At The Bench

Tied up some Royal Coachman Streamers this evening in addition to the crab/shrimp pattern put together a couple days ago for the giveaway.

Time for a Giveaway Worth Nearly $300!

First, a huge thanks to all of you who have read my blog over the past 13 months. I have enjoyed it and look forward to
sharing more in the future.

To enter, LIKE the “I Cast In a Yak” Facebook PAGE and Comment to the
photo (on the Facebook page) about what your dream fishing destination is. Contest runs
through 11:59PM, July 4th. Multiple winners will be drawn and announced in a separate Facebook post and on the this website by end of Sunday, July 7th.

Thank you so much to the
Fairhope Boat Company, Hobie Fishing, and Maui Jim Sunglasses for
donating some really great prizes. For the fly angler, the package
includes a dozen flies I’ve tied up consisting of a saltwater
crab/shrimp pattern I catch saltwater speckled trout & flounder on,
and the tried and true freshwater Royal Coachman Streamer.

Good Luck!

Click here to go to the “I Cast In a Yak” Facebook Page to enter contest!

Organizing Fishing Gear Part 2 – Clothing

It’s 12:00AM and just three hours before crawling out of bed to beat the sunrise to the water’s edge. Frustrated and tired, the one piece of clothing needed is no where to be found.

Sound familiar? The challenge to maximize available space and utilize it for saving time pays dividends. A good night’s rest and low stress is important for enjoying the most out of a fishing trip.

I’m always looking for something that can’t be found just before going fishing. I’ll admit it. So, I decided to find one space that could store all my fishing clothes. I also needed a way to quickly access small and large pieces in less than a minute, literally.

A company named Canopy manufactures a very useful hanging closet organizer that has a hook and loop attachment that wraps around a clothing bar. Three large shelves within the organizer allow for both warm and cold weather under and outer wear. Below are eight smaller boxes that store a surprising number of items to be at the ready when needed.

Those items I wear most and some that are hard to find will go into the organizer in the middle of the closet. Hanging to the right and left are jackets, long pants, or heavier shirts that I sometimes select based on weather or fishing conditions. This simple solution for organizing my clothes will go a long way toward a relaxed preparation for a great day of fishing.

Conservation Articles Published in Kayak Angler Magazine

Last Christmas I entered a writing contest upon viewing an ad. The winner was to be published in a second quarter print edition. I drafted an essay and submitted the paper by the New Years Eve deadline.

A week or so later I received an invitation from the publication to make a query for an upcoming edition. What a surprise! Upon inquiring to the Editor about the contest, he laughed and informed me there was none, but that I could consider myself the winner anyway! I had evidently submitted the entry to the wrong publication, or maybe not. Funny how things turn out sometimes.

Conservation ranks equal if not higher in my book, to that of fishing. In the early summer edition of Kayak Angler Magazine, I have the honor of sharing two conservation articles. I am thankful to have spent some time with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and one of the top tagging anglers in the country, Kayak Kevin Whitley, for developing content on the subject of fish tagging programs. Check it out on page 30. Also, on page 12, read how a small tarpon caught in Mobile Bay is big news for conservation.

Find the print edition of Kayak Angler Magazine at your local kayak shop. The digital version can be found at the following site:
https://www.rapidmedia.com/kayak-fishing/categories/news/item/1252-kayak-angler-digital-edtions.html

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:
http://www.ccalouisiana.com/cca11/fish-tagging-program

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory:
http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/

For info on Kayak Kevin Whitley and his great instructional material, click here:
http://www.kayakkevin.com/home.html

Her Season

Fly fishing with someone special can be a great experience. Introducing the sport to them can be a rewarding journey.

The 2004 fishing season was the third since introducing my wife, April, to fly fishing. She wasn’t sure if she had the coordination to cast a fly-line. But after practicing in the backyard, sitting through hours of Fly Fish TV, and being an enthusiastic listener, she became a quick study.

We decided to make a trip to the beautiful northern lower and upper peninsula’s of Michigan that season. The Black River near Bessemer, MI was our first destination. Bessemer is a ski town in the winter months, and an outdoor playground during the summertime. The Porcupine Mountains were the initial reason why we planned a week’s visit, but we quickly realized the Black River Scenic Area alone offered unique opportunities for activities and relaxation.

Potawatomi Falls of Black River
Photo by Aaron Rubel

We stayed with Stan and Sue of the Black River Crossing Bed & Breakfast. Stan and Sue own a beautiful two story log cabin on the shore of the river. We woke to classical music and enjoyed a hearty breakfast every morning.

Black River Crossing Bed & Breakfast in Bessemer, Michigan

We were thankful for the local area knowledge Stan and Sue volunteered to share with us. We enjoyed hikes to many magnificent waterfalls along the Black River, and Powderhorn Creek. We kayaked the shore of Lake Superior, and found our first agates on pebble strewn beaches.

Gorge Falls of Black River
Photo by Aaron Rubel

The kayak trip bears mentioning. Lake Superior lies on the north side of the Upper Peninsula. The lake is very large, deep, and that means cold. At the time I sit here writing this blog, Lake Superior water temperature rests at 48ºF along the shore nearby where we kayaked. On that July day, the water temp might have been in the low 50’s, but no higher. The trip was both our maiden voyage in a kayak, and April sat at the bow in our tandem paddle craft ready to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. We launched, and so did an incoming two foot roller, cresting the bow and into my brides lap. We learned lesson one in kayaking: Dress for water temperature, not air temps. It was cold trip for her, but an extra change of clothes from a friendly camping couple got us through, and we laugh about it today.

April and I after a refreshing first leg of a kayak trip along the very cold Lake Superior shoreline.
Photo by Stan Carr

Among all the adventure, we managed to get in some fishing too. Upon making our first step into the river near the B&B, we were excited to see trout rising to Blue Winged Olives. Our success, or I should say April’s, came on a #16 pheasant tail nymph. April’s practice and study paid off by catching a Rainbow, Brown and finishing with a Brook trout to complete a hat trick in one evening! Impressive.

Fly Angler, April Rubel, catches a Brook trout
Photo by Aaron Rubel

Later in the summer we went fishing with Jon Ray, Guide of Hawkins Outfitters. It was on this trip that April realized she had successfully trained muscle memory in her casting stroke. Jon worked with her during the trip on the Manistee River to make subtle improvements as we swung wet flies. April landed three nice trout including a very nice sixteen inch Brown. What a great season of experiencing the out of doors with someone I love so much.
Fly Angler, April Rubel catches a 16″ Brown trout with Hawkins Outfitters Guide, Jon Ray
Photo by Aaron Rubel

For more information on Black River Crossing Bed & Breakfast in the beautiful west Upper Peninsula of Michigan, go to:
http://www.blackrivercrossing.com/index.htmFor more information on a Michigan Lower Peninsula fly fishing adventure with Guide, Jon Ray, go to:
http://www.hawkinsflyfishing.com/fishing_guides.php

Selecting a Fly Reel

A fly reel in hot new colors consisting of the smoothest and strongest drag, can in some cases, make for the worst of casting combinations with your favorite rod. This week, I’ve had a couple friends ask for advice on purchasing a fly reel.

The first piece of advice I’d recommend is asking yourself the question of the purpose for purchasing a reel. Will you be primarily using it to seek panfish, bass and trout? Are you going to be hunting for powerful fish that reside in corrosive saltwater?

For the smaller species you can get away with saving some money and purchasing a reel to hold the best line you can buy. If fishing primarily in saltwater, you’ll need to select one with protective material characteristics within the reel to resist degradation of the components. I have a couple freshwater reels that I use in estuaries (where freshwater rivers meet the sea). In this case, I make sure the reel is rinsed each and every time I go out and then wipe it down. When air drying the reel, separate the spool and allow to dry for 48 hours (if not fishing in between) before putting it away. This way, the backing that is tightly wound on top of itself can have the best chance of drying rather than building up mildew.

The most important advice I would offer is to take your time and find a reel that fits within your budget and balances perfectly with the rod and line. Yes, the line too. The rod, reel, and line should balance on your index finger as you grip the cork handle. In determining balance, the line should be strung through guides and extended beyond the tip for a distance of one rod’s length.

So, with all the choices out there how do you start narrowing the options? Begin from the convenience of your computer. Research how much your rod weighs in ounces. Then, after determining what your options are for reels based on purpose and budget, look up the weight of each reel in ounces. Then you can use these values combined with the AFTM ratings on fly lines to calculate how well each of those reels match up to your rod.

To leverage the effectiveness of your reel in combination with rod and line, Joseph D. Cornwall explains in his article, A Question of Balance, how calculating 1.5 times the swing weight of the rod should equal the weight of a loaded reel. I have used this method in the past and found it to be a great way to begin shopping for a reel.

First, look up the weight of the first 30 feet of your line on the AFTM weight chart in ounces:
Click here for AFTM Fly Line Chart

Second, calculate the weight of the fly line that affects balancing of fly rod forward of reel:
Balancing weight of fly line on rod = (2 x rod length ft /30 ft) x AFTM 0z

Third, calculate Swing Weight of fly rod:
Swing Weight = Balancing weight of fly line on rod + Weight of fly rod in ounces

Finally, calculate weight of loaded fly reel to balance with rod and line:
Weight of loaded reel, line, and backing (oz) = 1.5 x swing weight of rod

This may seem at first a complicated process to begin selecting a fly reel, but it’s a lot easier than beginning by trial and error and ending up making a regretful decision. After narrowing the field to a few reels, at minimum do a physical evaluation with rod in the store before purchasing. Some shops will have reels lined for casting evaluations. Take the time and make a well informed investment. You’re making a purchase that will be with you for each and every cast you make on the water.

Spend as little as you possibly can and still satisfy the purpose of why you’re buying a reel. Spend the money you save toward buying a quality fly line. A quality fly line can actually lengthen casting distance and reduce stress on your joints.

For more information on why the selection of a fly reel should be in balance with rod and line, click on the following article:
A Question of Balance, By Joseph D. Cornwall

Fish Species Caught On The Fly

As the years have progressed, my objectives have too. Originally, my target was narrow, pursuing only three or four species of fish. In recent years I started investing time into understanding and catching fish using a fly that I’ve not yet held in hand. Additionally, improving on a personal best is something I’m thinking about when out on the water.

I believe that if a fish can be caught by a lure or live bait, it can be landed on the fly. Understanding the behaviors of the fish, what they prefer to eat, habitat they live in, and other details may take a bit of time to research in study and in the field, but that’s part of the fun of fly fishing!

So, below is a list of species I’ve caught by method of fly fishing, and a 2013 bucket list. I hope to expand the list over time, and certainly improve on my personal best of some. It’s great to have this on paper for myself. Seeing it in black and white reveals those fish where personal bests can be “easily” improved upon and for documenting the expanding species that I catch over the years. I encourage you to make a list for yourself too!

Coldwater Species On the Fly:
Brook Trout – 13″ – South Branch of Au Sable, Michigan – 2003
Brown Trout – 23″ – Rogue River, Michigan – 2001
Cuttbow Trout – 21″ – Cheeseman Canyon, Colorado – 1998
Cutthroat Trout – 18″ – Slough Creek, Montana – 2008
Rainbow Trout – 19″ – Cheeseman Canyon, Colorado – 1998
Steelhead – 29″ – Elk Creek, Pennsylvania – 2001

Warmwater Freshwater Species On the Fly:
Bluegill (northern) – 9″ – Round Lake, Michigan – 2006
Chain Pickerel – 16″ – Big Creek Lake, Alabama – 2013
Largemouth Bass – 25″ – Steelwood Lake, Alabama – 2006
Rock Bass – 9″ – Clinton River, Michigan – 2004
Smallmouth Bass – 18″ – New River, Virginia – 2012 & Upper Peninsula of Michigan Lake – 2014

Spotted Bass – 15.5″ – Lake Neely Henry, Alabama – 2014

Saltwater Species On the Fly:
Black Drum – 13″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2011
Bluefish – 18″ – Gulf of Mexico – 2011
Croaker – 12″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2011
Flounder – 16″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2011
Ladyfish – 24.25″ – Mobile Bay area, Alabama – 2012 (Kayak Fishing World Record)
Redfish – 25.25″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2012
Scorpion Fish – aprox 14″ (not measured due to venomous stingers) – St Joseph Bay, Florida – 2012
Speckled Trout – 23.5″ – Wolf Bay, Alabama – 2014 (Tournament Win)
Southern Stingray – aprox 36″ in width (line cut due to venomous stinger) – Venice, Louisiana
Tarpon – 13″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2012
White trout – 15″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2011

Skipjack Herring – 15″ – Mobile Bay, Alabama – 2014 (Kayak Fishing World Record)

Most Number of Fish Caught On the Fly In One Day:

32 Brook Trout on West Branch of Big Creek, Michigan – 2002

Chain Pickerel in the Grass

I went out for a different kind of adventure on the fly in Hobie kayaks a couple weeks ago. The Chain pickerel is definitely a fish I will be pursuing in the future.

Click here to about it in an article published by Kayak Angler Magazine Online entitled “Snakes in the Grass”

Articles to run March-June in Great Days Outdoors Magazine!

The first of a few fly fishing articles can be found on convenience store news stands across Alabama and west Florida as of March 1st! The first article is a fun story about the possibilities and surprises that can happen while out on the water. You never know what might end up in your net!

In the April edition, I will share my thoughts and experiences on how to get started in fly fishing. It will be fun, because even for someone who may have been fly fishing for years, there’s nothing like getting back to the basics. As the months progress, I’ll share some of my favorite fly fishing techniques, and uncover some secrets to catching fish on the fly.

For a preview, the magazine featured the March article online last Friday. See below:

Click here to read March edition of “On the Fly”, by Aaron Rubel

Organizing Fishing Gear Part 1 – Rod Storage

Let’s face it, reducing the clutter of fishing rods, reels, flies, fly tying material, lines, leaders, endless number of tippet spools, maps, books, fishing clothes, and all those accessories for our watercraft can sometimes seem overwhelming. It’s time to get organized so to reduce the time it takes to get ready for a trip to the water! I’m starting with my rods. Under the Christmas tree this year I was pleased to find a turnstile rod organizer, and below you’ll find how easy it is to put together and keep your rods ready to go.

I likely won’t use this turnstile for the rods I may only take on a long trip, rather utilize the system for the rods I use the most here on my home waters so I can reduce preparation, and maximize time on the water.

Step 1: Buy a turnstile at your local out of doors store. Tools are minimal and the hardware for attachments are usually included.

Step 2: Insert dowel into base and loose assemble leg.

Step 3: Screw in base with brass wood screws.

Step 4: Insert dowels into upper legs

Step 5: Assemble top onto legs over dowels to align screw holes.

Step 6: Fasten wood screws through top and into the legs.

Step 7: Tap the decorative dowels with a rubber mallet.

Step 8: Find a bare corner and place the new turnstile that doubles as a designer piece of home decor! I’m now ready to grab my TFO rod and a reel on my way to the water, and making progress at reducing time spent preparing for future trips.