I'd like to put in a plug for the February issue of California Fly Fisher magazine. This may be available to some of you at your local bookstore. I enjoy receiving the publication every other month, and it is a must-read and re-read. CFF is about to launch a web site, so maybe some of the best articles will be archived for public viewing...we can hope...
There are several outstanding articles in this issue.
"The War in Heaven" - Steelheaders debate techniques, primarily indicator nymphing versus swinging techniques. Excerpt: "I believe that if a steelhead won't move for a swinging fly, there's a good reason, and it should probably be left alone. It needs the rest, and nature is telling it so." - Jeff Bright, one of the guides interviewed.
"What Line Weight Really Matches Your Rod" - a very simple, inexpensive, empirical system that takes the mystery out of what line weight your rod really is, and how that matches up with lines, shooting heads, lead core and T-14 for the distances you typically need to cast. Wonderful stuff. For example, did you know that some rods will perform best with lines lighter than the rod's weighting: i.e. 4wt line for a 6wt rod if typically your needed casting distances are quite long (say 70 feet)?
"Cut Bug" - writer and aquatic naturalists Ralph and Lisa explore the phenomenon of trout selectively feeding on mayfly adults whose abdomens have been chewed off by dragonflies. The Cutters have been attentive to this behavior, say it happens often, and relate the start of a pattern development search to fish this "hatch".
Andy Burk devotes an entire article to the tying of Lefty's Deceivers.
Recommended.
Wes Wada Bend, Oregon
