For the last year and a half Nick Pionessa and I have been working with Robert Thompson on his latest fly fishing film production - Spey Daze. The film explores Great Lakes steelhead from a Spey fishing and swing the fly perspective. We completed our final segment of filming a couple weeks ago. 

Steelhead are definitely camera shy. But except for a couple of extra slow days we regularly connected with just enough fish to keep it interesting. With a camera pointed in your direction all day it is difficult to not feel some pressure to produce. And it seems that steelhead can sense desperation. But in reality swinging the fly with a sense of desperation and urgency is rarely productive as it is counter to the concept of rhythm and water coverage which are essential to success. 

In order to produce some fish for the camera we found ourselves trying to slow down and revisit the core steps for success with a swung fly. The first key was to find water that had either produced in the past or contained prime elements of steelhead holding structure - even if this required long hikes with heavy equipment. The next key was basic - consistently swing the fly at the proper depth and speed. The first two keys then allowed for the most important step - covering the water methodically and confidently with the belief that each cast was the one. I always believe that if you fish a fly well eventually good things will happen. 

​I am looking forward to seeing some old friends and meeting new ones this weekend at The Fly Fishing Show in Somerset, New Jersey. I will be providing a presentation in the morning on Saturday January 30th and in the afternoon on Sunday January 31st. I also have a stint in the authors booth each day as well. If you are attending the show stop by and hello. 

The 2015 fishing year ended with a feisty lake trout engulfing a swung baitfish pattern in search of steelhead. I know its cliche but the years seem to be slipping by at an ever accelerating pace. Its only natural to be reflective at the end of one year and beginning of the new. Looking back, 2015 certainly was a full year. Many miles traveled with some success and an ample amount of disappointment. 

The highlight of the year was the opportunity to fish and spend time with some of the top anglers and guides in the world of musky and steelhead fly fishing. While the experience was enriching it was also enlightening. I am always amazed at how easy it is to become complacent - to settle into a rut with a particular fly pattern or presentation. Fishing with these talented anglers left me questioning some of my methods and forcing me to take a new look. I found myself rethinking things that I had previously concluded upon and leaving my mind open to trying some new tricks.

With that mindset I head into the new year with a list of new techniques and flies to put to good use while breaking away from some established conventions. The lesson learned is to look take a fresh look, even on waters that you have fished for for years and know intimately. It is this very quest that has kept fly fishing new for me for more than forty years. I can hardly wait to get things started for 2016. Happy new year to all!

On a recent three day trip I was unfortunately reminded of the importance of water temperature and steelhead activity. After a solid afternoon on the first day with three nice steelhead brought to hand by myself and Nick Pionessa, the next morning we woke up to frost on the cars and a frozen precipitation pelting us in the face. I tried to pretend that the dramatic change wasn't going to put a damper on our trip and wouldn't weaken my will. But down deep I knew better. The frigid air resulted in a dramatic decrease in the water temperatures which effectively shut the steelhead activity down the next day. 

When swinging flies for steelhead keep an eye on water temperatures. After a cold night steelhead activity will usually be at its best in late morning and into the afternoon as water temperatures recover. When the water temperatures remain cold search out slower flows. Try to control the speed of the fly by mending and pointing the rod out so that the fly crosses the river at more of a downstream angle as opposed to broadside effectively slowing the swing speed. Most steelhead are caught on the swung fly when water temperatures are stable or on the rise. Try to time outings to coincide with water temperatures that are in your favor.   

I have long recognized that the moon phases have a significant impact on the movement of fish and game. Even as kids we recognized the importance of the solunar tables to help time our fishing outings. From a musky fishing standpoint the overall moon phase plays an important roll in determining the best time of the month to plan an outing. While local weather and water conditions are typically the most important factors determining day to day success, the extremes of the moon phase can also weigh heavily into musky activity patterns. I have consistently experienced increased musky activity around the new moon period. And while the full moon can cause a degree of inconsistency in musky behavior, the three or fours days after a full moon has consistently resulted in encounters with big fish. Maybe more important than the moon phase is the daily moon set and rise. My records indicate that the half hour to forty-five minutes on either side of a moon set or rise typically produces an increase in musky feeding activity. It is such a key factor that I now try to time my outings around the moon set and rise and attempt to be at my best spots in those periods. 

With all three of New York's musky seasons in full swing it is time to get serious. The first half of 2015 has been marked by wild weather causing me to postpone or cancel a handful of musky trips so far this year. It looks like the second half of the year will be crammed full of trips both near and far to make up for missed opportunities.

Muskies are now beginning to transition to their summer ranges and following the bait will be the best bet since the predators will not be far behind. Weed growth will increase with the rising water temperatures, attracting all levels of the food chain. While solid structure such as drop offs, points and log jams can never be ignored, weed beds continue to produce some of the best opportunities on my home waters. Matching the fly with available bait can be important at this time of year. I often fish smaller flies in this transition period and have had good success with flies that are only five to seven inches long. 

With a spring season that is late to blossom the spring steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes region is in full swing. While I will always be partial to the fall season, the spring offers the opportunity to be on the water during pleasant weather and longer days. It is also possible to chase steelhead in the morning and catch an afternoon Hendrickson hatch on inland trout waters in the afternoon. A fish's behavior in the spring will be often dictated by the spawning process which makes each day less predictable. But when the mood is right a spring fish can be aggressive toward a swung fly, especially when water temperatures on the rise. Expected some thunderous grabs both from both fresh fish on the way up and those dropping back to the lake. Now is the time to get out there and take full advantage of the spring swing. The best fishing should last for a couple more weeks or even longer in some areas.

Castapalooza 2015
Saturday, April 11- 9 AM to 4 PM
Hidden Valley Park on Ohio's Grand River
I-90 Exit 212- Rt. 528 south, Madison, OH

This is an annual event created by Jerry Darkes that features the opportunity to learn and refine your two-handed and single-handed casting techniques through on-stream presentations and one-on-one discussions. It is also a great way to test drive the latest in rods and lines. 

The event features a solid lineup of presenters which include Jerry Darkes, Jeff Liskay, Greg Senyo and Will Turek. I will be kicking off the presentations with a demonstration of overcoming the variables one faces when using a switch or two-handed at 9:30am. Stop by and say hello. The spring run should be in full force so visit Ohio for the event and stick around Sunday to chase steelhead. I will have copies of Advanced Fly Fishing for Great Steelhead available for purchase and it would be my pleasure to sign one for you. 

For more information check out:

https://www.facebook.com/jdcastapalooza