January 2010 Newsletter
Happy New Year! We at the Laughing Grizzly have made only one resolution for 2010- Fish more! Life can be full of trials and tribulations, but somehow a few hours on a stream or lake makes them disappear, at least temporarily.

It's not too early to start thinking about getting ready for the upcoming season. We only have to endure about six to eight more weeks of really cold weather and snow; daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s will start appearing in late February and early March. While most of the rivers and lakes won't be ice-free by then, the many tailwaters around the state will be, and you won't want to miss an opportunity when it arises. Here's a checklist of things you can do to be ready for those early warm days:

Waders- Wash your waders in warm water with a mild detergent like Woolite. You can use your washing machine on the gentle cycle or hand wash them in the tub. Don't spin them. Turn them inside out to dry, then turn them right side out again to dry the outside. When they are thoroughly dry, turn them inside out again and spray with alcohol in a spray bottle. Use rubbing alcohol and try not to breathe too much of the vapors. Any leaks, including pinholes, will show as dark spots. Mark the spots and apply Aquaseal or Loon UV Wader Repair, first on the inside, then on the outside. A thin coat is better than a thick one. Use a patch on rips and tears.

Wading Boots- Scrub them well. Disinfect them with a 50-50 Formula 409/water solution, or a bleach and water solution (follow the directions on the bleach bottle for disinfection).  Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies along the tongue and other places bad stuff can hide. The nasty beasties (rock snot, whirling disease, New Zealand Mud Snails, etc.) can live a loooong time out of water, especially if trapped in damp boots. An alternative to liquid disinfection is freezing for a minimum of 24 hours. You should get into the disinfection habit every time you move between watersheds. Need new laces? Replacement soles? Now is the time to do it. Don't wait until the night before the next trip.

Rods- Inspect all your rods for bent or broken guides or other hardware. Get it repaired now. Remember that warranty card you (hopefully) filled out and sent in when you purchased the rod? Contact the manufacturer or bring your Winston, Sage, Redington or St. Croix rod to the Laughing Grizzly so we can get it taken care of for you.

Reels- Take your reels apart and clean them. We like to use alcohol on a cotton or foam swab to remove dirt, dried grease and other gunk. Pay special attention to the spindle and any exposed drag parts. Don't attempt to take the drag apart; most reels have sealed drag systems that need no maintenance. Use only very small amounts of grease (better than oil because it doesn't "creep" into places it's not supposed to be) to lubricate the spindle. Ross reel owners can have Ross do an annual maintenance procedure. Contact Ross directly for details.

Lines- The actively used front of your line- the first 30 feet or so- accumulates a lot of crud. Most of us have good intentions about cleaning our lines regularly during the season, but the truth is we don't do it as often as we should. Inspect your line carefully for nicks and scrapes that admit water to the core. If your line is damaged this way, it's probably best to replace it. If it is in good shape and the outer coating is not damaged, clean the dirty part by swishing it in a sink or tub of warm soapy water. Use a cloth patch if necessary to remove the worst of the dirt; don't use anything abrasive. Rinse the line well to remove the dirt and any soapy residue and dry it by pulling it through a clean soft cloth. Finally, apply a line conditioner according to the manufacturer's directions. We sell several products for this purpose.

Vests and Packs- Take everything out of the pockets- set it aside. Clean the vest or pack according to the manufacturer's directions. Meanwhile, sort the stuff in the pile and get rid of everything you don't think you need. Add the stuff you wish you had had. Clean and/or sharpen everything that needs it. When the vest or pack is clean, put the stuff back. If there's a better way to organize your stuff, do it now. Replace depleted consumables like tippet, indicators, shot and so forth.

Fly boxes- Most of us carry too many. Think about how you can reorganize or minimize the fly patterns and sizes you think you need. Be ruthless. Do you really need six different BWO dun patterns in five different sizes? Probably not. Get rid of the excess. No matter how many patterns you carry, you will always have a day where literally nothing works. That's just the way it is. Think about ways of organizing your flies in a different way. Many fly fishers organize fly boxes by river, stream or lake, rather than by type of fly as is traditional. Maybe you can get by with two boxes rather than six in your vest, with the rest remaining in the truck or at home. Do you need all those flies for the Roaring Fork in your vest when you're fishing on Glacier Creek for an afternoon? Think about starting a fishing log or diary. That will help you record what patterns are successful, and help you focus your fly selection on the water.

Fly tying- Fly tyers are always on the lookout for new patterns and new materials. There is some truth to the idea that fish get used to seeing the same flies and will often react more readily to a new pattern. But, be selective. When tying a new pattern, think about what pattern it will replace, instead of adding to what you already carry. Several of us here at the Laughing Grizzly are actively trying to reduce the number of patterns we carry by keeping track of what we actually fished last season. This is another place where a log or journal can help.

Spending a little time and thought in the coming weeks will add hours and days of enjoyment  to your fishing and tying in the coming season.

Kids Learn to Fly Fish Program
This popular program, co-sponsored by the Laughing Grizzly and the St. Vrain Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will be launched on February 27, 2010 (Note that this is change from the original announcement). There will be six Saturday morning sessions from 8:00am - 12:00pm as follows:

Session 1 (February 27, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 2 (March 13, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 3 (March 27, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 4 (April 10, 2010)- Trout and related species in Colorado, trout foods, and fish and habitat conservation and preservation
Session 5 (April 24, 2010)- Bug sampling on the St. Vrain River
Session 6 (May 8, 2010)- Casting and fishing

Boys and girls between ages 8 and 13 as of the first class session are eligible. While the class is free, there is a $30 refundable deposit required for participation, though this can be waived in cases of financial hardship by talking to Dick Shinton. 

There is a limit of 12 participants. In past years, some kids have signed up only to miss the majority of the sessions because of conflicting activities. Because participation is limited, and applications always outstrip availability, if your child signs up, we expect him or her to attend every session, barring unforeseen circumstances, of course. A lot of work goes into preparation for the sessions, and a lot of volunteers make time to help; it's unfair to them and to the kids who were turned away. Contact the shop via email (laughing.grizzly@gmail.com) or in person in the shop to register. 

Chile Ole'
Join the Laughing Grizzly in Chile at the Rio Salvaje Lodge in late March 2010. This beautiful lodge sits on the western edge of the Andes near Homopiren Park, dominated by glacier carved peaks, active volcanoes and temperate rain forest. Fish species include rainbow and brown trout, and many saltwater fish in nearby fjords on the coast. Accommodations a first class, and the food and Chilean wines and beers are prepared and served by world class chefs. All guides are fully experienced in local waters and will ensure that you have a trip of a lifetime. Check the details on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/chile.html.

Saturday Tying Clinics
Saturday Clinics will continue through the winter until at least mid-April. All clinics, with one exception, are from 10:00 to 12:00 every Saturday except for 12/26/09.  We always have coffee and Great Harvest pastries, so you don't even need to get up early and make it to breakfast. We've got a great lineup of tyers including Rick Takahashi, Charlie Craven, Pat Dorsey, Steve Schweitzer, Jay Zimmerman, Rob Kolanda and a host of others. You can find the complete Clinic schedule on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/Crntevnts.html.

In the Shop
Gear
Ross Evolution LT- The successor to the original Evolution is now available in Black, Copper, Gray Mist and Green. This is a beautifully made reel with all of the features Ross is known for. The new green color is to die for.