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New and Improved Project Healing Water fly rod from Fly Fishing Crazy!

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Healing Those Who Serve

As a proud volunteer for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing in Denver, CO, helping our disabled active duty soldiers and veterans has become a big part of my life.  Last year, ProjectHealingWaters.org gave me permission to produce a custom built fly rod to be sold exclusively through FlyFishingCrazy.com.   These rods compliment the great PHW rod sold by Temple Forks Outfitters.

The tittle of this blog states a New and Improved, fly rod from Fly Fishing Crazy, so what’s new and what’s improved?  First, I have introduced 4 separate grades of rods.  The first 3 are available in trout models and All-Purpose models which are designed for fresh or saltwater with all aluminum reel seats, small fighting butt and 2 stripper guides.  The top of the line “Evening Dress Blues” grade is only available in trout models.  It’s just too high class to try and make it saltwater worthy.  These rods are based on custom blanks made exclusively for Fly Fishing Crazy. The Freshwater fly rods are built on unique T.L. Johnson designed and built blanks in line weights 4-6.  The 8’6″ 4 weight rod is a Medium/Fast action incorporating a graphite resin system along with helical reinforcement.  The 9′ 4-6 weight rods are a Fast action blank that incorporates a unique graphite resin system that is a high modulus blend. The unique construction of these rod blank designs make them very light, yet extremely durable. Project Healing Waters fly rods are balanced to achieve low swing weight.  The All-Purpose models are available in 6-8 weight and are built on the same fine blank, but come with saltwater approved reel seats with small fighting butt, a full wells grip and 2 stripper guides.  All-Purpose rods will handle the big freshwater species too, as proven by Matt Smythe, The Fishing Poet, who fished one of my 6wt demo rods for steelhead on the Salmon River in New York state (read his review below).

Starting with the “Enlisted” Grade, you get a quality black anodized aluminum reel seat with walnut insert, a delrin winding check, Olive thread w/ three spiral NCP Olive accent wraps (BDU – Battle Dress Uniform colors), and black guides and tip-top.  The second grade is “NCO” Grade or “NCO” Grade All-Purpose.  This will get you a bright anodized reel seat with walnut insert (pewter anodized seat available for $10 more), delrin winding check, Branch of Service or BDU colors, bright guides and tip-top.  Next is the “Class A” Grade or “Class A” Grade All-Purpose which comes loaded with Nickel Silver reel seat with Premium Gun-Stock Walnut insert, Nickel winding check, Branch of Service colors and bright hardened chrome guides and tip-top.  Finally, the “Evening Dress Blues” Grade is adorned with Gun-Barrel Blued Nickel Silver reel seat, Premium Walnut insert, Blued Nickel winding check, Branch of Service colors and TiCH black snake guides and tip-top.  The hardware is upgraded to provide a higher quality rod for the price.  All rods are built on a matte finish blank and beautifully Hand Inscribed with “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing”, rod length, line weight and serial number.

Why should you buy a custom U.S. built rod from FlyFishingCrazy.com?

You’re looking for a new fly rod.

Scenario 1: You go to the nearest fly shop and pay $300 – $800 and you get a nice rod.

Scenario 2: You pay $369 – $489 for a Project Healing Waters fly rod… you get free shipping in the U.S., a great custom built rod and 20% + $20 gets donated to Project Healing Waters to help our wounded and disabled vets.

IT’S YOUR CALL!                    and it’s well worth the 4-8 week build time for these custom U.S. made fly rods!

As an on-line fly shop owner, I have some great resources to draw on.  Terry Johnson of T.L. Johnson Rod Company in Wellington, CO is one of this countries best custom boutique fly rod builders.  Terry is producing all of my custom Project Healing Waters fly rods that will be sold exclusively through my website FlyFishingCrazy.com. Terry builds his own blanks here in the U.S. so what better choice for a custom rod to support our troops than one that is 100% U.S. made. Terry has been building rods for over 25 years and has worked for many of the big name companies before starting his own company in 2003. He is, in my honest opinion, one of the finest rod builders in the U.S., if not the world. Terry is a perfectionist and you can see it in his wraps. I chose one of Terry’s more affordable blanks for several reasons. I thought that the matte gray finish of his FX series rods would give a more military look and this rod should, by all comparisons of the “yuppie” brands, sell for $500-$600, but will start at $369 (fully optioned will be $489).

Project Healing Waters rod
Black thread with 3 spiral gold wraps

Branch of Service colors (available on all but the “Enlisted” Grade) are:
• Army – Black with Gold Accent *
• Navy – Dark Blue with White Accent
• Marines Corps – Red with Gold Accent
• Air Force – Blue with Silver Accent
• Coast Guard – Blue with Red Accent

* Having served in the 1st Signal Brigade USASTRATCOM, Phu Lam Signal Base, Viet Nam ’67, I have Army fly rod Serial # 001. It is an 8’6″ 4 weight built with Blued Nickel and Gunstock Walnut reel seat upgrades.  HOOOAH!

All rods are hand inscribed with “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing”, rod length, line weight, and serial number.
They are custom built as they are ordered, so please allow 4-8 weeks build time.

Rod Features:

All Rods Feature:

  • U.S. built 4 piece matte finish gray, fast action graphite blank (4wt is med/fast action)
  • Extra fine reverse half wells cork grip (line weights 7, 8 and model 691-4 will have full wells w/small fighting butt)
  • Burgundy cordura pocketed rod tube included

“Enlisted” Grade rods include:

  • Reel seat is Black anodized aluminum with walnut insert on 4-6wt.  691-4 All-purpose and 7 – 8 weight rods have all aluminum black seat with small fighting butt
  • Delrin winding check
  • Guides and Tip-Top – black
  • Thread color – Olive with 3 spiral NCO Olive accent wraps (BDU)

“NCO” Grade (Freshwater and All-Purpose) rods include:

  • Reel seat is Bright anodized aluminum with walnut insert on 4-6wt.  691-4 All-purpose and 7 – 8 weight rods have an all aluminum C seat with small fighting butt
  • Delrin winding check
  • Guides and Tip-Top – bright
  • Thread color - Branch of Service colors (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy) and BDU

“Class A” Grade (Freshwater and All-Purpose) rods include:

  • Reel seat is Nickel Silver with Premium Gunstock Walnut insert on 4-6wt.  691-4 All-purpose and 7 – 8 weight rods have a gorgeous Champagne anodized aluminum seat with small fighting butt
  • Nickel Silver winding check
  • Guides and Tip-Top – chrome
  • Thread color -  Branch of Service colors only  (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy)

“Evening Dress Blues” Grade rods include:

  • Reel seat is Gun-Barrel Blued Nickel Silver with Premium Gunstock Walnut insert.
  • Blued Nickel Silver winding check
  • Guides and Tip-Top – TiCH Black chrome
  • Thread color -  Branch of Service colors only  (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy)
Project Healing Waters rod with Stone Creek Halcyon reel
Army Rod #001 with Stone Creek Halcyon reel
Read the Reviews… 
Brian La Rue of the “Fly Fishing Examiner” writes:  TL Johnson offers Project Healing Waters rod to benefit veterans
Kyle Perkins “compleatthought.com” writes:  http://compleatthought.com/2011/10/03/project-healing-waters-fly-rods/
Matt Smythe “The Fishing Poet” tested a 6wt on New York’s Salmon River Steelhead: http://www.fishingpoet.com/2011/11/fly-rods-for-a-great-cause/

In case you haven’t heard of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, let me begin with their Mission Statement. “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.” Founded in 2005 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC, with help from local Trout Unlimited (TU) and Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) volunteers, they currently have over 70 programs in cities around the U.S. and Canada.

I volunteer for the Denver, CO program, started by Clyde (Marty) Matinez in 2008. Beginning in January, the 2011 year started off at the Denver Fly Fishing Show where we co-hosted a booth with the Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs chapter. We then followed with fly tying classes at the VA Hospital in Denver. About 8 disabled veterans, mostly from the Vietnam era learned the basics by tying a Black Beauty, Woolly Bugger, Pheasant Tail, Elk Hair Caddis and Adams. Four weeks ago, we began a fly rod building class in the Nursing Home adjacent to the VA. Last week, we began a fly tying class at the VA clinic in Aurora, CO with 6 Vets with disabilities in attendance. As the weather warms, we will be starting casting classes at both the Denver VA and Aurora clinic. Out first, of many, outings will be at the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Lake Lehow on April 6th. The Vets should have an exciting day as it’s almost impossible to make a half dozen casts without a hookup.  In 2011 we provide 19 fishing trips and have a goal of 30 trips for 2012.  This brings me around to fund raising. Local trips are not a huge deal cost wise, but in order to take some of our soldiers on a trip of a lifetime to Alaska, we need to raise some money. Currently, at the 2012 Denver International Sportsmen’s Expo, we are raffling off 2 fly rods that were donated by Doug Borer Bamboo and custom builder and volunteer Jim Sawyer.

Several great companies in the industry are supporting Project Healing Waters. Temple Forks Outfitters is one of them. They donate $25 for each Project Healing Waters fly rod they sell. TFO has been selling their Project Healing Waters fly rod for several years now and, at $150, it is a great value for the money. But, like any $150 rod, it left the door open for U.S. quality and that is why I am offering my great rod to compliment the one from TFO.

There are many ways to support our troops. I have chosen to share my joy of fly fishing and the peacefulness of a trout stream or lake by volunteering to take a soldier fishing.  Project Healing Waters has taken on this venture on a nationwide scale and has made a difference in the lives of many veterans. Men and women who have a hard time finding a reason to smile will grin from ear to ear when they hook into a fish on a fly rod. I’ve witnessed this first hand. Please help them to regain the peace in their lives that they fought so hard to provide for us.

Buy a Fly Rod… Help the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. The solitude of a trout stream or the calm waters of a lake have a healing power that can’t be explained, but also, can’t be denied!

Tight Lines———–<*))))><
Larry Snyder
Owner - FlyFishingCrazy.com
Email: larry@flyfishingcrazy.com
Phone: 303-755-2105

Custom Fly Rod for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Healing Those Who Serve

Prices and models have changed, please check out my updated “NEW AND IMPROVED PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY ROD FROM FLY FISHING CRAZY”  I have changed the rods to offer four different and distinct grades… or visit my Fly Fishing Crazy website –  http://www.flyfishingcrazy.com/rods/tl-johnson-rods/phw.

As a proud volunteer for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing in Denver, CO, I wanted to do more for the soldiers than my financial means and my time would allow.  I am happy to say that I have received permission from ProjectHealingWaters.org for FlyFishingCrazy.com to produce an exclusive custom fly rod to compliment the great PHW rod sold by Temple Forks Outfitters.   Fly Fishing Crazy will be contributing 20% of retail sales +$20 for this rod to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.

As an on-line fly shop owner, I have some great resources to draw on, so I approached Terry Johnson of T.L. Johnson Rod Company in Wellington, CO with the idea of producing a Project Healing Waters custom built fly rod that will be sold exclusively through my website FlyFishingCrazy.com. Terry builds his own blanks here in the U.S. so what better choice for a custom rod to support our troops than one that is 100% U.S. made. Terry has been building rods for over 25 years and has worked for many of the big name companies before starting his own company in 2003. He is, in my honest opinion, one of the finest rod builders in the U.S., if not the world. Terry is a perfectionist and you can see it in his wraps. I chose one of Terry’s more affordable rods for several reasons. I thought that the matte gray finish of his FX series rods would give a more military look and this rod should, by all comparisons of the “yuppie” brands, sell for $500, but will start at $335 (fully optioned will be $425).

Project Healing Waters rod

Black thread with 3 spiral gold wraps

The base Project Healing Waters rod will have Olive translucent wrappings with NCP Olive accent, but can be customized for each Branch of Service.
Branch of Service colors are:
• Army – Black with Gold Accent *
• Navy – Dark Blue with White Accent
• Marines – Red with Gold Accent
• Air Force – Blue with Silver Accent
• Coast Guard – Blue with Red Accent

* Having served in the 1st Signal Brigade USASTRATCOM, Phu Lam Signal Base, Viet Nam ’67, I have Army fly rod Serial # 001. It is an 8’6″ 4 weight built with Blued Nickel and Gunstock Walnut reel seat upgrades.  HOOOAH!

All rods are hand inscribed with “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing”, rod length, line weight, and serial number.
They are custom built as they are ordered, so please allow 4-8 weeks build time.

Rod Features:

  • U.S. built matte finish gray, fast action blank
  • Anodized Pewter Reel Seat with wood insert (exclusive T.L. Johnson reel seat by Joel Lemke)
  • Extra fine reverse half wells cork grip
  • Delrin winding check
  • Bright stripper, snake guides and tip-top.
  • Hand inscribed with “Project Healing Water Fly Fishing”, rod length and line weight, and Serial number
  • Burgundy cordura pocketed rod tube included

Optional Hardware upgrades:

  • Joel Lemke Nickel Silver reel seat with Nickel Silver winding check, Deluxe Chrome stripping guide and hardened chrome snake guides and tip-top (+$60).
  • Joel Lemke Blued Nickel reel seat with Gun-stock Walnut insert, Blued Nickel winding check black snake guides and tip-top (+$90).
Project Healing Waters rod with Stone Creek Halcyon reel

Army Rod #001 with Stone Creek Halcyon reel

In case you haven’t heard of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, let me begin with their Mission Statement. “Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.” Founded in 2005 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC, with help from local Trout Unlimited (TU) and Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) volunteers, they currently have over 70 programs in cities around the U.S. and Canada.

I volunteer for the Denver, CO chapter, started by Clyde (Marty) Matinez in 2008. Beginning in January, this year started off at the Denver Fly Fishing Show where we co-hosted a booth with the Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs chapter. We then followed with fly tying classes at the VA Hospital in Denver. About 8 disabled veterans, mostly from the Vietnam era learned the basics by tying a Black Beauty, Woolly Bugger, Pheasant Tail, Elk Hair Caddis and Adams. Four weeks ago, we began a fly rod building class in the Nursing Home adjacent to the VA. Last week, we began a fly tying class at the VA clinic in Aurora, CO with 6 Vets with disabilities in attendance. As the weather warms, we will be starting casting classes at both the Denver VA and Aurora clinic. Out first, of many, outings will be at the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Lake Lehow on April 6th. The Vets should have an exciting day as it’s almost impossible to make a half dozen casts without a hookup. With about 8 or 10 trips currently scheduled around the state, we hope to culminate the season with a trip to Trail Lake Lodge in Moose Pass, Alaska the first week of September. This trip brings me around to fund raising. Local trips are not a huge deal cost wise, but in order to take some of our soldiers on a trip of a lifetime to Alaska, we need to raise some money. Currently, we are raffling off 2 fly rods that were donated by Graywolf Products and Rolling River Anglers.

Several great companies in the industry are supporting Project Healing Waters. Temple Forks Outfitters is one of them. They donate $25 for each Project Healing Waters fly rod they sell. TFO has been selling their Project Healing Waters fly rod for several years now and, at $150, it is a great value for the money. But, like any $150 rod, it left the door open for U.S. quality and that is why I am offering my great rod to compliment the one from TFO.

There are many ways to support our troops. I have chosen to share my joy of fly fishing and the peacefulness of a trout stream or lake by volunteering to take a soldier fishing.  Project Healing Waters has taken on this venture on a nationwide scale and has made a difference in the lives of many veterans. Men and women who have a hard time finding a reason to smile will grin from ear to ear when they hook into a fish on a fly rod. I’ve witnessed this first hand. Please help them to regain the peace in their lives that they fought so hard to provide for us.

Buy a Fly Rod… Help the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. The solitude of a trout stream or the calm waters of a lake have a healing power that can’t be explained, but also, can’t be denied!

Tight Lines———–<*))))><
Larry Snyder
Owner – FlyFishingCrazy.com
Email: larry@flyfishingcrazy.com
Phone: 303-755-2105

Healing the souls of our Soldiers – Project Healing Waters

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy
The solitude of a trout stream or the calm waters of a lake have a healing power that can’t be explained, but also, can’t be denied!  Healing our soldiers can be a long process. We help them reconnect with the peace for which they fought so hard! The Denver chapter is currently teaching disabled Veterans to tie flies and cast a fly rod.  We now offer rod building classes for veterans.  The flies they tie will be lost or tattered with use, but a fly rod can be be a life long companion in their fly fishing efforts.
As a proud volunteer for the Denver, CO chapter, I ask you to support our Disabled Veterans by supporting Project healing Waters Fly Fishing. We owe out Veterans so much more for keeping us safe and protecting our Freedom. Visit ProjectHealingWaters.org today and get involved in your area.

Fish Creek Brightwater Rod/Reel Combo

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

Get a FREE Fly Reel with the purchase of a complete Fly Fishing Combo at Fly Fishing Crazy.  Purchase the new Fly Rod and Reel combo at the CRAZY price of $169.00.  The complete outfit includes a Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Rod with Rod Tube, a Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Reel and a WFF Fly Line with 50 yards of backing.

Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Rod

Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Reel

Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Reel

Fish Creek Brightwater Fly Rod

The Brightwater Series Fly Rod is a medium-fast action, IM6 graphite and comes in a beautiful Burgundy color.  The Brightwater Series Fly Reel is a Standard Arbor made with a Die Cast Ported Aluminum Frame, E-Z Change – Left/Right Retrieve conversion and a Click Drag on the 3/4 weight or Disc Drag on the 5/6 and 7/8/9 weights.  The fly line and backing come in a fly line box. The Rod retails for $149.99, the Reel lists at $79.99 and the Fly Line sells for $29.99. Individually the pieces of this complete outfit retail for over $259.00.

Fish Creek is a TL Johnson company.

Tight Lines———–<*))))><
Larry V Snyder
Owner -Rocky Mountain Web Connection
http://www.flyfishingcrazy.com
email: larry@flyfishingcrazy.com

South Platte Winter Outing with Trepidations

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

I was watched the snow flurries falling for a couple of minutes, then returned to quickly to the task of gathering all my fishing gear and making sure I had all the layered clothing, gloves and extra pair of socks to be able to withstand the bite of winter on the river.  Bob would be picking me up any minute.

Robert  Province and I met in December at a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing meeting I had set up through Facebook and a forum on ColoradoFishermen.com.  We both hit it off and are both retired.  At this past weeks Fly Tying class, teaching disabled veterans how to tie some basic flies at the Denver VA hospital, I told Bob I was planning to go down to the South Platte near Deckers, for a couple of hours, the next morning.  He said, “Why don’t I pick you up at 8:15 and we can be on the water by 10.”  I said “I’ll be waiting”.

The Deckers area of the South Platte is in recovery mode since whirling disease and the Hayman fire in 2002 and subsequent snow melt and severe rainstorms.  Most of the deep holes that once held two to five hundred trout per hole were filled in with ash and silt.  The whirling disease, a brain parasite that started in the Division of Wildlife hatcheries, spread through the rainbow trout and brook trout, killing most of those fish in many Colorado Rivers and streams, has been reversed by stocking a new, disease resistant, strain.

I had the garage door open and was laying out my extra clothes on the bed of you pickup when Bob’s F150 pulled in a few minutes early.  I threw my gear in his camper in the back jumped in and we were off.  A quick stop for some coffee and we were heading to the South Platte.  We continued getting to know each other on the drive to Deckers.  We talked about our tours in Vietnam, some of our favorite fishing streams and, of course, how we can help our soldiers through PHWFF.  As we drove through Sedalia, the snow has stopped and the sky is clearing ahead.  Colorado is amazing!  You almost never cancel a fishing trip based on the weather at your house.  Bob remarked “I hope we don’t meet too many people on Nighthawk Hill”, a 15% grade on the dirt road down to the river.

If you’ve never been down Nighthawk, the first time is an experience and only with repeated descents does your panic wane.  You’re driving down a twisty narrow dirt road and at one particular bend to the right, you see the sign that says “15 % Grade” with a huge rock on the right side of the bend.  As you drive around the rock the road almost drops out of site and soon your looking down, what appears to be, a ski slope… nope, it’s the road. The first hundred yards is the worst with a couple of slight bends then it gradually starts to level off over the next mile. It’s not so bad in the summer, but it can get your blood pumping with winter snow packed roads.  Nighthawk Hill, and the road leading to it, is actually maintained as a postal and school bus route.  I’m glad my grandkids don’t have to ride that bus.

We reached the bottom of Nighthawk and see the river.  No ice!  Not even a slush flow!  Bob remarks that they must be letting water out of Cheeseman Reservoir.  As we turn up stream along the river, I’m thinking “this is going be a great day”.  We drive several miles up river to Scraggy View and pulled of into a parking area.  The sky was blue with few wispy clouds and the sun was starting to take the chill out of the canyon.  No need for all the extra clothes I brought, just shirt sleeve, polar vest and a wool cap.  I had never stopped at this section of the river before, so after rigging up the fly rods and putting on waders and vests, Bob suggested we head down stream a couple hundred yards.  He pointed out a hole down below by a bend and suggested I start down there.  I made a couple of casts and my strike indicator hesitated and I lifted my rod and saw the fish roll under the surface.  Missed it!  I continued casting through the hole from side to side and top to bottom to no avail.  Moving down river, I fished through shallow riffles that definitely will hold trout as the springtime warms the water a little more, until I spotted another fisherman a couple hundred yards below.  I worked my way back up to the hole I started at and after a half dozen casts, hooked and landed an eleven inch rainbow on a size 18 buckskin nymph.  As it turned out, this was my only fish of the day.  Bob didn’t fare much better.

We decided to try a spot about 5 miles upstream.  This was my old stomping grounds.  Familiar water had to produce more fish, right?  As I prospected about a mile of once familiar waters that 15 years ago would produce 30 to 50 fish mornings, with deep sorrow, I realized that the river has not recovered much from the 2002 fire and flooding.  All of the, once deep holes, are either just shallow runs or much narrower holes, still filled in with ash and silt.  I met up with Bob at the truck and started preparing for the drive home.  I told Bob that, in my opinion, what the river needs is for the Denver Water Board to open the gates of Cheesman Dam and blow that river out.  A couple of years of that would wash the sediment silt out of the holes, giving them more width and depth again.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying there aren’t fish to be caught in that part of the South Platte.  To the contrary, guides tell me that there is a healthy population returning and some very nice fish over 15 inches.  Using the right flies and tactics, you can have great fishing.  But on that given day, I tried to fish it like I used to in the “Glory Days” and it didn’t work.  I thought I knew that river and what works.  Next time, I’ll adapt!

Bob and I drove home and discussed more trips.  Different waters, different fish, different outcome.  It was a clear warm day and great day to be on the water.

Tight Lines————-<*))))><
Larry Snyder
FlyFishingCrazy.com
Phone: 303-755-2105
email: larry@flyfishingcrazy.com

If I should die before I wake… Let me Fly Fish in heaven!

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

I, like many of you, love FLY FISHING and some of my friends and family have called me CRAZY at times.  The feel of fighting a big fish on a FLY ROD and palming the rim of the FLY REEL to add additional, run stopping, pressure to an already smooth drag is exhilarating to say the least.

Think about those memorable fishing trips you’ve taken and then think of the destinations you dream of.  Imagine yourself on the fabled streams of Pennsylvania, New York and New England, then fishing famous Colorado streams like the South Platte River, Colorado and Arkansas Rivers, the Williams Fork, Frying Pan, Roaring Fork and numerous others.  Picture yourself in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park fishing the Yellowstone River, Slough Creek, Fire Hole, Gibbon, Lamar and Lewis.  Then have a blast FLY FISHING for Chinook (King) Salmon in late September and early October on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan.  I could go on and on talking about fishing in other states like northern California, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  And let’s not forget Alaska. There is no place in the USA that can rival its beauty and fishing.

Pass your passion on to your children and grandchildren.  Teach them to know the joy of “Perpetrating the Fraud” with FLY ROD and REEL and to feel the pulsing, head shaking runs of trout, salmon, bass or even Bluegill on fly tackle.  Think of the joy you will receive when they tie their own handmade flies or build their own rods.

Those are the things that have sustained my passion over the years.  My hope is that you too can find the love for this sport, whether it’s taking up FLY FISHING for the first time yourself, feeding your current CRAZY passion, or even outfitting and teaching a child.  Let this be one of your greatest obsessions.

So, until Heaven calls, let me help you make your FLY FISHING memorable… and CRAZY!

Tight Lines————–<*))))><
Larry Snyder
Fly Fishing CRAZY

Some great Fly Fishing websites!

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

In the past, I wrote a blog about Tradd (Troutdawg) Duggans sites Fly Fish Addiction and Fly Fish Addiction Blogspot.  In addition to Tradd’s great sites, offering insight to Fly Fishing throughout Colorado and around the world, I have come across 2 other sites that offer Fly Fisherman a great deal to read and think about.

The first is Rocky Mountain Troutfitters. Wade Seymour started fly fishing Colorado waters at a very young age.  He worked as a guide at a local Denver area Fly Shop and realized that fame and fortune would only come with starting his own guiding business which he started this summer.  In addition to his fishing expertise he is EMT certified.  Although he specializes in fishing Rocky Mountain National Park, he is intimately familiar with the other “Troutspots” of the Colorado high country.  He recently created the Flying Pigs Club Blog named for his Dad’s quote “did you see that flying pig?” after landing a monster Rainbow .

Next is a new friend I met on-line today and had to call and talk to him in person.  Phil Light created flyfishreviews.com as a way to make available, to fly fishermen, a database of information on fly fishing gear of all types.  Phil lives near and fishes the storied streams of south central Pennsylvania.  Legendary waters like the Letort, Yellow Breeches and Falling Springs are his stomping grounds.  His website offers Product Reviews, Forums and Blogs.  It’s geared more towards the GEAR.  Visit flyfishreviews.com, create a login and get busy reading a writing reviews.

Tight Lines——-<*))))><
Larry Snyder
Owner and President of
Rocky Mountain Web Connection, LLC
and FlyFishingCrazy.com

Fly Fishing – from “Bust” to “Boon”

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

Last week, I got up at 5am to drive 135 miles to fly fish for Kokanee Salmon (a landlocked cousin to the Sockeye).  I left Denver around 6:45, stopped for coffee in Woodland Park and was fishing on the Dream Stream (a short stretch of “Catch and Release ” water on the South Platte River between Spinney Mt. Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir) in South Park, Colorado by 8:30.

The air was cool and the wind was calm.  The Kokanee should have been plentiful and range from 16 to 20 inches.  They should have been easy to spot in the river as during the spawn, they turn dark red.  I wanted to be challenged by these hard fighting acrobatic fish, so I decided to use my 9’0″ 3 weight Elkhorn 4 piece Traveler fly rod and Elkhorn T-1 fly reel.  I tied a red San Juan Worm onto my 5X tippet and then tied another foot long piece of 5X tippet to the bend of the hook and added a pink salmon egg fly to the end of that.

I had parked at the second (of 3) parking areas and started fishing downstream.  It wasn’t long before I was concerned about having a successful day.  I saw no salmon in the water and only caught a couple of small 5 to 6 inch brown trout on the salmon egg.  The air was warming and the sun climbing.  The number of fishermen were increasing as the morning wore on.  I decided to work my way upstream from the parking area and came across a 20″ brown trout lying dead along the edge of the stream.  A gorgeous fish that had the misfortune of being caught by someone who doesn’t know the proper way to revive a big fish after exhausting it in battle.  It gave me pause as I pondered the 3 weight rod I had chosen.  It’s one thing to have fun exhausting a salmon that will be dieing soon after spawning but these big brown trout and rainbows that are there to feed on the eggs of the salmon need to be revived and released properly.  I had a T.L. Johnson SLX 9’0″ 5 weight fly rod and Stone Creek M60 fly reel in the car, but I was already a quarter mile upstream and decided to continue with my chosen gear.  I knew I had to do everything right if I was fortunate enough to hook up with one of these monsters.

As I worked my way up stream, I talked with a couple of fly fishers who said they had seen a group of about 8 or 10 salmon in a hole about a quarter of a mile farther up, so that’s were I headed.  The farther I went upstream, the more crowded the river, so I decided to stop at a deep hole by a bend in the river.  As the morning neared end, the wind started to pick up.  I could see some fish moving around in the deep water and thought they looked dark enough to be salmon. As one cast drifted below the fish I was seeing, I had a strike.  My first rainbow trout of the day.  A nice fat 12 incher on the egg again.

After trying to cast a double fly rig into the wind with a 3 weight fly rod, I decided to cross above the hole and fish it from the other side.  I also replaced the dropper egg pattern with a size 16 buckskin nymph.  A few casts later, I was into a big fish.  With the 3 weight fly rod doubled almost in half, I put as much pressure on him as I could.  He cleared the water with a mighty jump and I saw it was a big brown trout.  I layed the rod over to steer him to the slack water along the edge and was finally able to grab the tail of the 20″+ beautiful male with kyped jaw.  He was fat and heavy. As I tried to remove the barbless hook of the busckskin from his jaw, a might shake of his head broke the tippet. I slid my other hand under his belly and lifted him out of the water for a photo.

Remembering the dead trout, I had seen earlier downstream, I took all the time this great fish needed to revive, holding his head facing upstream to let the water wash through his gills.  Water moving through their gills is like air breathed into our lungs. After a minute or two, I felt the pulsing in his tail strengthen.  Finally with a powerful shake of his body, he pulled away from my light grasp and swam back into the hole with my fly still in his mouth.  I tied a pheasant tail nymph on as the dropper and resumed fishing.  A Second big fish took the fly.  Fighting equally hard and on a big jump, I saw it was about a 19 – 20″ rainbow, but before I could bring it in and release it, it performed it’s own “long distance” release.  My philosophy is… fly fishing is all about “perpetrating the fraud”.  If you can get a trout, especially big trout, to take an artificial fly, it’s a successful catch.  Several more casts and I was into my second 20″+ brown trout.  Another nice fight, another safe release and I turned a “bust” salmon fishing day into a “boon” trout day.

Tight Lines———-<*))))><
Larry Snyder
FlyFishingCRAZY.com

Support our Troops through FISHING

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

There are many organizations that are helping our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Our government is falling far short of providing the support they need.  A few of these organizations, that I am aware of, are Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., Army Bass Anglers, LLC and Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation, Inc. Many of our soldiers have life changing handicaps and these groups help them cope with their injuries, depression and overall wellness.  These groups offer fishing as a means of solace to our soldiers, who have given more for the freedoms that we enjoy than most of our politicians, by giving them something else to focus on.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is a nationwide group dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.  Locally (Denver, CO area), Project Healing Waters volunteers meet regularly with current war veterans and heroes and also Vets dating back to Vietnam, Korea and WWII.   Along with teaching them how to tie flies and cast a fly rod they have even enlisted the cooperation of the Colorado Division of Wildlife to fish private stocked ponds.  Other states have volunteers doing similar things.  Project Healing Waters uses private donations to take our heroes on Fishing Trips all around the world.  They don’t even think twice to ask airlines and hotels to comp. a flight or housing to help defray the cost of these trips.

Army Bass Anglers sponsors events like “Fishing for Freedom” tournaments that pair local fishermen with wounded Soldiers, for a day of tournament bass fishing on an awesome fishery, especially for them.  They depend on local businesses, volunteers, and caring local and regional anglers in the San Antonio Texas area and specifically with Fort Sam Houston’s Brooke Army Medical Center. They also work closely with ReturningHeroesHome.org a 12,000 square foot replacement building for the 1,200 square foot existing Warrior and Family Support Center formerly called the “SFAC” (Soldier and Family Assistance Center) located at Fort Sam Houston.

The Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation, Inc., a Billings, Montana based non-profit corporation, provides high-quality therapeutic and rehabilitative recreation, primarily to young enlisted servicemen and women wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan still in rehab in the military hospital system.  They do this by taking traumatically wounded servicemen and women Fly Fishing for trout on Montana’s rivers and streams.  A quote from the W&QWF website reads “Fishing is a solace…the opposite of war…a gentle and healing occupation.” (Luis Marden)

If you can help in  any way, either by donating your money or your time, or if you are a Vet that is having trouble coping with life at home, contact these organizations.  Reach out to help yourself by helping others.

For more information on these great groups:
Email Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing at admin@projecthealingwaters.org
Email Army Bass Anglers at Armybassanglers@yahoo.com
Contact Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation by going to http://www.warriorsandquietwaters.org/contact.html

For more information on Project Healing Water Fly Fishing in Colorado, contact me.  If I don’t have the answers, I’ll get them.

Tight Lines——–<*))))><
Larry Snyder
larry@flyfishingcrazy.com
http:www.flyfishingcrazy.com

Kokanee Salmon on the Dream Stream

Posted on by Fly Fishing Crazy

There is about 1.5 miles of the South Platte River, in the South Park area of Colorado, between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir that is referred to as the Dream Stream. Year round, this tailwater fishery is very popular with Fly Fishermen. The rainbow trout are recovering very well since being devastated by whirling disease a few years back and now has a good population of nice rainbows and brown trout.

In another week or so, this stretch should experience a good run of Kokanee Salmon coming up from Eleven Mile to spawn and, like their Sockeye Salmon cousins, die. I’ve been told that the biggest factor in determining when they begin their run is when the water temperature is consistently below 55 degrees. Not having verified that, there have been some Salmon already moving into the river. Next week should start seeing some good numbers and the run should continue throughout October and into the beginning of November.

In the past years, the Kokanee have been measuring 16 to 20 inches. Their color changes from the silver color in the lakes to red. For the egg laden females, that is the only obvious change, but the males develop a huge kyped jaw. Their heads increases in size to almost 1/3 of their length. The head can be up to 7 inches long with the toothy mouth being about 5 1/2 inches. Although somewhat grotesque, they are a blast to catch on a 5 or 6 weight fly rod. When hooked, they like to jump and do cartwheels across the water, putting on a great show. I’m going to try my Elkhorn 9′ 3 weight rod just for some added thrill.

My favorite setup is a simple nymph rig with a strike indicator. Small egg patterns, red San Juan Worms, red Copper Johns or any other kind of red fly should catch lots of Kokanee Salmon and several bonus trout including some big brown trout that follow the Salmon up from Eleven Mile to feed on the eggs.

Tight Lines———<*))))><
Larry Snyder
Fly Fishing CRAZY