Let's end 2008 on the right note

In addition to Mongolian throat singing, be sure to look for lots more excitement from FlyfishMagazine in the coming year. Stay tuned for more gear, film, and book reviews, interviews with the movers and shakers of the fishing world, expanded video coverage of the sport, and even more articles from our warped point of view.

In the nearer term, be sure to check out this week's upcoming report from FlyfishMagazine's globe trekking angler, Tim Weston. We can't divulge where Tim is fishing this time but let's just say we hope he enjoys a good curry. Happy end of 2008 and start of 2009 from all the crew at FlyfishMagazine.com

Clean Coal Calamity Clouds Clinch

Gear Review- Smith Optics Interlock Sunglasses

I finally got to wear my new sunglasses out on the water. It was a trip to Mosquito Lagoon in Titusville, FL with Capt Bryan Pahmeier. The shades are light and comfortable and fit my giant cranium nicely. With the amber lenses I was able to spot fish easily in the clear water. I didn't change lenses because the only other color I have is a yellow lens that I am not going to bother with except for driving in low light conditions.

The only small concern I had was that the lenses seemed to be loose from the frames when I first took the glasses out of the cases. I am assuming they got smooshed a little bit in my gear bag. A simple snap and they were back in. Some different color lenses to try out on different color bottoms and different clarity water would be a good addition, but otherwise the glasses are of high quality. I am pleased with them.

Smith Optics Interlocks are available from www.SmithOptics.com Suggested retail price $149.00

Fighting for Gamefish Status for Georgia Redfish

Thanks to guys like Capt. Gordon Churchill in North Carolina and now Capt. Scott Wagner fighting battles, educating, and keeping us posted on conservation fronts, fish such as this are still possible to the average angler. Scott is a close angling friend of mind, co-founder of Georgiaredfish.org and we recently had the chance to discuss his fishery in GA. The newly formed, grassroots organization is committed to achieving game fish status for redfish fish in Ga and thus preserving redfish stocks.

What is the goal of the group and what will this achieve?

Game fish status would eliminate the commercial sale of redfish at market. Not only would this apply to commercial interests such as a shrimper selling by-catch of netting but more importantly to recreational anglers. Plenty of rod anglers, including guides, sell redfish at open markets.With liberal bag limits of 5 fish per person in the slot of 15-23 range, stocks are suffering.

You mean to tell me there are guides actually keeping fish from clients and selling them at market? That seems to be a conflict of interests to me.

You would think exactly that. Remember gill nets have been outlawed for years. Redfish game fish status would stop hook and line guys, guys spot lighting fish at night and even the jokers using bow/arrow set-ups. Game fish status would eliminate all of that. No one has a problem with personal consumption within the limits but lets stop the selling. Keep only what YOU can use. One only needs to look at states like TX and LA to realize the value of a redfish and the effects the change could have on our fishery.

Are you getting support from the GA CCA?

Ga. CCA has been in favor of the game fish status. Yet there does seem to some conflicting views on limit adjustments. There have actually been CCA board members being quoted as saying "we can not pursue creel limit changes for fear of losing membership". That's a bit of oddball view for an organization with a mission of stewardship and sensible access given the extremely liberal bag limits. Now they have stocked redfish in Wassau Sound but it has become a put and take fishery not a rebuilding of stocks.

What is the current status of State legislation?

The problem here is the lack of education amongst the decision makers. With out sound research information and stats how can anyone make informed judgements. Ultimately a resource commission or dept of wildlife should being in control or at the very least have a strong influential voice.

What can anglers do to help?

Visit the website at georgiaredfish.org for info on purchasing t-shirts and to make donations. Proceeds will help promote awareness and purchase ad space. The site is available to posting and comments. Use it as a way to spread the word.

Scott can be reached directly savannahfly.com. Looking forward to further discussions and comments on this matter.

Capt Paul

Sorry Kids...

but it looks like Santa spawned out and washed up on shore.

Trout Bearing Gifts

The folks at VosselerPro-Flyfishing sent out this cool salmonid Christmas card. We approve and take this opportunity to wish all of you a Merry Christmas Eve.

Randy Ratliff: Holston Smallies

Randy Ratliff of Trout-Fishers.net is a Tennessee fishing guide and long time friend of FlyfishMagazine.com. Randy usually goes after giant brown trout but today took time to remind us that during the summer other monsters lurk in the depths of his home water.

While on a beautiful float down the Holston river in East Tennessee this summer, as the day was slowly coming to an end, the water exploded.

Now let me back up and tell you about their day.The husband had been casting flies to every conceivable fish holding spot all along the river. We came to my favorite stretch of the river where many great smallies have come from including a 6 pound beauty. Ted was making casts and meticulously working the fly and picking up many nice average size fish in the 10 to 13 inch range. When his back and arm finally gave out from his several hundred cast day, his lovely wife stood up in the boat and made a cast. This cast was maybe only her twentieth cast of the day. As she worked her fly back to the boat, it started to transition to the surface. She saw the fly coming up towards the boat, suddenly she saw the eyes, then a mouth and then the water exploded as if a small stick of dynamite had gone off. She yelled what do I do, I said just take your time and fight it. After several hard fought minutes, she got the fish to the boat, I scooped this great Holston River specimen into the net. We measured and weighed the smallie and then she held it up for the always great "grip n grin" shot.

Out predominant flies for the day were Todds Wiggle Minnows and light to no weight Clouser Minnows. The fish were staged along the current breaks coming out of the riffles as well as along the grass edges in the big slow pools. This river really fills up with grass during the summer months and can make it tough to bring in the big smallies when they get down and wrapped up in the grass.

If you would like to have a great outdoor experience like this couple, check out my website, www.trout-fishers.net or give us a call at 423-360-1468 to book your trip of a lifetime.

Stripers Forever: 2008 Survey Results

The annual Stripers Forever fishing survey is tabulated and the results show some disturbing facts:

1. In 2008 59% of the anglers indicated that the quality of fishing for stripers was worse or much worse – down from 43% in 2007. Only 21% felt that it was improved, compared to 34% in 2007.
2. (58%) reported the average size of the stripers they caught was declining, compared to a statistically similar 57% in 2007.
3. Support for a slot limit to take the pressure off large breeders crept up two percentage points to 76%, a new high. Members in every state widely favored a slot limit in our survey. Many respondents cited the success of Texas and Florida, which employ both slot limits and game fish status to manage red drum and snook.
4. An increasing number of professional fishing guides are reporting that their businesses are being adversely affected by the smaller number of striped bass generally available.

As for Stripers Forever's mission of game fish status for the striped bass, 87% of those surveyed want at least 50% of the commercial catch reserved for conservation – same as in 2007 - and not assigned to increased recreational bag limits. More facts and figures reside on the Stripers Forever Website. While you are visiting with them take a moment to take action.

You can leave your hat on...

From the folks behind SheLovesFlyFishing.com , a site for women who love fly fishing, comes the provocative video "You Can Leave Your Hat On." Precisely what we need to start off the short work week.

Bristol Bay Artist and Guide: Tim Pearson

"The Chase" by Tim Pearson

Tim Pearson is a hard working Alaskan fishing guide who is also a talented artist. Both of these skills come in handy when you spend your summers taking people fishing for big rainbow trout around Alaska's Bristol Bay Drainage. Tim was my guide in Alaska and I can say first hand that he has a passion for fly fishing, art, and the environment that shows up in his work. Visit Tim's website TSP Nature Art and pick out a last minute holiday wall hanger for the angler on your list. We think you will find his work to be an excellent value.

Editor's Note: We keep in touch with Tim, so look for more from him in the near future.

Rivers Of A Lost Coast Site Launches Blog

The crew behind the highly anticipated fly fishing film, "Rivers Of A Lost Coast" has launched a blog. Sidebar links to the ROALC Blog have been added.

Wherein the English lay claim to the Arctic

Just so you know that Weston didn't show up empty handed, he sends this photo in which he seizes a bit of the Arctic for England.

"Survivor" Shipment Seized at Houston Port

The folks at ProtectYourWaters.net are reporting that a shipment belonging to the CBS reality series "Survivor" was seized at the Port of Houston.

Investigators said some of the items inside were possibly restricted or prohibited by the USFWS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Inspectors said they found a Mandarin skull, civet hides, feathers with biological contamination, cowries shells and bones inside the container. Officials said the items were host materials for exotic pests and diseases to enter the United States. Read the full story to get the details.

Tim Weston: FlyfishMagazine International

The newest contributor to FlyfishMagazine.com is our International Correspondent, Tim Weston of the United Kingdom. We met up with Tim in Alaska and didn't have to fish with him long to realize that he fit right in with the FlyfishMagazine crew. As an example, when one of our number remarked that they found his accent hard to understand, he politely stated that "Yes, English can be a terribly difficult language."

Tim was raised on an English chalk stream and spent several years managing a commercial trout fishery. Currently, Tim is in the employ of Roxtons, the foremost provider of fishing and hunting opportunities around the globe. Tim's responsibilities include looking after Roxstons' English and Atlantic Salmon fishing adventures as well as their brown trout chalk stream fishing.

We are pleased to announce that Tim will be providing regular reports on the international fly fishing scene. We are not really sure what he gets out of the deal so if you see him in your travels buy him a pint for us. The stories alone will be worth the adverse exchange rate.

Check out Tim's first report called "A View From the Chalkstreams 2008."

Don't be the guy in the doghouse