Everything you need to master the art of fish baiting right here in this handy list.

Pre-Baiting

Pre-baiting is a technique to entice more fish to the area you plan to cast you line. The goal is to get fish comfortable with feeding so that when you do throw in your hook bait, the fish are present and ready to bite.

Hook Selection

Always choose the hook size and shape that is appropriate for the type of fish you are looking to catch. As for color selection, some sand varieties are attracted to a red hook, but in most cases a silver hook will suffice.

Sharpness

Use a very sharp hook. Hooks dull quickly so buy new hooks frequently to have on hand. Between replacements you should sand the point to keep it nice and sharp. Purchasing high quality hooks in the first place will save you money in the long run as they have a longer life-span.

Shrimp Tales

Many people mistakenly bait shrimp with the head first. The proper way to bait prawn is by sticking the hook tail end first so the body curls up in the shape of the hook (keeping the hook entirely in the shrimp when threading). If you bait head first, the shrimp is more likely to fall off.

Unusual Suspect

Squid is a less common, but excellent and hardy bait choice.  It is easy to hook and difficult for fish to nibble off. Thread the softer part of the body, which is more appealing to fish than the hard area around the head.

Disguise

Always thread as much of the hook as possible through the bait. This will disguise the hook from the fish sight and keep the bait on more securely. In the end, you will pull in more fish and replace less bait.

For your next fishing excursion, here are some Filson products that will help you look like a real fisherman.

• Fly Rod Travel Case
• Sportsman Shorts
• Fishing Waist Pack
• Mesh Fly Fishing Vest

Photo Credit: Josh Lantz

Kristen Monroe learns the art of fly fishing with Josh Lantz and she just may be hooked.

Another magnificent door into the outdoors has opened.  I never thought it would happen.  It has always appeared so difficult; perhaps due to misunderstandings derived from movies I have seen.  But recently, I had the privilege of seeing a presentation at The Great Outdoors Expo in Woodstock, Illinois given by Lefty Kreh, which ignited my interest in fly fishing.   The sport no longer looked intimidating.  Instead, it became a fascinating challenge.

I am blessed to have many friends in the outdoors industry, so I started asking around for some guidance.   Josh Lantz, fellow outdoor communicator and professional guide, offered to teach me the sport.  He quickly put my misconceptions to bed by teaching the basics of a cast.  Before long I was fighting a smallmouth into the drift boat with a grin on my face.

We fished an eight-mile stretch on the Saint Joseph River starting in Mottville, Michigan and ending in Bristol, Indiana.   This river is well known for steelhead and salmon in its lower 63-miles during spring and fall, but we were well upstream of those waters.  We didn’t fish for trout; the species I usually associate with fly fishing.  Instead we went after smallmouth bass.  There were a ton of smallmouth in this river and they were extremely fun to catch.  The species is a great choice for any aspiring fly angler who lives in the Midwest.

Photo Credit: Kristen Monroe

Lantz has guided since 1999 and loves taking people fishing.  While casting towards the bank, I asked him about being a professional guide.   “Beginners are my favorite, because they truly want to learn and they don’t have any bad habits”, said Josh, who’s love for fishing began at age 3 when his grandmother taught him to fish with a cane pole.

The intriguing gap between cane pole and fly rod led to another conversation about gear, which also intimidated me in the beginning.  I now know that pre-matched fly fishing combo sets are available from many of today’s best manufacturers.  This is the way to go.  They are affordable and include rod, reel, fly line and leader – everything you need to get started.  Of course, there is a lot more to learn about gear, and there are endless options.  But when you start off, it is very important to start simply.   Lantz says two rods — a 5-weight and an 8-weight — would be ideal to cover most types of fish from panfish to salmon.

It doesn’t always have to be difficult learning and getting geared up for a new endeavor.  You just need a little motivation, and a good teacher.

I am always up for a new challenge and enjoy the gifts the outdoor.  If you are afraid of something, sometimes it is best to just dive in and learn all about it.  You might just come out with a new passion in life that you never knew existed.  If I can cast a fly rod, you can too.

Coming to Northern Indiana or Southwest Michigan?  Contact World Class Fly Fishing with Josh Lantz at (219) 728-8996 or www.gofishn.com/author/josh-lantz.

Judith O’Keefe took on Washington D.C. with the Save Bristol Bay crew. She is a supporter of the cause and so are we, we’re proud of the efforts made by fellow sportsmen at The U.S. Capitol!

Did I hesitate when Trout Unlimited’s regional director of the Save Bristol Bay project called asking me to join thirty-nine fellow anglers and hunters from across the nation? Not for one second!  We were being asked to join the Bristol Bay Sportsmen’s Summit, and descend on our nation’s capitol in an effort to prevail on the powers that be to support the EPA in it’s effort to utilize the Clean Water Act to save this pristine watershed from a proposed massive open-pit mine.

I’ve always had an interest in government.  Working for candidates running for various state offices in the nineties introduced me to the world of politics . . . the good, bad and the ugly.  The most surprising lesson was that an individual can, actually make a difference.  Combined with my love of the natural environment, ecology, fish and Alaska, this project was tailor made to suit me.  Yes, of course I was going.  I was a little nervous about what was expected of me:  Did I need to arm myself with the latest scientific data, the facts and figures relating to the economic impact the proposed Pebble Mine would have on Alaska, the Northwest and the world? Well, no matter, I would do what was necessary.  This topic needed to be addressed in a big way, and as soon as possible.

The proposed Pebble Mine would generate up to 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste that would have to be treated in-perpetuity. Mine waste disposal in the Bristol Bay watershed is a direct threat to the tremendous wild salmon habitat that supports the Bristol Bay fishery and supplies the world with a healthy and sustainable source of wild salmon. The salmon fishery is the economic engine of the region, generating an estimated $450 million in revenue each year and providing some 12,000 jobs.

I was up at o-dark-thirty on April 14^th, headed to Washington DC, as part of the sportsmen’s summit.  Our group met that evening in a downtown hotel for introductions and a training session.  To say I was awed and inspired by the individuals that made up this coalition would be a gross understatement; commercial fisherman, sportsmen and women, business owners, scientists and representatives from the Bristol Bay Native Corporation – an unlikely group of bed-fellows.  Under typical circumstances, these folks would be on opposite sides of the fence.  One of the unique aspects of the Save Bristol Bay project is that those who would usually support the “development of our natural resources” are staunchly opposed to the Pebble Mine.  Also, I was relieved to hear that in my upcoming appointments on Capitol Hill, folks who had the facts, figures, and the day-to-day experience of living in Bristol Bay would accompany me.

My three days meeting with White House staff, the EPA, and the Oregon delegation on “The Hill” were interesting, exciting and most importantly, productive.  It may be an anomaly, but in the saga of Bristol Bay v/s a multi-national mining corporation, I believe that the good guys have a fighting chance.  After the events April’s Sportsmen’s Summit for Bristol Bay, our decision makers have been reminded again how important this issue is for the people of Bristol Bay and all who treasure it. To find out more about Bristol Bay and how you can make a difference, go to: www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/about.html orwww.savebristolbay.org

John Townes Van Zandt returns home to Texas after a successful film festival tour with the fishing documentary “Low and Clear” and picks up where he left off in building the pristine “Sea Dart” fishing boat.

What a wonderful and exciting experience it has been to take our movie “Low and Clear” to multiple film festivals over the last couple of months. So far the movie has shown at Camden Film Festival, True/ False, SXSW, Dallas International Film Festival and will continue to show in Toronto, Telluride and other prestigious festivals. It has been very rewarding for everyone involved with the project and a huge validation for the film makers themselves who saw the promise in the story of my friend Xenie Hall and I with the dramatic contrast in our personalities, our love for fishing and the need to be outdoors. I would very much enjoy to follow the film to other festivals, but for me, I must get back to my wife and baby in Austin as well as my passion for woodworking. I manage the cabinetry and millwork division for Escobedo Construction which is a general contracting company made unique by our self performance of all trades in the construction process. Our company utilizes modern machinery and software, employs highly skilled craftsmen and is capable of innovating and building anything made of stone, steel or wood. One example of our capabilities is the “Sea Dart” which is the wooden watercraft that I fish from in the Texas marsh shown in the movie. We are now in the process of building 4 of these boats for customers and having been distracted by the film tour, I need to get busy completing these boats for the June deadline.

Boat building is a meditative process that requires much care and discipline. It is an ancient craft that summons man’s greatest capabilities. I say craft rather than art because the term artist has become over used and self proclaimed by too many these days as a shortcut to becoming a true craftsman. It is the responsibility of society to determine what art is. Van Gogh considered himself a painter, not an artist. The discipline of learning a craft requires years of tedious repetition until the exercise is second nature and becomes woven into the fabric of an individual. This is true for a multitude of professions: woodworking, welding, sewing, painting, film making, cooking etc… My thought on the decline of modern society is that few are willing to dedicate to this level of discipline opting for the easier route and thus trades are lost and quality is forgotten.

Quality is a commitment, involves respect and is an obligation to the resources that comprise the creation of any man made object. To slight that which could have been of quality is to throw away something valuable and is a true sin against the natural world. To intentionally design something of lesser quality in order to increase profitability is a perversion, is non sustainable and is certainly wrong. Sustainability has become a huge topic lately as the world’s natural resources rapidly diminish but in the beginning when man naturally created things to last, sustainability was a given. True sustainability is a result of creating quality goods that last and do not need to be replaced. This is my goal as a student of the craft of woodworking, it is the commitment of Escobedo Construction and it is the reason that we love, use and respect Filson products.

If you are looking for more fishing stories check out some of our other guest blogs.

Judith O’Keefe is ready for summer! Because with summer comes her favorite fishing trip in Montana at Five Rivers lodge. After reading this, you just may be looking up flights and calling your fishing buddies, too.

July is a long way off, but I’m already dreaming about Montana . . . fishing in Montana that is.   As many of you know firsthand, the wild and scenic landscape, amazing wildlife, and friendly folks are just the beginning.  The fishing is almost always wonderful and at times . . . spectacular.

Home base is the beautiful Five Rivers Lodge.  The lodge is situated in the Beaverhead Valley, just outside of the town of Dillon.  This location provides easy access to the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby, Madison and Jefferson rivers, not to mention some incredible private water.  Innkeepers, Jay Burgin and Mary Jacques, are the perfect hosts, serving up some of the best food and drink this side of the Mississippi.  Many of the Five Rivers guides are native Montanans who’ve grown up fishing these rivers.  They’re professionals and they know their stuff.

When I think about those yearly sojourns, my minds fills with memories of the floats and the fish and that pair of moose we came across while hiking into the Big Hole River last September.  But if I had to choose just one experience to relive, it would be floating the Beaverhead in late July.  For me, there is nothing better than casting a streamer pattern to the bank, knowing sooner than later, I’m going to entice a big brown trout to bite.

In my humble opinion, the Beaverhead is one of the premier brown trout rivers in the west. It produces more large trout than any other river in Montana. Beginning at Clark Canyon Dam, near Dillon, it flows for 80 miles to the confluence with the Jefferson River.  The upper stretch of river is known primarily for its nymph fishing. Some claim the bulk of large fish are caught on nymphs and streamers.

While streamer fishing is near the top of my list, I also love fishing big, dry flies.  Who doesn’t?  The Beaverhead River has solid hatches throughout the year, and is especially known for its caddis hatch.  Typically, early mornings and evenings are the best time to use dry flies. Bright, sunny weather may provide a little more of a challenge in mid-day, as the fish generally stay down deep and under cover.  When the fish are coming to the surface to feed, I like the popular staple, the Elk Hair Caddis, size 16 – 18.  The Sparkle Dun and the X-Caddis also work well.  Later in the summer the hopper fishing can be great and my fly box is filled with patterns like the Idylwilde Red Legged Hopper or Morrish’s Hopper, size 8 – 10.

Those long summer days are nearly perfect, filled with warm sunshine, clear, cold water and lots of fish.  Once the drift boat is secure on the trailer and the gear stowed, it’s then time to head down to the Metlen Hotel Bar for the official drink of summer, the Moscow Mule.  Hmmm, Montana.

Moscow Mule

2 oz. vodka

8 oz. Cock & Bull Ginger Beer

Squeeze of fresh lime juice

Mix and serve in a true copper mug.

As we prepare for spring fly fishing season we turn to Ben Smith of Arizona Wanderings for the expert tips on tying flies. We’re ready to get out on the river. Anybody else?

There is no substitute for standing in the middle of the creek, watching a bushy dry fly float through the current, but tying flies comes pretty close. The next best thing to actually getting to fish is spending time at the vice preparing and thinking about all those fish that are going to be fooled by a hand tied fly.

I bought my vice after about 6 months of fly fishing, and I tied some of the ugliest flies imaginable. My first wooly bugger had more in common with a hairball found under the couch then the fly pattern in the book. But perseverance paid off and after filling an old  butter container with mangled hooks, my flies started to look like actual bugs.

I still remember the first fish that I caught on one of my own hand tied hoppers, and the picture and the fly are framed over my desk to mark the occasion. From that day forward, any waking second to the world of feather, fur, foam, and thread and I practiced until I could not see straight.

Today as life becomes busier, trips to the streams and rivers are fewer and farther between and therefore my times at the vice give me my fly fishing fix and hold me over till the next time I can rig up my fly rod and tempt some trout.

Here are a few thoughts if you ever had in hankering to tie a few flies.

1. Buy the nicest vice you can afford. – As everything in life, you get what you pay for. There are quite a few affordable starter kits on the market, but often the vices that come with these kits can be pretty cheap and frustrating to learn to tie on. If you think or know that fly tying is something you could become obsessed with, buy a nice vice that will last a lifetime.
2. One fly at a time – An old timer gave me some sage advice when he told me to learn one pattern at a time. Start with the time-tested patterns and become proficient at the basic skills of fly tying.
3. Practice makes perfect – There is no substitute for tying dozens of the same pattern. Just like shooting baskets or going to the golf range, muscle memory is key.
4. Have fun – Tying flies is supposed to be enjoyable. Researching rivers and fly patterns for an upcoming fishing trip is exciting. There’s nothing more satisfying than filling a box full of flies and thinking about all the fish that your creations are going to catch.

Tyler Hughen, Co-director of the documentary Low & Clear,  shares with us a special moment as his dreams come to life on the big screen at True/False film festival. We fell in love with Low & Clear from the minute we set eyes on the trailer because it speaks a language that all fishermen know, understand and cherish. Next on the agenda, Low & Clear heads to SXSW this weekend to showcase their film. We wish the crew of Low & Clear the best of luck in Austin and hope their Filson gear is treating them well on the journey!

I’m sitting on a flight heading towards the True/False film festival. Not sure where this starts, or how it ends, but the trail leading me towards Missouri has been long, difficult, and fueled by the most inspiring project I’ve ever been involved with.

For me, it’s a time of reflection like I’ve never experienced.  About 20 years ago I walked into a fly shop in Southern Colorado and J.T. Van Zandt was behind the counter, a big goofy hat on, and hair halfway down his back.  “We gonna hang out this summer?”, he asked in his way that means he is not really asking, rather declaring that him and I would in fact be hanging out.  It was my first day as an employee at the shop and after work we cruised down Hwy 160 towards a little Bass pond with a couple tall boys that I was way too young to drink legally.  It was the first year I started guiding, and the same summer we met the living legend that is Xenie Hall.

Over the next four years the three of us fished and did little else.  I thought of them as my big brothers, we fished wherever we wanted to paying little attention to rules that might slow us down.  For me it was a period of unbridled freedom. I look back on those years with a warm glow.  J.T. and Xenie taught me how to live with little obligations, no compromise, and a wild eye.  Fishermen know that feeling—that internal satisfaction when you’re exactly at the right place at the right time.  That’s how I always felt fishing with J.T. and Xenie. I’ll never forget it.

A few years ago we started shooting Low & Clear, a documentary about two fisherman who try to re-unite on a Steelhead trip to British Columbia.  They struggle to deal with how much time has past and find that they may have gone too far in their own direction.

As I write this, J.T. Van Zandt and Xenie Hall are in the air, converging on Columbia Missouri to meet me at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, where the film that I co-directed about them is going to premiere.

I am very proud and more than a little nervous. But, I feel that wild eye coming back. I know when we meet up and the opening credit sequence rolls–I’ll be in the right place at the right time.

Low & Clear Trailer

Judith O’Keefe has fished many places; saltwater, freshwater, rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, you name it, she’s done it. But for a longtime fisher(woman) like herself, a trip to the Bahamas for some bonefishing made her feel like a child on a grade-school field trip again.

When you imagine your first Bahamas bonefish trip you probably envision a well appointed lodge on Andros Island or perhaps Grand Bahama, with knowledgeable, patient guides, and schools of bonefish that provide just enough of a challenge. Not a chance.  It’s more like an hour boat ride and you’re dropped off on a remote cay with a Scott STS, 7-weight rod, a decent assortment of flies, a tent, and a cooler with ice, beer, and a little food. Hopefully, the ice and I would last eight days. Yep, that would be my introduction to the world of bonefishing, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

That was years ago, and I’ve been on many saltwater trips since then, fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and snook, but they all pale in comparison to that first trip: A wilderness experience in the Bahamas.  Who’d a thought?  As far back as I can remember I’ve had a deep connection with the natural world. I grew up in Northern California and as a young girl I’d happily loose myself in the rolling hills that surrounded my home.  The terrain changed when I moved to the high desert of central Oregon in 1990, but the fascination with my surroundings continued. However, the wilderness east of Florida is something entirely different: the miles of juniper and sage are replaced by miles of saltwater flats, the lava rock by coral, the deer and mountain lions by eagle rays and sharks.

Seasoned flats fishermen know that to successfully hook and land a bonefish you must first see one.  If you don’t have a guide standing up on the poling platform of a flats boat, you’re at a disadvantage.  Eventually, one’s eyes become accustom to identifying those fish shapes; the way they move and feed. But a six-foot tall guide, standing on a platform five feet above the water will see much better than a wading angler . . . and I’m 5’2”.  Sure I wanted to catch fish, but I was exploring.  Instead of searching for bonefish in the distance, I’d frequently find myself distracted by the sea cucumber, beautiful conch shells, and brilliantly colored starfish at my feet.  More than once, my partner would sternly remind me, “This is NOT a field trip!”

Today, with a number of saltwater trips behind me, I think I’ve reached a fine balance.  The focus is clearly on landing some beautiful fish. The bonefish remains my favorite on the flats and if there are small to mid-size tarpon swimming in the channels, I’m right there. But my appreciation of all that the outer islands have to offer has only deepened: The incredible natural beauty, the friendly locals operating on “island time”, and their wonderful native dishes. I can spend time at a lodge or go on a “do-it-yourself” trip when the opportunity presents itself. I can travel anytime between November and May. I’ll stay a week, ten days, or longer. The details of how, when and where aren’t important.  What is important is taking a field trip to the Bahamas at least once a year . . . doctor’s orders.

Judith is hosting a trip on April 20-25, to Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. This is a prime time bonefishing trip, to a top lodge, at an affordable price. This trip is geared towards, but not limited to, first timers or those that have had limited flats fishing experience.  For more information, contact Fish Head Expeditions at Jerry@fishheadexpeditions.com or 503-539-1451.

Photo credit: Judith O'Keefe

Judith O’Keefe takes us on an O’Keefe family horseback adventure in the small town of  Stehekin, Washington. This cold weather has us daydreaming about late summer outdoor escapes, just like this one.

The O’Keefe family gathers together every August, not so much for a family vacation, but a family adventure.   This year was no exception. My sister-in-law, Jeanette, discovered the tiny town of Stehekin, Washington, while on a horse pack trip with friends.  Stehekin is tucked away at the northwest end of Lake Chelan, and accessible solely by plane, ferry or horseback.  She was so impressed with the natural beauty, abundant wildlife and interesting topography, that she knew she had bring the family.

At eight am, seven humans and three horses started our 22 mile trek from Bridge Creek Trail off of N. Cascades Hwy. It is noteworthy to mention that we ranged in age from 16, my niece Jacqueline, to age 82, my mother-in-law Ann.  Day one was filled with literal ups and downs, on foot and horseback.   We picked huckleberries, bear watched, some of us got lost, and then there were those trusty steeds, prancing down the trail and shuffling their way across creeks and over logs.  But, I’ll save the details for another time.  Suffice it to say, we all arrived safely at stunning Stehekin Valley Ranch, a few hours behind schedule, but before all the pot roast was gone.   Jeanette was right, this trip should be on every outdoor enthusiast’s Bucket List.

While some spent their days riding and hiking the trails around the ranch, those of us drawn to water had the pleasure of fishing the Stehekin River  with local fishing guide, John Wilsey.   The float offers some of the best scenery in the Northwest: crystal, clear water, with some pools, a deep shade of turquoise blue. Wilsey’s pontoon boat was perfect for navigating the river.  Using hoppers and stimulator dry flies, we landed several strong, healthy cutthroat and rainbow trout in the 10 to 17” range.   The river is known for its fall caddis and green drake hatches and some fish in the 20” plus range.

Sometime in the not too distant future, I’ll make my way back to the Stehekin.  The pot roast was great, but it was the river and the fishing that really whet my appetite.

Judith O’Keefe loves being on the river and always jumps on her next opportunity to land a “big one.” Yet Judith didn’t even think twice about taking a weekend off to volunteer at a Casting for Recovery Retreat, where she could share her expertise in fly fishing with a few women battling breast cancer.

Two weeks ago, I had the honor and pleasure of volunteering at a Casting for Recovery Retreat. CFR is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization, which was founded in 1996 by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher.  This organization focuses on wellness by offering free 2 ½ day retreats for women in any stage of breast cancer treatment or recovery.  At the retreat, women learn basic fly fishing skills.  The dynamics of the sport provide a healing connection to the natural world, and fly casting techniques provide gentle exercise for joints and soft tissue.

This particular retreat was held in beautiful Camp Sherman, OR at the picturesque Lake Creek Lodge.  There were fourteen participants and ten volunteer staff in attendance.  I was there to assist with casting instruction and to serve as a photographer.  Except my primary reason for volunteering at this CFR retreat was the opportunity it gave me to meet these courageous women, and if lucky, to get to know a little about who they are, and what inspires them to put one foot in front of the other each day. While every woman at the Camp Sherman retreat was special and brought something unique to the group, one woman in particular stood out.  Heidi was full of joy and determination.  In the world of those who fish often, where frequently the talk turns to – how big or how many – it is rare and refreshing to see someone so intent on just catching a fish.  Saturday was spent learning the basics: equipment, knot tying and flies, casting and entomology. Sunday was reserved for fishing.  On this day, each participant had a “river helper” to give guidance as needed.  The ladies and their helpers circled the stocked pond, found a promising piece of water and fished.  Like the others, Heidi casted her line, retrieved it, and casted again, and again.  The fish weren’t particularly cooperative on this sunny autumn day, but a few fish were caught.  Heidi landed two, and if her delight and enthusiasm could be bottled and distributed, the world would be a better place. Heidi’s son and his wife make their living as fly fishing guides, and now we know where that talent originated.