Nate – Blue Line Fly Fisher

The Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival

Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / Nate / June 1, 2024

May was a fly fishing-filled month. It started with Chihiro and me traveling from Buffalo to visit my family in Saratoga the first weekend in May, which corresponded with the Battenkill Fly Fishing Festival. The festival was held in Arlington from Thursday, May 2nd, to Sunday, May 5th. We decided to get tickets for Saturday since this would ultimately give us a day to attend. Tom Rosenbauer, the sage of fly fishing himself, would be the headliner that day. Chihiro would finally be able to see the person behind the podcasts she often has to hear on car rides with me. However, Saturday also featured a discussion about John Atherton’s fly patterns by Mike Valla. I have wanted to meet him since I acquired several of his books and learned that his wife Valerie was my sixth-grade science teacher.

Chihiro and I took the hour or so drive from Saratoga in the morning, crossed the Hudson River, and passed the hills, farms, and small towns on the way to the Vermont border. Just past the village of Cambridge, we reached the New York stretches of the Battenkill and followed it up into Arlington. After finding parking, we arrived at the festival site just in time for Tom Rosenbauer’s talk. I have to give him a lot of credit; he seems to have a level of patience that I would struggle to achieve. Many of the questions he received are questions he has likely answered a thousand times or more before.

Following Tom’s lecture, Chihiro and I toured the vendors’ tents, which included artists, fly shops, rod makers, and several non-profit organizations dedicated to stream and fish conservation. As we were walking around, I recognized my former teacher and walked up to introduce myself. We chatted a bit, and she introduced me to Mike.

I showed them the Japanese Fly Fisher Magazine containing an article about Mike’s book, The Founding Flies, which I found in a Tokyo bookstore in January. They were both surprised that I had brought it to the festival to share it with them and were excited to see that Mike’s book had made its way into a Japanese publication. They later followed up and told me their friend from Japan had worked to get the article published in the magazine. They also shared that their friend translated the article for them and said that the article stated that Mike’s book is being translated and will soon be published in Japanese.

Chihiro and I attended Mike’s lecture, “The Peculiar Impressionistic Fly Patterns of Illustrator John Atherton,” where Mike explained how Atherton’s artist background influenced his take on fly tying. Drawing heavily on the impressionist movement in art, Atherton used variegated colored materials and rarely used monochromatic ones in his flies. Having not known of Atherton beforehand, I found Atherton’s take on fly tying, along with the materials he would use, fascinating. I wanted to learn more about Atherton and his flies, so I purchased copies of Atherton’s book, The Fish and the Fly, and Mike’s, The Founding Flies. Following the lecture, we met back up with Mike and Valerie. Mike signed my copy of the latest book, Fly Fishing Guide to New York State: Experts’ Guide to Locations, Hatches, and Tactics, and I gave him the Japanese Fly Fisher magazine.

After saying goodbye to the Valla’s, Chihiro and I grabbed a bite at A Crooked Barn Charcuterie’s food tent. We both ordered their corn dog, which consisted of their house-made brats and cornmeal batter made with duck eggs. Suffice it to say these were not your average corn dogs and were made even better with their maple bacon whiskey mustard. We finished our day with a short drive up the road to Manchester, where we stopped at the American Museum of Fly Fishing and the Orvis Flag Ship Store. The museum was free with the Festival admission. We walked through the exhibits and admired the great collection of historic flies tied by the greats of fly fishing. From there, we drove back to Saratoga, having had a good time at the festival and meeting Mike and Valerie. My only regret was not planning any time to fish the Vermont stretches of the Batten Kill.

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Seeking Fly Fishing in Japan

Beyond the Blue Line / Nate / January 20, 2024

This year, my wife and I traveled to Japan to visit her family for New Years. We visit Japan about every other year with the exception of the last few years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I first visited Japan in 2012 when I studied abroad in Tokyo, followed by a year living in Kanazawa where I taught English conversation. My earlier experiences in Japan revolved around many of the major urban centers, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. More recently, trips to Japan have been spent with my in-laws where we have taken short trips to various 温泉 onsen (hot spring) resorts in several rural/mountainous regions with beautiful clean and clear mountain streams.

Once such place was the Aga River in Aizu, Fukushima, where we visited a few years a go. I was struck by the beauty of the river, which flowed just outside the onsen that we were staying at. This river just had a certain allure to it. Since getting back into fly fishing I have not had the opportunity to fish in Japan, so I wanted to to do some research this time while there, so that I may make a plan for the next time we visit. This trip was quite successful, I learned a lot, met some cool people, and know where I will be fishing the next time we go back to Japan.

Fly Fisher Magazine Japan

While in Tokyo, my wife wanted visit a bookstore just across the street from Tokyo Station called Maruzen. I went along thinking I would just wander the store since my Japanese reading level is quite limited. However, since this was in Tokyo, the store had a significant English and international section. I figured I would try to find the outdoor section (in Japanese), and after a little bit of walking around I came across the periodicals for camping, fishing, bushcraft, etc. As if it was meant to be, my eyes quickly caught sight of the bold text on Fly Fisher Magazine. As I opened it up I was pleasantly surprised to find an article highlighting The Founding Flies by Mike Valla. There on the bottom of page 65, were photos of Wilmington’s very own Fran Betters and his Haystack pattern. The subsequent pages discussed more in depth Walt and Winnie Dette and Harry and Elsie Darbee. I had to purchase it. It seemed too perfect that it just so happened to feature some New York fly tyers and a New York author. I grabbed another magazine called Fly Magazine and headed to check out. When I met back up with my wife, I showed her my haul, and she gave me a look like “you and I both know you can’t read that” and then said, “I hope you know I will not be translating that for you. 日本語頑張って(Good luck)!” Who knew that fly fishing would reignite my desire to study Japanese.

Nikkō, Japan

Before our trip this year, I spent a little time researching fly fishing in Japan. I came across a fly shop called Surface Outfitters, in Nikkō, which was one of the few tackle shops that I found that were fully dedicated to fly fishing. Nikkō is well known for its National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When we were planning a trip to an onsen with my wife’s family, I eagerly lobbied for Nikkō, because I had never been and wanted to see the famous Toshogu Shrine where the unifier of Japan Tokagawa Ieyasu is buried and enshrined. It wasn’t until later when they saw Surface Outfitters on the list of places to visit that everyone learned my ulterior motive for suggesting Nikkō.

I visited Surface Outfitters in the afternoon, and was greeted by the shop owners and brothers Shiro and Goro Umemura. I told them that I often fly fish in New York, and would like to fly fish in Japan but lacked knowledge about regulations. They eagerly set about collecting various hand drawn maps of the area (written in Japanese) and described the fishing opportunities in and around Nikko. Based on their information there is plenty of opportunities to fish for the native ヤマメYamame (Masu trout) and イワナ Iwana (a species of char). Rainbow trout are stocked in the Daya River and offer the only fishing opportunity out of season in a small section of the river. They also mentioned that the Nikkō area has the only places in Japan where lake trout and brook trout have been stocked.

The fishing season in Nikkō is generally May through September, depending on the weather conditions. They mentioned that the previous winter was particularly cold and snowy so the start of the season was a bit delayed due to high water and colder temperatures lasting longer into the month of May. When I asked them about what flies they like to use around the area, they said that fishing cicadas are quite good during summer. So I purchased a couple that they had in an olive and orange color.

Shiro and Goro were very helpful and I would recommend visiting their shop in Nikkō if you are ever in the area. They do know some English and as I said were super friendly and willing to answer the many questions I had. For instance when I asked them if they had a Japanese Tamo (the small traditional Japanese landing nets that some tenkara anglers use), they said they didn’t have any and they only do western style fly fishing. When I followed up by asking why, they referred to themselves as 「西洋かぶれ」seiyou kabure (ultra westernized persons; western affections; wannabe westerner). I asked them if they had ever been to the United States to fish. They have not, but Shiro has been to New Zealand. We also talked a bit about the Adirondacks, and western New York steelhead.

If you ever visit Japan, I recommend visiting Nikkō. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites are impressive and, and the expansive National Park hosts plenty of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. But be sure to take the short drive into the main center of town away from the tourist areas, to visit Surface Outfitters. In my opinion, this is a gem of a fly shop. Shiro and Goro carry a wide variety a products and brands. They also have an impressive array of vintage rod and reels, rod building and fly tying materials, and flies. I am looking forward to going back with my gear in June 2025 to visit Surface Outfitters again and spend some time fully exploring the fly fishing opportunities around Nikkō.

よい釣りを！yo i tsuri o! (Tight Lines!)

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The Good, the Bad, and the [Ausable] Ugly

ADK Tied, Fish Food / Nate / August 4, 2023

The Good

This summer George and I had the opportunity to fish with Richard Garfield, an independent guide based in Wilmington, NY and owner of Fly Fish the Adirondacks for over 20 years. I wanted to fish with Rich after coming across the Ausable Ugly fly pattern while researching Adirondack flies last winter. I had tied a dozen or so over the winter, but had this idea not to fish with them until I could spend a day on the water with the pattern’s creator.

We met Rich at six in the morning. It had been raining steadily since the previous evening. Everything had become saturated overnight, and it was not looking like it was going to lighten up at any point in the morning.

We discussed options and expectations for the day, then George and I decided to try a small stream that Rich said had a good mix of brook and brown trout. After a drive through the North County, we parked along a non-descript road, from which Rich led us through the woods to get to the stream.

Before we entered the stream, Rich asked, once we were in the stream, to remain within the stream bed and to be careful to not step on any of the riparian vegetation, showing that he is a steward as much as he is a guide.

We fished upstream hitting pockets and the banks with dry flies, and drifted nymphs through the deeper and faster runs. Our dry flies included: Usuals, Haystacks, Ausable Bombers, various Wulffs, Caddis, Stimulators, Micro Chubbies, and Grumpy Frumpies, among others. A little ways up the stream, Rich asked why we hired him. I told him it was because of the Ugly. Upon hearing this reason Rich pulled out a size eight Ugly from his stash. That fly became the dedicated nymph for the rest of the day.

Rich had us try a run underneath significant low overhanging branches from multiple trees with the Ugly. After a number of casts that turned up nothing, I asked Rich to show us how it was done. Rich accepted, got in position and proceeded to make a targeted cast, letting Ugly drift down, retrieving the line with a figure-eight technique. Rich proceeded with a second cast, and on the retrieve hooked and brought in the nicest brook trout of the day. George and I alternated prospecting everywhere that looked fishy. We caught countless fish ranging from 5” brook trout to 14” brown trout. It was a very productive day.

The Bad

The constant rain made it necessary to change flies frequently. No amount of fly shake could counteract the precipitation and humidity we were experiencing. During one of these fly changes, Rich saw me holding my compartment box over the water while selecting my next fly and said that holding an open compartment box over the stream was quite risky and noting that he had seen several fly boxes lost to the swift current over the years. I acknowledged his warning and agreed that I was living dangerously, but continued to make all of my fly changes this way for the rest of the day.

In the last thirty minutes of our trip, I paused to change to a fresh dry fly once again. I moved to close the box and next thing I knew, it left my hand tumbling toward the torrent below along with 90% of my dry flies. I recovered the box, but the vast majority of my flies were washed away as the water rushed in, lifted them out of the compartments, and carried them off down stream, presumably into the mouths of trout lying in wait.

George joked that I educated the stream, suggesting that my unintentioned buffet would teach a thing or two to the all too eager trout. In reality it was I that received an education from the river. With my new honorary degree in humility, I am reassessing my method for carrying dry flies on the water. Rich said I was playing with fire. I didn’t listen. And I got burned. The moral of the story… Listen to your guide.

The [Ausable] Ugly

Our time spent with Rich was an enjoyable day of fishing and shooting the breeze. Rich is an unpretentious guide who is willing to teach and share his knowledge of the region, which made for a memorable trip. George and I enjoyed our time with Rich, and fishing a new stream.

Rich graciously critiqued the Ausable Uglies I tied. He showed me where I could improve the pattern the next time I tied them, and gave me two of his for reference. His observations and suggestions included:

Bead: A tungsten bead is best and necessary. A 4mm bead for a size 8 hook works well. (We were fishing a size 8 throughout the day. The heavy bead allowed the fly to get down quickly with all its dubbing and hackle, even in faster currents.)
Tail: The tail should be about the hook shank in length. (Or twice the length than what I had tied.)
Dubbing: Generously apply to the dubbing to the thread in a loose noodle. When wrapping it around the hook shank, it should not be wrapped too tightly. This will ensure better results when picking out the dubbing later on.
Hackle: Selecting a very soft and mangy hackle is important. This will create the most movement, softer hackles will undulate more in the water. Avoid stiff hackles. Rich said he will even use hackles mangled, or that others might even avoid using.

Overall the pattern wants to be soft and chewy. He named it the Ugly for a reason. We fished it dead drift, with little jigs, and stripped it like a streamer. It is an incredibly versatile fly and I have used it to great success on multiple occasions this summer on other streams. Rich also said that he uses it fishing for Great Lakes steelhead, something that I will try this fall and winter.

If you find your way up in the northern part of the Adirondacks, near Wilmington and Lake Placid, I recommend getting in touch with Rich. He offers trips for both warm water and cold water species, small streams, and has access to some private water. He can be reached through his website: https://flyfishtheadirondacks.com/.

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The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing Cover Image

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing – A Review

Leave a Comment / ADK Tied / Nate / May 28, 2023

The heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks has received little attention compared to the Catskills. A significant portion of what has been written about fly fishing in New York centers around this sister range to the Adirondacks. As the namesake of a style of dry fly, the influence the Catskills have had on fly fishing in the United States is undeniable. Fly fishing in the Adirondacks may be overshadowed by the many other contributions the region has made throughout history in areas such as outdoor recreation, architecture, and the environmental movement. Nevertheless, searching for resources on the history of fly fishing in the Adirondacks leads to few results. The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing, by Robert Streeter, begins to change this trend.

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing is the book I was looking for when I decided to learn to tie and fish with Adirondack specific flies. My early searches led to few quality resources that included a couple tutorials for some of Fran Better’s more well known patterns on Youtube, or the occasional pattern included in a general fly tying book. Streeter’s book has proved to be an instrumental resource on Adirondack fly fishing.

In his book, Streeter traces the history of fly fishing from colonial times on through the lives of several notable local figures: William E. Scripture Jr., Ray Bergman, Lee Wulff, Perry Ehlers, Ed Bendl, and Francis Betters. It provides the context missing from many online fly tutorials, giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of these tyers and anglers, and the places they lived and fished. Several patterns and recipes from these greats of Adirondack fly fishing are sprinkled throughout the narrative of the book. Streeter’s storytelling and references make it clear that the Adirondacks have had a greater impact on fly fishing than has previously been written and is deserving of recognition.

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing merges the genres of history and biography in an informative, easy to read narrative. The amount of research and effort Streeter undertook in the process of writing this book is evident in the storied details he provides from interviews and communicating with friends and family of these Adirondack legends. The book is available at several regional and online retailers, but is also available for purchase on the author’s website www.robstreeter.com.

Streeter has also authored an article in Fly Tyer Magazine titled “Great Flies of the Adirondacks.” The article introduces several dry flies, nymphs, and streamers tied by the anglers in his book and includes the recipes. He also has a series of Youtube tutorials tying Adirondack flies that includes many of the flies discussed in his book. Streeter’s book, article, and tutorials are great starting points for anyone interested in exploring the heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks. The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing is deserving of a place on any Adirondack bookshelf.

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Introduction and ADK Tied

ADK Tied / Nate / May 27, 2023

It is said that an angler’s goals change as one progresses through fly fishing for trout. At first, they may spend weeks trying to catch their first fish. As they advance, they will want to catch numbers, or they may be determined to only pursue big fish. At some point, they finally come to the realization that they just want to fish the way they want to. Whether that is a particular technique, a time of day, or a water type, is a matter of personal choice. For me, this progression evolved into a current interest in regionality. In other words, tying and fishing patterns that are culturally or historically linked to the Adirondacks, the place where I first learned to fly fish.

When I started fly tying in December 2021, the volume of books and resources available on the internet was overwhelming. It seemed like everyone and their mother had a meticulously curated Youtube channel dedicated to fly tying with patterns old and new. I came across many contemporary, flashy patterns that will probably catch fish anywhere. These are no doubt fun to fish with. However, I started to wonder, if a fly is that successful, does that dilute the value of catching the fish that eats it? To me, regional context, where I fish and the fly I tie at the end of my leader, matters. As I continued to gain more experience, I began considering how to become more intentional with my own tying. Learning to tie and fishing with fly patterns from the Adirondacks have become my interest. My flies don’t need to be perfect: I want to do my own thing.

The initial inspiration for Blue Line on the Fly came from this desire to learn about the regional fly patterns of the Adirondacks, and share the information and resources found through this research with others. This exploration of context is an attempt to merge contemporary fly fishing with the past, with an attention to the regional heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks.

Forthcoming posts to the ADK Tied series of the blog will explore the patterns that have significance in the Adirondacks and see what fish we can catch with them. The goal will be to tie a different pattern, fish with it, and share what I learn about every two weeks or so. These posts will be aligned with the Fly Box page of the website. There you can see a list of patterns to explore, and more information on the patterns will be provided after we highlight each in a dedicated post.

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