NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1227699
April 2020 • Nebraskaland 33 My chosen rod became the fiberglass Eagle Claw Featherlight. Available at just 6 feet, 6 inches it works about as well as one could hope for battling the brush. Both its cork handle and $25 price tag, much less than most other fly rods, are attractive features. Another great suggestion unearthed from my research is the automatic fly reel. While fly-fishing purists may scoff at anything with "automatic" in the name, this is surely the most attractive part of my set-up. Upon a lever pull with the trigger finger, a spring-loaded mechanism quickly spools a pile of slack line piled at your feet – a pile that, as previously mentioned, is sure to become tangled in the tall vegetation characteristic of a "crick." A few manufacturers produce automatic fly reels, but the reviews of new products are less favorable than merchandise of yesteryear. Martin of Mohawk, New York, became the leader in automatic reels in the mid-1900s. Available in both upright and horizontal configurations, the reels came in a variety of sizes and models. On eBay, I found the Martin No. 47 – with patent numbers registered in 1939 and 1942 – for $20.50. Capitalizing on their ingenuity, the company used the same winding mechanism on similar-looking items labeled "dog exercisers." When ol' 47 arrived on my doorstep, I admired its hefty metal build – not an ounce of plastic to be found on an attractive forest green and chrome body. I spooled it with some three-weight floating line, added a tapered leader and gave it a cast. It is hard to imagine that the reel worked any better in 1950 than it does today. The package's true test, though, came during its first venture up the middle fork of Soldier Creek in March 2018. There, in a small pocket of water in the shadow from pretty rocks, the first of several brook trout fell victim to this set- up. The joy of succeeding with my new-slash-old "Pine Ridge special" surely matched what I experienced upon catching my first fish with a Zebco spincast in the 1970s. One parting tip from a struggling fly angler: As with most endeavors, practice pays. Casting a fly rod is a fun thing to do with targets and obstacles, and no trout to spook, in the backyard. Especially work on the roll cast, which will help you get below those snag-inducing branches. Whether or not I am qualified to give advice for fly- fishing will always be debatable, though. Regardless, a few adjustments to my approach has certainly made my hikes up the creek – or, crick – more enjoyable. N Tiger Trout (Salmo trutta × Salvelinus fontinalis) and Vintage Automatic Fly Reel at Soldier Creek Wilderness Area in Sioux County.