H O M E W A T E R S
beetles fit right in. Small beetle patterns
may result in a sip, but the “large” size
SUPER GUIDE SUPER SHOP
16 flies usually provoke a hard gulp. My
favorites are foam beetles, Crowe beetles
and, that classic Letort-inspired pattern,
the Jassid. Beetles can be fished to rising
trout or used to fish the stream blindly.
If I’m fishing water with a beetle—as
opposed to casting to a visible trout—I
go with a size 16 or larger. I believe it’s
better to throw the main course rather
than an appetizer.
In June, crickets come around. To
determine when, walk outside at night
and listen to the night air. Big grasshoppers
are out by late July. Both are known for
big trout and explosive reactions. To
fake them, there are all kinds of hopper
and cricket patterns. Two of the best, in
my experience, are Ed Shenk’s Letort
Hopper and Cricket. These two patterns
are probably used for searching more
than any others. I carry them in sizes
from 16 to 2, fishing them tightly to
undercuts, overhanging grass and just
about anywhere a big trout might lurk.
How big? Three years ago a fellow I
was guiding landed a 25-inch brown on
a size 12 hopper, one of about three
dozen trout he landed that day.
—Michael Heck
T ENNESSEE
Epiphany on the Hiwassee
T
he truth is I hadn’t been happy
for a long time. For the first time
in our 21-year marriage, the
strain was starting to show. After one of
our more intense arguments, my wife
had told me, “Maybe you need to leave;
you don’t seem happy here.”
Work was no relief: The construction
market was wrecked and I struggled
every day to find work for my employees.
Then, when I sat down with my pastor
to talk about how unhappy I was, he
filled my ear with his own problems.
MAINE STRIPED BASS
That’s what happens, I suppose, when
PUNTA GORDA ISLES FLORIDA
you wake up one day and find you’re
We have miles of residential canals
older than your preacher.
with deep direct gulf access to
So I planned a retreat, a day off from
unsurpassed sailing, powerboating, and
life—a day on the river. The weather
fishing on Charlotte Harbor and the
forecast called for one of those February
Gulf of Mexico
days that make suffering through a
• First-class fly fishing for trophy stripers
Southern summer worth it: sunny, highs
• “Sight Casting” on crystal-clear Casco Bay
Call for information pkg.
• Just two hours north of Boston
in the low 60s. The Tennesee Valley
Area Video/Listings on request
• Island lodging and camping available
Authority release schedule promised
Claire Manzo C/B Morris Realty
FLY FISHING AND LIGHT TACKLE ADVENTURES WITH
“pulsing” all afternoon: one generator
CAPTAIN JOHN FORD OF PORTLAND GUIDE SERVICE
1-800-635-8113
on for an hour then off for two—perfect
E mail
Claire@sunline.net
207-471-5858
www.puntagordainfo.com
www.mainesaltwaterfishing.com
S UMMER 2002 85
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98