Season's Reflections

Fall is a bitter sweet time in my little corner of East Idaho.  On the one hand there is so much to do outdoors that there is never enough time to do it all.  On the other hand is the lingering notion that winter is almost upon us, and while there is still much to do outside, it is not the same.  Regrettably, my fly rod ends up being stored until April, or whenever the ice breaks and the temperatures warm up.  I have often thought about what I can do during the winter to pass the time and get ready for the spring.

I know many men tie flies.  I used to do that in my younger days, but with flies being relatively cheap and time the precious commodity that it is, I rarely tie my own.  What is interesting, though, is how fly tying has caught on my two of my sons.  I took Will (age 10) and Matt (age 7) to an outdoor expo last year where a seasoned fly tyer was volunteering his time to teach kids the art of fly tying.  My boys loved it!  Even my 5 year old daughter wanted to join in on the action.

Ever since that experience, my kids have been very excited to tie their own creative versions of flies they see in the catalogs I get.  So as I prepare to put my rod away for the coming winter, I will pause and reflect that this is not a time to dread, but rather a time where I can sit with my kids and give them one-on-one attention while the snow falls.  Then by april they will be begging me to get out of the house, and if I am lucky, they will want to come too.

Fishlander Pontoons End of Season Blow Out Sale

Fishlander Pontoons and Custom Tackle is having their 1st ever End of Season Blow Out SALE. Buy as a Christmas Gift or save it for the spring. Sale starts today while quantities last.

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9' Heron Introductory Price - $479.99 End of Season Blow Out SALE - $379.99
9' Osprey Introductory Price - $569.99 End of Season Blow Out SALE- $469.99
9' Hawk Introductory Price - $649.99 End of Season Blow Out SALE- $549.99

Check our Website for Boat Specs - www.fishlanderpontoons.com

SALE pricing will not be reflected on the webstore.

9' Egret - $439.99

9' Hawk - $549.99

9' Heron - $379.99

9' Osprey - $469.99

Email us at admin@fishlanderpontoons.com with the model you would like to purchase and we can take the order over the phone. Shipping to is only $75 anywhere in the continental United States and Canada. Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Fly Fishing on Hosli and Pennask Lake Part 2

It's not very comfortable sleeping in the truck. We wake up at about 6am to start our day. We brushed, we washed, put the tender and the belly boat away and packed up to make Pennask by 10am. We were about 1.5 hours away from Pennask Lake.

There is one thing that is missing from the forestry roads - signs. Every road leading out of the site looked exactly the same. We didn't want to go back the same way we came because of the many obstacles that we faced coming in. Bill remembered another way so we decide that is the way we were going. 

We meet a huge puddle so we go around it. We run into a fallen tree so we chopped through it down with a hatchet. We then end up in even worse terrain. We had to go back to where we started. So we reverse in 4 low. It was actually easier going in reverse than it was going forward.

It took us about 2 hours to get out of the forestry road towards the main highway. We were both exhausted but were glad that the forestry road was behind us.

The directions I received from the Internet were un-clear. There were no street signs in those forestry roads. There were nobody around. So we follow the directions as best we could. We end up driving all the way up a mountain. The view was spectacular. To be able to see lake after lake and tree after tree, it was nature at its best.

It was definitely the wrong way. We back track and get back to the starting point. We try it again and found ourselves further and further away from where we think the lake is. My cell phone was jumping in and out of service so it was no help.

Bill all of sudden stops and runs out of the truck. He finds a mushroom on the side of the road. He tells me that in his country, these mushrooms were very rare and taste amazing. It makes a great schnitzel. As we drive on, we find many more of these mushrooms. So we continue on and picked about 8 lbs of these things.

We were getting a little bit impatient. Yes, the mushrooms were fun to pick and Yes, the day was beautiful. But we want to go fishing and meet these fly fishermen that could be potential clients. We have a box full of goodies to show and a few prizes to raffle off.

I give Chris a call to get some better directions. We try and try and finally after a few more hours, we get to the road where it leads to the lake. We thought it would be an easy ride but boy we were wrong. We thought the road leading to Hosli Lake was tough, the road to Pennask was even more treacherous. It was down hill leading to the lake on a side of a mountain. Huge puddles, rocks, tree trunks and fallen branches were scattered through a downward descent for about 900 metres or so.

We finally make it. It's about 130pm in the afternoon. We meet the people of the Lonely Loons Fly fishing Club and showed our goods. We go some really good responses from our products. I wished we had the pontoon boats. We ended up chatting it up for about 45 minutes before I was offered to try this man made tender. It looked great. Bill wasn't feeling very well so he decided to stay in the truck to rest while I fished.

Fishing on Pennask was fun. There were so many fish in that lake. They were very small though. Most of the fish were caught earlier on but there were many fish jumping all around me. As this is my second time fly fishing, I only caught one. It was on a Buick 52 dry fly. Only a 7 inch rainbow. Oh well. It was fun none the less.

As it was getting late, we decide to get the draw over with. We gave away a pair of polarized sunglasses, a medium sized fly box and a pair of Digital Video Recording Sunglasses.

As the day draws to a close, we decide to head back to Vancouver. This trip definitely inspired us to Think Adventure. 

Fly Fishing on Hosli and Pennask Lake Part 1

The Adventures of Bill and Joe

Pennask and Hosli Part 1

We were invited to the Lonely Loons Fly Fishing Club event at Pennask Lake at the end of July.  Chris Mapson was our host and he was very eager to meet us. We left Burnaby at 330am Saturday Morning hoping to get to our first destination, Hosli Lake. We plan to camp out 1 night and head to Pennask Lake by 9am Sunday Morning. We were using the BC back roads maps and located Hosli Lake. It looked pretty straight forward and it even mentions that the lake was 2 wheel drive accessible.  Because our shipment of pontoon boats was 1 week behind, we had no choice but to bring a belly boat and a tender. 

I was looking forward to this trip for a long time. Bill tells me stories about how large the trout he has caught at Hosli Lake and how amazing fishing can be.  The drive was very smooth. The weather was great, as there was not a single cloud in the sky. It’s great to be outdoors in the early summer.

After about 4 hours of driving, we decide to stop by the Roche Lake Resort to drop off some of our brochures to the owner. The resort was very busy because of a Wedding that was booked for the afternoon.  The owner didn’t have too much time to speak with us but accepted the brochures and business cards. The fishing, I was told, was amazing and 3-4lb rainbows have been pulled out on parts of the large lake. We then head on to Hosli.

I have never heard of Hosli Lake. Apparently, it is one of thousands of remote lakes in BC. As we turn into the forestry service road that leads towards the lake, I was thinking that we will make it to the lake in good time so we can have lots of time fishing.  Boy was I wrong. The road was treacherous. I haven’t been on such a bumpy and unforgiving, road before.  We faced challenge after challenge. There were large rocks, big boulders, and troublesome branches to clear. There were huge pot holes, giant puddles and unbelievable drop offs that made driving a nightmare. I had to get out a few times to help Bill navigate through some troublesome obstacles. Ruby (the name of Bill’s truck) did an amazing job. She got roughed up a little bit with some scratches on her body and a couple of bent skid plates but nothing too serious. We took the wrong turn and had to drive backwards to get to the right path.

After about 1.5 hours of crawling through the horrid forestry service back roads, we get to Hosli Lake. I would have to say that using the word serenity to describe the setting is an understatement.  With the exception of a few ATVs and motorbikes roaring in the back ground, the peacefulness of the lake was like a pleasant dream. There was not a person in sight; there were risers all over the lake and a few sudden unexpected shrills of a loon. The loon will prove to haunt Bill for a very long time.

Getting ready to fish Hosli Lake

We get some energy by having some beef jerky and get setup for a day of fishing. It’s now about noon and we are looking forward to a day of fishing. There are some clouds overhead with the sun peaking in and out from them. I set out on the tender with a small 40 thrust trolling motor and head out. A tender is not the most comfortable boat you can be on but I manage. 

As a beginner fly fisherman, casting the line is a bit of a challenge. I am using floating line with a sinking tip. I try different flies to see if the fish will bite. I find that my approach and my presentation of the fly is not to par. I think I am scaring the fish. I try trolling with a leach but that doesn't work either. Fish on!

It wasn't me. Bill is wrestling with a massive rainbow. I am very excited so I b-line it towards his direction.  He keeps yelling, while fighting the fish, that this is one of the largest rainbow he has ever caught. The smile on his face was like a little child opening his first present on Christmas morning. I see the fish. It was massive. It was about 10lbs. The fish surfaces and then suddenly, the loon pop up beside Bill. Bill yells at the loon and swears at it but all the noise was futile. The loon dives and spears the fish. The fish was bigger than he was. Bill’s disappointment was echoed by his loud screams of profanity.

Luckily, Bill recorded the whole ordeal with his Tigon Vision Sunglasses. It's really a dandy device. It records in High Definition and the picture quality is amazing. No more, reaching for the camera or relying on somebody else to record the moment.

It's about 3 o'clock now. I am frustrated to a point where I needed to get some food and some rest. Being on the tender for long periods of time is very uncomfortable. As I head back, I hear Bill yelling again. He got himself another Rainbow. I zip towards him to see what he has caught. It was a 4 pounder. Not as big as the one that got away but still a good size fish. As he was landing it, the loon was lurking and dove for the fish again. This time he failed and Bill got to land a very good catch.

As I watch him in envy, I decide to do a few more casts and head back to shore. It was getting dark now. 2 more fish were caught and Bill comes back to shore to get ready for dark.

In a remote setting like Hosli, there is no artificial light anywhere. Gazing into the sky you will find all the details the Milky Way  has to offer to the naked eye. It is absolutely stunning. It makes me think of how small and insignificant we are in this universe and how there are billions upon billions of galaxies with each galaxy with billions of stars.

We build a fire and try to keep warm. We didn't bring a tent so we slept in the Truck . We had a couple of sleeping bags and we were soon snoring away. 

How I Became Hooked

My oldest son recently turned ten and asked for a fly rod for his birthday.  Naturally I was overjoyed at this and had fun picking out a rod and reel combo for him to use.  In the process, I started to remember how I got my start in fly fishing.  Unlike my son, my father was not a fly fisherman.  In fact, growing up we always teased my father about his inability to catch a fish.  He just couldn't do it.  So whatever fishing knowledge I have came from my grandpa.  When I asked him about fly fishing, he was more than up for teaching me the basics.

Grandpa lived (and still does) in Maryland, which was about a day's drive from my childhood home in Ohio. During a summer visit, he pulled out his old fly rod and taught me the basics of casting in his backyard.  I literally stood on his back porch for hours practicing my cast.  10-1-10, over and over.  Occasionally he would come outside and make some corrections to my technique, but I was enthralled by the rhythm and cadence of casting.  I envisioned monster rainbows sipping dry flies from the surface of the lawn and by the end of the evening, I felt I had perfected casting.  Clearly, I was a a teenager at the time!

The next day we headed into the mountains where I could try my hand at catching fish on a fly.  The water was clear and cool and I was immediately taken by how I could see the trout darting around the riffles and pools.  I tied on a dry fly and began to cast.  Unlike Grandpa's backyard, the stream was covered by a canopy of branches which seemed to attract my fly.  Over and over I would have to pause and untangle my fly.  Grandpa was content to leave me to learn by trial and error as he methodically worked the pools up and down the stream.  Although it was many years ago, I remember finding a deep pool and looking down at the rainbows lying near a steep embankment.  i would cast my fly near them, but they did not budge.  And I was hooked.  For some reason, the notion that this must be the hardest form of fishing made me want to succeed all the more.

I was skunked that day, though Grandpa was not.  That Christmas I received my first fly rod, a Cortland.  I took that fly rod all over south western Ohio catching bluegills and a few small bass here and there.  Later, it moved west with me as I began college and eventually settled in Idaho, though by that time I had already replaced that rod with something newer.  Now, I have the good fortune to pass this tradition along to my son, who will hopefully have the good fortune of seeing large trout mock his attempts at presenting a dry fly.

How to choose an Inflatable Pontoon

Whether you are a die-hard fly fisherman or a weekend angler, an inflatable pontoon boat would allow you to reach those hard to get to areas of a lake or drifting on a river. The fantastic thing about an inflatable pontoon boat is the fact that they are relatively affordable to purchase, easy to transport and can be stored in a very compact size. Some can be dismantled and stored in a large carrying bag that can be transported in a medium sized car. There is no need for you to own a truck and or a roof rack. There are a few things to consider when selecting the right inflatable pontoon boat. You should consider the frame, size, pontoon socks and bladders before making your final decision.

One of the most important things you should consider is the frame. Inflatable pontoon boats can have frames made of plastic, steel or aluminum. Plastic is the lightest and cheapest but it will not give you the strength and durability that you need when on the water. Steel is very strong and is moderately priced but it is very heavy and is susceptible to rust and corrosion.  An aluminum framed Pontoon boat not only is resistant to corrosion, but it will be lighter in weight. Some companies do a very good job applying a powder coated finish to the frame so it looks and feels great.  With these benefits, you will be paying a higher price for your boat. But it will be worth it.

Next is choosing the size that is right for what you are comfortable with. Inflatable pontoons come in many different sizes. The larger the boat, the more you will expect to pay.  A larger boat will place you higher on the water, allowing you to cruise through larger areas on a lake or rivers and the boat will be more responsive to oars. You need to find out what the maximum capacity of the inflatable pontoon boat is. Depending on how heavy the operator is and how much gear you are taking with you, you must make sure that you will not over exceed the maximum weight capacity of the boat.  Some inflatable pontoons can be outfitted with a trolling motor so you need to take the weight of the motor in account.

Another important feature to consider is the thickness of the pontoon sock. It is best to find out the thickness rating of the pontoon sock before purchasing. The thicker the material, the more durable and more puncture resistant it will be. While the price of the inflatable pontoon may be higher, it will last longer than the cheaper alternatives.

Finally, you need to look at the type of bladder that is in an inflatable pontoon boat. Bladders are normally made from PVC or Vinyl. They come in many different thicknesses. The thicker the bladder, the more durable it will be. Vinyl is essentially plastic so it can crack or over expand under extreme temperatures. PVC is easily repairable and very durable.

There are many manufacturers of Inflatable pontoon boats on the market. If you keep the features listed above in mind when shopping for one, you will be making a well informed decision.  An inflatable pontoon boat is an essential tool to allow you to get to the areas on your selected waters that you normally cannot access. This does not guarantee you will catch more fish, but it will certainly allow you to do it in comfort and style.

The Adventures of Bill and Joe

Stony Lake Lodge and Minnie Lake

It was 3 am in the morning when I woke up to set out on our trip to Merritt. We were setting up to head to the World Renown Lake in the semi-desert terrain of Merritt BC. Bill picks me up at 330 am. With wide eyes, I tell him that I am very happy and excited to be going fly fishing for the first time. The Lodge we were going to is known all over the world as one of the premier trout fly fishing only lakes. Countless numbers of fishing shows were filmed on the lakes. It is also frequented by many famous fly fishermen. The road trip was  filled with stories of our past fishing adventures. Comparing fishing stories of the past and the dreams of the adventures yet to come.

A week before, I was fishing for Spring Salmon in Ucluelet BC. With the heavy ocean gear I was using and the wide ocean lapping at the boat, not to mention the Halibut rigs, I did not know what to expect with light tackle and a fly rod. I have always wanted to learn how to catch fish on the fly. My dream is to catch Steel-head on a fly. This is a perfect opportunity to learn from a fellow angler that has fished with a fly setup for over 25 years.

Fly fishing, to some, is considered a gentleman's sport or a hobby. To others, it can be considered a passion or a way of life. Whatever you call it, fly fishing is a pleasurable pastime built on the camaraderie of anglers, the tranquil natural settings of rivers, lakes and oceans, and the beautiful fish they pursue. Fly fishing, to me is like a roller coaster. It's a wild ride of quiet deliberation, patience and the heart pumping adrenaline rush of a strike.

The drive was about 3.5 hours long but we get a little lost as the directions to the lake was not as clear as we liked. The weather was a typical early summer morning with the sun's rays beaming and a breeze that ever so lightly tickles your face. We turn into the road that takes us to the resort. Private Property. There was cattle everywhere. We go through rolling hills with endless acres of pastors where the cattle grazed. We finally arrive at the Resort. We were greeted by the manager of Stony Lake Lodge and were well on our way to a day of fly fishing on a lake where some of the greats have fished.

The lake wasn't too busy at this time. There were maybe 8 boats on the lake with 5 huddled around a little bay. We were told that a majority of the fish were accumulating in the bay at this point of the day. As we head out, the weather starts to become overcast and a small wind was building from the east. We were using a fish finder to find the depths of the lake and to see where the schools of fish were. We use the trolling motor to get us from the dock. Lesson time.

Fly fishing is relatively easy to learn but it takes a life time to master. I have only watched others cast so when I tried it for the first time, I find myself in a large tangle. Line was everywhere. I guess the statement of "try, try and try again" is an understatement. Somehow, casting a fly is harder than it looks. Luckily Bill is patient with me. That is all I can ask for in a teacher.

FISH ON! Bill yells as I look at him with line all over myself and the boat. Its a little guppy. Not the monsters that I hear that are swimming around. It's a beautiful little 7 inch Bow. He was using a tiny olive chironomid.

I think I got it. Nope. another tangle. As I struggle to get the line in order, Bill catches 3 more little bows. I'm so used to heavy tackle with large fish. Light tackle with small fish uses more fineness and a lot more skill.

The morning continues and the weather changes ever so often. We are roasting in the sun for about 10 minutes and then the wind picks up and blows us all over the lake. Then it starts down pouring. The weather in this high elevation location changes more frequently than a woman who changes her shoes before a first date.

As we tire of the bay, we decide to troll over to the west part of the lake where the manager was telling us that there were some large 4-5 lb rainbows there. Bam! Another strike and another fish landed by Bill. It was caught on a black leach on a sinking line set up. Trolling is much easier than casting. It seems a little more effective for a beginner like me.

We arrive at the western part of the lake. And we do some casting. I'm getting a little bit better. I only hooked into myself 3 times. To think I should of learned on shore rather than sitting down on an Aluminum row boat. We fish there for about 45 minutes and decide that the bay was more productive.

As we troll from the west to the bay, I was getting a little frustrated and a little anxious as I really wanted to see what it is like to catch a trout on a fly. Out of no where, Bill gets excited and screamed - you have a fish on your rod. With lightning fast reflexes, I grab my rod from the rod holder and set the hook. The rod tip was bending and the trout was doing the normal head shakes. It jumps in the air. Not once, not twice but three times. I try to use the reel  but the fish was taking line like there was no tomorrow. Finally after 5 minutes of fumbling around with the reel, and getting used to light tackle, I land a 2 lb Rainbow. Compared to some 30 lbs salmon I have caught and the few 50-80 lb Sturgeons, it was a tiny fish. With light tackle and a 2lb trout, the excitement was insurmountable. I am hooked on fly fishing.

The wind starts to pick up and we decide it was time to head back in. Sputter... Sputter.. bam... the trolling motor gives up. I guess we have to row back. With 1- 2 feet waves it took almost everything Bill had to get us back to the dock. It seemed like we were rowing for an eternity. Finally we make it and start our journey back to Vancouver. It was good day. Think Adventure!

Why I Flyfish

I have to admit that my wife kicked me out of the house last week...at least for a few hours.  She could tell I was stressed out and that my usual running routine was not doing enough to release all my stress.  I called my buddy and we headed to one of the local rivers in Eastern Idaho (did you really think I was going to reveal my honey hole?).  No one was around, the water was gurgling beneath me and I was casting my fly rising trout.

Based on reports from other flyfisherman, stoneflies were the way to go.  I tied on a nice brown beadhead under a strike indicator and headed to a seam in the current where I had caught some nice fish last year.  On the second cast my rod bent and brilliant flash of shiny scales broke the surface.  It was a beautiful brown trout and very large.  He was only on the line for a few seconds, but what a start to an evening!  We didn't catch much that evening.  My friend caught a little 9 inch brown and I tied into another large brown.  I had him on the line for quite a while and could see that he easily hit the 5 lb range.  Rather than force him into a landing, we stared at each other through the water and I dropped the tension.  And then he was gone.

That was a night when it was less about what I caught and more about finding peace.  The cool breeze tinged with rain carried all my stress away.  My drive back to Idaho Falls was filled with dreams and aspirations about how well I would do this fall in my favorite spots.  For that night, it was enough to be on the water.  As I was leaving the river, a little trout jumped to gobble up the few flies that were beginning to appear.  Yep, there is nothing better.