A New Tube From Eumer

Eumer has introduced a new tube into the North American market. The Eumer jighead tube has a keel-style design with the weight of the tube centered on the bottom. The fly will then ride and move similar to a pattern with weighted barbell eyes. The advantages of the tube pattern are the ability to interchange hook sizes and styles, replace a damaged hook without trashing the fly, and being able to run the hook stinger-style, back away from the body. Check out all the Eumer products at http://www.eumertube.com/.

The King of Swing

Muskegon River guide, Kevin Feenstra has had more influence on the use of streamer patterns for Great Lakes steelhead than any other single angler. His flies and tactics also produce fish beyond our region and he is gaining a wide reputation.

Kevin recently released a DVD Searching For Steelhead. In this production he takes the viewer through the how's and why's of swinging flies, gives fly patterns and tieing instructions, and shows these in use in both large and small stream situations. Every serious steelheader should watch this DVD!

For a quick look or to purchase Searching for Steelhead, go to http://www.swingabigfly.com/. You should also be able to find the DVD shortly in your local fly shop.

First Atlantic for WD

Dog friend, Wael Dardir hoists his first Atlantic salmon from the St. Marys River Rapids. Despite howling wind, four inches of rain, and dropping temps, Team Fish Dog prevailed- we have the technology. 50 Mph winds made swinging flies impossible, so the boys nymphed 'em up with green caddis and black stones under indicators.

Scott's 11 foot, 8-wt. A3 switch has proved to be a great multi-purpose rod for The Rapids.

Great Lakes Pink Salmon

Here is a pink salmon caught in the St. Marys Rapids. Pinks were introduced into the Great Lakes accidentally when their eggs got mixed in with Chinook and Coho that were being shipped out for stocking. They are now totally self-sustaining in several locations with the St. Marys being the focal point.

There is also talk of a Chinook-pink hybrid existing called the "Pinook". I have seen these fish and they look like a giant pink on steroids or a small, humpbacked Chinook, each ones seems a little different. I don't know if their existence has ever been verified or not. To view pinooks check Hawkin's Fly Fishing Outfitters website and go to the Garden River link.

Now That's a D Loop!

Jeff Liskay, Patagonia & SA Pro Staffer, forms a classic D loop and leans into a distance cast at the Great Lakes Spey Fest. The D loop in the line creates the weight to load the rod which then transforms stored energy into kinetic energy as the cast is made. Just a little Physics 101.
Jeff is using his Scott 14'6" 8-wt. T2H rod to reach for the stars.

Great Lakes Spey Fest 2010

Dog friend , Wael Dardir, aka "The Spey Ninja" competes in the distance competetion at the recent Great Lakes Spey Fest at Henning Park on the Muskegon River. Throwing from both right and left sides, Wael averaged 105 ft., good enough for second place. Congrats Wael and a good showing for Team Fish Dog.