CHECK LIST: 
FISHING LICENSE & TROUT STAMP, HAT, SUNGLASSES, MEDICATIONS. (SAFELY STORE WATCH AND CELL PHONE) 

ARE YOU ON A TIME FRAME TODAY? ANY QUESTIONS? 

SAFETY: 

ENTER & EXIT BOAT SHORESIDE. EXTRA LIFE VEST, FIRST AID KIT STORED IN FRONT BOAT COMPARTMENT WITH LIFE VEST. TAKE TURNS CASTING & TRY NOT TO HOOK THE GUIDE. 

IF YOU SLIP AND FALL INTO THE RIVER, DON’T PANIC, KEEP HOLDING YOUR FLY ROD AND GENTLY PULL THE CORD ON YOUR LIFE VEST. IT WILL SELF INFLATE. DON’T FIGHT THE CURRENT. JUST DRIFT TOWARDS THE CLOSEST SHORE. KEEP YOUR FEET IN FRONT OF YOU TO AVOID UNDERWATER LOG JAMS. SAY THE “ROSARY”!! 

FISHING: 

TURN ROCK IN RIVER OVER-CHECK FOR BUGS. KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BIRDS EATING FLYS, BUGS IN TREES. REMEMBER TROUT HAVE NO EYE LIDS. THEY LIKE THE SHADE. LIGHT “BENDS” IN THE WATER. REAL POSITION OF WHAT YOU SEE IS CLOSER AND DEEPER THAN YOU PERCIEVE. USE ONLY 1 OR 2 “FALSE” CASTS. THERE ARE NO FISH IN THE AIR AND IT WILL SAVE YOUR ARM. ALWAYS FISH A “BAD” CAST SO YOU DON’T SPOOK THE FISH.  

KEEP SUNTAN LOTION AND BUG DOPE OFF YOUR HANDS AND FLY LINE AS TROUT FOR SURE WILL SMELL IT! DON’T WORRY ABOUT LOSING SOME FLYS TO SNAGS, WHEN YOU SNAG YOUR FLY PLEASE HAND YOUR ROD TO ME. I’LL FIX IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 

IF YOU HOOK A ‘SHARK’ AND IT WANTS TO RUN, LOWER YOUR ROD TIP AND LET IT. IF IT JUMPS “BOW” YOUR ROD TIP TO IT. ALWAYS WET YOUR HAND BEFORE HANDLING A TROUT AND NEVER TOUCH IT’S GILLS. AVOID “THUMPING” THE FISH INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BOAT. TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN TO UNHOOK IT. THAT DISORIENTATES IT. 

NOTES TO “BEGINNERS” IN FLY FISHING 

DON’T WORRY IF YOU ARE NOT A “GREAT” CASTER. HAVE FUN! DON’T BREAK YOUR WRIST. IT’S LIKE USING A HAMMER MOTION OF 11 O’CLOCK TO 2 O’CLOCK POSITIONS.

MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER: 

DON’T START YOUR FORWARD CAST UNTIL YOUR BACKHAND CAST IS STRAIGHT BACK IN THE AIR. IT’S OK TO LOOK BEHIND YOU WHILE CASTING. STRIP OUT THE AMOUNT OF LINE YOU WANT TO CAST FIRST. LIFT ROD TIP TO GET AS MUCH LINE OFF THE WATER BEFORE YOU CAST. LESS NOISEY. YOU CAN START WITH A ROLL CAST OR START USING A DELIBERATE “JERK AND STOP” MOTION. MAKE THE ROD “TIP” DO ALL THE WORK NOT YOUR ARM. 

DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW FAR YOU CAN CAST. IF IT’S WINDY, CAST “WITH” THE WIND OR SIDE ARM AND LOW TO THE WATER. REMEMBER SURFACE WATER IN A RIVER IS MOVING AT MANY DIFFERENT SPEEDS. YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR FLY AND THE FLY LINE FLOATING AT THE SAME SPEED. TO AVOID “DRAG” I.E. YOUR FLY IS DRIFTING FASTER THAN THE WATER IT’S FLOATING ON.  

TO AVOID THIS YOU CAN DO SEVERAL THINGS:

#1. “S” CAST

#2. MEND THE LINE ONE OR TWO TIMES QUICKLY JUST AFTER CASTING.

#3. SHAKE EXTRA LINE OUT. AFTER MENDING, WIGGLE THE TIP OF YOUR ROD FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO RELEASE MORE FOR A LONGER DRAG-FREE DRIFT.  

WHEN CASTING TO A RISING TROUT, CAST 3 FEET ABOVE THE RISE FORM. REMEMBER EVEN THE RISE FORM IS DRIFTING DOWNSTREAM! TO SET THE HOOK, KEEP YOUR LINE TIGHT WITH THE HAND THAT HOLDS THE FLY ROD AND QUICKLY RAISE YOUR ROD UP AND ABOVE LIKE THE “STATUE OF LIBERTY”.

ALWAYS SHARPEN YOUR HOOKS BEFORE FISHING. YOU’LL CATCH MORE FISH.

JOHNSON’S SEMI-SECRET FISHING TIPS

1. In fly fishing, “drag” on your fly is the number one reason for not catching fish.

2. Remember your fly line casts a shadow over the water that will spook the fish.

3. Rainbow Trout tend to feed in groups and like fast water hang outs.

4. Sometimes….you can create your own artificial fly hatch by casting your dry fly in the same area multiple times.

5. Fish the foam lines and water seams where fast and slow water meet.

6. Riffle water areas will always be better oxygenated than flat water in warm weather.

7. Don’t wear blue jeans while wading. Cotton doesn’t wick away moisture.

8. Talk as loud as you want, but be quiet with your feet. Sound travels downstream five times faster in water than sound in the air.

9. Two things make for slow fishing at night. 1) a bright, full moon and mist rising from the water’s surface.

10. For strength, wet and tighten your knots slowly.

11. Lead your fish toward the submerged net.

12. Trout are somewhat nearsighted. They can see clearly up to approximately 15 feet in clear, calm water. 3 feet or less in broken or murky water.

13. Wear neutral color clothing and remove any bright metal objects that act as a mirror which might spook the fish.

Me and Ed Z!

14. When drift fishing from a boat, respect the wading fisherman by not fishing within 100 yards above or below him.

15. You can tell how far a riverbank is undercut by how the current enters it.

16. If you take your pastor fishing, pre-warn him that there is a good chance you will be saying words that are not in the Bible, if a trophy fish breaks off.

17. To keep your feet warm, wear socks that are not too tight. Poor circulation causes your toes to get cold.

18. If you’re ‘outfishing’ your partner, to avoid any hard feelings, casually mention that the flys you are using have been “personally blessed by the pope”.

Success at Comins Flats

19. When you snag your fly on a log, use a strong roll cast to try and unhook it.

20. If you snag your guide, consider giving him a better tip.

21. In hot weather, try to fish water with underground springs or feeder creek outlets. Remember, even if the creek is dry, there will be water seeping in from underground.

22. Join Trout Unlimited (www.tu.org) They are the BEST!

23. If fishing is slow, remember this scientific saying. “You should have been here yesterday”.