Special Tight Lines guest appearance
Join us
April 11th
Bob Clouser
Autographing books and tying flies 2:00-7:00
 Tight Lines is excited to have one of the legends of our sport at our shop. Bob Clouser, inventor of the Clouser Minnow, will be signing books and discussing tactics on catching river smallmouth. This is a great opportunity to talk to a true master of our sport. |
|
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.
Improved Trout Waters of Wisconsin map book
The first trout fishing book of its kind:
Red brackets point out just where habitat projects are located.
Color maps show public access areas:
Info boxes for each site tell:
- which improvement techniques were used...logs, lunkers, boulders, etc.
- when the work was done,
- who funded and helped with the work, and
- the GPS coordinates of each site's center point.
The next generation in rain jackets-the G4 Pro Jacket is our most technical jacket and features GORE-TEX Pro Shell fabric for incredible performance and durability.
SA Shark Skin Line
Trout Bum 3: Mongolia DVD
AEG Media's third feature film, Fish Bum I: Mongolia-River Wolf is packed with extraordinary footage with never before seen river system hidden deep within the remote reaches of inner Mongolia. AEG Fish Bums embark on an adventure covering unexplored territory on horseback, camel, Russian 4*$'s and hiking boots all in the search for the largest known trout in the world, the Taimen; a fish of legendary myths and proportions.
Soulfish DVD
SOULFISH is fly-fishing's greatest adventure. Join Mikey Wier, Andy Burk, Rachel Andras, Lance Egan, Jack Dennis, Lefty Kreh, Brian O'Keefe and others as they fish in Mongolia, Brazil, Belize, Christmas Island, Florida Keys, Louisiana and California.
View a 3 min clip of Soulfish-click here
DVD-STEELHEAD FLIES Tying Classics
with Dec Hogan and Marty Howard
Steelhead flies are perhaps the most beautiful and alluring flies
in all of angling. Mastering the skills to tie them to perfection is a
rewarding challenge that is easily attainable. In this program veteran
steelheaders and fly tying instructors Dec Hogan and Marty Howard take
you through a step by step process on how to create classic steelhead
flies that you can admire and fish with confidence. The carefully
chosen patterns and techniques that Dec and Marty demonstrate will
provide you with the knowledge and skill necessary to tie an infinite
number of patterns and styles. Speys, Dees, wets, dries, marabous,
muddlers and prawns ? it?s all in here and more! Spectacular river
footage along the way helps fuel the passion. The boys even hook a
steelhead or two. Running time is just under 4 hours on two DVDs. |
|
Tight Lines Calendar of Events
Tight Lines Fly Fishing 101 School One full day-$125.00
- Sunday May 18th 2008
-
Sunday June 8th 2008
Sage Fly Casting Lesson-$50.00
Tight Lines will be hosting Sage casting instructor, Lou Jirikowic, on Saturday, June 7th for an introductory fly casting clinic. The clinic will begin at 9:00 AM and end at noon. There are ten positions available. The cost is $50.00 Lou is a very talented casting instructor with the ability to break down one's cast and teach proper technique. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best. Call the shop to reserve your spot in the casting clinic
Click to view all of Tight Lines upcoming events | |
|
|
| Greetings!
Finally, the weather is breaking and the fishing is fantastic. Both Great Lakes Tribs and inland trout streams are looking and fishing as good as ever. The other big news is the shop's new website. Tightlinesflyshop.com is much more informative and interactive for our customers. We have also been working hard to bring you this newsletter. To view all the past issues click on our ARCHIVES ,or FORWARD IT TO A FRIEND. The shop is stuffed to the gills with new equipment! Our STAFF looks forward helping you with any of your fly fishing questions and needs. |
|
Fly of the Month-Mueller's Film Fly
This is the final fly Ross tied at the shop for the spring creeks. This is a very easy pattern to tie that is incredibly effective. It is great fly because it can be fished dead drift or on a wet fly swing. With the little black caddis around the corner, we thought this would be a great fly to feature. This is a great representation of the caddis pupae when fished down and across through a riffle or a run.
Thread: Uni 8/0 Black
Hook: TMC 3761 or 3769 size 16-20
Body: Mix of black squirrel and black Hares Ear Plus
Soft Hackle: Black hen hackle-webby
The body of this fly looks best when tyed with a dubbing loop. If you are not able to use a loop, standard dubbing techniques will still work. Call the shop if you have any questions tying the Film Fly.
|
|
Places to find Spring Steelhead
Steelhead Report
April 7, 2008
The Great Lake tributaries have been slow as of late, but look for things to pick up this week. Recent rains have swollen most area rivers to a point where they're either unsafe or too muddy to fish effectively, however, when the waters recede and the temperatures rise going into this weekend, there will be fresh fish around. Check with the shop on the conditions of local rivers. Most of the northern tribs, from the Brule on over to Door County, are still seeing quite a bit of ice. In the last week there have been some nice hold-over / drop back browns caught on swung flies. Low and slow is still the way to go until the waters warm a little. Make sure you're getting low enough in the water column. In colder temps fish are unlikely to chase a fly so you have to be at the right depth. The shop has mini RIO tips that are simply added to the end of the fly line to reach the desired depth. They're a cheap alternative to a sinking line. Nymphs and eggs are also effective but big streamers allow you to cover more water and can yield bone jarring strikes. There are two important things to remember when early steelheading : The rivers will always be crowded, especially on the weekend. One bridge we saw this last weekend had eight vehicles parked at it, so be patient. If you can't fish during the week, drive around and find a stretch that's less crowded. There's plenty of water. Number two : I've seen many days where the rivers are devoid of fishermen because the weather is bad. These can be some of the best days. April rains and even snow showers can really turn fish on in a hurry. Stop by the shop if you have any questions regarding the rivers, fly patterns to use, gear, or simply for a cup of coffee after being on the river.
Fly Patterns:
-
Stonefly Nymphs sz 6-8
-
Egg Sucking Leaches sz 4-6
-
Egg patterns-Chartreuse, Clown
-
String Thing
-
Brightly colored Marabous
-
Skagit Minnow | |
Help Save Special Regulations
On Monday night April 14 the annual fish and game hearings will be held. Question 36 on the ballot asks if the Natural Resources Board should put in place an emergency order to continue category 5 regulations on 5 miles of the Prairie River in Lincoln County. This question has been voted on before. In 2007 a question appeared on the ballot asking to abandon the 5 miles of category 5 on the Prairie and return it to category 4. That question passed.
You might logically ask why the question is on the ballot again if the decision was already made to revert to category 4.  What we now know is that the 2007 question was placed on the ballot as a social issue and some critical information was left out of the explanation. A very small group of very vocal people who disliked the category 5 regulations succeeded in having the question placed on the ballot. The question was clearly worded that the issue was social in nature.
What was never explained to the meeting audiences before they voted was the biological information. DNR fisheries personnel had been monitoring the brook trout population in the category 5 water since the regulation was implemented in 2002. The studies showed that the number of larger brook trout in the special regulations area had INCREASED BY 135% during the years the population was protected by the special regulations.
Because the audience was never presented with the biological facts it is likely many in attendance believed that the regulations were not having a positive impact. In that case there would not be good reasons to continue the restrictive regulations. It is entirely possible that if the biological success of the special regulations had been presented the vote might have gone differently. So now the question is being brought back with all of the information.
VOTING YES ON QUESTION 36 is critical for the continuation of special regulations not just on the Prairie but statewide. Various groups around the state (including the Prairie group) have openly stated that it is their intention to have ALL special regulations in the state abolished. If they succeed on the Prairie we can expect more of these questions in future years targeting the other category 5 waters in the state.
Special regulations work to help provide quality fisheries for the segment of trout anglers who appreciate a quality experience without having to travel to distant locations. Currently, less than 1% of the state's trout waters are under category 5 regulations. The anti regulations groups feel the protected mileage should be zero. There are a significant number of anglers who appreciate the experience provided by category 5 waters and would like to see those waters continue to be protected.
If you would like to help preserve special trout regulations in Wisconsin please take some time to go to the hearings on April 14. The only way to vote is to be present at a hearing site. The issue will be decided by simple majority vote. You can bet the anti regulations folks will be encouraging their supporters to attend.
The hearings are held in every county in the state. Brown County will conduct its hearing at Franklin Middle School. The hearings begin at 7:00 PM. Check the DNR website for other county locations.
****YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING!! Voting is now done by electronic ballot as in political elections. You will receive a ballot as you enter the hearing. If you do not want to stay for the entire hearing, you can fill in your ballot and leave. Those wishing to stay for the hearing and participate in the debate are certainly welcome to do so. PLEASE VOTE YES ON QUESTION 36. |
|
Inland Trout Fishing Report April 5, 2008
April is often the most exciting month to fish for trout in Wisconsin. Everything that is good in the eyes of a trout angler starts to happen again. As the water warms, we will begin to experience the major spring hatches. It will be hard to believe until it happens, but the weather forecasters are predicting temperatures in the low 50's for this weekend. This will make the fish feed and allow for us all to have a little fun.
Location: Southwest Wisconsin Spring Creeks
April could be the best month of the season to fish the spring creeks. Cloudy, drizzly days will raise large emergences of blue-winged olives. This size 18-20 mayfly is the first hatch of the early season, besides midge, that really brings the fish to the surface consistently. When the weather is right, begin in the morning by fishing an olive nymph below an indicator through riffles and into pools. As the morning progresses, look for fish flashing in the riffles. These fish will often be eating the nymphs as they free themselves from the bottom and begin to emerge. A stealthy approach with an olive nymph below a short indicator with little or no weight will take these fish. Eventually, the BWO's will make it to the surface. Various emerger patterns in sizes 18 or 20 work well early on in the hatch. When the adults are on the water, go head hunting with a long leader and a dun pattern.
Despite the fact that we are a few weeks behind normal weather, the spring creeks will see black caddis towards the end of the month. This is the second major hatch of the spring. Nymphing with caddis larvae and pupae will take fish when no bugs are on the water. When the hatch is on, fish a dark colored elk hair caddis in a size 18 with or without a caddis pupae dropper. When these hatches are not happening, standard nymph and streamer patterns will work well.
Fly Patterns:
Mueller's Olive Nymph sz 18-20
Olive Emergers sz 18-20
BWO Comparaduns sz 18-20
Parachute BWO sz 18-20
BWO Snowshoe Dun sz 18-20
Dark Elk Hair Caddis sz 16-18
Partridge Caddis sz 16-18
Webwing Caddis sz 16-18
Caddis larvae sz 16-18
Caddis pupae sz 16-18
Location: Central Wisconsin
Most of Central Wisconsin does not see BWO's and black caddis en masse like the spring creeks do, but do not count these rivers out. Certain stretches of rivers in Waupaca, Waushara, and Marquette counties see plenty of bugs to fish. The same hatch fishing techniques apply in this part of the state.
Though the hatches are not as prolific in sand country, the streamer fishing can be outstanding. The fish will often move aggressively towards streamers, even when the water is a bit cold. Try bright colored patterns with a marabou or rabbit strip wing on sunny days. Use more drab colors on the darker days. Also, do not be afraid to fish a large fly. There is no shortage of big browns in Central Wisconsin, and sometimes it takes a big meal to get them interested.
Fly Patterns:
Standard BWO and black caddis patterns
Yellow Fox sz 4-6
Kiwi Muddlers sz 2-4
Zoo Cougar sz 2-4
Woolly Buggers sz 2-10
Wool-Head Sculpins sz 2 |  |
|
 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
|
|
|
