Muskoka Outdoors

Hall of Famer, George Douglas announced the launching of a new fly fishing book, online fishing show, and a contest with the opportunity to win a fishing trip, guided by Douglas.

It is easy to spot a rookie, and sometimes the saying, “If you want to be – ACT as if…” can speak volumes.  Fly fishing Author, George Douglas, announced the release of his new fly fishing book, Fish Like a Guide.

According to Douglas this book is,

“The first of a series that teaches anglers how to think, plan and adjust at the level of a professional fishing guide. The introduction of the book states that you can spot a professional fisherman a mile away. You can tell by the way they move, the decisions they make, their preparation and strategy–and it is all geared for one thing, catching fish consistently… if you do things in a certain way on and off the river, you will become a better angler.”

In addition to the book launching, Kype magazine (Douglas is a publisher) has announced a drawing scheduled to take place on September 1, 2010 for members of the social community at www.SteelheadSalmonTroutFishing.com. Membership is free for anyone to join. The Grand Prize is a guided trip with George Douglas in Steelhead Alley, Ohio, including two complimentary nights at The Lodge at Geneva on the Lake.

For more information on pre-orders of his new book, the drawing, guide service, and to join the Kype Nation Social Community, visit www.SteelheadSalmonTroutFishing.com

Douglas’ Blog: http://steelheadsalmontroutfishing.blogspot.com/

On May 13, Rick Passek took a bunch of youth at risk from a local “Last chance” school to the Fraser Valley fish hatchery for a day of education and flyfishing on the Hatcheries ponds. Please take some time to visit his blog as he chronicles the special day. Rick proves that there is more to fishing than the fish you catch. Thanks Rick for helping Canadian youth.

The link to Rick’s post is here.

Rick has become the author of the “Freshman FlyFisher” book series, providing easy to read information for new fishers, complete with handy illustrations and photos. The books cover all of the fly fishing basics and tactics, and dispel any lingering myths about the sport; a sport Rick insists “is really for everyone.”

I enjoy getting to know ‘the heart and soul’ of the author behind the flyfishing books I read. It brings a spark of insight into the words on the pages that you may not have actually gleaned from just reading the book. More often than not, I find that the author is really ‘just’ the angler downstream from you – fighting the current and loving life. These interviews also allow me to corner them long enough to find out about their favorite fly. That, my friends, is something you can ‘bank’ right into you fly box. What follows is my ‘interview’ with Rick Passek. Rick, is the author of the Freshman Flyfisher book series and is known as the Flyfishing Fanatic.

1. Why has fly fishing become an important part of your life?

FlyFishing has been so important to me for many reasons. The main reason for starting this wonderful sport was because of my Father. My Father was an avid FlyFisher and we as a family spent many days and weekends on the water. While there, I noticed something different in him. He was a typical German born in the 40’s, tough and strict. While on the water though, he was a wonderful, calm, fun man. This I admired, and this is the main reason for my love of the sport, as it does the same thing for me.

2. If you were invited to the United Nations to make a special presentation about “How fly fishing could change the world”, what are some of the things you have learned from fly fishing that you could tell them?

If I were invited to the UN to talk about how flyfishing could “Change the world” I would talk about the above answer. This sport takes you away from the daily grind and teaches you the love and respect of the outdoors. Because of its graceful, artistic nature, it calms the mind, and the soul. This is a lesson that many people around the world need to learn and FlyFishing would help.

3. Why did you write your flyfishing book entitled, The Freshman Flyfisher? What is your favorite chapter? If you could summarize the book in a few sentences, what is the message you would like to get out to the ‘New Generation’?

Why did I write the Freshman Flyfisher book series? Well that is a simple answer for me. I have always loved this sport, and have always loved to share my knowledge with others, what better way than to write a book? If I were to describe my books, I would have to say that they are “Made Simple”. By this I mean that I have taken some VERY difficult and confusing subjects, and simplified them so that everyone can learn this sport with ease. So many books on the market tell you about flyfishing, But none are really simple, These are. In the first book, I simplified the sport of Flyfishing by breaking it down to the simplest form and explaining it in everyday language. The second book, (Due out next week, March 6th/09) is a simplified book on the insects that all flyfishers need to know. I have once again taken the insects, and explained their lives in a easy to read and understand manner. The message I would like to get out to “The Next Generation” would be this, Conserve you catch, enjoy the sport, and pass on your knowledge to the next generation. If they do this, this wonderful sport will be around as long as the human race will.

4. If you were on an unfamiliar trout stream and you could only take 2 flies. What would they be? Why?

If I were going to a stream that I had no information about, and were allowed only two flies what would they be? This can be a tough question for me because I would research the stream before I went, But let us say I didn’t. I would take a Hares ear Nymph (picture right) and a Tom Thumb, why you ask, simple. The hairs ear and the Tom Thumb are an searching patterns. They don’t represent any one insect perfectly, but represent many insects well. These two flies will be taking by trout as Caddis Flies, May Flies, Mosquitoes, Midges, along with many others.

5. What equipment goes with you into a trout stream today?

What Equipment do I bring? Well, this can again Vary from stream to stream, In a small creek I would make sure to have a 00-2 wt rod loaded with a floating line and have a sink tip as well.  In a larger Stream, a 3-5 wt setup is what I would be taking, again loaded with a floating line and having a sink tip with. I would bring a vest or backpack that will be able to hold an assortment of flies along with tippet, weight, clippers, strike indicators, hemostats, throat pump, water and food (Enough for a few days in case you get hurt or lost). I would also be wearing a pair of good breathable waders and a good pair of felt bottomed wading boots.  I also make sure to have a rain jacket in my pack in case of rain.

7. If you could name a fly (perhaps you already have) what would it be called?

As of now, I have designed many patterns of my own, but have yet to officially name any. If I were to name it, I guess that would depend on what species it was for, colors, etc… I have one that I designed a few years back that I call “The Killer Caddis”, but there are a few flies called that out there. I am known as “The FlyFish Fanatic” so maybe something along the lines of “The Fanatic Frenzy” or something may be appropriate.

6. What was your favorite flyfishing moment and why?

My Favorite FlyFishing moment would have to be 4 years back. I went to Engelfeild Bay Lodge in the Queen Charlottes’ with a buddy and My Father (Just before he passed away) We were there for a 5 day trip, and on the last evening, my Father and I decided to troll for Coho Salmon in a small bay opening close to the lodge. While we were doing this, I noticed that there was a HUGE bait ball moving around in a very unusual way, so I decided to get the flyrod ready and have a few casts at this bait ball to see if there were any Coho harassing this bait. On went the Type 8 sinking line on my 8wt rod and I cast just to the edge of this Ball. After a few casts, I had nothing so I changed from a Clouser minnow pattern to a Lefty’s Deceiver Pattern that I tied Just for this trip. I took a cast directly into this bait ball, lefty the fly sink for 30-40 seconds and did a VERY fast irregular strip. Well, 10 seconds after starting my retrieve, FISH ON!!!!!! This was one hell of a fish, I said to my Father, He agreed as the fish took me deep into my backing. I said to him after a few minutes, “This is no Coho Dad” as I could see the wide dark back of the Spring (King) Salmon as it came close to the boat. 25 minutes later the fish came in after several attempts to net it, she was ours. I had NEVER had the pleasure of catching a Tyee, well now I did, and on a flyrod to boot. This was the last Fishing trip my Father and I had together (And he knew it would be) and seeing the smile on his face and how proud he was of me, made this the BEST trip I have ever had.

Thanks for your time and inspiration Rick! I will be checking out your book.

*Hares Ear Photo from maineflyfish.com

Randy Kadish, (Author of The Fly Caster Who Tried To Make Peace With The World) has written a short story that was published in Rackelhanen Fly Fishing Magazine. To lead you off on the story and visit this online fishing magazine  – Keep Reading.

I was born in a city, and grew up in a city, and fish in a city or in rivers that are near train stations close to a city; so when I walk down the street or ride the subways, when I carry my fly-fishing gear, when I wear my official fly-fishing vest and wear my galoshes over my felt-soled wading boots, people stare and probably wonder: Is he an alien?…

Entire Story HERE 

Randall is the author of the book entitled, The Flycaster Who Tried To Make Peace With The World. You can read my thoughts on his book by clicking HERE. The purpose of this post is share with you some answers to some questions that I emailed to him about flyfishing. I did this with the other various authors who mailed me their books as well.

The questions were:

1. How and why did you get into fly fishing?

2. If you could only use one fly on an unfamiliar trout river – which fly would you use and why?

3. Do you think there may be aspects of fly fishing that our World Leaders could learn about that would help them ‘change’ the world for the better?

His responses:

1. I used to surf fish a little on Long Island. Then for many, many years I didn’t fish and never thought I would again – until my mother passed away from cancer.

Needless to say I was full of grief and, yes guilt. My mother was someone I had made peace with yet.

One day I took my one fishing rod and went down to the Hudson River. Immediately I saw the beauty of the river, the outdoors. Soon I found that fishing helped relieve my grief. I haven’t stopped fishing since.

2. Initially I would have two choices: An Adams, which takes fish on any river, or a Woolly Bugger. Because I don’t know the stream, and because most takes are subsurface, I’d choose a Woolly Bugger and cover as much water as possible.

3. I will get back to you on this one…

There is more to this book than the words of the story deliver. You will want to read it over again to make sure your catch the message behind the black letters. Author, Randy Kadish, penned a book that I connected with about 3 chapters in. Until that point, I was not sure how this review would go. I was glad that I kept reading. It then became hard to put down.

Most of the story is set in the time before, during, and after World War 2. It essentially captures the life of young boy who, by accident, stumbles into a love for flyfishing. Like the rivers the main character fishes in, many of life’s lessons begin and/or end with some time in the water and the trout that are held there. Along the way the main character meets some interesting people in and out of the river that contribute big and small to the characters life development. The funny thing is – I have already met many of the people in the story in my own life – you will think the same way to.

What I appreciated about the book and where I made a ‘connection’ was during the flyfishing moments where the main character discovered and finally executed various aspects of flyfishing.

Often times by himself.

It reminded my of many of my early flyfishing hours on the Muskoka River. The joy of seeing my fly landing farther and farther away after each cast and only being able to share that moment with nobody but the river.

That’s not a complaint or a regret.

I am sure many of you had a similar experiences. It is because of those moments I think you would like this book.

This book is more fiction and philosophical than ‘How-To’ manual. You will find out how time on the river can impact your thinking or help you cope with the stuff that life throws at you. That being said, the author does include some terms and instructions in the last few pages that are helpful.

Does the main character make peace with the world? I will leave that for you to read about and decide.

Great book Mr. Kadish!

NOTE: I do not make money from the anyone clicking through the book links on Amazon. Do not let that stop you from checking out the details of the book. Nor, was I paid for this review. The author has sent me an evaluation copy of the book and I have agreed to write about it on my blog. I appreciate the time the author took to do this.

If you have a fishing or hunting product that you would like me to discuss on my blog, please contact me via the link on the top of my blog.