The spring grind

Wow, the spawn is early this year. That means the spring time grind is on. Now before anybody goes and gets all upset about me running trips while the smallmouth are spawning let me nip this in the bud. When my boat fishes the river I DO NOT anchor and fish spots, my boat is constantly drifting down river. There for I am not bed robbing. The fish that eat during the spawn are eating streamers or crank baits, which means they are chasing food mid water column and want to eat. A fish on beds isn't coming up for food.  We're about a week into the grind so historically we have a week to go. Keep a positive attitude and keep casting.  

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Mother Nature

Spring showers have arrived and the rivers are paying the price. Hopefully by the end of this week, area wide the rivers will be fishable again. The big lake too is paying the price for the storms. The water is dirty and the fish are spread out. The lake carp game is strong and will get better as the the water clears. The only bright light that I can see is the river fish will be hungry when the boat floats again this weekend.

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Preparations

Winter has come and gone once again. While it returned I started preparing for this coming August, when I head to Alaska to guide for Naknek River Camp. The fly boxes are filling up, beads are getting painted and flights have been made.  The weather looks to be breaking for good hopefully and my 2017 season will officially start this week. If the weather windows that we've already had are a indication of how the season is going to go it should be outstanding.

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Still playing the weather

Playing the weather windows is paying off. Warm, quiet days, having the river to ourselves is a wonderful thing for February. Add in big prespawn fish and the days have been wonderful. Finding the slowest water with depth has been key. Black fly patterns have been the top producer in the boat. Watch the weather, the next nice batch of days don't hesitate to book a day.

 

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Spring is teasing us

This weather is great, I love global warming. I have taken full advantage of the 60 degree days and it is paying off. The third boat in my fleet is rigged and performing better than expected on our local waters. The water temps are still a little on the cold side for smallmouth but they are plenty warm for pike, and they have been eating well. If the weather pattern stays in place smallmouth should turn on soon. I've had people try a little each time out. Flies with rattles have been key to the pike success. I have two more tying classes for the season at Dupage Flyfishing Company Call the shop to check availability (630)857-3468 http://www.dupagefly.com/  the classes are Wednesday nights 25.00 a class. Bookings for the season are filling everyday get your day locked down soon while you can.

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Friends hit Streamerlove Fest

Last Wednesday the rig was on the ball ready to head south 8 hours. Destination Dally's StreamerLove Fest on the white river. Kyle Zempel from Black Earth Angling Company was in for the trip with me. 8 hours later the sun came up and we rolled into the hotel parking lot to meet the rest of the crew. A quick truck unload and to wader up it was back in the truck to go fish. Who needs sleep? Fish were caught, fish were lost, and holy hell did we blow some big fish chances. The tying event at Dally's Saturday night was hoot, good times good drinks, good people. Kyle documeneted the trip with some outstanding photos, follow the link,  http://www.kylezphotography.com/Client/Events/Streamer-Lovefest/

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Winter options

The Show season is among us

January 14 I'll west Michigan fly show in Grand Rapids. I will be working the TFO booth

February 11, 12 Tinley Park high school show

March 4th Wildcat Creek outfitters shop day

March 11th Warren Michigan show I will be working the TFO booth

I will be teaching tying classes again this winter at Dupage Fly Company. 6 consecutive Wednesdays starting on January 25th. Each class is a pay per. You don't need to sign up for all of them pick your pattern and come learn. Call the shop to check availability (630)857-3468 http://www.dupagefly.com/ 

StreamerFest 2017 is coming at the end of the month. Me and some buddies are heading down, I'm really looking forward to it. 

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Winter sucks!!

Quick fishing report, The St. Joe is open the fish have been uncooperative but thats fishing midwest steelhead in the winter. The big lake was open the browns where there and playful the last time I was out. Olive goby patterns worked best stripped on a sinking line. 

Spring/Summer bookings are underway!

Yeah it's the new year! The holidays are over, the Christmas stuff is taken down and put back in the attic, now the cat-fighting of the fishing industry begins. With nothing better to do, being cooped up in the house tying flies every day, it happens every winter like clock work, the constant FB stalking, Instagram creeping, and arguing. A friend of mine who owns a shop in Montana made a T-shirt a few years back. It simply says "FaceBook ruined Flyfishing" I believe that to be absolutely true!!! Let me pause there and explain. It is a great tool for sharing ideas, places, meeting people with the same interests. This is where it goes to hell. It makes the guy sitting in his cubical or sitting on the train think that every guy that can tie a fly and put it online is a custom tyer. Any dude with a boat isn't really a guide because him and his buddy fish on the weekend. Has our world really become that pitiful that we have to pay for likes? When you have a conversation with a "pop up" guide, you ask him why he wants to start guiding and his response is "for the pro deals" seriously??? No man, that's not the correct answer. You are making us REAL guides look bad! All I'm saying is be leery of what you read online.

Lets announce the new

I've been very quiet lately; it isn't because I haven't been fishing. The reason is I've been busy preparing, purchasing a third boat, and working out details with a shop for our future plans together. So take a minute, poke around the "offered trips page" to see the new trips available for 2017. Grab Your Fly Charters was the first fly fishing guide service based in the Chicagoland area and over the years have maintained to be the go-to guide service. With these new opportunities, we will continue what we started... being the first to bring you unique opportunities right here at home.  Once again proving, you do not need to leave the state to find excellent fishing. I have officially teamed  http://www.dupagefly.com/ 2017 is going to be a great year, bookings have already begun. 

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