Scotland / CO

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 8, 2015, 3:38:24 PM12/8/15

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What's going on TPFR? It's been a really long time. I wanted to share a few nice snaps I've taken since moving to Colorado in August, and also share a little about my trip to Scotland.

Fishing in Colorado has been great. I now call the South Platte and Arkansas river my home water. See attached for some photos.

Scotland

Firstly, big thanks to Rob Snowhite for putting me in touch with some great people across the pond who ensured I was able to reserve a beat, and gave me great advice on what flies to tie and what rivers I should fish. If you go to Scotland check out Spey Ghillie app, it's really great.

And also a big thanks toDan Davala who got me into the spey world, and who has shown me so much about both spey and single hand fly fishing and craft beer.

I'll be writing a more detailed version but here is my story quick and dirty:

Day one was tough man. My casting and presentation was most definitely improved, and I learned a lot about how things are done across the pond, but no fish. Tired, sore, and soaking wet my wife and I found the local water hole to lick our wounds. We ended meeting two Austrian fellows who came in to celebrate a great day on the River Spey. Based on our discussion I knew these guys could fish.... and drink, so we spent the next few hours going on about fly fishing and drinking copious amount of scotch. Shit hammered the Austrians came to the realization that I may be the American that they were going to fish with the next day. Well it turns out I was. So we make plans to meet early the next day, and go out separate ways to make further bad decisions.

Fast forward to 0730 am (a rough morning)- we are outside the super market and the one Austrian dude says, "After leaving you, we eat no dinner, but we drink 1 and half bottle of whiskey.. fuuuuucck" as he grabs his head. As we proceed to the check out he says to the cashier, "..and one bottle of the Jameson". She gave us quite the look. She informs him that liquor cannot be sold that early, to which I raise a four pack of guiness from the back isle and ask, "So ill have to put these back too?!?" She was not as amused as you would think.

Well we finally make it to the beat and the Austrian guys hand me a little pink salmon fly ( size 12 hot pink) and tell me that's what they are liking. I snuck a gander at there sink tip as well and made sure mine matched. It did. My rig: 6 ft of T14 with a 4 ft leader of braided 16 lb line off the tactical spey shooting head. Clearwater 13 '6'' spey rod. Super bad ass. After a cup of coffee and a shot of whiskey we were off to our respected runs. Much like the day before my swings were good, but no success. I began to get reach closer and closer to the end of my run. Defeated, and a little down, I tell myself it's not about the fish rather the good times and I begin to come around... Well, just as my line started to curl strait- bam line comes tight! I about shit! I found myself in a tussle with a beautiful male Atlantic salmon that was just under 30 inches and had beautiful red and purple markings. Not the biggest fish by any means, but shit I was in no position to think about that. His fight was tremendous at first but quickly faded as he was almost spawned out, and I brought him in fairly easy. Being aware of the fact that my phone is dead and no one Is around to snap a pic I quickly released him without even removing him from water. I want him to live, and make more salmon. Anyway, afterword's I let out a primal scream so loud people in Whales probably heard it.

Spey fishing in that arena is difficult and I knew what an accomplishment it was to get one.

Thanks everyone, and tight lines!

Justin

deckers bow.jpg

Pueblo Red Cheeked Mongrol.jpg

Colorado River Brown.jpg

Arkansas River brown.jpg

Eleven Mile Release.jpg

crazy austrian.jpg

Spey.jpg

Jeff Cook

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Dec 8, 2015, 7:41:15 PM12/8/15

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That SpeyGhillie app is only available in the UK?! Looks nice, though.

Jeff Cook

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Dec 8, 2015, 7:45:19 PM12/8/15

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BTW, I’m just blinded by the fact that another year has gone by without my footprints in Scotland again…

EXCELLENT PIX, Justin! Thanks for the report!

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Justin Schiavone

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Dec 8, 2015, 8:18:15 PM12/8/15

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Yes! I misspoke on the app. And please excuse the poor grammar everyone, I tried knocking this out during lunch. Anyway, anybody could benefit from the app. They have casting tutorials, great flies and all kinds of good stuff on there.

Scotland is pretty sweet I can definitely relate to that feeling.

Misha Gill

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Dec 8, 2015, 9:00:31 PM12/8/15

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Very jealous of you living the life out in the promised land of Colorado. Love the story from Scotland too of course, but I know there's a lot you're not telling us about the fly life out in CO. Good update bud, keep em coming.

namfos

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Dec 9, 2015, 8:57:19 AM12/9/15

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Well told tale, Justin. Ah, one of these days...

Eleven Mile Release.jpg would make an great FB cover photo.

Mark

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TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 9:37:51 AM12/9/15

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You're killing me Justin -- great report and beautiful country! Beth is of Scottish ancestry (they have a tartan and family crest) and mentions wanting to go to Scotland pretty regularly. I didn't know how feasible it was to fish there with their regulations and private property laws. It looks like it is doable for regular, American Joes ;).

Gene

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 3:38:24 PM UTC-5, Justin Schiavone wrote:

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 9, 2015, 10:05:17 AM12/9/15

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Thank you guys. Gene, you can reserve a beat through Fishpal - the only thing is you'll need to figure a way to purchase it without using a credit card. Maybe paypal? or call you cc before attempting to use it? Mine all were declined, but the contact I had over there went ahead and bought it for me. I just reimbursed him through paypal. Other than that, yeah it's pretty easy. And lets be honest, their system of fishing - although a bit irritating to set up - is well worth it as you don't have guys moving in on your run. That run is all yours.

, ki

To all the tiers and bug guys: I've had a lot of success fishing the film out here. Dry dropping small nymphs, cdc and other emerger patterns off adult bwo and midge parachute patterns. I've barely had to resort to nymphing, and both flies get eats. One of my best flies is one that I came up with, kind of my own RS2 kind of baetis / ambiguously buggy pattern using a fake eyelash. I've attached a picture but here is the recipe so try it on the east coast:

Tie in two or three sparkle fibers for a tail (long enough to use as a flashback on the throrax), using thicker black thread tie the abdomen over the sparkle fibers, and then dub in small thorax with ice dub (SMALL) and tie the sparkle over It, for the flashback. ( I leave out the flash sometimes) Finally tie in a fake eyelash or a post. You can leave the any of the extras off (dubing, post and eylash) for a tiny thread flashback nymph too. Tie it small, siize 20ish. Pretty much a cheap RS2. I call it either pretty woman or Jerome baetis. I'm sure it has been done before but whatever. It mimics the spent bugs released from the reservoirs quite well too.

Justin

Jerome Baetis.png

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TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 10:19:10 AM12/9/15

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Looks like a good tie to me -- RS2 patterns are one of my most unfavorites to tie, though I can manage decent tail splits. I mostly tie (and fish) a #20-22 WD-40 pattern as a "very small baetis" nymph or emerger. Some folks use it as a midge pupa, probably because once you get down to a #22 things begin to have a similar appearance, especially if "brown" ;). I have them in 24 and also a couple of #32s, though the "sticking power" of hooks that small is dubious to me.

CDC dries and emergeres are the jimmy jam if you remember to carry a chunk of "kitchen roll" (paper towel in the states). Beth goes to it first-thing for selective fish and has caught some good ones on it. I've fished over trout with a foam bug and then swapped to a CDC compara and had instant takes on the same leader, so there must be something to the imprint or movement of the feathers.

You may already tie them, but the Al's rat midge pupa is an awesome film fly. I always have a few for when those suckers are eating midges anywhere...which has been mostly in the film in my experience.

I usually try a soft hackle as a dropper first though, just because I like looking at them.

Gene

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 9, 2015, 12:02:37 PM12/9/15

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Yeah that WD 40 is an awesome pattern, there was a recent article about the guide who invented - good stuff. I tie it but I cheat and don't get the wood duck feathers, I probably should. Great insight though Gene, thanks. You're right, getting that small of a hook puts you in the arena for so many bugs, which is why I prefer impressionistic flies, it stretches that even farther. So far I've landed a few big boys with a size 20 or smaller, but I've had quite a few spits and breaks offs (makes it fun). The tiny flies don't stick as well obviously, and the 7x doesn't help. I will definitely put the rat midge pupa on my list.

The CDC patterns, although soggy, do so well for me. You may be right, it may be due to that movement. Check out the photo of this rainbow I site fished on Sunday. He took a CDC size 22, you can see the fly. It's kind of a funny story, BWO and Midges were coming off so I just cracked a beer and lit a cigar to wait for rises and then cast to them- Davala style. I ended up yelling downstream "you know they're hitting dries!!" after landing quite a few. It was a scene similar to an Uncle Eddie on Christmas Vacation yelling, "Shitters full!!". Anyway, we had a good laugh.

Pueblo Rainbow.png

TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 12:35:36 PM12/9/15

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Yep - they work! I think most of the hooks down to a #20 or 22 stick (at least in my left middle finger nail.....which is my "point checking" nail ;)) pretty well....it's the 32s that get kind of iffy. I actually don't use wood duck either! I do a few with mallard, and most with just pheasant tail. So I guess it's really just a very small PT nymph, tied in the WD-40 style (wing case putled back and whip finish behind the "lump"). Meh, it seems to work ;).

That exact scene from Christmas Vacation is one of our favorites -- we say it all the time. I'm pretty sure he needs a NPDES permit for that discharge........

Take care man! Hopefully one day I'll be posting a report on here if I make it out there and get a beat (not beat-ing, which I'd hope not to get).

Gene

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 9, 2015, 12:54:03 PM12/9/15

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sheesh 32s, I cant even imagine. I'll get there though. Take care man!

TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 12:57:12 PM12/9/15

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You can catch blanknose dace in the winter with them ;).

No, I got some from Rich a while ago with the idea that I may run into a midge hatch on the Elk (WV) where you sometimes have to fish #32s or go fishless. Actually, those guys fish 'em down to a #40....which is apparently an eyeless hook where they tie to the hook shank. I have no idea how that is accomplished....

In practice, it's rare that I fish anything smaller than a #20. Heck, 90% of the time we're fishing 12-14 dries with #16-18 dropper.

Gene

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 9, 2015, 3:39:03 PM12/9/15

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Now there has to be an indicator fly with a fly that small, or nah? 8 X?? I am now inspired to stick one with a size 32 lol. My vice won't even hold 24s though, I'll have to buy. For those of you who do not tie, where do you get your flies cheap? Rob Snowhite you got anything??

Rob Snowhite

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Dec 9, 2015, 3:57:48 PM12/9/15

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Id go with a black thread midge, cut elastic out of your tighty whities for rubber legs.

Check out this book. A bunch of contributions by TPFR friend Matt Miles.

Sent from my iPhone

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TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 4:09:26 PM12/9/15

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"Guide flies" -- what a strange phrase. Ironically, "guide beers" would go in the opposite direction in that most that I've known (guides, not beers) tend to prefer micro-brews preferred by mid 30s, snooty neckbeards.

Gene

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tperkins

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Dec 9, 2015, 4:09:28 PM12/9/15

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If your vise won't hold a 24, sounds like you need a new vise!

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 3:57:48 PM UTC-5, Rob Snowhite wrote:

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TurbineBlade

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Dec 9, 2015, 4:11:34 PM12/9/15

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BTW -- if you want neckbeards, join that beeradvocate site . Holy cow I hate that place.

Give me a Coors original.

Sorry, this thing is totally derailed now.

On Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 3:38:24 PM UTC-5, Justin Schiavone wrote:

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 9, 2015, 4:16:29 PM12/9/15

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Hopefully santa get's my list man. But honestly I enjoy the challenge of tying on my #beatassvice- yeah that hashtag exists see my instagram (schiiiavone). It is now falling a part though : ( Gene, I believe they call a those neck beards "neards", and thanks rob but I meant to buy as I can't get anything smaller than 24 in my vice.

namfos

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Dec 10, 2015, 8:31:48 AM12/10/15

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32s? Man, you younger guys better get to it tying them and quick because before you know it you'll need, like this old git, the Hubble telescope to see WTF you're doing. ;-)

Mark

TurbineBlade

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Dec 10, 2015, 8:45:01 AM12/10/15

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Dave Breitmeier and a few other guys who guide/fish the Elk have a "10-20-30" club. I think it's 20 inch fish, size 30, 10x tippet. It's kind of stupid because once you get below 8x, the diameter doesn't decrease by equal increments as you go to 9 or 10 like they do at the larger end of the scale, but it's still kind of crazy.

With all that stuff 6x and below I learned the hard way that you really don't want to pull it off the spool through that rubber guard thing! The friction kinks that stuff like crazy. I just trap it with the guard, and let it unwind normally and it works a lot better. 8x is nearly impossible otherwise.

Gene

On Thursday, December 10, 2015 at 8:31:48 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:

Justin Schiavone

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Dec 10, 2015, 11:21:40 AM12/10/15

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Mark, that is funny as crap dude. I am not attempting to tie 32s yet. Gene, I agree 100% with the friction point. I slip just the tip outside of the band to deter the friction. There is enough pressure to stop tippet from falling off, but prevents the friction. Challenge excepted on the 10-20-30 club. I'll keep you posted. We will also have to revisit this whenever my book of "Guide flies" comes. See what small patterns the guides got under their thumb.

Yambag Nelson

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Dec 11, 2015, 12:47:06 AM12/11/15

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I'd be interested to know how long it takes them to land a 20 inch fish on 10x.

namfos

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Dec 11, 2015, 9:20:32 AM12/11/15

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some company actually extrudes 10X tippet? can it actually be seen on the spool? or do you have to wear 3D glasses with a 10x diopter to see it?

If I were out fishing and it go so "technical" as to require that fine a tippet I'd say "screw that" and tie on a 6 feet of 10# Maxima and chuck & duck with Clousers or Woolly Buggers until it was time for adult beverages.

Mark