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These days fly anglers have more option and better products with innovative features than we ever dreamed of when it comes to fly gear. From fly lines, rods, reels to waders we are truly spoiled with great companies and innovative products. With that being said I’ve never been much of a fan of the quintessential fishing vest. But thankfully, like I mentioned, we have a plethora of quality options and alternatives these days from some cutting edge companies like William Joseph, Fishpond and Simms. I haven’t used a vest for over 12 years and prefer a chest pack of some kind. Over the years I’ve bought and fished many different technical packs as my angling needs changed. I’m a bit of a self admitted gear whore and carry everything from extras spools to sharpie markers for coloring flies while on the water. My favorite style has to be a chest pack / back pack combo and almost always am fishing out of one. Lately I’ve been using the William Joseph Coastal backpack Mini Chest-Pack Combo and I’ve really been pleased.
Key Features included:
- A full weight-bearing waste belt that also has integrated pockets for items that you may want quickly accessible like floatant or a point and shoot camera.
- Two main pockets with many inner pockets with zippers and divides. Great for organizing extra leaders, sharpie markers, bug repellant and anything else that is a must have on the water.
- Very light, weighing in at only 2 lbs 14 oz.
- Willy J’s signature TCS (tippet control system) so you can scrap that dangling tippet T that’s always unraveling.
- Anatomical shoulder straps.
- Two rod tube holders that can be used to carry water bottles.
- Removable and independent from chest pack. Great for wading out of a boat or when just the essentials and some fly boxes are needed.
But the most noteworthy and my favorite feature has to be Willy J’s Airtrack Suspension system. The Airtrack pulls the pack away from your back and lets air flow freely so you stay comfortable and don’t end up a sweaty mess. I’ve been fishing this backpack since last fall and so far its been great. If you’re tired of slogging around in a sweaty vest or do long day trips on foot you might want to check out this Willy J setup.
Sep 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors, Product | Tags: Coastal, fly fishing, Mini Chest Pack, nick granato, product review, Quality, review, Tech series, william joseph, williamjoseph, willyj | Leave A Comment »
Normally I would have a ton of brown trout on dry fly photos to share, but the Spring rains messed everything up. We had record rainfall in upstate NY for the first two months of Spring which resulted in high flows, and very few rising fish. The streamer fishing was pretty good, but after a long off-season I’ve grown accustomed to fishing on the surface.
So I put trout aside and focused on bass, which thankfully Western NY has plenty of. For most of the late Spring and early Summer I fished for largemouth and smallmouth, and I tried my best to get them on topwater flies. I discovered a ton of new water, and even some urban spots that are close to home, which is always nice to save on gas. It was a different season this year, but sometimes it’s good to change things up. My William Joseph Surge and Wader Bag were with me on every adventure and really made the trips a lot easier.
Finally the coldwater creeks are back in their normal summer flows, and the fish seem to be happily rising again, so it should be good surface activity for the rest of the summer. I’m really looking forward to dry flyin for trout, but I have a feeling I’ll be throwing in a couple bass trips!
Aug 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors, News | Tags: fly fishing, Lucas Carroll, New York, news, Save on Gas, surge, Urban Fishing, Wader bag, willy j, willyj | Leave A Comment »
About a month ago we received a package in the mail that contained a pair of the “Drynamic Waders” and “W20 Wading Boots” from Paul over at William Joseph. His exact words were “use them and tell me what you don’t like about them”.
So I did just that, I took them on a trip chasing Trout to begin with, first impressions were pretty good. They were like a brand new pair of shoes and needed some time to break in. We had a photo shoot in one of the local rivers after that trip and I took the W.J. gear with me and after hiking around for a bit the boots startedto feel much better. Since receiving the gear, we have used them on several different fishing trips and 10 or so photo shoots and can proudly say that I would take them anywhere with me and feel completely comfortable that they will hold up to anything we put them through! That being said, some of the awesome features:
Drynamic Waders:
Oversized Booties:We get some cold weather here in the Northwest and not only are the booties made of 5 mil thick Neoprene, they are oversized to accommodate for bigger sock sizes. They also have traction built into the bottom to keep from sliding around in the boots. Big plus when you are hiking in to fish. Read more…
Jul 13, 2011 | Categories:Product | Tags: drynamic, product review, w20 boots, wader technology, Waders, wading boots, william joseph | Leave A Comment »
After about a thousand trips over a life time of fishing one would think it would be easy enough to find the dang river…I mean its only a big piece of water draining down a friggen canyon with mountains on either side…it’s not hiding or anything…It’s not like looking for a damn Easter Egg……
On the other hand I guess we have to take into account that the river had been a lot easier to find about 48 hours earlier when it was twice the size it usually is..overflowing the banks, soaking soil and helping to topple a tree or two..If a tree falls and there is no one there to hear it does it smash the Skwala stone flies ? and if so would you be able to hear them scream..? Would Salmon flies scream louder..?
Oh sure go ahead and say I’m weird, Weird because I would waste time wondering about such things…you are right, it is weird….That doesn’t mean it isn’t real…
Wait here I’m going in…..!
The one cool thing about this particular day was trying to find the Trail to the spot I remembered from a couple years ago. I hadn’t been able to get back and as I searched I realized that although the world may be dieing one spoonful at a time there is not a single thing wrong with the Coeur d’Alene Rivers riparian habitat..in all actuality I believe it to be alive, with a twisted conscious, and a nasty sense of humor…
I found the river several times and to my dismay every time I found it, I couldn’t fish it from that bank, angle or dangle. The seam, wind or current was wrong and the needle brush, wild rose, bees, bears and beavers were all ganging up on me……Everything seemed to be working against me, Plotting my demise, bewildered by my bewilderment I pushed on….all alone…..just me and the dangerous elements and deadly wilderness…..and my wife who was taking the pictures…
There is always that ever lasting stubbornness that I believe comes with Scottish Blood, Screaming “I will never Give up untill you pull my intestines out through my navel !” ….That usually gets me in over my head, in to deep, buried and unable to turn around….and that’s usually where i ruin my gear. I break rods, bend reels, rip jackets, tear and stab waders full of holes and even after soaking them in Shoe Goo they still leak..A fly fishing vest is utterly useless when breaking trail !. I will rip everything loose, every gear-head gadget, snagging it all on branches and leaving it for some lucky late season schmuck to find dangling in the brush like Christmas decor…
Giving up is not an option ! If you are going to try and keep up you either have to leave your junk behind or get gear made for the fight. Make sure your stuff can handle the pressure and if it doesn’t say WILLIAM JOSEPH my bet is it will be found where it fell apart anyway….along the stream in the bramble or stubble and stickers..I wonder if WILD OTTERS pee on junk left behind by fishermen who forgot to buy the best….I know I do…
William Joseph developed the most efficient way to carry gear through the havoc that serious fishermen purposely navigate..This is the ONLY way to balance what you need. Keeping everything at your fingertips when you are dialed into the fish, And completely out of the way when attacking tough trails, making serious SPEY and SWITCH CASTS, or picking a fight with a grumpy moose who’s standing in your stream…..
Easily adjusting for lefties, and then back again for those of us that are NORMAL, and use our RIGHT hands….this is an ergonomically interchangeable weather resistant superior suspension gear carrying machine… that you wont even know you have on until you need everything plus the Bear Spray……
I managed my lunch, water, 3 fly boxes, nipper, leaders, hemostats, floatant, skink, shot, 5 guide spools of tippet, a spare spool for my Bauer reel, some indicators, my point-n-shoot camera, 3 power bars, a diet Pepsi, a sock hat, my reading glasses just encase I wanted to read, sun block (which was stupid) a pocket knife for knifing pockets, my net and a politically correct 5 shot 44 magnum with a sweet disposition. All stowed away neatly behind smooth tracking Zippers and extra stitches ! There was no chance of me being hung up in the maze of intertwined thatch that grows along the fishiest runs…and no chance of me leaving anything for the later season yuppies to find in the trees….
After stomping through, over, around, and crawling under an obstacle course of thorny wet slippery stocky stubble, I finally found the run..However it wasn’t the run I was looking for..I think that run must be further on up the river. Here, however, there was the sweetest of all flows… perfect for the eager sweat soaked fly fisherman with an exceptional cast to swing soft hackles… and slay some fish.. ! ! (By slay I mean gently land and release)
After all is said and done the best fishing is saved for the best fisherman..and the best fisherman are the ones who set out to do what others, who don’t dare stray from the roadside pullouts, will never do…
We are the fly fishers that have the best photos, the wildest stories, the audience at the tables, the followers of the spiritual choice that is Fly Fishing..We are the ones you should listen to..the ones who choose to not just get off the beaten path..but the ones who get off trudging far from your beaten paths, adventurers, modern day drifters, VAGABOND BASTARDS one and ALL ! !….And the way we make that work, is in part, by the gear we depend upon.
Listen and Learn….We don’t care about your fancy car, the money you have in the bank or your pretty haircut, We don’t care about your girl who can’t cast, Your imported sweaters or your driving gloves… We will judge you by your connection to the RIVERS, your casting and mending ability and the GREAT GEAR you actually USE and TRUST…Do it right…………….William Joseph . The CREEL DEAL is the REAL DEAL…!
Story Credit- Fishheads Flies N Lore
Jun 15, 2011 | Categories:News, Product | Tags: creel fishing pack, creel pack, creel sling, fishheads, fishing pack, fishing sling, pack review, Reviews, sling pack, william joseph, willy j | Leave A Comment »
I recently became the Utah representative for Diablo Paddlesports, a rock solid Texas bred company based out of Austin. Diablo Paddlesports builds highly technical hybrid supyaks. What is a “SupYak”? A supyak is the perfect meld between a stand up paddle board (sup) and a sit on top kayak (yak) designed specifically with the angler in mind. I will refrain from delving to deeply into the boats at this time because there will be a full review out shortly and the amazingly capable boats are not the point of this spew.
Considering I have little surfing experience and no paddle board experience, I have been getting out to familiarize myself with the hybrids. After three days aboard the vessel, my confidence is on the rise and standing up gliding along the banks of musky town feels uniquely primal, and I am seeing a lot of advantages to the stand up aspect of this sport. With the Willy-J Tsunami strapped in the cargo bay, my camera and lenses along with a few reels, spools and the other gear, I feel very secure and safe packing it along. Sunday we roll out onto the lake with musky in mind paddling around the horn along the banks toward our destination, we found ourselves in a downpour.
Rain jackets were donned and below our sunhats, they kept the wet out and our core temps up. We pushed on paddling closer to the cove we had in mind cruising over the placid lake in silence. The water color was off and it turned out, so was the fishing. We decided to film a few spots for the boats. I handed off my camera to Jimmy, exchanged my paddle and stood up. On the job site years ago my foreman said to me “mess around mess around, pretty soon won’t be around” and it stuck with me. Well I guess not as good as I had hoped. Because as soon as I began to “mess around” Jimmy looked over and you guessed it, I wasn’t around.
As I flailed to the surface looking up through the murky water, I could feel the chair that I failed to secure on my right arm and I had a paddle in my other hand. A few deep panic stricken breathes later, I floundered my way to shore. Jimmy asked if I had my rod.
“Nope, I held on to this paddle that floats instead.” Jimmy apologized for laughing at me and we packed up and headed for home. I laughed it off and tried not to stew over my loss focusing on the lessons learned.
As I flailed to the surface looking up through the murky water, I could feel the chair that I failed to secure on my right arm and I had a paddle in my other hand. A few deep panic stricken breathes later, I floundered my way to shore. Jimmy asked if I had my rod.
“Nope, I held on to this paddle that floats instead.” Jimmy apologized for laughing at me and we packed up and headed for home. I laughed it off and tried not to stew over my loss focusing on the lessons learned.
A friend and I started flying RC airplanes a few years back and each time one of us would wad up an airframe, we would analyze the crash. Every time we always seemed to arrive at the same conclusion, PILOT ERROR! I replayed what happened in my mind and big surprise, PILOT ERROR! I actually could have saved it if I wouldn’t have panicked and tried to flail down onto my seat. But it is what it is and my new 10wt. with reel, line and hand tied Muskytoe were at the bottom of the lake. The boat stayed upright just like it should and all my gear was safe in the Willy-J Tsunami. I tried to focus on the fact that it could have been much worse and that the rest of my gear was safe, and the lessons to be learned. Regardless of that fact, I could not stop pining over the loss of my musky rig.
I called Paul and told him about my flounder and he laughed harder than Jimmy did, exclaiming how he thought for sure it would have been he that got wet first. Then he told me a story about how he lost the same rod three times off the dock behind the house he grew up in down in Florida. He told me how he got the rod for his 8th birthday and immediately went out to fish with it. Out on the dock, he rigged it up, cast out into the sea, and then laid it on the dock beside him. No sooner did he let go of the rod, it flew off the dock and into the ocean. His father fished it out by casting a big treble hook out and reeling it in slowly. The other two times he left the rod out on the dock overnight, bait in the water and, big surprise, a fish had pulled it in. His pops employed the same technique salvaging it both times and the very rod hangs in Paul’s garage to this day. Needless to say I went and purchased some 5/0 treble hooks and a few bags of 1 once egg weights.
Today was much like yesterday when considering the weather, blustery rain, wind and the sort but the similarities end with that. I picked up Paul from Willy-J headquarters at around 3:00PM and we were lake bound. We strategized about how to dredge, the angles to use and how I had triangulated the location of the incident. Paul cast his Quantum a mere ten times and then said “hey looky what I found”. Paul heaved it from the depths onto shore as he shouted VICTORY! As the weather moved in we walked back to the car smiling and laughing at how lucky we were. Both confident we would find it when we set out to do so, we were now laughing at how impossible the odds were of finding it. We tossed the spinning rods in the trunk and walked down to the beach marveling at the thunderheads moving closer. The air was warm and the breeze carried with it a coastal feel. Standing on the sand we started talking about living on the coast and fishing salty waters like when Paul was a boy. I changed flies and made a few casts just to sort of reunite myself with my musky rig.
With the storm looming the wind picked up to a stiff clip and we decided to take our fortune on back home. I stripped in my last cast and as my leader cleared the first guide I felt some tension. I stripped to free my fly from the grass and it pulled back with authority! I stripped again pulling deep behind my hip. I uttered “WHOOAAA” and turned to Paul with what was certainly a look of disbelief on my face. He looked back at me smirking as though I was putting him on. Just then ol musky exploded from the water and commenced to rip line through my hand!
To say we were shocked would be putting it lightly. He was in shallow when he ate so I was able to land him quickly. We snapped a few, gazed at his beauty and then sent him on his way.
What did I learn? It’s confusing a little, or maybe not at all. Don’t mess around? Hmmm, maybe. But if that was the case I wouldn’t have been hooked up today, nor would I have learned about deep water rod retrieval. If I had it to do over, I would pilot error right off the side of that boat again in a heartbeat. Because the last 36 hours have been saturated in wisdom and I am grateful for that. The lesson I am certain, is how lucky I am to be surrounded by high quality individuals, good friends.
Thanks Paul, thanks Jimmy.
Jun 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: accident, boat, Carlson, Collin, diablo, fishing accident, funny, lessons learned, musky, paddleboard, tsunami, william Joseph tsunami | Leave A Comment »
Been throwing dries on the nicer days. The river really looked like spring the other day. Cant wait for the first major hatches. Being in such a place all by yourself is crazy. You don’t often get to experience these great rivers without another soul around. If you only fish when its warm your missing the point.
May 15, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: Fishing, Guymon, Matt, nature, rainbow, spring, trout, william joseph, willy j, zen | Leave A Comment »
Hands down the best Jacket and packs I have ever known, William Joseph is the company to watch, To get involved with, to support as they support you….. Fisherman Designed…..and life style concious…these guys are still making the best products on the market and without Jacking their prices to the moon…
I have fished their products from the flats of the Lower Laguna Madre in Texas to the Florida Keys and back through the United States to settle in North Idaho for now…I have tested other products and seen the expected..seems tear, zippers wear, straps stretch and snap…and the general response is that things are made to wear out and then be thrown away, thus enabling the company that made the crap to begin with the ability to sell you more..uh..Crap..
I had a pack that I purchased from William Joseph as they entered the Fly Fishing scene, many many years ago, and it is as good a product as the day I bought it. I passed it along to my son who appreciates the idea that William Joseph produces products that will last a couple life times, and like our grandparents before us we will be able to gift these to the next generation…Like we have done with the art of fly fishing…for fish……not stuff.
I guess at some point I should give resounding information about the superior rip stop Teflon coated materials with ultralight water proof wind blocking breathable fabric, layered in all the right areas for wear n tear, with earth tones for a blending look. And that the cuffs fit perfectly as to stop water from running down during casting or hanging on my line while pitching spey casts. I should probably tell you while the other jackets leak around my neck during windy days with sideways rain and sleet , the collar of this (Squall) Jacket fits so perfectly there is no snow down the back of my neck much less the front…or how the hood doesn’t stop my peripheral vision from spotting the rising fish to the right and left….the pockets are lined and soft and warm…..I can wear multiple layers in extreme cold and not be hindered in my casting performance or my ability to feel comfortable….The inside material doesn’t stick to my fleece or wool when removing the jacket and the precision placed Velcro never scratches or catches anything….But I think you already know in your heart the right product is this product…so I’ll save the commercials for the other guys who can’t survive without them.
Read the Full Story Here.
May 01, 2011 | Categories:Product | Tags: Fishhead, Fishing, Jackets, Quality, Reviews, Squall, william joseph | Leave A Comment »
Steelhead are often referred to as “the fish of a thousand casts” and I know a handful of anglers that sight fish for Corbina that would gladly take those odds! These fish can be so spooky that my buddies jokingly say you should never look one in the eye – or they won’t come back. Every spring these fish start rooting around San Diego’s beaches in search of mole crabs (sand crabs) in only inches of water, often tailing like redfish as they dig in the sand looking for an easy meal. But like sight fishing for wily bonefish, these silver brawlers require a stealth approach and when hooked will take you into your backing quickly.
Since sight fishing is all about seeing your prey, get to the beach once the sun is on the water – no early hatches here. Focus on the shallow water as it rises up the beach and look for tails or splashes as a give away in locating fish. You will typically have to wait for the fish to ride the wave back in a second time before you get a shot at it. Place your fly within the fish’s area of vision and give it a few small strips to catch the fish’s attention. Patience is the key, and if you don’t find tailing fish right away throw a few casts to the deeper water. You might be surprised at what you find.
As far as gear goes, your trout gear will also work for the beach. Just make sure to wash it off with fresh water when you are done for the day. Saltwater and sand can wreak havoc on your gear if not properly washed off. A 9-foot, 4- to 6-weight rod matched to a reel spooled with an appropriate integrated shooting head is perfect for stalking the fish along San Diego’s coastline. Grab a handful of Clouser Darters, Surfin Merkins, and Foxy Clousers and you are ready to hunt. This time of year you can even leave the waders at home and enjoy the water in just surf trunks. Instead of a vest, anglers typically carry their gear in lumbar packs like William Joseph’s Surge pack. With its Zip No system of magnets (and lack of zippers) this pack is heads above all others in the surf. Just like saltwater can destroy your rod and reel, zippers are typically the first things to corrode and fail in saltwater. After over a year of testing my Surge is still going strong.
While you may sight, stalk and cast to quite a few Corbina in a day, many days can end only in heartbreak. However, once you have tasted success in this game you will have experienced one of fly fishing’s greatest accomplishments.
Apr 15, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: California, corbina, donaghe, fanny, pack, San Diego, scott, steelhead, surge, Surge Pack, Technology, tehcnology, william joseph, zip-no | Leave A Comment »
This has been a long and cold winter, but the tributary fishing made it bearable. We managed one or two fish each time out, a mixture of drop back brown trout and steelhead that came in last fall. We stuck to swinging small sparse spey flies low and slow, as that seemed to be the ticket.
It was perfect timing when my pair of William Joseph WST (wader safety technology) waders came in for this winter season. It sure made fishing during those single digit mornings a lot safer.
If you don’t know, the WST waders have an inflatable bladder around the chest. This will inflate instantly with a CO2 cartridge to seal out water and keep you floating if you take a spill. I gave it a test run in my house before heading out just to get a feel for the pull cord and it worked perfectly. The bonus is the waders (besides the safety) are really nice… Gravel guards, lined handwarmer pocket, waterproof chest pocket, and a comfortable fit.
If you ever fish in the cold, or on big water, you should own these. Check out the WST before your next trip!
Mar 28, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors, Product | Tags: bladder, inflatable, Lucas Carroll, Safety, Waders, william joseph | Leave A Comment »
In many fly fishing circles, Carp are considered an unworthy fish but many anglers are realizing these golden beauties are one of the most challenging freshwater species in the World that command respect. In my home waters along the Front Range of Colorado, I spend countless hours chasing these beasts along rivers and shorelines.
The most prevalent Carp Types in the Us are the Common Carp, Grass Carp and Mirror Carp. Common Carp are dark bronze to golden in color and spawn in Spring and Fall multiple times annually. When Carp are spawning they do not actively feed. Grass Carp are golden color to silvery and only spawn in rivers (Sterile in lakes). Grass Carp are also vegetarians where most other Carp are omnivorous and are the hardest to catch. Mirror Carp look similar to Commons but look like they are missing most of there scales and have the same spawning behavior.
What carp lack in elegance and appearance they make up for in intelligence. Carp have extremely refined senses which make them easy to spook. They have acute chemoreception and can smell any unnatural smell on your flies (like tobacco, deet or sunblock). Their lateral lines are extremely sensitive and can detect movement both in the water and along the bank. Carp also have acute eye sight with more rods and cones than many other game fish making seeing an angler easy in clear water environments. To make matters worse, Carp are social creatures that communicate with one another through pheromones. If a reckless angler spooks one carp they often spook all the Carp in the area and the fish will simply turn off feeding.
Carp are omnivorous and will eat anything from vegetation to a 6 inch baitfish. They are a hardy fish that live in most cool and warm waters of the US. Carp Feeding Behavior varies but understanding there feeding mood is imperative for success on the fly. The most common feeding behaviors include:
A. Tailers: Tailing carp are the easiest to catch. Their nose is down in the mud actively seeking out food. Cast in front of and out from the fish and strip the fly into the carps feeding area. This is the most exciting Carping as it is visual. If you cannot see the fly then it is best to watch the Carps’ tale. If the tail starts moving excitingly and you believe your fly is in the zone set the hook as you don’t often feel the take with the fly line.
B. Mudders are the same as tailers but they are feeding in deeper water making it hard to see the fish take the fly. It is optimal if you can see the fishes’ tail to indicate the strike as described above. Otherwise knowing when they eat the fly can be difficult to detect but mudding is an optimal feeding situation.
C. Risers/”Gloopers”: Carp often rise on an assortment of insects and vegetation. I have seen carp selectively sipping calibaetis of the surface of my home reservoirs. Carp are also big fans of Cottonwood seed, foam, grasshoppers and mulberries during certain times of the year. It is important to lead the carp as they are extremely weary when feeding on the surface.
D. Cruisers: Cruising carp are difficult to fool but can be caught if you lead your presentation. These fish are often not actively feeding and are just moving around. If you think a Carp is not in a feeding mood sometimes it is best to leave it alone and wait until feeding behavior is optimal.
E. Sunners: Sunning carp hold tight to the bank and are notoriously spooky. They are not feeding actively but can be induced into crushing a well presented fly.
Fly Fishing tactics for Carp in lakes differs from river tactics. Carp are very timid and are especially skittish in lakes (Rocky Mountain Bonefish). Sight fishing and stealth are critical for success. Whenever I am carping I wear camouflage or natural colored clothing and approach fish slowly. As much as possible I stay out of the water when wading. A subtle presentation is detrimental (lead the fish). Since carp eat everything including vegetation, a wide assortment of flies in a variety of weights is best. I would say that small crawdad patterns are a Carps number one favorite food but the following fly types are proven to work:
1) Dry: Turks Tarantula, Griffith Gnat, Damsel flies, Calibaetis for risers (make sure to tie flies on stout hooks).
2) Wet: Clouser swimming nymph, halfback, various damsel flies, small nymphs, Eagan’s headstands, weighted worms, small crawfish and nymphs. My solitude pattern known as the Carp Craw is particularly deadly.
3) Streamers: Meat Whistle, various leech patterns, wooly buggers, and small baitfish patterns with little or no weight.
Fly Fishing tactics for River Carp is similar to Carp in lakes but the fish tend to be a bit less spooky. The same tactics as Bonefish fishing are employed (Find them, get in position, perfect presentation) and having various fly weights is imperative. My favorite tactic though is a style I call dropping the fly in the tea cup. With this method you throw the fly way out and upstream from the Carp and drag the fly quickly on top of the water to a position were the current will drop the fly right in from of his nose. This sounds easier than it is when fishing large fast rivers but this method insures the Carp will not be spooked by the splash of the presentation and the angler knows exactly where the fly is positioned. This style also requires heavy flies that drop to the bottom quickly. I use similar flies except I tend to fish smaller nymphs and crayfish in rivers: Weighted Pheasant Tails and smaller crayfish patterns (Carp Craw and Clouser swimming nymph). Generally speaking fly color is dictated by the water clarity so oranges and flashier patterns work in muddy water and more natural colors in clear waters. The major difference between rivers and lakes in my region is that the rivers can be fished year round. I like to fish worms in the winter as crawdads become less active. I hope this little blog helps Willy J fans catch more carp and realize these fish are worthy adversaries!
Mar 06, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: Carp, carp types, cruisers, fly fishing, Freshwater, jake, Mckittrick, mudders, risers, sunners, tactics, tailers, tips, tricks, what to use, william joseph, williamjoseph | Leave A Comment »
