it.

With Antonio on the streamer and myself on the dry/dropper, we each fished appropriate water and picked up fish all throughout the morning. The stream was teaming with life and the trees and foliage were green and alive. It was a picturesque morning on the water and one that shall not be soon forgotten. Part way through the creek we opted to check out a different section of the stream and see if we could get into some bigger fish. I never miss the chance to check out some new water…

Fly Tying: Smith’s Stonehopper

May 11th, 2011

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Ben’s Salmon Fly

This is a variation of the Mini-Hopper that seems to have taken on the identity of a salmonfly. I would love to know what you think and I believe I will need a name.

Material List:

– Size 10 Hopper Terrestrial Hook

– 6/0 Uni-Thread

– Dubbing (my personal favorite is the Hare-Tron Dubbing

– Goose Biots

– Ribbing – on several I used a copper wire, but a few got some haloshimmer tinsel instead

– Orange Antron for the underwing

– Deer Hair for the wing

– Silly legs

– 2mm Foam

– Something for the post – foam or in this case I had some white polypropylene handy

Wrap the thread back to the curve.

Add a little block of dubbing for a base.

Tie in biots.

Tie in wire. Wrap forward and tie in foam (roughly a quarter inch wide).

Dub body forward.

Wrap rib forward and secure antron underwing

Tie in deer hair wing.

Dub rest of body and secure foam.

Add legs. In my demo I did not add the post. I think the post will help the fly to be more visible and I believe that foam or poly-yarn will do the trick.

If you tie some up, I would love to hear how they work for you. Thanks for looking.

Hopper Swap: Completion

May 9th, 2011

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Received the final product of the local hopper swap and I am very excited to go and put some of these on some moving water. Thanks to all the guys who tied.

In search of Bamboo: Agua Fria Alchemy

May 6th, 2011

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I did not need much of an excuse to go over and visit with Mike Johnson of Agua Fria Alchemy, but he was kind enough to give me a reason when he picked up one of my shirts (thanks Mike). Truth be told, I have had my eye on his bamboo fly rods that he crafts in “ye old rod shop” for some time now. So after work, I headed over a little early to hit the ponds out back of his house with a new 5 weight TFO rod with the hopes of harassing a few carp and killing some time.

This small carp came out to play after I spotted him right off in the shallows. First cast, he could not resist the green simi-seal bugger and he started to take a little line. I had a hand on him when I realized I did not have my net (it’s on the bottom of some remote Rim creek) and at the last second before I had a firm grasp on his tail, he gave a quick kick and stole my fly as a souvenir.

I met up with Mike shortly after that and he let me take the 3 weight for a stroll. Casting a 6 foot bamboo rod was unlike anything I have picked up before. After a few minutes at the helm and getting the stroke right, the line started to straighten out and move a little farther.

Several of these spunky little fish came out of the dark stuff to feast on the mini-hopper and as the sun started to set we headed back to Mike’s house. We sat in the backyard looking at the water and talked about Arizona small streams. We talked bamboo for a good while too, but ultimately it didn’t make much difference. I was already sold on bamboo when we were back on the pond. The trick is going to be to sell the wife on the fact that I need another fly rod. I have my work cut out for me…

Bluegill and Mini — Thanks Mike for a good time on the water. Look forward to holding some bamboo again soon.

Arizona Stocking Program…

May 4th, 2011

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I do not usually do this, but please check out this post by Will Jordan at his blog 111*West. A very good read and update on the current budget crisis/debate regarding Arizona stocking program. Thanks Will for a great article.