Category: Places to Fish

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Guiding Trips using Kane Klassics bamboo fly rods

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Guide Season 2019:

This year we are continuing the guiding of our friends and clients to include the use of bamboo and graphite Kane klassics Fly Rods.  Our trips provide all flies, leaders and rods so all levels of fly fishers can enjoy the day therefore getting the most out of a days catching perhaps a fish of a lifetime.  You are welcome to use your own rods any time.  We concentrate on teaching and casting, insect lore and presentation and as a result anglers of any level will improve.  

kane Klassics 2019 Lowe 90 hp guide boat

We have a 20′ Lowe 90 hp guide boat that assures comfortable casting and riding to and from the fishing areas.  Snacks and drinks are provided, lunches most importantly, can be requested.

kane Klassics flies

All flies and leaders are most importantly included during the Trip!

 

 

Brown Trout

Brown Trout

Costs:

$550 per day for one or two anglers

10% discount on consecutive booked days in a row

Call 775-677-0590 for reservations 

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Kane Klassics car top tent

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Its not about the journey, but the destination.

For our extended fishing trips we finally broke the code on the best car top tent out there. We found a great supplier in Seattle WA.( https://adventure-ready.com/product-category/rooftop-tents/) for the Kane Klassics car top tent.  Tom, the owner is very knowledgeable in all awnings, tents and other gear, all top quality. We selected the Nomad 160 by James Baroud Company. Tom’s a distributor for the west coast. We Drove over 800 miles at highway 65 to 75 mph in solid rain and snow and no leaks under the cover!

The Rino Rack awning over the drive side

The Rino Rack awning over the drive side

Maker Doug Kulick in Seattle with the newly installed Nomad 160

Maker Doug Kulick in Seattle with the newly installed Nomad 160

The Nomad is the easiest deploying and folding tent system with the added advantage of being able to bring in side the ladder for added security.

We have done some mods that are low cost and unique for gear stowage.

cargo net in the entry way for shoes and wet jackets

cargo net in the entry way for shoes and wet jackets

inside stowage net held in with velcro straps

 

The first mods were net stowage system.  The one over the tents inside is for clothing, junk, snacks etc that would other wise clutter out the tent.  The net over the ladder entrance are for your shoes, wet rain jacket etc keeping the inside dry and clean.  The other user issue is when your camped on a hard surface.  As you enter the tent when your weight is off the ladder it will sometimes slide in under the tent.  So for road trips I found a shop rubber rug matt keeps that ladder extended.  You can find the nets at Walmart for $9.00 and secure with

rubber shop rug which keeps your ladder in place on hard surfaces

rubber shop rug which keeps your ladder in place on hard surfaces

 

with any number of hooks and climbing hooks all from, again Walmart!  Any questions contact Tom or Kane Klassics.

Good old Walmart item for $9.00!!!

the water proof proven tent travel cover

the water proof proven tent travel cover

 

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Kane Klassics Prius “on fumes” road trip!

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I have owned three Prius cars over the last four years.  Two are the normal size and the newest Kane Klassics command car is the Prius C.  This car is pushing 60 MPG at 65 MPH with the air on!!  Some ask is that why his license is “ON FUMES” !

At 60 plus MPG I think "ON FUMES" tells it all.

At 60 plus MPG I think “ON FUMES” tells it all.

So with that in mind, draw a circle on the map 4 Hrs drive from the shop in Reno and you are looking at hundreds of fly fishing destinations.  The first destination and trial run was a meager 650 mile round trip to southern Oregon.

60.1 MPG "on fumes" at 65 MPH with air!!

60.1 MPG “on fumes” at 65 MPH with air!!

A proud owner having his picture taken by the AM-PM ladies!

A proud owner having his picture taken by the AM-PM ladies!

So we loaded up the little Prius C with all our gear including a four man Zodiac rubber boat complete with a 2.5 HP out board, all camping gear, fishing gear, food and even our Micro Bike!

The evidence of all that gear before loading!

The evidence of all that gear before loading!

Could not forget the Micro Bike!

Could not forget the Micro Bike!

Birds eye view.

Birds eye view.

That poor “C” was filled to the Gills and I had not enough room for a slupie! I traveled at highway legal speeds and averaged 53.1 MPG for a total fuel cost of $45.00.

 

 

 

So after the 2 1/2 day fishing trip, 28 4-5 lb trout caught and released, 3 wicked thunder storms and then repacking the gear,  I cant wait for the next ROD TEST!!!

Out of the "C" and into the lake.

Out of the “C” and into the lake.

I hate to be cramped in a tent... 8 man Coleman!

I hate to be cramped in a tent… 8 man Coleman!

Proof of success and many thanks to Toyota. DON'T CHANGE IT guys

Proof of success and many thanks to Toyota. DON’T CHANGE IT guys

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Bamboo pack & Graphite pack fly rods that travel

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Its not about the journey, but the destination.

We have always lead the fly rod industry in Bamboo pack & Graphite pack fly rods that travel. Sporting magazines and books have given us many kind accolade over the last

Kauai Hawaiian sun set

Kauai Hawaiian sun set

kane klassics graphite, five piece graphite pack rod awaiting to go fishing on a Kauai , Hawaiian flat.

kane klassics graphite, five piece graphite pack rod awaiting to go fishing on a Kauai , Hawaiian flat.

26 years for our pack rods that cast equal or better then standard rods. The pack rods allow you to travel to normal destinations and still have a fly rod available for

Now thats a prime flat with a five piece graphite fly rod awaiting a passing bone fish.

Now thats a prime flat with a five piece graphite fly rod awaiting a passing bone fish.

a quick afternoon or week of fishing. We recently traveled to Kauai, Hawaii and fished for some fantastic fish from the north island flats to inter island sugar cane lakes.

6 lb. prime Hawaiian Bone Fish and a Kane Klassics 5 pc 9' fly rod.

6 lb. prime Hawaiian Bone Fish and a Kane Klassics 5 pc 9′ fly rod.

Hawaiian waters have a good population of saltwater Bone Fish in the 4 to 20 lb. size ranges.  The sugar cane lakes have small and large mouth Bass, Talapia and Peacock Bass. While the family does the beach gig, you can be fishing some impressive and unique fisheries.

Pack rods are easily carried aboard airlines today as well.  Just dont have knives and pliers in with your rods.

Our guide, Nigel did a fine job sighting and showing us the best flats for the Bone Fish.  Contact him at 1-808-652-9038, or at  flyfishkauai@hotmail.com.

Sugar cane Large Mouth Bass on Kauai

Sugar cane Large Mouth Bass on Kauai

He can take you fly fishing all over Kauai including trout fishing.  Kauai is a little known great fishing destination which lets the family do their thing while you do yours! See the web site for more details on the varied and highly capable pack rods both in Bamboo pack & Graphite pack fly rods that travel.   www.kaneklassics.com

Sugar cane Peacock Bass in Kauai with a Kane Klassics 9' 5 pc fly rod

Sugar cane Peacock Bass in Kauai with a Kane Klassics 9′ 5 pc fly rod

 

 

 

 

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Trout flies, why are trout fussy

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This week this writer fished the American River around Auburn California on a limited access 8 mile section which had not been fished for at least four days before.  Always try to think like a fish, ask the question, Trout flies, why are trout fussy?  What makes them attack with lust or move away from your presentation.  When approaching  new water where wild trout have not been disturbed,  they are often quiet selective in what offering they will want.

A remote section of the American River

A remote section of the American River

Always start exploring with a mid sinking line with a leach or wooly bugger mid size, 12 or 10.  If no grabs you must rethink your offering.  The solution is to go smaller and slower in your presentation. As the mid range depth is fished with now grabs, try the top layer, still no garbs.. you are facing fussy fish that are actually intimidated by your larger size offering.  Try small nymphs and fish them in the same manner of depth slowly, still no grabs, go smaller still.  Start with a 12 and 14 trailing nymph, blood midge, hares ear your just searching.  Still not luck, go 16 and 18.

That was the secret for success and 15 native trout from 12 to 17 inches taker over a mid day four hour period.  Fish either swinging the tiny nymphs or under an indicator.  The largest fish an aggressive 17 rainbow took in a fast riffle, an 18 hares ear bead head.

The other observation when you begin searching is to watch and look.  That day no fish were feeding anywhere on the surface and it just felt like a shy day for the population.  This was proven when the tiny flies worked.  This writer has observed this condition many times over 30 years of fly fishing.  Trout flies, why are trout fussy… trout are in a sense weary of larger offerings.

looking at the riffle thats text book for nymphing techniques

looking at the riffle thats text book for nymphing techniques

On even selective trout fish a hares ear, prince nymph or Pt nymph slowly.  Its the size and dead drift that will save your day and up set theirs!

Hares ears nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18

All hares ear in small sizes

All hares ear in small sizes

PT nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18

Keep the size small

Keep the size small

Prince nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18

The prince is king among searching flies

The prince is king among searching flies

For a great selection of the small size nymphs at a very reasonable $1.00 each,  see the flies at :  https://kaneklassics.com/shop/

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Kane Klassics Myzithra Cheese Snow Crab Luguine, by Doug Kulick – bamboo rod maker

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Kane Klassics Myzithra Cheese Snow Crab Luguine is an outstanding dish. This post is under outdoor cooking.  However during the winter you might want a very fine meal done inside your cabin or RV and this is one of my favorites.  Myzithra is a traditional, unpasteurized fresh cheese made with milk and whey from sheep.  You can find this at Whole Foods market and Trader Joes or your food store.

Snow crab ready for cleaning.

Snow crab ready for cleaning.

The crab can be any you favor, I like the Alaskan Snow Crab and you can find it for around $7.00 a pound at Win Co shopping market or a shopping store that is close to you.  Its always pre-cooked aboard ship and flash frozen and is as good as it gets following my directions.

Plan on 1 pound per person;  you will steam the crab for 20 minutes in a large pot where you added, two table spoons of white vinegar, one table spoon of pepper corns, and a pinch of garlic. I add a dark beer or a cooking wine to the water as well. Use a steaming rack and place just enough boil keeping it under the the crab. This steams the crab and does not  boil it.

Use a large pot with a steaming rack on the bottom , keeps the crab out of the boil.

Use a large pot with a steaming rack on the bottom , keeps the crab out of the boil.

 

The white vinegar and pepper corns counter any fishiness from the crab. This is one of the key secrets to a perfect dish. As the crab steams, prepare one stick of non salted butter to be browned.  Browned butter is simply melted butter over low heat until it browns. Your taste will determine how brown you want it.  Start your boiling water for the luguine by adding one table spoon of salt and a 1/4 stick of butter.  Boil to completion where you like the hardness of softness of the pasta.

pepper corns

pepper corns

 

 

Ok,  now your at 20 minutes, remove the crab and start cleaning;  see the picture to see the weapons you’ll need.

Most crab looses the fight to sharp scissors and garden clipper used only in the kitchen

Most crab looses the fight to sharp scissors and garden clipper used only in the kitchen

The crab is hot so be careful cleaning and do check on your butter and pasta as you clean.  This is a timing dance… crab cleaned, butter browned and the last step get your cheese grated per your liking.

adding browned butter

adding browned butter

Now your ready for the final prep.  Drain the pasta and rinse quickly in cold water, on top of your rinsed pasta,  add the crab, then the cheese followed by the browned butter. Chow down!

Ingredient list:

          Crab (0ne pound per person)

White Vinagar
Pepper corns
Myzithra cheese & Cooking wine
Liguine pasta
Unsalted butter
Garlic

“NOW THAT’S SOME MIGHTY FINE CHOW’ …unknown Marine

 

 

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Bamboo Fly Rods – Catfishing on Clear Lake Calfornia

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You read correctly! Fishing bamboo fly rods with my friend and outstanding Clear Lake Catfishing Guide, Tom Wheeler http://www.gutbucketsclearlakecatfishn.com showed that with the proper design Catfish up to 18lbs were nicely caught on Clear Lake.  The Clear Lake Channel Catfish is a hardy aggressive fish and very much a predator.  So with that in mind we set out to see if bamboo fly rods would hold true or be splintered by Mr. Catfish!

10 lbs plus Cat fish on a bamboo rod, Clear Lake California

10 lbs plus Cat fish on a bamboo rod, Clear Lake California

With Toms years of knowledge chasing Cats on Clear lake, that was half the battle.  Once into these large and hardy fish, the rods performed superbly. Tom’s expertise getting us into these fish proved that the rods worked as designed.

With Tom’s Clear Lake knowledge he helped us cover excellent water. I have never caught any Catfish under 10 lbs and up to 18lbs.  Very impressive indeed.

Sometimes we don’t as fly fishing warriors ever consider other fish, other then Trout and Bass.  Don’t under estimate the aggressive and power of a 10 plus pound catfish ripping line off your reel!

For a exciting day seeking a giant Catfish, contact Tom: http://www.gutbucketsclearlakecatfishn.com

For bamboo fly rods and Spinning rods, contact Kane Klassics and Doug Kulick: https://kaneklassics.com

 

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Bamboo Spinning Rod – Successful Testing at Clear Lake CA.

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Doug Kulick with his shop manager, Ken Poole recently tested a new line of bamboo bait casting and bamboo spinning rods in Clear Lake, California north of the San Francisco Bay a few hours.  Clear lake is known for its large and aggressive Large Mouth Bass.

Ken has worked for over 12 years at Kane Klassics and for the last few years as the Shop Manager.  Ken’s attention to detail and keen craftsmanship has set high standards in the shop.  An avid fisherman both fly and spin, Ken often assists in Kane Klassics testing of new designs.  That was the case on Clear Lake.

Ken Poole on the left. Doug Kulick on the right and two caught and released clear Lake Bass. Note the bamboo spinning rod as well

Ken Poole on the left. Doug Kulick on the right and two caught and released clear Lake Bass. Note the bamboo spinning rod as well

Kane Klassics provides bamboo spinning rods and bait casting rods in various lengths, line weights and sections.  See the picture… proof of a successful test at Clear Lake.  To order a custom bamboo spinning rod or bait casting rod,  here is the link:  https://kaneklassics.com

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Hare’s Ear Nymphs, the last fly standing

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The most productive flies your fly box can have are a selection of Hare’s Ear Nymphs.  Either the bead head or standard,  they simply catch more fish, in more waters then all other nymph patterns combined.  The reason is the buggy life likeness of the fly’s rabbit hair tying material.

Hare's ear standard nymph

Hare’s ear standard nymph

In small sizes the Hare’s Ear Nymphs represent all forms of mayflies, and simply just edible chow for any hungry fish.  In larger sizes, any aquatic life form. They are a non-specific form of nymph, not matching any specific nymph but that in its own right justifies their number one edibility for any opportunistic predator.

I have often caught minnows that attacked and been hooked on this nymph where the nymph was half their size. I regularly hook 20 inch plus fish as well.

beadhead-hares-ear-dark

Hare’s Ear Nymphs can be best fished any number of ways.  As droppers under dry flies, dead drifted on floating and sinking fly lines, and under indicators. Here is a sure fire naughty trick when you really cant match an evening dry fly hatch.  Use floatant on a hare’s ear attached to a long leader and floating fly line; then and hold on. This effective floating the nymph in the surface film can make a lousy day excel. Always try Hare’s Ear Nymphs, you’ll be pleased.

See the kane klassics selection of quality tied hare ears on the links below.

BH Hare’s Ear Dark: https://kaneklassics.com/product/bead-head-hares-ear-dark/

DH Hare’s Ear Light: https://kaneklassics.com/product/bead-head-hares-ear-light/

Hare’s Ear Dark: https://kaneklassics.com/product/hares-ear/

Hare’s Ear Light: https://kaneklassics.com/product/hares-ear-light/

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Fat Tire Sand Bikes – Strike Terror in Trout Populations

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Its not about the journey, but the destination.

News Flash:
Our cargo trailers are the industry light-weight leaders.. the 6′trailer, a mere 27 lbs !

Kane Klassics has embarked upon building the finest, most off road capable Fat Tire Sand Bikes for the fly fishing purist.  In a cooperative venture with Tammisea Fat Sand Bikes out of the Miami Beach area of Florida, we have taken a solid performing Fat tire bike with the industries widest 4.8-inch tires and added Kane Klassics performance and usability upgrades.

Fat tire, E-Bike installed electric motor system

Fat tire, E-Bike installed electric motor system

The Fat Tire Sand Bikes where design with aluminum and stainless steel components to with stand the salt environment of beach riding. We took this to a new level by the installation of the new Shimano internal shifting 11-speed rear axel gear pack and adding hydraulic brakes.  When combined with an E-Bike electric drive front mounted drive motor you have the ultimate all wheel drive off road fat tire bike for dirt, mountain, sand and snow riding.

The E-bike Electric kit is engineered and installed with a steel heavy-duty fork, and combined with oversize spokes to assure the long-term use of the front drive system.  The 48-volt battery provides 30 plus miles of level power and more range when you combine peddling. All this has been engineered using aircraft design and hardware to affix the battery; controller and accessories for long care free service life.

We use these Fat Tire Sand Bikes to haul the Kane klassics bike trailer (6′ trailer a mere 27 lbs.)with float tubes, float boats and gear around lakes in the area 100 miles radius from Reno NV.  Fishing on lakes can in fact be like fishing on a desert.  Until you know the waters and fish habits, you have to begin to fish, observe and react to what you see and experience.  Equipped with the fat tire bike and trailer, you can leave your car or truck safely parked on firm terrain and ride straight to the waters edge, launch and begin to fish.  Through your observations,  if you see more fish action down or up lake, load up the float device and peddle to that area.  No getting stuck in the beach sand as the fat tire bike and trailer with fat tires floats over the sand.  Your truck, parked on firm soil is safe from getting stuck.

One of the caught and released Trout now fearing the FAT TIRE scourge

One of the caught and released Trout now fearing the FAT TIRE scourge

The other key advantage of using the bike and trailer, your gear fits over the trailer wheels, which are under the flat bed. No other bike trailer offers you that oversize fly-fishing gear load capability.  Stay tune to more in-depth articles on the future use of our Fat tires.

Bicycle trailer , flat bed with the optional fly rod rack and show with a float boat equipped with oars and rowing frame.

Bicycle trailer , flatbed with the optional fly rod rack and show with a float boat equipped with oars and rowing frame. A mere 27 lbs. for the 6′ trailer’s weight.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information and details on the bikes and trailers see the links below,

Fat Tire Bikes: https://kaneklassics.com/montague-bikes/fat-sand-bikes/

Bicycle Trailers: https://kaneklassics.com/montague-bikes/bicycle-trailers-kane-klassics/