"As the users of these wild natural systems, we have to be careful not to love them to death"
-Dr. Sudeep Chandra, Univ. of Nevada, Reno
Today's guest is as dynamic, complex and adaptable as the water he researches and enjoys. Dr. Sudeep Chandra has many research interests and academic strengths. And in my opinion, one of his super powers is the ability to breakdown really complex issues and topics so we can understand and appreciate them as much as he does. His ability to explain physical and biological processes and have them relate to the rivers and lakes we fly fish is a treat I hope you all enjoy. Sudeep's research into the Taimen of Mongolia has allowed him to have a even greater appreciation to the unique setting of Pyramid Lake and the LCT that live there.
Sudeep is an Associate Professor of Limnology and Conservation Ecology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He serves as Director of the University’s new initiative the Global Water Center: Solutions for Sustainability. Sudeep also currently serves as the co-director of the Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences which I am a proud alma mater.
We try to demystify some of the questions and topics that come up frequently around the shop, such as, why does Pyramid Lake "turnover" and what happens to it's biology when it does. Also we talk about impacts to Pyramid Lake, the Truckee River and other western Great Basin lakes as a result of prolonged drought and less frequent but more substantial flood events. Finally we touch upon Sudeep's research interests in Mongolia where he studies the world largest trout the Taimen (Hucho Taimen) and their similarity to the LCT of Pyramid Lake.
He has received awards for his efforts including: American Fisheries Society’s CA-NV Award of Excellence, the Tahoe-Baikal Institute Alumni of the Year, University of Nevada’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources Teacher of the Year, and his favorite, the Mad Hatter’s Award from the Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences.
In 2003, he was awarded his 1st international research funding from the Trust for Mutual Understanding and the National Geographic Society to investigate the impacts of mining activities in the Lake Baikal watershed in Russia and Mongolia. As you will hear in this episode this has lead Sudeep and his team to utilize unconventional scientific research techniques in collecting Taimen data in Mongolia and to coordinate with Mongolian tribes to prioritize conservation and habitat protections.
This work led to the development of a project funded by the Global Environment Fund and World Bank to use faith-based initiatives and scientific approaches to conserve the world’s largest trout, the Taimen, in Mongolia.
Sudeep loves to engage laypersons and professionals, students, policy makers, and concerned citizens in the importance of using science based information to protect and restore aquatic resources. He feels like there is much more to give in life, and will continue to work to help his fellow humans and the environment in which they inhabit.
Show Notes:
Links to resources we discussed:
Castle Lake Environmental Research and Education Program
Graduate Program in Hydrologic Sciences
Graduate Program in Ecology Evolution and Conservation Biology
Sudeep's work using drone's with Taimen research.
https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2017/fly-fishing-mongolia
Sudeep's mini-documentary on Summit Lake and LCT management.
"The situation couldn't be better for the Truckee River to make not only a full recovery from the drought but to improve to conditions that have never been seen before."
-Travis Hawks, Biologist, NDOW
Fly fishing is equal parts art and science. It is beautiful and creative and a technical understanding of physical and biological processes informs us to help make the best decisions we can. While we at the Reno Fly Shop and this podcast can't make you more creative or appreciate the endless beauty around you, we can inform you of the complex environment we inhabit for recreation. That is why I look forward each year to sit down with Travis Hawks of the Nevada Department of Wildlife to find out just how the Truckee River and all of the fish that reside in it are fairing.
Within our 2017 State of the Truckee River episode with Travis Hawks from the Nevada Department of Wildlife you will hear a snapshot of what the biologic conditions were like over 2017. Following the wettest year on record. You will listen to Travis layout what it takes to sample the biologic resources, categorize the information and attempt to report the annual data. In doing so, Travis will draw upon his and NDOW's growing database to interpret trends that are occurring to fish population, densities and how the river is responding to ever-changing flow conditions.
Travis explains that data is simply data and has it's limitations. He combines his scientific education with his personal experience fly fishing the Truckee River to draw some conclusions that are surprisingly optimistic given the historic drought we have just experienced.
Travis and I really enjoy putting this information together and presenting it to all of the listeners. In my experience it is very rare to have a managing agency as transparent as NDOW is being with their annual survey results. Also the ability Travis has in communicating this information for all of us to understand is nothing short of a community service and both he and NDOW should be commended.
I hope you all enjoy what has come to be a bit of the Shop's holiday tradition in preparing and presenting this episode. And in the spirit of the holiday's you might give it some thought to "pay it forward" and sign up for some volunteer opportunities with NDOW.
Here is a link to follow.
DATA WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE
“There is often a time and place in ‘real-world’ situations to move beyond defined and dictated techniques. To begin to blend and meld different approaches in the current unique situation. ”
-George Daniel
George Daniel’s experience and knowledge of fly fishing on it’s own is amazing but what truly sets him apart is his uncanny ability to communicate that knowledge to people that have a variety of different experience levels and interest in fly fishing. I can’t imagine anyone that spends any time with George won’t come away impacted by his burning curiosity and his own interest in continually getting better at fly fishing.
In this episode, George and I get the chance to break down his approach to streamer fishing, his experience in applying different tactics and techniques to different waters and how he blends different styles of fly fishing into a modern and refreshing approach to throwing streamers. I found it somewhat surprising how he will blend styles which I more associate with European Style Nymphing while using streamer flies. He is not opposed to dead drifting a streamer through a seam or pocket water. As well, he is not opposed to vary his use of weighted flies and fly lines in different scenarios.
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As you will hear he has spent a fair amount of time on our local rivers and is not unfamiliar with how challenging the Truckee River can be but has experienced first hand the rewards that are available to the angler that is willing to put in the work.
I hope you enjoy this episode with George
Show Notes:
Click here for Episode 18 where George and I chat about ESN and Dynamic Nymphing.
George’s Approach to Adjusting to Challenging Conditions when fishing streamers
- Adjust weight to adjust the depth of the fly
- Modify retrieve speed to change the behavior of the streamer
- Change the fly color
The Versileader is one of the most underutilized tool in the fly anglers Streamer game.
Follow George on his social media channels:
Instagram @gdflyfish55
Facebook George Daniel (LivinontheFly)
Website LivinontheFly.com
Keep track of all our blog posts, fishing reports and new podcast episodes by signing up for our mailing list.
"Freshwater inflow plus nutrients makes for really great conditions to grow Lahonton Cutthroat Trout"
- Nancy Vucinich, Senior Fishery Biologist, Pyramid Lake Fisheries
Nancy Vucinich was last on the podcast about a year ago and what a year it has been. Nancy has had to deal with huge wildfires that have impacted where she lives, works and recreates. And then came the winter of 2016-17 where Pyramid Lake has seen a historic increase in lake level and a dramatic change in water chemistry.
Nancy and I got to sit down in the offices of the Pyramid Lake Fisheries and discuss many of these changes and the impacts she has observed in the short term and how she believes the lake will respond in the longer term.
Nancy and I were able to discuss water chemistry and how a alkaline terminal lake like Pyramid Lake can change with a big volume of freshwater. The changes start with positive impacts to the population of zooplankton. This is the foundation of the lakes foodweb. More zooplankton results in increases in abundance and availability of almost all aquatic species in the lake, especially the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.
If you get the chance to share this episode with friends please do so on the links/buttons below and if you would like to check out discussion of this and other podcast episodes please check out our Facebook Group, Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group.
This is a shorter episode then we have done recently but with the short length comes a fairly dense discussion of Pyramid Lake. I hope you enjoy.
Show notes:
Here is a link to Nancy's previous episode.
We discuss the articles Mike Anderson prepared last year on the the different periods during the Pyramid Lake Season.
Early | Middle | Late
Information Nancy and I discuss:
"The more you limit yourself in tactics and techiques the less fun you are letting yourself have." - Cheech
"You can't change the color of wire and call a pattern uniquely yours, most if not all new patterns are building upon the patterns that have come before it." - Curtis
Curtis and Cheech never really “started” Fly Fish Food, it seemed to grow through their efforts and interests in tying top quality flies and finding out new and creative ways to feed fish.
Pretty soon they began uploading videos to their Fly Fish Food Channel on YouTube which quickly became one of the most popular sources of fly tying tutorials. As more subscribers began to ask for materials they decided to create an online store and the their latest evolution is having a brick and mortar store in northern Utah. All along they have maintained their friendship, their love of fly fishing and their passion of tying flies.
Cheech and Curtis have maintained a level of transparency in sharing information that seems to be unique in fly fishing. As you will hear Curtis strongly believes that all boats will rise on a tide. He wants to share his knowledge and experience as many have shared with him with the hope that we all get a bit better, catch a few more fish and have a lot more fun.
And share they do. Over 350 YouTube videos, fly tying tutorials and a big social media presence they give away information on a daily basis. This is a cool glimpse into the guys that put together some of the most watched tying videos on YouTube and in my opinion have contributed significantly to making fly tying "cool" to beginner and experienced tiers. They have also contributed a crazy amount of proven and effective fly patterns that are now commercially available through Fulling Mill and here at the Reno Fly Shop.
We cover a bunch of ground from Curtis’ favorite patterns to Cheech “nerding” out on hackle and sharing us the history of one of his signature patterns the Cheech Leech.
We also talk about a bunch of patterns through the episode. I kept track and have provided links to each of the fly patterns YouTube Tutorial.
Flies we discussed in this episode in no particular order:
The last time Matt “Gilligan” Koles was on the podcast we chatted about what to do during a drought on the Truckee River. We thought it was fitting to get back together to talk about what it was like making it through the winter of 2017 living in Hirschdale along the banks of the Truckee River and most importantly how the system has responded to historic flows and a remaking of the river channel.
Matt with his very successful guide service, Gilligan's Guide Service, really never missed a beat during the high flows and actually Matt at times surprised himself when catching trout during high off colored water situations.
Gilligan also shares how he fished the high water, what flies he uses and some of the tactics he found most successful. It is no surprise to many that follow his blog and his Instagram account that he can put clients on fish but it might be a surprise how he does it consistently and how me also has his challenges.
I hope you enjoy this second episode with Matt and can take away from it both his and my enthusiasm and belief that the Truckee River is in great shape following this historic winter and that we are going to have an epic season and several years to come! I hope you enjoy!
A couple of Gilligan's favorite summer fly patterns on the Trkee River are the Skipper Stone and the G6 Caddis. Get ready for this summer season by grabbing some for your fly box by swinging by the shop.
Skipper Stone
G6 Caddis
"The 2017 winter will impact Pyramid Lake in 3 main ways, 1) balance chemistry, 2) deliver nutrients and 3) boost bug life." -Mike Anderson
Mike Anderson is a guide, shop staff and instructor at the Reno Fly Shop. As a native Nevadan he has grown up fly fishing Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. Mike spends many days each year at Pyramid Lake fishing, guiding, tying specialty flies and observing this amazing resource he is lucky to call his "backyard". Call the Reno Fly Shop today to book at trip and experience this world class fishery.
- Happy Client
Mike is a frequent contributor to the blog and fishing reports here at the Reno Fly Shop and has prepared some great descriptions of the three distinct periods of the Pyramid Lake fly fishing season.
Here are links to the articles describing the different sections of the Pyramid Lake season.
Early | Middle | Late
In today's episode we get to recap the 2016-17 season where Mike spent a bunch of days fishing and guiding clients. Mike shares his thoughts on the impacts the high water will have on the fly fishing at Pyramid Lake in the immediate and longer term and how he is transitioning to what is shaping up to be a great summer season on the Truckee River for fly fishing and him guiding clients.
Article by Andrew Richter on fishing big water on the Truckee River
"The USFWS will engage all members of the community in making choices to manage LCT in the Truckee River" - Tim Loux, USFWS
Welcome to episode 31 of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. Leading up to this episode several listeners and customers around the shop have asked to find out more information about the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout of Pyramid Lake. I reached out to what I would consider a difinitive source for biological information related to the Pilot Peak strain, Tim Loux a Senior Fishery Biologist at the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex. This is the hatchery located on the Truckee River and the source for all Pilot Peak LCT into Pyramid Lake.
Tim Loux grew up fishing the Tahoe/Truckee area, and as a kid decided to pursue a career in fisheries. He attended Feather River Junior College, and transferred to Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management. After college Tim accepted a position with the US Fish Wildlife Service, in the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office and in 2002 had the chance to work on Spring Run Chinook.
- Fish Operations at Marble Bluff Dam on the Truckee River
After 4 years of salmon work, Tim accepted a position with the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex to work on Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) and Cui-ui. Currently, Tim is a Senior Fishery Biologist with the Complex; he manages the Marble Bluff Fish Passage and Research Station, leads the recovery effort for LCT in Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River, and is the National Fish Passage Coordinator for Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.
- Floy Tags
Contact info for Tim and Supporting Information:
USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex
Truckee Watershed LCT Recovery Plan
The Return of a Lake-dwelling Giant
Editorial Note: From personal and professional experience the topics that we discuss in this episode will have signficant and permanent impacts to the Truckee River and the fish populations as we have become to know them. Dam removal/modification and the recovery of Lahonton Cutthroat Trout will forever change the Truckee River landscape.
These issues are being addressed now by federal and local governments. These efforts will move forward and we as anglers, concerned citizens and river enthusiasts must pay attention and get/stay involved if we want our voices heard. It is my opinion that the decisions being made for management of the biological resources of the Truckee River now and in the near future will have permanent impacts on the watershed. Please get involved and stay involved. This will be a marathon effort, not a sprint. Please check with all of us here at the Reno Fly Shop for up-to-date information as it comes available.
Thanks, Jim Litchfield.
"It isn't the experienced seasoned angler that says 'okay, now I will guide'. It is the enthusiastic passionate angler that makes the leap into the life of a fly fishing guide." -Dec Hogan
If you've ever met Dec Hogan you know that his love and passion for steelhead fly fishing is a constant part of his life and completely interwoven with chasing steelhead with two-handed fly rods.
Dec is a master of all facets of the sport: two- handed casting, reading water, presenting flies, fly tying etc. Lucky for us he is also equally a master at teaching all of these facets.
An accomplished writer and exquisite photographer, Hogan has penned numerous articles for many of the America's leading fly fishing publications and is the author of the highly acclaimed, must have fly fishing book, A Passion for Steelhead.
Dec was a fulltime steelhead guide from 1989 to 2003 guiding fly anglers on the beautiful Pacific Northwest waters of the Skagit, Sauk, Skykomish, Grande Ronde, and Deschutes Rivers. Like many guides of his generation, Hogan also did 5-seasons guiding the famed Bristol Bay region of Alaska.
He is a pioneer of two-handed casting in North America and continues to be a highly sought after spey casting instructor. As if one dream job weren't enough Hogan's had two: Dec has retired from guiding and is now a full time firefighter and EMT in Utah.
Dec's schedule at the fire department allows him the time to stay active in his fishing career. In addition to teaching casting clinics, Dec works closely as a rod and line designer for Echo and Airflo.
Dec and I were able to cover a lot of ground in today’s episode. We attempt to demystify two hand casting, make sense of choosing a line for your two handed rod and what we are going to cover in the Clinics Dec is going to teach here at the Reno Fly Shop.
Listen to this episode for details on the upcoming clinics Dec is going to teach a few lucky participants and information about the Happy Hour event April 7 we are going to host here at the shop where you can come down hangout, meet and talk about everything fly fishing with Dec Hogan.
So let’s dive on into todays episode with Dec Hogan I hope you enjoy.
"So often fly fishing is defined by the last story someone hears, when it should defined by their own personal experience."
-Kelly Galloup
- Kelly Galloup (photo: slideinn.com)
Here is the second part of my conversation with Kelly. The original recording was just too good to edit and cut up just to make it a manageable size. In this episode we get to find out Kelly's thoughts on synthetic vs. natural tying material and how a trout likes to eats it's food. You might be a bit surprised. If you have questions or comments please check out our new group on Facebook, The Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group, is where there has been some good discussions about previous episodes and you can often ask questions with the episodes guest responding in person. Check it out.
Kelly started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop in Michigan. Kelly has over forty nationally recognized fly patterns and is still developing more today. He started guiding at the age of 16 and is still guiding to this day some 30 years later from his lodge The Slide Inn on the banks of the Madison River in Montana.
Kelly has written two books Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is now one of the Editors at Large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly was also one of the hosts of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network.
In 2004 Kelly was nominated and received the Living Legend award by the Federation of Flyfishers.
Here is a link to part 1 - Episode 28 with Kelly.
I hope you enjoy.
- Kelly's Pearl Necklace Streamer
"If you want to catch big trout you should, stalk more and cast less."
-Kelly Galloup
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- Kelly Galloup (photo: slideinn.com)
Before I get into the introduction of today’s episode I wanted to bring to your attention a new way you can follow and interact with the Reno Fly Shop Podcast. I have started the Reno Fly Shop Podcast Group on Facebook. IN this group you will find a place to ask questions of me, the guests on the podcast and other listeners. So far we have had a lot of discussion come up with some great information shared.
In this episode of the Reno Fly Shop Podcast I sit down with Kelly Galloup. Kelly is well known in the fly fishing industry for his fly patterns, his shop, the Slide Inn, on the banks of the Madison River and very strong opinions on fly fishing topics and beyond.
Kelly started his fly fishing career at the age of 13, tying flies for the local tackle shop in Michigan. Kelly has over forty nationally recognized fly patterns and is still developing more today. He started guiding at the age of 16 and is still guiding to this day some 30 years later.
Kelly has written two books Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout and Cripples and Spinners. Kelly has been published in nearly every major fly fishing periodical in the country and is now one of the Editors at Large for Fly Fisherman magazine. Kelly was also one of the hosts of Fly Fish TV on the Outdoor Life Network.
In 2004 Kelly was nominated and received the Living Legend award by the Federation of Flyfishers.
Kelly and I cover a bunch of topics. Including trends he has seen in the fly fishing world, egos of fly fisherman and the why and how articulated streamers became a thing.
This was a very long conversation. I have decided to break it up into two different episodes. Here is Part I, it sort of starts right up so get ready here we go. I hope you enjoy.
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- Sex Dungeon natural (photo: slideinn.com)