The Value of Research

I've always liked to study, although my grades in school didn't always reflect it. As a kid I would research all the local outdoor publications I could find, then beg my father to drive me around the state of Maine every weekend. I loved to explore new water.

When I moved to Washington I was completely unaware of all the fishing opportunities available to me. I knew a little about the saltwater and anadromous fisheries, but I had no idea about the quality of trout fishing in the state.

Once again I became a student, voraciously reading everything I could get my hands on. I would ask questions at the local fly shops, but that would only get me so far. I wanted to explore beyond the locations on their report boards.

When you get ready to go exploring, make sure you have a selection of decent searching flies. Those are here.

Fly fishermen, especially the knowledgeable ones, can be a tight-lipped bunch. So don't expect a lot of help when it comes to finding new locations. Aside from the always convenient Google search, there are other means to finding new water.

1. State Fisheries Biologists: Give them a call. You might be surprised by how helpful they are!
2. Buy an atlas and topo maps: Google Earth will only get you so far, especially when you are looking to find small creeks and alpine lakes that are off the grid.
3. Read the fishing regulations: It's amazing how much info you can get out of these booklets! It'll also help avoid any run-ins with the law.
4. Join your local fly club - I can't tell you how much I've learned just by listening to the "old timers" that have lived in the area their entire life. If you're lucky they might even take you fishing.

Last Sunday I took my own advice and went for a drive to a lake that I'd been meaning to fish for a few years. Per usual, I didn't have much time to fish, so I didn't bother bringing my float tube and just fished from shore. On my first cast the indicator went down almost immediately and I brought a nice 14" brown to hand.

Need some indicators? Get them here.

After landing a few more trout in the same size range, I told myself that I'd leave after the next fish. I wasn’t expecting that my next fish would be the largest brown trout I've ever landed!

Photo 3

Now go do your homework and start exploring some new water this weekend!

If you need more inspiration to explore, read a blog about The Land of the Lost.