15 Seconds of Fly Fishing - Streamer Season

Every season is streamer season. Unless, it's winter...then it's probably not. Unless you live somewhere awesome, then it is. And hey, eff you if you do.

Got to let you know that I got a crush on you. #flyfishing #colorado #flyfishingvideo #throwbackmachine #streamerseason #biggie

A video posted by YGF (@yukongoesfishing) on Jan 26, 2015 at 7:19am PST

15 Seconds of Fly Fishing - No Flex Zone

Denis, Mike, and I entered the No Flex Zone this past winter.

No Flex Zone with @eatsonthefly and @tatrofishfilms #flyfishing #fattiesdontflex #colorado @gopro @orvis @smithoptics

A video posted by YGF (@yukongoesfishing) on Jan 18, 2015 at 8:53am PST

15 Seconds of Fly Fishing - Wet Beak

Last fall, I got my saltwater beak wet with a little snooklet in Florida. I will be returning to Florida for some more of this salty ass action this summer. I'm looking forward to it. Enjoy.

Microsnooking #flyfishing #florida

A video posted by YGF (@yukongoesfishing) on Nov 7, 2014 at 6:40am PST

15 seconds of Fly Fishing - Pre-Nap Streamers

Another installment in the 15 seconds of Fly Fishing series. This time, it's August streamer fishing and falling through mysterious bank holes.

Pre-nap August streamers with @eatsonthefly #flyfishing #colorado #theoriginal

A video posted by YGF (@yukongoesfishing) on Aug 21, 2014 at 7:21am PDT

15 seconds of fly fishing - The YGF Preview

This YGF, instagram, 15 second fly fishing shorty features clips from three prospective standard YGF shorts. Two out of those three have been successfully uploaded to vimeo. The third...it's not happening. Not enough footage. But, it had carp.

Glassman Canyon

Ringing in the New Year in Denver means that The Fly Fishing Show isn't far behind. With The Fly Fishing Show comes many a welcome visitor. Last year, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing the water with the Fishing Poet and Sanders in some, let's say, colder temperatures. This year, Russ Schnitzer and I took Cam Cam the Glass Man (or Cameron Mortenson of The Fiberglass Manifesto) into Cheesman Canyon.

Picking out what proved to be the wrong combination for Cheesman's trouts. Photo credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

The Cheese had given up it's fair share of healthy fish earlier this winter and I was fairly confident that we would all have solid chances at it's trouts. I was wrong. The fish were glued to the bottom of deep pools and runs and weren't moving to even the most well-presented fly. Russ managed one spunky rainbow. Cam Cam the Glass Man and I both stung a few of our own. The fishing was shit. But, the day was fantastic. Normally, I don't buy into the idea that it's just good to get out. I could go for a leisurely hike without all the tools of the trade. I fish to catch fish.

Cameron throwing the Epic. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

However, this day was different. It was a pleasure to share the water with Cameron. As Cameron and I discussed between drifts, it is comforting to confirm initial online judgements of fellow bloggers. Cameron is solid dude and an excellent ambassador for fiberglass fly rods and the fly fishing community, in general.

Glass Glow. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

Cam Cam the Glass Man even got Russ and I to throw his four weight Epic fiberglass rod. I was impressed with the ease of casting and mending. It wasn't fast-action by any means and definitely required a slower stroke. But, it was nonetheless a powerful four weight. It handled the multi-nymph rig with ease and was a pleasure to cast. It was my greatest regret that we weren't able to see the Epic bend on one of Cheesman's finer specimens. Maybe next year.

Throwing Graphite in front of the glass king. Photo Credit: SchnitzerPHOTO

Out with the Old...

And in with the new. Well, not quite. But, almost. It is time to formally retire the GoPro Hero 1. It's been fun. Last night, I received a shipment from GoPro.  I would like to formally welcome a new, improved tool to the Yukon Goes Fishing film making toolbelt. A brand spanking new GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition.

COLD SNAP - New YGF Video

It seems I've done myself a disservice. Two weeks ago, I released my most recent video, titled "COLD SNAP." Prior to the cold snap that hit the Rockies in the beginning of December, a fellow Croat and I made it out on a snowy day. The temperature warmed as the day progressed and the fishing did the same. It was a day in Cheesman Canyon. Enjoy.

COLD SNAP from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

Starting the New Year off DRY.

Finding rising trout is always a treat. Finding them in the middle of winter in Colorado is downright tasty. Tanner (AKA San Juan and Eggs AKA the Four Weight Wizard) was kind enough to share one of his small stream gems with me and it made for a damn good time.

The recipe: A YETI filled with high lifes, two dogs, some light rods, and some parachute adams.

The Meal: Small creek browns on the surface.

The day started off slow. Real slow. But, as the sun progressively warmed the creek up, the tiny creek's colorful browns started rising to our dries. Just as one would expect. It's winter after all.

During my time as fly angler, I have neglected small streams, in favor of more well known waters. It is my 2014 angling resolution to spend more time in the backcountry. More time on waters like this. They are good for the soul.

DARK - New YGF Video

GoPro's greatest weakness are their ability to capture footage in low light. I gave it a shot while throwing some over-sized rodent patterns at some of the South Platte's finest. Let me know how you think it turned out. I hope you guys enjoy.

DARK from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

One Hand Holds - Egos Beware

For those dedicated carp anglers like myself, you might be familiar with the "One Hand Hold" that John Montana has popularized. I am here with a cautionary tale. It's not as easy as it looks...and sometimes, it's downright embarassing.

WARNING: Bruised Egos shown below.

Fumble.

Recover

Nailed it.

The Fly Collective presents "Long Shot"

Long Shot from The Fly Collective on Vimeo.

Teamwork makes dreamwork. We (SchnitzerPHOTO and YGF), The Fly Collective, are proud to present our most recent piece about carp, Erin Block, and Jay Zimmerman. Enjoy.

Extreme Circumstances

Fall is not a time to sacrifice days on the water. It will be winter in no time. When finances are tight and major expenditures like new wading boots take away from the recreation budget, I will forgo new boots and opt for more water time every time. My wading boots have seen their last action. They've been dying for the last six months. The tread is gone and the "seams" have busted open. My first substitute, my hiking boots, are too tight when worn with stocking foot waders and caused some noteworthy blisters. My hand has been forced. Now, I am sporting some high top Nike Dunks. All leather. All black. No tread to speak of. Arkansas River here I come.

Options? They aren't options if there is only one.

Redington Sonic Pro Jacket - A YGF Review

Fishing in inclement and harsh weather can be productive and rewarding time on the water. Scratch that. Fishing in inclement and harsh weather can be productive and rewarding time on the water when you have the right equipment. Fishing in cold and/or wet weather requires a quality jacket to protect the portions of your body that aren’t covered by waders.

Winter fishing on the Dream Stream in the Sonic Pro Jacket

Redington’s Sonic Pro Jacket is one such jacket. Constructed of 100%, 4-layer waterproof and breathable fabric, the Sonic Pro Jacket features the ultrasonic welded seam construction that is found in Redington’s extremely durable Sonic Pro Waders. The Sonic Pro Jacket boasts seven pockets, including: four spacious zippered, chest pockets, one internal zippered chest pocket, an open internal chest pocket, and a huge double zippered back pocket. Additionally, there are fleece-lined handwarmer pockets inset behind the external chest pockets. The Sonic Pro Jacket also features a waterproof centerfront zipper and an oversized fully adjustable hood that rolls up and tucks into the collar. Finally, perhaps my favorite feature are adjustable cuffs, that when properly fitted, provide a water-resistant seal for your arms.

A look at the front waterproof zipper of the Sonic Pro Jacket

Since I live in Colorado, I don’t experience too many all out rainy days (until recently). However, Colorado is the land of tailwaters and has a plethora of winter fishing available. Winter fishing conditions in Colorado can often times be described as inclement. As such, over the past 10 months, it is my opinion that the Redington Sonic Pro Jacket has been put through it’s paces. After nearly a year of use, I have nothing but positive things to say about the jacket and would definitely recommend it to anyone in search of a high quality, durable wading jacket for the upcoming fall, winter and spring angling seasons. Additionally, at $299.95, the Sonic Pro Jacket is, at minimum, 100 dollars cheaper than direct competitors similar offerings. Yet another quality product from Redington at an affordable price. It’s seemingly what they do.

Bosley gets a good sniff in.

Read on for my detailed take on the Redington Sonic Pro Jacket.

PERFORMANCE

A jacket is either waterproof or it isn’t. The Sonic Pro Jacket is waterproof. Denver receives 300 days of sun a year, so in a typical year, there aren’t a great deal of opportunities to test a wading jacket in the rain. However, when the opportunity has been presented the Sonic Pro Jacket has stood up to the challenge. Perhaps my favorite feature in the jacket are the adjustable cuffs, that when properly fitted, provide a water-resistant seal for your arms.

Sonic Pro Jacket experiences some -14 F temperatures.

In the winter, when water temperatures hover at or slightly above freezing and ambient air temperatures can sink below zero, keeping cold water off insulating layers is of the upmost importance. When fitted properly, the adjustable cuffs create an excellent seal that keeps the insulating layers dry and allows for a more comfortable day on the water.

A look at the adjustable cuff of the Redington Sonic Pro Jacket

In addition to utilizing this jacket during days on the water, I have also used it as a rain jacket during the historic rains of early September here in Colorado. My girlfriend and I sat in torrential rains from 5 PM to 12 AM for a concert at Red Rocks. The only complaint I have is that I didn’t pair the Sonic Pro Jacket with my Sonic Pro waders. Had I done so, my lower half would have been dry as well.

Storage & Fit

As detailed in the second paragraph of this review, the Sonic Pro Jacket features seven spacious pockets. During my days on the water with this jacket, I primarily made use of the four zippered, chest pockets. All four pockets are spacious enough to hold a large 8-row C&F Design fly box. With all of the available storage in the Sonic Pro Jacket, you can replace a chest, hip, or sling pack if you so desire.

Sonic Pro Jacket storage

The fleece-lined handwarmer pockets that are inset behind the external chest pockets are serviceable. One of my only gripes with the design of this jacket is the thickness of the fleece lining. It is a little on the thin side and leaves a something to be desired when the hands need a warm home during a cold winter day.

In addition to the plethora of storage, the Sonic Pro Jacket boasts an oversized and fully adjustable hood. On it’s own without adjustment, the hood is big and unwieldy. However, with a quick adjustment, the hood fits perfectly around a fitted hat and/or knit hat and allows for the comfortable, continued pursuit of our finned friends.

The Sonic Pro Jacket has a relaxed fit. I am 6’2” and 215 pounds. The Sonic Pro Jacket in Extra Large was the appropriate size for my frame. It has ample space for layering options depending on the temperature. In addition to allowing for the user to wear the appropriate layers, the large rear storage pocket serves as the perfect storage space for those additional layers as the day progresses. I found the Sonic Pro jacket to be comfortable when casting, walking, and stalking trout.

DURABILITY

It has been expressed to me by those who I fish with, that I am abnormally hard on my gear. With that in mind, the Sonic Pro Jacket has stood up to all my apparently abnormally hard tests. The zippers, the seams, the stitching, the pull strings are all intact and performing just as well as they did when I pulled the jacket out of the box 10 months ago.

TAKEHOME

I feel like every review of Redington gear I publish ends in a similar fashion. But, rightfully so, I suppose. Durable, well-designed, and more affordable than it’s direct competitors, the Sonic Pro Jacket is worthy of such high praise. With fall upon us and winter knocking on the door, the Sonic Pro Jacket is an excellent piece of apparel to make those foul weather days more enjoyable. The more comfortable you are when fishing in the cold, the more fish you’ll catch. It’s math...and science.

I HATE FALL

Why, you ask?

Because I love summer so much? No. I hate fall because it doesn't last for 8 months.

Otherwise, this season is alright with me.

I mean it.

Favorite Hats. What About You Favorite Fishing Shirt?

There are a lot of quality, breathable, quick-drying fishing shirts on the market. When it comes to my favorite fishing shirt, I completely disregard all of those desirable qualities and opt for irony.

I opt for my embroidered Rainbow Trout Deerskin Soft Chamois All-Season Weight Cabela's long-sleeve shirt. A gift from my father when I first got into fly fishing, it sat in my closet for a couple of years. But, when I discovered the joy of carping this summer, I figured what better time to wear a thick, warm, and rainbow trout-ed long sleeve shirt when on the warm water flats chasing common carp. It has served me well and has brought me some of my larger carp this summer. Sometimes the least comfortable fishing shirts are the best.

Favorite Carping Shirt - photo courtesy of SchnitzerPHOTO

Glass Carp - New YGF Video

GLASS IS NOT DEAD. Went after some Colorado carp with a Kabuto 805 fiberglass fly rod courtesy of The Fiberglass Manifesto's Rod Loan Program. If you haven't fished glass before, try it.

Enjoy.

Glass Carp from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.

Watch in HD on vimeo.

Frogs are worse for your heart than bacon

When walking the flats for carp, beware of frogs. They wait until the time is right (usually mid-stalk and deep in concentration) to squeel and jump into the water mere inches from your legs.

It usually is a surprise and an unwelcome jolt out of a concentrated carp trance. Just ask Jay Zimmerman.

Side note: Bacon is great for the soul...which is basically your heart.

A Convert

The first time I fished with pinchetruta, he didn't see the appeal of carp. He said he welcomed fly fisherman to fish for carp because it meant more trout for him.

Fast forward eight months. He has converted. He's seen the light.

Maybe it was the regular trips to his backing. Maybe it was solving the puzzle that is getting a carp to eat.

Whatever it was, he is all in.

40 MPH and RISING - New YGF Video

Not all days are great. Conditions aren't always perfect. Sometimes it's windy. This was one of those days in South Park on the Dream Stream. I was joined by Andrew Burgos (aka pinchetruta on instagram), his dog Ethel, and YGF's official canine mascot Bosley dog. While it was a little windy, we still managed to have a good day on the Dream. Watch it on Vimeo in HD.

40 MPH AND RISING from Yukon Goes Fishing on Vimeo.