Spring, Booking Your Trip and the Tups Indispensable

"An ethical angler does more than what is required and less that what is allowed" - John Gierach

Yes, I'm playing with your collective heads. I found this photo of the Bondsville section of the Swift which was taken two years ago in early June with the air temperature at 70, the water temperature around 58, the air beginning to fill with early sulphurs and the river full of hungry trout. You've got to admit - it looks better than a picture of a frozen river!!! By May this ice age will be a memory and we will be feeling the tug of a trout.

Booking Your Trip It's not too early to do this as some of you already know. Time slots for April, May and June have already been claimed. This is a smart move BECAUSE you don't have to layout any $$$ because I don't require a deposit. My fees are very reasonable AND I guide on rivers where no other guides
work. The Millers, Swift, EB of the Westfield, West and Middle Branches of the Westfield, the Ware, the Mill and North Rivers are yours to explore. So, don't wait too long. The last two years were very busy. Claim your day soon!!!

The Tups Indispensable

This is one of the grand old flies that you have heard about but probably have never tied, let alone fished. It's also a fly that has a wet AND dry version although Sylvester Nemes swore by the wet, or soft hackled version and I believe everything he ever said!!!

Now, you owe it to yourself to google this fly to find its history and the origin of its name. Hint: A "Tup" is an old term for a male sheep! It's a funny story!!!

Hook - Standard wet or dry size 12 to 16

Tail - light blue dun hackle fibers

Body - yellow thread or floss

Thorax - pinkish orange dubbing (I use rabbit)

Hackle - soft, blue dun wet fly hackle

Ken