Virtual Fly Guides

Fly-Fishing Instruction: Look Down!

2014-12-13T11:00:00.002-07:00

When we're too excited to catch fish we miss opportunities! Fish are often in very shallow water close to the bank. Look down!

Hopefully, this brief instructional video will help you catch more fish.

Filmed on the Arkansas River near Salida, Colorado. Cameo appearance by fly-fisher Jared Griswold.

Tight Lines,

Sean Wallentine

Colorado's Arkansas River

2014-12-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

I wasn't expecting to catch a 20" natural Colorado Cutthroat Trout in the upper reaches of Colorado's Arkansas River. We were up in the headwaters, above Leadville, not down in the "big river" around Salida. The headwaters of the Arkansas is more of a stream than a river, holding mostly 12" and smaller Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout.

So, when this beauty took my #12 rubber-legged Stimulator off the surface I just about jumped out of the river in fear! The fish was SO much larger than anything I expected to draw out of the water we were fishing. And, hey, it could be a mix. Perhaps a CutBow. But who cares?

Fortunately, I had my iPhone to take a picture and catch a short video before safely releasing this beauty. Unfortunately, my fishing buddies Christian Hill and Jared Griswold were way upstream trying to run up the score on me...grabbing up all the pristine, unfished water. I got the last laugh! But, I didn't get a portrait with this biggie since I was alone.

I won't try to pinpoint where I caught this fish. No need! Just telling you to fish the headwaters of the Arkansas River above Leadville will put you into some really nice fish. The date of this catch was July 24, 2014.

Tight Lines,

Sean Wallentine

Father and Son Fly-Fishing: Silver Creek, Alpine Co., CA

2013-09-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

I took my youngest son, Ezra, on a father/son camping trip to Alpine County a couple weeks ago. We had a fantastic time! Among other things, he caught a Brook Trout on a dry fly...all by himself...on his first cast of the day!

We fished Silver Creek, which feeds the East Fork of the Carson River off Highway 4 in Alpine County, California. Markleeville is the nearest town...about 11 miles to the north.

We fished for about a 1 hour two days in a row. We both caught fish each day on a #10 Stimulator; both Brook Trout and Rainbows. I didn't make him cast for too long. I want his first impressions of fly-fishing to fun, not frustrating. Here are some pics.

-Sean Wallentine

East Carson River, California

2013-08-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

My dad and I went fishing for a day on the East Carson River in Alpine County, California. It was overcast with a drizzle now and then. The water was off-color due to rains the night before. However, the fish didn't seem to mind.

We caught 20+ Rainbows. Mostly on nymphs and a few on larger dry flies.

Love this river!

Me and a 15" East Carson Rainbow Trout

Dad working one of the best runs on the river.

Date: July 27, 2013
Fish Caught: 23
Species: All Rainbow Trout
Best Flies: #16 Green BH Pulsating Caddis, #16 Red Copper John, #10 Royal Stimulator
Location: East Carson River in Alpine County, CA

-Sean Wallentine

Christmas Tree Lake, AZ

2013-07-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Wind 30+, rough to find right fly.
Caught this one on Black Wooley green tail #16
Apache 16.5" in the net measure.
First time using a boat....back to the float tube.
Several other bumps....AND someday I'll hold a dang fish right for a photo op. No matter...X Mas tree is awesome...it takes and gives....I gave a blown tire, and a broken rear back up lamp.....all for this fish....worth it!
:)

2013-04-25T16:19:00.002-07:00

Eagle Canyon Trophy Trout Lakes

If you are planning to fly-fish in in northern California try out the private fishery at http://www.eaglecanyontrout.com/. It's a fun place to fish for anglers of all skill levels.

There are two connected lakes that offer up very large Rainbow Trout. If you want to catch some picture-worthy trophy trout on a fly then give it a try.

Here is a fish from a recent trip to Eagle Canyon.

2013-02-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

If you get a chance, check out Cabo San Lucas.

Among the safest locations for tourists in Mexico these days, Cabo is host to many guides and charter boats. You can choose a larger boat or a "panga," which is a smaller boat many fly-fishers prefer.

We had great success recently catching bunches of Dorado there. While it was cold at home, it was nice and warm in Mexico!

Tight Lines,

Sean Wallentine
Co-Founder, The Virtual Fly Guides

Putah Creek

2012-11-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Putah Creek in Northern California is a great winter fishery. But, make sure you don't fish on the redds (where the fish are spawning). Otherwise, enjoy catching big Rainbows and if you're lucky you'll catch a monster Brown.

Here's a big buck I caught a few years ago on the creek. It took an olive bead head Woolley Bugger. Honestly, I can't believe I actually landed this fish. It was massive! And, no, it wasn't a Steelhead or a Salmon. It was a Rainbow.

Don't stop fishing just because it's fall and winter is on the way. Just get your warm clothes out and find some fish.

-Sean Wallentine

Back to the Future: Wading Into Northern California's Blue Ribbon Waters...Again

2012-10-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

Eight years ago my dad, brother and I fished the McCloud River, Upper Sacramento River, Burney Creek and Squaw Valley Creek. It was an awesome trip!

Next week we're going back. Hopefully, we'll relive some memories from 2004 and make some new ones...fly-fishing for trout with more experience these days, and better digital camera equipment.

Here are a few pictures from our 2004 trip. Maybe we'll be fortunate enough on this trip to catch some 20+ inch fish.

My 19 1/2-inch McCloud River Brown Trout on a PT Nymph Darin (right) tied.

Darin's fat 18-inch McCloud River Rainbow Trout.

Beautiful Burney Creek

My dad with a nice Upper Sacramento Rainbow Trout

Getting nymphs to the bottom of the water column and into the feeding lanes should do the trick. Anything from Copper Johns to Bird's Nests to Prince Nymphs and Pheasant Tails (add some red Brassies to the mix). We will be hunting for trout. And, maybe we'll drag some streamers for the BIG fish. Not maybe, for sure!

Anyway, we'll post our fishing reports here on the Virtual Fly Guides website. Stay tuned...not just for pictures of fish and reports on what we caught them on, but for some nature photography, too.

Tight Lines,

Sean Wallentine
Co-Founder, The Virtual Fly Guides

Mono Lake: Stop Fishing and Start Shooting!

2012-09-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

The only thing you're going to catch at Mono Lake is a good picture. And, that was exactly my plan while on a fishing trip in California's Eastern Sierra a few years ago.

It was an oddly calm day. No wind! It's usually very windy in the afternoon on Mono Lake, but not on this specific day. I had my Nikon DSLR in hand and the sun was setting. I was able to capture some pretty good images of the Tufa formations that make Mono Lake such a unique place.

Join us in sharing YOUR favorite nature photos here on the Virtual Fly Guides website. My brother Darin and I have developed quite a love affair with photography. If you share the same love for fly-fishing and photography, start sharing both experiences here on the Virtual Fly Guides website.

If you have any questions about these images or want to discuss photography and/or fly-fishing the Eastern Sierra (or anywhere else for that matter) feel free to comment below and I'll respond as time allows.

Best,

Sean Wallentine
Co-Founder, The Virtual Fly Guides

South Fork Stanislaus River

2012-08-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 4, 2012, Don Van Schenck and I guided some friends who are new to fly-fishing. We fished the South Fork of the Stanislaus River about a mile south of Strawberry, which is off of CA Hwy 108.

The water flow was normal and clear. Slight breezes and partly cloudy with a few rain drops here and there.

We only fished for a couple hours but everyone caught fish on dry flies and droppers. Large stimulators and copper johns did the trick. A great time had by all! I think we "converted" a few bait plunkers into fly-fishers.

Minnesota's Driftless Area Brookies

2012-07-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

7/7/12
Winona County, MN

Today we fished a small stream for brook trout in Minnesota's Driftless Area. The stream was a classic meadow spring creek, very cold and weedy. It wound its way through tall grass in a pasture, the perfect place to splat a hopper. Braden and I caught over a dozen between the two of us in a couple of hours, mostly brook trout with a few lonely browns mixed in. A dry/dropper was the way to go today. Braden caught his trout on a #14 Czeched Out Hare's Ear with a pink hot spot, and I did well with a #14 brown micro tubing mayfly nymph and a #14 pink squirrel. Pink was definitely the color of choice. Slightly twitching the flies produced the most strikes. A small hopper or other terrestrial would also be a good choice. None of the brook trout that we caught today were under 7", which shows how healthy the stream is. A 4 or 5 weight rod would be perfect for this kind of water.

For a full report, fly recipes, and more check out our blog at www.3brothersflies.com

Fly Fishing Report from An Irish Angler

2012-03-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

Co. Wicklow, Ireland

There are day's when you are reminded why you chose to go fishing, spring starts to show its face, the air is warm with just a little zephyr of a breeze, a hazy brightness fills the landscape, and trout dance with your flies, pulling and cavorting as you work down the runs. Low,almost to the bones my chosen stream diverted and sluiced between the boulders, trout sat in the back eddies waiting for morsels to drift by, and my spiders twitched irresistibly enough to lure a fish at regular intervals, a man couldn't wish for more.

In his 1959 published treatise on angling "Fishing and Thinking" Dr. A. A. Luce, Professor of Moral Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin wrote of his best day on the river. Casting a line on the same stream almost 63 years to the day I couldn't but feel a sense of deja vu. Commencing fishing around noon after having walked a step upstream I felt confident as my initial cast snaked across the stream, throwing a mend the flies worked along a seam whence simultaneously a boil and a tug signaled my first trout of the afternoon.

A little six ounce brownie, perfectly formed, yellow bellied, and brightly spotted, taken on a Greenwells spider it tricked and darted in the swift current not out gunned by my four weight wand, a nice start. Carefully wading down stream I placed my flies in runs between rocks, into back eddies, and through likely pockets searching out ambush points where a wily trout might lie up, the pool head runs being very productive.

Newly born lambs suckled and gamboled in the fields and the smell of coconut drifted from gorse bushes high up on the bank, other than the chatter of the stream there was complete silence. An hour or two had flown by and noticeably rises to my flies had slowed down. Taking advice from Dr.Luce I switched the point fly for a Coachman his successful pattern from 63 years ago and bingo a gut produced three trout on the bounce.

Making my way around a long meander I came across a nice riffle with a constant depth, casting my flies towards the far bank at a forty five degree angle, as they swung around BANG my best trout of the session took the coachman. At half a pound and in great condition the cake had been well and truly iced, time to call it a day. Eleven trout all returned along with numerous rises, a busy afternoon for sure. County Wicklow has some wonderful trout fishing in beautiful locations, the best of it found in the most out of the way places. You have to work for what you catch, but the rewards, a picture paints a thousand words....

2012-03-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Yuba River, California

Don Van Schenck and I fished above the Highway 20 bridge on March 2,2012. It was a slow day but we had fun. I caught a 15-inch Rainbow a #16 Green Bead Head Pulsating Caddis Nymph and he caught an 18-inch Rainbow on a small dry fly, a #20 May Fly. Weather was great. We fished for only a couple hours, but a great day nonetheless.

Submitted by: Sean Wallentine

Fly Fishing Report from An Irish Angler

2012-03-12T08:07:00.001-07:00

River Liffey, Ireland

Enjoyed a great first day of the season fly fishing with Mr Irish Fly Fisher himself Liam Stenson and his good friend Ray Bradley on the River Liffey somewhere in Co. Kildare. The sun shone, however a stiff south east breeze put a chill in the air keeping fly hatches to a minimum, that said a few dark olives did show and trout were rising in the more sheltered runs.

Fishing a team of wets to include a kill devil spider on the point, a greenwells spider on the middle dropper, and a partridge and orange on the top I proceeded to fish a likely run endorsed by Liam, "he hooked and lost a fish estimated at 5.lbs in it last season, the hook straightened". The upstream breeze made fishing wet difficult so I quickly reverted to dry and put up a small olive klinkhammer pattern. With no trout showing I fished likely seams to little effect.

Liam on the other hand found a sheltered back water with a nice streamy run pushing close to a half sunk tree. Placing his fly in the suds he winkled out a 10 inch trout to break his duck for the year. Two more fish rose but were too quick for him, these Liffey brownies are lightening fast.

Moving upstream I found a run sheltered from the wind by a high bank. Heavily lined with willow trees, there were enough gaps to enable fishing if one used unorthodox casting methods. Switching over to wets my luck changed and I rose a number of trout landing three to close on half a pound. Beautifully spotted but a little lean, in a few weeks they will be plump and full of fight.

By now the sun was waning and a chill started to fill the air, we had forgotten but it was only March 3rd. Close on four bells three tired but happy anglers walked back to the cars, the Liffey had been good to us Liam also netting a few nice trout and the day most certainly augured well for the season to come....

An Irish Angler

2012-02-08T19:44:00.001-07:00

Within Co. Wicklow, dubbed The Garden of Ireland, a little over an hour from Dublin city centre are two wonderful wild trout fisheries just waiting to be discovered. The first, Lough Dan, is a secluded lake nestling in a glaciated valley high up in the Wicklow Mountains, which is home to hard fighting, free rising, mountain trout. Second, is the Vartry reservoir or Roundwood as it is more commonly called. Named after the nearby village and constructed in the 18th century to supply Dublin with water, Roundwood is a mature, well managed wild brown trout fishery. Both semi private lakes due to limited access, An Irish Anglers World has secured permission to place a boat on each water so enabling tourist and resident Irish fly anglers enjoy for the first time in many years, lough fishing Wicklow style.

Trout on both Roundwood and Lough Dan are truly wild and hit the fly with gusto. Fished for with a five weight combination they give great and consistent sport. Traditional drift methods are used fishing floating, sink tip, or intermediate lines. Flies such as the Bibio, Watsons, Silverhorn sedge, Wicklow Killer, Daddy, Kate McLaren, Silver dabbler, Peter Ross, and Alexandra work well in sizes ranging from 14 - 10.

A days fishing generally takes place between 09.00 - 17.00 hours. Lunchtime will be spent on beautiful shoreline locations with a backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains in all their splendour. The Kelly kettle will be fired up and a fine spread provided, then its back on the water for the afternoon. Evening fishing can be arranged in the high summer months, and is recommended, especially on Roundwood when the silverhorns are hatching.

Lough Dan, the largest natural lake in Co. Wicklow, and Roundwood reservoir are unique wild trout fisheries barely an hour south of Dublin. Whether on holidays, business, or just looking to unwind, relax with a days fly fishing in the Wicklow Mountains, you will be glad that you did.

Contact: Ashley Hayden through the website www.anirishanglersworld.com or phone: +353 (0)53 94 28917.

Submit Your Flyfishing Reports

2012-01-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to post your fly fishing photos and reports with the Virtual Fly Guides.

Submit Photos on the Virtual Fly Guides Submission Page

After the reports, photos, or videos are submitted through the Submission Page and are approved, they will be featured here on this blog.

By sharing our reports and experiences in fly fishing, we encourage other fly fishers to do the same and become a Virtual Fly Guide. Regardless of your skill level, or how many days you spend on the water each year, everyone can learn from everyone. Our vision is to create a network of fly fishers around the country, and around the world, who guide each other by sharing their personal fly fishing reports.

Merry Christmas from An Irish Angler

2011-12-20T18:12:00.001-07:00

Hi Guys,

Happy Christmas from Ireland to all at Virtual Fly Guides. I hope that Santa has remembered to pack those new waders, coveted reel, or selection of flies. Mrs Claus sent me a recent photo of the big man, guess he was fueling up for the long night ahead.

Have a happy New Year and tight lines.

Regards,

Ashley

3 Brothers Flies

2011-12-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Lake Taneycomo, MO

We fished for two days during Thanksgiving week on Lake Taneycomo. The water was low on the first day. I landed a sixteen inch rainbow on a #20 cdc BWO comparadun, and my little brother caught another sixteen inch bow on a #12 zoo cougar. I also caught a small trout on a #20 blood midge. The second day the water was high and midges were hatching all day. The same bwo fly was very productive, along with adams and zoo cougars. One thing I learned was to always use a big dry for your indicator unless you are changing the depth of your nymph a lot. I used a #16 Ausable Bomber for my indicator and caught three rainbows up to 14". In the couple hours we fished we caught thirteen rainbows up to 14" between four of us.

Check out our blog at 3brothersflies.com

Fly Fishing Report, Putah Creek, CA

2011-12-12T00:31:00.002-07:00

I guided my friend Don Van Schenck on Putah Creek in Northern California on Thursday, December 8th. We fished from about 10am to 1pm and caught 5 between us. The nicest fish was Don's 23-inch Rainbow. The effective flies were a flashback PT (#16) and an olive VFG Nymph (#20), a fly you can purchase on this website. Weather was perfect; cool and sunny. Water flows were low, around 100cfs.

Submitted by: Sean Wallentine

Submit Your Fly Fishing Reports

2011-12-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Click on the link below to post your fly fishing photos and reports with the Virtual Fly Guides.

Submit Photos on the Virtual Fly Guides Submission Page

After the reports, photos, or videos are submitted through the Submission Page and are approved, they will be featured here on this blog.

Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros

2011-11-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

For all of you flyfishers looking for a new flyfishing app for your iPhone or iPad, downloading Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros is a must. Go to iTunes to purchase this outstanding app for only $2.99. The biggest names in flyfishing share their knowledge and can assist flyfishers of every skill level. Click on the following iTunes Preview link of Freshwater Flyfishing Tips From The Pros by Mark Williams and enjoy!

San Juan River, NM September 2011

2011-11-17T19:15:00.001-07:00

Even the shallow spots will yield fish, especially on the San Juan!

Harrison River, BC Fly Fishing Report

2011-11-11T12:40:00.003-07:00

Harrison River near Vancouver, BC
November is late run Chum salmon time and this fall there is a ton of fish, so we are experiencing a great fishery that should last right through November. These fish are bright and tough!

Visit Brian at Silversides Fishing Adventures to book a trip now!

Submitted by: Brian McKinlay

Blue Winged-Olive Hatch on the Provo River, UT

2011-11-04T20:40:00.000-07:00