Posted by Pat Dorsey on Wed, May 02, 2012 @ 11:48 AM
Steve Parrott's new Czech Nymphing Master Class : On-Stream Tactics for Success DVD, available now is receiving rave reviews for it's simplicity as well as clear and concise explanations of how to effectively fish the Czech, French and Spanish Nymphing Methods in real-world fishing situations.
Here are the reviews:
"This is Steve’s second DVD on the subject of European fishing methods and without a doubt it covers all aspects of these highly effective techniques. I have been fishing and teaching these methods for many years and was pleasantly surprised on how much new information I took away from this video. The Czech, Spanish, and French methods all have their place on the stream and the differences are thoroughly explained and demonstrated. Steve explains all the subtleties involved when it comes to the presentation of the two fly rig in relation to different current speeds and holding lies. Several fish are caught in some unlikely places which only reinforce the message that these techniques allow the angler to be successful in areas they might have overlooked in the past. Whether you have never fished these methods or you are a seasoned angler, Czech Nymphing Masterclass is a must have for your video library." - Steve Korbay - Fly Tying Specialties
"I received this DVD last week and just finished watching it. Steve did a great job with it! The explanations are clear, and the demonstrations of techniques really gave me a feel for these methods. I'm looking forward to trying it out on-stream this year." - B. Ellis
"Congratulations Steve, what an amazing teaching tool to help clear up stream approach confusion using European techniques. Your DVD was very well thought out but, not too wordy, overwhelming a person’s senses trying to incorporate these techniques. I really liked the simplistic approach to each streamside situation. You covered each situation to a finite level. It was easy to apply the DVD instruction right to the stream side. Wow, this has really helped my European Techniques become more efficient. Thank you for building such a great learning tool. This DVD would be perfect for the beginner first starting out or the seasoned angler looking to fine tune their skills. Whether you are using European techniques or general fly fishing, this DVD will help you to read, approach and cover water very efficiently. Congratulations Again!"- R. Kless
Posted by Steve Parrott on Sun, Apr 15, 2012 @ 10:35 PM
Have you wanted to learn how to fly fish or at least give it a try to see if you would like it but did not want to commit a ton of money just to find out that it was boring or way too complicated? The Blue Quill Angler FREE Saturday Introduction to Fly Fishing Class is your answer.
Since the Blue Quill opened its doors in 1988 as a specialty fly fishing shop, we built into the mission statement to introduce as many people as possible to this incredible sport absolutely FREE. There are no hidden fees or strings attached to this deal. All you have to do is show up on Saturday morning at the shop and things will get started shortly thereafter.
Over the last 24 years, we have had several thousand people participate in the FREE class as a complete introduction to the sport or as a refresher to get ready for the upcoming fishing season. The FREE class covers the basics necessary to confidently send you to the river, some heading out right after class and landing their first trout on a fly rod.
The FREE class covers the following:
-
How to rig your rod, including leader, tippet, and knots.
-
How to select the right fly for each season
-
The basics of fly casting
-
How to hook, play, and release a trout.
When class is over, you can rent a rod and reel, a pair of waders and boot if you do not own all the gear, get legal with a Colorado One Day Fishing License for $9.00 and head over to Clear Creek or down to Bear Creek and apply those newly learned skills in a real world situation.
About the instructor:
Gary Okizaki, Blue Quill Angler Guide and Master Instructor has taught this class almost every Saturday morning for the past 10 years. He is an exceptional teacher and can have you casting a fly in less than an hour. His ability so take so many complicated topics and simplify them into a language that is super easy to understand is the key to your success.
Some of our long standing customer and even a couple of our guides attended this FREE class to get their feet wet. WARNING: Do not come unless you want to get hooked into this amazing sport!!!!!
Rods for the casting portion of the class are provided by Sage, but if you own a fly rod, it is best to learn on your own equipment as this is what you will be fishing with when you go to the river.
The class starts at 10:00 am and usually gets over by 1:00 pm. Registration is not required and there is no limit to number of participants. Grab a friend or significant other and get started fly fishing today!!!
For more information on the Blue Quill Angler FREE Introduction to Fly Fishing Class, do not hesitate to give us a call at 800-435-5353 or shoot us an email to flyfish@bluequillangler.com
Posted by Steve Parrott on Mon, Apr 09, 2012 @ 10:12 PM
Finally, we have in stock Steve Parrott's long awaited second DVD in his educational European Nymphing series, Czech Nymphing Master Class : On-Stream Tactics for Success.
Learn to Fish the European Methods like a Pro!
Czech Nymphing Master Class : On-Stream Tactics for Success gives you an on-stream river clinic on how to effectively use the Czech, French and Spanish Nymphing Methods. Steve Parrott shows you how to read constantly changing river conditions and how to match the water with the method. In this on-stream class, Steve shares the tricks of the trade that will help even the most seasoned anglers find new opportunities in overlooked water.
Czech Nymphing Master Class : On-Stream Tactics for Success covers:
-
Reading and managing the water – how the currents are flowing and how to adjust fishing technique to take full advantage of conditions.
-
Drift/Leading strategies – how to adjust rod tip path and speed to ensure most effective drift
-
Casting strategies – Changing rod planes and casting angles to get your flies into those impossible places
-
Selecting flies – how to choose the right fly based on method and water conditions.
-
Putting it all together – how to position your body to cover a run and how to set up your fly box for efficiency.
This Master Class is the perfect companion to “Czech Nymphing 101 & Related European Methods” to build your on-water skills and truly hone your European Nymphing Techniques.
Posted by Steve Parrott on Sun, Apr 08, 2012 @ 10:31 PM
Spring in Colorado is one of the best times to fish as certain rivers are thawing out and others are increasing just enough in temperatures to get the aquatic life moving which gets the fish into a more active feeding mode.
One of the most overlooked fisheries in Colorado during the Spring months are our abundant lakes. Most are completely ice free by the first of April and the fish are hungry. Typically, most anglers are heading to the rivers after a long winter and do not give lakes a second thought which is great as the crowds are low and the fishing can be outstanding!!!.
Blue Quill Angler fly fishing guide, Joe Shafer knows all too well the benefits of hitting the lakes right after ice off which have really paid off with some incredible fishing as of late. Joe fished opening day at Spinney Reservoir in South Park on Monday, April 3. Air temperatures were in the 40's with water temps hovering around 37. You might say that this is still winter fishing but the slightest changes of water temps in the lake really get the fish into feeding mode.
According to Joe, “It didn't matter how cold it was, the fishing was simply unreal! The average fish was between 18-20 inches with a bunch of fish that where 20-24 and a few that didn't make it to the net that where bigger. Joe landed rainbows, cuttbows, a 23 inch brown, and a 19 inch pike that hit a size 18 midge. Tell me he was not hungry!!!
Joe's best producing patterns were small eggs, #10 and 12 Woolley Buggers, #14 and 16 Copper Johns, #14 and 16 Scuds, #14 San Juan Worms in brown and pink, Dark Chironomid patterns and Halfback Nymphs.
Joe targeted the south and east side of the resservoir which get the most warming degrees of the day fishing the flies static under an indictor with a slight twitch every now and then to give them some movement. Trout in lakes this time of year in Colorado are cruising but not readily willing to chase very far so a static nymph rig is the best choice. Most of the fish Joe hooked and landed were about 20 feet from shore, cruising the transitional zone where the shallow, warmer water meets up with the cooler, deeper water.
Since the ski season was pretty much a bust here in Colorado, anglers looking for a little solitude and great fishing shoud take a second look at the lakes. In Joe’s opinion, “fly fishermen are missing out if they don't try fishing a reservoir in the spring”. It’s not to late as many of the reservoirs are just opening up. If you would like more information on fishing lakes in Colorado or would like to book a trip with Joe, give us a call at 800-435-5353.
Posted by Steve Parrott on Wed, Mar 21, 2012 @ 04:50 PM
The Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty is a great addition to your spring fly selection. For the next several weeks, anglers can expect to see dense midge hatches in most watersheds. Observant anglers will notice two different sizes of midges hovering above the water’s surface. The larger variety, “the spring midge” is a size 18 and routinely mistaken for a blue-winged olive because of its size. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that it is in fact big midge!
You’ll also encounter lots of smaller midges that range in size from a 20-26. In a variety of sizes, the Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty is an excellent midge imitation for trout keying heavily on drifting pupa in transitional zones such as mid channel shelves and gar bars.
The Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty may be dead drifted with a conventional two or three fly tandem nymphing rig or fished as a “dropper” off a dry fly. The latter approach is deadly in skinny water where trout are suspended just below the water’s surface feeding voraciously on pupae and you do not want to risk spooking them with a conventional nymphing rig.
Photo Caption: John Higgs caught this beautiful 25 inch rainbow on the South Platte River with a Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty.
Posted by Steve Parrott on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 @ 03:15 PM
Sage makes some of the best fly rods in the World but they also revamped their apparel line-up for 2012 which is some of the most impressive products we have seen to date. Functional and stylish pieces that will make your day on or off the water more enjoyable.
Here is the line-up at a glance:
Even a hard day on the water can not spoil the body hugging comfort of our Quest Softshell Jacket. A three-season breathable jacket ideal for layering, the nylon/spandex fabric blend offers four-way stretch for added comfort. Its light weight makes it wear like a shirt, yet its double weave with DWR finish and adjustable cuff with low-profile closure offers stout wind and weather protection. You will get them tomorrow.
Features:
-
Fabric: 90% nylon, 10% spandex
-
High performance double weave with DWR finish
-
Four-way stretch fabric for full movement and comfort
-
High water and wind resistance
-
Laser cut and welded zippers
-
Tool port at chest
-
Adjustable cuff with low-profile closure
-
Adjustable waist at hem
Pre-shaped sleeves for comfort
Fly fishing will never be confused with an aerobics class, and against the cool morning chill mere casting or rowing may not be enough to keep your core warm. Like a warm vest built right in, our Quest Softshell Insulated Hoody features Primaloft® 120 gram insulation to keep your torso warm, without adding any bulk at your shoulders or arms to impede casting. An ideal mid-layer any time of year, the nylon/spandex double weave outer layer offers excellent wind resistance, plus our DWR finish to repel moisture. Your core never had it so good.
Features:
-
Fabric: 90% nylon, 10% spandex
-
Double weave with DWR finish for high water and wind resistance
-
Four-way stretch fabric for full movement and comfort
-
Primaloft 120gm insulation in main body
-
Laser cut and welded zippers
-
Tool port at chest
-
Adjustable cuff with low-profile closure
-
Adjustable waist at hem
-
Pre-shaped sleeves for comfort
-
Fully adjustable hood
Fishing travel demands that your on-the-water gear should serve you just as well off the water. Unlike many tissue-weight convertible pants, our UPF 30+, quick-dry 100% nylon Seychelles pants have some substance to them, ideal for under waders or dressed up for social hour. The knees are pre-shaped for extended comfort sitting in a boat, plus a gusseted crotch gives you greater range of leg movement. Quickly zip off the pant legs for wet wading or hiking. So throw another box of flies in your duffel - there is no need to take another pair of pants along.
Features:
-
Fabric: 100% nylon
-
Wicking
-
Quick-dry
-
UPF 30+
-
Anti-odor finish
-
Built-in belt with laser cut and welded technology
-
YKK zippers
-
Pocket clip to keep keys secure
-
Hidden pliers pocket in cargo pocket
-
Pre-shaped leg with articulated knee
As you are poling around the flats with the sun scalding your back and the glare bouncing off the water, ''exposed'' feels like an understatement. With our naturally venting Keys Crew, protection and comfort are synonymous. Anti-odor with a UPF of 30+ and the fast wicking properties of 100% polyester, the pre-shaped sleeves snuggly fit your arms to reduce wind resistance and casting fatigue. The cuffs extend over the top of your hand for increased sun protection. Take that, sun!!
Features:
-
100% polyester
-
Wicking
-
Quick-dry
-
UPF 30+
-
Anti-odor finish
-
Heat transfer labels (scratch-free)
-
On seam thumb hole for added sun protection
-
Raised collar adds extra sun protection for back of neck
The only thing better than a great day of fishing is looking good doing it. Your cast has style, so why shouldnt your shirt? Our Opala Guideshirt is 100% nylon so it wicks and breathes extremely well, with no need for outdated venting. With a soft, cottony look and feel, you can go straight from the boat to the lodge without missing a beat. Who knows, this could even become your favorite ''around town'' shirt. You are going home, right?
Features:
Wool and fishing have a storied history, and we’ve begun a new chapter. Our Kanektok Wool Pro Half-Zip features Polartec ® Power Dry® fabric, combining wools durable insulating qualities with polyester to create a mid-layer garment you will not want to take off. As comfortable as it is attractive, you will be hoping for cooler days on the water just for the excuse to wear it. Machine washable for easy care, its soft nap feels great next to the skin on days a base layer isn’t needed. We said you would be looking for every excuse possible!Features:
-
Fabric: Polartec ® Power Dry ®
-
36.6% polyester
-
33.4% recycled polyester
-
30% wool
-
Fast wicking and quick drying performance
-
Articulated sleeves for active comfort
-
Perfect layering piece with next to skin comfort and high warmth-to-weight ratio
-
Machine washable
-
YKK zippers
Sage created a stellar line-up that will keep you going strong no matter the weather. Check them out today!!!
Posted by Steve Parrott on Thu, Mar 08, 2012 @ 11:11 PM
Most anglers hang up the waders and rods for skis in the Winter months but for the die hards that are willing to brave the snow, wind and frigid temperatures, the reward is usually better than the sacrifice.
One of our senior guides, Joe Shafer spent Monday and Tuesday of this week on the "Dream Stream" section of the South Platte River in Colorado. The weather was fair with warming temperatures but brutal wind which has been exceptionally bad this year with gusts up to 70mph.
Joe started fishing at the lower bridge and then above the bridge to the first rock garden. The river fished pretty well but not a ton of spawing fish in these sections as of yet but they will move in there soon.
Joe landed a few nice 20+ inch fish with a good numbers of stocked fish in the 10-16 inch range. Patterns that worked well were eggs, 18 to 20 Copper John's, 20-22 Blue Wing Olive Nymphs and 20-22 midges.
Back on Tuesday to battle the wind again and fished the lower section from the inlet into Elevenmile Reservoir upstream. Lots of Cutthroat's in the lower section ready and willing to eat. There were a few big rainbows moving around feeding like crazy and the same flies worked as the first day.
The Inlet to Elevenmile Reservoir is open a couple hundred yards from shore and the water temps where cold, ranging from 35-38 degrees. There were lots of other brave souls on the river and when we could get away from the crowds we saw a lot more fish moving around and willing to eat.
Winter fishing is for the bravest at heart, especially on the "Dream Stream" section of the South Platte River, but the rewards for toughing it out are usually pretty great!!
Posted by Pat Dorsey on Sat, Mar 03, 2012 @ 10:31 PM
Finally!!!! After a really long wait (18 months) we have Steve Parrott's new Czech Nymphs in stock!!
We all have our "confidence" flies and according to Steve, these are three patterns he will not leave home without!!! Designed by Steve and tied by Umpqua Feather Merchants on the new Umpqua Competition C300BL Grub/Czech hook, these quality flies will surely find a place in your European Nymphing aresenal as well!!
Featured
in Steve's First DVD, Czech Nymphing 101 & Reltated European Methods, this fly is a real killer. Steve incorporated an under and over rib on the main body as well as a Magic Shrimp Foil - Pearl Strip - Lt. Green back foil for added flash. The beauty of this fly is when it is wet. The body will darken and the flash under rib will light up giving the fly an almost transparent look that drives fish nuts.
Perfect for the top (dropper) position on the Czech and Spanish rigs as it is weighted just enough to get into the zone but not dredge the bottom.
Electric Caddis Testimonial: Posted by disheartened Rainbow from South Platte River
''I was just hanging out and spotted this really flashy caddis looking pattern drifting down the river in front of me, then it was like a flash of light from Men in Black or something and I forgot all I had learned during my years refusing all those flies and I ate it!!! Needless to say, it was in fact not real and I was taken away momentarily to a rubber coated something and had my picture taken before I was released back to the water. Fellow trout beware, this looks real but IT IS NOT!!!!! (see mug shot below)
This is another "confidence" fly that Steve will never leave home without. The weighted under body and slim profile get the chartreuse S&D (Search & Destroy) Grub Czech nymph down quickly and can be used on the point (bottom) position in shallower water and as a top (dropper) fly in the deeper stuff. The super durable body and subtle fluorescent pink "hot spot" drives fish crazy. Ideal for rivers with good caddis populations as well as a searching pattern for your favorite river.
Tied on the new Umpqua Competition C300BL Grub/Czech hook, this quick penetrating, super sticky hook will stay sharp and hold with the best of them.
"When I go to a river for the first time or hit a section of my favorite water, I will always have the S&D Grub on my line. This fly has produced more fish than I can count and I would be lost without it!!!" - Steve Parrott
"There is something about a pink fly that continues to amaze me even on some of the toughest waters we have here in Colorado. This fly just works when the going gets tough, especially in stained or off-colored water." - Steve Parrott
The super slim profile and medium weight of the S&D (Search & Destroy) Grub Czech nymph is perfect for your bottom (point) fly or as the top (dropper) fly on a Czech or Spanish Nymphing set-up. It gets down quickly due to its slim profile but not so fast that it constantly hangs on the bottom. The fluorescent pink "hot spot" gives this fly the right amount of "bling" to entice the most discerning fish.
Tied on the new Umpqua C300BL Grub/Czech hook, it penetrates quickly while setting the hook and stays put during the fight!!!
There is a reason these three patterns are Steve's "confidence" patterns and after fishing these a day on the river, we are sure you will feel the same way!!!
Posted by Steve Parrott on Wed, Feb 29, 2012 @ 10:02 PM
Tiemco Fly Hooks out of Japan has jumped on board the European Nymphing train with the introduction of the Tiemco 403BLJ Jig Hook. Distributed by Umpqua Feather Merchants in Louisville, Colorado, this hook should be available to purchase in early March of 2012.
I was lucky enough to get some samples of the Tiemco 403BLJ Jig Hook from Umpqua a couple of weeks ago and have been tying up a storm on them. The first thing I noticed was how stiff they were in the vise. When wrapping materials on other jig style hooks, the hook will flex under pressure but not the Tiemco. I then placed a hook in the vise and tried to break it with my fingers and it was almost impossible. I finally grabbed a pair of Tiemco De-Bard Pliers and was able to break the hook. These babies are STRONG!!!!
They have a 60 degree bend at the eye and will accommodate a slotted or slotted faceted tungsten bead nicely. The hooks come from the factory barbless so there is no need to pinch down the barb and they are sharp!!! The needle point provides great penetrating power and I could not wait to see how they held a fish.
Once out on the water with the Tiemco 403BLJ, fish stayed on the hook and the point stayed incredibly sharp most of the day. Several fish were landed in the 16 to 18 inch range on the #16 403BL throughout the day and there were no issues with the hook bending or breaking.
The Tiemco 403BLJ Jig Hooks are available in sizes 12, 14 and 16 right now with hopefully some larger sizes coming in the future. Look for them soon at you local fly shop or at the Blue Quill Angler.
Posted by Steve Parrott on Mon, Feb 27, 2012 @ 08:54 PM
We all have our favorite patterns that we use each and every time on the river. Some days they work great and others just mediocre. Why not spice those old patterns up a little by incorporating some fluorescent tying materials to really make them "pop"
The addition of brightly colored fluorecent dubbings as well as fluorescent thread collars or tags can really make a difference when the going gets tough. One particular type of nymphing comes to mind when I think about the use of fluorescent materials in fly patterns, the European Nymphing Techniques. These brightly colored fluorescent section incorporated into the flies are often reffered to as "hot spots" or "trigger points"
When I look at most of the European style patterns in my fly box or in magazine articles, there is almost always some type of hot spot or trigger point somewhere. It could be a small section of fluorescent dubbing separating the thorax from the head on the grub/Czech flies or a hot orange collar behind the bead on the French micro nymphs. There are instances where I will use a fluorescent wire for the ribbing on my flis or add a small section of fluorescent material near the tail, which I have found extremely beneficial in heavily pressured waters.
The most important question you should be asking yourself right now is??? Why do Hot Spot or Trigger Points stack the deck in your favor?
The answer to this is really simple once you comprehend what happens to the different colors of light as the water you are fishing gets deeper and how fluorescent materials react to that light.
Fluorescent types of material reflect light at a longer wavelength than it receives. How does this effect your flies tied with fluorescent materials? Fluorescent materials absorb any light color in the spectrum and will still reflect their representative color. The water column disperses most of the Blue, Yellow, Green and Orange light as you gain depth where Red and Violet colors are still present.
This creates a huge advantage over flies tied without fluorescent materials as they will appear dark brown or black with a brightly colored section glowing like a beacon in those deeper runs. This is an open invitation for fish to check it out and since they cannot grab the fly and inspect it with their hands, they use their mouth!!!
Below is a picture taken under Ultraviolet light showing some flies tied with fluorescent hot spots while others were not.
Flies at the top of this image do not have a ''hot spot'' incorporated into the fly. As you move down the page, there are patterns that have a dubbed hot spot, a thread hot spot either behind the bead or at the tail of the fly and then flies with fluorescent orange beads
You can see that most of the colors of the flies are hard to distinguish but the fluorescent orange and fluorescent chartreuse colors really glow.
Here is a picture of the same page of the fly box taken under natural light.
Pretty amazing the difference the addition of fluorescent materials into your fly patterns makes!
What is the best fluorescent color to use for your hot spot's or trigger points
For deep, dark streams with little or no penetrating light, often found back East or in the Pacific Northwest or water that is off-color due to run-off or a recent rain event, Fluorescent Yellow, Fluorescent Chartreuse and Fluorescent Orange are the best choices. They emit the most light due to their overall brightness on the fly and really cut through that dark or stained water.
For clear, low water, Fluorescent Red is the best choice. Most fish have the ability to process Red colors very well under water where to a human eye it would look dark. The addition of a Fluorescent Red hot spot into your shallow water fly arsenal will provide the right amount of contrast to the fly itself making it more appealing to a fish. Once you get into deeper water where the light is dissolving more, the Fluorescent Red color will begin to dissolve into the body color of the fly. In this situation, the brighter orange, chartreuse and yellow's are a better choice.
How much fluorescent materials you incorporate into your flies is really up to you. I tend to use a bead, collar of thread or a small dubbed section on most of my flies rather than tying the entire fly out of the fluorescent materials which might be too much for some fish. We want to trigger the fish to eat, not scare the spots off of them.
Incorporating the correct color of fluorescent materials for the water depth you are planning to fish into your flies will greatly increase their visibility. By increasing the flies visibility, especially in fast moving runs, pockets, riffles and off-colored water, the chances of a fish seeing them goes way up and hopefully taste testing them as well!!! Look for the ''FL'' or ''Fluorescent'' wording next time you are buying fly tying materials and incorporate them into you flies, you will not be disappointed!!