Read Any Good Fish Lately?

In my estimation an angler would be greatly served, if they took some time to "learn how to read fish".
Notice I did not say, read " a " fish, but, read fish. " Fish " is a language unto itself. It is the language of the experienced fly fisherman. The only school that offers a course in it, is the "Trout Stream".

     It has often been said, "That, there ain't anything deader than a dead trout stream". This comment can certainly seem true when there are no bugs about and no sign of surface activity on the part of the fish. A dead stream can even be those moments when an angler, finds himself, on a very quiet stream and he can observe trout "lolling about" in the clear water, seemingly uninterested with anything. This article however, is about those times when a fish is not seen, but " fish " is read.
     One of the techniques that can be used, to entice a trout to come after an artificial dry fly when there is no "natural hatch" about, is known as "Forcing a Rise", the taking of an unseen fish by repeatedly casting over a chosen spot. My son Chris can attest to the fact, that this is a technique that I employ frequently, much to his dismay, as he is always on the move, looking to explore as much of the stream as possible, and does not have the patience to "beat the snot" out of a particular spot, as does dear old dad.

      Here is an account of  " reading  fish " from G. M. L. LaBranche,

" We were fishing the Brodhead, in Pennsylvania. It was in July and the day was very hot. The water was extremely low and very clear, and the upper reach of the stream just below the Canadensis bridge, which we had elected to fish, did not look big enough to hold a trout of any size. In one particular stretch there was a hundred yards of very shallow water, a small pocket on the right-hand bank being the only likely looking spot. I knew this stretch held many fine fish when the stream was in better condition, and I decided that this particular pocket might be the abiding-place of a good trout. As it was approaching the noon hour, I determined to go no farther up-stream but to spend a half hour experimenting on the little pocket.
      The surface of the miniature pool was not over eight feet wide anywhere nor more than that in length, but its depth below a jutting rock which formed one side of it convinced me that it was worth trying, although there was no actual indication that a fish occupied it. The bottom was plainly discernible, except in the swifter water near the head, and, so no fish could be seen, I selected the edge of this swift water upon which to place my fly. A dozen or more casts were made without any apparent effect, when suddenly a yellow gleam at the tail of the pocket, just after the fly had floated over the lip, disclosed a fine trout poised in the flattening water. Explaining the situation to my companion-who was now all excitement, having seen the fish, and who really did not believe it could be taken.

         On the spur of the moment I decided to try to prove my theory (forcing a rise- jb) at the risk of losing the fish.  I ceased casting to him. We watched him for probably two or three minutes, during which time he appeared to be keenly alert, when he quietly left his position and moved back up-stream into the swift water and out of sight. My opportunity had come, although my friend thought I had lost it. To make more certain that the color of the fly played no part in the affair, I substituted a Silver Sedge for the Whirling Dun I had been using. After about a dozen casts with this fly there came that same yellow gleam,and the fish was back into position again. This time I continued casting, and, although he seemed to "lean" toward the fly each time it came down, he did not take it until it had passed by ten times, finally rising deliberately and fastening on the eleventh cast. He proved to weigh one pound ten ounces.

     To what conclusion does the observation of this fish bring us?

If he had been ready to feed before the artificial appeared , is it likely that he would have permitted it to pass over or near him a score of times before taking?

And when he occupied what I call his feeding position, why did he allow the fly to pass ten times, although exhibiting a certain interest in it each time?

It was never beyond his reach and could easily have been taken.

Was the desire to feed being gradually aroused in him at each sight of the fly?

When he did take it, it was done with such certainty that he must have believed it to be a natural, although quite unlike anything he had recently seen.

One thing is certain, however.

He was "decoyed" from one position to another on two occasions within a few minutes of each other, and by a different pattern of fly each time."      - (The Dry Fly and Fast Water, Geo. M. L. LaBranche)


     This account is a fine example of using " technique " when one reads " fish  ".
The next time you find yourself on the stream and nothing seems to be happening, try " forcing a rise ".
Along with knowing " Fish " fluently, you just may find yourself, proficient in another language.

Stay Classic,  J.B. Martin

New, But Still Classic.....

"The more things change, the more things still stay the same." Its' an old saying, but like most of the old sayings, it comes to town riding on a breath of truth.

Back in 1992 a simple, thought provoking, film hit the American movie houses and began to create a new generation of creature upon the streams of this country. The creature: "The Modern Fly Fisherman", the movie: "A River Runs Through It" and for the next 15 years, give or take a bit, the sport of Fly Fishing began "another" renaissance.

We find this about the movie from Wilkipedia:

"A River Runs Through It is a 1992 American film directed by Robert Redford and starring Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, and Emily Lloyd. It is a period drama based on the semi-autobiographical novella A River Runs Through It (1976) written by Norman Maclean (1902–90), adapted for the screen by Richard Friedenberg.
Set in and around the city of Missoula in western Montana, the story follows two sons of a Presbyterian minister—one studious and the other rebellious—as they grow up and come of age in a time that roughly spans the Prohibition era (1919–33) in the United States: from World War I (1917–18) to the early days of the Great Depression (1929–41).
The film won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1993 and was nominated for two other Oscars, for Best Music, Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film grossed $43,440,294 in US domestic returns"

Impressive indeed.

New Fly Shops started springing up, Extravagant Fly Fishing Shows, the Outdoor Channels were offering Fly Fishing Only T.V. shows, new fly patterns, new gear,  the "Fly Rod" became the "I-Phone" of it's day back just a few years ago.

I was not untouched by this "cool way to fish " either in that day, even though I had been on the stream with fly rod in hand since the 1960's (my gray hair is real, thank you). In 2004, with the help of my son Chris, we put together a "fly fishing web site" called "Classictrout.com".  The vision for ClassicTrout was to keep alive the fly fishing heritage and tradition of fly fishing that existed "before the MOVIE".

Now don't start writing letters to the editor here.

I loved the movie.

But there was such a "rush" to "modernize" and "revolutionize" the sport, due to its' new and almost maniac popularity, that I felt a deep breath needed to be taken and to try and stop some of the "gold rush" mentality.
Not looking for martyrdom or seeking to make myself in my mind, better or mightier than others, I just felt that perhaps, there was a need for a return to some of the "old days", whether they were the good old ones or not. Afterall, fly fishing is known as, "The Contemplative Man's Sport."

Now, with that said, I honestly don't care how another angler fishes or even what his motives are, afterall angling is about the pursuit of enjoyment, so go ahead, to thine own self be true! Enough said.

Now, however, we find ourselves again at another crossroad in the sport. The Internet and Social Media.
Yes, there is an effect on this sport by the Internet, there has been one for quite sometime now. Here I lean totally in the other direction in embracing the newest in technology (obviously, or I would not be writing a blog and you would not be reading it).  The wonderful thing here is that it offers the same flexibility to all.
We can can write and share our experiences, we can educate, we can be educated, we can inform and we can socialize and enjoy. Private Forums on web sites have taken a "nose-dive" across the Internet. While they are still sought out by the "newbie" who is in search of info about his particular situation. The more established practitioner seeks a quicker more "accessible" venue to ask a question, read a post, look at or post a photo or video. This is where Social Media meets the Fly Fisherman. The research confirms it.

So it is with this in mind that I have "UPDATED" to the masses.

ClassicTrout.com is now for the most part entirely a Facebook based enterprise. This blog will be active with my personal thoughts, stories and tall tales, I hope you enjoy them.

Please comment as freely as you wish.

Jim JB Martin