Fly Fishing In The Driftless Area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPCjnOZTauo

Here is a video of some clips from fly fishing in SW Wisconsin. It's also posted on Facebook: Tippets & Tails

Tippets & Tails Guide Service

I have been playing with the idea of creating a guide service for about a year now, and I had made a page on facebook; called Tippets & Tails Guide Service! I just recently created it live, and have been slowly getting some "fans". I am fly fishing in the Driftless area just about everyday that I can during the season, and whenever I am not working, so I thought that it would be a good idea to take people out and show them my style of fly fishing and what I have taught myself from 5 years of fly fishing on my own. Check out my facebook page, browse through some of the pics, and if you would like to go fishing give me a shout!

Seth

Deerfield River Video

Here is a quick video of the Deerfield River that I took with my camera, it is very quick because my camera dies at the end of the video! I landed 7-8 Browns & Bows within a two hour period. It was all top water w/ a mayfly emerger pattern in a creamish color. I wish I had pictures but, my camera was dead. On the way to this stretch of the stream we passed one of Bill Cosby's houses, and we actually had to walk a little bit to this part of the stream because the Red bridge was under construction. It was an awesome part of the stream and I wish the video showed it a little better!

End of the Season Trout Pictures!

Snowy days ahead...

With all these snowy days ahead of us in Wisconsin, why not pull out some good reading material! I am officially on Winter break and I will be reading my old fly fishing magazines, books, and online articles! When you can't be on the waters learning, grab a good read and learn! Two weekends ago I was up by the BG and some of the bigger/longer pools had a thin layer of ice on them, although the streams looked to be in great condition. One thing I will be addressing this up coming spring is; restoration that is greatly needed on some of the area trout Streams in SW Wisconsin!

Wisconsins Officially Closed Trout Season for the Winter.

So the season is officially closed and I have been very busy Bowhunting and filming with a trip to Gillette, WY with Jana Waller, Bruce Langer, and Dakota Case all fellow HCO partners. Honey Creek Outdoors also has a blog...http://honeycreekoutdoors.blogspot.com/ Here is the link to that, enjoy. The trip was Sept. 6th through the 12th and we were all bowhunting for antelope. Other than hunting I have been very busy with college! It's beginning to be the end of hunting season, so my mind will be turning to SCOUTING/SHED HUNTING and soon fly fishing again! Tricos were coming off good and the nymph fishing was fantastic as usual. Particularly on the BG I didn't have the greatest luck w/ Hoppers...but, I did find that I had good luck w/ beetles and ants! Stay tuned and I'll be posting some more... I have some left over pictures of some trout I have caught at the end of this trout season!

Getting Started in the Driftless Region

As a beginner, all of the options for gear can get pretty confusing! After a couple years of really figuring out what I need and don't need, it is all about being simple. To get started all you need is a 4 or 5 wt. fly rod if you are going to be fishing on these small streams. The length of your rod should be 8-9ft. long. A weight forward floating fly line is all you need on your rod. An expensive reel is not needed as most fish you catch won't be peeling off 50-60 yds. of line. I feel that the color of your floating line is a personal choice.(I prefer green)

--> Tippet & Leader- Leader is the line you will be attaching to your WF Floating line and the Tippet is used to make your leader longer (when you keep tying flies on, your leader will begin to get too short and you can use tippet to extend the life of your leader) I use Orvis leaders 9ft. 5x and I use Orvis Tippet Material in 5x.(The 5x or 6x and so on that appears on your tippet or leader package represents the strength/lbs. of your line. 5x is normally around 4lbs. and is the most commonly used tippet/leader.

--> Flies- You do not need an extensive amount of flies. Keep it simple- some basic nymphs, dry flies, streamers, and terrestrials.

Some choices for flies for each category would be: Nymphs-(pheasant tail,hares ear,copper john,prince nymphs.) Dry Flys-(Royal Coahman, Royal Wulff,Adams,Blue Winged Olives,Sulphurs,&Elk Hair Caddis) Streamers-(Wooly buggers,Zonkers,Clouser minnow,Muddler Minnow) & Terrestials(Daves Hopper, Letort Hopper,Black Ant,Beetles)

I also recommend getting a pair of Polarized glasses. They are a great help for spotting rising trout, emerging insects, and seeing yellow flashes as a big brown is feeding below the surface.

You will also need a pack to carry your arsenal- I prefer a hip/fanny pack over chest packs because I get warm very easily. I use a hip pack by Fishpond. William Joseph & Fish pond make great affordable packs!

All you need below:

Fly Rod-4wt./5wt. 8-9ft.

Fly Reel-4wt./5wt. WF Floating Line (any color line)

Leader/Tippet- Normally 9ft. 5x (Experience with different brands)

Polarized Sun Glasses

A fly box- that consists of Nymphs,Dry Flies,Streamers,& Terrestrials.

A good pack that is comfortable for your style & conditions.

Waders & Wading boots(Wet Wading for summertime conditions) You can find all kinds of waders by searching on the net.

Last but not least a couple of gadgets(Clippers,Fly Floatant,& a Retractable Cable to hold them!)