Landon Mayer - 101 trout tips : a guide’s secrets, tactics, and techniques

Copyright 2014 by Landon Mayer

Published by
STACKPOLE BOOKS
5067 Ritter Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First edition

Cover design by Wendy A. Reynolds
Cover image by Angus Drummond
Photos by the author except where noted

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mayer, Landon, author.

101 trout tips / Landon Mayer. First edition.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 978-0-8117-1474-7

eISBN 978-0-8117-6096-6

1. Trout fishing. 2. Fly fishing. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred one trout tips. III. Title: One hundred and one trout tips.

QL638.S2M37 2015

799.17'57dc23

2014027720

Next to Mom and Dad, River Mayers expression says it all: memories that last a lifetime.

Behind every good man is a great woman! I dedicate this book to my wonderful wife Michelle, who during the highs and lows of life and water is always there. Fly fishing is a way of life for our family, and this book would not be possible without complete love and support. Thank you for everything.

Contents

Acknowledgments

F or me fly fishing is a team sport, whether it is teaching others on the water during a guide trip, enjoying the adventure with friends and loved ones, or in this case, creating a visual teaching tool on paper. This project would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of many great friends and individuals on and off the water. I am forever grateful to the following individuals and companies for their support over the years.

I would like to thank my beautiful family, starting with my wife and best friend Michelle and our wonderful children Lauren, Zachary, Madelyn, and River. Sharing the great outdoors with our Brady Bunch is a true blessing. Thanks to my mother Robbie Mayer Skar, and siblings Lauren and Sean.

To Jay Nichols (Headwater Books and Stackpole Books)our adventures over the years have created some of the most rewarding experiences in all aspects of this great sport. It doesnt even seem like work having so much fun bringing these projects to life. Thank you for everything, my friend!

To Judith Schnell, Tim Gahr, Amy Lerner, Trish Manney, and all the great people at Stackpole Books who make publishing a rewarding and professional experience.

To John Barr, thank you for opening the door early in my career. You are a true friend and a class act for many anglers to follow. The kindness you share with others is what makes this sport grow in a positive light.

To Ross Purnell, Ben Hoffman, and Steve Hoffman for including me in the pages of Fly Fisherman and beyond. It is a pleasure being able to share knowledge in such a class act publication. I look forward to more adventures on the water with all of you.

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Matched with the text in this book, I would like to thank Mark Adams, Jack Hanrahan, Pat Dorsey, Bob Dye, Angus Drummond, Mark Lance, Phil Tereyla, and again, Jay Nichols and Ross Purnell for the breath-taking images. It is a pleasure to work with and learn from all of you capturing the right light.

To Joe Mahler, thank you for the great illustrations in this book. Anglers will benefit from the visual learning experience each drawing displays.

To Frank Martin and Jack Tallon. Thank you for your friendship and continued support with High Country Angler. I hope to follow in your footsteps to be the best person I can in all walks of life.

A big thank you as well to other great editors I have had the pleasure of working with: Greg Thomas, John Shewey, and Kirk Deeter.

A huge thank you to all the great companies that have supported me over the years, and the wonderful people that make all the great products a reality for so many anglers. It is a wonderful experience helping in design, testing, and promotion for each brand: The MayFly Group with Ross and Abel Reels, Simms, Smith Optics, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Scientific Anglers, Fish Pond, Titan Rod Vaults, and Casio Pro Trek Watches.

To Peter Crow with Smith Optics, thank you for sharing knowledge in text and images in this book for anglers to experience the advantage your lenses supply in all light conditions on the water.

A special thanks to my friend Pat Dorsey. It is has been a pleasure teaching with you on and off the river over the years. Sharing the same passion for our home waters on the South Platte is a true pleasure. I look forward to completing more work together.

It is a pleasure to work with so many topnotch teachers on the water, in the shop, or at club events and shows every year. I look forward to seeing all of you and working toward future projects, giving back to help this sport grow.

Introduction

T he fish you land teach you something; the fish you lose teach you everything. Going over losing battles and envisioning a better outcome allows you to become a better fisherman. The basics you learn when you start fishing are a wonderful foundation, but in many cases they are one dimensional.

I want my clients to develop confidence in techniques they once thought impossible and in techniques that go against what they have been previously taught. Fish receive more pressure than ever before, and they adapt by holding in less conventional areas. This is why I felt compelled to write this book. Its outside-the-box mentality and unorthodox approach will help you see the details that can make the difference between a good day and a fantastic day. Each tip presented here starts with a problem, followed by numerous solutions that will help you be successful the next go-round. Sequences of photos accompany the tips because, in my experience, anglers learn best visually both on and off the water. You will see the benefit of thinking beyond the fly and start adapting your approach to both the fish and the water.

PREPARING FOR THE DAY

Preparation for a trip begins before I even arrive at the water. When fishing familiar waters, I try to visualize what the water looks like and reflect on past experiences. In new locations, I use a map and satellite images to determine where I think quality trout will be holding; cover, oxygen, and food supply are the trouts most important criteria in choosing feeding lies.

Watching Mark Lierz battle this trout of a lifetime was one of the most rewarding experiences of my fly-fishing career. From set to mesh, he applied all the short-game tips we worked on together over the years.

Speed plays a big role in casting to trout in short distances. With the rod in a loaded position, Dave Hoover prepares to present to a hungry target. PAT DORSEY