Iowa Wild Browns and Steam Engines

I spent the past three days in NE Iowa, fishing some of my favorite locations with Vladimir Vujic, a friend from Chicago. We found plenty of willing fish, and water conditions varied from fairly murky to crystal clear, depending on the stream. Vladimir and myself took trout on small streamers, nymphs and dries, and witnessed several sporadic BWO and midge hatches, caddis and terrestrial activity.

On the second day, while fishing an open pasture section, I was lucky to hook a nice male brown on a size 12 Klink, in riffles under the bridge. Vladimir had his camera ready, and was able to document the fight.

During the last day, the fishing was slower due to the bright skies, but we managed to hook and land some pretty wild fish.

On our way back, we stopped and met Amy's Dad at the steam engine show, which featured steam engines, cars and tractors from a bygone era!

Nervous Water

Nervous Water from Vladan Milenkovic on Vimeo.

Amy took this short video clip while I was fishing in Winthrop in the dusk... The quality is not that great, but you can see the baitfish and striper activity.

Great Expectations

I found my old haunts around Boston Harbor and further north just as enchanting as ever. The distance can sometimes do things like that to a fisherman. You anticipate every moment of the trip, reliving old memories about early Fall blitzes, spraying bait and brave pulls of a big striper. Old memories die hard!

My expectations turned into something else, perhaps more profound and somewhat disturbing. As expected, I did fish some fine looking water. I spent wonderful moments on and off the water with both old and new friends. However, stripers were not around, ready to play... at least not in any sizable numbers. I fished hard for three days, from Plum Island down to the Harbor, hitting many well known shore locations. The result was a single hookup. While fishing together, my old friend Eric Evans and Boston Harbor guide Dave Skok confirmed something I was reading about-that striper stocks are down. If something doesn't change, this great American gamefish might disappear again...

It is hard to predict the future and we don't know what it will bring. Even though I don't know what the solution is, I certainly hope for the brightest outcome!

Photo credits, top to bottom/left to right: Twilight in Boston Harbor (Vlad), Casting (Dave Skok), Sandy Point surf (Amy), Silversides in the Anisquam (Vlad), Estuary glow (Amy), Ron DiRito and his ceviche (Amy)

Packing for the Long Weekend

The Best Solution

...for measuring shooting heads and custom tips, readily available on Ebay. This particular model measures down to 0.01 gram or 0.15 grains. That's more precision than you'll ever need for flyfishing!

The Lost World of Mr Hardy

Evening on the Estuary - The Lost World of Mr Hardy extra from Trufflepig Films on Vimeo.

Extra footage from a great movie... http://www.thelostworldofmrhardy.com/

Another 5wt...

Built for a friend in Montenegro...

Saltwater 7wt

Stream in the Valley

The valley is silent in the summer heat-only birds, water and fish.

The stream is slightly high and discolored after the summer rains.

It never disappoints-fish are ready to play even in the mid July noon!

Recent bank stabilization...this spot needed it.

Wild browns are the prize for the patient fisher.

On the Water (Part III)

Today was mostly sight nymphing... small PTs and Kite's bare hook nymphs. Challenging fishing in the summer heat!

"Enzo" 9' 5wt Fly Rod

Another casting machine, built for Kevin Stull on CTS Affinity X blank.

On the Water (Part II)

Another beautiful day on the stream... Today was windy, but trout didn't want beatles all the time. Most of the action was happening under the surface with nymphs and woolies, with just enough lazy sippers providing excitement on the top.

On the Water

This must be the rainiest June I can remember... Finally went to test the new rod on some spring creek browns, and enjoyed the nice, sunny weather. The water was slightly murky from the rain, and there was no hatch until the brief BWO appearance in the early afternoon. I was having fun with beatles and crickets, and finished the day soft-hackling downstream until I reached my car by the bridge.