Fly fishing icons offers tips

At age 74, Joe Humphreys of Boalsburg -- just outside State College -- remains one of the nation's top fly fishermen and angling educators.

"I started fly-fishing at age 6, and I've never stopped," he said. "I caught my first trout on Spring Creek. While trout is my favorite fly fishing subject, I also cast to bonefish and other saltwater species, as well as bass and other game fish."

However, one of his claims to fame is a 16-pound, 34-inch brown trout he caught in 1977. It held the state record for 11 years, but he is quick to point out that, "My record is still the largest brown trout ever taken on a fly."

Humphreys has penned hundreds of fly fishing magazine features, as well as three books on the sport.

Humphreys also is a fly-fishing instructor who, in addition to thousands of grass-roots anglers, has taught famous folks such as former President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Dick Cheney, basketball coach Bobby Knight.

For 19 years, Humphreys directed the angling program at Penn State. He also has lectured nationally, promoting fly fishing.

He also was the first national fly-fishing television series host of ESPN's "Fly Fishing Journal." He has produced five instructional videos -- one of which recently won a national award.

Casting advice

"In this game, if you can't cast, you can't catch fish," Humphreys said. "It takes a lot of practice -- and in some cases, instruction, too. But with a little time, practice and patience, anyone can cast a fly rod well."

Humphreys said the typical "10-2 cast" 10 and 2 o'clock positions of the rod during the cast) are important, but there's a lot more than basic casting techniques that are needed to take fish on a consistent basis.

"Getting the fly into tight spots is a must on the trout stream, especially if the fish have had a lot of angling pressure," Humphreys said.

"Casting needs to be easy - not a chore," said Humphreys. "I won't tear my shorts working hard to cast. It's a rhythm thing, with a few modifications that need to be applied in certain situations."

"For example, if you want to cast under low-hanging tree branches, the typical '10-2' cast won't work. To get the line lower, keep your forearm up on the back cast, then drop it level on the forward cast, and flick the rod with your wrist - and it will shoot low and under the branches, and sometimes to the opposite shoreline, where the trout are holding. If you get your fly cast to spots where nobody else can cast, you'll catch more fish," Humphreys said.

Humphreys recommends keeping your thumb on top of the cork rod handle and pushing had on it for the presentation cast. A forceful thumb action on the rod handle will greatly help the line to shoot forward quickly.

"Remember, you're casting the line - not the fly, and that's the key to good casts without a lot of effort," Humphreys said.

"I also recommend snapping your wrist back quickly during the forward cast that shoots the line. By 'shocking' the line with a back-snap of your wrist, the line can stack up and lay on the water with more slack - and sometimes that's exactly what it takes to hook a finicky trout."

Favorite hatches

"I like all of the hatches when they are actively attracting trout," Humphreys said. "But for dry flies, I have to say my favorites are the May sulphur hatches, the early June Green Drake hatches, mid-summer terrestrial (ant, spider, beetle) patterns, and the September trico hatches."

Humphreys added that the fantastic green drake hatches are exciting, but just every other year.

"Some people don't realize it, but the green drakes run on a two-year cycle, making some years poor or spotty with the hatches. Last year wasn't too good for the green drakes, so this year should be great," he said. "So find a good northern stream like Kettle Creek in Clinton or Potter Counties and cast the green drakes at the end of this month."

Humphreys said when the fish are not rising to obvious hatches, it doesn't mean they are not feeding - they instead are feeding on emerging insects.

"Take a few minutes to reach in the water and pick up a rock, clump of mud or a chunk of sunken wood. If you look under the rock or wood, you'll see what insects are hatching and being eaten as they emerge to the surface," he said.

Humphreys does not use a strike indicator for wet flies. Instead, he follows the fly's drift with a raised rod tip, with about two feet of the leader above the water.

"Watch the line closely, and you will need to set the hook at the slightest twitch or stop in the line's movement," Humphreys said.

For more information on Humphreys' books, "Trout Tactics," "Trout Tactics Revised," or "On the Trout Stream" - or any of his videos or upcoming seminars or fly casting classes, contact: Joe Humphreys, 1051 Boalsburg Road, Boalsburg, PA 16827 - or phone 814-466-6085.

KARL J. POWER, contributing photographer

Joe Humphreys of Boalsburg shows off a brown trout he hooked on Spruce Creek, on the private stream section. Humphreys was offering free seminars on stream tactics Monday during the "On The Fly" trout fishing tournament.