Monday, April 2, 2012

The Secret Formula

Every person I take fishing thinks there is some magic formula to catching fish, and they think that because they gave me some absurd amount of money that I should reveal this formula. Little do they know that in my 36 years of fishing I don't have one.
    I will happily share what I do know. Worms taste bad. Water is cold. The fishing sucks when the fish are not biting, and the fishing is good when they are. Fish don't mind the rain... people do. Hooks are more fun in a fish's mouth than in your flesh. Drink less beer and apply more sunsceen. Fish need water to breath, therefore the best place to catch a fish is in water. Catching a fish is fun. If you let your fish go you can catch it again. If you smother your fish in beer and flour then put it in a fryer they are yummy. Small fish are good, big fish are great, but just to be able to go fishing is the best.
    This is all fun and dandy, but since my clients want more I will give this secret magic formula thing a try;
Multiply water temperature (H) with time of year (A). Add water clarity (V) and depth (E). Divide your target species (F). Finally subtract the sun from the moon (U) and add the time of day (N). So lets see...
(H) * (A) + (V) + (E) / (F) - (U) + (N) = HAVE FUN Simple enough. Lets go fishing!

Monday, March 19, 2012

LCFF New Logo

In case any of you don't know I'm a trout fishing guide that hates trout. Hate is a strong word so lets just say I'd rather be fishing and guiding for a lot bigger and toothier critters. Well this is Lake Country Fly Fisherman's inaugural season guiding the lakes and rivers of Wisconsin for Pike, Musky, Bass, Carp, and anything else that has fins and will bite a fly. I'm licensed, insured, my boat is registered, and now I have a logo. Actually I have three. My good friend Dave, david.carlson@rayovac.com, made these up for me and I'd like to see which one people like the most. Feel free to comment, call, or e-mail me, and if you would like to book a trip, buy a t-shirt, or any of my flies I can be reached at (970) 331-1733 or ogflyvail@hotmail.com






Monday, March 12, 2012

Garfinkels


The guiding business is great in the summer, but my family would starve if not for my winter gig... bartending at Garfinkels. Garfs, as we call it, is located in the Lionshead section of Vail at the base of the gondola. It's a great place for a burger and beer, see live entertainment, and of course it has exceptional service.
 Welcome to Garfs.
 Voted best deck in Vail.
 Sometimes we fill sunsceen containers up with mayonnaise, then tell people they are looking red.
This is our keg room.
 This is how much beer we go through on the weekend.
 This is how much booze I have to restock after a Monday.
 The shot wheel. 
Yes our logo is a moose.
Come see us sometime.
 O yeah my daughter caught this brown on an autumn splendor this afternoon. This is a fishing blog of course.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Eagle River Report

The fishing on the Eagle has been solid all winter. I have found myself using bugs and buggers more than egg patterns this winter. Maybe the odd weather has something to do with it. Rainbow trout can still be found in the runs, but most browns are either still paired in super shallow water, or in deep slow pools. Best to sleep in on cold days as the fishing gets better with the warming water. My best action has been on size 16-18 prince nymphs, and size 18-20 black beauty's. Black or olive wooly bugger should do the trick with slow strips in the morning, and faster more erratic strips in the after noon. My guy Ryan caught this fellow right in front of the Westin, with views to  Beaver Creek and the gondola running behind us. He was getting lots of chasers that wouldn't commit to his Krystal Bugger, instead of changing flies I had him speed up his retrieve, then dead stop his fly in their face. I think the results are obvious. 

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Doesn't Get Much Better

We had chili dogs too.... sorry no picture of the chili dogs!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Back In Action

I had some small computer problems happening lately. Kept getting strange user names popping up, so I kept deleting them and shutting off the computer witch ruined any unsaved information they may have had. Well who ever "they" were eventually deleted me! So I fixed their wagon, I had "The Computer Guy" reboot their ass... to the tune of 250$. O well, now I can keep y'all up with the latest. Ice fishing at Turquoise Lake. 

 That's my daughter's Christmas present trying to keep warm so I can fish. You can see that he chewed on my rod butt. My wife's pink reel, a duck taped tip, and it still rips lips.