Skips Loose Threads: My Spinning Rods for Trout Skip’s Loose Threads, Layton James
Boo! Hiss! Spinning rods for trout? Where’s your flyrod? Let me explain.
Over the years, I have fished for trout in places where a flyrod is not the “tool of choice.” My first spinning rod was a 3.1oz number by Shakespeare, 6 ½ feet long, 2-piece, with those white spiral wrapping marks called the Howald process. The catalog called it a “Sporty.” It was part of a pair of light rods, the other being a 6 ½ foot flyrod that weighed only 2.5oz. I still have that one. I had asked for the pair of rods for my 16th birthday, and my dad came up with the spinning rod. I bought the flyrod later with my own money.
With that spinning rod, my boyhood friend Billy White and I caught our first Rainbow trout in a park lake that had been stocked the week before. It also was used for trout in the brook trout streams of New Hampshire, where my former wife’s family lived. It acounted for plenty of fish from the White Mountains streams, particularly the South Branch of the Pemigewassett River. All those fish went for a Number 0 Mepps Aglia spinner with no feathers. The same combination fooled trout in the Big Sur River south of San Francisco.
That rod was replaced later by a Fenwick FS74 in the mid ’80’s. I used to play the harpsichord at a festival in Petoskey, Michigan, for several Summers. That’s on the East side of Lake Michigan, and I needed a rod that would cast far out into the lake to fool the trout. That one was an 8’ 3” two-handed rod that could heave a ¾ oz Little Cleo from here to eternity, it seemed. That rod was just fine for the big browns that were cruising the waters around Ephraim, WI in the Fall. But I found that when Linda and I went up to the North Shore, I needed an even bigger rod for Lake Superior. That was an 8’ 6” two-hander that threw a 1 oz Little Cleo.
All of these rods were equipped with Mitchell reels: a 308 for the lightest, a 300 for the middle one, and a 306 for the biggest. Now don’t get me wrong. To my left, as I sit at my desk, is a Sage 389 fly rod, the original 2-piece version, and a LRH Lightweight Hardy reel loaded with a 3-weight line is within reach. Maybe I’ll request that that rod be added to my casket. Or is that a little too Egyption a request? That sounds like something a Pharaoh would do.
There are billions and billions of trout fly patterns out there. You can walk into any fly shop on this continent and buy an Adams. And if you look long enough, you’ll probably find a pattern you’ve never heard of and never seen before. Buy one, it might work. If it doesn’t, there’s always that Adams to fall back on. If an Adams will work, why is there such a dizzying array of patterns? Now the cynic will tell you that if you publish a magazine article about the next big deal fly, you’ll make a few bucks on the article and gain yourself a slice of fame, but there’s more to it than that.
There are two other factors involved. One is the inherent creativity of our species, and the other is our perceived need for an improvement. Bob Mitchell once said, “The reason you tie your own flies is because that way you get exactly what you want.” Tying your own flies is one of the adjustments you make to further your success on the trout stream. If you’re fishing a dry fly, there are two adjustments you can make: change flies and change the tippet. If you’re fishing nymphs there are three adjustments you can make: change flies, add or subtract weight, raise or lower the strike indicator.
When I started trout fishing in the early 70’s, short of money, I bought one leader and a spool of tippet material. How do you think that worked out? Like everyone else I gradually added longer leaders and more spools of tippet material, trying to adjust. I also spent a lot of time at the kitchen table practicing knot tying. That skill came in handy when I bought a copy of JOE HUMPHREY’S TROUT TACTICS and became semi-obsessed with his leader formulas. He had leaders for dry flies, nymphs, streamers and wet flies, all of which were designed for various conditions. So, I bought a leader wallet and filled it with leaders for the specific situations I envisioned for myself. They all worked, but I got tired of retying the dry fly leaders. Now most people don’t carry around a dozen leaders like that. Most people buy a leader and shorten or lengthen it to fit the situation. One of my friends, nameless, said I was crazy; I prefer to think of myself as thoughtfully engaged.
Tying your own leaders is one more adjustment you can make to further your success, but you don’t have to carry a leader wallet to make these adjustments. Several years ago, Gary Borger published an article about his latest leader design he called the Uni-Body Leader. I honestly don’t know why it took me a decade to screw around with it but two years ago I succumbed. Warning: it is unorthodox. Here is the formula. 48” — .020” 12” — .013” 48” — .010”
I made only two modifications to this formula. I substituted 20 lb Amnesia for the butt section and I attached a tippet ring at the end of the .010” material. You can tie the entire Uni-Body with whatever nylon you like; I used the amnesia because I like its visibility. The tippet ring allows you to modify the tippet without chopping up the Uni-Body. To fish a nymph or streamer you can add just a foot or so of tippet material of the appropriate diameter. To fish a dry fly or swing a wet fly you can add a couple feet of your favorite tippet material. You might be bewildered like I was at the radical nature of this design, but it turns over well and serves almost any function you can imagine.
In my forty-plus years as a fly angler, I have frequented three different fly shops in eight distinct locations in seven different buildings under the ownership of five different people. In that time, I’ve gone from neophyte to experienced angler to geezer. I tell you this to establish my bona fides as a “shop rat” (The term doesn’t mean “employee;” a less sentimental term might be “hanger on”). Every one of those shops helped me immeasurably along the way. My first shop was Tom Helgeson’s Bright Waters. There I took casting lessons, an aquatic entomology class and an on-the-stream flyfishing for trout class. Tom brought in guest speakers who exposed me to facets of the sport previously unknown to me. I spent so much time at Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop that I was more of a fixture than a regular. I learned a great deal there, too, but more importantly, I treasure to this day close the friendships with wildly disparate personality types that blossomed there.
My current home away from home is Lund’s Fly Shop. Housed in a soulful multi-story brick building dating back to 1881 on Main Street in River Falls, WI, this emporium nails the image of what a fly shop ought to look like. Mounts of tarpon, billfish and an incongruous elk gracing the high interior walls stand watch over an extensive array of waders, clothing, tackle, fly tying materials, accessories, and fly bins, with all of that seeming to float over the vintage hardwood floor. Staffed by friendly and knowledgeable folks, it’s a place that warms the soul.
One of the prominent features of the building is the mezzanine that overlooks the shop. There is angling art displayed on the walls. There are a few long tables up there that are ideal for group fly tying sessions. The shop hosts two of these sessions per month, one on a Saturday and another on a Tuesday. You can find the shop’s specific schedule at its website, https://www.lundsflyshop.com/. I’ve attended two sessions thus far and have had a wonderful time at both. At the first one, someone asked as soon as I’d sat down if I needed anything to drink. I said, “No, thanks, I’m good.” The response to that was, “Ice or neat?” Sensing that further resistance was futile, I replied, “Uh, ice.” A glass with ice and Irish whiskey appeared in front of me. I’m not saying this is a regular occurrence, but it looks like there’s a zeitgeist that suggests that you’re welcome to bring food and beverages to share. There’s some slight remnant boys’ club attitude, but it’s a welcoming place. I’ve seen a fellow who just stopped by to chat stay to help a boy of about ten who’d come with his non-tying father. The fellow stayed long enough to get the youngster through a couple of basic patterns that employed the basics of tying. Another man helped a young woman wearing a Green Bay Packers stocking cap master the use of a whip finishing tool. I saw my friend Sarah, an accomplished tyer, tie her first two pike/muskie Bufords. A fellow two generations younger than me reached out to me to show me the elegant soft hackles he was tying. Even among all the experienced tyers, there’s something for everyone to learn. We often come to think of ourselves as trout fly tyers or warmwater tyers or whatever, but the thing is, there’s a whole spectrum of flies that cross borders or involve techniques that can be applied anywhere. In one night, I’ve seen tied, among other things: Steelhead intruder flies, billfish flies, jig streamers, soft hackles, midges, and a CK baitfish, which, with its die-cut synthetic tail and flashy trimmed body would have been heresy just a few years ago.
Given the combination of camaraderie, bonhomie, the learning opportunities, you can’t go wrong. Of course, Lund’s is not the only fly shop in the area and you might be a regular at one of them or are looking for a reason to become one. Those shops likely have open tying sessions, too, ones that might provide you with as much fun as I’m having at Lund’s. Be sure to look them up. Having a fly shop to call your home is an essential part of not being merely an informed angler, but a happy one.
Editor’s Note: Open tying sessions are also available at Mendprovisions Fly Shop located in Saint Paul , Minnesota (mend provisions.com) and the Cabela’s store in Rogers (Link). Photo provided by Brian Smolinski
On October 5th the community came together on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River at Green Pastures Family Farm in River Falls, WI for a new annual event hosted by the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust called Nature Night. The day was off to a windy start but turned into a beautiful fall evening just in time for the event. Nature Night celebrated the conservation efforts of the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, partners, and community members within the Kinni watershed and shed light as to why protecting this natural resource is so important.
The Stump Grinders opened the event with their foot-stomping old-time music that filled the air with sounds of joy. The event included many activities such as a nature art tent facilitated by KRLT’s Social Media Coordinator, Jane Taylor. Children and adults alike enjoyed painting mini pumpkins donated by the local Leisen Family Farm, creating nature bracelets while learning about the native prairie grasses, and putting together a backyard pinecone birdfeeder for our feathered friends to enjoy. One of the highlights for many was the river ecology station. This provided the opportunity for folks to get up close and interact with the star of the show the Kinni River. Thanks to the help from KRLT, the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of TU, and community volunteers, attendees were able to identify aquatic insects, feel the cold waters of the Kinni, and understand the importance of protecting such an incredible ecosystem. It was a joy to see the expression on children’s faces when they realized the underbelly of the rocks pulled from the river were full of life and squirming insects. In addition, Bob Nasby and his grandson provided the opportunity to learn about the skill of casting and fly fishing.
Also at the event were the St. Croix Valley Birding Club, WE Co-op, Kinni CC, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Farmer-Led Watershed Council, and The Humble Horse. Each had an opportunity to share their story and bring light to the importance of their role in the conservation story of the Kinni. As the sun slowly started to set, local favorite Chris Silver took the stage as eventgoers enjoyed the views of the Kinni.
Nature Night was a huge success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our sponsors, volunteers, members, staff, and the entire community. From laughter and games to music, art, and science, the evening was filled with joy and purpose.
Molly Barritt-Luebke Donor and Community Relations Manager Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
My favorite trout fishing partner for many years was Merrimon Hipps, known to all as Mike. Like me, he was a professional musician, a trumpet player in the Minnesota Orchestra. We traveled out West many times together, and took our share of fish from local waters. Now retired, he lives with his wife in Eden Prairie.
One evening, after dinner in Preston, MN and a fine day fishing the South Branch of the Root River, we were heading home in the car, windows open, listening to the Twins game on the radio. The reception wasn’t particularly good, and Mike tuned to Minnesota Public Radio instead. In those days, the mid 80’s, there was only one station, not three as there are today. A familiar piece of music was playing, Franz Schubert’s “Trout Quintet.” Based upon a song that Schubert wrote a year before, it tells the story of a trout caught by a fisherman. The music is full of slippery chromatic phrases in the piano accompaniment. Atypically, the quintet is set for piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The composer wrote it in 1819 when he was twenty-two, but it wasn’t published until after his death. The radio performance that evening was excellent, and our conversation ceased as we listened.
After the final movement, we discussed the possibility that those of us who enjoyed sophisticated classical music might also enjoy the art of fly fishing, and that fly fishers might find that a refined taste in music might develop in those who knew how to handle a flyrod.
The Phipps Center for the Arts was still in its old building, but just out the door and across the street was the Hudson park and bandshell. I asked four string players from the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to join me in performing the “Trout Quintet” on the main stage, and Mike got volunteers from both Kiap-TU-Wish and Twin Cities Chapters of TU to tie flies in the lobby and give casting lessons on the lawn afterwards.
We set up our concert and demonstrations on a sunny Sunday afternoon in June, 1985. At 1pm, we played the quintet, and at 4pm there were still people fly casting on the lawn and watching talented fly tiers work. Neither one of us took attendance and the concert was free. Perhaps a few of you who read this might remember the event.
A Minimal Arsenal of Flies for Fooling Fish in Local Waters All Season Long. By Skip James
I know fishermen who carry every fly they own in their vests, and others who carry only those that imitate the prevailing hatch. There are flies that work well, casting to fish you can see, probably feeding close to or in the surface, and others that you use when you are searching for promising water. Here are the six I wouldn’t ever be without, whether here in Wisconsin or on a big western river. I provided enough material info so you can tie them yourself, and, if you have questions, call me. 715-690-4503 Tight lines!
This is my number one ‘nymph’, for fishing in streamy water, near undercut banks, in deep holes. Back in 1971, I was catching trout in a pool on the Kinni that now is under the Hwy 35 Byway, and another angler, coming downstream, who identified himself as Andy Miner, asked to see my fly. When he looked at it, he said: “What a ‘mother’ that one is” and the name, though pejorative, stuck. This is the same Andy Miner who bred Blue Andalusian roosters for their neck hackles and was the original supplier to Buck Metz in Pennsylvania. I tied flies for Andy, in exchange for necks, for several years.
Weighted “Mother” #8-10
Thread: Gray, 6/0
Hook: standard dry fly, down eye
Weight: lead-free wire on the front half of the hook, under the dubbing Dubbing: Dubbing: Muskrat, complete with guard hairs, well picked out
Rib: Gold flat tinsel
Hackle: Grey Grouse soft hackle
This Caddis imitation is my number two ‘nymph’, for riffes particularly.
Caddis Pupa #12-16
Thread: Dark green, 8/0
Hook: Curved, pupa down eye
Bead: Copper
Dubbing: Medium green SLF or other similar, well picked out Rib: Medium copper wire
These two I use as dry flies, fished to risers, sometimes dead drift, sometimes ‘on the swing.’ I owe a debt of thanks to the author of “Designing Trout Flies”, Gary Borger, for his concept of a ‘wet-dry’ fly. Early season, use the green one. When Sulphurs appear, use the yellow one.
Little Green Thing: #16-18
Thread: Light green, 8/0
Hook: standard dry fly, down eye Dubbing: Medium olive SLF
Hackle: Light grey Grouse soft hackle, sparse, same length as hook shank
Little Yellow Thing: #16-18 Thread: Yellow, 8/0
Hook: standard dry fly, down eye Dubbing: Medium yellow SLF
Hackle: Light grey Grouse soft hackle, sparse, same length as hook shank
On our local waters, you need a great Trico imitation, since that hatch occupies so much of the season. The advantage of this one is that you can see it from forty feet away in riffes, where the trout are rising. The Badger hackle’s black center gives the impression of a solid thorax, although with no additional bulk or weight. The gold edges show up very well in morning light.
Skip’s Trico #22
Thread: Black, 8/0, wrapped over the entire shank Hook: standard dry fly, down eye
Dubbing: none
Tails: 3 strands clear Microfibetts, spread wide.
Hackle: #22 Badger (black center, cream edge) wrapped from middle of the hook to the eye, and clipped flat on the bottom. Whiting Farms sized hackle packs is a good source.
Your favorite Grasshopper pattern, #10, long shank.
My favorite, probably because it was invented by Bob Mitchell, is the “Jolly Green Giant.” But if you have confidence in a different hopper pattern, use it.
