Fantastic Flounder on a Finn Fly!

Today we decided to drive over to Norway and check out the Norwegian landscape. It was ony a couple of hours drive but it was breathtaking. The scenery changes dramatically from Finland to Norway with snow capped mountains surrounded by the sea.

We fished an alpine lake for brown trout and then headed to the sea for sea trout fishing.The lake you see in the above photo was absolutely gorgeous. A 3 kilometer hike to get to it was challenging but so spectacular.

I was very excited to fish in the Bay. Of course, leave it to me to catch not only sea trout but, cod and "FLOUNDER ON A FLY" which the Norwegians told me is quite rare! Talk about the weirdest looking fish man....the mouth is normal but the eyes are frikin on top of his head! ewwww..a face only a mother could love but the chef assures me its going to be delicious!

We then dined on succulent fresh crabs. Once again with midnight sun we did not return back to the hotel until 2:00 a.m. so I am beat!

I am headed to breakfast now with advil bottle in hand. Enjoy my flounder and I miss you all.

Coffee warms the heart!

Today we explored and fished a few different areas including a trout lake but we faced some tough weather conditions. High winds and rain and a turn for the cold came rather unexpectedly although we are told this is a common occurence here in Finland where temperatures can drastically vary.

We had a great day of hiking and bonding and sharing stories of tradition and heritage.

One such tradition is to share a coffee over an open fire with friends and family.
The fire was a joint effort of gathering wood and sheltering wind.

This was an awesome celebration of life in Finland led by our hosts Kaj, Rosa and Uri. The hike revealed great discoveries and helped us obtain a better understanding of the Finnish people.

This coffee tradition is perhaps the equavilent of the American campfire where many friendships are cultivated.

After dinner Bob Johnson and I hit the water and found ourserlves in the middle of prolific caddis hatch where we fished until midnight in total daylight. Silly me...and I put fresh batteries in my head lamp!"

Finland, Friends and Fish!

Grayling Heaven!

I made it and so did my switch rod! All is well in Finland! OMG this is the coolest place. I am in a village of 250 people! It is a geat hotel that sits on the Utsoki river. Today we fished it for grayling. It rained pretty much all day but the fishing was great. I caught a ton of grayling primarily on dries (mostly on royal wulff, caddis and irresistables)but switched to nymphs just to see how productive it would be.

I'm learning alot about the Finnish regs and its all very interesting to me. The hotel owners Kaj and Rosa are fantastic people and we hit it off from the start. It is an amazing place..reindeer roam around everywhere. We even had a few in the parking lot this morning!

Speaking of Reindeer...I had it for dinner tonight and I LOVED IT!

I am very tired but I can't sleep knowing the grayling are just outside my hotel window and its DAYLIGHT all night long! wow...what a great day in grayling heaven!

Still Traveling!

well its been interesting....boarded the plane at Kennedy in preparation for departure to Helsinki. Pilot announced traffic would delay our take off, 30 planes ahead of us. In the mean time weather turns sour and we get lightning and thunder grounding all flights. The storm worsens and we end up sitting on the plane for 4 hours! Will someone please medicate the children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally we get the green light and reroute. Off to Finland...woo-hoo...but the child cries the whole frikin way! How can a kid cry for 12 consecutive HOURS!

I'm in Helsinki holding a drink and calming my nerves. Did I mention I didn't sleep a wink?

Of course I have missed my flight to Ivalo...so here I sit waiting ...AGAIN. fortunately the people watching is entertaining and I have found a bar with free internet and pretty good drinks.

The Winston 11' 7 is turning out to be an omen! It was my only rod that of course would not fit in my rod bag so no big deal ( I thought) I carried it on. While we were sitting on the plane going no where...I decided to stow my rod and my carry on bag in the overhead compartment. I later needed to get something out of my bag so I went to reach for my bag when the metal winston rod tube sky rocketted out of the compartment going off like a missile. I reached for the rod tube as it was sailing in mid air but managed to miss it while it torpedoed right into the head of a Finnish man seated in front of me! Can you beleive my luck? he let out a scream like I had just shot him or something. Flight attendants came running, EVERYONE was staring and I did not know what to do as the rod tube landed in the center of the isle with a BIG THUMP! I instintively reacted doing the only thing I could do which was to pretend the rod tube landed on my ankle. With a pained look I grabbed my ankle and somehow diverted the attention away from the Finnish man with a concussion. The flight attendant made sure I was alright and then she took the rod tube and stored it in the closet. WTF...if they had a closet why didn't they offer it to me in the first place!

I finally arrived in Helsinki..only one hour flight remaining, sounds simple huh....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO they now inform me the rod tube must be checked in according to European regulations....now you tell me!
So...off I go to another terminal of course in search of where i can check in luggage. I probably should have just put it in the trash can. My chances would have been better that I could have garbage picked it out of there on the way back home.
After standing in line for 45 minutes...she slaps a sticker on that beautiful Winston green rod tube and sends it off to never never land. What are the chances of me seeing my 11-7 again?
Funeral service will be held for my lovely switch when I return.
Anyways...i'm sitting at a lovely bar called "Intermezzo" the drinks are great and the internet is free and so you get the priviledge of this blog.
Forgive me if I sound a bit irritable..I haven't showered or slept in 24 hours....but did I mention the drinks are good?
I just ate a lovely graavilohiruisrengas...its delicious if you love rye bread with lox and egg and onions!
Ok I am off to another gate for the final flight...pray for my rod, pray for all my gear!
See you on the next post!

Traveling!

It is Sunday July 26, 2:45 p.m. and I am at Kennedy airport in NY waiting for my flight to Helsinki, Finland. I just had a martini and a prosciutto panini to celebrate the first lag of my trip...my flight is scheduled to leave at 5:40 p.m. and I just hate sitting around and waiting especially when the bartender doesn't speak english (or Italian!)
geez.....it feels like I have already left the country. ... Does anybody speak English in New York??????????????????
Calm down Patti..you will be there soon! (like in about 20 more hours!)

Rising to Rubber Spiders!

Today I couldn't help but think of my old friend Jack Scifres. Three years ago today I lost the best fishing partner a person could have. Jack was a man of few words and when we went fishing....we did exactly that. Fish! Often times the fishing outing would consist of very few words. The time that stands out the most was a day we decided to go up to Boones Pond and fish for crappie. We took Jack's boat and began fishing the back stretch looking for crappie. Jack said we just needed to find one and when we did we would find a bunch. We came up on some heavy structure and Jack suggested I cast up into the wood as tight as possible. Immediately following that statement I hooked into our first crappie....I yelled "Got one!" Jack smiled and made his cast also producing a fish.....he yelled" Got one!" and that was just the beginning of our game! Several hours of nothing else said except" GOT ONE." Between the "got one" yells there was total silence.
We fished well into the sunset. I have never forgotten that day with Jack! Later I realized Jack was a true friend. He cared about the important things but didn't disturb a perfect fishing moment with idle chat.
Jack was the most generous, kind hearted man I have ever known. If he liked you, he let you know it and if he didn't like you, he let everyone know it.
Fortunately for me, Jack liked me. He was responsible for giving me the confidence to pursue all the fishing I have done. He publicly stated he was going to teach me everything he knew about fly fishing and fly tying before he died, and at times I felt like he was giving me a crash course but I didn't dare complain. He supported the idea about the club and went out of his way to help every way possible.
Jack was a simple man but a man of principle. He was transparent and it was very clear that he wasn't going to put up with anything he didn't want to be a part of.
I bonded with Jack for whatever reason...one reason was because of how supportive he was to women fishing and tying flies. He genuinely welcomed everyone to the sport of fly fishing. It didn't matter to him who or what you were, if you wanted to fish he would help you. This type of mentoring is hard to come by, especially from a man of his generation. Jack was a lot like my dad...a true sportsman. A person who gets as much enjoyment from watching someone else succeed as he did from personal success. A person who unselfishly offers the good fishing hole to someone less experienced or maybe less fortunate.
A person of integrity....a friend you can count on that won't let you down.
Sadly, I lost both my Father and Jack within a year's time and even though my mind is flooded with fond memories, things have never been the same.
On this painful day, the anniversary of my loss, I am reminded of his demeanor and I am so grateful to have had him as a friend. I think of him often and wish he was here to hear my fishing stories, to tie flies with him again, and to wet a line with him once more.

I wish I had taken the time to tell him how much I enjoyed having him as a fishing partner, but I guess somehow in all that silence he must of known.
I hope he is throwing the most perfect loops to bluegill as big as dinner plates, all rising to his orange rubber spider!

If you are lucky enough to have a great fishing buddy...take a moment to tell him or her.

Entering the Unknown

I have taken many trips in the past, and regardless of my destination there is always a certain amount of excitement right before I leave. The unknown...the uncertainty of the travel, the weather, the fishing, the people, etc. All of these things help make a trip fantastic but the thing that I have learned the most is that often times the things we worry about before a trip are just not that important.
What makes a trip exciting for me is experiencing new things. Seeing things I have never seen before, learning, sharing and most of all "adapting." To be able to adjust, adapt and function is perhaps what I find most intriguing when traveling.

On this trip to Finland, I have had little time to really prepare, to really learn a lot about the culture and the place I will be visiting. I will be traveling alone from Indianapolis to Finland and meeting my host at the airport for the first time. A 25 hour journey to reach my final destination does not sound all that appealing, but hopefully the travel will be worth it.

The fishing will be very different since this is not a typical fly fishing destination. It will be more exploratory but in a way I feel this adds more excitement, more challenge, more adventure.

Unlike my trips to Argentina, Chile and even Alaska, this is a trip that has more uncertainty than any other trip I have been on, and I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity.

I hope to blog along the way if the connection is available....if not I will be keeping a daily journal so I can recap the events when I return. I leave July 26 and will return on August 2.

All my best and see you when I get back!

Patti

It just happens!

This is my neighborhood retention pond...where unfortunately this week we had a major fish kill occur.
Let's try and analyze how and why this happened and perhaps we can talk ourselves into believing no one is at fault.

Retention pond...commonly used in suburban developments to collect and retain water. All the water from the streets and surrounding land drains into this lovely pond. The pond acts as a focal point for the development. It displays a lovely fountain designed to be esthetically appealing and also circulate and oxygenate the water. Rip rap rocks are strategically placed all around the pond to slow erosion and keep weeds down.
This lovely common ground is a selling point for our community. For me, it is my classroom.
I use this pond for fly casting lessons. It is a small, private pond, stocked with bass and bluegill making this a perfect place to introduce fly fishing to my students.

Perfect, until one day this happens! There was a problem with the lighting at the main entrance. The power must be shut off to repair the lights. During this power outage the fountain also must be shut off.

This results in a major fish kill!

Let's review what our expert told us:

Overcast days= no sun=less oxygen
Rainy season= more lawn chemicals and fertilizers used=more chemicals end up in the pond=less oxygen
chemical treatment in the pond to keep algae down=pretty blue color=less oxygen
Fountain shut off= No circulation=less oxygen

Less Oxygen=DEAD FISH!

Wake up everyone...this is just a very small example of what we are doing to our rivers and streams.
Imagine the chemicals being dumped into our rivers from agriculture. Drugs and solid waste are also polluting and contaminating our waters. It is our responsibility to take care of our natural resources.

Pollution doesn't just happen....we allow it to happen!

Knock Knock!

Probably the coolest thing about my fly fishing experiences has been meeting so many wonderful people. It is truly amazing to look back on the people that have come into my life because of fly fishing and wing shooting. We go through life with people entering our lives for whatever reason. Sometimes for a brief period, sometimes a substantial amount of time and occasionally we make a life long friend.
Nonetheless I have come to realize that there is a purpose for everything that happens and often times that purpose reveals itself much later or perhaps never does.
I guess my point is I have come to accept and welcome the great people I encounter. Recently one such person is a young lady by the name of Emily Greenfield. Emily is a student of IU doing her internship at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indianapolis. She contacted me a while back to ask if I would be willing to donate some lessons to help her learn how to fly fish. She explained that she was interested in learning how to fly fish so a fishing program could be implemented at the hospital as part of a rehab program for people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
I was quick to point out how challenging this task would be and that fly fishing requires a great deal of time, patience and practice before one would succeed. Emily ( in spite her youth and inexperience)held her ground and effectively conveyed her strength, passion and commitment.

I agreed to help her and we began working together. First covering a basic introduction to fly fishing and the gear, followed by fly casting lessons and finally casting a fly in a pond.

A young ,healthy IU dancer, with tremendous strength and co-ordination picked up fly casting as if it were second nature to her. She was casting proficiently after just a few lessons and began catching fish!

In the process of all of this I learned Emily is a twin. Her sister had sustained a spinal injury in a dry land diving accident and is now in a wheelchair.

At the time of the accident, Emily became more than a sister, she accompanied her sister to school and therapy.

Listening to Emily tell her story I was partly saddened to hear of the tragedy but quickly recognized what an amazing young woman Emily truly is. I also thought of how lucky Emily's sister is to have such a loving, devoted sister and friend.

Perhaps this event in Emily's life is what has made her so strong and so eager to succeed. After about the third lesson she confessed to me that she had approached others for casting help but was shot down several times. She didn’t give up…she was persistent and continued until for some reason our paths crossed.

I have enjoyed working with her so much…in a way she has restored faith in me that all things are possible and that if we keep knocking on doors, occasionally one opens.
I know in my heart she will have a bright future because she is equipped to handle whatever comes her way.

On our last meeting Emily excitedly stated she was going to teach her twin sister how to fly fish.

I taught her to cast and to catch fish….she taught me the meaning of “hope.”

Floating the White River!

In the past week I have had the pleasure of floating the White River with some of our local guides. First I floated with Dennis Wright in his 14 foot boat where we had a very enjoyable day.

Dennis is one of those people that you can just relax and no matter what happens his " everything will be alright" attitude always comes through. In spite the cooler temps that hit us the night before, we found fish! Using several different patterns we decided streamers were the choice flies. I hope I get to fish with Dennis again soon...he is both a friend and club member and someone I enjoy fishing with very much!

Yesterday I was back on the river with guide Jeff Conrad. Jeff's sense of humor makes fishing a blast however his professionalism and expertise is very evident. With water temperatures being considerably warmer we were able to capitalize on the top water bite...absolutely my favorite way to fish for smallmouth! Many fish were netted using poppers and bass bugs making this day a memorable one!

Thanks gentlemen for making fishing our home waters so great!

Salmo Salar

click on photo to watch video

Atlantic Salmon...a fish that I have been dreaming about for years! Probably the most noble of all fish is the Atlantic Salmon is native to the basin of the North Atlantic Ocean, from the Arctic Circle to Portugal in the eastern Atlantic, from Iceland and southern Greenland, and from the Ungava region of northern Quebec south to the Conneticut River.
I hope to have an opportunity to fish for them in Finland as well as New Brunswick. I have read so many books and watched so many videos of Lee Wulff fishing for Atlantic Salmon on short light tackle. Imagine catching one on a 7'-6 wt bamboo rod!
I will be fishing them with an 11' -7 wt. rod but I will make every attempt to catch one on a dry fly. The thought of skimming a fly to entice a strike is so intriguing to me that I am willing to make it my life long goal.
A grilse (one year at sea) although smaller in size is said to be the most acrobatic and fun to catch.
Baby salmon swim in schools. Salmon from many rivers swim together in the same areas through much of their ocean going life. Salmon have a great sense of smell, hearing, and taste which helps them find food and sense danger. Salmon are also able to sense danger by feeling the waves on their body.
Atlantic salmon also use their senses to find and return to their home river. Through imprinting, young fry memorize details about their home streams, and they use this knowledge as adult spawners to find their way back. Scientists are not exactly sure how salmon complete this incredible feat, but many suggestions have been made. Some say the salmon use the sun and stars as navigational guides, while others claim these fish have stored the taste of their home water in their brain. Most feel that salmon are guided home by the characteristic odor of the parent stream which is imprinted during the smolts' migration .
I strongly recommend the " Lee Wulff Master Collection" Dvd consisting of Classic Films from America's Pioneer Angler.
I had the pleasure of spending a week with Joan Wulff and visiting her in her home in Lew Beach New York where I was treated to a glimpse in the history and life of this amazing couple.
The poster pictured above hangs in my office as a constant reminder of the possibilities that exist and calls me to these fish.
Thank-you Joan for inspiring me and sharing so much of your knowledge and spirit.
I am and will be forever grateful!

I hear voices!

Every Wednesday evening I fish with the club. Last night I arrived at our fishing location a little earlier than normal. I was the only one there, so I waded up and hiked down the hill to the river.

Now everyone knows you should skip the first water you come to, since it is often over fished and fish are smarter than to hang out where fishermen are constantly stomping in and out. Well..not always the case!

When I fish alone I often hear a little voice that thinks she is a better fishermen than I...the voice said" fish that run, right by that stump" I rolled my eyes and conceded to the idea. I tied on a Chartruse Shenandoah Chugger, size 4 popper and made a cast just above the stump, slowly popping it as I stripped around the stump. Nothing, cast again, exactly the same spot, this time two hard pops and then just let it sit, BAM! A gorgeous smallie slams the popper and comes flying out of the water, jumping and twirling. I quickly saw this was not the normal smallie for this stretch of the White River, and I quickly moved out away from all the timber to avoid snagging the fish around a log. I got him out in the clear where he displayed yet another acrobatic performance, my little voice inside my head said: " whoo-hoooo...Holy Shit Patti..this is an awesome fish!"

I landed him and quickly measured him at 19 inches, I then layed him on the river bank and photographed him. Without proof my buddies would have raised an eye brow at my story!

Listen to your little voice inside your head..sometimes she "reely" is a better fishermen!