RBF Pro Staff Cookbook "Recipes for a Good Day" Progresses

Everything from Bowhunter's Buffalo Meatloaf to Roast Raccoon and most things in between.  200 pages and counting.  It will debut as a PDF file possibly by the time of the Baetis Summit.  Still trying to find a reasonable quote on printing. 

There Goes the Chief

Truita - Catalan translates to "trout" or "omelet".  The Chief has a recipe in "Recipes for a Good Day" for Truita de Truita.

Western Summit 2014?

Fellow Prostaffers:

I've been tying various flies for the last 2 hours with visions of rising trout sipping dry flies as the sun sets on a placid stream. No doubt this has been facilitated by the several Black Butte porters (Deschuttes Brewery, OR) I have quaffed during the same time. Perhaps even further lubed by the Narwhal stout (10% ETOH by the same brewery) that I imbibed.

Anyway, as I daydreamed of said trout, I thought about the last western summit we held in Montana in 2008. Seems to me it is time to reacquaint western trout with the skills of the eastern angler. Including the sight of a lone flyfisher at evening hatch with a Richardson chest box and a George Harvey dry fly leader stalking risers in the dusk.

Sorry for the faux fishing writing and hyperbole. What I mean to say is, is anyone interested in meeting up in Montana this summer for some good fishing and a good time? If so, please let me know. I'd be willing to help make arrangements and even meet some folks at airports and drive. If there is interest in fishing on the Missouri River, I can prevail on my nephew (guide with the Trout Shop in Craig, MT) for help in setting up a  great time in the Missouri and surrounding waters.

Just wanted to start the discussion.

Shutdown Blues

Agrontrutta is currently idled by the ill advised (and inconsistent) shutdown of the federal government. I’ll not go into my opinions of the current situation (at least not until after I get my next paycheck); howver, I’ll share a few pics from my late summer vacation with the better half and Cricket the Flyfishing Beagle in the Black Hills of South Dakota in early September. We spent about four days at the Spearfish Canyon Resort near Spearfish SD in early September and yours truly fished Spearfish Creek and Little Spearfish Creek in Spearfish Canyon. It is very scenic and great small stream fishing.

 Matt searching for fish along Spearfish Canyon.

 The Better Half and Cricket the Flyfishing Beagle at the petrified wood park near Lemmon, SD. A real off-the beaten-path attraction (sort of like the town with the largest ball of twine).

And the icon Mt. Rushmore.

The Better Half and Cricket the Flyfishing Beagle on Little Spearfish Creek

Log jams.......... deep pools......... bolder gardens.........

With this summer drawing towards its 2/3 mark beckons the question of this falls activities. Last fall there was a small deployment sent to Erie, Pa for some steelhead. The Pro Staffers were faced with some arduous conditions on the streams but,  dumb fish were still caught.

I am contemplating on making another run up there again in October for some early season steelhead. I've got a friend, Brandon Nolan, that has the 'desire bug' to go and lose his steelhead v-card. Slinging big streamers for big fish in little water.

I am curious as to if there is anyone else that would be considering a trip to the north? I wouldn't consider it a full blown gathering or make the recommendation for an Erie Gathering. However, it would be nice to get some Officer support there from a Ranger.... Either way the enlisted have always been able to get the mission accomplished. As of right now there's my buddy and I that are planning a trip. Anyone else is welcome to go.

Big Woods Summit 2013

Ok, so who is coming to the Big Woods Summit this year? I will be arriving on Wednesday May 22nd and I will be leaving the following Monday May 27th.


I need to start thinking about the menu for this year’s event. So let me know if you are coming and what days you will be there.

Bowhunter

Recipes for a Good Day

Here's a preview of what's to come....

Camp Coffee

Agrontrutta                                                                                                                        Bismarck, ND

Fly fishing camps require certain essentials. Coffee from a campfire in the morning, for example. Whether it’s at Salmon Forks Camp on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the “Bob”  or at Lyman Run in Penn’s woods, camp coffee clears the head and gets your mind right. At Rossiter Lodge we cheat and drink the brew from an electric coffee maker because we can’t be trusted with fire that early in the morning. Coffee from the Trout Shop Café in Craig, Montana is the next best thing to camp coffee.

John Gierach captured the cosmological connections of camp coffee and gave some practical tips on its making in Trout Bum. Ernest Hemmingway in Big Two-Hearted River has Nick, the story’s protagonist, trying to remember how his friend Hopkins (“Hop”, killed in WWI) made camp coffee—boiled or simmered. Nick boils it and the bitter tasting result reminds him of the right way. He ends up sweetening the black bitter brew with the syrupy dregs from a tin of apricots.

 I can’t channel John Gierach and the closest I’ll ever get to Papa’s spirit is Hemmingway Flats on the Missouri River. I don’t even have my own camp coffee recipe. So, here’s one I stole from Tom Perini’s Texas Cowboy cookbook. It’s actually from Richard Bolt, a cook at the Pitchfork ranch near Guthrie, Texas.

The night before: Fill coffee pot (1 gallon) with water to one-inch below the spout. Add 1 to 1 and ½ cups coffee grounds (depending on strength). Let sit overnight.

In the morning: Put over a low fire and bring to a simmer. Take the pot off the flame and dash it with cold water (settles the grounds). Enjoy.

Baetis Summit

Voting is nearly over.  Looks like March 16 was chosen.  We might want to think about having the Summit on March 23.  We still have winter here in Centre Co.  I don't think we will have any dry fly fishing.  Fish still  can be caught on scuds, eggs, pheasant tails and streamers.  Think it over.  I won't be doing any fishing.  I'll have the Fair Maiden's Butternut Squash Soup to serve.  I'll bring the RV to serve as a comfort station.

Trophy Display

I won’t lie.   I wanted to win the 2  Fly Contest.  I don’t know why, but I did.  I figured the best two flies to use would be a #10 Rusty Spinner and a #10 2XL Hare’s Ear but I chose a Caddis and Beadhead.  I believe that you must have confidence in your flies and I can catch trout in sewer with those flies.  The rest is history.  The infamous trophy is being displayed in our living room next to my antler collection.

Blue Wing Olive Summit

Well it’s that time of year, vote for your choice of weekends for the Blue Wing Olive Summit.


I believe there may be a Trout Legend fishing contest the weekend of the 9th.

Voting will end March 2nd   Good Luck

Annual Christmas Summit

Today the annual Christmas summit was held on Spring Creek. Today’s event was highlighted with the new Big Woods Summit Grand Champion award. This coveted award was determined by the 2 fly fishing competitions held this past May and sponsored by the Rossiter Lodge. This award was delay during the annual BWS because of the thousands of hours of R&D that was required for development of the award.

Chief was crowned the Champion during the event.

Chief being presented the New BWS Grand Champion Journal.

The coveted BWS award…..Won using a Caddis and a beadhead...

Rules for the annual BWS event.

1. Winner must display the award in a living section of the house and post a write up on the RBF Blog

2. Winner will add something to the award.

3. Winner must present the award to the next winner and read the journal entry at the BWS.

4. The award will be determined by the annual fishing competition or in special case by the Chief and VP’s

Good Luck and Carry On

And yes we did manage to catch some fish...

Season's Greetings

Various reports via social media indicate that the annual Christmas fishin gatherin was a success today. Look forward to any and all reports of the goings-on from Spring Creek today. In the meantime, here are a few meager pics of my few and far between flyfishing sojourns around south central ND this summer. I found a quiet place to target small mouths with a fly (streamers and poppers) on the McClusky canal about an hour north of Bismarck. The canal is a remnant of the last big pork barrel western water project in the west. It was to take water from Lake Sacagwea to central and eastern ND for irrigation of field crops. Never was realistic and basically was a boondoogle. Its lasting legacy is as a fishing spot for the likes of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agrontrutta parked alongside the McClusky canal in southcentral ND.

A couple of smallmouths that fell for streamers.

Hope all prostaffers and their family enjoy a peaceful and loving Christmas time and a prosperous New Year. Carry On!

Buddies

POP

Michura, Edward S., 90, of Franklin Borough, went to be with the Lord on November 6, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on October 21, 1922 in Johnstown. Son of Anthony J. and Mary (Chula) Michura. Preceded in death by his parents; brother, John; sisters, Cecelia McCarthy and Helen Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Cecelia A. (Tremul) Michura, Franklin Borough; son, Edward J., married to the former Diane Hutsky, Beech Creek, PA; beloved granddaughter, Katie Anne, wife of David Petersen, Linden, PA and several nieces and nephews. Edward was a graduate of Franklin High School. He was a US Army Veteran serving during WWII in the 26th Infantry Division with the 328th Anti Tank Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge. Edward retired from Bethlehem Steel Wheel Plant after 39 years of service as a Millwright. He was a member a life member of the Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Company; life member of the NRA; charter member of the WWII Memorial Society; member of the Greater Johnstown Retired Men’s Club; the Yankee Division Veterans Association; M1 Garand Collectors Association and the SGT Michael Strank Post # 5107 V.F.W. Edward was a member of the former Assumption of the B.V.M. Catholic Church which later merged with Sacred Heart Catholic Church as the Church of the Transfiguration. He enjoyed woodworking; puttering around the house and all sports, especially Conemaugh Valley High School football, AAABA and going to Steeler, Pirate and Pens games. Edward was a master craftsman. He loved relaxing and hunting at his St. Cecelia Camp with his entire family. Edward was an avid deer hunter up until his 89th birthday. He kept a camp diary that is a literary treasure. Edward also kept an interesting daily diary. He simply loved spending time with his family and hunting with his son. At Edward’s request there will be no public viewing. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday (December 17th) at the Church of the Transfiguration, Fr. Robert C. Hall. Inurnment will be at Assumption Cemetery with military rites conducted by Menoher Post #155 VFW Ritual Team. The family is being served by the Baker-Harris Funeral Chapel, Conemaugh. The family suggests contributions be directed to Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Company, 1125 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15909  in memory of Edward. On line condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com.   

2013 Winter Freeze Out

This year we are adding another event. The Winter Freeze Out, fishing is optional. Food and refreshments will be the primary focus of this event (like it’s not at the other events). If the weather is too arduous we can all meet at my house. Chief is looking forward to this since he cannot attend the Christmas gathering. So make sure you select a weekend in the polling section.


Carry On and Good Luck

Annual Christmas Fishing Gathering 2012?

Given the proximity of December and the desire to try and plan things out in advance I would(as the junior most member) propose the 15th of December as the annual meeting. Understandably that its about a month away and surely enough time to take it to a vote.

From the Chief

Sad news to report.  Pop passed away on November 6.  He was 90 and had been suffering a bit since last hunting season, in and out of the hospital with COPD.  It came unexpected.  He seemed to be improving when I last visited on his birthday, October 21.  Mom wanted me to go through his things.  Pop was getting ready for hunting season!  Pop was a very unique man.  He spent his life amusing me and Mom.  We hunted together since I was 8, missing only those years that  I was in college.  He had a catcher's mitt and he caught me up through high school.  He was my best friend and hero.  I was never to worry about him because he "survived a depression, fought a World War, made it through 3 great floods and survived 5 Republican presidents."  He was a master craftsman.  I  will post photos of the rifle he built for me when I graduated college.  www.wharrisfuneralhome.com

I will be having back surgery on the first day of deer season and I will probably be retiring shortly after.  I am hoping that I will find at least some relief from my pain so that I can hunt and fish again.  I made Bowhunter and JohnW blog administrators and hope you guys keep this thing going.  I have been terrible in keeping this blog active. I just can't sit at a computer in comfort. Carry on and GOOD LUCK.

Oh yeah......I bought a 2013 Chevy Suburban LT, tan with black leather, loaded.  I go and just sit in it to get relief with its heated seats.  That sumbitch will be just great for steelie fishin!  I can haul the entire Pro Staff and their gear!

Hey - Please try to keep the Annual Christmas Fishing Gathering tradition alive.  It's great fellowship and a good way to celebrate who we are.  Let me know if and when.  Pops Memorial Mass will be December 17.

Land of Giants

Sometimes life deals you a second chance. After returning from an abruptly truncated fishing vacation, I got the chance to return to Montana for short break at the end of September. I met my sister for a brief family reunion at Craig, MT where her son, Mike, guides on the Missouri River. A few of the prostaffers probably remember Mike from our epic western summit adventure to the Bob Marshall Wilderness a few years ago. Mike was busy with clients most days so he had one of his guide buddies, Norm, take me on a section of the Missouri between upper Holter lake (near Gates of the Mountains) and Hauser dam.

Gray cliffs of Madison limestone rose steeply on each side of the river creating a sense of splendid isolation as Norm took us six miles above the lake on his jet boat to a place called Land of Giants.

A section where the Madison limestone has folded

Norm taking my sister and I to Land of Giants. Norm divides his time
 between Craig, MT in summer and Santa Barbara, CA in winter
 where he is a commercial diver for abalone

Norm rigged me up with a Czech nymph followed by a small caddis dropper all suspended beneath a small balloon indicator. I didn’t have to stare at the indicator long before it quivered and disappeared below the surface. I landed several fat 15-18 inch rainbows before the football-sized hen bow in the pic below nearly took me to the backing. We measured it at 20 inches and guessed the weight at about 4 lb. That's why they call this Land of Giants!

20-inch hen rainbow. Thanks for great net work Norm.

Norm helping Agrontrutta with another fine LOG rainbow

And that’s the way the day went, staring at that little balloon and reeling in big fish. I broke off several like the one in the pic above. My last fish was a perfect end to the day, a 21-inch male bow with a hint of a kype. Land of Giants indeed.

21-inch missle-shaped buck bow

I also got to fish a bit with Mike and we pulled in several good fish on the Missouri just below Holter dam. And, no trip to Craig is complete without burgers and beer (plenty of Blackfoot IPA during this trip) at Isaaks. Sadly, however, the Trout Shop Café is no longer in business. They expanded the lodge space to include more rooms for flyfishers (including yours truly).

Where the elite (flyfishers) meet to eat - Isaaks, downtown Craig

I also explored a small bit of Little Prickly Pear creek in the canyon section above some large private ranches. I hope to get back sometime to thoroughly check out that lovely little stream.

Little Prickly Pear Creek

Sometimes life gives you second chances. Don't pass them up!

 

Paradise (valley) Postponed

It has been a while since I’ve had anything worthy of an RBF Pro Staffer to post. And, despite some fun fishing for small mouth bass on the McLusky Canal (a remnant of one of the last pork barrel big water projects here in the west) this summer, I’ve not done any significant fishing since last September. So, I looked forward to my September vacation in Paradise Valley, MT as eagerly as the Chief looks forward to a fresh keg at the eternal tap in St. Marys.

My wife, Cricket the flyfishing beagle, and I set out for Livingston via Red Lodge on Labor Day weekend. Late summer was very dry here in central ND but nothing like the crispy conditions in the Treasure State. Smoke from the Mustang complex fire on the MT-ID border hung thick in the air from Red Lodge to Livingston. The beartooth plateau was a dusty khaki color as we made our way along highway 212 to the Park where the bison were bunched up along the Lamar river riparian edges, the only source of green grass in the northeast corner. We stopped at the upper end of Soda Butte to fish for part of the afternoon and I picked up a few feisty browns on brown drakes. The Lamar was the color of the café au lait at the Café Du Monde in New Orleans so I diverted to Slough Creek and pounded the banks with no luck. No matter, it was a gorgeous day and we were on vacation.


The Better Half and Cricket the Flyfishing Beagle in the Beartooths

Soda Butte, NE Corner of YNP

We stayed at the Yellowstone Valley Lodge (http://www.yellowstonevalleylodge.com/) just south of Livingston for the week. The Pine Creek fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqk_90cq2gs&feature=related) just across the river had burned about a thousand acres a few days before we arrived and each night we watched the flare ups on the mountainside from our back porch.

I spent the next day on DePuy’s spring creek. When I called about availability the guy said “Come on over, stop at the big house, and ring the doorbell.” “Big house” was an understatement. This place was straight out of Gone with the Wind—an imposing structure of pure white with massive front columns. I rang the doorbell and a spritely elderly woman greeted me and asked me to sign in and pay the fee. The inside of the house was just as imposing (and shocking) with a massive red-carpeted grand staircase and decorative swans on each step. It took a while on the stream to reorient after experiencing the antebellum time warp. I fished the middle section near the angler’s hut (next to hwy 89) for most of the day and took a number of fish on everything from a #20 baetis to #8 Dave’s hoppers. It was a good day and I returned to the lodge tired but wired.

DePuy Spring Creek Cutt on Baetis

DePuy Cutt on Dave's Hopper

I had a plan for the rest of the week: a day meandering around Paradise Valley with my wife and beagle and then a day or two of hard fishing in the Park. It was not to be.

The next morning, feeling a bit stiff and tired from pounding the water at DePuy’s I looked forward to lazily exploring some of the sights in the valley. We stopped at Knoll’s flyshop near Pray where Pat Knoll spent about an hour explaining the history and rationale of the shop. Then, after another stop and short hike by the bridge near Emigrant, every muscle in my lower back began to twitch, then stiffen, and finally completely seize up. I was immobile. We returned to the lodge where I gulped a handful of Advil and crawled into bed for the next two days. Realizing that my condition was not improving (much) we simply packed up and my wife drove us home.

Well, the point of this interminable post was not to solicit sympathy (my back finally loosened up at home and I wallowed enough in self-pity—just ask my wife and dog), but to set up the next post wherein I describe a last-minute consolation trip and a journey to the Land of the Giants on the Missouri River. Stay tuned Pro Staffers.

Trout nose cells follow magnetic fields

I can see it now: Chief's new RBF magnetic hooks!


"Michael Winklhofer of the University of Munich led a team that found magnetosensory cells from a rainbow trout's nose, which contained iron. The finding may shed light on how animals sense the magnetic field of the Earth."

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