STREAMSIDE with Tim Wade

Welcome to spring from all of us at North Fork Anglers! We are entering the best part of the season and are so excited we seldom have a chance to see our waders dry.

I thought after "Tax Day" and all the Tea Parties, all of you might like to see something from North Fork Anglers to brighten your day, week, or fishing season!

In a nutshell - East Newton Lake is on fire right now. The lower Shoshone has been very good using streamers, nymphs, or dries, especially if it's one of those mayfly or midge days - temps in the 40's-50's, overcast and no wind - which we do get this time of year, believe it or not!

Oh, and did I forget to mention the trout are up the North Fork - ON TIME - this year? Lower Clark's? Awesome! And some of the trout have risen to stimulator's already?

I say this a lot, but you have to fish this area, this time of year (Feb-May), at some point in your angling life! And that's the truth. If it weren't, North Fork Anglers would be somewhere else!

Like spring 2008, fishing has been awesome thus far, just as we predicted. Although the higher flows in the lower Shoshone didn't give us the heavy hatches seen the past three years, the trout are still taking midges, bwo's and winter stones when conditions are right.

Speaking of BWO's (aka: blue-winged olive) -- How do you like the Baetis (Bait-iss) shot on this month's banner background? You can thank my good friend and webmeister, Dave Welch, for the pic and idea to put it on this newsletter!

Like most of us, Davy likes to cast to sippers when the bwo's are out! The shot makes me want to string up my 6'9'' 3 weight Garrison bamboo and drift a #20 olive sparkle dun over a Shoshone brown!

All of us here in the shop are excited about the spring fishing thus far in our 2009 season. The past 3 months have sped by and the next 3 months are going by just as quickly! Shipping inventory, booking or guiding trips, teaching fly tying or fly casting and helping pick out the right gear in the shop has kept us hopping!

Your generosity in ordering fly rods, reels, waders and other things through our On-Line Store from Papua New Guinea and elsewhere, or shopping right here in Cody, has definitely been a blessing. Thank you for letting us know you want NFA around a bit longer!

These are tough times, no doubt and even getting scary in many respects. I am one of those guys that has always run off to go fish when things got tough. Standing in rivers or streams has always had a huge calming effect on me. Even more so when the current is heavy, one of those kinds you can 'lean' when fighting a fish. Then, I feel like I am where I belong.

Based on the reservations coming into the shop for this year's fishing season, a lot of you have the same opinion. Great! If the country were run by fly fishers, I am of the firm opinion this country and the rest of the world would be a much better place. Wouldn't it?

We are also excited to say we have another great snowpack year which means all of our rivers and streams should fish well into the fall again in 09.

For those of you that missed the first airing of Trout Unlimited's "On the Rise" TV show with the Wyoming Cutt-Slam, it will be airing again I'm told on the Outdoor Channel between the time you read this and the end of April.

This particular show received a lot of attention, so guided trips reservations are really beginning to load the "board". We would like to see you this year. If you are still on the fence about dates, give us a call or fire off an email. We will help you pick the right dates for the type fly fishing you prefer.

Two more things! The Orvis Company is going to be giving away a FREE Battenkill fly reel with the purchase of any Helios, T3, Superfine, or TLS between now and May 1.

The Orvis Company has also sent out emails to premium fly rod owners offering them a 1 time, 20% discount on any Helios fly rod.

You can take advantage of any one of these offers but not both, in case you're wondering! The good news is that North Fork Anglers is an Orvis Dealer as well as an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter, so we can assist you greatly if you have a new rod in mind!

Tight lines to each and every one of you. It is our wish that our North Fork Anglers' family of friends prosper and get to wet a line at every opportunity!

The Fish Counter

NEW Product!

"Is that a fish counter I see hanging from your Simms shirt, Steve?"
"Yep. It is. I bought 3 of 'em as soon as I saw 'em."
(*This is a true quote from Steve Rickert, a great hand and whom most of you have met in the fly shop during summer and winter.)

Pit River Co. in CA has devoloped the easiest way to keep track of those days when it's a fish on every cast! Not surprisingly, it is called "The Fish Counter".

North Fork Anglers has been asked to be a dealer for Pit River's hot new product. Brian and Joe, the owners are great guys who love to catch lots of fish on the Pit River in CA. To help them keep track of fish caught in an hour, day or week, (up to 100) they invented an attractive way and easy way to count fish.

Now you don't have to guess - or fib - about the numbers of trout you whacked on 8X tippet and size 30 Trico spinners! Just click away as you release each fish to the water.

Get one for yourself or to other angling buddies whom you think stretch things a bit -especially after going around the bend! You know the type.

Only 3 1/2" long, the Fish Counter is $7.95 per your favorite specie (Brown, Brook, Rainbow, Golden) which attach easily, and securely, to clothing, vests or packs for easy use.

If you are buying for two, North Fork Anglers is $14.75 for two Fish Counters, plus shipping. You choose the fish you want. Tim thinks the Fish Counter will become as standard as the Simms trout bottle opener on packs and vests!

Simms G4 Wading Boot with Vibram Sole

Simms Vibram Sole Report

In the last STREAMSIDE, we mentioned that the new Simms Vibram soled wading boots would be a hit. And they have been!

We are surprised at how anglers have reacted to these new gripping surfaces. The main reason for buying has been to help protect waterways from invasive species, especially in trout waters around the world.

The question has been, "Do they grip as good as felt?"

The honest answer is: Almost. The soles have good traction in tests where NFA employees and guides tested the Vibram against Felt 'debate' by wearing a boot with Vibram and one with Felt.

It sounds silly, but the tests proved that the Vibram actually gripped better than felt on some surfaces, while Felt beat the Vibram on other surfaces. On really slick rocks, Felt still wins the day and cleats would probably be needed for the Vibrams.

One falls even with Felt or cleated soles, so the Vibram would be no better nor worse in most wading situations. The advantage to Vibram (or any non-felt surface) is when the snow is on the ground. No clumps of snow building up under your boots and twisting ankles when not wading! Not fun.

Walking on trails or hiking into fishing spots is much easier with Vibram than Felt, too. Not only that, but your new Simms Vibram soled boots probably will last longer than Felt would.

If it's time to replace your current pair of wading boots, shop North Fork Anglers at our e-Bay store where not only wading boots are offered but many other fly fishing items as well.

We have good stocks and sizes of Rivershed and Headwater styles right now. The Guide and G4 boots are trickling in slower than wanted but, as stated, the Vibrams have been a hit. We are also stocking these in the Freestone boot, so every price range can benefit from eco-friendly wading boots.

In This Issue

STREAMSIDE with Tim Wade

NEW Product!

Simms Vibram Sole Report