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William Joseph "Old School" Fanny Pack
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The Wm. Joseph 'Old School' gear is a throwback in look to
yesteryears when life on the stream was simpler and more relaxed. But the
technology behind each piece is all modern!
FREE Fly Box ( worth 20% of pack price ) for purchases of this item in
March, 2008!
Wm
Joseph
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William Joseph "Old School" Chest Pack
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FREE Fly Box ( worth 20% of pack price ) for purchases of
this item in March, 2008!
Wm
Joseph
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William Joseph "Old School" Back Pack
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FREE Fly Box ( worth 20% of pack price ) for purchases of
this item in March, 2008!
Wm
Joseph
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Tim's Gear Recommendations
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New to the sport and not sure what gear
you need?
Need to select the right rods and reels for a Cody Country fly fishing
adventure?
Take a look at Tim's gear recommendations. You'll find the right
combination of gear for Western fly fishing to fit any budget.
Tim's Gear
Recommendations
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SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE
CORNER!
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In the November 2007 STREAMSIDE issue, dry fly fishing in
the winter was touted as a great way to spend time outdoors.
This past winter was no exception. Midges and winter stoneflies
comprised the bulk of the major hatches, with just enough Baetis activity
to keep one digging through the fly boxes for the right size and color
when the hatch was occurring.
If you had other obligations during winter and couldn't enjoy time on
the water in the Cody area, all that was left were day dreams. Your
daydreams are about over! Spring is but a few weeks away and North Fork
Anglers has some great news for you to read.
Believe it or not, some of the best dry fly action in the
Cody/Yellowstone region begins shortly after we celebrate the introduction
to another fishing season. This year, the dry fly season began in early
February.
Blizzard hatches of tiny blue-winged olives and midges have been
occupying our guests and our free time on the lower Shoshone River, when
not involved with the day-to-day operations at North Fork Anglers.
To keep in touch with what hatches are occurring, our Web site's
Fishing Report page is an easy way to find out why everyone is raving
about all those trout noses gulping bwo’s or midges on the surface.
Right now, excellent dry fly fishing is definitely happening in Cody!
All of us at North Fork Anglers have been having a certified “hoot”
showing anglers willing to take a chance on the weather, that the dry fly
fishing can unbelievable in the Banana Belt of Wyoming, prior to spring's
arrival.
During the past three weeks, daily surface action has been so
incredible that a day disappears too quickly, as the trout gorge
themselves on the heavy hatches found only in a quality tailwater. That
tailwater is the lower Shoshone River, which begins at Buffalo Bill Dam
and extends downstream to the town of Powell. Conveniently, it is also 5
minutes from our back door!
What a great way to work out the kinks in fly lines and waders after a
long, cold winter in Cody, and the rest of the Northern hemisphere.
All of us at North Fork Anglers are very excited to see what the rest
of 2008 will bring us in regard to bent rods and screaming reels. We hope
you are just as excited as us!
Cody Country
Fishing Report
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LOOKING FORWARD IN
2008
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Thanks to magazine articles, our web site and fly fishing
programs on TV, most of you are familiar with our other more famous
freestone rivers, such as the North Fork of the Shoshone or the Wild and
Scenic Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone. They provide close to 1500 miles of
Blue Ribbon rivers and streams filled with wild, healthy rainbow, native
cutthroat, cuttbows, brown trout and brookies.
Historically, the wild trout rivers that drain the East side of
Yellowstone and the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains fish well prior to
the advent of spring runoff. This would be the months of March, April and
even May in some years.
Pre-runoff is usually nymph or streamer fishing, with some dry fly
action as the sun warms the above mentioned watersheds prior to the heavy
flush of snowmelt in June. Stoneflies are what the trout see and that is
what we recommend in the shop or when guiding on our freestone waters.
After runoff (late June), fishing on our larger rivers really "shines" and
the trout become eager to take dries and wets with abandon.
Stillwaters, like East Newton Lake, Hogan and Luce Reservoirs also
provide great fly fishing March through mid-July, then pick back up again
around Labor Day. These lakes are well known, too, for huge bows, cutty's
and brown trout.
When runoff ends, usually in late June or early July, the truly
fantastic fishing begins in the Cody/Yellowstone area. Stoneflies, caddis,
and mayflies provide plenty of dry fly opportunities on the surface. The
nymphal stage of these insects also work well, hence the popularity of the
North Fork Special.
During the heat of the summer, hoppers, ants and beetles fill in the
niches when hatches aren't occurring until later in the day. This
continues well into September and early October. After Labor Day, the last
hatches of mayflies and caddis begin and will keep the trout occupied until
cold weather shuts down the fishing.
Fall fishing begins and goes until mid-December which brings us back
to another new year. Twelve months of excellent fly fishing does exist
despite the misconception that Cody's in a deep freeze like Jackson Hole.
When the average trout landed is 16 inches and stronger than most
trout found elsewhere, why would you not come visit North Fork Anglers and
the fishery of which we have been so proud now for almost 25 years?
Whether you decide to hop a plane or get in your personal Trout Mobile
and head to Cody for the dry fly fishing happening now, or whether you
prefer to fish during the spring, summer and fall seasons, you will find
North Fork Anglers ready and willing to guide you or give the right advice
when you arrive.
Since North Fork Anglers is one of Wyoming’s oldest fly fishing
outfitters, it is time to discuss guided trips and reservations for 2008.
Truly, the fly fishing here is so good; many of our guests book for the
following year just as soon as their trip is over. We are also an Orvis
Endorsed Outfitter and work very hard to insure your trip is the best
you've ever had - anywhere!
Because of that, it behooves first timers (or those prone to
procrastination!) to call as soon as possible to arrange for guided Float
Trips, Walk/Wade Trips, or Backcountry Trips in 2008. Peak guided trip
months are July 1- October 30 and the reservation book is filling quickly.
Don’t hesitate to email us or pick up the phone and make arrangements for
what North Fork Anglers believes to be the best wild trout fly fishing in
the lower 48 States!
Guided Trips with
North Fork Anglers
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BENCHSIDE with TIM
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When the weather outside hits 40 degrees after it has been
hovering below freezing for most of the winter, cabin fever is more than a
reality. Time off from work should be spent catching fish, not shoveling
snow!
Magazine articles are talking about what flies we need to trick the
trout after ice out and TV fly fishing programs are rerunning last
summer's "hot" spots. Enough already! Just take me to the river, right?
Fortunately, fly tying can alleviate some of that claustrophic feeling
cabin fever brings. Spring is our salvation and we look for any sign that
it is on its way as we pass the time tying flies to fill the empty spots
in our fly boxes.
As you've already read, BWO's and midges herald the first sign of
spring on most Western waters. If we were smart, we have tied up some of
these patterns already. If we haven't then we have to get some kind of
hide, feather or dubbing on a small hook - and quickly!!
I want to share a pattern that works very well during the first hatch
of spring. That pattern is the Sparkle dun. It is easy to tie, even if you
are a beginner, and it catches trout like crazy when tiny blue-winged
olives (BWO's) are on the water. It is also a pattern that should be in
your fly box.
Below is the recipe for this simple, effective fly.
Hook: Any quality dry fly hook (Tiemco, Daiichi, Dai-Riki, Orvis)
Sizes 16-24
Thread: 8/0 or 10/0 Olive (I prefer Uni-Thread or Gudebrod)
Tail: Brown, Copper or Rust Antron/Zelon yarn - your choice
Wing: Elk hair
Abdomen and Thorax: Fine and Dry Blue Winged Olive dubbing
Head: Olive thread
As you can see from the photo and recipe, this fly has 4 steps from
start to finish. (Wing, tail, dubbing, head)
1. Attach your thread about 1/3 the length of the hook shank behind
the hook's eye.
2. Tie in the wing, tips forward. The wing should equal the length of
the shank.
3. Once the elk hair bundle has been tied down tightly, trim the butt
ends with a tapered cut. Finish binding down the butt ends.
4. Bring the tying thread to the front of the wing, then use your
thumb to flare the wing into a 180 degree 'fan' (see photo). Now, wrap the
thread in front of the wing until you have built a 'dam' that stands the
wing straight up. You should have a nice tapered look in front of the wing
when this step is completed.
5. Tie in the Antron for a tail. Tail length should equal the length
of the hook shank. On smaller hooks, divide the Antron strands into
thirds, to eliminate bulk on the hook.
6. Dub the Fine and Dry onto your thread (approx. 1 1/2" on a size 16,
less on smaller hooks and cover thread wraps as you wind the dubbing up to
the head space.
7. Finish by creating a head that tapers back into the dubbing, whip
finish, cut thread and glue.
I tied the fly in the photo with lighter colors so you can see the
transition between the steps, in case you're wondering why it's a lighter
olive than the true color of tiny BWO's.
Once you've tied enough to fill the slots in your fly box, head to
Cody and use your creation to catch some trout!
Flies at North Fork
Anglers
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PHOTO CONTEST
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For the first time ever, North Fork Anglers will hold a
photo contest. To enter is easy and simple. Send us your favorite photos
of you, a friend, or loved one, wearing an NFA ‘lucky’ hat, T-shirt or
any of our other clothing or equipment bearing North Fork Angler’s
familiar logo.
A maximum of 3 photographs per person will be allowed. There is no
limit as to the number of persons that can send a photo. Tim and Chip will
judge these photos and award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes to the lucky
winners. There will also be a “Fan Favorite” photo, judged by all of
you via email – 1 vote per fan.
We are holding this contest because many of you have already shared
great photos with us that clearly show our North Fork Angler’s logo.
These have been posted on our web site or on our Angler’s Bulletin
Board, which makes you instantly famous (we hope) amongst friends and
family.
We would prefer e-mailed photo submissions in JPEG format; however, we
will accept printed photos snail mailed as well. As soon as you receive
this newsletter, get busy perusing old and recent photos that you think
might win a prize. Remember, North Fork Anglers logo must be clearly seen
in order to qualify as a viable contest photo!
What do you receive for all this effort? Besides being seen by
millions of other envious anglers on the Internet and gaining instant fame
(you know you want it!) you can win some pretty cool stuff.
• First Place: North Fork Anglers Technical long-sleeved fishing
shirt and baseball cap. (Your choice of color and style, value $90.)
• Second Place – North Fork Anglers Polo Shirt (Navy or Black,
value $50)
• Third place – North Fork Anglers T-shirt (Your choice of art
work and color, value $25)
• Fan Favorite: North Fork Angler’s Fly Box, with North Fork
Specials (value $20)
Our Photo Contest will end March 30, 2008. Winners will be announced
in the May newsletter mailing. Please make sure you have a valid email, or
physical mailing address, and phone number accompanying each of your
submissions.
(NOTE: Photos submitted may be used by North Fork Anglers in the
future on our website, future mailings, or printed material)
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