Expo photo recapitulation

Hutch Hutchinson demonstrates how to properly fix 'your buddies' casting techniques.

There are not many things that will make a fly fisherman yearn for water more than standing in the warm sun on a beautiful day bombing casts with a bad-ass new Orvis HELIOS 5wt switch rod.... in a parking lot. No, I didn't buy one, nor could I have afforded one even if the crazies overtook me and forced me to take out my credit card at gunpoint, which doesn't even work anymore now that B of A has decided I was living a little too much like a good American, it was just fun to pretend.

But I suppose if you are not going to spend a wonderful spring Saturday on the water, then hanging out with a great group of fly junkies telling war stories, watching tying demonstrations, snapping photos and learning better and more efficient ways to make the local water inhabitants bow to their sensei is the next best thing.

Emerson "Chief" Craig sharing some of his 30 years worth of White Mountain trout fishing knowledge

 There was no poll, but I would bet a coke that the popular vote of the day would have gone to Emerson "Chief" Craig and his talks about techniques, tips and tactics for fishing Arizona's White Mountain trout lakes. Fly fishing since the tender age of ten and targeting fish in and around the Wt. Mountains since 1973, Chief is truly "the man" when it comes to ruling these waters and I am sure that every person who was fortunate enough to hear his talk will cast with greater confidence when fishing these waters from ice-off till winter's return, myself included.

Another highlight was the demonstration of Mike Leed's improved grass frog. Tied on a Waddingtin shank with a top-side looped weed guard, and a upturned TroKar 1/0 drop shot hook attached to the leader with a 2 foot section of weed-slicing 30lb PowerPro braided line, I cannot imagine running into any problems dragging this frog across even the nastiest of weed beds.

It still looks like a heavy bitch, but losing the rabbit zonker legs for feathers might help a bit. Still, don't think you will be throwing this on anything less than an 8wt. Mike uses a 10wt, which helps get these surprised fish out of the weeds and into the boat.

A thank you should also go out to Dave Brown for his talks surrounding fly fishing in BC,  and John & Cullen Murphy for their presentations on the guiding and services they provide, as well as some great fish porn helping make this event the best it has been in nearly a decade. Great job, gentlemen.

I should have been paying attention, but I was too busy playing with my camera to tell you where Cullen caught that large fish.

The Future

See more photos.

-Alex

even more amounts of super awesome at the Swedish fly fair

Simon Graham takes his FGFF sticker booty to Sweden, Ya! See his write-up of the event.

the obligatory awesome crappy phone picture...

...because "Jackie will be disappointed if you don't."

Fishy Kid is back

There's only one way to find out.

Sometimes it would be awesome

When I am at home having a drink alone and writing stuff for things I sometimes wish Morgan Freeman would come over and read aloud what I have written. I feel it would just make it so much easier to edit my work if that would happen every once in a while when I am struggling with some overabundance of verbiage. You know what I mean?

I'm just sayin'.

-Alex who is currently having a drink alone and writing stuff for things.

Orvis Expo

Saturday March 20th from 9:30 AM to 6PM
Dry Creek Outfitters, Tucson AZ

The Scoop:

Don't miss this year's Orvis Expo at Dry Creek Outfitters on Saturday March 20th from 9:30 AM to 6PM. This is the best program we have ever put together!! You will receive fly-casting instruction using the Orvis Helios and Hydros fly-rods. These are easily the lightest fly-rods on the market. There will be numerous fly-fishing destination presentations (Alaska, British Columbia, the White Mountains of AZ and Colorado to name a few) and even some fly tying presentations. One of Hutch’s fly-casting demos will be called “Fixing your buddy’s fly-casting problems” ( We all know we have no fly-casting issues but our friend has serious issues!…)

Here are our guests for the Expo:

Hutch Hutchinson - Hutch is currently the SW Regional Business Manager for the Orvis Company and is recognized as one of the industry's premier fly-casters. He spent close to 10 years in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska as the lead guide for the Bristol Bay Lodge and has extensive experience fly-fishing for numerous species all over the globe. What makes Hutch very special, as many of us here in Tucson can attest to, is his ability to teach others the art of fly-casting.
Dave Brown - Dave is the owner of Dave Brown Outfitters, formerly known as Elk River Angler. Dave and his guides specialize in the pursuit of the beautiful west-slope cutthroat in addition to rainbows and the rare Bull trout.
Mike Leed - Mike is a native Tucsonan who has fly-fished in Canada, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Belize, the BVI and many locations in Mexico and the U.S. He particularly loves the saltwater flats game and pursuing Largemouth Bass in AZ.
John & Cullen Murphy - Our OPTU newsletter editor always finds time to make several epic trips each year. You may find him throwing line at the San Juan or the Provo or...he may be on a "business trip" to New Zealand or the Kenai River in Alaska. Cullen has guided at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge in Sterling, AK for 6 seasons and has also built an impressive saltwater fly-fishing resume.

...and our featured guest

Emerson Craig - If you fish the White Mountain lakes of Arizona with any regularity, you have probably seen Emerson (no doubt, with a bent rod). Emerson, also known as "Chief", has spent countless hours perfecting his techniques of fooling trout with a fly rod. Just as Roger Federer is the ranked #1 in the world, Emerson Craig is the #1 seed for fly-fishing in the White Mountains.

Call Eric or Whitey at Dry Creek Outfitters (520-326-7847) for further details.

Should be a good time, even if I do have to break my no-getting-up-before-10AM-unless-it's-fishing rule.

-Alex