About a year ago, I was talking to someone from the New Hampshire Chronicle television show about the possibility of doing a segment on tenkara fly fishing. The person I spoke to seemed open to the idea and said they would pass it on to the producers of the show. Well, a year passed without any word so I kind of gave up on the idea. Then out of the blue I received an email from TV anchor/Chronicle producer Karen Meyers asking if I would like to do the segment and could I be available next week. They had an opening in their schedule for next Thursday. The timing was perfect as we had just released our newest tenkara rod, the Ranger. The Ranger is our answer customers’ request for a smaller rod for fly fishing the back country.
I cleared my schedule for Thursday and happily accepted. Luckily, I had already planned to fish in the White Mountains the weekend before. I could use this trip to scout locations that would be easy to film and would hopefully produce good results. Nobody wants to watch a show about fishing where they do not catch fish. Karen wanted to know our location, so I gave her a few places I had in mind but told her I would scout them first.
It is a good thing I had a chance to scout first, because my first choice was less than ideal this season. It was wide open and would be good for casting and filming, but the water levels were well below normal. I spent a couple hours there, only to be disappointed. I moved on to my second choice and the results were similar. So, I decided to visit North Country Angler and talk to Steve Angers to see if he had any good suggestions. Steve has always given me good fishing reports on the area, and I always rely on him when I am struggling or just looking for something new.
So, I left North Country Angler with advice to head further north, where the water levels were higher and the temperatures cooler. I went to a spot north of Franconia Notch that looked very promising. The conditions were great, and the access was relatively easy. I had to keep in mind that we would have a cameraman with a full-size news camera following us, so I wanted to avoid any difficult terrain.
On the scouting trip was my friend Tyler, who was learning to fish tenkara. This was his second trip so it was good to get his perspective as I would be teaching Karen when we filmed. We fished the rest of the day on this river and found several great spots for brook trout that would also be accessible for filming. We finished out the day catching several decent size brook trout and agreed this would be a great location for our New Hampshire Chronicle story.
Now that the pressure was off, Tyler and I went back to the campground to set up camp. After that we got in the truck and headed out to get some food supplies. Driving down US Rt 302 we came across Rek-Lis brewing and stopped in for a beer. The parking lot was almost full so we knew it would be worth it. Rek-Lis has really got it all figured out. They have a nice indoor dining room, a well landscaped patio outside, a cool deck, live music, and a field for cornhole matches. Oh yeah, and they have great beer and a friendly staff. Check them out if you are in the area.
The next day Tyler had to leave early and was only able to fish the morning. I fished out the rest of the day solo and revisited the location for the Chronicle story. I got back to the camp and checked the weather for the following day. The report said, “pouring rain all day”. So, I decided to pack up that night and head home, because no one likes packing up camping gear in the pouring rain.
On Monday, I told Karen about the new location, and we confirmed our meeting point for Thursday. I was so excited, to think that I was going to be able to show the Chronicle audience how much fun you can have with tenkara. My wife and I watch the show all the time and I never thought I would be on an episode. Of course, this also led to a spike in my anxiety. Most of you do not know this but one of the reasons I love to fish tenkara in remote locations is because it does wonders for my mental health. It is like a natural therapy.
Wednesday night I packed up all my tenkara gear and checked it over several times. I did not want to forget anything, and I wanted to be prepared for everything. Thursday morning, I left the house early in the morning because I had a 2- and 1/2-hour drive to the location. I arrived at the dirt road and saw construction vehicles, grading the dirt/gravel road. I immediately thought the worst but felt better when they waved me past them.
I drove up the road, crossing several single lane bridges and parked across from the scouted site. I was early so I got my gear together and went down to the water. I walked up and down stream looking for brook trout in all the various pools. I found several holding but they were in different pools than the last trip. About 20 minutes later I heard someone coming my way, asking if I was Bill from Red Brook Tenkara.
It was Joel, the cameraman from New Hampshire Chronicle. Joel was a chill guy and calmed my nervous excitement after talking to him. He said he was an avid hiker and was psyched to get this assignment. I was no longer worried about a cameraman having trouble getting around. Joel set me up with a mic and told me to just start fishing like I normally would, and that Karen would be here soon.
I fished the first pool and quickly landed a nice brook trout. This took a lot of pressure off me, and I relaxed some more. A few minutes later Karen arrived. She had been trying to call us from the beginning of the road but could not get a signal. I am glad I sent her a picture of the location so she could find it.
It was pretty cool to meet someone who you have seen on television on a regular basis. Karen explained how the filming would go and to just relax and be myself. She asked a bunch of general questions about tenkara but saved the detail for our stream side interview.
I explained to Karen and Joel that I put a Ghostech strike indicator on the line that would help us catch brook trout and help the camera follow the line as it moved down stream. In the beginning they just filmed me fishing as I explained the gear and methods. I had limited room to cast in the location and did a lot of tight overhand casts as well as some bow and arrow casts.
I was able to catch several brook trout on a few different fly patterns, mostly nymphs. After catching a few on dead drifts in the main current I switched to a pulsing action, coming at the trout from the side. This produced a few more brookies from the same pool.
Next, Karen and Joel picked a place to do our interview. They wanted the best lighting as well as a good background. I think they found it. Karen said to ignore the camera and just have a conversation with her. I was a little nervous and was afraid I would stumble but she put me at ease. The interview went better than I expected, and I hope people like it, time will tell.
After the interview we moved back down stream and I showed Karen how to fish tenkara. She was a good student and was drifting a fly in the right spots in no time. She had several strikes but did not set the hook in time. The brook trout in these waters are very fast and will reject a fly in the blink of an eye. I could tell that she was excited by the strikes and determined to catch a brook trout. A few more casts and Karen set the hook quickly. Fish on! I jumped down with the net and she landed her first brook trout. I get super excited when teaching someone and see their reaction when they catch their first brook trout on a tenkara rod and high fived her.
We fished a while longer and talked about how cool it is that we were in this beautiful scene and had not seen another person all day. The whole day, Joel was climbing all over the place with his camera and GoPro but I barely noticed he was there. I want to thank him for doing his part to make it a great day.
A special thank you to Karen Meyers for taking an interest and helping me spread the word about tenkara. If you would like to know the specific location of our day you can probably figure it out with a little research. But I encourage you to grab a map and a tenkara rod and plan your own adventures in the White Mountains.
No reel, no problems
-William Holleran
(Note: the air date for this episode is June 30, 7pm WMUR-9 ABC)
https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-chronicle-fishing-japanese-tenkara/36829502
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To the people of Wareham,
Some of you may be wondering why “people from away” care about commercial development in your town. It all starts with a special fish called a sea run brook trout or more famously called a SALTER. A salter is a brook trout that lives and spawns in freshwater and travels to saltwater to feed and stay cold when the temperatures rise. Salters used to be plentiful in our region and famous anglers like Daniel Webster and Grover Cleveland were known to travel all over to fish for them.
Unfortunately, most of the streams that held salters were altered to create cranberry bogs. Few salters were able to survive the altering of these streams, which caused rises in temperatures and changes to Ph, but there is one exception and that is Red Brook. Most recently, the salter population was extirpated from the Santuit river, most likely caused by water withdrawals from new developments that began in the nineties.
Red Brook is a uniquely special place. Thanks to the Lyman Reserve and the countless hours spent by volunteers, it once again is a safe habitat for salters, eels and herring. The story of Red Brook is one that is written about in national fishing publications. I have met people from all over our country that have asked about Red Brook. It is a model for habitat conservation and restoration that has inspired people to save similar waters across our country
I own a small fly fishing business that I named after Red Brook because I was inspired by its special history. I live close by and visit it a few times a year. Occasionally, I bring people that have never seen a salter to experience Red Brook. I do not fish on every visit because I do not want to put too much pressure on the stream and its unique and fragile ecosystem.
Red Brook truly is a special place that should be cherished and protected so that future generations can experience it themselves. It should not be allowed to be damaged or destroyed and become a legendary story told to grandkids of the once beautiful fish that lived there.
I am not against commercial development and understand it is necessary, especially for small towns to survive in this modern world. However, I feel it would be a terrible loss to future generations if we did not continue to protect Red Brook from outside disturbance.
Sincerely,
William Holleran
Red Brook Tenkara Founder
]]>I booked a site in Lincoln, NH with two friends Mark and Tyler. Our plan was to fly fish most of the weekend, forget about daily lives and drink some beers. Mark has been fly-fishing most of his life and I was looking forward to showing him tenkara. Tyler is an avid outdoorsman but has never fly-fished so he was pumped.
We drove up Friday morning and planned to meet at the Visitor Center in North Woodstock. When we arrived at the visitor center it was a much different scene than last year. Due to the pandemic, the place was very sterile, with plexiglass everywhere. All the brochures were behind the counter instead of out in the open. Luckily, they still had copies of my favorite hiking map that to me is a tenkara fishing dream. I had to replace the copy that was taken from my table at the Marlboro Fly fishing show. This time I bought 2 copies. Hopefully, I can remember all the spots that I had marked on the original. We also waited in line to use the only bathroom for 30 minutes.
Next, we headed to one of my favorite spots for tenkara in the White Mountains. It’s a trail that follows a tributary to the Pemigewasset river that holds some beautiful native brook trout. It has a very small parking lot and is known for picnics and a small swimming hole, but we walked right past all that to some cool fishing downstream. Unfortunately, the water levels were low this year, so we had to work harder to find the fish.
Streamside, I gave Tyler some brief instructions on tenkara, including extending the rod, casting, and setting the hook. Tyler took to it right away, so I left him alone to try it out. If he needed any help, I was only a yell away. Mark immediately headed to the water and began methodically working areas, searching for brookies. His experience clearly showed as he worked a grid pattern.
I was working my way downstream, drifting small bead heads, including the blowtorch. I started to get some strikes early on, but my reflexes were a little slow at first, missing a few opportunities. Then I started to get in a groove, setting the hook and bringing in some beautiful but small brookies. I released as quickly as possible, resisting the urge to take pictures, after all, it was hot out.
I moved back up to check on Tyler and he was starting to get the feel for it. He was getting a few hits but having trouble setting the hook. Which is not surprising as these hits were from very fast brook trout that are tough to feel. It is better to watch for a flash because once you feel something, it is too late. But it was only a matter of time before he got the hang of it.
The conditions on this water can be tough. The water is crystal clear, the bottom is rust-colored and the sun reflects off the rocks in a blinding glare. There is no sight-fishing here as the brookies hide under rocks and do not appear until the food is near. Polarized sunglasses are a must. But this year I brought help in the form of Ghostech strike indicators. I met the owner of Ghostech, Stephen at the Marlboro Fly Fishing Show last winter. Our booths were next to each other, so we spent the weekend swapping fishing stories and he gave me some samples to take home. I will write a review in a later blog post. But for now, I will say these indicators work very well with tenkara because they are easy to see and do not make a splash. Using them improved my takes immensely. You will be seeing them soon in our kits.
After a couple of hours, Tyler and I headed back upstream a little way to find Mark. We asked him how he was doing and in his laid-back manner, he just said pretty good. You see Mark is a humble guy and does not count fish, he is just happy to be on the water and in the moment. I asked him what fly he had settled on and surprisingly we were both using bead heads in similar color and size. It was hot, and we were anxious to get lunch and set up camp. So, we hiked out to the car and made our way to the Woodstock Inn for lunch and some craft beers.
The Woodstock Inn is a great place. I started going there on snowmobile trips when craft beer was not even a thing yet. I had not been there in quite a while and was happy to see they still had great beer and food and a beautiful garden in the outdoor seating area. The Woodstock Inn is doing a great job during the pandemic too. They take your name and text you when your table is ready. All seating is spaced nicely, and the staff does a great job. Oh yeah, and the Mountain Haze beer is hazy, hoppy awesomeness.
After lunch we heading to camp to set up. Our site was at the back of the campground, right on the water. Except the water was missing. The temps have been so warm and the rain so sparse that the river was more like a gravel bed.
We quickly set up camp only to find that Mark was missing his rain fly. Hope it does not rain this weekend. Tyler brought a huge tent that he dubbed the Taj Mahal. I think it could probably fit a family of five easily.
Friday night was typical camping fun. We grilled up some steaks and sat around the fire enjoying some fine spirits. We discussed plans for Saturday and decided to visit Mountain High Fly in the morning. I wanted to say hello to Jon and drop off some samples from Ghostech for him to try out. Luckily for Mark, there was no rain Friday night, but we did go to sleep listening to a symphony of bullfrog mating calls. It sounded like someone strumming an out of tune electric bass.
Saturday morning, we took our time and grilled up a nice breakfast. We were on vacation time and not in a hurry. We went to Mountain High Fly and talked to Jon and he gave us some suggestions to fish. After fishing the Lincoln side of the Kancamagus on Friday we decided today to head to the North Conway area. I wanted to show them a special area for tenkara plus I had to stop by North Country Angler.
Steve Angers from North Country Angler has supported RBT from the start by putting our RBT ONE Starter kits in his shop and promoting us when he can. Saturday I was dropping off some more inventory for the store and checking in. Plus, I could not wait to get my hands on Steve’s new book, “Fly Fishing New Hampshire’s Secret Waters”. At the shop, we picked Steve’s brain for some good locations to try on a really hot day. We were looking to avoid the crowded spots that were probably overfished this time of year.
We left NCA and headed to Crawford Notch to try our luck. The parking lot was full but thankfully it was with hikers and swimmers, we were the only anglers. We dropped in under a bridge and started wetting lines. As we spread out, we started to get some hits, mostly small brook trout. We made our way downstream hitting all the pools as the water level was low. After a while, Mark and I decided it was time to hit a new spot. I was anxious to show them an area in the higher elevations that I hoped would be holding more fish in colder water. The only problem was that Tyler was nowhere to be found. Mark stayed near the bridge and I made my way downstream to find Tyler. The further down I walked the louder the noise became. As I made the turn around a bend, I came across a sandy beach with a bunch of people swimming and jumping off rocks. I was pretty sure Tyler was here. Sure, enough I found him coming out of the water with a big grin. He took a break from fishing to jump off a huge rock with about a 20 ft drop into the cool water.
Tyler gathered his gear and we made it back to Mark and loaded up the car. We drove north about 30 miles to a spot on the Ellis River that is beautiful. It is an amazing scene that is perfect for tenkara. It has all types of water, with riffles, white water, big pools, long runs, and short runs. I love this location for the fishing, but it is a sight to see, even if you are not fishing.
We all spread out and went separate ways on this river, hoping to land a good size wild brook trout. The Ellis can be a little challenging in this location as you must climb over a lot of rocks and most of them are slippery. I have slipped many times here but thankfully have not broken anything. I quickly headed downstream to get some distance from the guys, hoping to get to the “spot” before they did.
The water was a little cooler here but not by much. I landed several small brook trout and I am still amazed at the color patterns of this fish and how it varies from location to location. After a while, I headed back upstream to find Tyler. He was having a great time but needed some tippet and flies. The pack I gave him was a little low on supplies. I hung out with Tyler a little while and then we headed upstream to find Mark.
Mark was all smiles when we found him. He must have found a honey hole that we walked past. It was getting dark, so we headed out. It was an hour's drive back to camp and we were hungry. We took the Bear Notch road shortcut to the Kancamangus highway. I was telling the guys that Bear Notch is closed to cars in the winter but open to snowmobiles. It a roller coaster of a road with great scenery.
Back at camp we grilled up some burgers and got into the spirits again. We had a great time swapping stories by the fire and made plans to fish again when we got home. I think we have a new convert to tenkara and fly fishing in general in Tyler. Mark and I are planning to take him to the Swift River in MA to sight fish to some big bows and hopefully some browns and brookies.
Another great weekend in the books. It was great to get away from everything and leave worries behind for a few days. I love teaching tenkara to new people and love seeing their reactions. Hopefully, inspiring them to carry on the tradition.
]]>The world is going through one of the greatest pandemics of our lifetime. The Covid-19 virus has spread globally, and citizens everywhere are experiencing different levels of isolation. The new buzz word is “social distancing” and is a nice way of saying to avoid everyone. You can’t put on the television or go online without seeing non-stop updates on the virus that are enough to instill fear in anxiety in us all. The media machine is hyping up the fear like a high school pep rally before a big game. Now I am not going to downplay the importance that we all do our part to stop the spread and flatten the curve. This is a very serious business. However, I encourage you to choose your sources wisely and limit your time focusing on the constant updates.
It is too easy to get sucked into the vortex of media hype and be overwhelmed with feelings of dread and despair. Instead, we should use this time to focus on important things like family. We should do some of the things we never seem to have time to get done. Some of us are working remotely and trying to keep our jobs and businesses above water. Inevitably this leads to a lot of time at home and some more free time as well. So, take a long walk with the family and don't forget to bring the dog. Get outside in areas that you can keep your social distance. Clean out the garage or get the yard ready for spring and summer. This pandemic will come to an end and life will return to normal.
As a fly angler, I have been thinking of things to do to distract myself and turn off the noise. As most anglers will agree fly fishing can be a great therapeutic activity. The most obvious activity is to get out there and fish. In the northeast, temperatures are warming up and the thaw has begun. The waters will be heating up accordingly. The stocking has begun almost everywhere. But what if you can’t get to the water? Well, there are plenty of things to do at home to pass the time.
How about organizing your gear? We all like to put that off during the season. Start by organizing your fly box or boxes. Time to put your fly selection in a more usable order so when do get out on the water your spending less time looking for that fly.
Speaking of flies. How is your supply? Do you need to order more? Better yet tie your own. If your new or not very good at fly tying, now might be a good time to sit down and practice. Fly tying can be frustrating to some but if you take your time and go slowly, you might find it relaxing. Search Youtube for some tying videos and pause it each step of the way. That’s how I do it. If you stick with it, you will find that time passes quickly, and it gets easier. Besides, what is more, satisfying than catching a fish on a fly that you tied?
Are your waders and boots in tip-top shape? It might be time to replace the laces in your boots before they snap in the field. Do you have a leak in your waders? Minor repairs now can save you time, money and heartache. Or maybe you just want to clean and deodorize them. Passengers in your vehicle will thank you.
Have you been watching the latest fly fishing documentaries and movies? There are so many good ones out there and some can be watched or streamed for free. Here are my recommendations, not in any particular order.
Live the stream: the story of Joe Humphries. I highly recommend this one. Joe is an icon in fly fishing and a lovable character as well. See the description below..........“Live The Stream is the inspiring life story of Pennsylvania’s fly fishing legend, Joe Humphreys: a man who was born to fly fish, lives to teach, and strives to pass on a respect for our local waters. A visually stunning film, anyone with a pulse can appreciate Joe’s contagious spirit and, at 86-years-young, trout streams are his fountains of youth. This is an emotion-packed adventure and Joe will catch your heart in this powerful tale of tenacity, life and love”.
Journey On by Tight Loops Fly (Aimee and Chase Bartee). Aimee and Chase are living the life many anglers daydream of living. They have made several great films. I would start with Journey On and then binge the rest of their work. See the description below.........."In the summer of 2015, filmmakers Aimee Savard and Chase Bartee packed up their belongings, moved into their 1985 Volkswagen Westfalia, and left their home in Massachusetts. The goal? To make their way to Montana, and spend as much time as humanly possible exploring, fly fishing, and documenting their travels. Living in an eighty square foot van would pose its challenges. But the lessons learned and experiences gained over the next three and a half months would set events into motion that would change their lives forever."
True North by Wild Fly Productions. Wild Fly Productions is a group of young dudes from North Carolina that are using technology to document their fishing trips. Their films are both inspiring and entertaining. True North is about their annual trip to Maine and a day trip over to the Great North Woods of New Hampshire. Watch this and try not to binge-watch the rest of their work.
There are plenty more good films to watch so feel free to leave suggestions in the comments below.
What about reading materials? If you’re like me then a good book is a great way to pass the time when you can’t get to the water. Normally I do a lot of reading about fly fishing when winter comes to New England. Now is a great time to lose yourself in a good book and quiet the noise on television and social media. Below are recommendations that I have read recently and or is on my to-do list. Again, not in any particular order…
A Fly Rod of Your Own by John Gierach
Most of you have heard about the writings of John Gierach. John is a storyteller we can all relate to with his everyman style, sense of humor and keen observations. Trout Bum is one of my favorite books by John. You can’t go wrong with one of his books. Definitely my favorite angling author. What Peter Egan is to motorcycles, Gierach is to fly fishing. So, I can't wait to dive into this book.
Fly-Tying by Helen Shaw
Helen Shaw is one of the greatest fly tying instructors of all time. This book is so good that it has been through several printings. Pick up a copy and learn from the best. Forget the internet for a quick minute and check out this book.
Squaretail by Bob Mallard
Bob Mallard is an icon in New England. I can’t wait to dig into this book about wild brook trout. But don’t take my word for it… “If there is a finer trout angler than Bob Mallard, I have not encountered one. Nor have I encountered anyone who knows more about wild brook trout and where to find them.” -Ted Williams
So there you have it. These are my suggestions to help you get through the quarantine. A small list that will hopefully provide you with a needed distraction. Something to quiet the noise and think about something else besides the covid-19 pandemic. Share this list with your buddies and form your own suggestions or lists. But most of all stay positive and know that we will reach the end of this crisis and have better days ahead.
See you on the stream
-Bill Holleran
]]>Frank and I met at the Visitor’s Center in North Woodstock, put our gear in one car and drove north on Rt. 3 to a small trailhead. Gearing up we knew it was going to be a hot day as the temperature was already in the low 90’s. We hit the hiking trail around 9:30 am and made our way to the brook. This was Frank’s first time using tenkara gear and also his first time fishing for brook trout so we were pretty excited, to say the least.
After setting up and going over some of the basics of tenkara we hit the stream and started climbing across some rocks and boulders to get to a good spot. The sun was extremely hot and the glare off the rocks and water was blinding. Polarized glasses were a must. The water was crystal clear and still cold. It definitely made the day more enjoyable. I love wet wading on a hot day. At our first stop, I dead drifted an orange attractor fly between two rocks and saw a flash as the fly made its way along a fast seam. The brook trout had come out of hiding and crushed my fly with lightning speed. I set the hook and landed him quickly. I was surprised at the size of this fish because the water level was low and these fish are native/wild and don’t often grow more than 6-8” in length. We took a quick picture and released him carefully back to the water.
Happy with my catch, I collapsed my tenkara rod and went over to help Frank with his technique. He was picking up the tenkara method quickly. Frank has been bass fishing his whole life but was new to fly fishing. As we made our way downstream, he had several strikes by some small but really fast brook trout. If you blinked, you missed them. In a short time, Frank got his first brook trout. It was a small, beautifully colored fish. These brook trout truly amaze me. They are by far the prettiest fish I have ever seen, and they survive in some of the harshest conditions. Fishing these small mountain streams where the fish can be on the small size reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite authors, John Gierach, “Maybe your stature as a fly fisherman isn't determined by how big a trout you can catch, but by how small a trout you can catch without being disappointed.”
We had hiked quite a way downstream before we realized we had better head back to the car so we could try and meet Craig for lunch. The heat was getting to us as well and we decided to make our way to the road and avoid climbing over rocks and boulders to get back to the lot. At the lot, we met a guy from the great lakes region and shared some fishing stories with him. I think he was wishing he had his fishing gear when we showed him some pictures from our morning. In the car we started driving south, watching for cell service to kick in so we could call Craig.
We couldn’t get a hold of Craig, so we just pulled into a local sub shop on our way to the campground in Campton, NH. After lunch we checked in at the campground which is located right on the Pemigiwasset river. Thankfully our sites were located between several trees that provided a lot of shade because this was going to be a record-breaking heatwave. We set up our tents and Craig joined us soon after. Craig got set up and we finally cracked a cold beer. Nothing better after fishing all morning in 90+ degrees.
We made our way down to the Pemi river on foot to scout it for fishing later on. To our surprise the water level near the campground was low and was filled with kayakers and tubers. So, we decided to go to a different location before dinner. We headed back to the campsite to have another beer and look at our maps. After a little rest, we decided to try the Swift River along the Kancamangus Highway.
The Swift parking lot was pretty full, but most people were hiking and or looking for waterfalls. We only saw a couple other anglers. We walked a little way down the trail and decided to climb down to the river. The climb down was steep and we had to hold on to trees and each other to get down safely. Another scenario where I was happy to be using a tenkara rod that collapses.
On the river we spread out and gave each other some room. It didn’t take very long to get into some nice brook trout. Even on a hot day like this the brookies were aggressively chasing flies. After several fish it started to get dark, so we decided to call it a day and go to dinner. I had made tentative plans to check out my old friend Rich’s restaurant, but it was on the other side of the Kancamangus Highway in North Woodstock, so we needed to hurry.
I had found, through the magic of Facebook that a high school friend that I hadn’t seen in a long time had opened a restaurant called the Rustic River Kitchen. So, we hopped in the car and made our way to North Woodstock. When we arrived at RR it was slammed with diners. I saw my friend Rich behind the bar, and he yelled to me that he’d be right over. Even though the place was slammed Rich and his team did a great job moving people in and out. We got a seat in no time. We ordered some drinks and finally got a call from Jeff who was driving up from the south shore (MA). He had finally made it through Boston traffic and was on his way to the restaurant. Jeff arrived and we ordered our food. The chicken, broccoli, and ziti was excellent.
The restaurant finally slowed down and Rich came over to say hello. Talking to Rich was just like old times. It didn’t feel like that much time had passed. Rich brought us out on the restaurant deck to show us the river right below us. He told us stories of how the previous owner had a house in this location and used to catch trout and clean them with river water right where we were standing. If you’re headed to the White Mountains region, stop by Rustic River and let Rich and his team take good care of you.
It was getting late, so we thanked Rich and headed back to camp. We got a little fire going, had some beers and talked about where to fish on Saturday. After much discussion we decided to try a spot that Craig had found on the Pemigiwasset river. He found a nice hidden place where we could park and get easy access.
We were looking for some distance in our casts at this location, so I brought along my Orvis Recon 10’ 3wt. Walking to the river we spotted some animal tracks in the sand. Most of the tracks looked to be deer but then we spotted some good size bear tracks. We joked that if we caught any fish, we’d be handing them over to our furry friends.
On the river we all spread out and Craig took Frank with him to help him with his fly casting and show him some things to look for on the river. The spot we were in was slow-moving except for one section that had a nice flow with riffles and some good size rocks. After fishing a deep slow section and getting no takes I decided to head upstream. Along the way I stopped and talked to Craig and Frank who had just missed landing a good size rainbow. Frank was excited and really enjoying fly fishing. I made my way past them so I could fish some of the faster water too. I was drifting and stripping a streamer, varying speeds trying to mimic baitfish. Craig started to make his way over to me and while talking to him I felt a strike. I set the hook and decided to strip the line in because I had a lot of line out at my feet. I brought the fish upstream, keeping pressure on. When I brought it close, Craig assisted with the net. It was a decent size rainbow trout. After several more fish we decided to go find Jeff who was downstream using his spinning gear. Frank stayed behind because he had to go home for a family event in a few hours. Craig and I met up with Jeff who hadn’t had much luck, probably due to all the kayakers that we’re entering the water. He made the best of it and went for a swim.
Jeff, Craig and I decided to head across the Kancamangus Highway again and find some brook trout streams that were ideal for the tenkara method. We stopped in North Conway to see Steve at North Country Angler. Steve has been very supportive of Red Brook Tenkara and has our gear in his shop. We talked to Steve for a while and he gave us some good suggestions for flies and locations on an unbelievably hot day.I spent a little more time in this spot and decided the heat was too much, so I headed back up to meet Craig and Jeff. When I came around one of the bends, I saw a guy jumping off the rocks into a big pool. It was like something out of a Mountain Dew commercial. I caught up to Jeff and Craig and we all decided to call it a day. It was way too hot and we were tired. Walking out of the forest towards the car felt like we were entering a sauna. We drove back to camp and started to prepare dinner, the usual camp food, burgers, dogs, corn on the cob and potato salad.
Later that night we got the fire going and the beer and stories were flowing good. It’s the part of the trip that really makes it worthwhile. Obviously, a day of fishing in the White Mountains is the greatest escape but hanging with your buddies around a campfire, drinking good beer, and making fun of each other is a close second. I can't wait for the next trip.
-Bill Holleran
www.redbrooktenkara.com
"fly fishing in its purest, simplest, most elegant form"
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Sunday was Father’s Day and not having any kids of my own I thought it would be a great day to go to one of my favorite rivers. My theory was that the usual crowds would be at home with their families celebrating around the grill. I got a late start Sunday morning, it’s a long story, let’s just say having three dogs can sometimes lead to a rough night’s sleep. I left the house around 9am and drove the hour and a half to the river. My theory proved true as there we’re only a few cars in the lot by the river.
It was a cloudy day with the threat of showers looming over head all day, so I packed a rain jacket with my waders. While unpacking in the lot I wasn’t sure if I wanted to just bring the tenkara rod or also include a western rod and reel. I went with the tenkara rod and figured I could trek back if necessary.
I read online earlier in the week that green wooly buggers we’re working in the river instead of the usual smallest nymphs you could find in your fly box. So, I tied on a nice green bugger with some flash and made my way to the river. I decided to start below the bridge where I have had some luck recently. The landscape had taken over since my last trip here. All the rain had made the water rise but also spiked a big growth in the landscape. The tenkara rod came in handy getting through the overgrowth.
I made it down to the river and scanned the water looking for trout in the crystal clear water. The flow was finally back down to a fishable rate after all the heavy rain. I didn’t see any fish but started to cast to the typical spots that look like they would hold trout. After no strikes in the area in front of me I decided to wade upstream a little ways to a bend with some cover. This was the right decision as I felt a strike on my first cast. I was a little late on this strike and hoped I didn’t spook this fish as I cast again a little behind and left of the same spot. Luck was on my side as a felt another strike as my fly drifted by the spot. This time I wasn’t late and set the hook. The tug was light so I figured it might be a small wild brook trout. Sure, enough it was a small but beautifully colored brook trout. After a quick photo I released him back to the river.
Next, I made several casts to some areas across the river that looked promising. I didn’t get any attention, so I started to let my fly drift for a shorter distance. Many Japanese tenkara experts believe that shorter drifts to target a specific area yield better results. Imagine a grid on the water and you hit the grid squares one at a time. In short time I felt another strike and set the hook. This one felt a little heavier and my excitement grew as I worked the line towards me. Another wild brook trout but quite a bit bigger than the first one.
A few more casts and I decided to get out of the water and head up the trail to some areas upstream. As I walked the trail, I was taking in all the scenery that changed since my last trip here in January. It was very serene, and I started to think of Father’s Days of my past when I would fish with my Dad. It’s been a while since he passed but I always think of him when I’m out on the water. A little way down the trail and it started to rain. I was glad I packed that rain jacket.
I got to the big pool and it was occupied by a few anglers, so I headed towards a branch of the river that usually holds decent fish. It didn’t take long to spot some good size fish on this branch of the river. It is very narrow and gin clear. The depth was a little higher than normal and the flow a little faster. In front of me hanging out behind some structure was a good size rainbow that appeared to be feeding off the bottom. So, I switched out the bugger for a nymph and cast upstream and began a dead drift. Tenkara rod high, the fly drifted perfectly past the rainbow but she didn’t seem to care or notice. A few more casts but still nothing. I switched flies again, this time to a black and red sakasa kebari. A perfect drift by and she took notice this time. She followed it and my excitement rose but then she changed her mind and went back to her holding spot. I might have spooked her or maybe it was instinct. This river sees a lot of angling traffic and the fish spook very easily. A few more tries and then I moved on to other areas. The rest of the day I cast flies to disinterested trout, might have been my technique, my fly choice or some other reason but that’s why they call it fishing.
As the day grew long, I looked at my watch and decided I better head home. It started to rain again, and I had an hour and a half drive home. It was a fun day away as I was able to catch some wild brook trout and lose my self in the scene, forgetting about the daily stresses. Fly fishing is great like that, the perfect escape from reality or is it an escape to reality. Anyways, Happy Father’s Day if you’re a Dad and or Happy Father’s Day if you’re thinking of your own Dad.
Tight Lines
-Bill Holleran
I took my time getting ready on Tuesday morning, no need to rush this time of year. After a quick breakfast, I decided to head to one of my favorite rivers which are loaded with trout but also very challenging to actually land fish.
I had read online that the water was running very high and fast but wanted to see for myself. This year the rainfall has been unusually high, especially that past two months. Normally this river is running slow and not very deep which makes it easy to sight fish. Not today. Nope, today the water was running between 500 and 700 cfs. (That’s cubic feet per second). The type of fast that can be dangerous to wade. Drop any gear and it will be in the next town before you can drop your favorite expletive.
I parked the suv in the usual place and noted that it wasn’t as crowded as it normally is. As I walked the trail I began to notice why. The water level was extremely high and most areas weren’t wadeable. It was a warm fifty degrees but the wind gusts were very high as well. While walking the trail and keeping my eye on the river I heard a crackling in the trees up high. This was followed by a loud crash of timber that had fallen about thirty yards ahead of me on the trail. This got my attention right quick. I’m glad I was taking my time on the trail as this would have put an end to my day fishing or otherwise.
I spent the rest of the time on the trail looking up more than looking at the river. Further down the trail, I found a few spots that were fishable by wading and on shore. I managed to land a couple small brook trout with some euro nymphs and midges. Overall the fish weren’t really biting so I spent more time walking than fishing. I did spot a landlocked salmon that had to be over 24 inches long (in the water). I ran into several anglers that experienced the same conditions, most had caught little to no fish. But everyone was talking about that salmon. I’ll have to go back on a better day to see if we can meet up close.
After a while, I decided to stop fishing and just enjoy a beautiful day in January. I hiked the trails and took in the beautiful scenery. I managed to get some decent photos of the river and surroundings to preserve the moment. This river probably hits this level and speed, maybe once in a decade. However, next week I’m going to fish somewhere else until things calm down here.
Happy New Year,
Bill
"no reels, no problems"
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The full lot meant that the famous Y-Pool section would probably be pretty busy with anglers like me that took Friday off for some on-the-water therapy. I decided to fish the Rt. 9 bridge area first and put off the Y-Pool until later. I had heard good things about fishing the bridge and further downstream. Besides, I always prefer to fish the more remote sections. I’m a bit of a loner when it comes to fishing, but aren’t most of us?
I brought a good selection of euro nymphs with me for this trip and I was anxious to try them out. I’ve been researching euro nymphing techniques as it is quite similar to Tenkara. As most already know, you can and should use all types of flies with the Tenkara method. You don’t have to stick to traditional Japanese kebari flies. After all, what’s more American then adopting something from a foreign land and combining it with our own methods to come up with an even better solution or method.
I made my way down to the river under the Route 9 bridge and could immediately see some decent size trout hanging out. I tied on a blowtorch nymph because it has been working in a lot of areas this summer. After about 10 minutes and no takes, I decided to switch flies. This time I went with a tungsten surveyor bead head. This one looks like a sow bug and has some flash. A couple casts and dead drifts got me my first strike. I set the hook and brought the fish to net, a little wild brook trout. I continued to use this fly and it produced about 8 or 9 brook trout, mostly small, but a few decent size.
After a while, I decided to switch flies again, and this time went with a rainbow nymph, another bead head with flashy color. It didn’t take long to feel another strike. This time I landed a beautiful brown trout, probably 9+ inches in length. I stayed in this spot for another hour or so, getting lost in the moment. It was a great day to be out of the office and thinking about nothing at all, just fishing.
Next, I decided to head to the famous Y-Pool. I collapsed the RBT ONE rod, wound up my line and walked the trail inward. I made several stops along the way to look for fish, knowing that the Y-Pool might be crowded. This river is so clear that you can spot fish very easily. I didn’t have any luck along the trail and decided to head straight to the Y-Pool.
When I got to the Y-Pool there were several anglers wading right in the middle of it so I decided to make my way around them. I crossed the bridge and headed along the bottom of the big berm towards an area that is a little more difficult to access but a lot less busy. I found a little path that was barely cleared and squeezed through it to the water’s edge and out on to some rocks. A collapsed Tenkara rod comes in handy when making your way through some tight landscape.
I stepped into the water and onto the outcrop of rocks that we’re right in front of a deep pool. Looking into the pool I could see several rainbows and browns circling about. The excitement was building as I don’t get to sight fish in great places like this very often. I decided to stick with the euro nymphs that were working downstream. But after several attempts and no takes I decided to run through my smaller flies hoping something would get some attention. It’s well known that the fish in this river see a lot of action and don’t respond to most flies. I have heard that the smaller the fly the better your chances.
After an hour and no strikes, I decided to switch my strategy again. I tied on a black and yellow stimulator fly, a furry looking dry that I usually use with a dropper. The first cast I got some attention but was too quick with my reaction. A couple more casts and a nice size rainbow went for it. It was awesome to see him move like a shark and chomp this big fly on top of the water. I lifted the Tenkara rod immediately and set the hook. The bend in the rod let me know this was a good one. I played him a little before pulling him to my net. Today I had my small brook trout net and he filled it. I removed the fly and as I was admiring my catch he flopped out of the net and into the water. I was bummed that I didn’t get a photo. It was a beautiful rainbow trout of good size, not the biggest in the pool but special none the less.
While fishing that spot the clouds started to move in and I heard some thunder. Once the rain started I decided to head back to the car and have some lunch. I was hoping the thunder and lightning would pass through quickly. On my way out I talked to a few anglers who were curious about Tenkara so I gave them a quick demo. Back at the car I ate lunch while checking the weather on the I-phone. Luckily, the weather was improving so I decided to head back to the river. It was getting late but I wanted to get a few more casts in before heading home. I went back to the highway bridge because I was short on time. I was able to land a few more brook trout before deciding to call it a day.
While packing up the car I had time to reflect on what a great day it was to get away from the office and the usual daily stress that life can throw at you. On the ride home I couldn’t help thinking that I have to take more days like this and unplug from reality. Until next time… “no reel, no problems”
-Bill Holleran
We drove up to New Hampshire on Friday morning and headed straight to the Lincoln NH area where some of our favorite hiking trails that travel along some of the smaller branches of the Pemigewasset River are located. We were in search of native brook trout and knew where to find them. We pulled in to a small parking lot off of the Kancamagus highway, paid the national park fee and grabbed our gear. We made our way onto the trail and walked past some families swimming in a nice pool. We hiked downstream quite a ways to get away from the noise and search for brookies. The water in this branch was gin clear and the bed was all rock. This area requires a little bit of stealth so you don’t spook the fish. In most sections the water is shallow but there are several small to large pools that are known to hold fish.
We came across some decent size pools that looked like they would be holding fish. A few casts upstream, letting the fly drift in the current and sure enough, the fish were biting. In most cases, they were hiding under cover, close to the fast current waiting for food to drift by. I have found that bead head flies with some orange flash work really well in this area. My preference is a fly called the “blowtorch” which is a natural looking nymph with an orange tail and a bead head.
Sure enough, we found some brookies willing to take our flies. We pulled in quite a few small ones, ranging in size from a few inches to 6 inches. We fished this spot for a short while before moving further downstream in search of some bigger native brook trout. It didn’t take us long to find some bigger running water and some larger pools. Denver finally landed his first NH native brook trout. You could see the excitement on his face and could tell he was ready for more. A short while later I felt a pretty good pull on my line. You have to remember that this is small water. I set the hook and right away could see that I had a decent size trout on the line. I let him play a little before bringing him in. It looked to be around 8-9 inches which were pretty big for this brook.
Before we knew it, it was time to go. We still had to get to our campground and set up camp for the night. That night we grilled up some food, tossed back a few cold beverages and got ready for Saturday’s Tenkara Demo Day.
Our demo day started early Saturday morning. We cooked up a quick camp breakfast, packed up the Jeep Cherokee and headed to North Country Angler. Steve the owner of NCA set us up with a tent in front of the shop so we could be seen by all the outlet shop traffic. The demo day went really well. We had all kinds of anglers stop by. Some were familiar with Tenkara and just wanted to say hello or purchase some gear. Others had heard about it and wanted to see it in person. We did some casting demonstrations in the parking lot and let them try it out.
Our table was stacked with gear, apparel, issues of Tenkara Angler magazine and videos to watch. It was a lot of fun showing off our gear and spreading the Tenkara method. At the end of the day, we packed up our gear and went to meet head guide Nate Hill on the water. Nate was anxious to try out our Tenkara gear and had some ideal places in mind. We took a short drive from the shop to meet Nate and follow him to some prime spots for Tenkara. When we got to the river the rain started to fall but that didn’t deter us from our mission. A short hike from the road and we were casting lines with Nate and he was pulling in trout very quickly. He really knows the water in this region and quickly found flies that were working. We made our way upstream and before long we were staring at some good size trout at the bottom of a really deep pool. Unfortunately, these trout weren’t moving or responding to anything we threw at them. Sometimes you have days like this. It reminded me of days on the Swift River in MA when you can see trophy size trout but get frustrated trying to get their attention. Before we knew it, Nate had to leave to meet family for dinner so we packed up and headed out. We called Steve, who was closing up the shop and he volunteered to show us some of his favorite spots for brook trout. We followed Steve into the forest on some gravel roads that lead to some cool spots that he hadn’t visited since the storms last year. He was curious to see how the brooks had faired and if they were holding trout. Sure enough, he brought us to a cool spot under a bridge and the brookies we’re biting. Unfortunately, we were short on time as it was getting dark and we had to get back to camp.
The White Mountain region truly is a perfect match for Tenkara. Now I know that currently Tenkara isn’t allowed in New Hampshire’s "Fly Fishing Only" bodies of water but don’t despair. There are plenty of great areas to fish the Tenkara method in New Hampshire. Most of the fly fishing only sections get a lot of angler traffic anyways. So if you prefer to fish in quiet solitude, grab a Tenkara rod and hike to some of the more secluded fishing areas. If you grab a hiking trail map and minimal gear, you’re all set to explore and go your own way to find some beautiful fish. I don’t know the reasons why New Hampshire doesn’t allow Tenkara in fly fishing only sections but I think it will change. Stay tuned and I will write my thoughts on this issue. For now, I’m going to continue to spread the positive message about Tenkara throughout New England.
Thanks for reading,
Bill
“no reel, no problems”
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I decided to visit a local Salter stream and see how it fared this winter. (Salter is a local term for sea-run brook trout) We’ve had several severe storms and I was curious to see the effects. It was a bright sunny day and a welcome escape from winter’s doldrums. This stream is usually a tough spot to cast with a tight canopy and lots of tall vegetation. This late in the winter there was more room to cast but you still had to be aware of your surroundings to avoid snags. I noticed the snow and rain had created some new pools and increased the depth of old ones.
Fishing for Salters in this water is very challenging. The water is crystal clear and the fish scare easily. It requires stealth, patience, and more patience. I’ve been skunked at this location many times. I decided to start at the bay end of the water and work my way upstream. I tied on a gray ghost streamer to get things started. I didn’t see any Salters from the shore but that doesn’t mean anything. There are lots of hiding places in this water.
After several unproductive casts, I switched flies. I went through my box of streamers that usually work well here but nothing was biting. I even tried my pheasant tail kebari which usually works when nothing else does but the fish just weren’t biting today. I made my way up the walking path to several pools that typically hold fish but I didn’t see any activity. Maybe the Salters were in the ocean feeding on bigger food?
While I didn’t catch any fish today it was still a good day on the water. I noticed Salter fry in several areas and have high hopes for the health of this habitat. This stream appears to be thriving and the upcoming season should be a good one. The Salters are doing well here and have made an amazing comeback. The work of Trout Unlimited and the Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition has really paid off as this stream appears to be thriving. I can't wait to return here when the weather improves and chase the Salters again.
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We just got back from The Fly Fishing Show in Marlboro, MA. It was our first big show as a vendor. As most of you know The Fly Fishing Show is a very big event showcasing all the latest products in the fly fishing industry. It’s a traveling show with several stops across the United States. The Fly Fishing Show takes place in the middle of winter and is a good cure for cabin fever, especially if you live in the snow- belt. The show is many things but most importantly it’s a chance for us to meet the real people that fish the creeks, rivers, lakes, and streams and get real feedback on products and services.
]]>The show organizers gave us an awesome corner spot on the other side of the casting area where the traffic was great. Our show neighbor was custom rod builder J. H. Becker Rod Works from Vermont. Jim Becker builds beautiful custom bamboo rods that really have to be seen to be appreciated. The craftsmanship is incredible. Jim and his brother are really nice guys and we shared a lot of laughs during the show.
We weren’t sure what to expect from our first show. Friday morning started off slow but our fellow vendors warned us that Saturday would be crazy busy. When the venue started to fill up we started to talk to fellow anglers and give demonstrations on tenkara. In the beginning, people would ask a quick question and then move on but after a few demos people started to take notice. I love the reactions from people who have never seen tenkara before. First, they see a telescoping rod and they’re drawn in by the portability. Then they realize there is no reel and some wonder how it is even possible to fish without one.
After talking with several anglers and giving demos we started to get more comfortable and it showed. We made our first sale, a complete tenkara starter kit and realized the show was going to be a success. Sharing stories with fellow anglers that have the same passion for our sport was an awesome experience. After a while, we stopped worrying about sales and just had fun telling our tenkara story.
As the day went on people started coming to our booth and said they were so happy to see tenkara at the show. It made our day when several anglers said they were following us on social media and we’re psyched to see us. They have no idea how excited we were to hear that. It was really inspiring to hear that people were enjoying our efforts to teach tenkara and make fly fishing more accessible. By the end of Friday we were exhausted and ready to go home.
Saturday morning we arrived bright and early to set up all over again. Our fellow vendors were not joking, the crowds started early and were constant most of the day. At one point we had so many people at our booth that it was a little overwhelming. But the people were great. We heard so many cool stories. One guy told us about his adventures out west and how he was bringing in a medium sized trout only to be surprised when a much bigger brown decided to swallow the first one.
Sales were getting even better on Saturday but one of the highlights was when an 80-year-old gentleman came to visit us from Portland Maine. At first, I was a little nervous that he might not be a fan of tenkara. But after telling us his age, that he was a licensed guide and certified casting instructor he announced that he “loved tenkara”! This guy was awesome! He told us all kinds of stories about his experience with tenkara and how he was telling anyone who would listen about it. He also mentioned that he was the reason LL Bean had a tenkara outfit in their stores. It was also great to meet several people from Instagram and Facebook that we have been following. You get an impression from someone’s posts but it is so much nicer to meet in person. We had a great talk with Matthew from Casting Across and hope to see him on the water.
During the show, one of the celebrity fly tiers kept stopping by our booth to look at our kebari or Japanese flies. He didn’t say anything the first few times, probably because we were busy giving demos. Finally, we got a chance to talk to him. It was William Newcomb and he was interested in who tied our flies and what materials were used. Mr. Newcomb was quite the character. When we asked about the title “Celebrity Fly Tyer” he laughed and joked with us about being in a magazine. When I told him I was learning to tie flies and was looking for advice he brought me over to the vintage book booth and spent time flipping through all the books with me. He was looking for “Fly Tying” by Helen Shaw. It was awfully nice of him to take time out to help me.
Saturday was non-stop crowded but we were fueled by their energy and several cups of coffee. We also figured Sunday would be easier with the big football game. Sunday morning came fast. When the show opened the crowd was earlier today. Most people seemed to be focused on getting home in time for the AFC Championship game which was fine with us because we were tired. It also allowed us to talk to more guests and not worry about missing anyone. By afternoon the crowd was thinning and it was time to draw the winner of our raffle. The lucky winner was Jack Murphy from Plymouth, MA. Jack is the proud owner of a Red Brook Tenkara Starter kit which has everything he needs to get started in Tenkara.
As the show wound down people were scrambling to watch the football game and most gathered at 4 Rivers Fishing booth because they had a nice flat screen and access to the game. The fly fishing show was an awesome experience and we hope everyone else had as much fun as we did. Thanks to everyone who took the time out to visit our booth and say hello and share a story. We hope to see you all again next year and remember “no reel, no problems”.
Cheers,
Bill
]]>I organized a camping trip with some friends to get away one more time before the summer ends and to teach them how to fish tenkara style. We went to a campground that I’ve been going to for years because it is right on the Pemigewasset River in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This trip was just for the guys, so to prove how manly we were, we booked some primitive sites with no running water or electricity. Of course, it was only a short walk to the campground store and showers. We’re not fooling anybody.
There were six of us in total. My friend Mike and I were the first to arrive and checked in at the office and proceeded to follow the map to our campsites. As we drove to the sites the road transitioned from smooth gravel to washed out dirt and mud. I said to Mike, “Don’t tell my wife that the new Jeep Cherokee is going off-road before it hits the 2,000 mile mark.” Sorry baby, I’ll wash it when I get home. As we were driving through huge puddles, Mike yells out “welcome to hazard county car wash!” We laughed our way to the site and decided to warn our friend Jerry that he should park his car at the office when he arrived and wait for someone to come get him. We didn’t want to have to dig a car out this year. Last year we had to get a friend’s car off a tree stump. But that is a story for another time.
Mike and I decided to set up the campsites before everyone else arrived. Patrick showed up as we were setting up and he had a pickup truck full of everyone’s gear. So after setting up our site, we decided to help Jerry out by setting up his tent before he arrived. That was a big mistake because Jerry’s tent is the size of the Ringling Brothers Big top. We are talking about three rooms and about 200s.f. We pulled the tent and poles out of their bags, laid it all out and decided we would rather go fishing down by the river. We went down to the river to check it out and I started to teach Mike the ways of tenkara. Mike hasn’t fished a whole lot but was excited to learn how. I guess my fishing stories got to him or he wanted to shut me up. While I was teaching Mike how to read the river and cast a tenkara line, the clouds opened up and it poured rain. I asked Mike if he wanted to go back and he said he wanted to continue fishing. Well, we completely forgot about Jerry’s tent lying in the grass and it filled up with rainwater. By the time Jerry and Charlie had arrived the tent which wasn’t even standing yet was filled with water. Whoops! Sorry guys. Of course, the rain stopped right after the last tent was set up.
We were all starving by that point and looking forward to a couple of beers. Thankfully Jon had brought his awesome marinated steak tips and some sort of vegetable dish. We were so hungry we were eating the tips off the grill. After dinner Charlie, Jon and Jerry went to check on their tent. Unfortunately, it was filled with a couple inches of water. So Charlie and Patrick went on a mission to find a mop. They ended up at a Wally World and a couple hours later the tent was dry.
Mike and I took a short drive to Lincoln, NH to visit Mountain High Fly to get advice from the local experts. We met the owner Sarah and her guide. They were both friendly and very knowledgeable about fly fishing in the White Mountains. We bought a map and asked them to highlight some areas to fish. They were quick to recommend a few hot spots as well as flies to use. If you are going to fish the White Mountains I suggest you stop in Mountain High Fly and talk to Sarah.
Back at the campground, we got a fire going with wet wood, after several tries and a little bit of rocket fuel. We stayed up kind of late, drinking beers, chirping each other and telling stories. The next morning after breakfast I gathered the guys around the table to show them how to set up a tenkara rod and gave them some quick casting tips. This went really well as everyone listened like an eager school kid on the first day of first grade. Either that or it was instruction interrupted by everyone chirping insults and slinging the usual male banter. I’d compare it to herding cats. After the quick instruction, we hit Dunkin Donuts to grab an iced coffee because that is what New Englanders do, no matter what the temperature is outside. It was a short drive to the Mad River. As we arrived at the section of the river we wanted to fish we found a couple of trailhead parking lots filled with cars and hikers. We finally found an empty lot that was a very short hike down to the Mad River.
We hiked down and I quickly extended the RBT ONE rod that I had rigged with a dry fly. The Mad River is a beautiful river, filled with rocks and hiding spots for brook trout. It is truly an amazing trout habitat but it is also very difficult to see the trout, even with polarized sunglasses. I made a cast upstream towards a fast running section and dead drifted my fly past some good hiding spots and saw a brookie take notice and come out of the shadows but not strike. The second cast, I repeated the same path and sure enough, the brook trout came out again and grabbed the fly. I quickly set the hook and brought him to my net. It was a small brook trout but it had awesome colors. These native fish have some of the coolest color patterns. I gently unhooked him and Jon took a quick picture before I released him back to the river. Knowing this was going to be a great fishing spot I gave instruction to the guys and set them up to fish. Mike took to it right away and caught three brook trout. The rest were not too far behind him.
After seeing the guys start to grasp tenkara and feeling a little crowded with six guys in the same section of river I quickly headed downstream. I collapsed the RBT ONE rod and began to jump over and under rocks and branches to get some distance from everyone. That is the beauty of tenkara. It travels very lightly, making it easy for you to move on to the next spot. After I made my way downstream I began to fish all the pools and hiding spots I thought the native brookies would be holding in. It was an awesome experience, casting a dry fly upstream, letting it drift down and seeing these small to medium size brook trout appear from the shadows to grab a fly that probably appeared huge in size to them. I made my way about a half mile downstream and probably caught about twelve fish. I wasn’t counting because I was too busy taking in the amazing scene around me.
At that point, I realized I should return upstream and check on the guys. When I got back, Mike was still fishing the same spot. He could see a couple good size fish right below him and was experiencing the same frustrations we all know. How do I get that fish to strike? The other guys were ready to head out for something to eat but Mike, Charlie and I stayed behind and continued to fish. We caught several more small fish but were unable to get the big brookies to strike. We tried a bunch of different fly patterns but I think they were just spooked.
We grabbed a bite to eat and a beer on our way back to the campground. When we met up with the others everyone seemed tired but Mike and I still wanted to fish some more. We drove to the entrance of the campground and found a short road leading to the Pemigiwasset river. Approaching the river we noticed some fish breaking the surface and going after a recent insect hatch. We geared up and began to cast flies we thought were close to the hatch. The longer we stayed the more fish we saw hitting the surface. This was an awesome scene as every few minutes we would see brook trout aggressively grabbing flies off the surface and flying through the air. After several frustrating casts and seeing fish feeding so close I decided to wade in some. I was wearing water sandals and shorts and had my i-phone in my pocket. But I wasn’t worried because it was in a waterproof case that claims you can use it to take pictures underwater. None of my fly selections were working so I rigged up a dry fly and ran a San Juan worm below it. Hoping one would attract attention and maybe the fish would go after it. I was about to give up when a beautiful brook trout grabbed the dry fly as he shot through the air. I quickly set the hook by raising the RBT ONE, in reality, it was probably already set. As I guided the fish upstream towards my net, Mike came over to help. I grabbed my i-phone out of my pocket for a quick picture but the screen stayed black. I guess the waterproof case wasn’t so waterproof. The seal must have been compromised. Mike quickly grabbed his phone and took some pictures as we admired this awesome brook trout and released it back to the river.
We returned to the campsite to meet up with the guys and tell them about the trout we were fishing and my phone getting wet. After more chirping, mostly towards my phone getting wet and the tent full of rain, yeah I know it was a wet weekend, Jon and I headed out to get some rice to see if we could save the phone.
When we got back the fire was blazing and the crew had settled down with some cold beers and bbq chicken sandwiches. We spent the rest of the night carrying on, drinking beers and listening to music. We had a lot of fun this weekend and I hope it becomes an annual event. It was awesome sharing my love for tenkara and I hope the guys enjoyed it too. I just hope I can retrieve the photos from my wet phone.
“no reel, no problems”
-Bill Holleran
]]>This summer I spent a weekend in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and had the best time fishing some really small brooks and streams that could only be accessed by hiking trails. We parked the truck at a trailhead just above Lincoln, NH and hiked down a trail to a beautiful brook. The brook had ice cold water running over a lot of rocks and boulders. The water was crystal clear and was only a foot or so deep. There were several pools along the brook that were several feet deep. The bottom of the brook was mostly gravel and sand that made the water look like cream soda. Approaching the brook required some stealthy tactics so as not to spook the brook trout.
At a distance, it looked like this brook wasn’t holding any fish at all. Truth is they had a lot of structure to hide under and only made appearances when food was floating by. So we rigged up some beefy attractor flies and dropped some tiny wet flies below, using the first fly as an indicator. It didn’t take us long to see some results. Casting upstream and letting the flies dead drift downstream immediately drew some brookies out from under the rocks. It was quite the sight, looking into the clear water and watching these beautiful trout appear from the shadows and take the wet flies. The attractor or indicator fly was very helpful in following your line as the sun was beaming down and reflecting off the rocks.
I caught a pretty little brook trout on the very first cast. My friend Mike, who I’ve been teaching tenkara headed upstream to a great spot under a bridge. He caught the biggest brook trout of the day, probably measuring about 8 inches in length. But we weren’t concerned with catching trophy size fish, we were looking for native brookies that survive with no help from man. They say if the water is holding these fish then it’s a great sign that the surrounding environment is doing well. Kind of like the canary in the coal mine.
Now is a good time to mention that some of our native fish need our help. There are some great native fish advocacy groups that are mostly funded and served by volunteers. In New England, we have the Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition and the Native Fish Coalition. The SRBTC concentrates its efforts on restoring and improving the habitats of the famous Salters or sea run brook trout and have made tremendous strides in the waters of southern Massachusetts. The Native Fish Coalition is a new group that is concentrating its efforts on New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. I urge all anglers to support these and other advocacy groups so that future generations will be able to experience these beautiful fish.
So do I enjoy casting a fly to some trophy size fish in the Y-pool of the Swift River hoping to land that big fish and take a great picture? Of course, I do, but nothing beats the feeling of hiking through the woods to a remote little brook and seeing a native brook trout appear from the shadows to chomp a fly, knowing that this fish is the descendant of fish that have been here for hundreds of years. So next time you’re headed out to wet a line, maybe skip the trophy fish and head out to a remote brook or stream and get lost in the moment looking for that special little fish with the awesome colors because native brookies are where it’s at.
-Bill Holleran
"fly fishing in its purest, simplest, most elegant form"
]]>I have been spending a lot of time researching and studying our native brook trout, but I haven’t had any real success landing one. There is a reason that these special fish have survived the Industrial Revolution and all of mankind’s destruction in the name of progress. These fish spook very easily, and they are very picky when it comes to chasing flies. Stealth and patience are required when chasing these beauties.
So last Sunday, on the day before our 18th wedding anniversary, my lovely wife agreed to spend the day with me fishing for salters in a little known brook in Southern MA. She must have been tired of listening to me talk about these special fish… that and the fact that I also agreed to take our two dogs and do some walking along the nearby trails. She is a wonderful woman who understands and supports my angling pursuits. I will have to think of something special to make up for this one.
When we arrived at a parking area that holds about five cars, I jumped out of the car and grabbed my tenkara gear like an excited kid going to the amusement park. Of course, fishing tenkara requires minimal gear. For outings like this, I only carry an Orvis sling pack, a small net, and of course my RBT One tenkara rod. No waders and boots necessary for this little brook, but water sandals are a good idea. So we gathered up the dogs and headed for the trails with Dixie, our little Italian Greyhound Chihuahua mix leading the way. This little pup loves to walk the trails and is a bit of a hunter. Her packmate, Roscoe, is the same mixed breed, but he likes to hang back with his humans. The trails along this brook are very tight with lots of vegetation on the sides and above. It was a very hot and humid day, but on the trails, there was some relief in the shade. The walking is a little difficult as the ground is muddy and loaded with tree roots.
A short distance from the parking lot, at the first bend in the trail I spot some really big rocks on the edge of the brook. Below the rocks is a small pool that looks like an ideal place for the salters to hang out. I already have my RBT One rod set up with a furled casting line, a couple of feet of tippet, and a caddis emerger bead head fly. I set the rod at its shortest length, just under eleven feet because of the tight canopy of trees and make a short cast upstream. The fly lands gently upstream of my intended target and I let it drift downstream. I kept the casting line off the water knowing how smart the salters are and let the fly drift naturally with the stream. As the fly drifted right in front of the rock I was standing on, I saw the salter take notice. He was right below me under the cover of the rock I was standing on and went for the fly as it drifted by. I saw him take the fly and quickly raised the rod to set the hook. The excitement was unbearable as I started to direct him towards the net and handed my wife my i-phone to get a picture. I finally landed the most amazing fish in our region. I carefully netted him, removed the fly, and briefly admired his awesome colors before setting him free. My wife was laughing at my child-like excitement as we continued on down the trail.
Catching a wild sea-run brook trout is an awesome experience if you take the time to reflect on what these fish have overcome. Thankfully there are groups like the Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition that are doing heroic works to ensure that future generations can experience these amazing fish. They are making strides by removing dams, using volunteers to restore streams, and of course, educating the public. I urge every angler to support their efforts by donating or volunteering their time. You can visit their site at www.searunbrookie.org As we made our way downstream via the trails, I made several stops to cast and try for more salters. Along the way, we met a really nice couple who said they fish the brook all the time. They were locals and told us how special this place was and that you could spend several days there and not catch a single fish. I told them of my luck on the first cast here, and they shared in my enthusiasm. They asked about the tenkara gear so I gave them a quick demonstration, not wanting to sound like a sales pitch. They mentioned that I was traveling light, and I said that’s the beauty of tenkara. Travel light and keep it simple. I gave them a card so they could check out our website if they so desired, and we continued on down the trail looking for the next good location to cast a line.
We found another great looking spot with good hiding spots for salters and more depth. I lost the bead head I was using earlier and decided to go with a kebari or tenkara fly. I chose a pheasant tail kebari because I’ve had a lot of luck with this particular fly this season. After several casts without any signs of salters, I decided to use a pulsing method that many tenkara anglers use. I cast the fly downstream and began to pulse forwards and backward with short arm movements against the gentle current.
A kebari fly has a reverse hackle, meaning the threads/feathers go in the opposite direction. This gives you the opportunity to use the hackle as a parachute and can be very effective in attracting fish. After a few casts, another salter took notice and went for the kebari. I set the hook immediately and landed another beautiful salter. After removing the fly I gently set him free, remembering how special these awesome fish really are.
We only spent a short time at this special little brook, but this was a day that I will remember for a very long time. My only regret was that I didn’t have the Go-Pro on and that I didn’t take better pictures. Thank you to my beautiful wife for being my best friend and supporting my outdoor pursuits as I drag her to all sorts of out-of-the-way places. I’m looking forward to the next eighteen years.
-No reel, no problems Bill
At the water’s edge we decided to divide and conquer with one of us at the dam and the other two heading downstream. It was a beautiful sunny day and our excitement had been building all morning. I decided to use a reverse hackle tenkara fly that has become my go-to choice this season. This fly has produced when all others have failed so I’ve skipped looking for the hatch and just started casting. As I approached the water below the dam I immediately say what had to be an 18” trout, maybe a rainbow or a brown. I couldn’t wait to cast to this big beauty. I cast above the fish and dead drifted towards it. No reaction. After several casts with not even a single movement by the fish I decided to pulse the tenkara fly a little hoping to entice it to strike.
Instead it just swam away. Next I decided to focus on another pool a few yards downstream. I kept the same fly as I don’t believe in switching to quickly. Sure enough I felt a strike in the second pool but this strike didn’t feel anything like what I had hoped for. I set the hook with a quick lift of the rod and began the fight. The RBT One tenkara rod immediately started to bend. I knew it was a small fish but with a tenkara rod even a small fish can be a lot of fun. You don’t have a reel full of extra line to work the fish. You have to do all the work with the line and rod. I kept my arm straight up to keep the tension and worked the fish towards me by raising my arm to the sky and angling the line towards shore. In a short time the fish was in front of me and I netted it with my free hand. It was a small sunfish with beautiful colors.
I didn’t snap any pics of this one because the big trout was still on my mind. I worked my way up and down the stream several times and saw more monster-size trout in the 18-20” range. I must have tried every type of fly that I had in my box but to no avail. Then I remembered the reason I was here. It wasn’t to catch the biggest trout I’d seen in this area but to forget the stresses of the day and have fun with a couple friends on the water.
Lose myself in this natural scene and just fish. I pulled in several more sunfish and pumpkin seeds while chasing the elusive trout before checking in with my buddies. I was hoping one of them would report landing the biggest trout we’d seen in a while and then again I wasn’t. It’s a little selfish I know but at the same time it gave me some comfort that three of us had tried and failed. Maybe it wasn’t my technique or fly choice. Maybe they just weren’t biting. My friends had reported the exact same results.
While heading back to the cars we laughed at each other’s lack of success and vowed to return as soon as possible to catch that trophy trout. On the way to get lunch I thought about how we hadn’t caught the big fish but how we had still had a pretty successful day on the water. After all we caught several fish, albeit not the fish we’d hoped for but we also left behind the daily grind and got lost in the moment for a few hours in the company of friends.
Chasing the elusive fish is always going to be the challenge but not necessarily the goal. “Fishing is much more than fish… It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.”
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Today we enlisted the help of friend and local expert Geoff Klane who owns Brackish Flies (https://www.brackishflies.com/). Geoff ties some beautiful flies and is a knowledgeable guide as well as professional filmmaker. He spends a lot of time on the water and is very familiar with Town Brook. Earlier this year he caught a beautiful 15” sea run brown trout in the brook. When he isn’t tying flies or guiding, Geoff can be found volunteering for the Sea-Run Brook Trout Coalition.
Geoff scouted the brook before we arrived and happily reported that he had spotted several rainbows. We started our day right below the grist mill and began making our way downstream. We hit several spots along the way before settling in at a deep pool where we spotted several rainbows. Deep for this brook is a relative term. This pool was probably less than three feet deep. The brook is also very clear so you need to use some stealthy tactics like kneeling on the edge so as not to spook the fish. We saw a lot of activity but it took some time to figure out what flies would work. The first rainbow was caught on a green pheasant tail tenkara fly. After this fly stopped working we had some luck again, using a midge pattern. We were having a pretty successful day until we spotted some herring and decided to call it a day so we wouldn’t hook any of the protected fish.
Fishing Town Brook is both fun and challenging. You’re in the middle of a busy park and the brook is both clear and narrow. But it can be very rewarding as well. It was a lot of fun talking to people and educating them on tenkara. We met a nice couple who was interested in fly fishing and got the opportunity to explain tenkara. They we’re avid hikers and liked the portability and simplicity of tenkara. We’d like to thank Geoff for sharing his expertise and also filming our outing. Please check him out at brackishflies.com and on social media.
]]>Today the RBT crew visited one of our “secret” spots and we brought along a trusted friend.
]]>Today the RBT crew visited one of our “secret” spots and we brought along a trusted friend. We wanted to share the Tenkara experience with a friend who loves to fish for bass on spinning gear. We were hoping for a good day on the water and the chance to show off the Tenkara experience.
It was a really hot day for this early in the season as we headed south of Boston towards the “spot”. We got stuck in the typical weekend traffic headed towards Cape Cod but luckily we didn’t have to go that far south. When we arrived at the site our friend grabbed his gear and started to head for the pond directly behind the cars. We let him get close to the pond before informing him we were headed to a tiny brook that is at most 20 ft wide and at its deepest probably 3 ft. It’s a brook that is often overlooked because of its size and shallow nature. But to those that know, it’s a beautiful haven for trout and the elusive sea-run brown trout. This brook is shallow and crystal clear so you have to approach the edge with care or you’ll spook the fish. There would be no wading today as we were going for optimal covert attack.
After a brief explanation of the tenkara gear we made our way downstream. It was an extremely hot day so we were checking all the shady areas hoping the trout would be hiding in the cooler waters. After trying several areas in the upstream section and not seeing any fish we decided to make our way down to the largest pool in the brook. This section usually produces fish and we were hoping today would be no different.
At the big pool we could see a few good size fish hanging out and occasionally rising to the surface. There were no hatches today so “match the hatch” wasn’t an option. We tried several different flies but the fish weren’t interested. Our friend decided to switch back to his spinning gear. I was secretly hoping he didn’t show us up. After trying a dry pattern and several nymphs to no avail I decided to pull out the green pheasant tail tenkara fly that has become my “when all else fails” fly. I cast the fly right above the pool and dead drifted it right into the pool and sure enough a fish took notice and went right for it. I watched the fish take the fly and set the hook with a quick rise of the RBT rod.
As I worked the fish over to the edge of the brook I could tell this was a rainbow trout. It gave a good fight as I got the net ready. I didn’t catch the sea-run brown trout that we were hoping to find but a beautiful rainbow none the less. heads or tails see you later We spent the better part of the afternoon fishing the big pool trying to get more fish to bite but it was a very tough day with the temperatures in the mid 90’s. Eventually, we decided to call it a day and stop for lunch.
While eating lunch and swapping stories we began to talk about secret fishing spots. It’s funny how protective we can be about these special fishing areas. I think we tend to project a sense of ownership on things that we become emotionally attached to. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that most “secret” spots are the only secret in our heads. In this day and age of amazing technology it is so easy to use gps, esri and all the various mapping software to find the next secret spot. So don’t be surprised the next time you pull up to your favorite spot and find another angler already fishing.
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There are a number of water bodies in and around metro Boston that has trout and salmon, both wild and stocked. The Mass Wildlife site lists their stocking schedules by locations and dates. If you want to expand your horizons and fish for other species landing a bass or carp on a Tenkara rod can be really exciting fishing. There are advantages and disadvantages to fishing in these urban settings.
You may find parking in a recreational or municipal lot or you might find yourself searching for a legal spot that won’t get you towed. I love checking out these urban settings when I don’t have the time to get away to Western MA or Northern NH. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can lose yourself in the moment and forget that you’re fishing so close to a major city.
Many of these settings are heavily tracked by runners, walkers and the general public looking for exercise but more often than not you won’t find anyone fishing. So be prepared for the occasional passer-by to stop and ask questions. I lean towards being polite and informative even if the questions are a little silly. You never know who’s asking the questions and you could inspire new anglers to take up the sport and support conservation of fisheries. Many of these urban fishing spots tend to be tight, narrow and surrounded by obstacles both natural and man-made.
This is where Tenkara really shines. You can set up your Tenkara gear for casting in tight spots and you can travel very lightly. By doing little things like shortening your level line and/or tippet you can set up for urban conditions. You don’t have to worry about a reel and or excess line at your feet with Tenkara. This past January, my good friend Denver and I went to a spot in Milton MA that is known to have brook trout. It was a rare warm day in January so we decided to venture out and try our luck.
This location and is just outside of Blue Hills reservation and only about 10 miles from Boston. It is connected to water that is stocked by Mass Wildlife and has been known to produce some beautiful brookies. It’s kind of surreal to be fishing a spot like this with traffic going by on both sides of you as you cast a fly down into the running brook at the mouth of a giant concrete culvert. We didn’t have any luck on this outing but plan on going back when the conditions are better in late spring. So what are you waiting for?
Grab some Tenkara gear and check out the local streams, brooks, rivers, and ponds along your local trails and urban recreational areas. It’s so easy, nowadays to find good fishing spots. Use technology like google maps and go explore your own backyards and start your next adventure. -BH
]]>His website warns you that there is a “wait time” for his quality, hand tied flies but I have to say they are well worth the wait. If you’re looking for high-quality craftsmanship then give Jim’s kebari a try. Jim states that he uses a Leisenring style which involves using waxed silk with dubbing to create a bulkier body. I ordered 4 different flies, three variations of the Dr. Ishigaki style and a western killer bug pink.
All four flies are beautifully crafted and will surely increase your chances on the stream. Jim’s own interpretation of the Dr. Ishigaki style is well worth the wait and competitively priced. My personal favorite is the Red Full Dr. Ishigaki style. Thanks to the Tenkara Fly Shop, I will no longer experience the frustrations of cheap flies that don’t last or produce.
“Craftsmanship means dwelling on a task for a long time and going deeply into it, because you want to get it right.” Matthew B. Crawford, Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work
]]>Anyone who hasn’t been to Pittsburg, NH is really missing out. It’s an unspoiled paradise, unlike many of the touristy places in lower New Hampshire and the White Mountains. You don’t see too many boats on the lakes. I think it has remained special because it is a much longer drive from cities like Boston than the more popular places like the White Mountains. It is known for some of the best snowmobiling, fishing, and hunting in all of New England. We discovered it years ago when we were snowmobiling every weekend.
When we arrived at Lopstick we were greeted by the friendly staff at the front desk who were happy to greet our dogs and take their picture. During check in I got the latest fishing reports and what was hatching on the Connecticut River. I also found out that my wife had booked a half day guide service for me with Lopstick guide Bill Bernhardt. Talk about a perfect anniversary gift. Who needs another shirt or pair of sneakers when you can fish the Connecticut River with a local expert? Now I’m relatively new to fly fishing and have had some success on my own, but I was really looking forward to fishing with a guide.
On the day of my guide trip, I was greeted by the staff in the office with coffee, some paperwork, and some rental waders and boots. Guide Bill Bernhardt asked for my fly selection as he and the rest of the staff like to see the varied selection of flies that their guest is carrying. Bill picked out a couple of my own flies we would use and added some from the fly shop to match what had been working recently. After a brief talk, we hopped in Bill’s truck and headed to what is famously known as the “Trophy Stretch” of the Connecticut River. It was a rainy morning so we geared up appropriately with me borrowing a spare jacket from Bill. As we approached the river edge Bill explained how to read the river, looking at different flow rates and calm spots. He flipped over a rock to see what bugs were hatching. After a quick study of the conditions, we set up with a double nymph rig and indicator and started to look for a good spot to try our luck. In a short time and with Bill’s help I was pulling in my first rainbows and salmon. I quickly forgot that it was raining out because I was so excited to be on a great spot and seeing results so quickly. It was a very successful day on the river, in fact, it could have been even better if I was a little faster setting the hook. As the morning wore off, the sun began to show itself on what was a very memorable day fishing in one of the most beautiful places in New England. A special thank you goes to guide Bill Bernhardt for his patience, knowledge and unintimidating teaching style that taught me things that I will use my entire fishing career.
I highly recommend Lopstick Lodge and Cabins and their guide service to anyone looking for the ultimate fly fishing experience.
There are plenty of other great things to do in the great north woods when you’re not fishing as well. You can find plenty of great water to canoe, kayak, boat or swim in. You can rent or bring your own atv to ride the many trails. There is a network of hiking trails and the area is filled with wildlife viewing opportunities. At dusk and dawn, the chance of seeing a wild moose on route 3 is very high. So if you go there please be careful while driving. When you’re out looking for moose, don’t forget to visit Moose Alley cones for an ice cream before or after saying hello to Bullwinkle.
I’m looking forward to returning to Pittsburg in the summer to try out my Tenkara gear. Time to start planning and booking a cabin for 2017.
-Bill Holleran, Red Brook Tenkara
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