by Leslie Clark | Feb 19, 2018 | Blog
NEVER in my years as a guide, retail manager or instructor, have I ever heard anyone say that they love rigging rods. Let’s face it, rigging and re-rigging rods, isn’t fun. For me, the experience is so much better doing it “right” the first time. I put the most value in choosing the correct flies and rigging multiple rods that will correspond best with the day’s conditions, which allows me to do less rigging for myself or my clients, and much more fishing. So, in a nutshell, I personally do everything I possibly can to avoid re-rigging on the water, even if I do find myself, fruitlessly trying to force 3x through the eye of a #26 midge larva pattern.
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by Leslie Clark | Jan 23, 2018 | Blog
In a rut always fishing nymphs in the winter? Try leaving the bobbers home and dedicate your day to fishing streamers only. You may not catch the numbers you normally would, especially this time of year, but you may be surprised at the quality of the trout you’ll tie into and I’m guessing you’ll have more fun too! Here’s a how-to on catching more trout on streamers during the dead of winter.
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by Leslie Clark | Aug 29, 2017 | Blog
When fall rolls around, I hang up the single hand and rig up my favorite summer steelhead rod, the Winston Boron III TH Microspey 5 wt. This rod hasn’t let me down. From being flung off the car going 60 miles an hour, to landing a chrome 12 pound hen, it keeps on bending and deliverers a crisp, powerful spey cast.
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by Leslie Clark | Jun 16, 2017 | Blog
Tom Morgan 1941 – 2017.
It is with great sadness that we learned that our friend, Tom Morgan, former owner of the R.L. Winston Rod Company and one of the pioneers in graphite and bamboo fly rod design, died peacefully in Bozeman Montana on Monday June 12, 2017.
Tom was a great man, creative, generous, principled and passionate. In 1976, he moved Winston from San Francisco to Montana to be closer to great trout fishing. And even now, decades later, every fly rod we make continues to incorporate an element of Tom Morgan’s rod design philosophy that to be a great fly rod, it should be a joy to cast. But more than a talented angler and rod designer, Tom’s tremendous optimism, passion for life and resilience were inspiring. He was a role model, a generous and unfailingly supportive mentor, and a friend. We will miss him.
David Ondaatje
Owner and Chairman
R.L. Winston Rod Company
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by Leslie Clark | May 23, 2017 | Blog
CAN YOU OUTLINE WHAT A TYPICAL DAY MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN YELLOWSTONE? HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO FISH WITH SO MUCH GREAT WATER?
First, coolers are loaded and day packs are stocked with necessary fishing gear and supplies like bear spray, raincoats, lunches, waters and extra cold drinks for the ride home. Well before we’re headed into Yellowstone, I always have at least three plans for the day based on the water conditions, desires of the clients and how much hiking they are interested in experiencing. With 2.2 million acres and 2,500 miles of running water, we have several options. If I have not visited a specific location within a week, I keep an eye on recent backcountry reports for the park, and even give the backcountry office a call to see if anything unusual has been reported at the local campsites. Once at the trailhead, we assess all possible scenarios that could affect the fishing. A recent bear in the area sign has sent us on an alternate plan more than once. (more…)
by Leslie Clark | May 12, 2017 | Blog
Photo courtesy of Gerhard Laubscher, FlyCastaway
Winter 2017 went by fast for me. Despite the heaps of snow, I was on the road at show after show and didn’t have time to notice. I love the shows and doing my fly fishing seminars but about the end of March it hits me – I need to chase fish somewhere warm!
I was yellowfishing with South African friends of FlyCastaway back in November before show season when they simply said, “Currier, we need to get you to St Brandon’s Atoll this April”.
I tried not to show it but I quivered with excitement. St Brandon’s is an atoll off the tiny island country of Mauritius. To be more specific, Mauritius is about 700 miles due east of Madagascar in the southern Indian Ocean. It’s about as far from Victor, Idaho as you can travel. The distance is shorter straight through the center of the earth because it’s our antipode.
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