Incredible India

The A quick reminder for those who have not been on the blog lately – I’m in India doing a segment for Confluence Films next movie, “Waypoints.  I’ll be fishing with my good Indian Friend Misty Dhillon, owner and expert on fly fishing for mahseer. 

We arrived at 1:30 AM India time today.  By the time we got to our hotel in Delhi if was 3:30 AM.  Then of course in the US it was 3:30 PM so we were a bit wired even though we should have been tired and we stayed up to 5 AM over few celebratory arrival beers and snacks at the hotel bar.  Then we slept a mere three hours and went on an all day tour of Delhi, which even though I’ve toured plenty of times throughout India, the tour was excellent.  India never fails to AMAZE.

Tomorrow we make a 7 hour train ride north to the base of the Himalaya’s, then a long jeep ride to where we begin a 10 day float trip.  If all goes well we will begin fishing for mahseer tomorrow evening.  The only bad news I have for you is the blog will go dry here till I’m out of the backcountry as I will have no computer access the entire trip.  But – we’ll post day by day when I get back.  Enjoy today’s photos of some crazy parade we lucked into along with some great scenery around the city.

Exhausted!

Again, please toss my old hotmail email address that I can no longer check and let’s reconnect at jeffcurrier65@gmail.com      THANKS!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

About Half Way There

We are in Amsterdam for a few hours before our last eight hour flight to India.  We arrive there at 1:30 AM India time - so Thursday morning. Its a gorgeous day here and I wish we had time to hit the town but we best not.  Instead we hammered down some delicious Euro breakfast treats and now we're on to some morning Heinekens. Life is good.  More from Delhi tomorrow.

Remember - I can not receive email at my Hotmail any longer - please change my address over to jeffcurrier65@gmail.com

Jeff Curier Global Fly Fishing

Thanks Simms!

Just waiting around to fly out to India this morning here in Bozeman, Montana.  To use up the time I made a visit to Simms Fishing Products. Simms is a top sponsor of Confluence Films fly fishing projects.  That's great news for me and I loaded up on great sun protective clothing, waterproof bags and etc for the film and trip.  After I got graciously lined out my long time friend and Simms employee Diane Bristol gave me the full tour of their new facility.  Simms is no less than amazing these days!

Time to catch a plane.  

Remember, my hotmail email address is no longer in service.  DO NOT SEND email there.  My new on is jeffcurrier65@gmail.com  Please reconnect - THANKS

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

The journey to India started at 3:30 PM today with a drive up to Bozeman, Montana to meet the Confluence Film team.  We actually fly out tomorrow afternoon from Bozo to Minneapolis than take the redeye to Amsterdam.  Then on Wednesday we fly from Amsterdam to Delhi, India.  I should check back in then – barring no internet troubles.  Otherwise I could be two weeks before you hear from me again.

The first leg was a wonderful drive from Victor to Bozo.  There was a lot of wildlife including bighorn sheep around Raynolds Pass and the Quake area of the Madison.  Here’s a photo of one of my favorite August haunts – Quake Lake.

Again, please toss my old hotmail email address that I can no longer check and let’s reconnect at jeffcurrier65@gmail.com      THANKS!

JeffCurrier Global Fly Fishing

Packed for India

Tomorrow afternoon I leave for India.  I’m packed and ready.  This will be my third trip to India.  This trip is special because we are making a segment for Confluence Films next movie, “Waypoint” with one of my great Indian friends, Misty Dhillon.  Misty is the owner and founder of the Himalayan Outback. 

Most of you remember Confluences last movie, “Connect”, where I was the lucky guy fly fishing for giant Tanzania Tigerfish in Africa.  I was fortunate not only to catch numerous tigerfish but also catch this monster.  India will be much more challenging because we will be fly fishing for a much more difficult gamefish, the golden mahseer.

My first trip for mahseer (there are many species) was with Granny in 2002.  Granny and I traveled by buses and trains all over Nepal and India.  It was the most difficult trip or our lives and we didn’t get into fish until the last week of our THREE MONTH trip.  Neither of us landed a big one on fly but we did dredge this silver mahseer out of the Cauvery River on the famous ragi.

After that trip we decided that India stands for I Never Do It Again.  I was wrong.  In 2008 I met Misty and he invited me back.  In ten days I landed three large mahseer including this IGFA Catch and Release World Record golden mahseer of 27lbs.

But read in to this – two trips, one extensive, and only three big mahseer landed.  These fish are rare, don’t take flies well and when you have the good fortune of a hook up their strength is shocking.  They usually get away.

It only takes one fish to make an incredible segment and Misty and I will do our best to put at least one beast on film.  This trip is a ten day float on the Mahakali River which separates India from Nepal.  This should be an extraordinary adventure.

As always I will post my day by day accounts of the trip here on the blog.  But as usual, this fishing is so remote that I won’t have internet and most stories and pics will post upon my return.

Once again, I lost my hotmail email yesterday - I lost everything – email and addresses.  It seems Microsoft thought I was a spammer because I was emailing my quarterly mailer.  I did send it to a lot of folks!  Anyhow, if you emailed me this weekend or ever again to my hotmail I will never see it. 

Please email me at jeffcurrier65@gmail.com to reconnect with me ASAP!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

Email Catastrophe!

Hey Everyone,

I'm trying to pack for India and tie up all loose ends before departure.  

Unfortunately I live and die by email and this morning my hotmail is shut down.  Its hell and after trying everything including hours on the phone - it may be gone for good.  Please contact me at my other email:

jeffcurrier65@gmail.com  

at your earliest convenience as I'm rebuilding contacts from scratch.

Thanks!

Jeff

The South Fork at 10 Degrees

California friends Ben Byng and Steve Potter stopped by in route to the East Idaho Fly Tying Expo that takes place tomorrow and Saturday.  Both Ben and Steve are unbelievable fly tiers and will be giving demonstrations both days.  If you’re able to make this show you will not be disappointed.

Despite the fact that I should be packing to leave for India on Monday, working on art projects and catching up on some writing stuff, I took Ben and Steve fishing on the South Fork today.  Ben takes me fishing on the California Delta when I’m in his neck and he drops everything for me – so I gladly do the same.  The biggest problem with today was that the morning temperature was 10º!  You read this correct - 10 Degrees in April!

10º is tough on me let alone sunny California boys, but there was no backing out.  However, we should have given it a second thought because the South Fork was a rising from increases in dam release and runoff from tributaries.  Let’s just say the fishing was challenging but it was a beautiful float.  We landed a mere four brown trout.  None big, just good looking feisty 14 and 15 inchers.

Nonetheless today was a great one on the water with friends.  In fact friend Andy Asadorian and his friends Drake and Gordon of Mississippi joined us in their boat.  What a day – bitter cold – cold enough to freeze a net – but I’m glad I blew off work because days with friends are cherished.

This will be the last trout story for a few weeks, I’m leaving for India Monday to film fly fishing for mahseer.  Details to come this weekend followed by one hell of a bunch blog entries!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

Home of the World Record Smallmouth

Dale Hollow Reservoir straddles the line between Kentucky and Tennessee.  It’s a huge reservoir and famous for its fishing, particularly its smallmouth bass fishing.  On a slow fishing day in 1955 this old artificial lake produced the world record smallmouth bass of 11pound, 15 ounce.  Smallmouth is one of my favorite fish and I’ve been aware of this record my entire life. 

Today was the last day of our fun visit down here in Kentucky with John and Betty Reesor.  Naturally the Reesor's made our last day special and would you believe they booked us a guide for Dale Hollow.  We were fishing in the land of enormous smallmouth! 

Our guide was Capt. Johnny Rush.  Johnny not only guides Dale Hollow for smallies but also the Cumberland River for trout and stripers.  Unfortunately Johnny was quick to tell us that we were at the tail end of their coldest spring in recent memory and the fishing wasn’t just slow, it was flat out lousy.  Although he’s normally one with faith in the fly rod, he highly suggested using the live shad he captured for bait at 4 AM this morning.

Unless after a rare bottom dwelling catfish 5,000 miles from home, you won’t find me watching the bait rod, but having them out around me while I’m fly fishing is ok.  By having them around I know what to expect for myself.  If the bait is catching fish – I know there’s fish around and there’s hope for my fly.  If the bait isn’t producing – I’m probably screwed!

After a three hour drive southward in darkness on the windy roads of Kentucky followed by a cold boat ride to the Tennessee part of Dale Hollow, John, Granny and me and my queasy stomach found ourselves at Capt. Johnny’s first spot.  It was a cool 40º and while Johnny carefully tossed out the shad rigs I strung up my 6-weight Ross RX with Scientific Anglers Uniform Sink line and a large heavy weight Warpath Fly.  By the time I stood up to make my first cast, John was wrangling a respectable largemouth bass. 

I watched Capt. Johnny net then release John’s bass as I let my first cast sink down deep.  Then, another of the shad rods bounced.  John set the hook and line pealed off.  “This ones bigger.” John stated.  And it was.  A moment later John landed this 5 pound largemouth. 

I was now letting my third cast of the crisp morning sink when I got jolted.  I was far from ready as I stupidly had my line hand warming up in my pants pocket.  Luckily I instinctively keep my line secure against the rod in my rod hand and the impact of the strike hooked the fish itself.  This too was a good one. 

My line pealed off towards the deep as I clumsily got my deal under control.  I knew right away this wasn’t a bass.  There were no head shakes and the fish was running too far.  I felt certain I had a freshwater drum, a fish common on Dale Hollow.  But just as fast as the fight became a furry, the fish gave up and I reeled him in. I caught an 8 pound channel catfish!

Although catching members of the catfish family isn’t the norm on a fly rod, it does happen.  I’ve caught bullheads and various catfish species on fly over the years, but the channels come consistently.  I’ve caught them on several occasions and once on the Red River in Manitoba I caught one of nearly 20lbs on a Clouser!

Despite the fast start, the rest of our day was less than productive.  We literally caught almost all of our fish at the first spot.  John went on to land two chubby smallmouth and several channel catfish of his own on the live shad rigs.  But me and my fly – I cast at least a thousand more times, but it was only that third cast that produced anything for me.  Nonetheless it was a great day.  I’ve now not only put a day of fishing in Tennessee under my belt, but also touched the waters of the world record smallmouth.

Granny and I have had a fantastic long weekend down here in Kentucky.  A lot of new and fun experiences from Keeneland to unique and memorable fishing adventures.  A very special thanks to John and Betty Reesor!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

Trout Fishing in Kentucky

I’m constantly asked why I’d want to “waste time” trout fishing anywhere other than around home.  Sure, trout fishing at home is remarkable.  But it’s not so much about the catching for me as it is the experience.  And a chance to explore a new piece of water with fly rod in hand never lets me down. 

When you scan the horizon in central Kentucky, other than some gorgeous rolling hills, a chance of a gorge and a cold water stream seems imaginary.  That’s the beauty of Boone Creek.  Boone Creek is a tributary to the Kentucky River, hidden amongst farms and hardwood forests only a short drive from John and Betty Reesor's.  Its most fishable section is on the private property of John’s friend Chas. 

At ten this morning John, Granny and I headed to see Chas.  Chas led us in John’s truck across his 600 plus acres to a trail amongst a hibernating hardwood forest.  Sure enough, a short peak down the trail unveiled a gorge and through it flowed a small creek, Boone Creek.

I was delighted when I laid eyes on the tiny Boone Creek.  It was gin clear and cascaded from bouldery riffles into deep blue pools.  Chas told us he wasn’t sure if any trout were there.  Boone gets stocked by a neighbor upstream and hold over trout sometimes move in.  That’s when I asked about other fish and he mentioned smallmouth but was quick to tell me if I was catching hornyhead chubs I was in the trout water.

You know the rest of the story with me – I nymphed me up a few hornyhead chubs to start my day.  Actually they ended up being a close cousin, the creek chub.  The truth is I targeted a few good looking pieces of this tiny hidden stream and fished them methodically so by the time I was done, every fish species got an opportunity to eat my offerings. 

I started with two small streamers - both of them woolly bugger style.  I was quick to land the chubs.  There are several hornyhead chub types of fish and this one was small but colorful.  I landed a few other mysterious small chubish/dace like fish as well that I’ll look up later.

Between pools I streamered a couple deep pockets amongst boulders and lo and behold I landed my first Kentucky brown trout.  A small brown by anyone’s standards but about as pretty a brown you’ll ever see.

A few small fish rose unpredictably against a rock ledge.  I couldn’t see a bug on the water so I grabbed my smallest Chernobyl ant and made several drifts.  I was right, they weren’t just small fish they were minnows.  I caught this striped shiner for starters.  I prowled some other good looking Chernobyl spots but water temps are too cold to entice a real fish to eat off top.

During my last hour I rigged up my Polish Nymph rig.  I knew casting my multi nymph rig would be hard with all the vegetation but I had to see what was down deep moving slow.  This is when I really laid into the chubs.  But that wasn’t all.  I was quick to pick up this cute 10” rainbow followed by the same sized smallmouth bass. 

I probably explored and played around Boone Creek for three hours.  Granny and John opted not to fish but rather observed and relaxed.  But I knew after that third hour they were ready to leave.

As for me, although the fish were small, I could have spent the day on Boone Creek.  I landed five different species of fish (even though a couple were like minnows) including a brown trout, rainbow and a smallie.  Just seeing that one smallie tells me that somewhere in Boone Creek there’s a big smallie that could make my day.  And this is a tributary to the Kentucky River, so perhaps a sauger or a walleye?  Who knows – and that’s the beauty of exploring.

Tomorrow brings more new water.  It’s our last day and John booked us a guide for Dale Hollow, home of the world record smallmouth bass.  It will be a tough night for sleep!

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

Keeneland in Kentucky

April 5, 2013

Granny and I arrived in Kentucky yesterday for a four day visit with good friends John and Betty Reesor.  The Reesors were once customers of mine at the fly shop in Jackson Hole but have turned into great friends.  This visit to Kentucky is one we’ve been trying to schedule for a few years and finally things lined up perfectly. 

You’ve probably noticed by now we “Curriers” are trying to do everything at least once in our lives.  The new experience this trip was to the famous Keeneland Horse Track.  Keeneland, considered as one of the top places for horse racing, has two horse racing seasons, spring and fall.  The exciting spring session kicked off today. 

The Reesors hosted us to a first class tour of the famed horse racing event.  It began with a limo to handle our transportation for the day.  Next, rather than file into the average grandstand seats, John and Betty set us up in the Phoenix Room.  The Phoenix Room gave us our own private area for the day, all the excellent food you could eat and easy access to an un-crowded bar and horse betting stalls.  Best of all, we could watch any of today’s ten horse races from anywhere we chose including a balcony overlooking the entire track.

Our day was no less than incredible and Granny and I became horse racing fans.  Naturally we’ve seen a Kentucky Derby on TV a few times and the wild race looks cool.  But like any major sporting event, see it live and it absolutely blows your mind.  Speeding horses are a hundred times more thrilling than expected! 

Each of today’s ten races was slightly different.  The finish line is forever in front of the stands; however the starting point always varies in order to change the lengths of each race.  The first race started on the far side of the track.  Those seated down low couldn’t even see the start other than on the big screen.  We however could see the horses lined up nearly a mile away.  They announce the start and the horses take off.  It’s dead silent.  All you see are the horses moving in the distance at mock speed ahead of a trail of dust.  I could not believe how fast these horses ran.  Less than a minute later they approach the finish line.  The crowd roars and even louder than the roar of the crowd comes the sound of galloping horses and flying dirt.  Then the horses and their colorful jockeys explode across the finish line in a cloud of dust.

After Granny and I got the hang of things we threw down some bets.  The odds for each horse and jockey are both posted in the Keeneland program booklet and on the big screen between every race.  Those who are serious study in advance and I’m sure there are some huge bets going on behind the scenes.  I bet $5 on a less than average horse named Laugh Track to win Race 8.  He won!  Our $5 bet turned into $87! 

We ended our unbelievable day by getting treated to dinner by the Reesors at Dudley’s in downtown Lexington.  This place was tops and not only did I indulge on a seared tuna but I got to sample some fine local microbrews.  Tomorrow will require a little time to recover.   

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

How Fast it Goes

The snow melted faster than I can ever recall this week.  Our yard was completely covered five days ago.  The pictures show the snow yesterday around noon and then sunrise this morning.  Truly amazing how fast it went.  It’s forecasted for 57º today so I think other than snow banks along the driveway the snow will be completely gone from our yard.  Unfortunately no bare feet yet because I’m tripping on deer poop!

You’d expect me to be fishing with such great weather but I’m working hard.  First off, next week on Wednesday April 10 in Idaho Falls I deliver my last speaking engagement till fall.  I’ll be giving my presentation “Fly Fishing in and Around Jackson Hole” to the Snake River Cutthroats.  I’ve done this one plenty of times but I’ve customized it for the Idaho Falls crowd.  In fact, if you’re in the area the show will be at the Shilo Inn at 6 PM and as always I’ll have some pretty neat off the beaten path fishing ideas to share. 

On top of that I’m painting my first bird.  A customer that recently commissioned me for a blue marlin, dorado and a sailfish now wants three ducks.  I’m not one to say no so all weekend I was studying mallards and this morning I put down the first layers of paint.  When done I’ll be sure to post them. 

April is once again a month of travel.  On Thursday it’s off to Kentucky – yes Kentucky.  Some friends invited us to visit them at their new home and we’ll catch our first horse race at Keeneland.  And of course we’ll squeeze in a day of smallmouth fishing as well.  Then on April 22^nd it’s back to India – more on this EPIC adventure soon.  You can visit my 2002 and 2008 trips to India. 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing