New England Fly Fishing, Red Sox and Podcasts

The occasional blogger wants to share some current thoughts about the subject topics. I listen to a lot of podcasts, I love fly fishing in New England (both fresh and salt) and I'm a huge Red Sox fan. When these topics converge, I have to share...

Rick Porcello, a Red Sox starter since 2015 and 2016 Cy Young Award winner, is an avid fly angler. Orvis posted a video featuring Rick recently, but I also just discovered a new podcast titled "Fly Fishing Journeys" where Rick provides some insights to his fly fishing passion and time with the Red Sox.

ORVIS Presents: Off Season

Rob Giannino hosts the "Fly Fishing Journeys" podcast and has many excellent interviews with New England centric guests. His interview style brings the best out of his guests. Rick's podcast was done during the 2018 season and we all know the results from that record setting year for the Sox. 

Unfortunately, Rick's future with the Red Sox is in question as his contract ended in 2019 and, to date, he has not been offered an extension by the team

Wherever he lands in 2020, I will still be a big fan and hope to meet him fishing for brookies in New England.

The Meadows Project

-- The Meadows Project --

I came across an interesting feed on Instagram about a month ago called The Meadows Project. Exploring a bit deeper, I discovered the group is based in Southern Vermont and are putting together some stunning video about cold water river conservation and the fly fishing history of the region.

Here's an excerpt from their website.

"THE MEADOWS PROJECT is a pursuit for the protection of Southern Vermont's cold water fisheries and the native brook trout that reside in them. Originally, a collaboration of art, the project has evolved into not only a conservation effort but also an internet based television program detailing three trout anglers journey through the fishing season. the series covers fishing techniques, quirky anecdotes, and up-to-date news about all of the project's conservation and preservation efforts. Tune into Vimeo to watch and Instagram for day to day news."

5 Months

-- Bookends of a Skunk --

That's how long I waited to feel another fish on the end of the fly line. In the eight years of active fly fishing, I've never had a skunk that long. Would like to blame it on the brutal New England winter or lack of time on the water, but for whatever the reason, I'm calling the 5 month skunk over.

The Winter Solstice post last December was the last time I had a fish on the line. I've been out plenty of times -- chasing trout, bass, gills, carp and stripers -- but no luck for 5 long months.

Troutdoors 2013 Video Wrap

 -- Troutdoors 2013 Video -- 

My son Matt (aka Troudoors Fly Fishing) bought a GoPro over the summer and is becoming proficient with getting some nice fly fishing footage both in Massachusetts and in the Adirondacks where he's attending college.

I really enjoy the edits Matt puts together and this summary of 2013 came out very nice. The best part (boast, boast) is the big brown landed at the end. That is the largest brown I've ever landed and the first on a streamer (a black nose dace - one of the first flies I've tied about 5 years ago).

Enjoy...

Winter Solstice and Holiday Cheer

-- Merry Christmas --

We have reached the tipping point between night and day. A winter solstice for 2012 is finally here. There were plans for wetting a line today, but high winds and downpours gives solitude and reflection a seat at the table.

2012 has been an interesting year. High school to college transition for our son, Matt, a spirited election and a world facing many economic, social and environmental challenges. Where to go from here?

As long as the rivers flow, I know where my direction will be.

As we look forward to more day than night, we wish all hope for a prosperous new year and tug with every cast.

Thanks so much for your continued support and following. I will close with some holiday cheer from Matt's Troutdoors Productions.



Best of Troutdoors 2012 from Troutdoors on Vimeo.

Trout Stocking the Nissitissit River

- Nissitissit in Jan 2012 -

We have some beautiful rivers in Massachusetts and one of the local favorites is the Nissitissit.  It is unique in the state having both a "fly fishing only" and catch & release section.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will stock a selected set of rivers with a healthy amount of 12+ inch rainbows, browns and brookies. The Nissitissit is one of two rivers in the Northeast District to receive the biannual stocking.

Given tight state budgets and very short staff with the DFW, the state does a phenomenal job with raising healthy and vibrant fish then distributing them through out the Commonwealth.

Altitude Sickness

Forgive me for not posting for some time now.

My son, Matt, and his friend, Michael, remixed their video from our Rocky Mountain fly fishing last July.

Makes me want to get back to Colorado very soon.

Update: Michael's remix made the Orvis Friday Film Festival last week! Congratulations, Michael!

Mile High Fly -- The Movie

 -- Director and Cinematographer --

When I was a kid going on vacation, my dad would take hundreds of pictures with his Nikon cameras on Kodak Ektachrome film and create engaging, music synchronized slide shows with multiple projectors. He would spend weeks putting these shows together and finally, on that special night, we would file down to the finished basement, take a seat at the bar, grab a Coke and some popcorn, dim the lights and the show would begin. For the next twenty minutes, we would relive every waking moment of our vacation through the eyes of my father and his Nikon cameras.

While the slideshow would sometimes drag on, I fondly look back at these special family moments of gathering as a simple way to be together, to enjoy each other and laugh about the memories captured on film from our recent vacation.

Four months have passed since our wonderful Colorado vacation in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. In true spirit of the classic vacation slide show, my son and his friend have put together a great video recapping all the highlights of our trip.

Grab a Coke and some popcorn, pull up a seat at the bar, dim the lights and enjoy....



Special thanks to Flies & Fins for the soundtrack.

A view from Gin Clear's better half...

-- A family adventure --

For years, we have vacationed in a quiet, Maine, mountain town. The agenda was always the same--a canoe trip on the Androscoggin, climbing a White Mountain 4,000 footer, fishing mountain lakes and streams and an evening of laser tag, provided the family with a sense of security and relaxation.  Our son, Matt, was about to enter his senior year of high school, and we wanted one spectacular family vacation, choosing Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.  Colorado offered some of the country's finest fly-fishing opportunities.

-- Bait Chucker --

I grew up a bait chucker, fishing for perch in a 16 foot Lyman on Lake Erie.  For four years, I lived on a trout stream in Meshoppen, PA and would take my spinning rod to the water, catching trout and suckers. I put the rod away after an unexpected encounter with a copperhead.

On one of our early vacations in Maine, I decided to bring my spinning rod and show my rambunctious son the joy of fishing.  After the first bluegill, my son was hooked.  Fishing replaced dinosaurs as his universe.

-- One of his first fish --

When Matt was in grade school, we had a deal -- get the homework done and we'll go fishing after dinner.  The little pond down the street was full of bass and it became routine. Over the years, Matt has become an accomplished bass fisherman.  Sometimes, I would join him. Dog leash in one hand and fishing rod in the other.

-- Another 3 Bass Night --

-- First Brownie on the Fly --

I don't know how Matt became aware of the sport of fly fishing, but one day he asked me to take him to Wal-Mart to buy a $60 fly fishing rod and reel combo.  He practiced casting in the front yard and soon started catching bass on the fly.  For Christmas, he was bound and determined to buy the same fly rod/reel combo for his dad and walked over fifty dogs to earn the money.  Soon, father and son were taking float trips and weekend excursions throughout New England, fishing for rainbow, brooks and browns.

-- Brookie in the White Mountains, NH --

When you enjoy something, you have to share it with the ones you love and that is how I learned to fly fish.  Matt was my instructor. He had such skill and made the sport look effortless and elegant.  Matt could easily have been the casting double for the movie, "A River Runs Through It." As a child, he didn't always have the patience to stay with me and correct my flaws, but would go off to fish on his own.  As soon as I got a wind knot or tangled in a tree, he was gone. I accompanied my guys on several trips and never landed a fish.  Matt was frustrated with me, but never stopped asking me to go.

By the time we traveled to Colorado, Matt was a young man. Late one afternoon, fishing Arapaho Creek, Matt set his rod down and came over to sit near me.  He had caught his fish for the day and wanted to give me a few words of encouragement.  As usual, I hadn't caught anything.  He suggested a Goddard caddis and roll casting into the side of a pool.

-- Look at the smile on Matt's Face --

"Fish on!," I screamed.  Matt ran for the net and waded into the water to make sure the fish didn't get away.  It was nice sized rainbow.  My first trout on a fly.  I don't know who had the bigger smile, me or Matt.

Come Hell or High Water...

-- Meadows of Onahu Creek in RMNP --

... we will catch fish! At least half of this is true. We planned this trip back in March before the Rockies received record spring snowfall. We landed at Denver International with spring runoff on the rivers at record highs, but we are making lemonade out of lemons.

Our first full day hike and fish was up to Onahu Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). With all the rivers and streams totally blown out at lower elevations, we took the advice of Steve Schweitzer (author of "A Fly Fishing Guide to RMNP") to hike as high as possible and fish the streams and lakes.

In addition to exploring RMNP, we planned to fish the Colorado, the Williams Fork, the Cache La Poudre, the Fraser and area tribs near Grand Lake so the high water kept our options limited actually allowed us to focus on a couple of fishing destinations from an overwhelming number of quality opportunities in the area.

-- Onahu Creek Trailhead --

The hike to the first meadows of Onahu Creek was about 3 miles  from 8,700 to 9,500 feet above sea level. While the creek was following fast, the water was gin clear and there were pockets & pools which held some brookies.

-- High, but fishable flows at 9,500 ft --

We have some beautiful mountain streams in New Hampshire and Maine, but nothing like vast open meadows close to two miles above sea level like what we discovered in RMNP.

We all started throwing Parachute Adams, BWOs and PMDs. We had some takes, but the fishing was slow.

-- Moose mom with calf --

As I was switching to an olive slumpbuster, picked up at Charlie's Fly Box on our drive from the airport to the mountains, a moose mom with calf startled me, but they keep feeding while mostly ignoring me.

It was really easy to swing the streamer in the fast flows, but finding just the right current and area which would hold fish was a challenge.

-- A patient, stealth approach to a small pool --

-- Fat, little brookie fooled by Parachute Adams --

My son's friend landed the first brookie of the day by patiently flipping a dry into a large still pool off the main flow of the stream. He worked the pool for about 30 minutes waiting between casts for the small brookies to start rising after each cast.

-- Tiny brookie landed with swung Olive Slumpbuster --

I was working the top of the meadow swinging the slumpbuster through varying flows and depths.  I landed a smaller brookie in a shallow slow flow and had a another take in a another riffle a few minutes later.






While not a stellar fishing day, we were blessed with the beauty of the Rockies and perfect weather.

This is the first post from our Colorado experience during the first week of July.  We had good days on the water with lots of adventure and stories to tell.

I'll do my best to capture these experiences, in no particular order, over the next couple of weeks.

Blessed

-- Blessed by Local Brooks --

With Memorial Day approaching and many other positive events in my life over the last few months, I am moved by good fortune and truly feel blessed.

Like most fly fishers I know, we possess a healthy obsession for the sport and look to learn new techniques, locations and fly patterns that will improve our game. I got addicted to fly fishing podcasts and now listen to everyone that I can find and load onto my iPhone.

I've been listening to "Ask About Fly Fishing Internet Radio"  for almost a year now and have done very well with their contests winning Skip Morris' "The Art of Tying the Bass Fly" DVD, a one year membership to the Federation of Fly Fishers, Aaron Jaspers' "European Nymphing Techniques & Fly Tying" DVD, and my most prized win, Tom Rosenbauers' book "The Orvis Guide to Small Steam Fly Fishing".