What fly anglers can learn from Chili Davis

Sep9

If you’re not a baseball fan, Chili Davis played in the 80s and 90s. (He’s currently the hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox.)

Back in the day, when getting a single hit off Doc Gooden was a feat in itself, Davis was asked how he managed to bat .500 against the young flame-thrower. Davis’ classic reply was,”He ain’t God, man.”

The same goes for famous fly fishing authorities. Just because Righty or BillyBang or whoever says you should use this, that or the next thing, or you should fish this way, or this is the way to tie that fly, or has written a book, or a bunch of magazine articles, does not necessarily make it so. They’re just people. And like you, they put their waders on one leg at a time.

By all means, read, listen, watch, and learn. Be open to new ideas. Try for yourself. But above all, channel your inner hippie and question authority.

And you can start with me.

The best anglers are often those who explore many ways, and discover what works for them.

TROUTI

The fall 2016 appearance schedule is shaping up

Sep6

Greetings, fellow fly enthusiasts and pursuers of all things piscatorial. I hope you all had as good a Labor Day family picnic as I did. Incredible food, some stellar wines, a My Father Le Bijou Box-Pressed Torpedo — not to mention some ruthless hands of setback (you don’t want to mess with Aunt Jennie). We’ve been right busy in the currentseams calendar hub. Thanks to all the clubs and shows who have reached out, and if you haven’t yet, but intend to, please do because the slate is filling up. Here’s what’s going on so far:

Wednesday, September 28: Narragansett Chapter TU 225, “The Little Things 2.0.” Coventry-West Greenwich Elks Lodge, 42 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI. For more information and directions, visit narragansett.tu.org.

Tuesday, October 11: Mianus Chapter TU, “The Little Things 2.0” Waveny House, New Canaan, CT. For more information and directions, visit mianustu.org.

Thursday, October 13: Hammonasset Chapter TU, “The Little Things 2.0” (pretty sure we settled on this — if not, it will probably be LT 1.0). Quinnipiac Watershed Association Building, 540 Oregon Road, Meriden, CT. For more information and directions, visit hctu.org.

Saturday, November 5: Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum 10th Annual Art of the Angler Show, “Wet Flies 101.” I’ll be speaking at 1pm, and tying before and possibly after. Since wet flies is the subject, that’s probably what will be on the vise, though as always I am happy to take requests. The show is two days, but I’m swinging Saturday only. For more information, visit cffcm.com/programs-events/art-of-the-angler-show/.

Looking forward to 2017, I have one local gig scheduled, and I plan on presenting again at The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, MA, January 20-22. Subjects, dates and times are still TBD, and I’ll let you know as soon as I do.

Thank you all for your kind words, your enthusiasm, your questions, and for reading currentseams.

All this talking is going to make me thirsty.

EinBeer

Housy Smallmouth Report: And then there were none

Sep4

That inflammatory title doesn’t refer to the fish — plenty of Micropterus dolomieu to go around — but rather to the number of big, classic Connecticut fly fishing rivers currently with flows in the triple digits of cfs.

While neither extreme is preferable, I really don’t enjoy fishing in low water. Like the Farmington, the Hous (96cfs, 75 degrees) is rapidly becoming a featureless rock garden. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Hermine is going to give us even a temporary respite (I understand that going back to 2015, our state is at a 14-inch rain deficit). And so we carry on.

But enough of the negative waves.

Yesterday was a good day for a little father-sons wet-wading fly fishing for smallies expedition. Here are a few shots from Dad’s brag book.

Cam’s on! Cam says: “These things fight like little steelhead.”

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