Showing posts with label roughfish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roughfish. Show all posts
July 28, 2015
July 2, 2015
Latergrams - Week 27
Playing catch up. Been a few weeks behind posting updates from Instagram. I actually have been busy fishing! Enjoy!
May 11, 2015
May 4, 2015
April 27, 2015
Latergrams - Week 18
Things are finally starting to heat up in Northern Minnesota, the white suckers have moved in to the streams and are starting to spawn. Soon the redhorses, buffalo, and carp will follow suit.
March 16, 2015
Roughfisher Fly Fishing Presents: Jean-Paul Lipton at 2015 Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo
Come meet Umpqua Signature Fly Designer and Loon Outdoors Fly Tying Ambassador Jean-Paul Lipton, at the 2015 Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo at the National Sports Center located in Blaine, MN. The expo runs from Friday, March 20, 2015: 3:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday, March 21, 2015: 10:00am-6:00pm, and Sunday, March 22, 2015: 10:00am-4:00pm. Admission is $10/day for adults and $7/day for youth ages 12-17; Children under 12 are free. Lipton will be
giving several fly tying demonstrations in the Fly Tying Theater on Saturday, March 21, at 12pm, and Sunday, March 22, at 12pm. Lipton will be demonstrating products from Loon Outdoors like their UV resins and UV Fly Paint. By popular demand, Lipton be featuring a tutorial and demonstration on do it yourself custom dubbing blends for Saturday's noon fly tying seminar. Not to miss, Lipton will be presenting on carp and roughfish in the Gold Room at 4 pm on Saturday, March 21. Get there early as seats often run out quick!
Find Lipton throughout the remainder of the show in the Fly Tying area, hosted by the St. Paul Fly Tyers. Stop by and sign up for contest giveaways and some swag, prizes provided by sponsor Mountain Khakis. Lipton will also have flies available for sale, including many of his latest patterns not yet found in stores. Cash and credit cards are accepted, for your convenience.
How to get there:
From the Twin Cities area, take 35W North to Highway 10 West to Hwy 65
North to 105th Ave. NE.
Turn right onto 105th Ave. NE
Turn right at entrance past the brick marquee.
The Schwan Center is straight ahead.
Parking is located in front of the building.
February 2, 2015
Lipton's Carp Crack: An IGFA World Record catching fly pattern
Meredith McCord recently swept all seven IGFA tippet class world records for smallmouth buffalo, under the guidance of Captain Kirk Kirkland. That's a pretty remarkable feat, and congratulations are definitely in order! Meredith is quite the accomplished angler with several IGFA records under her belt, and Capt Kirk is the foremost authority on guiding for gar. He has ammassed over 100 IGFA world records for all gar species. He's even guided Jeremy Wade of River Monsters fame for alligator gar.
I love fishing for buffalo, and it's always great when buffalo and other native roughfish species get some positive press and publicity. They certainly deserve respect! It was a pleasure to see Meredith's records show up on my social media news feeds and to observe all of the positive feedback she recieved for her catches. It wasn't until I read the photo descriptions and comments that I noticed something that came as a complete surprise, her record catches were caught using a Carp Crack fly! I messaged Capt Kirk to verify that the fly Meredith mentioned using was indeed my pattern and not another pattern of the same name. After seeing a photo I sent him of my pattern, he confirmed that the pattern supplied Meredith with was indeed my Carp Crack pattern. Wow, I was truly surprised!
I have another item to add the growing list of life accomplishments, and perhaps one of the more flattering (and unexpected) ones, I designed a world record catching fly pattern. Ha! Time to add that one to the résumé.
A big congratulations to Meredith McCord and Capt. Kirk Kirkland for your accomplishments, thank you for using my fly pattern, and thank you for letting me share your photos and story!
I love fishing for buffalo, and it's always great when buffalo and other native roughfish species get some positive press and publicity. They certainly deserve respect! It was a pleasure to see Meredith's records show up on my social media news feeds and to observe all of the positive feedback she recieved for her catches. It wasn't until I read the photo descriptions and comments that I noticed something that came as a complete surprise, her record catches were caught using a Carp Crack fly! I messaged Capt Kirk to verify that the fly Meredith mentioned using was indeed my pattern and not another pattern of the same name. After seeing a photo I sent him of my pattern, he confirmed that the pattern supplied Meredith with was indeed my Carp Crack pattern. Wow, I was truly surprised!
I have another item to add the growing list of life accomplishments, and perhaps one of the more flattering (and unexpected) ones, I designed a world record catching fly pattern. Ha! Time to add that one to the résumé.
A big congratulations to Meredith McCord and Capt. Kirk Kirkland for your accomplishments, thank you for using my fly pattern, and thank you for letting me share your photos and story!
November 12, 2014
moxostoma.com - an extensive resource on redhorse and other suckers
I've known about Olaf Nelson's website moxostoma.com for several years now, and I felt it was due to share with the masses again this fantastic resource for redhorse, sucker species of the Genus Moxostoma. These beautiful, native fish, are often misidentified in the field, and many times even after obtaining a good photographic record of the catch. Fret no further, moxostoma.com is your source for redhorse information and identification!
Redhorse can often be a difficult, tricky species to identify properly, especially if you aren't familiar with them or other native sucker species. The proper ID of redhorse can even be a challenge for fisheries professionals. Olaf provides a great downloadable resource of idenitification guides and cheat sheets for redhorse. These handy field guides should provide little doubt out on the water when it comes to properly identifying your catch. I know of serveral state fisheries biologists who use this resource out in the field, so don't feel ashamed for needing it too! Olaf also has prints available for sale on his Etsy page.
Follow Olaf and moxostoma.com on Twitter. If you're on Facebook give moxostoma.com a LIKE.
All of the content on moxostoma.com are free for anyone to download, print, share and use for NON-COMMERCIAL purposes (you can’t use them to make money somehow). Users may not be alter the design and credit must always be given to the copyright holder (Olaf Nelson) and source (moxostoma.com). Rather than posting them for download on other sites, please use the thumbnails from this page and provide a link to this site.
The above referenced work from moxostoma.com is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
September 28, 2014
July 5, 2013
Fly Fishing for Roughfish on the Ottertail River
Join me and Doug Harthan of Front 20 Outfitters, LLC to learn some of the finer points of Fly Fishing the Ottertail River. We are offering a guided fly fishing trip on July 26 for 6 anglers. We will be fishing the Ottertail River for rough fish and anything else that may come our way. That is a great opportunity and price for an opportunity to learn some techniques for fishing for our abundant rough fish, these fish are great fun on a fly rod and challenging as well. The Ottertail River is a great fishery and is definitely underutilized by fly anglers. Don't miss out, give Doug a call or email or use the contact form to reserve your spot! We have 6 spots and the cost is only $50.00 per angler for a day of fishing & learning.
Cost: $50.00 per Angler
Date(s): July 26, 2013
June 21, 2013
Why Roughfish Don't Suck
Reason number nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine why redhorse are beautiful.
Male Shorthead Redhorse in full spawning regalia, complete with tubercles.
Male Shorthead Redhorse in full spawning regalia, complete with tubercles.
March 14, 2013
2013 Great Waters Fly Expo
Just a little over a week until the Great Waters Fly Expo. This is the 10th anniversary for the Tom Helgeson's Great Waters Fly Expo. The event is once again being held at the National Sports Center in Blaine, MN, March 22 through 24, 2013, in the new exhibit hall. I'll be presenting, spreading the gospel of the dark arts of fly fishing for carp and roughfish. I'll also be found in the fly tying demonstration area so find me at the Scientific Anglers and Ross Reels tying table and their vendor booth.
I'll have plenty of flies available for sale, as well as stickers and dubbing, and a bunch of Mountain Khakis swag and their new spring catalog. Can't forget CarpPro, there'll be plenty of stickers available to go around.
See you there!
February 18, 2013
flyz
Someone's been busy...
It doesn't look like much but that's over ten dozen flies right there. That's what happens when you get 18 inches of new snow in a weekend. Time for a break before carpal tunnel sets in.
It doesn't look like much but that's over ten dozen flies right there. That's what happens when you get 18 inches of new snow in a weekend. Time for a break before carpal tunnel sets in.
July 19, 2012
Herding Sheep
Why freshwater drum aren't targeted more with a fly rod I'll never know. They can be aggressive, elusive, selective and can reach sizes over 50 pounds. They've even been dubbed the Great Lakes Permit. And if their saltwater cousin the redfish can be so popular among anglers, why not the drum? Seems to me like a perfect challenge for the fly angler.
An interesting tidbit about freshwater drum is the fact that they have large otoliths, often in excess of an inch in diameter. The otoliths assist drum with their vertical orientation in turbid water. These otoliths have been utilized for a variety of uses including jewelry, good luck charms, and even currency.
The freshwater drum is a fish of many names: sheephead, sheepshead, grunter, grunt, silver bass, gray bass, silver perch, shepherd's pie, "perch", silver bass, gray bass,Gasper goo, Gaspergou, gou, grinder, wuss fish, thunderpumper, bubbler, and croaker. I just call them fun.
March 26, 2012
Sprung
Spring is running well ahead of schedule here in the Great White North, with the second earliest ice out on Big Detroit Lake, just barely missing the earliest ice out ever recorder in 1910 by one day. For a little perspective, the average ice out date for Big Detroit Lakes is April 19. To say that spring came a little early this year is an understatement.
The arrival of warm temps and early ice out threw a little curve in my game. The key to spring fishing is water temperature, though the photo period does play a role in fish activity and spawning. Water temps have of coursed risen earlier than the normal and so begins the chase of running fish. A few early scouting runs didn't produce any results, though I was only off by a couple of days. Diligence this time of year pays off as a single day can bring in hordes of fish staging for the spawn. As is the case around here, seasonal stream closures in a few areas that are designed to protect vulnerable spawning game fish throw a wrench in my fishing hot spots, as these spots are sanctuaries for many sucker species in addition to northern pike and walleye. That's where being adept at using a Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer, Google maps and aerial photos can make the difference between being on fish and being shut out.
My timing was perfect; schools of suckers and no crowds. The advantage to being on the ball when scouting is beating the crowds to the punch. By the time the local brigade arrives, I've already had my fun playing out these staging suckers. The bonus of these stream closures is that since the suckers spawn after the walleyes, the closed areas provide a haven for these spawning suckers until the fishing opener arrives. A little relief from the spear chuckers and bowfishing crowd never hurt anything.
Trying not to foul hook a sucker when they are stacked up like cordwood can be a challenge. Every once in a while, even while I'm trying to be careful, you hook up with a trash fish... the bottom-feeding walleye.
The arrival of warm temps and early ice out threw a little curve in my game. The key to spring fishing is water temperature, though the photo period does play a role in fish activity and spawning. Water temps have of coursed risen earlier than the normal and so begins the chase of running fish. A few early scouting runs didn't produce any results, though I was only off by a couple of days. Diligence this time of year pays off as a single day can bring in hordes of fish staging for the spawn. As is the case around here, seasonal stream closures in a few areas that are designed to protect vulnerable spawning game fish throw a wrench in my fishing hot spots, as these spots are sanctuaries for many sucker species in addition to northern pike and walleye. That's where being adept at using a Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer, Google maps and aerial photos can make the difference between being on fish and being shut out.
My timing was perfect; schools of suckers and no crowds. The advantage to being on the ball when scouting is beating the crowds to the punch. By the time the local brigade arrives, I've already had my fun playing out these staging suckers. The bonus of these stream closures is that since the suckers spawn after the walleyes, the closed areas provide a haven for these spawning suckers until the fishing opener arrives. A little relief from the spear chuckers and bowfishing crowd never hurt anything.
Trying not to foul hook a sucker when they are stacked up like cordwood can be a challenge. Every once in a while, even while I'm trying to be careful, you hook up with a trash fish... the bottom-feeding walleye.
March 16, 2012
the buff
Shadow dancers of the prairies, you intrigue me. You captivate me. You move me.
I'll be back for more.
I'll be back for more.
January 30, 2012
Tatonka
A bruiser caught a few weeks back during our "January thaw", when daily high temps topped 50 degrees for a couple of days.
To be honest, it's not really a thaw when there was no snow on the ground, daily temps were ranging in the mid to upper 30s and overnight lows were in the upper 20s. This non winter has been a joke, but at least I was able to take advantage of it and fly fish in the dead of January. Never thought I'd be able to pull that off in the Great Brown North.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good release shot since this fish still held some vigor and wouldn't sit still for me. For scale, that is a Ross F1 #4 reel, 4" diameter spool. This fish is in the 30" plus class. It always fascinates me that without a good reference, it is difficult on film to capture scale on a large specimen. The typical fish porn grip and grin photo is so overdone it's lost most of its cachet, however, aside from the super-extendo arm thrust pose, it does serve as a decent reference for scale and proportion.
Either way you cut it, it's still a nice fish!
To be honest, it's not really a thaw when there was no snow on the ground, daily temps were ranging in the mid to upper 30s and overnight lows were in the upper 20s. This non winter has been a joke, but at least I was able to take advantage of it and fly fish in the dead of January. Never thought I'd be able to pull that off in the Great Brown North.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good release shot since this fish still held some vigor and wouldn't sit still for me. For scale, that is a Ross F1 #4 reel, 4" diameter spool. This fish is in the 30" plus class. It always fascinates me that without a good reference, it is difficult on film to capture scale on a large specimen. The typical fish porn grip and grin photo is so overdone it's lost most of its cachet, however, aside from the super-extendo arm thrust pose, it does serve as a decent reference for scale and proportion.
Either way you cut it, it's still a nice fish!
January 23, 2012
Working Girls
Carpiodes cyprinus.
I love chasing quillback. They can be some of the most frustrating of the suckers to escort due to their extreme skittishness and finicky ways. To add to the proposition, a john typically finds harems of quillback working the street corners in skinny gin clear water. To say one must creep up on these spooks like an undercover vice agent is an understatement. I've always had to play it low-key, leaving the bling and drama at home and fishing small nymphs like brassies or copper johns. Don't be a playah! Quillback have a small inferior mouth so you can't just force it in with a large fly; you gotta be smooth if you want to party. These ladies finally gave in to the Fresh Pimp Nymph. Then again, a fresh pimp slap will subdue just about any ho.
I love getting fin....
I love chasing quillback. They can be some of the most frustrating of the suckers to escort due to their extreme skittishness and finicky ways. To add to the proposition, a john typically finds harems of quillback working the street corners in skinny gin clear water. To say one must creep up on these spooks like an undercover vice agent is an understatement. I've always had to play it low-key, leaving the bling and drama at home and fishing small nymphs like brassies or copper johns. Don't be a playah! Quillback have a small inferior mouth so you can't just force it in with a large fly; you gotta be smooth if you want to party. These ladies finally gave in to the Fresh Pimp Nymph. Then again, a fresh pimp slap will subdue just about any ho.
I love getting fin....
January 11, 2012
New Year Carp
It might not be pretty or a monster, but I'm on the board for 2012. Plus this carp has an interesting color pattern around it's eye. It looks like it kicked back a few longnecks, got into a bar fight and got shived by some punk ass bottom feeding walleyes and needed stitches, leaving a pretty bad ass scar. This may be the local Tony Montana of the carp population.
The first carp of the new year came surprisingly early, merely days into the year. Of course, while winter carping is entirely possible, it is an anomaly around these parts due to sub freezing temperatures, snowpack, and subsequent inundation of shore and anchor ice. Not to mention that water temps below 39 degrees put the fish into an incredible funk, measurably reducing feeding activity. Nonetheless, this non-winter we've been experiencing up here in the Great Brown North provided a few obscenely warm 50 degree plus days in the dead of January. I'll take what I can get. Any day you can bring a carp on the fly to hand is a good day.
The first carp of the new year came surprisingly early, merely days into the year. Of course, while winter carping is entirely possible, it is an anomaly around these parts due to sub freezing temperatures, snowpack, and subsequent inundation of shore and anchor ice. Not to mention that water temps below 39 degrees put the fish into an incredible funk, measurably reducing feeding activity. Nonetheless, this non-winter we've been experiencing up here in the Great Brown North provided a few obscenely warm 50 degree plus days in the dead of January. I'll take what I can get. Any day you can bring a carp on the fly to hand is a good day.
October 9, 2011
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