Look What Fish This Caught!

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These are some of the first outings of Fish This. We hit a lot of the small waters close to the university where we were both hard at work during the week. Any time of year, any place there was water, we seemed to be able to find big fish and catch them with all the tools you've seen here as well as the Kelley Flip Cast.

Ah, now I have your attention. The Kelley Flip Cast, yes, never heard of that have you. That's because it's the kind of cast you have to see to believe and it's exclusive to Fish This anglers.

Wanna see and know more? Good. Cause this is the only place you're gonna get that chance.

That's all for now from Fish This. Until next time, Keep it Reel.

The Ugly Stick

I think William Shakespeare, Jr. was more than an inspired man back in 1896 when he engineered and patented the level-wind reel, starting the company that would come to bear his name. And in 1976, when The Shakespeare Company unleashed The Ugly Stick on the fishing world, Fishing Tackle Trade News said "...it may be the most remarkable product of the last two decades." The Ugly Stick is probably the best rod for the kind of lure fishing Fish This is all about. It's lite, compact, and has virtually no restrictions on the kind of water it can pull fish from. The inner spiral of graphite and outer layer of glass fibers give this rod not only topnotch sensitivity, but a flexibilty unlike any in its class.

When you're shin deep in the cool, fast-moving freshwater of a moutain stream, spotting a hole fifteen to twenty feet ahead of you, over-hung with vegetation and swirling wildly around a submerged rock, you need a pole that is both sensitive and flexible, as well as lite and compact. You've got only seconds after your lure hits the water to react to both the environment of the stream and whatever fish may be lurking in the depths of the hole, taking a interest in the sudden appearance of whatever you've just dropped into its world.

The Ugly Stick Ultra-Light is the only rod I've fished with since moving to the small waters. It's the only one that's proven its worth. There are other ultra-light rods out there. Flueger and Berkely both make ultra-lights I own but have never had to use.

As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

We'll see you back here with more Fish This. Until then, keep it reel!

The Brown Trout

The Brown Trout, Salmo Trutta morpha Fario, is a medium sized freshwater fish that prefers cold, well-oxygenated small rivers and streams in mountainous regions. They can grow to a weight of 20kg or more in big waters, but are more commonly found in smaller waters at a respectable weight of 1kg or 2lbs. Cover, like cut-out stream banks, large submerged rocks, and vegetation, is important to these fish.

The golden-brown color that gives the Brown Trout its name is made even more distinct by the unique orange spots along the side. These spots are ringed in white and on healthy fish, have a halo-like look.

The Brown Trout will eat virtually anything but relies heavily on an insect diet, although it will eat small fish and even frogs. This opportunistic feeding characteristic is one of the reasons why other species, like the McCloud Redband Trout, are becoming harder to find in their natural habitat. Next to the Rainbow Trout, the Brown Trout is one of the most commonly caught trout in rivers along the west coast.

It's a fun fish, one that can survive virtually any body of water, shallow or deep, any kind of climate. And it's that need to feed that makes the Brown Trout such an excellent candidate for the angler who can use a lure.

The Brown seen below was caught and released on the Upper Hobble Creek in Spanish Fork Canyon, Utah.

The Microspin Reel

For the kind of fishing Fish This does, there's really only one kind of set-up you can use: a 4.5 foot (4 or 5 eyelit) stick with a microspin reel. Most of your major brands are going to be able to provide you with a set-up like this, so you'll be able to stay with whatever brand you have developed an affinity for. Before we get to the whole set-up and the cast that will change fishing as you know it forever, let's talk about the reel.

Microspin reels, sometimes called Micros or Microlites, come in one size with several ball-bearing options. They're the tiny reels you never thought you'd attach to your stick, or wondered what the heck a reel that small was for. Fish This is here to tell you, that tiny little reel, running you from $19.99 to $39.99 (for our purposes there's no need to spend any more money than that, although I'm sure you could if you so desired), will change the way you look at that small, fast-moving body of water you thought there was no way to fish.

Now, while I prefer the 2 bearing Microspin, you can also get them in 3 and 4 bearings. Again, I've never really noticed a significant difference between the three, my Quantum 2-bearing reel spins just as nice, if not better than, my Flueger 4-bearing reel. Shakespeare and South Bend also make nice reels of the Micro persuasion. I don't know that I'd worry so much about how many bearings the reel has or the gear ratio, as much as how the reel feels in your hand. For those of you use to a big reel and handle to get your fish on, this is gonna be a bit of an adjustment, so find something your hand is comfortable with.

The line you use is probably going to be a change for most of you as well. I know I always thought to catch the big fish, you had to have big line that could take the beating. In some cases I'm sure that's true, but we're not fishing for Marlin here. Let's not fool ourselves. In small rivers and streams, line weight limits not what you can fish for, but how you can fish for it. The ideal set-up uses 4 or 6 pound line, and on a Microspin reel, that gives you from 50 to 120 yards of line to work with. That's not a lot, especially compared to what you're probably accustomed to having on your spool. So, it's time to fish smart. And the color of your line doesn't matter all that much, pick a line you like, a color you like or think is appropriate for the water you're going to fish, and go with it.

So, with the reel and line selected, a couple good choices for lures, it's time to get to the Stick that the fishing world underestimates.

Come back for more Fish This. Until then, keep it reel.

Two Lures You Can't Fish Without

Lure fishing for trout has become something of a lost art, most anglers having gone over to fly-fishing or fallen prey to the darkside of fishing by resorting to bait. Fish This was created to showcase the world of lure fishing for trout. Streams, brooks, and rivers are our play places. Any time of the year, in any weather, Fish This will show you how to fish any moving body of water with success.














On that note, let's talk about the two lures you should always carry with you on your quest for the ultimate river fish. The first, and the only lure you can never be without (as my good friend and long time fishing rival Josh Kelley would say), is the silver #1 Mepps Aglia.

This lure will catch you more trout in small rivers, streams, and brooks than any lure out there, guarenteed. And it's the easiest lure to maneuver through the often wicked little obstacles between you and the ultimate fish. This lure can get in and out of the tightest spots, into those shaded backwashes the fly-fisher can't float his little fly through and the bait fisher, well, the bait fisher probably doesn't even know these little havens exist. Leaders, swivels, neither has a place in lure fishing. You tie your lure on and cut it off when you want to put on something else. Tying the lure straight to the line maintains the integrity of the lure's design, allowing it to work as it was designed. Leaders and swivels can hinder a lure's performance at any time as you're pulling it through the water. As far as what knot to use when tying the lure on, I like to use a clinch knot.

Now, the #4 Panther Martin is always my go to lure when I want to change things up. The gold spoon gives this lure a little more flash in waters that may have a little more sediment floating around or less direct sunlight, and the black and yellow body gives the sleek lure a bug-like look. The Martin is a little heavier than the Mepps, so I like it in slower waters with fewer rocks.

Either of these lures can be found where fishing supplies are sold; however, trying to find the lower numbered ones, like those pictured above and talked about here, may take you to a more specialized outfitter, where your selection will generally be better.

Good luck out there. Fish smart. And keep it reel.

The Catch - Hobble Creek, Utah

That was a look at Hobble Creek in Utah. Hobble Creek is a tiny freshwater stream that winds its way down the Spanish Fork Canyon through a golfcourse and into the lowlands. There is no shore fishing this stream. You have to get in and get personal with this small, quick moving body of water. And it's lure and fly fishing only. Too bad all you coffee can worm and bait freaks!

Home of beatiful, fiesty native Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and an occassional planted Rainbow, Hobble Creek is a good stream for up-fishing with a #0 or #1 Mepps silver or gold Aglia. A black and gold Panther Martin has also shown promise in these waters. Over-hanging trees and the confined space makes fly-fishing a little bit more dificult, but you see what a well-placed lure can land you in this angling paradise.

Hobble Creek is open year roound, but it gets awfully cold in the winter months and will ice over in most areas.

This is what it's all about. Hats off to the one and only Josh Kelley, AKA "KnowOne", for showing the world how to get it done. This brown was caught on a #0 Silver Mepps Aglia, 6lb line, and a Shakespeare Rod and Reel.

And that's your first look at how to Fish This.