Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. Newsletter

1534 Mid Valley Dr. DePere, WI 54115

Tight Lines January fly fishing Update                           Febuary 29, 2008

Join Our Mailing List!
 
 
 
In This Issue
Hot new shop stuff!
Hat trade in program!
Calendar of events
Fly of the month
What's new around the shop
Places to Kick Off the Early Trout Season
Saturday Guest Fly Tyer's
 
Join us
March. 8th
Nelson Ham
Tying warm water guide flies  10:00-4:00
 
 

Tight Lines customers have enjoyed our line-up of Saturday guest fly tyers.  The shop has invited many of the best tyers to show off their skills at the shop.  Stop by for a cup of coffee and a free learning session from some of the best tyers in the Midwest!
 
Check out all of our guest tyers.
 
 
 
Don't miss Bob Clouser coming to the shop on Friday April 11th
Hot new shop stuff!
Tight Lines is the largest fly shop and outfitter in Northeast Wisconsin.  We continually strive to bring you new and exciting products.  Stop by the shop to check out what's new.
 
 
 
 
Arizona Scud Blend
New redesigned Renzetti Traveler-
The traveler just got better!  This vise has been a staple in the industry and is even better for 2008.  $184.95
 
SIMMS redesigned G3 Waders-Redesigned for 2008, the G3 is the finest, most durable wader on the market today.
 

Tight Lines hat trade in!

 
Trade in your old sweat stained, faded out, disgusting hat for a new one free of charge!  The shop is collecting all those veteran hats to hang in our book room.  (must be a Tight Lines hat for a Tight Lines hat)
 

  Tight Lines Calendar of Events

 
Tight Lines Fly Fishing 101 School One full day-$125.00

 
 
 

 

  • Sunday March 9th 2008
  • Sunday April 6th 2008

 

Quick Links...
 
Greetings!
 
                                                                                           

 

 

         

     Here we go again!  Despite being wrapped in the death grip of winter, the 2008 early trout season is a week away!  It's time to restock the fly boxes and replace worn out gear.  The early season provides one of the best opportunities for the well-prepared angler to catch large trout.  Fickle March weather keeps many in front of the television and off the rivers.  This allows for the chance to present flies to unpressured trout on vacant streams.  Stop by the shop and let the crew at Tight Lines help you gear up for success during the early season.
Fly of the Month-Ross Mueller's Olive Nymph
 
This is the second fly Ross tied at the shop for the spring creeks.  It is a fast fly to tie and is very durable.  This matches the early Baetis perfectly.   It has truly become a must have for all of us at the shop and for our guides.  Enjoy.   

 
 
               
 
 
Mueller's Olive Nymph
 
Thread:  Uni 8/0 Olive
Hook:  TMC 3761 size 18-20
Tail:  Lemon Wood Duck
Rib: Fine gold wire
Abdomen:  Olive Aussie Opossum
Wing Case-Olive or Brown Goose biot
Thorax:  Olive beaver (Under fur from dyed hide)
                                        
                                                                                          
Click here to view what Tight Lines does in the winter months!! Join Tight Lines on one of our destination trips
 
 Around the Shop

 

  

     

     The shop currently has more gear and apparel than ever before.  As the old adage goes, layering is key to enduring cold weather.  Tight Lines has a full selection of wicking long underwear from SIMMS, Patagonia and Cloudveil.  Check out the brand new Patagonia wool capilene layering pieces.  These tops and bottoms offer the same wicking capabilities as the older breathable underwear technologies without the build up of odor.
 
      2008 has brought more new developments in the wading department.  Tight Lines has several new models of SIMMS waders and wading  boots.  The new designs of SIMMS wading gear has allowed the company's products to reach a level of durability unsurpassed in the industry.  Other noteworthy wading products at Tight Lines include the new 2008 Patagonia vests and Fishpond chest and hip packs. 
 
     As avid tiers ourselves, Tight Lines boasts the Midwest's largest selection of fly tying materials.  The shop has entered the new season with more tying materials than we've ever had in stock.  Whether you are interested in inland trout, saltwater, warm water or spring Steelhead, Tight Lines has the tying gear to help you fill the empty spaces in your fly box.

 

Places to Kick Off the Early Trout Season

 
Where:  Southwest Wisconsin Spring Creeks
 
The spring creeks of Southwestern Wisconsin's Driftless Area offer an extremely diverse array of fishing opportunities.  What water to fish and how to fish it will depend largely on the March weather.  In recent years, opening weekend found the spring creeks surrounded by two feet of snow.  If the southwestern streams are not experiencing any run-off, they will be low and clear.  An angler's best options are to slowly fish deep pools with a leech pattern or two-nymph rig.  For those looking for one of trout fishing's true challenges, quietly stalk the flats looking for fish rising to midge.  Stay as low as possible and cast to the risers with a long leader tapering down to 6x and a midge adult or pupae pattern in sizes 18-24.
 
If warm weather comes and the water is rising in the spring creeks, March fishing can be very productive.  The off-colored water lets the trout put their guard down and feed heavily.  For the most success under high water conditions, fish a leech pattern or a two-nymph rig through slower runs and pools.  Black Woolly buggers, dark nymphs, and scuds will work well under these conditions.  Work your flies slowly and keep your eye on the indicator. 

           

 

Fly Patterns for the Spring Creeks

  • Midge pupae and larvae size 18-24
  • Scuds in olive, gray, tan, and orange size 12-16
  • Pheasant Tails size 16-22
  • Prince Nymph size 12-16
  • Hare's Ear size 12-16
  • Wooly Buggers in black, olive, and brown size 4-10

Where:  Central Wisconsin Sand Streams

The sand streams of Central Wisconsin are a generally over-looked option for fishing during the early season.  Many of the streams in Waupaca, Waushara, and Marquette counties see a good number of little black stoneflies.  The black stone nymphs crawl up the snow covered banks on warm mornings and afternoons throughout the month of March.  The adults work their way out of their nymphal shucks and mate.  The best fishing occurs when the females return to the water to lay their eggs.  Good holding lies will often contain one or two trout rising to the stones.  The best adult patterns are darkly colored stimulator-type flies.  Buoyancy and skateability are two desirable qualities when trying to match this hatch as twitched or skated flies often entice strikes when a standard dead drift presentation will not.
 
     Prospecting with weighted streamers is the most effective way to catch trout during the beginning of the season, especially if fish are not interested in the little black stones.  Deep, slow runs and pools will hold the majority of the fish.  Leech patterns consistently produce when worked slowly down and across stream.  Nymphing with Hare's Ears and Pheasant Tails can also catch fish in some of the slower water.

 

            Fly Patterns for Central Wisconsin

  • Leech patterns in black, olive, and brown size 4-10
  • Marabou Muddlers in yellow, black, and white size 4-8
  • Kiwi Muddlers in natural, olive, and black size 4
  • Yellow Fox size 6-8
  • Black Stimulators size 14-16
  • Hare's Ear size 12-16
  • Pheasant Tail size 14-18

Other March Fishing Options

     We are going to be thankful for all the snow we have gotten this winter.  Run-off in the end of March will be better than we've seen in the last several years.  The extra push of water should result in an excellent run of spring Steelhead on the Lake Michigan tributaries.  If warmer weather comes in the first couple weeks of March, steelhead will be filing into the tribs in large numbers. 
 
     The steelhead will come most readily to a two-nymph rig with a heavy nymph pattern as the point fly and an egg pattern trailing.  The indicator used for this type of nymphing can make a huge difference in your success rate.  Our crew has become very fond of the ball style indicators.  The ball allows for a 90 degree rig in which the leader is composed of a short, stiff butt section above the indicator and a length of uniform diameter tippet below the indicator.  The fine tippet material below the indicator lets your flies reach the desired depth much more quickly than when using a standard tapered leader.  The ability to get down fast becomes extremely important when fish are holding in the hustling current.
 
     Swinging flies can also be productive for spring steelhead.  Fresh fish in the bigger waters can be quite aggressive.  Search for these fish with string leeches or large marabous in various colors.
 
    
 

Fly Patterns for Spring Steelhead

  • Egg patterns in chartreuse, yellow, orange, and red size 6-14
  • Egg-Sucking Leeches size 4-8
  • Stonefly Nymphs size 4-8
  • Hex Nymphs size 6-8
  • String Leeches in black, purple, and pink
  • Marabous in black, purple, and pink size 2/0-4
 

 

Tight Lines would like to extend a big thank you to all of our customers.  Thank you for helping support the shop and in return, we will continue to offer our very best service.  Stop by anytime for a cup of coffee, or  just say hello.  We will be waiting to hear your  fish stories.
Sincerely,
 

Tim, Charlie, Bart, Kim and Jim
Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co.
1534 Mid Valley Dr.
DePere, WI 54115
920-336-4106