It's that time of year again - when the PA Fish & Boat Commission releases their adult trout stocking schedule for the year. This always makes me smile, as it means Spring is just around the corner!

If you're a PA angler, or figuring a trip here to do some trout fishing this year, you can tell when your favorite stream will be stocked. The list is searchable by county. If you're not certain the county of your favorite streams, the Commission has maps of the state that can show you everything you want to know. 

​You can see the stocking list HERE. 

​You can read all about getting a fishing license & all the regulations on their website HERE.  

I would recommend that you read the section on the fishing regulations, as there have been changes made to the trout season this year, in response to the pandemic. For example, the season is starting earlier this year, so the open waters will be closed a little earlier, too. This, & other changes, you need to be aware of before you attempt to wet a line in PA this season. 

Spring is coming!!!.......& it won't be long before we can all enjoy the hatches, the fish, & the beauty of a trout stream in spring!!

I'm always looking for good sources of angling information, so I was very pleased when I was shown this great reference about knots, hooks, lures, & more. 

Different knots have different functions, so it's always good for any angler to know how to tie a few different knots for the different situations we find ourselves in along the water. For example, there would be times when you want your fly to be able to twist & move freely from the tippet without causing tangles in your leader. Other times you might want your fly to remain tight to the tippet. It all comes down to the type of fly you're using & how you want that fly to move in the water. 

Most of us know a few knots & we use them all the time. If that works for you, fine but look this list over anyway. You might find a knot you like better - one that might be easier to tie, holds better, & is faster to tie. This is the case with me: typically when I need to tie a knot somewhere in my setup, the trout are rising, my hands are shaking a little from excitement, & I'm in a hurry. So if I can tie a knot that's easy for me to tie, holds very well, & gets me back in the game faster I want to know that knot! This reference is a good place to look for new knots that just might become your favorites to use. 

You can see & read this great material HERE. 
I found it so valuable, that I've also added it to the Links page on this site. 

Special thanks to Boy Scout Sean & his assistant troop leader Matt for sharing this resource with me. Thanks, guys!! 

If you're here reading this, you're probably already into fly fishing - or have a loved one who is - & so you already know all about the sport. But when fly fishing get the attention of the larger portions of our society, it's always nice. Hence, this story that aired on CBS News late this past summer. 

I like this video if for no other reason than to see Joan Wulff. In her 90's, she's still out there & getting it done. Way to go Joan!!!

So sit back & enjoy a few minutes of the main stream media showing the non-anglers what it's all about!

I always get a little excited when someone brings me a request to make them a custom fishing accessory. When a friend & client named Chad asked me to make them a custom carrying case for their fly boxes, I was more than willing to give it a try. 

​The idea here was that the case would hold two fly boxes of the same size & that he could wear it on his belt so that his fly boxes would be out of the way, yet always close at hand as he fished & waded the streams. 

I wanted to make this case for a custom fit to his fly boxes - like it was made just for the boxes because, well, it was! Figuring out the dimensions for the case was no problem, as he uses Wheatley metal fly boxes. Wheatley fly boxes come in a few different sizes, so once I knew which boxes he had I knew what sizes to cut the leather pieces that would make up his case. 

We decided on the color & type of leather to use, the orientation of how the fly boxes would sit in the case, & the type of closure he wanted. Then it was a matter of getting to work. First, to measure & cut the leather:

​This case was designed so that the two fly boxes would sit inside one in front of the other, each in it's own pocket. The case would have a flap to cover it. First a pocket had to be made:

​Essentially, this case is two pockets put together with a center divider. The divider would have a notch cut out in the middle to make removing the fly boxes easier. Once the two pockets were stitched together it was time to sew the back & flap piece on. A belt loop was stitched onto the back piece of the case, then the pockets were stitched to the back. Once that was done, a brass stud closure was installed, the raw edges of the leather were buffed & dyed, & the case was complete. 

Because of the design of this case I had to hand stitch the entire item. There was no way I could make this on a sewing machine. The heavier thread used in hand stitching, along with the classic style of the saddle stitch, helped give this case a truly elegant look. It turned out to be a really fun project!

Do you have an idea for a custom fishing accessory? I'd love to hear about it & make your idea a real, tangible item you can use & enjoy while fishing. 

The Professor is a traditional wet fly that you're probably not going to read about on all the latest fly fishing news sources. It's been around for a very long time. That doesn't mean that it still doesn't catch trout. It does. It's one of those classic wet fly patterns we should all have with us along the stream. 

The short video below is very good in my opinion. I really like it for a number of reasons. First, the skill of the tier is excellent & he does a good job of showing you how this fly comes together. Second, he's using the old style silk (or you could use gut) leader. This is old-school, folks, before hooks had eyes. It is exactly how this fly would have been tied back in the day when it was a new design. Third, in addition to giving you some tips on how to fish classic wet flies, he shows you what this fly looks like underwater, in the drift. That kind of information is invaluable. I don't think we, as fly anglers, do this enough - really looking at our flies in the drift. Knowing that can make a world of difference. 

​Since today is a day for shenanigans & tomfoolery, I'm re-posting this oldie but goody from years ago. Enjoy........

​Seriously though, folks, blue trout do exist - in hatchery trout. This is a naturally occurring, but rare, abnormality found mostly in rainbow trout & in a few brown trout as well. It's believed that this mutation occurs because of an abnormality in the fish's thyroid that produce hormones that cause the odd coloration. At PA Fish Commission hatcheries, they separate these trout out from the others that will be stocked. That's why you never hear of anyone catching one. These blue trout can be found swimming in the pools at the hatcheries. If you want to see a blue trout, contact a PA Fish Commission hatchery to see them.

​To read more about blue trout, please click HERE.

There's nothing magical about a blue trout....or is there??..........

Below is a short, beautiful video filmed on the water of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, set to the words of John Voelker's (aka Robert Traver) "Testament Of A Fisherman". Even though Judge Voelker wrote those words back in the mid 1960's, they still ring true today. 

Take just two minutes & escape whatever the world is tossing at you today to step into the stream in your mind & enjoy this gorgeous video.  

Well, spring can't be too far away - the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has released their annual adult trout stocking schedule for 2020. 

This year, the Commission will stock 4,600 miles of streams & 130 lakes totaling 7,083 acres!! There is a nearby place to trout fish just about anywhere you are in PA. Proudly, Pennsylvania offers some of the best fly fishing for trout in the world. 

Now, I'm not the type to follow the stocking truck around ready to pounce on the trout with my flies the minute they leave the bucket, but knowing when & where the trout will be stocked can greatly enhance your time spent on the water. This is especially true for folks who are making a trip here to PA to wet a line in the hopes of catching trout, or those with very limited time to fish. I always recommend to folks visiting from out of state that they check both the weather & the stocking lists to make sure they're fishing is the best it can be. 

You can look up which streams will be stocked & when on the Commission's website in an interactive list searchable by county, HERE.

Not sure what the county is where you'll be fishing? No worries, the Commission has a county guide, filled with maps & other info on their website. In addition to that you can also read all the fishing regulations & even buy your fishing license & trout stamp on their site as well. It's loaded with good, accurate information.

As the snow falls & the cold air outside sends chills, this a great time of year to tie up all your flies for next season & plan a good fishing trip - & now you'll know when & where the trout will be!!  

I'm sure that most fly anglers are familiar with the writer John Gierach. If you aren't, then please get yourself a copy of one of his books - any one will do - & I'm sure you're in for an enjoyable time. Those of you familiar with Gierach's writings know that he's a big proponent of bamboo fly rods. They come up in every one of his books & he even dedicated an entire book to the subject.

Last year he wrote a brief article about bamboo rods for Bloomberg News. In the article he address the mystique of bamboo fly rods, & touches on why some folks prefer them to rods of other materials. When addressing the question of why someone would spend so much more money on a bamboo rod then a modern graphite fly rod, his answers is, in my opinion, really good:  

He goes on to talk about the differences of bamboo rods - how each rod is unique & feels slightly different; how many anglers like the feel of casting bamboo - how "warm" they feel & the "friendliness" of a bamboo rod. 

One point he makes that I think is really worth mentioning is that a bamboo fly rod will 'break in' as it ages & is used. Bamboo rods have a tendency to 'warm up' after they are fished for a while. I've never been sure if this is the bamboo material being tempered over many casts, or if its a psychological thing where we anglers get more used to the feel & rhythm of the rod. Whatever it is, I know that the vast majority of bamboo fly rods get better with age, where graphite or fiberglass rods will (after many years) wear out. As Gierach puts it:  

I couldn't agree more with that.

You can read the entire article on the Bloomberg News site HERE. 

"The Rodmaker" is a film, about 20 minutes long, about famed Michigan rod maker Morris Kushner. Kushner made innovative & unique bamboo rods of his own design. He was a very respected & interesting character to the folks who knew him. 

Scott Mann, a multimedia producer of InSight Productions, & John Roman, made the film back in the early 1980's (Kushner was Scott's Grandpa). Unseen for many years, Scott offered the movie for sale on DVD for a while. The DVD is no longer available, but Scott has graciously put the film online for all to see & enjoy. Not only that, but he has also posted the full interviews with rod maker Bob Summers & author John Voelker (Robert Traver) that he conducted for the movie - the unedited interviews which are fascinating to listen to. I'll post those here separately later on, too. 

The film is a fantastic look back at an often overlooked, but important rod maker - & as such, a look into fishing history. It's a fascinating & well told story. Thanks to Scott Mann for allowing us all to enjoy it, as I'm certain you will. Enjoy!