What is the meaning of it all?

I have my personal feeling about what fishing means to myself and it is quite simple....fun. But, I have run across others who try to suck to fun out of a relatively enjoyable sport. There are times of frustration when you encounter boat trouble, leaky waders, breaking a rod or other equipment failure. It is part of the game and it happens to every one of us at one time or another where our luck is in short supply on a given day.

This article was motivated by a fishing report I had read on one of my favorite rivers, the Pere Marquette. I prefer to fish the flies only section which is also catch and release. The rules are simple, no creel limit and tackle is restricted to artificial flies only.

Yet the article in question turned from a fishing report into a minor rant about people who use beads. Using a single bead unattached to the hook does not constitute it being a fly. However using beads in the creation of a fly is perfectly legal. Over the years I have had unfortunately run into "the elitist" who tend to think there is more to the rules than they appear.

When I first started fishing the PM I was in my early 20's and of moderate means. I didn't have the extra cash for a fly rod and reel, so I used a spinning outfit. A 12 foot fiberglass Heddon Silver King rod with a Cardinal 4 reel loaded with 10lb test and a drift rig with a fly. I could not tell you how many people told me I was illegal and I needed to leave the river or I would be reported, my gear confiscated, and then jailed and sent to hell shortly after....

I have since had several fly rods and reels and have made a couple as well including tying my own flies, but the rules are still the same as back then. I have even seen some guys with a long casting rod using a slip bobber with  a fly on the end, often a weighted eggs sucking leach or something with weighted eyes. I even know of guys who tie flies on jig hooks so the ride better under a bobber. Never have I thought of threatening them with what the DNR would do once they got a hold of them, but I have secretly praised them for trying something new, for thinking outside of the box while yet staying within the boundaries of the regulations.

Before I get into an idea of using beads into tying a great imitation of a steelhead's favorite treat, SPAWN! I had dared to ask a local shop worker if it was legal to apply a scent to an egg pattern. There are many, many egg patterns in use and I tie several, my favorite being the nuke egg. The response I received was not surprising, but the reaction was. The individual looked at me with a diabolical stare and said that scents were not to be allowed because it went against the integrity of fly fishing. Nowhere have I seen this in the regulations and have even brought it up to a DNR officer. The response I got from a person of authority was that there was nothing in the book that stated the use of scents in a flies only section was prohibited. I still have never tried it, but I'm sure others have and they have been within their legal right.

I have decided to make a fly that resembles a spawn sac made from beads. The idea is simple and the materials are readily available.

I present to you the 'Cody Sac' fly. I will get to the reason for the naming in a bit so hang with me.

Besides a vise I used a bobbin with white thread, a bobbin threader, scissors, a whip finisher, and size 6 tiemco hooks.

and BEADS! 6mm for salmon egg imitation, or 5mm for steelhead or brown eggs. You can but several different colors, but I originally started with three that looked close to color of natural roe.
 

The reason for the naming of the fly is because of a secret material I have used. It is Shetland Sheepdog fur, specifically the undercoat. It is the the purest natural white and it has a slight frizz to it. The fur was graciously donated by my canine companion......You guessed it! Cody

Shetland Sheepdogs have many endearing qualities; they are intelligent, fiercely loyal, energetic, loving, great with kids and other pets, movie star good looks, easy to train, etc. The one thing is they are hairy beasts and do they shed. They require a decent amount of brushing especially since they seem to always run through patches of stick tites! So I had all this hair and there goes the bright light and the wheels start churning.

 

The first few proto types only had the Sheltie Dub, but later on I decided to add some Ice dub for sparkle and sex appeal.

Another key element was the use of transparent beading cord most commonly used in the crafting world. I experimented with braid and mono, but the cord gave the beads the ability to move a bit especially in the 2 bead version. You can find this at any craft store for around $3

The beauty of this pattern is in the simplicity and low cost. When finished it looks exactly like a milting spawn sac without the netting.

Step 1. Put hook in vise. Wrap the white thread around hook 5-6 times and trim excess. Grab a generous glob of white fuzz and wrap on hook. Optional: before the white fuzz add ice dub to taste then apply fuzz after.

Step 2. Cut a small piece of the stretch cord (approx 4 inches). Insert 4 beads onto the bobbin threader.

Step 3. Pull stretch cord through top of the bobbin threader about half way then fold back and hold with two fingers. Slide the 4 beads onto the thread.

 Step 4. Firmly holding one end of the stretch cord, pull the bobbin threader away slowly until the other end comes free.

Step 5. Take the two ended of the stretch cord and make two half hitches.

                                         When its tied it should make a square of beads.

Step 6. place the square of beads with the knot facing the head of the fly. Give it a couple tights wraps at the head and trim excess stretch cord.

Step 7. Wrap over the top over beads in an X pattern several times until you get the desired shape. It seemed no matter how I tried it the 4 beads turned into a spawn sac shape naturally. Finish of the fly to preference. I like using a whip finisher myself.

 All that's left is to trim excess thread. Apply head cement, zap gap, or super glue as desired.

I experimented with several colors and one combo had no fuzz, but tons of ice dub. I even wrapped it in between the eggs to give the sensation off a massive milt with flash. I used green beads and green ice dub as well.

Another variation is using 2 beads with a loose cord to give the beads (eggs) more movement. This version is similar to a fly made by Josh Smith. This version remains unnamed, but I'm leaning towards 'Cajones'

All in all the purpose of this post was to rant a little about people who take themselves too seriously. Life is an incredible journey that's only as fun as you let it be. Follow the regulations in your area and respect your fellow anglers. Offer help, encouragement, and fellowship. It will only enhance your memories and experiences.

In closing I couldn't couldn't mention Cody the wonder dog without his adorable sidekick (and sister)
Kirrah, the sweetest pup who gives daily hugs!

During my exhausting and extensive research I came across some guidlines everyone should follow when applicable to your situation. May you always find what you seek while fishing. May the sun and wind always be in your favor, may the water always be cool and the fish plentiful, large, feisty, and very hungry!

The KINGS are COMING!!!

It's that time of year again when the air starts to cool just enough to cause your mind to wander to cool streams and rivers filled to the brim with spawning fall salmon and steelhead practically on their heels looking for an easy meal of eggs and fry. I look forward to sleeping with the windows open and listening to the pitter patter of cool rain drops landing on the leaves as I'm smiling just as slumber embraces me. Even my dreams become consumed by fishing possibilities as I know that the days are slowly getting slower. But, the true telling sign is when my allergies start to bother me. Humidity is lower as the Ragweed blooms in full, but it bothers me less because I know the leaves will slowly change in color when the Kings are coming home!!!

This King is looking forward to continuing its life journey.

The story of the King Salmon's spawning cycle is well documented. It is common knowledge that they return to their birth river to spawn and eventually die. It is the grand example of the circle of life when you are born, grow, reproduce, die to replenish the earth with your nutrients. The circle for the Salmon is much smaller than ours, but it is a grand event.

In 2011 the salmon runs almost all over the state have been the best in almost 30 years. The rivers were teeming with eager Coho and Chinook Salmon traversing the hazards of dams, predators and most of all fisherman!

The toothy grin of the fisherman and the sharper teeth of the Salmon.

There was much worry about the several invasive species that were thought to threaten our amazing fishery. The Zebra mussels actually made the waters cleaner. The gobys have caused a surge in size in other Great Lakes fish like the Smallmouth Bass who eat them like candy. Lampreys have been an issue for a long while and the MDNR has worked diligently to stop them, but their population has been on the rise the last few years. The greatest threat and what everyone fear will be the knock out punch to our 7 billion dollar a year fishery is the dreadful Asian carp. What many people do not know is that they have been a nuisance since the 1990's and have been kept at bay since so far.

The deadly lamprey, vampires of Lake Michigan.

Dead alewives washed ashore on some beaches last summer.

With the changing ecosystem in the big lake we still have a fishery where the fish are large and in abundance, so much so that the MDNR will be reducing stockings in many rivers to avoid the disaster that happened in Lake Huron where there became more predators than prey due to overstocking to the point the fishery is almost non-existant compared to former years.

The alewife populations have been so high that they have been spotted dead along the beaches like the days of old. They alwives have been of a decent size which coincides with the size of their predators as well.

A nice bunch of Coho's from Hamilton Dam

An early thaw this year accompanied by a warm winter attributes to the large size of the fish being caught in all predatory species of the alewives. While cleaning steelhead at the the fish cleaning station in Holland as early as June I had seen several 20# class Kings with many boats getting their limits.

As a fisherman the King Salmon has become my favorite target species. They fight like steelhead on steroids when you consider their power. They will test every aspect of your gear from your drag to your leader, if something isn't quite right they will put a beat down on you ! They are good jumpers as well, but are not as acrobatic.

A happy fisherman with an August King on the PM.

I was first introduced to Salmon fishing as a 14 year old boy on the Rogue River, just a 5 minute walk from my grandparents back door. It left an impression on me that has made an impact of every aspect of my life. My grand parents no longer live there, but I still go back and visit. They have been planting Salmon in the Rogue again and the next couple years should be excellent. The crowds are something I wish to avoid so I drive north to my favorite river, the Pere Marquette in Baldwin.

A nice male King being revived before release on the PM

The Pere Marquette is simply called the PM by those who love it and fish it. The Salmon return earlier to the PM than many other river because it stays cool in the summer due to the many feeder springs that flow into it. Fish can be found in significant numbers as early as mid August if you know where to search. Thundersticks are an early season favorite below the restricted fishing area and the kings will sometimes tear them apart. The strikes are bone jarring and not to be soon forgotten by your shoulder and arm. Hold on tight and if luck shines upon you then you can land a silver beast in the log infested waters. The kings come in pods that push up the river to their spawning grounds which lie mostly within the catch and release flies only area. Catching a big King on a fly rod on a fly you created on your own can be a feeling that you can't explain until you experience it yourself. Not everyone out there is a catch & release advocate, but the PM demands it and it is always fulfilling experience. Just bring a camera to capture the fish.

A Map of the Flies Only section of the PM.

Another river many people watch closely is the Grand River. As soon as the Charter boats and pier fisherman in Grand haven start nailing them the excitement travels upstream with the fish. There are a few areas that anglers catch fish, but once they hit the 6th street dam in Grand rapids it becomes a circus. Fisherman from all walks of life show up in numbers as the fish start showing up. Spinners, spoons and Cranks can be used in any run that could hold fish. The east wall  produce large numbers from drifters and casters alike, fly fishing is impossible in this area, but it's prime for people with disabilities. The boat ramp area is notorious for the ultimate combat fishing experience if your up for it. Its shoulder to shoulder drifters here. The dam itself causes the water to boil and travel in swirling patters while the water flows out the center and west runs. This is a free for all as far as what fishing style works best. Many tourists come to downtown GR to see the Salmon jump the fish ladder and to watch the fisherman. The Grand also has a few tributaries that can have hot fishing.

Some guys fishing from the boat launch during high waters.

The Kalamazoo has the best fishing at Allegan dam, but it is only for experienced combat fisherman. The dam is the upstream limit on the Kalamazoo and the fish stack up. If you wish to avoid the crowds this is not the place to go. The hottest area to fish is usually on the stairs where there is usually a fisherman per stair and the tempers often flare. Some decent fishing has been had in recent years on the Rabbit river in Hamilton, There is a dam there as well which draws a good sized crowd when the fish are in.

A nice Coho at the Hamilton Dam

The Muskegon is a great river and really awesome if you have a boat. The Kings come up maybe a month after the PM gets started and can only go as far as Croton Dam. People fishing from shore are gathered closer to the dam, but boaters can drift down looking for large groups of fish or fish actively spawning.

Croton Dam in Newaygo, MI

So as the nights get colder and the leaves start to fall my dreams become reality as I will fight epic battles against some of the hardest fighting  freshwater game fish  in the US. Any day now I will sit here less and be on the river more.....any day now......

Fly Tech: Articulated Bunny Leech

This pattern I normally tie in black, but I felt the orange would stand out better in pictures. It turned out quite nicely. My luckiest color for steelhead has always been orange, whether it's and egg pattern, or terminal tackle.

The materials you will need include: zonker strips (rabbit fur), lead eyes, primary hooks, trailer hooks, braided line, lead wire, beads, thread, and krystal flash. All seen below.

The short list of tools you will need are: bobbin, vise, scissors, whip finisher (optional), and some sort of wire snips

The first step is to put the primary hook in the vise. I  used a #4 black Mustad fly hook. Anything with good strength and a long shank will work. wrap your thread from the back to the front and then to the back again to give a good base.

Then you want to take your braided line and cut around 8 inches off of it. Fold it in half and run both ends through the trailer hook and pull then almost all of the way through. Flip the loop through the hook so it secures the trailer in place then run a 6mm bead to the hook.

Hold the trailer hook (#4 octopus hook) so that it trails 1 1/2 - 2 inches from the back of the primary hook then wrap your thread up to the front of the hook holding the braided line in place.

Attach the lead eyes to the top of the hook then wrap the braided line around the eyes. Cover the braid with the thread and run the rest along the back of the hook covering any remaining braid left over. This should secure the braid in place so the trailer hook doesn't slip at all.

Take a zonker strip and separate the fur so you have a tail length of your desired preference. you may have to moisten the fur with saliva to keep it from falling back in place. I like to keep my tail almost to the end of the trailer hook partially concealing it.

Flip the zonker fur back then attach the lead wire and wrap it all of the way to the lead eyes. The lead eyes along with the lead wire will give the fly plenty of weight to sink even in a good current. Wrap your thread over the lead wire to the lead eyes and back holding it in place.

Wrap the thread back again to the lead eyes then wrap the zonker strip with the fur facing up all the way to the same spot as your thread. Wrap the thread over the zonker strip then cut off the excess.

Take 3-6 strand of Krystal flash or Flashabou of your desired color and attach it to both sides of the fly from the eyes to the tail.

Wrap your thread between the eyes and behind it well to hold everything in place securely. Use a whip finisher or a half hitch whichever you prefer. Since this is a large fly with a lot of material I double knot it.

 Lastly apply a health dose of head cement on in between the eyes and and behind it. This will keep your fly in decent shape after a steelhead tries to demolish it.

Try making the fly in different color patterns. This one is chartruese with a green bead and chartreuse krystal flash. The lead eyes are nickle plated instead of painted. You may also use chenille or dubbing the make a bigger head around the lead eyes.

When you remove the fly from the vise take a wire snipper and cut off the the hook just where it starts to bend on the primary hook. The way the trailer hook is set up, you are able to replace the hook if the original gets bent up.

Disclaimer: I am by no means a professional tyer. I tie flies out of necessity to keep the cost of my fishing down. If you know of a better way please use it. I hope this was in some way helpful.

Tight Lines and Happy Fishing :)

Derek DeYoung Interview

Always thinking of something exciting to present to my readers. I thought of doing a piece on Derek while chilling at the beach in his hometown of Grand Haven, Michigan. Derek's works can be seen all over the fly fishing industry on many products. He has painted many recognizable paintings seen in fly fishing shops all over the country and on the walls of fly fishing man caves. Although Derek is very busy he agreed to do this interview with me and I hope all of you enjoy it and get a deeper insight to the man who is a fishing painting master!!!

Derek with a beautiful brown, the smile says it all!

MN: Tell me a little bit about your childhood? When did you become interested in fishing? (what kind of fish did you like to catch in MI?)

DD: I grew up on Millhouse Bayou in Grand Haven, Michigan and spent the vast majority of free time as a kid trying to catch Bass, Bluegill and Pike along the shore or out in our row boat. The DeYoung family as a whole is full of hunters and fisherman, so I grew up fishing and hunting with my Dad, Uncles and cousins in the outdoors. 

MN: How long did you live in Grand Haven, MI before deciding to move out to Montana?

DD: I was born and raised in Grand Haven and lived there until I graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1999. At that point I moved to Grand Rapids, MI to go to Kendall College of Art and Design. I met my wife at Kendall and we stayed in Grand Rapids until 2007 when we decided to move out to Livingston, Montana.

MN: What were your motivations for doing so?

DD: I started doing more and more business out west and it seemed like a better market for what I do. I decided to test it out before the move by spending a month on the road doing a series of art shows with lodges and fly fishing shops.  Not only did the shows go fantastic, I fell in love with the scenery and fishing of course.  Then I just had to talk my wife into it.

The master at work.

MN: When did you seriously become interested in art?

DD: I became interested in art when I was just a little kid drawing with my crayons... it didn't take long before fish became my favorite subjects.  As the third child in my family, there was a lot of sibling rivalry. I was certainly not the brightest child in my family, but I could draw. It was the one thing people often pointed out that I was good at.

MN: What motivated you to become an artist?

DD: You either are or aren't an artist.. and by not following that life/career path, I don't think I could have found satisfaction in life.

MN: Who were your influences in art?

DD: As far as a classical master, one of my favorites was always Van Gogh.  As cliche as it sounds, he always brought such energy to his paintings with such a simple style. That is something I strive for in my own work.

MN: Combining your profession and your passion is really a blessing! Is it hard to balance the two? 

DD: There are times I wish I could fish every day... but I also truly love painting.  The two really work well together and compliment each other.  When I spend a lot of time in the studio, getting out on the water is the perfect place to clear my mind.

4 in 1 panel

MN:  Do you wish you had more time for one of them? 

DD:  Yes, I wish I had more time for both! But like many of your readers, I am a fishing addict! Each year I make it my goal to catch new species, or larger fish. I plan trips to where I might be able to accomplish this.. and every season of angling becomes so different. Last year I tried Tiger Musky fishing here in MT. The first trip out we had three hits, and landed one.. a 52" state record! It was a fish I'll never forget. Five more trips out for musky produced no more hits.. I guess that is the name of the game.

MN: Is there a piece of your work that is your favorite? Which one and why?

DD: There really isn't one favorite painting.  There are bits and pieces of each painting in which I have breakthroughs on... I try to learn from those experiences. I recently really enjoy painting the "Trout Confetti" series.

Trout Confetti

MN: Where is your favorite place to fish? what makes it special to you?

DD: There is so much great water.  I can't really pinpoint one specific place.  I love to fish with friends and family and be able to share those experiences with them.  I also LOVE fishing new water, that is part of the thrill for me, exploring new water.

MN: Is there anywhere that you haven't yet fished that you would like to go, and/or a species you haven't caught yet that you would like to catch?

DD: I have done just enough Salt Water fishing to know that I enjoy it but not enough to really be proficient at it.  I would really like to go someplace and catch a big Tarpon.

Derek making a fish face, self portrait ;)

MN: My favorite piece you have done is the self portrait, the look on your face is priceless. It's give me the impression that you don't take yourself too seriously. Is that the message you were trying to convey?

DD: That's funny. I try not to take myself or my work too seriously.  In that painting, I actually tried to replicate the look on the fishes face in my own face.  I even made the color pallet of the fish and my skin meld together somewhat.  I was trying to convey taking on the fishes characteristics, suggesting I'm spending a little too much time fishing.

MN: Your artwork is amazing, your work can be seen all over the fly fishing community. Most notably Simms and Abel "stuff". How did you get teamed up with such big names in fly fishing?

DD: I realized early on in my career that my work was very marketable for products/marketing.  I started getting approached pretty quickly by companies wanting to use my work. When I moved from Michigan to Montana, Simms, whose headquarters are located 30 minutes from my studio, took notice and made me a great offer to work with them.  It has been a great relationship with them ever since.  We have worked on a lot of fun products with them like T shirts, water bottles, fly boxes, cigar humidors, etc. With Abel, I started seeing their "Artist Series Reels" and thought it would be so cool to have my work on one of them.  It took me two rounds of submissions for them to ask to see my portfolio.  I actually mocked up my artwork on their reels to make it easier for them to see what the DeYoung reels would look like.  We've been working together ever since and have done some really awesome reels together.

 

MN: The Abel reels really stand out and are admired amongst fly fisherman! Is there anything that would rival that in the works?

DD: I'm planing a pretty crazy painting project for next summer. I'm taking my wife and our two dogs on the road in our camper, and spending a month painting some of the northern Rockies most famous rivers. It should be quite an adventure, and it will push me to grow as an artist, which is always something I'm striving towards . We do have some big projects in the works right now with companies you may know, but they are exactly that...in the works. I always announce new products and projects on my website at www.canvasfish.com as well as my DeYoung's Canvasfish Facebook Page.

MN: Are you satisfied by your success so far? are there any goals in art that you would like to achieve?

DD:  At the same time as I am satisfied by the things I have attained in my art career, there are so many things still to attain.  To grow as an artist and to put out better work and original ideas every year is the main goal. All the rest just seem to fall into place if I concentrate on that.

MN: Have you ever considered doing something for ArtPrize in Grand Rapids?

DD: ArtPrize is something that a lot of people from back home have brought up to me.  I know it's been a really great thing for Grand Rapids and I have really admired some of the pieces who have won.  Just because of our day to day business I haven't had the time to invest in a piece but who knows?

Thought this was a great picture and I wanted to include Janell because of her participation in the piece :)

MN: Were you lucky enough to find a beautiful life mate that fly fished, or did she learn the art after you both met?

DD: She actually doesn't really fly fish too much.  She will fish if I set everything up for her to reel the fish in but for the most part she just likes to go out in the boat and enjoy the sun or scenery.  She also loves to cook out on the water or read magazines and thinks its cool when I catch fish.

Spending time together is what really matters :) Not only is Derek talented and sucessful, he is also a lucky man! Thanks again Derek and Janell for the time involved. You guys made this piece really easy for me.