Spey Casting Class: Great Day

November 8th marked a great day for the art and science of spey casting. Adrian Psuty and myself played teacher to 9 awesome students. About half of the students had never done any spey casting and by the end of the day they were booming loops. The other anglers had experience and graciously allowed Adrian and I to tweak their casts to increase proficiency.

We tackled just about every topic imaginable and dove head first into every question asked.

We took at look at many different styles of flies and how to fish them on the swing

Here is Adrian demonstrating how to rig a tandem tube fly

One more look at pure discovery

Great news: We are doing it again... Join Adrian Psuty, Keith Kaneko and myelf as we will be unveiling the spey world.

Novermber 22, 2009
9am-5pm
Cost: $75
5 spots currently open
Contact Ryan Miller:
530-913-8312
email: rhmiller@gmail.com

Yuba River Fishing Reports

I have been on the Yuba almost exclusively the last few weeks and am having a ball. The fishing thus far has been good to very good. There were a couple of those unreal days with over 35 fish hooked and a few with less than 10 hooked. Overall the egg bit has been very strong with the occasional nymph being swiped.

Over the last few days the fish have been picking up almost as many nymphs as eggs. Nymphs that have been getting it done include, small PT's, micro mays and the Red Headed Step Child from Hogan, today, that fly rocked it! I will say that the fishing has slowed down, but with some clouds and rain it should pick up.

Swinging flies has proven to be aweseome over that past few trips. I have a few days where 5-8 big fish were hooked in just a few runs. Most clients swinging are throwing switch rods with either Scandi and Skagit heads.

The following are a few shots from the past few weeks... enjoy!

Spey Casting Class: Updates

We are set for tomorrow's first class with 9 students ready to tackle spey casting with spey and switch rods.

There are currently 5 spots left for another class on November 22nd.

If you are ready to get into the spey world or elevate your game this is the class you can't miss.

$75 per student, all day, plus tons of gear to try out.

Contact:
Ryan Miller
530-913-8312
rhmiller@gmail.com

Spey Casting Class: More cool news

I am happy to announce that Adrian Psuty will be joining me as an additional instructor for the spey class offered on November 8th. Adrian brings with him an arsenal of rods for us to try and more importantly a wealth of knowledge in the spey world. He has the an incredible technical comprehension for spey applications and is eager to share it with you. With this addition I have opened up more spaces.

Currently there are 3 spots left for this class.
The November 22nd class has 6 spots left.

Cameron Miller Photo

Contact me for more information.
Ryan Miller
Cell: 530-913-8312
Email: Rhmiller@gmail.com

Updates: Switch and Spey Rod Classes

This could be you...

• November 8th NEW OPENINGS!
  
• November 22nd class has 8 spots left

Come join Keith Kaneko, Adrian Psuty and myself as we share our combined knowledge and experiences with you. We will host this day of discovery on the Yuba River.

We will cover everything including:

• Casting on both sides of the river and off both shoulders
• Line selection (scandi vs. skagit and long belly)
• Tip selection
• Reading swing water
• How to step
• When to carry loops
• Fly selection and water temps

Craig Dinsdale setting up

I give you my word that no matter your skill level you will come away with a wealth of knowledge and concrete confidence when swinging flies.

Contact Ryan for details and/or to secure your spot.
Phone: 530-913-8312
Email: rhmiller@gmail.com

Presentation to Davis Fly Fishers

Tomorrow, October 27, I will be giving a detailed presentation on fishing with "indicators." This class will explore many of the environmental indicators that may yield secrets to catching more fish.

Here is a little peak at what I will be talking about: How to approach new situations with a methodical G.R.I.D. The GRID is looking at Geographical significance, River structure, Insect populations and Desired casts. This approach might help you break down variables.

In addition I have broken down strike indicators to a mad science and will show how to properly rig and use them. You might be thinking that there isn't much to using one of these fancy bobbers, me too. However, somehow I ended up with a 10 page manual on the how to's... crazy. All who join me will get the manual plus other goodies.

Any Granite Bay folks out there have seen this presentation and let me live, so you might like it

Here in the info link: http://ffd.x10hosting.com/pdf/FFD0910.pdf

It would be great to see you there.

Thanks,
Ryan

Detailed Spey and Switch Classes on the Yuba

Spey and Switch Rods on the Yuba
With Ryan Miller

This class will be held on the Yuba River and will be dedicated to exploring the world of spey casting and utilizing spey techniques. Learn everything from how to hold the rod to properly working a run. I will show you how to select rods, reels, lines, tips, flies, spey casts and water. We will dive into Skagit, Scandinavian and long belly line applications. If you do not own a two-handed rod, no problem, I will show you how to do everything on a single-handed rod. This is the most complete spey class out there.

The November 22 date will feature local guide, travel agent and my good friend Keith Kaneko of Angling On The Fly. He and I will spill the beans about one of our passions. *class must have 6 anglers for both instructors to be there.

Two Dates:
November 8: 5 anglers max cost is $100 per person
November 22: 10 anglers max, cost is $75 per person

Students will be taken on a first come, first serve basis and ability does not matter.

Both classes will start at 10am and end at 5pm.

Contact Ryan Miller at rhmiller@gmail.com, Phone: 530-913-8312 with questions or to sign up.
For more information on Ryan Miller visit:

The Web Page

Photo by Andy Guibord
Let's swing some flies

Swinging in California

Time to get out your swing on. Now is the time get geared up for fall fishing in Northern California. This is a great time to swing flies on your favorite rivers. There are still great hatches going on, in addition to great water temperatures. Swinging flies is also good now because there are no distractions of eggs. Once eggs hit the river bottom is seams that fish switch gears and smash eggs.

If you are new to swinging flies I have a sweet program to get you going. I can even provide equipment for the day. If you are a seasoned swinger, come on down and let's get into it.

If you would like to check out something new or a new way to look at something old, check this out. FALL SPECIAL

Here is Adrian getting his game face on.

Yuba...

She is blown...but should be fishing soon. The water has dropped nicely from 15k and will be in shape for floating soon. Wading will be very tough until she gets under 3k.

Here is what ate for us before the deluge-

Had a tough day, however we manged to round up some studs-

DownStream Fly Fishing 2009

The following is a blog written by Mark Lynn. Mark was one of the many great volunteers at DownStream 2009.

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do-


"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do!"


What a great mantra...

and it fits in perfectly with my life of late...

I have some major challenges with which I struggle and deal on pretty much a daily basis.

Yet, I somehow manage to get along and fish on a supra-regular basis.

For me, abstinence from fishing is not an option.

I also find that the less self pity and the more gratitude I indulge in... the better off I am.

The perfect opportunity arose last weekend when fellow AR angler, Ryan Miller invited me to help out at his DownStream Outreach Program.

Ryan grew up with his younger brother, Mark (KOOL NAME@!) who was diagnosed as having Down Syndrome.

As Ryan grew up and metamorphosed into a fishing fanatic... he was diagnosed as having Down-Stream Syndrome and rather than fight it... he became a fishing guide.

Looking back, he realized that his brother actually taught him a good many things most notably, attentiveness, patience, perseverance, and compassion~:)

Mark admired and looked up to his brother and vice-versa I'm sure.

I bet they've fished a good many streams together over the years...

Ryan must have pondered how cool it would be to share his love and passion for the sport of fishing not just with his bro but with many young folks who often, because of their somewhat different appearance and exaggerated behaviors, get shunned by mainstream society.

And hence, DownStream was set into motion.

This was the third year of the annual event Ryan designed to connect special-needs folks with something very real, engaging, and inspirational.

I got a bit lost on the way to the event and not once or twice mind you... but three times. When all else fails, read the address on the directions!

That was what finally got me there.

I hadn't missed much as the band was just starting to move towards the pond.
I decided to just help out wherever needed and try to capture the essence of the day with camera and memory card.

It seems to me that human nature has a tendency towards remorse and sympathy for folks like Mark and Alison, Oscar and Peter, Chele and Sam who happen to have been born with a condition like Down Syndrome. I have pondered the hows and whys of this many times throughout my life and the best I can come up with is that there is a design far grander and far more purposeful than our mortal minds can conceive... a plan, a purpose which defies our limited comprehension and preconceptions of right/wrong, good/bad, normal/strange...

...and anyone with open eyes, mind and heart could surely see that these folks needed no sympathy. I walked the perimeter of "BOW'S END" 1/2 a dozen times during the course of the day...
and everywhere I went I saw only enthusiastic, jubilant, happy, smiling faces.

I think everyone must have read the back of the shirt that day and taken heed to John Wooden's directive:

The clouds and drizzle subsided and the morning sun emerged. There were 20-something students and at least twice that many volunteers.

I saw some old/new friends whom I'd met on my home river; Adrian, Teresa, Jason H., Rob, Charlie G. and also made many new friends during the course of the day.

It should come as no surprise that veteran angler, Mark Miller would put the bends to the first trout of the day... and what a fish! Way to go Mark!!

The program was divided into 4 sections:

CASTING


FISHING




Sometimes, the individuals who least enjoy 'living in the limelight'... are the ones who most inspire and leave the greatest, lasting impressions... Such is the case with Alison. I asked permission to take her photo at the FISH ART station and she was quite reluctant. Later in the day, I watched her fight and land a trout. The volunteers brought the netted fish to her and while we were all focused on the photo opportunity, Alison was concerned only with getting the fish back to the pond as quickly as possible... "Oh poor fish. We need to put it back NOW so it can LIVE!"
Way to go Alison! Many of our fisheries and anglers thereof could use the guidance of your wisdom and compassion...

FLY-TYING
FISH ART


Making repeated smooth casts, tying up the perfect wooly bugger, painting a 'rainbow-whale' and fighting lots of fish demands much energy so by noon time, everyone had worked up quite the healthy appetite.

Ryan gathered up the troops and passed out some fishing literature courtesy of one of the event sponsors.

I left DownStream 2009 feeling as though we had each accomplished something very worthwhile and had learned a bit more about who we are in the process.