Extended Inland Trout Season; Does it really matter?

With the recent DNR activity and voting up in Wisconsin, I wanted to reach out to one of the guys most in the know up there, and one of the best guides in the Driftless I know - Kyle Zempel, lead guide with Black Earth Angling.  A totally fishy dude, with a great eye and a great understanding of the environmental and how we impact it.  

(Write up courtesy of Kyle Zempel, of Black Earth Angling and Kyle Zempel Photography)

As of January 1st, 2016 Wisconsin's inland trout season will be 2.5 months longer, will it make a difference?

Currently, Wisconsin's inland trout season is as follows:

Catch and release (early season): 1st Saturday in March to the Sunday preceding the first Saturday in May.

**Season closes for one week before the regular season begins.

Regular Season: First Saturday in May to September 30th.

What will the new rules in effect as of January 1, 2016 look like?

Catch and Release (early season) will open on January 1st and remain open until the regular season opens on the first Saturday in May. There will be no week closure before the regular season opener. The regular season opener (first Saturday in May) will mark the day that folks who would like to bring a trout home with them can do so. The regular season will run from the first Saturday in May until October 15th (instead of Sept. 30th).

To sum that up, it will look as follows:

As of January 1, 2016:

Catch and release (early season): January 1, 2016 to the Friday before the first Saturday in May.

**NO SEASON CLOSURE

Regular (Catch and Release not required): First Saturday in May to October 15th

The regulations regarding bag limits will also be receiving a change. The regulations will be simplified. As of 2016, a stream will no longer have multiple regulations per stream. The stream will either be all RED, YELLOW, or GREEN in the regulations booklet. This is to simplify the regulations for those who plan to take fish home. 

The BIG question is will it really change anything? My answer is YES!!

To the common individual, being able to fish in January and February doesn't mean much as they will likely not tough out the cold. Many trout fishermen are an exception to this, they are not the common individual. Yes, for many folks this early extension to the season will not change anything because they don't knock the dust off their rod until late-April, but for some fisherman who struggle through the winter months waiting for the season to open so that they can “wet a line” this is great news. I have no doubts that there will be some individuals that will get out multiple times before March hits. I am one of them. When you hit a mild winter day, it is often just enough to get out and cast. Catching a trout is a bonus. While out doing some pre-season scouting I have witnessed fish rising to some really nice midge hatches and thought to myself “Wow, if only I could wet a line.” Now those of us who may struggle from seasonal depression can get out and heal our minds. We must keep in mind that angling isn't always about catching a fish, but getting out and recreating. The new season extension will now allow for the die-hards to get out and recreate instead of sitting in front of our computer/television screens.

Now, the two new “winter months” of fishing will affect mainly the die-hards, but the 15-day extension on the other end of things will have the bigger affect. It always broke my heart that when the leaves began to turn in the great state of Wisconsin, I had to pick up and head to Iowa's Driftless streams (not that there's anything wrong with Iowa) if I wanted to enjoy some Fall fishing. This will now be a different story. I've been asked why only until the 15th of October, why not until the end of October. I would like to clear this up as I have asked this question to the folks a the WI DNR and they have a legitimate reason. If you have ever fished in the WI Driftless area, you are likely aware that much of the fishing grounds are lands leased for public use or are easements. Well, many of these gracious land owners like to enjoy the sport of bow-hunting on their own property. During the middle of October Whitetail activity really picks up as rut begins to start. The landowners were concerned about a fisherman walking through their property spooking the deer they are after, negatively affecting their hunt. Nobody likes being high holed on a stream, we should have the same respect for others out enjoying the great resources we have in the state. So, the DNR met these landowners in the middle which has left the majority of people happy. They let us fish until October 15th and we stay off their property through the peak hunting season. I feel that it is more than fair seeing that most of these landowners are nice enough to open up their privately owned lands for public fishing use.  

The next issue I've had to address is the statement, “Isn't that when the trout spawn? Aren't you going to negatively affect that?” The answer to this question is both yes and no. If we (fishing community) are careless and don't pay attention to where we are wading then yes, we will negatively affect the spawning activity. However, if we are stewards of the sport and pay attention to what we are doing on the stream (much like taking the time clean our waders so we are not spreading invasives), this will not have a negative affect on the fish. Bottom line is pay attention, familiarize yourself with what, and where, reds are, and be sure to stay away from them. Make others aware - we are all in this together.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT. 

As a fishing guide I get a unique perspective on this because, well, I make money taking people fishing. The extra days especially on the fall end of things means potentially 15 more pay checks for me or my other guides. I expect to book up everyone of those days if the weather conditions in October hold up. That is a significant change for the guiding community. We are lucky enough that the Driftless Area has the fisheries to support numerous excellent fishing guides, and the extra potential guide days will help support these guides financially so that they are able to keep doing what they do best. This change however, is reaches much further than just supporting fishing guides. Many local businesses will see a positive impact due to the additional available fishing days. Motels/hotels, gas stations, bars, restaurants, and fly shops are just a few that are directly affected by the extension. I've had the pleasure of working with many business owners in the Driftless Area specifically, and they will tell you that trout fishermen and women are a major part of their customer base. They will likely see the positive impact on the October end of things more so than the winter side, but as a small business owner the extra income is always welcomed with open arms. 

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Fishermen and Fisherwomen can now enjoy fishing amongst fall colors.  

One on One - Ben West

Tell me a little about yourself.

My Name is Ben West, I am a Fly Fisherman and Artist.  I live in Bloomington, Indiana where I chase a variety of fish.  Some of my other interests include bowhunting whitetail deer, spring turkey hunting, mountain biking, gardening, cooking/grilling, live music, mushroom hunting, training my chocolate Labrador. 

Do you paint full time, or do you have a 9-5?

I have several other jobs that I do aside from painting.   I am a fly fishing guide. Last summer I was up in Alaska working as a guide with Deneki Outdoors; Alaska West Lodge.  I love guiding and being on the water every day. It is my true calling.  I have spent a few summers guiding out in Wyoming in the past as well.   When I am back home in Bloomington I juggle my time between Carpentry, Farming, and Artwork.   

Tell me a bit about your home waters.  Outside of that, what’s your favorite place to fish?

In the early spring I fish for Musky, they are a mean predator of a fish that really capture the imagination and are quite a challenge to catch on any tackle let alone fly tackle.   I also chase after early spring carp in my favorite creek.  In the past few years I have really grown finatical about carp fishing with the fly rod.  It is a ton of fun, they live everywhere and are a challenging fish to catch.  They are great practice for saltwater flats fishing and even backcountry stealth trout fishing.  I fish a lot in Lake Monroe which is the largest lake in Indiana and luckily it is very close to home.  My favorite species to chase in the lake is the Hybrid Striped Bass.  We call them Wipers cause they are a hybrid between a White Bass and a Striped Bass(Striper).  Once they start up in the spring that is all that I chase after because they are an amazingly strong fish that run in schools.   I have had incredible days fishing for them catching dozens of fish in the 10-12 lb range.  They are a fish that will give you a workout and really peel off some backing from the reel.  I also enjoy fishing for smallmouth bass in a scenic small stream.  Smallmouth bass are an awesome fish, they are aggressive predators and sometimes impressive acrobats.   As far as favorite place to fish outside of the home waters I have to say Alaska.  I spent 4 months last year living on the remote Kanektok River in the Western Alaskan Tundra.  The fishery is absolutely incredible.   We caught all 5 species of Pacific Salmon, Leopard Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling.  The whole Alaskan fishing experience would take a lot of time and words to describe.   The fishing is just astounding up there in so many ways.    

What led you down the long road that is fly fishing? 

In Middle school my wood shop teacher was an avid tournament bass fisherman and he always had bass magazines around the classroom.  He was a great resource for getting me into bass fishing. We fished a tournament or two and quickly I became obsessed with bass fishing.  I was soaking it up like a sponge. I read everything I could about techniques and lures.  I got up early to watch the bassmasters classic on the weekends, when a show came on and they were fly fishing for brown trout.  I thought that looked like a lot of fun. So I borrowed a fly rod from a friend, and taught myself how to catch bluegill and bass on the neighbors farm pond.  I grew up in the country in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.  The pond across the street was where I really learned a TON about fishing.  It was close enough to ride my bike there and I did, every single day after school.  The farmer must have thought I was crazy as hell cause it would be pouring down rain or blowing like crazy and I would be on the dam, casting into the wind!   I am just really fortunate and grateful to have grown up in the country and to live so close to a pond.  I believe that is truly how got hooked on fly fishing.  

What’s your favorite fish to target?

Tough question... there is a fish for every season. There is also something about every species that captures my interest.  Big gnarly brown trout would probably have to be my answer though.  They are the perfect fish. I love how aggressive they are as predators and how colorful and amazingly stunning they are as well.  They will charge down you streamer and crush it with authority or they might come to the surface and slurp your hopper.    

What's your greatest fishing memory, good or bad?

I think the strongest memories in fishing are of those big fish that you get to see JUST ONCE before they shake out the hook, or pull you into the wood and break you off.  I think its that quick glimpse of that fish right before it gets away that we all remember, and will never forget.  Losing a big fish hurts, but it just fuels the fire  even more and really captures your imagination.  

How long have you been painting?  

I sold my first painting for Two dollars to my Kindergarten art teacher.  It was a painting of a troll under a bridge.   I come from an artistic family.   My Mom is an artist, she works in oil and paints landscapes around home in the mountains and valleys of Virginia. My dad works with wood, he is a carpenter and wood carver.  They always encouraged me to draw, paint, and be productive.   I studied art at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina.   I graduated in 2010 and my senior thesis was a series of large oil paintings of trout. 

When you’re first considering a new painting, where do you find your inspiration? 

I primarily paint fish that I have personally caught myself or helped someone land.  I will sort through my own photographs and get excited about the memory of that fish or that place and start from there.   

What other mediums do you work in?  Water colors, colored pencils, etc?

All of my paintings are Oils, but I do work with watercolors and pens for sketching.  I usually do several small sketches to work on composition and to practice drawing a fish before it goes onto a larger canvas. 

Tell me a bit more about your guiding

I love guiding.  It's great to share and teach this passion of fly fishing with others. I enjoy spending a lot of time outside and on the water.  Last summer I was guiding at Alaska West Lodge.  I was up there for four months. I lived on the Kanektok River and was on the water about 12-14hrs a day.  When you spend that much time on any body of water you start to understand it.  I really enjoy sharing that knowledge and creating fishing memories with people.  

How does guiding influence or impact your painting, and vice versa?  

I am able to take a lot of fish photographs when I am guiding. It's a great way to collect painting references. I also am able to do commissioned paintings for clients.  If they catch a fish of a lifetime and want a painting of it I can make it happen.   

Who are your favorite artists?

Winslow Homer, Derek DeYoung, Paul Puckett, Tim Borski, Robert Bateman.  Truly inspiring artwork.  

For everyone looking to see more of your art, where can they learn more?  

I have a blog were you can see some of my images.  westriverart.blogspot.com  also check out my Facebook page Ben West Art.  

I look forward to creating a website and also making prints available. Rght now all the pieces I have for sale are original oil paintings.   You can contact me about paintings or commissions at  benjaminbwest@gmail.com

A Spey Journey - Introduction

Sensei Taylor

Doug Taylor is a spey rod instructor. He is a tall Britisher with a wry wit and a casting style that is best described as smooth and easy. Too easy.   

That is, like everything in life, the guys who do it well make it look easy and yet we all know they've put in a lot of time to become that way. If you think someone was born to spey cast and then you added up the hours they spent on the water working on their form, you'd realize that few people are actually born that way. Even the Rajeff brothers went to casting school. 

To be honest, I've been poking fun at long rodders since the day my dad said, "See that guy making those roll casts, that's a spey rod, about as old and archaic a technique you'll ever see. Can’t cast a dry fly with it.” That was about 1959 and I've been carrying my dad's words around in my head ever since. 

So it probably came as a surprise to Doug when I said, "You know, I make fun of guys who cast Spey rods but maybe I should consider giving it a shot, just to make sure that I'm not like some food critic, a guy who can't cook but is critical of others who do.”  So at the Early Show, in November, I talked to him about taking a lesson just to see what I was making fun of. He looked down at me and grinned, "Call me when you're ready." 

So a couple of weeks ago, I called him up.  

"Hey Mate, what's up?"

"I think I should learn to cast a spey rod."

And the conversation went downhill from there but at the end I had an appointment with Doug for an introduction to Spey Casting. In other words, finding out if I’d like it. 

We met in Batavia just south of the City at a small park with a number of bridges crossing over the Fox River. It was also across from a sewage treatment plant. I made a mental note not to be making any jokes. 

Before we started, I said to Doug, “Define two handed Spey Casting” 

"A Spey cast is an accelerated roll cast with a change of direction." 

To which I added, "And like everything Scottish, especially golf, a pain."

And there I was wadered up, standing in knee deep water, getting a whiff from the sewage treatment plant, learning how to anchor the line, the 180 degree rule, how to make a D loop, which looked more like an L to me and searching for the anchor. I was learning to slow down and wait for the line to do what it was supposed to do in order to make a decent cast. Or at least get Doug to say, “Well that wasn't as much rubbish as the last cast."

We started at 10:00am and got out of the water at 2:00. We stopped because I got tired and frustrated. This was not what I had thought. It is nothing like single handed casting. It might look the same, but it isn’t even close. 

"What do you think mate?" 

"My dad was wrong." 

"Say again."

"My dad made fun of Spey rods fifty years ago, and I'd taken up the torch after that. But he was wrong. It's not a roll cast. It's a damn difficult cast." 

"That it is. Think you'll continue on now that you've had an introduction?"

“Hell, I'm not even sure if I made any decent casts today."

"You did a few." 

"Yep, a few."

"Enough to encourage you to keep going?"

I told Doug I'd think about it. 

Epilogue: 
I sent an email to Doug a few days later. "I'm encouraged, let’s see where it takes us." 
He, perhaps to his own chagrin, said, “I think it’ll be a good story.” 

Do I like two handed casting? It’s interesting and I agree with Doug who kept saying, “You know mate, two handed will only help your one handed.” 

I also believe in Leprechauns. 

Can I tell you the difference between a switch rod and a Spey rod? 

No. Nor Skandia lines, proper heads and all of that minutia that people go into when telling me about their two handed experience. They talk, I nod, then fall asleep. 

What I know is that day on the Fox was the first time I’d ever cast a two handed rod. It is a challenge and I like to be challenged, not so much that I’m overwhelmed but so that I will take the next step. Which believe it or not is to take another lesson and practice. And get gear. I think I like the get gear part best and this is where a teacher comes in handy. You just borrow their stuff till you figure out what works for you. And then go on a buying spree. 

After a while, I know it’ll be become fun and one day I’ll have forgotten that day on the Fox, where the line whacked me in the head, the anchor was nowhere to be found and the 180 degree rule was meant for filming interviews and not some cast.  Where a D loop, actually looks like a D loop and the names of the cast don’t sound like something from a book written by a drunk Welshman. 

The end game is not the perfect cast. It might be hearing Doug say, “Well done, nicely done lad, not bad,” which I suppose might happen, however it’s also about catching fish. Because in the long run, learning how to cast is about casting to a fish, not standing out in river whirling and tossing a line about. It’s about delivering a fly to a spot where the fish are. It’s about reading the water and making the best presentation possible. And the more skills you have with your casting, the more likely you are to connect and land that fish. 

So that’s why I’m going to work at this, that and Doug said I had some skills. Not many but enough. And he quoted a guy, “If I can’t get them to do a Double Spey in ten minutes then either they’re a ninny or I’m drunk.” 

Doug said I wasn’t a ninny. 

You can follow the journey here on Tippets and Tales as I photograph and video tape the lessons and progressions, including the two steps back. So stay tuned, the adventure is just beginning.