Brian Wise

Whatever you do don't pay for a "Fly Fishing School" or a "Fly Fishing Class"....if you ask 100 guides what they think when someone says "I went to the Orvis school of fly fishing" 90 of them will think to themself "Ok, I will be teaching all day" and the other 10% are Orvis Endorsed guides. I came from the school of hard knocks. I had no one in my family that fly fished...no friends that fly fished...nothing. But I am guessing that I had something that is CRAZY valuable to a new fly fisherman that you may not, a trout stream 15 minutes from me. Quite literally if someone doesn't help you the only other way to learn this is time on the water, and a TON of it. Anyone can learn to cast and tie knots, half of casting is style anyway and you can't 'teach' style that is something that the caster has to find on his or her own. What a seasoned angler (notice I'm not only saying guides here) 'can' teach is how to make that cast easier, with less effort, and then THE most important part....what to do with the fly is in the water, or better yet in a fish face and you have no idea. Seriously, find someone that has fly fished for a while and go fishing with them...it will save you a TON of frustration and time. (*hint* these people are super easy to find at local fly fishing clubs) The cool part is, we can tell you have that fire to learn this sport....congrats.

It's true..... Don't get frustrated man, this sport isn't the easiest to learn when you are on your own. I would suggest finding a local fly fishing club or an acquaintance that can help you get your feet wet. Also, good guides are an amazing source for helping the learning curve....you could probably learn as much in a day with a good guide as you would in a year+ on your own. (I SWEAR this isn't a plug, and I am totally waiting to catch crap about that ) sean c is also totally right about the North Fork of the White making you a better fisherman. You 'could' learn to fly fish in a trout park or tailwater where the fish are puppies that come to a whistle (seriously, you can pet them) but then when you 'do' fish a real trout stream it is crazy tough....I have seen it a TON!! Keep coming to Sunburst and your fishing will get better and better.

I will be floating sometime tomorrow afternoon (fun float, doubt I will be fishing) so if you see a Drift boat go by with a bald guy be sure to yell! Fish Deep, get the longest drift you can get, and set the hook at the right time....doubt I can give you many more pointers than that. Brian

I had to stretch before I typed this.....and the trip was almost a week ago. :-) The trip was awesome...no musky though. We 'did' hook a 150lb "something" though. Video and reports to follow, video will be a while. Brian

Welcome! You are going to have a great time! Like Chris said, make sure you float as often as possible. Kelly to Patrick is the best now and that is the float around the ROLF area. Fish deep, and fish hard...it'll happen. Brian

Hey guys, About a year ago Kyle Kosovish, Aaron Scott, and myself won the Recycled Fish 24 hour Fish-a-Thon which included a trip to Lake Vermillion, MN. We leave tomorrow. But since we are going to be driving through the Driftless region of Wisconsin we thought we would stop there and fish for a few days too.....ANNNNNND...since we are driving through the Hayward, WI area to get to MN from the Driftless we thought we would float a musky river on our way. Video cameras will be in tow and we are hoping for some epic stuff--stay tuned! Brian

Awesome!

This is so much easier to do in a Drift Boat....

It'll catch fish. If I'm not mistaken that is the way Rich designed this fly in the beginning anyway. It would be a lot more of a jigging motion with one hook is the only problem in my eyes (not that that is really a "problem") because with the articulation it will dart from side to side now and then and when you get used to fishing it you can manipulate it to do it almost every strip.

That is exactly the stuff Steve.

Thanks man!

Agreed. You have to bring your "A-Game" to the North Fork of the White anyway....but in the Summer that "A-Game" better be pretty stellar. Just guessing here but I would say (without having a clue how you fished) your problem was not fishing deep enough, with enough weight, and not long enough of a drift. Typical problems for people that have a tough day on the NFOW.

Nice! Everything is good with Cake.... Yup, Medium. Would probably go with the Small if they would fit over the hook eye...but they don't.

The label peeled off so I am not sure the size but it is plastic coated (black) and I'm not even sure the manufacturer to be honest. The texture is what sold me, it isn't "slick."

Yeah, I look at tying big streamers as an investment.....so some swimming is involved sometimes. A drift boat usually helps though.

I typically sit down and tie a half dozen of the back half to get them ready and then the next tying session I tie the rest and articulate it and that is really the easiest way to do it but when I sat down to do this video it took around 13 minutes. However...I am not usually 'that' prepared to tie and fly and watch tv and chase kids around through any given tying session so that time can go from 13 minutes to an hour.

Hey guys, since we have been tearing the fish up on Ice Picks for a while I have been getting a lot of requests for a video on it so here you go. It really isn't your everyday "how-to" videos because those things bore me to tears but you will get the point. Trailer Hook: #4 Streamer Lead Hook: #2 Streamer Tail: Marabou with palmered Baitfish Emulator Body: Ice Wing Fiber with Barred Zonker over the top Articulating Connection: Beadding Wire Head: Fish Skull Brian

EXACTLY! I use beading wire too. Got it from walmart and the texture on the outside (the very fine plastic) is rough so when you tie it in there is absolutely no slip anywhere...not even a possibility. It goes through the eye of the trailer hook really well as it is half the size of say 20 or 30 pound mono but double that break-strength and that allows a ton more movement for the back hook. I used thick mono for a long time, and still do for something that I don't 'need' to move a ton all the way down (like articulated double bunnies) but when I think of the true reason for articulating flies I think of the movement that back hook gives and wire is so much better. My $.02 Brian

I figured since there has been so much talk about the Ice Pick and with the emails I have been getting about this fly....I thought I would do a little tying video on it. This isn't meant to be a true "how-to" style tying video because those things bore me to death....but it for sure shows you how to tie it and hopefully entertains as well. Recipe.... Rear Hook: #4 Streamer Hook Lead Hook: #2 Streamer Hook Tail: Marabou with palmered Baitfish Emulator Body: Ice Wing Fiber with Barred Zonker over the top Articulating Connection: Beadding Wire Head: Fish Skull

In Missouri you only need a trout stamp if you are going to keep trout....or if you fish the trout parks during Catch and Release season.

I would at least double that number....maybe triple. I have never seen so many stripers in one place in my life. We fished them hard both days and only got a look and a follow. Looks like night fishing them is about the only thing that will work unless you just happen to find one agressive fish in the school. In all seriousness, there is one or two in the school that will go an easy 40"+. I wish bait could be used in that hole......

Strip set! I'll add to the lessons for next time: 8. Figure 8's at the boat really do work for trout...who knew? And a word of warning for anyone going "Hero or Zero" in my boat....if you catch a fish smaller (or approximately the same size of the fly) you automatically get your picture taken....and probably video shot of it too. Had a great time man! Brian

Is that one of those shorter grain-weighted rods Snowfly? I am yet to cast them with a fly on but have lawn casted them and they are cannons! In all honesty, how do they handle articulated stuff? That is kind of their bread and butter, quickly turning over heavy flies..... Brian

If you are looking for a rod exclusively for throwing streamers.....I totally agree with Leonard, 7wt all the way. Leave your 5wt for nymphing and small (tiny) streamers...if you are throwing "big boy flies" get a "big boy rod." We are throwing a TON of bigger streamers on the North Fork of the White right now and I am recommending my fisherman bring a 7wt if at all possible. Brian

Hi Joe, I have been in zippered waders for 3 years....the zipper has not leaked at all. I absolutely love mine. Brian