2018 Fly FIsher's Workshop - Feb. 10th

Mark your calendars for this Saturday February 10th - It’s time once again for the Bi-annual Fly Fisher’s Workshop at the Brighton Twelve Corners Middle School.

There will be plenty of workshops, seminars, casting clinics, fly tying demos, door prizes, raffles, etc.. 

There is something for everyone!

For a preview of some of the events check out the link Fly Fisher's Workshop

2643 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618

Tickets- Purchase at the door
Adults & Youth $10
14 and under free

DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC @ 9-5:30

Gate proceeds benefit Brighton Fishing Club & Seth Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

I'll See you there!

Fly Fishing Inlet, NY

Third Lake creek in all its glory!

Every year we make at least one trip to the Adirondacks to visit with my parents and siblings. And every year we bring our fly fishing gear and fish off the dock and walkway that extends into the bay and out into Fourth Lake. Over the years we have all caught some nice fish here and there, in between the boats, around the rocks and from under the dock. Sometimes we will take boat trips up into Fifth Lake or walk the banks of the stream that flows into the top of the lake, depending on the season, just to change it up a little.

Jonathan works a bend

In the past few years I have been dreaming of trying to get somewhere else. Somewhere that could get me in touch with a native Brook trout. Even if that meant going on a hike or exploring up a secluded creek, I was more than ready to take it on. And now that the kids are older and more experienced in the world of fly fishing, I felt it was time!

Jonathan's 1st ever Adirondack brookie on the fly

My father and my oldest son Jonathan joined me as we made plans to check out a creek that flowed along an access road at the Third Lake Creek Trailhead Parking lot. 

The hike in was beautiful. And even though the many low spots in the road held a good bit of water from a recent rain, we managed to hike in quite a ways without getting wet.

The map that I had with me showed that the creek was off to our left, but try as I might, I could not see it through the forest. We eventually came up to an area with a small clearing and I took the opportunity to venture off in search of the stream. With my father and son with me, we quickly came to the edge of a small ridge and could see the creek carving its way through a meadow a good 75 yards below us.

We spent the next couple of hours jumping around the edge of the creek in search of fish. All our efforts payed off and we were rewarded with some very nice native Adirondack brook trout. The hot fly of the afternoon was a brown bead head nymph. It accounted for all but one of our fish on the day.

Eventually our time ran out and we made the hike back out. What a great afternoon - and we had the place all to ourselves. I look forward to what our next trip up to the Adirondacks will bring, and who knows....maybe we'll find a new favorite fishing spot.

Mission accomplished!!

Streamwalker Nets

Leif Mermagen bending some wood - Photo by Denver Miller

Not long ago I found myself in a situation where I was in need of a new net for my tributary fishing. The old standby was showing its age. It was a Frabill Salmon/Steelhead model with a short handle and large hoop with rubber coated fine nylon netting, which had started to deteriorate the season before, leaving me with a few small holes that would undoubtedly get larger with each new trib fish I put into it

Ethan and I at Streamwalker Nets headquarters

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a great net. In fact it has helped me safely land hundreds of lake runs over the years. I was even considering buying a new one, or at the very least, try and get new netting for the hoop. This is when I started to look around at all the options, and take everything into consideration, including purchasing something a little nicer with a longer handle. I even took a glance over at a new local net maker that was turning out some beautiful stuff that was priced very reasonably.

Enter Streamwalker Nets!!!!

Leif Mermagen - owner, proprietor, investor, CEO, designer, craftsman, builder, etc., of Streamwalker Nets, is exactly the type of guy that you want building nets, your net!

The Lake Run was made for fish like this.

First of all he’s a fishermen, and a fine one at that. In my book that already sets him apart. He knows what anglers want, or in my case “Fly fishermen” want. He’s created a series of nets that will suit just about every need that you might have, from the Native (a small stream addition that retails at $125) to the Sea Run ($475) which can easily accommodate a small child. Each one handmade right here in Rochester, NY. 

Lake run smallie in the net

Don’t think for a minute that these handcrafted Streamwalker Nets are delicate and fragile works of art either. They are made to be used, and this past year I have had the pleasure of putting a good number of salmon, bass, pike and big brown and steelhead trout into my Lake Run net. It's performance has been flawless, not mention great to look at, and even better to photograph.

With fall and the upcoming tributary season coming into view, the lake run is ready to assist in making each day on the water memorable.

When in the market for a new net, take everything into consideration as I did. Then head over to the Streamwalker Net website at www.streamwalkernets.com and take a look, you won’t be disappointed.

See you on the stream!

Putting the Lake Run to work

"50 BEST TAILWATERS TO FLY FISH"

I have always loved fishing ever since I can remember. In fact I spent a good deal of each day as a kid dreaming of catching all kinds of different fish in all kinds of amazing places – a practice I still enjoy today.

The only things that kept me from realizing those early dreams were a driver’s license and school. Okay…and maybe money too. I mean how far can you really get on your own when you’re just 10 years old!

I would often replace the books that where required reading during school with any kind of fly fishing material that I could find. This put a dent in my grades, but for someone who hated school, it was a welcome escape from the classroom. I read about giant king salmon in Alaska, West slope cutthroat trout in Montana, steelhead in British Columbia, Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick, and the list goes on and on.

Since those early days of intense fly fishing research I have been able to wet some waders in a few of those far off places. But I have also come to realize that some of those early dreams may never be realized, and that’s okay because I am making new dreams come true with my kids.

Stonefly Press's most recent book release “50 BEST TAILWATERS TO FLY FISH” by Terry & Wendy Gunn brings me back to those early days of daydreaming. Its wonderful photography gives a pleasant pause to the reading of all the lovely details that we fly fishermen can’t live without and can never seem to get enough of.

Each region is filled with its own unique tailwaters accompanied with maps, detailed information on gear, hatches, and much, much more.

It is truly a great book to sink your teeth into if you are like me and spend way too much time daydreaming. Who knows….when my kids get older and are getting ready to fly the coop, maybe, just maybe we will be able to head on out to one of the “50 BEST TAILWATERS TO FLY FISH.”