After battling a brutal wind and finally settling on a functional sling-shot sidewind casting tech, I managed to hook whatever was scaring the hell out of the baitfish. Reeling in, I instinctively reached to the fish as it broke water near the boat, figuring a quick release. Equally instinctively, I quickly recoiled from the long and toothy snout which graced a slender, silvery beast of indeterminate species.

While some prefer to research their trips with the dillegence and studiousness of a Harvard Business grad school candidate, I rather like the cloud of unkowning. I like fishing; and when it comes to what is at the end of my line, I am down for surprises -- as long as it is some kind of fish.

After a couple hours of warring with the wind, we retreated to the marina, returned the crafts and watched the sun lower over amber waves of sea grass.

The next day,  got out on the beach and began hucking the same fly (a silvery, clouser-looking thing I've used with success on sea-run cutts, cohos, bulls, etc) at the mini bars and the contstant splashing and slurping scene of feeding... somethings. About twenty minutes into the session, one of the somethings slammed the clouser and put a moderate bend into the 8 wt. A few minutes later, another rather bassy/tuna-ish fish of yet another indeterminate species lay at my feet. Twenty minutes after that, another of about equal 19"-ish size did the same.

A woman and her husband approached and asked, "What kind of fish is it?" as I slid it back into the surfline. "I have no idea," I happily and earnestly replied.

Later Googletubing would show the slender toothy guy to be a needlefish and the two surf fishes to be blues.

Ignorance is salty bliss, the South is definitely a hospitable place, and you can fry and eat anything if you are determined enough.

That is to say, all of the same hubris, greed and stupidity that has emanated since the Boldt Decision fwd on all sides (and specifically its "foregone opportunity clause", via the continued application of 1950's-era fisheries management practices, and a grab-it-all mentality amongst many stakeholders is continuing. All of which invariably means the same anemic returns that grace the Skykomish, the Nooksack and the Stillaguamish, etc., are now coming to the Elwha.

And the leverage of a federal lawsuit with a clear ESA strategy is likely the only way this is going to be circumvented. There are boatloads of folks in the NW whose livelihoods are tied to business as usual, who are going to squawk and cry about this. The hatchery industry is massive, the tribal legal budgets are big and many of the well-meaning salmon "restoration" groups in the NW have sipped deeply of hatchery Kool-Aid (and the attendant dollars) for decades. This is all now coming to a head. About time.

With dozens of streams in the NW struggling to maintain laughable hatchery returns at incredible cost (at a time we are shuttering schools, closing parks, and furloughing cops and firemen), we finally have a chance to get this one right.

Check the piece by the Seattle Times, quoting FFJ contributor Dylan Tomine, who has a large feature in the next issue of FFJ on exactly this.

And if you are ever headed out there, the corner store at the exit in Pshyt, usually has cheap cold cases of Lucky Lager. Nightcrawlers and Buzz Bombs sold seperately.

Smoltiphiles, get your little puny piscines in here. We know all you salmon heads in the NW and midwest are really slamming 8 inch blackmouths right now... let's see 'em. And how about a smelt or two, we know you smelt smolters are smitten with smarm. Get down on it.

Thanks to all, and we look forward to our September Champion. It could be you...

Zach Scott Missoula, Mt.

I hope this entry for the coveted Smolt of the Month Club doesn't come to late.
The man who hauled this fella in excitedly proclaimed  "one step closer to summer steelhead on the Bogachiel. Sort of."
That's a big sort of.

Thanks!!
Jason Jaacks

caught this monster on a crane fly larvae on the poudre river near Fort collins CO   took me forever to land him. Enjoy.  

Connor Murphy  

Can you call it a Largemouth?

Greeting from NJ!

Rob Yaskovic

Congrats to Matt Bennett with his fine, fine blacktail shiner and his glorious celebration of all that is smolt. Says he: "from the Lone Star: I humbly present my Smolt of the Month Entry for the July Contest.  I caught this dude last year while doing some fall trout fishing on our one and only (althout a bit artificial) tailwater trout fishery in Texas, the Guadalupe.  I've been trying to diversify my species on fly a bit, so I was ecstatic to get this little guy to hand.  He's a Blacktail Shiner, and ate a #22 spanflex midge emerger.
Hope I win!  Those water bottles are sweet!" Indeed, they are. 

And where else in the flyfish world does one get to revel in the majesty of a landed baitfish? Nowhere else, of course. FFJ and Kleen Kanteen are proud to award Mr. Bennett his winning package of a customized FFJ/KK limited editon Kanteen in either brushed or polished finishes, and featuring no paint, no plastic and no bs, as well as a subscription to The Flyfish Journal. As Mr. Bennett is already a three-year subscriber, he can either extend his own or gift this one.

While strong consideration was given to the muskie, the peacock, Capt Cloudveil with his bass and homeboy holding the brookie in his mouth, in the end, a minnow beat them all. There was some discussion amongst the judges regarding the definition of "smolt". To be clear, the official SMOTM stance on the matter is to obfuscate as much as possible. That is to say, we take the broad view of what is smolt: While the muskie is clearly more teenager than toddler, and the shiner is likely full grown... we really don't care. And neither should you. Smolt simply equals small, non-adult, or whatever the hell you want it to. See, it all makes sense.

Thanks to all for participating, this was our most popular SMOTM to date and we will keep the love alive. Send any and all August entries in and we will be posting later this week. With several already in, don't hold back. Get those tiny little bastards in here. Send to , and we will be announcing the next winner of the FFJ/KK colab package in early September with updates along the way.

That is to say the SMOTM judges have been a touch AWOL. But they have been dragged back from the undisclosed location to peruse the July entrants, and announce the winner on Tues. Aug 9.

Everything is bigger and better in Texas......

This is a picture of my very first fish caught from Guadalupe River. It fell for a finally flung Olive Woolly Bugger, and is my favorite fly caught fish. I had been waiting 10 years to fish the Guadalupe, and all I can say about that is, NEVER put off something you want to do.

Thanks,
Chris Lewis
Bullard, TX.

Nothing says Smolt of the month like a baby musky!  Even a lil guy of this size hammered a small 10" musky deer fly.   The fish was in around 18" and smashed the fly like it owed him money.   If its not the winning Slab of the month I bet its the most bad ass smolt in the group.
Thanks and keep up the good work at the FFJ.

Jason Manning

Helps when you tuck your fingers in

Kristen Mustad

While trying to catch a  one of the famed "Slabs" in this tailwater I happened to get this "big" guy!! Please don't berate me for being a "smolt molester" the barbless PT was quickly removed and the little guy was returned unharmed (except the hole in his lower lip?).

Cheers,

Alastair Rimmer

PS. Thanks for the great blog!!

The majestic Middle Tennessee Shad.  Enjoy fellas.  

Osborne Crosby

Megabass on a fly.

Thanks guys-
Robert Lacitinola

Fishing for Mayan Cichlids in S. Fla I caught this tiny little Peacock Bass on a shrimp fly.   Thanks!  

David McKenzie San Jose, Ca

Here is my entry for your Smolt of the Month.  Hope it is small enough :)
Thanks for the chance to win that sweet Canteen Package.
Tight Linesl

Trout MaGee

http://fishing-catchingchronicles-troutmagee.blogspot.com

This giant brook trout hit a size 14 humpy in a small native stream in Tionesta, Pa. It almost smacked me in the face after the heave ho hook set I be stilled on it.. Still was awesome to catch some wild native trout in Pa.

Joe Pesce

was tying on a double rig when I swallowed the second fly(RS2 #18) that I was holding on my tongue.  So, I had this little brookie take a look for it?  Kinda like chicken, more like snot....
Thanks for all your hard work with FFJ! My buddies and I love the magazine!!!

Chris Menig
PS- caught and released, he now measures 13''(same sandy pool!)

Dear Fly Journalists,
included is my entry for your Smolt of the Month contest. It's a rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), a European ciprinid, very common in our Dutch waters. These babies grow to around 15 inches and have deep golden flanks, high backs and blood red fins by then. On "good" days they're very willing to take flies, both nymphs and dries, and since we hardly have any waters containing trout here in the Netherlands, they are great fun if you want some fly fishing close to home. Fish ranging from 8 tot 10 inches are your average catch, but guppies like these aren't uncommon either, especially if you fish with smaller flies. This one was caught on a #16 dry "white" tag fly. 
Take care and keep up the good work!
Pieter de Wolf

Like Charlie Brown to the football, I was drawn again this summer to amble down the pond, displacing bullfrogs and red-wing blackbirds, and make a few more ritual casts. Again, after several good looking attempts, nothing would come to the surface. Switching to a slowly stripped nymph, I unloaded the proverbial last cast when a small form shot out from under the pads and snatched the bead-head. A few minutes later, I had a beautiful little bluegill to hand and found as much immediate joy with this palm-sized aggressor as I had with pretty much any fish in the last several years. Pulling in a few more over the next ten minutes, I confirmed it was, in fact, a small, sustaining population.

Switching up to a panfish popper, I threw out to the pond's center, and within a couple quick pops, had a big swirl come up behind, take and moments later break me off. Anguishing for a second, I quickly noticed the popper float to the surface and before I could c0nsider what manner of run-off may, or may not have made it's way into the drink, I went after it. This was no ordinary popper. Given to me as part of a selection of panfish poppers by FFJ Photo Editor Tim Romano, hand-lathed and crafted by the legendary Gaines outfit in PA, I had to have it back.

Standing on the bank, watching the silt clouds begin to clear, I thought: "Fish aren't that smart," tied the thing back on and began wipping towards the lily pads again. Within a couple pops, he took it again. Figuring it was a bass, I was waiting for lift off but it simply made several strong runs towards the reeds. A few minutes later, I released the biggest bluegill I'd ever caught. Easy 1.5 lbs, no BS. And of course I had no camera, no cell phone, no nothing.

A couple days later, I dragged FFJ Editorial Director Colin Wiseman down to the pond so he could get in on the action and document the company campus. Though the 'gills we caught were no doubt solid, Brutus Bluegill would not be fooled that quickly again.

Having just returned from my first bonefishing expedition, I wondered how the spiny rays and summer trout tribs would feel in comparison. Staring at a small pond filled with small fish, vibrating with stoke, it was clear that adventures can be had accross the parking lot, as easily as accross the ocean.

PS before you go Mapquesting, charging down here and salivating over our bluegills, note the pond is gated... and I have the key.

Like Charlie Sheen, Whisperlites only have one speed, go.

What else but a few Ramen noodle packages (I have a long standing hankering for the blue, oriental flavor) per night would I, a self-proclaimed Dirtbag Fisherman/Photographer, son-of-hippies, be packing into the wilderness? I even sprung for "Top" Ramen which translates to three cents more expensive, I think. I couldn't tell a difference. What made my dinners "Top" was the extra protein and vitamins I gathered from the bushes.

Salmonflies add texture, excitement and if your taste buds aren't completely obliterated by the msg packets, a nice fruity character to the meal, almost citrusy. Seriously. No doubt they are as good for you as spinach. Surprisingly, no one ever accepts my offers of salmonfly tasting events and I am seriously reconsidering whom I invite next year. Bring an extra toothpick: I forgot mine and was digging salmonfly legs out of my molars hours after moonrise.

From Sean Hurley comes this fine Sierra golden: "My Father and my Son and I were catching these tiny goldens out of Horseshoe Meadows, just up the mountain from Lone Pine, Ca.  I have a pic of a smaller one, but I can’t find it.  This will have to do!  Winner or not, It’s fun to share…"

Brian LeBars hailing from the East Bay zones says, "This one will be tough to beat. My Son Gavin and Girlfriend Nikki caught this little guy on a Kastmaster. I’m sure he’s plenty bigger now." Indeed.... is a Kastmaster a pattern, or small shiny object flung with an open bail? The SMOTM judges may need to dig further...

Matt Bennett brings on the baitfish from the Lone Star: "I humbly present my Smolt of the Month Entry for the July Contest.  I caught this dude last year while doing some fall trout fishing on our one and only (althout a bit artificial) tailwater trout fishery in Texas, the Guadalupe.  I've been trying to diversify my species on fly a bit, so I was ecstatic to get this little guy to hand.  He's a Blacktail Shiner, and ate a #22 spanflex midge emerger.
Hope I win!  Those water bottles are sweet!
Love the work you guys do, I just signed on for a 3 year sub.  Keep it up!"

Jennifer Goodale tells her tale of smolt-grabbing:  "I wanted to share with you my recent catch and hopefully enter it into the contest that is going on right now. I caught this baby carp on a local river near my home when I was participating in a " Women and Wader's" event that was organized by my local fishing club. I was actually participating as a guide for the day ( helping women understand the basic of fly fishing, from tying a knot to actually casting the rod.) I happened to be just letting my line dirft between the two of us and saw this little guy follow my fly. Next cast 2 feet in front of me, I had this monster giving me the fight of my life! He fell for a red copper john. I actually had hooked into another small trout about the same size, but just got off as I went to grab him. I hope you enjoy my entry. "

Robin Healy sends her fine sunfish in: "Caught this beast while demonstrating the superiority of fly gear over spin gear to my friend's 11 year old daughter.  I caught a fish while her mom had skunk all over herself! :)"

Dan Torres of McAllen, TX flew way North for his SMOTM: "Here is my entry....baby brookie caught on the Riviere Bonaventure in the Gaspe peninsula of Canada...baby Adams in his mouth!"

Josh England and his cuddly smolt.

Greg Hocevar says of his golden: "Caught this beast in the Golden Trout Wilderness of Inyo National Forest in Aug of 2009.  He went crazy and destroyed a sz 18 Yellow Sally and put quite a bend in my 3 weight...Thank god for the lifetime warranty otherwise I would have had to stop fishing for these."

Jason Wright notes:  "This little dude was caught in Rocky Mountain National Park, fishing the braids of the Big Thompson River in Moraine Park.  I used a #20 Blue Poison Tungsten, 6X leader, 7x tippet on a #3 weight St. Croix.  Good times. "

Dave Hosler holding the SMOTM for the midwest: "This little guy put up a huge fight on my 5wgt, at least five jumps and two runs.  He was like a mini tarpon.  I'd been catching creek chubs in fast water when he smashed the hopper like it was his last meal.  Caught some nice smallies that day, but this guy was the only fish that was picture worthy.  The Indiana creek I caught him on is rarely fished so in a few years he'll be a monster."

Clay Livingston tells his gripping smolt lore: "Do not allow the seemingly ample length and girth of this smolt fool you, it was indeed worthy of SMOTM! To put things into perspective I have hands like a 6 year old girl and the photo was taken with a macro lens."

Blogger David Nash describes his summer vacation: "How convenient. I capped off my summer solstice fishing trip by flinging this monster brookie out of the water using an 16 adams. In hindsight, I could have been a bit more delicate with my strip set."
myleakywaders.blogspot.com

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Send us your small, your tiny, and your barely perceptible. The rules are simple: The fish must be small and it must be fly caught. Past winner's include bass, flats snappers and goldfish. Yes, goldfish.

Our first entry is conscripted from Chris Schalz, who originally entered his bass in our friends from Moldy Chum's Slab of The Month contest -- which is a clear and blatant rip-off of Smolt of The Month, but it's cool.

Chris notes: "This gigantic Ohio hog fell for a size 8 cranefly nymph, and after an epic battle that lasted almost 2 seconds, we finally got this beast to hand. Still, that has to be some kind of record for Bass, right?"

Right.

The prize for July is a limited edition FFJ engraved Kleen Kanteen, appropriate for either whiskey and water, or water and water. Winner will also receive a subscription to FFJ, including a fine T shirt, and a super fine boat sticker

Send your entries in jpeg format, 350K or less in size, to

There have been some questions preceding this latest contest; things like: So, can I submit a beta caught out of my tank? Yes. A koi from the Reiki spa? Definitely. A fingerling poached from a hatchery containment pond? Not officially.  Does laundry lint count as fly material? Obviously. See, it's all quite clear.

And while we like the contest's title, anyone suspected of wild smolt molestation, rather than incidental or non-sensitive species, will be lableled as a Smolt Molester and will be subject to all due attendant shame and humiliation.

Good luck smolt nation.

SMOTM July 2011 prize -- limited edition FFJ-Kleen Kanteen colab (in brushed or polished finishes), plus FFJ subscription, T shirt and boat sticker.