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Greetings to One and All,
Since my last newsletter I've been caught up in a
whirlwind of activity and have gotten a bit behind in
keeping up with my correspondence but now that my life
has settled down a bit, I'll be keeping in touch with
you all quite a bit more regularly.
First, the big news. Just in case you haven't received
a notice, I've moved. After 26 years at #10 Sachem Street
in Boston (a place some have humorously suggested be turned
into a flytying shrine of sorts) I've moved to #14 Beach Road
in Winthrop, MA 02152 (Tel. No.: 617-846-5984). It's been
a good move for me. I was getting tired of living in the
city and am now only a two minute walk to the ocean, where
just yesterday I cast for stripers feeding only a few feet
from shore (caught three before they moved beyond range).
Whether this proximity to good fishing will cut into my
productivity remains to be seen but one thing's sure--I'll
be able to conduct my "research" much more handily.
In the middle of the move I went out to California
to speak to flyfishing groups in Santa Barbara, Thousand Oaks,
and Pasadena, where the people were just wonderfully warm and
friendly and where I was treated royally by everyone involved.
My thanks to all--especially to Tom Jaggers of Venice, CA, who
provided me at the last minute with some tying tools to replace
the ones I couldn't find in all the confusion of boxes strewn
about my new digs just before my departure to California. I've
since unearthed them, Tom, and will be returning your tools to
you soon. Thanks again.
Fishing Report from Boston Harbor and Elsewhere
Here it is Halloween and there are still some stripers
around, although the fishing is getting spottier and spottier,
with the fish following the bait--mostly silversides now, the
baby bunker diminishing--and blitzing unpredictably, with some
days being phenomenal and others being not so. An example: On
Tuesday the 21st I caught 19 stripers in about two hours; on
Thursday the 23rd, fishing the same area, I caught none. This
morning I went out and caught only one.That's the way it is at
this time of year. Some days chickens, some days feathers.
The water is still relatively warm but is cooling off
fast, which generally means that striper activity will continue for
another week or so but will slow down considerably around the middle
of November, with only the holdovers remaining. The fastest and most
consistent striper action right now seems to be down around the Cape.
The night before last--October 29--my friend--and talented webmaster--
Mike Quigley talked me out of a good night's sleep and lured me down
to the Cape Cod Canal, where there were lots of fish feeding under the
lights along the banks and eager to take a well-presented BeastMaster
or Soft Hackle Deceiver fished just under the surface. We each caught
several dozen in about three hours and quit shortly after the sun
came up, tired but happy fishermen.
Quiz o' the Month
The new flyfishing quiz is up and running at www.jackgartside.com
It's a fairly easy one this time around so give it a try if you've been
daunted by past quizzes. This month's prize, as it was last month,
is five original fly patterns tied by me.
The winner of the August-September (and October) Quiz o'the month
was Joe Margiotta of Galena, CA. Congratulations, Joe!
Upcoming Appearances
November 22, 23 Fly Tyer's Symposium, Somerset, NJ
December 4 United Fly Tyers, Burlington, MA
NOTE TO PROGRAM CHAIRMEN
I still have some 2004 dates available for lectures and
programs. If you'd like me to come to speak to your group
in the coming year please contact me as soon as possible--
open dates are dwindling fast, especially weekend dates.
Flyfishing Lessons
The sessions that I held this past summer were a great
success and a lot of fun, so much so that I'll be doing them
again this coming summer, adding more locations and different
approaches to striper fishing. As time goes by I'll post the
dates and locations. Thanks to all who participated in the
classes this past summer and autumn.
Flytying Lessons
This winter, perhaps once a month, I plan to give flytying
classes at my new digs in Winthrop (MA). These classes will be
geared towards the intermediate and advanced tyer who wants to
improve his or her skills and who is interested in innovative
tying techniques. I'll be announcing some dates as soon as I
figure out my schedule for the winter. In the meantime, if you're
interested in taking part in one of these classes, please let
me know soon--the classes will be limited to six participants
and the spaces are sure to go quickly.
Fly Tyer's Symposium
I'll be attending the Fly Tyer's Symposium in Somerset,
NJ on November 22 and 23rd. I'll be teaching a class there
as well as demonstrating tying techniques. If you're in the
area, please stop by and say hi. If you're interested in attending
the class, it's a wise idea to sign up for it as early as possible.
Holidays Ahead
It's hard to believe but it's true--the holidays are now
just around the corner. As you might expect this season is one
of my busiest so it's a good idea to order flies and books
(and especially framed items) early. Remember, there's only
one of me; I have no little elves or other helpers to do the
work, no one but myself, so if you can please order early to
ensure a timely delivery.
Odds and Ends
While searching the web recently I ran across an interview
with an old friend from my early Yellowstone years, Doug Peacock,
who's spent his adulthood studying and filming and learning to
live with grizzly bears. The interview is really informative
is a good introduction to a man whose life and vision I admire.
Check out the following website:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0007/q_n_a.html
Speaking of websites, if you're interested in anything
to do with nature (and who isn't), check out www.enature.com,
one of the most interesting nature sites I've visited. You're
sure to enjoy it.
New Flies and Selections
After much "research and development," both personal and
with the help of friends around the world, I've added some
interesting new flies and selections to my repertoire of
offerings. They may not be up on the website yet but will
be soon. In any case, they're sure to be of interest to
adventurous anglers wherever they may fish. Give some of
them a try.
Sand Eel Gurgler
This is the slenderest of Gurglers, tied with
a narrow double foam shell and a tail of fine saddle
hackle tied in a semi-flatwing style that is slightly
offset for better action. The body is dubbed Secret
Stuff--either pearl or peacock-- that is then picked
out to create a shimmering and alluring underside.
This fly has been a huge success for anglers who have
used it in waters where sand eels are numerous. Whether
you're fishing Lobsterville on the Vineyard or Joppa
Flats up in Newburyport or the flats of Monomoy or
wherever sand eels are found, you'll want to give
this fly a try. You'll be happy that you did.
Colors
Light Olive
Dark Olive
Olive/Black (Best for night fishing)
Chartreuse
Sizes 4 and 6
Price: $4.00 ea.
Dark Eel Gurgler
This fly is approximately 6"-7" long, tied with
long and snaky black saddle hackle for a tail with a
body of Olive Secret Stuff dubbed on and picked out,
with a double shell of olive/black foam, and is especially
useful for fishing in areas where eels are commonly found.
Try this fly for marsh fishing or estuary fishing, especially
at night, swimming and splashing it across the surface--and
hold on!
This fly is offered only in the color described above and
is available on #1 and #1/0 hooks only.
Price: $5.00 each
Shrimp Gurgler
This is the one surface fly to use when tarpon,
snook, redfish or sea trout are actively feeding on
shrimp. Dead-drift it in the current or twitch it
occasionally to attract the attention of the fish.
This Gurgler has a slightly more narrow shell than the
the regular Gurglers and is tied with a tan shell with
white bucktail and hackle with a body of pearl Secret
Stuff dubbed on and picked out to blend with the hackle.
A very lovely fly--and very effective, too.
Sizes #2 and #1
Price: $5.00 ea.
Baby Bunker Gurgler
At this time of year in the Northeast, baby or peanut bunker,
which look somewhat like quarters with tails, are often found in
enormous schools up and down the coast and are avidly fed upon by
stripers and other gamefish. Tied in a wide-body, Soft Hackle-style
with a tail and ribbing of white marabou with a double shell,these
Baby Bunker Gurglers are tied a bit larger than the naturals to stand out
from the rest of the pack and have proven very effective whenever
gamefish are feeding on these tasty baitfish.
Sizes 2 and 1
Price: $5.00 ea.
All-New
Gurgler Mania Selection (quite different from previous
Gurgler Mania Selection)
This selection contains a variety of Gurglers in various sizes,
shapes, and colors. Fish these for stripers, bass, salmon, steelhead,
tarpon, snook, redfish, or just about any other fish that will take a
topwater commotion fly.
Each selection contains five fish-catching Gartside Gurglers, including
1 Standard Gurgler, 1 very slender Sand Eel Gurgler, 1 Soft Hackle
Gurgler,
1 Crab Gurgler, and 1 standard-length Double Gurgler.
Price per selection: $24.00
New Sand Eel City Selection
This selection is effective wherever sand eels are found. Tied in a
variety of styles, colors and sizes to match many of the more
commonly-found sand eels.
Each selection includes:
1 realistic Gartside Corsair Sand Eel,1 Gartside FishHead Sand Eel,
1 Secret Sand Eel, 1 Soft Hackle or “Secret” Soft Hackle Sand Eel
and one Special Sand Eel Gurgler.
Price: $24.00 Price: $24.00
New Sand Eel & Silversides Selection
Whether you fish for stripers, albies, or bonito, you’ll
need an assortment of sand eel and silversides patterns.
This selection includes some of the most effective sand
eel and silversides imitations available anywhere.
Each selection contains: 1 Secret Sand Eel (new!), 1 real-
istic Gartside Corsair Sand Eel, 1 New Sand Eel Gurgler,
1 Gartside’s Secret Silversides (new!) and 1 Corsair
FishHead Silversides.
In mixed sizes: #6-#2 Price Per Selection: $24.00
New!
Super Selection for Larger Trout
Going to Patagonia or Alaska this year? New Zealand? Montana?
Or any other place noted for or reputed to hold large trout?
Then this unusual selection is for you.
Each selection contains
1 Freshwater BeastMaster, 1 Freshwater BeastMaster General
(tied on a Stinger hook, with a deer hair head for ultra-
versatility), 1 Soft Hackle Flatwing Streamer (this has an
unbelievable side-to-side wing action sure to tempt those
hard-to-get behemoths), 1 Large Special Olive/Black Wooly
Bugger (tied with a body of dubbed and picked-out "Secret
Stuff") and 1 medium-sized (#4 or #6) Trout Gurgler
(if you've never tried one of these for large trout, you
don't know what you're missing.)
I can't think of anything more to add right now, so I
guess I'll close with a Fish Story that a friend of mine
sent me and which I enjoyed. I hope that you enjoy it too.
Until, next time: tight lines. And Happy Halloween.
Cheers, Jack
Fish Story
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole
propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling
blue
surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of
catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to
relieve
some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on
the
beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of
working harder to make a living for himself and his family.
"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to
the
fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what
will my reward be?"
"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the
businessman's
answer.
"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a
boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what
will
my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the
fisherman's
questions. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for
you!"
he said.
"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.
The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand? You can build
up a
fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your
employees
catch fish for you!"
Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't
you
understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work
for
your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on
this
beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said...
"And what do you think I'm doing right now ??"
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