New fly fisher men and women!

Our program at Exeter/West Greenwich High in RI was a great success.  Here are the great young folks who participated with their certificates in basic fly fishing presented by TEAM7x and RI DEM

The  presentation followed our final session on-water at Carolina trout pond in western RI.  Everyone caught fish on flies they tied and did a great job casting nice loops!

This volunteer effort is part of our "Casting It Forward" program which we're always ready to offer to schools, non-profits, scout groups and the like.  Hopefully we're creating lifelong, environmentally conscious, fly fishers!

DRAG FREE everyone…trout fishing on the freestones is SLOW…more updates shortly.

CASTING IT FORWARD

Tom Daniels and Everett Thornton of TEAM7x Flyfishing have partnered with the RI DEM’s Aquatic Resources Education, volunteer program, to teach fly fishing basics at Exeter-West Greenwich High School. Under the direction of teacher Marcy Ward, students in the Wildlife Management course elective will learn the basics of fly tying, fly casting and tips and techniques for fly fishing for trout. Five classes are planned, with actual on-water trout fly fishing as the final session.

 “We’re excited to be working with Kim Sullivan and Scott Travers of RI DEM’s aquatic education unit to promote fly fishing among a great group of environmentally conscious students at EWG. For us, this is a continuation of our “CASTING IT FORWARD” volunteer efforts with private campgrounds and other groups in RI and eastern CT to attract newcomers to fly fishing,” said Tom Daniels of TEAM7x. “The students are quick learners and did a great job as first-time fly tiers in our initial session, commented Everett Thornton. “We’ll be working on some advanced fly patterns as we continue, with the class divided between fly casting outside and work on the fly bench. In our on water session, students will use their own tied flies.”

"Casting it Forward" at Charlie Brown!

 In addition, TEAM7x covers equipment basics, trout stream anatomy and tips and techniques for new fly fishers. “Our goal is develop an initial interest in fly fishing which will hopefully lead to a lifelong pursuit,” said Tom. We practice catch and release, and by nature fly fishers are a strong environmentally conscious group.”

 TEAM7x principals are members of Trout Unlimited, the International Federation of Fly Fishers, the Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association, and registered fishing guides in Connecticut.

 Are you "CASTING IT FORWARD?" Teach a newcomer to fly fish today!

PS:  The Natchaug River is fishing great right now…WE HAVE OPENINGS for an "Evening on the Natchaug"  team_7x@yahoo.com


 DRAG FREE!!

Opening Day 2016 approaches!

Stonefly time as the air and temps rise on the Yantic River and Moosup River in eastern CT.  Won't be long before the Paraleps (mahogany duns) 16/18 and the Larger quills and Hendricksons make their annual Spring appearance.

Everett tied some great looking stonefly patterns to mimic what we saw fishing the Yantic recently.  We had mid-afternoon rising trout with normal flows and a 52 degree water temp; surprisingly warm for this early in the Spring. With the down wing, they'll likely work as the smaller winter caddis as well.



We'll be back at the campgrounds along the Natchaug in May/June, schedule to be confirmed, with our free casting clinics.  Campers get first choice but we usually have room if you want to join us…stay tuned for dates.  Our PRIVATE mail list is now well over 250 fly fishing friends.  If you or a friend would like our regular stream and river updates email us at team_7x@yahoo.com and we'll add you.
With reduced winter snow pack and lack of heavy rains, conditions could get dicey as we approach June/July. We keep our subscribers up-to-date with our no-nonsense reports.

CT now requires a guide license for those of us offering on-water services.  We're registered and ready to go for our "EVENINGS" program on the Natchaug or Shetucket depending on conditions.  Need to fine-tune your presentations, get that drag-free drift or just improve on your dry fly selections? We can help and show you some areas along the rivers and streams you may not be aware of that hold consistently rising trout.
 
 April 9 is season opener in CT and RI for all trout rivers/streams, not a day that we go shoulder to shoulder with the worm and hardware chuckers!

See you on the river after the 9th!

DRAG FREE!

Tom & Everett and all at TEAM7x

Rio Malleo, Patagonia, Argentina, 2016

Once again Matt and Tom of TEAM7x enjoyed a wonderful week on the Rio Malleo, Patagonia's finest dry fly trout stream. The San Huberto Lodge owns 16 miles of exclusive access to the Malleo.
With Omar "Banana" Martinez, the area's top guide, we spent dawn to dusk casting dries to rising wild trout, in tight holding areas, sometimes battling gusty Patagonian winds.

Banana readies lunch on a cool day.

Caddis were present throughout the day but largely ignored by the larger trout.  They picked off the mayflies and our BWO, adams, and floating soft hackle patterns along with occasional emergers just under the surface.

This rainbow took several fly changes before "making the mistake!"

Naturally the bigger fish, our targets, were in tight quarters along banks, blowdowns and overhanging willows but were eager to take our offerings once we battled the breezes to get the drag free drift! We'd take several rainbows on size 14's and 16's then they'd stop.  Dropping down to 18's and 20's, it was game on again.

The Browns were usually down deep and would occasionally rise to the dry.  Matt took this brown when Banana rerigged his outfit with 3x and a Chernobyl Ant and told him "put the fly there!"  Not cast, but drop the fly in a spot where he had spotted the fish hugging the bottom earlier in a tight blowdown. BANG!

With the Volcan Lanin always in the background, abundant wildlife, gauchos herding cattle and spectacular dry fly trout fishing on the Rio Malleo, Patagonia needs to be on everyone's bucket list…truly a world class destination!

At day's end around 9:00 pm, cocktail hour and a first class Argentinean  meal awaited!

San Huberto's Michelle enjoys a Manhattan!

Happy 2016 to all…keep in touch and visit with us at the CFFA Fly Fishing Expo on February 6, at Maneely's in South Windsor, CT.  We plan to have the Fly Fishing Benefactor's reels and accessories on display, some classic rods for sale and Everett and Bob will be fly tying!

DRAG FREE!
Tom/Everett/ Matt/Jeff and all the TEAM7xers!

Atlantic Salmon on the Shetucket River UPDATE!

Team 7x 's Jeff with a beautiful male!

Jeff hooked up this beauty recently on a traditional Grey Ghost pattern.  Nice male, great job Jeff!

The Shetucket River in eastern CT receives a fall stocking of excess brood stock Atlantic Salmon, creating an exciting fall fishing opportunity.  CTDEEP has stocked around 600 fish in the 2 to 6 lb. range, some bigger, with more to come in November.

After a client guest late cancellation on 10/15, Tom & Everett of TEAM7x loaded up the 6 weights and headed to the river.  Knowing the holding spots after spending time on the Shetucket in the past is a key, since the salmon don't always show themselves, even in the low water conditions.

The Scotland dam released some water in the AM, creating cloudy and debris filled flows, but cleared after an hour or so.  Mickey Finn's have been successful patterns in the past, but today, NO JOY!  We switched to a smaller, different color pattern that has worked in the past, and BANG, within 5 minutes each of us hooked up.

Tom's fish with an assist by Everett

Everett assisted on this fish while I fumbled for the camera.  She was a deep runner with several drag-screaming runs before coming to hand.  Around 5-6 pounds I estimate and a strong fighter.

Everett hooks up!

It was a beautiful fall day as you can see.  This fish was a leaper and gave Ev a great aerial display before tiring.  Another nice Atlantic around the same size and weight.

A leaping beauty!

The fish are there.  Knowing the holding areas and experience with patterns and color increases the chances of hooking up these selective fish and what a battle when you get a take!  There are some nice rainbows in the Shetucket as we saw several taken during our outing. Lots of caddis around for this late in the season.  If you want to set a date, let us know!

KUDOS:

Kudos to Ray Schaefer from Thames Valley TU and his stocking crew for their efforts in helping CTDEEP with stocking.  Ray and the group help float stock trout throughout the year in eastern CT rivers and the Atlantics on the Shetucket in the fall. 

CT state Senator Cathy Osten, whose area includes the Shetucket for her support in keeping the Atlantic Salmon program alive when it seems a yearly battle to keep the state's only salmon hatchery (Kensington) open and functioning.  Lots of anglers buying gas, food, pizza from OCCUM PIZZA, and spending $$ in the area.  Thanks Cathy!

To our good friends, the campground owners along the Natchaug who support our efforts in fly fishing education at no charge to campers and area folks.  This was a low water year but as usual the campgrounds were full and active.

As always, DRAG FREE!

Yellowstone National Park, 22 July, 2015

TEAM7x spent 9 days in and around the fabulous Yellowstone National Park fishing mainly the northeast corner of the park; Slough Creek.  The Lamar and Soda Butte suffered from off-color water due to heavy rain.  A severe storm blew throughout the park on the 28th, dropping snow at elevations above 8,000 feet!

We also spent 2 days on Depuy Spring Creek in Livingston.  Levels on Slough were a bit low, but clear and our efforts fishing dry to large Cutthroat trout were rewarded with some terrific big cuts, all in the 16 to 20 " range.  While mostly sight fishing, PMD's, sparkle duns, floating soft hackles did most of the work; with the water gin clear, fly changes and persistence in picking out one fish and in presentation was the key.  Native Yellowstone Cutthroats are beautiful and selective and with the exception of some cutbow hybrids are dominant in Slough Creek.  Regulations require that cutbows be killed in certain areas of Slough to protect the native cutts.

Mornings were PMD time until around 2:00PM when the Slough Creek winds descended.  Later in the evenings, very small spinners and midges brought fish into the shallows and up.  Many folks "take a hike" up to the 1st and 2nd meadows above Slough Creek Campground.  We fished the lower Slough ahead of its confluence with the Lamar and found plenty of big cuts, and plenty of good holding water and most days, uncrowded.

Met a few friends along the way as well…the magic of Yellowstone is not only in its unparalleled fly fishing opportunities in its miles of creeks, rivers and streams but in the sheer beauty, the wildlife, the open spaces, the Yellowstone River itself…it should be on everyone's bucket list!

Matt took the first Cutthroat on day one and what a beauty!  The color, the slash, just perfect!

Depuy Spring Creek remains a favorite of ours.  Privately owned, this classic spring creek is loaded with Cutts, BIG browns that migrate from the Yellowstone and some rainbows.  The insect life is prolific so finding rising fish is never a problem with the constant water temps.  Again, this is selective, technical fishing but patience and persistence is rewarded.  After a great day, we promptly booked a second day on this world-class stream.  Again, a bucket list must for any passionate dry fly angler!

Back home, other than the Farmington, with TEAM member Bob reporting in…GO SMALL... not much happening with the heat, humidity and low water until later in September.  We're attempting to find the latest Atlantic Salmon news for fall fishing the Shetucket and will update ASAP!

DRAG FREE everyone!

TEAM7x

FLY FISHING BENEFACTORS NEW RELEASE!

The new Deschutes V3 is now available from FFB.  Click here  to see why we are proud Pro Staff and supporters of Carl Craig and FFB's products and generous spirit.

This beautifully ported Deschutes 1 will accomodate 3-4 weight line with backing.  We spooled up a 4 weight line with 50 or so yds. of backing.  It takes about a minute to activate the push-button spool release, remove the screw-on gear and flip the bearing over to convert from left to right handed retrieve.
The drag, similar to previous versions is easily adjusted with the knob shown above.  The new Version 3 drag is super sensitive and a slight turn of the knob increases or decreases pressure in small but noticeable increments.  We had the opportunity to put a few nice fish on the reel recently on light drag and were solidly impressed!

Fully loaded, as described above, the Deschutes, CNC crafted from aircraft quality aluminum, weighed in at 5.5 ounces, about and ounce lighter than the earlier V2.  Full specs are available on the link above.

All in all, at the bargain price point, this is a beautiful addition to your arsenal and perfect for a dollar conscious newcomer to fly fishing.  Everett, Matt and I will be taking it out west later this month to the spring creeks in Montana and the classic cutthroat streams in Yellowstone National Park.

You'll love the Deschutes; pick up a few fly boxes or leader packs at super low pricing while you're at it and call Carl with any questions.

DRAG FREE!
TEAM7x
Pro Staff for Fly Fishing Benefactors