Nymphin'
Ain't Easy...

Christmas come early.  I'm planning my all out assault on the Keys, and I needed some flies.  After scouring the interwebz, I found a listing for a large fly collection from Florida.  $200.00 and 600 flies later I am fully armed.

This is maybe 2/3 of the flies.  I restocked them into some Cliff's Bugger Beasts for the trip.  The rest of the flies are nice wet and dry trout flies, which came in 3 Wheatley boxes, including the Rolls Royce 1609.

I had emailed the shop and owner about the quality of the collection.  The owner responded in a timely manner, with a surprise which you may notice in the above pic:

From his email

"If he buys the flies I will throw in a special bonus....

A CHARLTON 8500 SIGNATURE SERIES .8 FLY REEL."

Honestly, being the thrifty bastard I am, I was just seeing if the guy would drop the price a bit, but SHIT!

After confirming the price still stood at 200 bones, that money could not leave my account fast enough.

I spent the next week wondering if he would actually send it or was just dicking me around.  The price for the fly collection was good enough to justify the purchase, but if that sweet little piece of engineering was packed in there, than I had just hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth in game seven of the World Series.  In case you are unfamiliar, these things go for stupid money on ebay, and are possibly the best salt reels ever made.  They should probably have their own NAE Platinum status along with the Bogdans and LH Designs that also go for outrageous prices.  The Titanium (yes real titanium, not just the finish) cousin of this reel sold for 60 grand.  Yeah.  60.  Thats like hanging a corvette off your rod.

Sure enough after the holiday, a box sat at my doorstep.  I found a nice heavy tan pouch nestled among the fly boxes and an accompanying envelope with the Charlton Outdoor Technologies logo stamped on the corner.  Not only had he sent the reel, he sent all the original paperwork, including a letter signed by the maker, Mr. Charlton (who to the detriment of the fly fishing world, passed this June, way too early).  

Jack made this reel to fish, and fish it I shall.

I've since rigged it up with a couple hundred yards of gel spun and 80' of 10wt SA Mastery intermediate Tarpon line, and it is ready to ROCK!  Sure, its overlined, and I may be pushing the limits for minimum amount of backing for the flats, but I think thats how Jack would have wanted it.  Should serve me very well in the Keys as a kick ass light salt rig, and it will become my primary sub surface Muskie slayer here in OH.

Apparently Santa is real, and he's a fly fisherman from Florida.

I need a new ultralight, well, don't need but really really want.

Looking for a Sage SPL 0 wt, center line model.  If you got one, I want one.  If you know someone who has one and does not want it, I do.

Email me.

Alright, so I'm heading back to my roots.

After spinning tales of Triton Missile like Tarpon exploding out of the water after taking a fly with a friend, we decided after a few (too many) Vodka Tonics to pack up our game and head down south for a bit in April, back to where I first learned casting the long stick.

I'm talking Florida, more specifically, The Keys.  Land of Hemingway and sportfishing.  

For me, this will be something special, and for my firend it will be a first, but I have no intention of taking this as a light, leisurely vacation.  I've decided to create a personal Key West Mission: Impossible.

Queue the music

Your Mission, if you should choose to accept:

THE FLATS

1.)  The Grand Slam.  Poon, Ghost, Permit.  Get them in one day, and make it proper.  triple digit tarpon, a permit weighing at least a quarter, and dime sized bone.  It's April, and all three are on the flats in good numbers, in fact, this might be the best time to accomplish this.  This is your primary objective

2.)  Poon over 150-on a 10 weight.  Don't break the 10 weight.

BLUE WATER

1.)  Finally boat a Sail on the fly.....to make up for the two you lost last time you were there.

2.)  Its been 12 years since your last Marlin.  About time for another.  If you have a clear shot, take it.

Your success in this mission relies on two things:

That you have some good luck, and make all the right casts, and that you don't get too smacked at Sloppy Joe's and miss the boat.

This post will self destruct in 30 seconds

I was in Chicago last week, and as you well know, Chicago and fly fishing just go hand in hand...

So I thought to myself "You know what? I want a new rod".  Of course I did not think this through so I played with a few at the store and decided that I need a 10 weight.

Why does a guy in Ohio need a howitzer like that?  Well, Muskie of course.  And for chasing chromers up north.  Yeah...I need it.

I ended up buying one of those new Access rods, which are touted to be like the Helios without all the bling.  I gotta say, I was surprised.

The rod is a four piece tip flex.  I actually think this model might be the stiffest flex Orvis makes.  This I was very happy with.  I generally don't like Orvis tip flexes because they are not really tip flex when you compare them with other rods in similar price points.  A fast Sage rod will generally out cast a "fast" Orvis rod any day of the week in any caster's hands.

Not this one.  This rod slings line like a Sage with the weight of a Helios, and the price of a Redington.  Casting feels almost like a Helios, in fact if you blindfolded me and handed me a Helios and then handed me an Access, I probably would not know the difference.

It is also exceptionally light.  I compared it to the old T3s and TLSs they had sitting on the closeout rack and it was night and day.  This new stuff Orvis is building rods out of has to be the biggest leap forward in rod tech in over 20 years.  The Access rods are lightweight sticks that cast well and have the balls to fight big fish.

It isn't the prettiest thing in the world, and thats probably good.  Its a no bullshit rod.  It's very understated, even in comparison to the Hydros.  Orvis has seen a "modernizing" in their rods styles in the last few years, abandoning wood reel seats and etched hardware on most of their models.  The the variability comes in the adornment.  The Helios has a gold skeleton style seat that is really sexy.  The Access just has a woven graphite and thats it.  Orvis logo stamped on it and a way understated double up-locking reel seat.  No bullshit, all function, and thats how I like it.

One thing that I'm glad they didn't trim back on this rod series is the cork.  I like high quality handles and the handles on these are Helios grade.  

What it really comes down to is that this is an Angler's rod.  It's not flashy, its not sexy.  Fish don't care about that.  Its just a brown stick that slings line and fights fish.

Orvis did a damn fine job on these sticks, and you can pick them up for about half the price of a Sage.  $375 will now get you in the premium rod game.  

I also bought a reel, because, well I needed one.  I was going to get the Access reel, but I convinced the guy to upgrade me to a Hydros reel on the cheap.  20 bucks more than the original price for the outfit and I got a kick ass reel.

I have not tested this reel out a whole lot but I will tell you this:  It is not the Battenkill Large Arbor with a  new name like I thought it was.  I ended up getting the VI.

They stepped up the drag on it big time.  Its fully sealed which is new, and uses a scaled down version of the Mirage disc drag.  The result is a ridiculously strong drag, It would likely be able to handle 200 lb Tarpon.  

They also ditched the paddle handles and went with a Mirage handle as well.

Its pretty much a hybrid of the old Battenkill Large Arbor and the Mirage.  They cleaned up some of the machining issues I saw in the BLAs too.  The "spool knock" is nonexistent in these reels.

The one thing I hate is the new drag knob.  I don't know who signed off on this design but it is pretty obvious whoever it was is not a salt water angler.  It is painfully evident that they went with form over function, and to be honest I wish they would have just stolen the knob from the Mirage.  This drag knob is curved, has no checkering, and is generally a pain in the ass to manipulate.

More to come as I use it more.

Fly rods can be confusing. This is kind of a review of how I classify rods.  It is really based on their action and weight more than anything.  

Rod performance ratings are 1-10 (1=shitty, 10=bad ass)

Short Casting (distances under 30 feet).  Here we are rating how easy it is for the user to cast under 30'.  This is basically rating what I call the "thinking about it" factor, as in how much do you have to concentrate on the cast and not just allow the rod to work naturally. Can you feel the load or are you concentrating on timing?

Long Casting (distances over 50') Here we are rating how easy it is for the user to cast line over 50'.  This is basically rating how much physical effort is needed to carry and cast the line through the air.  Are you busting your ass or is the rod doing a lot of work?

Accuracy (loop control) Here we are rating if the loop stays "on plane" for the duration of the cast.  Basically if the loop stays in line with the rod, a key factor in accuracy.  Does the loop collapse or fall off plane as you deliver the fly to the target area?

Power.  Here we are rating shootability, or how much the cast can be extended in 1 false cast.  Can you cast, retrieve to 20' and then shoot out and clear all your stripped in line in 1 cast?

Backbone.  Fish fighting power.  Does the rod become an invaluable tool during the fight?

1.)  Pea Shooters (000-3 weight, full flex).  Rods that are slow action and anywhere from 6' to 9' would be in this category.  These are the delicate rods, where short accurate casts and light presentations are necessary.  Your gin clear mountain creek brookie rods. best for:  Panfish, Brookies, Goldens

Short Casting: 10

Long Cast: 3

Accuracy (loop control): Short 10, long 4

Power:  2

Backbone:  2

2.) All-arounders (4-6 wts, mid to tip flex).  These are almost always 9 footers.  They can throw dries, double fly rigs, beaded nymphs under indicators, and small streamers.  They can throw sink tips and floaters.  One of these rods and a few extra reel spools will be all that is necessary on most trout streams.  Best for:  Trout, Bass, Pike

Short casting:  7

Long casting: 7

Accuracy (loop control): Short 7, long 8

Power:  6

Backbone:  5

3.)  Pig Sticks or Meat Sticks (7-9 wt, tip flex).  Again, these are usually 9 footers or longer.  Your switch rods would also fit here.  Particularly good for throwing weighted nymph rigs, and larger streamers. Best for:  Steelhead, Muskie, Bass, Peacocks, Bonefish, Snook, Stripers.

Short casting:  3

Long casting:  8

Accuracy (loop control):  Short 4, long 8

Power:  9

Backbone:  9

4.)  Hand Cannons (7-9 wt, short, really fast action)  These are specialty rods, built purely for power.  They are made for gripping and ripping big ass flies to big mean fish.  Best for:  Bass, Peacocks, Muskie, Pike, Big Trout, Bones, Snook, Smaller Permit and Tarpon.

Short casting:  1

Long casting:  7

Accuracy (loop control):  Short 3, long 8

Power:  10

Backbone:  10

5.)  The .50 Cal, or the "light 50".  Any Spey rod.  You can really reach out and touch 'em with these.  Really long and 2 handed.

Short casting:  1

Long casting:  10

Accuracy (loop control):  Short, 1, long 10

Power:  10

Backbone: 9

6.) Howitzers (10 to 12 wt tip flex).  These are big boy rods, made for throwing long casts accurately to big strong fish.  Normally 9 or 10 footers, it is not uncommon to need to throw 10 inch flies over 75' through wind in the situations these sticks are made for.  Fast actions, strong tapers, fighting butts, double strip guides and all hardware salt water rated.  Inshore and flats rods.  Best for:  Muskie, Bones, Snook, Peacocks, Roosters, Tarpon, Permit

Short casting:  2

Long casting:  10

Accuracy (loop control):  Short 2, long 10

Power:  10

Backbone:  10

7.)  Big Bertha (13+ wt).  The Blue Water rod.  If you are on a boat, and cannot see shore, you are probably using one of these.  Sometimes these come equipped with an extra or extended grip to really dig in when fighting the big guys.  The fish you are chasing with these are rod busters.  Best for:  Sails, Marlin, Tuna, Mackerel, Shark

Short casting:  1

Long casting:  10

Accuracy (loop control):  short 1, long 10

Power:  10

Backbone:  10

The warm water fly box.  Stuffed with poppers, sliders, Pig n Jigs,Pole Dancers, and big ole saltwater streamers for the toothy critters.

Meat and potatoes.  The big bastards at the top should probably be in NAE Platinum (at 25 DOLLARS a pop).  Charlie Bishrat is a son of a bitch, and better be retiring off the royalties from that fly.

Big fan of the EP flies.  Light weight and dry really quickly, plus they maintain a big beefy profile in the water.  I'm willing to bet bass would slam one of those perch patterns too, considering they will hit anything they even remotely think is alive.

Went out Muskie/Bass fishing today, but out on Alum Creek Lake, it was total chaos.  Every asshole with a boat was out there, and the prop wash was so thick it was like chocolate milk, 12" of visibility, tops.  Tough fishing with the wake and waves in a little bass boat, plus I was almost positive that we were going to be run over a few times.  Maybe it will be better when the temp drops and the pleasure boaters return to their lairs. 

I don't think there is anything more American than Bass fishing.  While I did get some Brown Trout this weekend (Small ones, not worth digging in the dry bag for the camera, plus they are European anyway), nothing beats a good old fashioned bucketmouth on Independence Day.  Bass are the All-American Fish.  They are territorial, aggressive, top of the food chain, no bullshit bastards that will eff up anything that pisses them off.  Thats how we roll, just ask the Brits.

Basically sight fished this one like a Tarpon.  It was a cloudless day and about 90, and they weren't anywhere near the surface, so I waited until it was almost dark, as I figured some of these things would be looking to blast some of the panfish, which are bloody everywhere.  I kept the fly off the water and watched Bass crash the shallows to smack the bluegill that were picking off insects from the surface for a few minutes, and as soon as I saw the next V wake moving towards shore I threw a 50 footer right in front of it and smacked the black popper down as hard as I could.  Boom, thats all it took.  Killed my fly like SEAL Team Six killed Bin Laden.  Bass are so much fun it should be illegal.

I can't wait for these Bass to get bigger.  With all the bluegill in there and very little in the way of cover, there is plenty of food.  The bluegill are kind of creepy.  In one of the ponds they will school up and follow you around the pond as you circle it.  I've taken to calling them Ohio piranha, because you can see the wake of the school slowly tailing you, as if they are waiting for you to chuck in a side of beef for them to destroy.

Is it bad that I have bagged more Bass this year on my Trout rod than I have Salmonids?

...Nah.

pic does not do this guy justice.  This fish was a football bass, very rotund.  I had to snap a pic quick so I could get it back in the water.  This fish pretty much destroyed the only hula popper I have left, so I guess I have an excuse to go to the toy store now.