October 23, 2012

Losers... again...



Another OCC in the books and there's a new happy first place team from the biggest little city in the world... just not us...

10 teams showed this year with 50% of the cash prize pool going to first place (somewhere around $450), 35% to second, and 15% to third. The kicker... over $350 to the angler with the biggest fish. No commanding leads or tournament run-aways this year. It was a close game for all teams all the way until the end of day two.

Even though we tried, team master baetis (minus the dirty Samchez) couldn't bring home the trophy this year. If there were an award for the biggest clown show, we would've been heavy contenders. Our day one was fraught with break-offs and lost fish. We unbuttoned well over 150 inches of fish on day one and broke off another 70 or so inches. I watched Jason break off what would have been the biggest fish of the tournament by a clean 5 inches... pretty heartbreaking to watch a $350 fish deal you an ass whooping... but that's how the Truckee crumbles.

Still had fun and still didn't win... again. Pretty much the story of my life.

Did manage one decent fish to help the cause:


October 5, 2012

October Cutthroat Classic Oct. 20th and 21st

Coming this October 20th and 21st is the 3rd annual October Cutthroat Classic fly fishing tournament on the Truckee River in Reno, NV.

The tournament is a day and a half long fly fishing only tournament where two-person teams will compete for cash payouts, the next 12 months worth of bragging rights, and a spot for their names on the OCC tournament trophy. The cost is $100 per two-person team, which includes entry into the tournament prize pool and a BBQ on Sunday afternoon/evening. The tournament dates are Saturday and Sunday October 20th and 21st, 2012 in the biggest little city in the world. We hope to see you there!

For more information about the tournament or to register please email Kevin at flyfishocc@gmail.com or call 775-848-8894.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OctoberCutthroatClassic


October 4, 2012

Snack Time

Caviar flavored chips anyone?


Strangely enough... pretty tasty...

Just be prepared not to talk to anyone 'till you get a toothbrush on those chompers. Makes coffee breathe seem like a blessing.

September 27, 2012

Steelin' Summer

Ya, winter steelhead are monsters, but there's just something about a chromer and a cold beer on a hot day that makes it better...

Here's the next installment from Nate Lishman and Waterlogged Productions. A nice week or so of chasing summer steelhead.

Sam... you're pretty much the man... enjoy it while it lasts... for the next couple days.

Steelin' Summer from Nathan Lishman on Vimeo.


June 15, 2012

October Cutthroat Classic 2012

Coming soon in October 2012 will be the 3rd annual October Cutthroat Classic fly fishing tournament on the Truckee River in Reno, NV. It's gonna be another amazing event if it's anything like the last two years.

Last year's competition was well worth the wait. 13 two man teams on one of the country's best trout rivers. Competition was stiff! We saw teams from all over the country: pros, amateurs, first timers, locals, and even a high school team from Sparks.  There was a lot of beer and whiskey drinkin', some broken rods, a few people in the drink, a couple bee attacks, some HUGE fish in the hog troughs, some cutts, some whiteys, lots of bows, some clowny browns, and even some wild horses. Turns out that you don't have to be a local or a pro to win this bad boy as an amateur team from Oregon took home the W never having fished the Truckee before that tournament. If you like to fish and enjoy some good times with some good people this is where it's at!

Here's another vid from Nate Lishman and Waterlogged Productions with clips from last year's tourney. Enjoy!
2011 October Cutthroat Classic from Nathan Lishman on Vimeo.

May 16, 2012

Springtime #2

Spring has sprung and another epic journey is in the books. Check out this second springtime installment from Nate Lishman and Waterlogged Productions:


Spring Update #2 - West Slope Sierra from Nathan Lishman on Vimeo.

Sometimes the juice is worth the squeeze!

May 15, 2012

Spring on the East Side

A little video taste of how Spring happens around the Sierra NV mountains. Nate... once again... some amazing work.


Spring Update #1- Eastern Sierra from Nathan Lishman on Vimeo.

May 8, 2012

Land of the Giants

Found ourselves in the land of the giants over the weekend... Hooked plenty. Fought to keep 'em hooked, lost most, but when they hit the net, it was just as hard to keep them in it with five inches of tail still hanging out. I've been told that this isn't even a big fish for this stretch... go figure...



Saw a total of five other people fishing in five miles of prime river. Doesn't get much better than that. Runoff is still a problem unless you're on mars... which is where we were... again...

Walter is in there and he's calling my name...

February 23, 2012

Upper Truckee River: Wild and Scenic


Things Worth Saving from Nathan Lishman on Vimeo.


Check out Nate's latest video about wild and scenic designation for the Upper Truckee River.

February 19, 2012

DIY Two Man Rowing Frame

Step 1: Get a raft.
Step 2: Get your buddy's one-man pontoon boat's rowing frame.
Step 3: Get some ropes and tie that thing down however you can, and make sure the ropes are tight.
Step 4: Stuff a folding chair in the front of the boat so your buddy can ride in style.



Step 5: Catch fish.


Mission accomplished...

February 16, 2012

Trinity River in February

Managed three days on the Trinity between storms last month. Water was in various stages of fishable while we were there. Water below French Creek was a raging torrent of chocolate milk:


Water between JC and Big Bar was okay, 12 inches of visibility, but still super high. Didn't see much of the water between DC and JC, but the water below Indian creek was looking pretty good. The water above DC was in great shape. A little cold, but good flows with a hint of the steelhead green.

We started off below JC in hopes of swinging up a fish or two tight against the bank... no dice. Wading was tough and swinging was pointless with the water temps below 40. Had one grab between the two of us all day.


Next day we checked out steel bridge and found some prime water, but no fish. Even the fishiest slots and buckets turned up nothing. We switched back and forth from the nymph game to the swing game and came up blanked again. This time not even a grab. We saw fish, just no takes.


With the prime water came the boats as well. We saw at least 10 or more guide boats below bucktail, every one with a different report, "Oh, an epic day," to, "I've never seen it this tough." Our sentiment agreed with the latter. We heard the fish were on the egg bite, but we had been hammering the river with every different size and color of egg for nothing.

The last day we started at the steel bridge but quickly moved on... Another epic showing of shitty fishing etiquette... We got an early rise and corked out the fishiest water of the trip first thing that morning. Before I had made 10 casts a gear guy comes sloshing in below me about 30 ft and starts bombing casts over my fly line... men have been known to kill people for less than that... THEN... then his buddy appears out of nowhere just above me... I had gone from a good 50-60 foot long run all to myself, to having 10 ft of river to fish. Their mission was a success: I packed up and left.

We moved down river to get away from the people and the boats, and it turned out to be a better move. Nate hooked a good looking brown trout on a big brown rubberleg stone:
 

and I managed one average steelhead on a rubberleg red copper john:


Not the epic trip we predicted, but at least we didn't get skunked.


January 13, 2012

I said never again... but I lied


I made a pretty solid promise to myself never to fish the E Walker again... So much for that...

As if rolling your truck wasn't punishment enough... sticking a man with a rental HHR is just salt in the wound.


Fish were rising everywhere. Dry fly action all day. Fish on dries, nymphs, and streamers... Pretty much a fly fisherman's paradise, frozen guides and all. Only 3 or 4 other people on the river we didn't know... Kinda nice not having to search for water. Hot flies were any midge in an 18 or smaller, sz 18 adams dry, and any streamer in your box.

January 12, 2012

Shhhh... He Caught it on Mars

Nate's early year big steelhead.


Steelheading has been heating up (sort of) here in the valley, and so have all the people who love to flame a man for catching a good fish. Whining about pics showing where, and how, and when... so... if you were wondering, this fish was caught on Mars.

January 4, 2012

Brrrrrr...


When is it too cold to fish?....

When the thermo looks like this...


It's hard to get your flies down when they're frozen into little flysicles. I did learn that my 5 wt would probably cast better if I lined up a couple weights... The half pound of ice stuck to the last 15 feet of the fly line helped with that moment of clarity.


The NV department of wildlife scored a cool $36 for nuthin. Should've gone with my gut, but nobody nose like Jay.