AMERICAN FLY FISHING SCHOOLS REPORT CARD.. "We never were much on academics "

Summer time News

2011-07-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

Summer Time and the fishing is easy.. Unless you are chasing Stripers in Jersey.. The fresh water streams are also a bit warm and that stresses any trout that you can coax into to co-operating with your flies. Better to just leave both of these species alone until Fall arrives.. The fish are bigger then and the crowds are smaller.. So what is there to do between now and then? It's Tuna Time in the Canyons and the Yellowfin are biting.. Plus if you are wacky enough (like me) to try and drag a big hookless teaser for a couple of hours (maybe days) you might just get to tangle with a White Marlin on the fly.. Better pack a 15plus weight with a Billy Pate and a lot of backing for that task if you do happen to hit a hot billfish.. So what else is available that's a little bit easier to do? Well you can join us for our Trout Bum Road Trip to upstate PA., N.Y. and VT.. Some of us are heading that way the first week of August to sample the colder waters and cooler weather.. We will also be exhibiting our A.F.F.S. Organization at the CATSKILL FLY FISHING MUSEUM FESTIVAL in Livingston Manor, N.Y.on the 6 -7th and the AMERICAN FLY FISHING MUSEUM'S SUMMERFEST in Manchester Ctr. Vermont on the 13th.. We will be fishing all the big name streams and some of the lesser known ones. If you want to participate in filming some epic fly fishing laughs then give me a call and come join us for this trip.. The fees are low and it should be a memorable excursion.. You will be sure to have a good time if you love fly fishing and have a sense of humor.. Hope to see you on the water or the road..
Capt. Mike

April Shows

2011-03-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

In between Shows with a weekend off to regroup and catch up on the website, calendar, videos and this Blog. We had the A.F.F.S. Rolling Fly Shop & Museum on display last week at the SALTWATER FISHING EXPO in Somerset, N.J. We certainly had a good time at this first for us event.

I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Show promoter Jonathan Sauers and Sales Manager Michael Archambault for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate to them and their show patrons what we have to offer. Jonathan obviously liked what he saw as we have reached an agreement to provide the primary fly casting entertainment and educational seminars for all their 2012 events.
A big thank you to the A.F.F.S. Pros and office staff that participated at the Show.. Paul Healy, Capt. Al Zalata, Alan Johnson, Dino Cedeira and my wife Rita.

Next week we are on the road to the Pequest Hatchery Show and Open House spring event to concentrate on freshwater fly fishing. Several A.F.F.S. members are scheduled to be on hand including Mike McCauliffe, John Collins, Paul Healy, Dino Cerdeira, Allan Johnson, Bart Lombardo and maybe a few more. I hope the weather will be co-operative for this mostly outdoor event but at least we won't be stuck in our leaky little Show tent any more.

Then next up will be a ride to the other end of Jersey and our annual Spring visit to Cape May and the Fishermen's Flea Market on Sunday April 10th
I look forward to seeing some of you at these upcoming shows..

2011-01-11T05:23:00.000-08:00

Got back up to Jersey after quite a road trip to Florida to retrieve our "Poetry and Prose" Outhouse trailer that has our Fly Castng Pond in it.. Still had moocho snow surrounding the Rolling Fly Shop Trailer when I got back home.. My next door neighbors had to pile up all the not so white stuff from the last storm in the field btween my house and their wharehose. They really had no place else to put it.. So me and my friend John used his snowblower yesterday to clear an "Ice Road Truckers" path to reach it.. What fun and games trying to get my tractor hooked up to it last night on the ice.. But I made it.. Now load and reload stuff and head to the Show in Edison early to beat the next incoming storm .. It should be a good time this year if the NEW snowstorm that's coming tonight isn't too bad.. Lots of AFFS members will be in attendance to perform seminars and help out at our AFFS display and Pond.. Check out the Show website link to see our Seminar Room, Fly Tying Theatre and Casting / Kayaking Pond schedules.. http://www.gsoss.com/

I hope to see a lot of you there.. Capt. Mike

2010-11-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

Captain Mike's "Notes on the Fly" 11/21/10..

I am writing early this morning from my office at the Jersey Shore. I stayed at home for the month of November and taught a couple of students at IBSP. I did a little striper fishing and worked on some video filming and editing for our 2011 shows. I'm enjoying working on a first seminar program for guide Paul Healy filming it on some of our trout waters in North Jersey. You know it's funny, we rarely get any students for saltwater classes in Jersey during November and almost never in December. I know that it's a little more uncomfortable to learn to cast and tie your knots in the cooler weather. Yes, you need more clothes on and all that but the truth is, it is simply the best time of the year to catch a striper or a big bluefish from the surf in this state. Nothing seems better if you happen to actually catch a fish or two while you are learning how to do it. Oh well, we are still available if you want to give it a shot like the guy in the picture below..

I'm still working on completing the interior of the trailer. I didn't like the first fireplace, it turned out to be a big piece of junk I bought for $299 through a supply house catalog. I tried to modify it a little to try and get some thing from it to look OK and still ended up throwing it all out with the garbage. I should have simply went to Home Depot, much nicer ones there. So in goes a new one and we still have the finished floor to install and some other odds and ends to add. We might take it to a couple of upcoming Fishermen's Flea Markets this month and next including Freehold, Rahway and Barnegat. We have some good things planned for the future working with our rolling Shop and it's little "Outhouse brother". It's a lot of fun to work out of the trailer at the Shows (Jack Montague and I did a couple of Shows with it in Florida this summer with only half of it finished then). It's also an easy way for me to have another Fly Shop at the Jersey Shore. I really enjoy having some of you show up on the weekends to tie flys and swap lies like we used to do at my old Brick Town Shop. Stop by my house in Island Heights (when ever I'm not in Florida or some place else on the road. You can try out the latest fly fishing gear plus "tie and lie" with some of the craziest and most interesting guys in the sport. You never know who you will run into at our place. Just look over our AFFS Calendar to see when the Shop will be parked at the house in Jersey and give me a call to make sure I didn't hang the Gone Fishing Sign on the door again. But not to worry !!!.. If you have an idea of what you want or need an "emergency purchase" my wife Rita, son Matt or daughter Annie should be able to help you out if I'm not around. The "Stuff" usually has a price tag on it. In line with that, I have also been working a lot on getting our online sales up and running on the website. I hope to have it ready before Christmas but there is still a lot to do to get it all set up. You can give the FLY SHOP box on the website HOME Page a click now and then and one day soon (I hope) you will see it all there.. Capt. Mike
http://www.americanflyfishingschools.com/

Captain Chris Goldmark back in Culebra..

2010-10-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

Angler - Bruce Oldenburg

With his first ever bonefish.. Photo by Capt. Chris Goldmark - Culebra Island

10/2010

Captain Chris sent us his latest and first report of the 2010/11 from Culebra Island, P.R. Get yourself a cheap seat or two on a bird and go join him is my advice.. Meanwhile back in Jersey we soldier on with just stripers, blues and trout.. Work continues on the AFFS trailer and more Shows are dead ahead..

Capt. Mike Corblies

October/2010...Rusty but back in the Groove......

"Too much time away put me off my game for a day or so. My apologies to Bruce and Sharon Olden burg . A combination of strong winds, super spring tides, poor viz and asshole guide with who still had Striper scales in his beard made Bonefishing Really tough. Bruce and Sharon did have several good shots at Permit. Saw more this week than I've seen in Culebra in a while. Bonefish stocks look to be slim compared to last fall. Bruce did end up 1 for 3 on Bones but not with out a struggle. That's Bruce on the right. Middle of the week the three of us fished some cuts on the East End and had non stop Jack Blitzes. Nothing big but numbers and good pullage. This was Bruce and Sharon's first Fly experience in Salt. Hope I've made some converts. Great people,great fun, which is really what its all about. Lots of free time next week. I'll be exploring and trying different things before the Season gets rolling... Check it out here" ..
Capt Chris Goldberg

2010-10-16T05:40:00.000-07:00

10/12/10.. Capt. Al's latest posting..- "On Monday my pals Larry and Dave underway looking for some bass on the fly, due to the holiday it was a little busy at the rocks, we had one bass on - we blasted north - we found acres of bait, covering the bottom were small weakfish, croaker, and kingfish and Larry's first albie on the fly, this fish dove to the bottom and then took off and tore off close to two hundred feet of line and backing-- Larry did a great job of stopping and turning the speedster back to and in the boat- the ocean was flat calm and we had a great time -- Thanks -- CATCHEMUP"...

http://www.a2zfish.com/index.htm

10/11/10.. A.F.F.S. student Arty Carr (featured in our N.Y. COMBAT FLY FISHING video) reports a good run of big browns and steelhead plus some Kings this weekend at the Salmon River in Pulaski.. The water level was fast and deep but it is inside it's banks again.. Head north NOW ..

2010-10-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

10/1 - Todays report is from A.F.F.S. member guide Al Zalata.. Greetings!! I only fished 1 day so far this past week.. A couple of coastal storms, a bunch of rain and lot's of wind. The temps are falling a bit, which means things should be picking up, that's at least what I'm thinking. There i s a lot of bait in the bay, and some of the guys are loading up on the spots (small fish) for bait for the fall striper run.. I did find a few keeper sized weakfish, maybe they will stack up before they leave.. - I'll pass on the "spots" and stick to the flies-- CATCHEMUP, Al..http://www.a2zfish.com/reports.html

2010-09-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

9/15/10...Tampa,Florida.. Jack Montague and Capt. Mike Corblies will be the featured fly casting instructors at the FLORIDA SPORTSMEN SHOW in Tampa Saturday and Sunday Sept. 25-26th the Show is located at the Florida State Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall.."We will have the A.F.F.S. Casting Pond set up inside the Show with our "Poetry Out House" exhibit to demonstrate fly tying, wood carving, hand out brochures, show videos of A.F.F.S. member locations and sell some fly fishing products.. Stop by and see us and say hello.. Complete info on Show times and directions to the event are available by clicking this link..

http://www.floridasportsman.com/shows/tampa//index.html

Our Seminar Schedule for this Show is posted and can be read easily by clicking on it.. It will enlarge for easier viewing..

WEST PALM BEACH SPORTSMEN SHOW

2010-09-05T04:37:00.000-07:00

FLORIDA SPORTSMEN SHOW "9/5/10.. West Palm Beach Florida.. Jack Montague and Capt. Mike Corblies will be the featured fly casting instructors at the FLORIDA SPORTSMEN SHOW in West Palm Beach Saturday and Sunday Sept. 11-12th.. The Show is located at the South Florida Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall..'We will have the A.F.F.S. Casting Pond set up inside the Show with our 'Poetry Out House' exhibit to demonstrate fly tying, wood carving, hand out brochures, show videos of A.F.F.S. member locations and sell some fly fishing products.. Stop by and see us and say hello.. Complete info on Show times and directions to the event are available by clicking this link..
http://www.floridasportsman.com/shows/wpb//index.html
Our Seminar Schedule for this Show is posted on the Home Page of our website and can be read easily by clicking on it.. It will enlarge for easier viewing.."
http://www.americanflyfishingschools.com/

2011 GARDEN STATE SPORTSMEN'S SHOW and A.F.F.S.

2010-08-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

7/4/10..A.F.F.S. Director Mike Corblies and Peter Romano of the "NEW" GARDEN STATE SPORTSMEN'S SHOW in Edison, N.J. reached agreement this past week on expansion of the A.F.F.S. programs at the 2011 event.. The largest and longest running Sportsmen's Show in New Jersey will be getting a "full makeover" with many new exhibits and new attractions.. The Show was purchased last year from long time promoter Jack Kerr by the MET EVENT GROUP of Moonachie, N.J.. A.F.F.S. is helping the new Show produce a "Show within the Show" featuring a new fly tying theatre, with the 30' A.F.F.S. Rolling Museum Trailer and our largest size SIMUL-CAST POND for fly casting and kayak fishing demos are all being added..Plus a great list of all new Seminar Room presenters is being developed.. On Saturday and Sunday A.F.F.S. will conduct it's annual Fly Casting Competition for Kids aged 10 to 17 years old at the Pond with help from the local T.U. Chapter and will have great prizes for all the kids that participate. The Show will run from Jan. 13-16th at the Raritan Center in Edison.. Come and enjoy it's new look and improvements and stop by and say hello to us..

2010-05-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

5/12/10...East Central Florida.. Capt. Chris Myers reports.. "The mullet and other baitfish have been returning to the Lagoons in full force.. With the influx of food, the predator fish are feeding aggressively.. Seatrout have become more plentiful and active and the redfish have begun feeding on the mullet as well.. With the water temperatures now in the mid 80's, the tarpon will begin to return and I saw the first one of the year this week.. The giant redfish are schooling and we have encountered fish over 30 pounds recently.. I look forward to some great fishing in the next few weeks.. With all the baitfish around, the jacks, ladyfish, and tarpon will soon be arriving..The topwater bite is improving each day, especially early in the day".. Give Captain Chris a phone call @ 321-229-2848 to book your trip...

East Central Florida Report from Captain Chris Myers

2010-04-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

Captain Chris Myers of Orlando sent us this weeks report.. Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report.."Sight fishing for redfish on the flats of East Central Florida continues to be excellent.. Having shots at hundreds of redfish per day is the norm.. Many of these fish are tailing throughout the day..
There are a variety of small baitfish showing up in the lagoons but the small mullet have yet to arrive..
As soon as they do, the trout fishing should improve dramatically.. With water temperatures approaching the 80 degree mark, it should not be long before this happens..
Steve joined me on a cloudy buy calm Sunday morning recently.. We arrived at our first spot to find redfish tailing in every direction.. It didn't take long for him to hook up with one of them..
Monte spent several days fly fishing with me during last week.. The winds were less than perfect but the redfish and drum were plentiful and feeding.. An olive colored worm fly got the most bites..
With the winter cold fronts now behind us, we are looking forward to the calm winds of summer.. As the schools of baitfish return, the trout, ladyfish and jack crevalle will also provide plenty of action along the deeper edges of the flats"...

To spend a day with Capt. Chris and put yourself in his next post.. Phone 321- 229-2848

THIS WEEKS REPORT IS FROM A.F.F.S. GUIDE CHIP JABLONSKI IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

2010-04-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

HERE IS THIS WEEKS FISHING REPORT FOR EASTERN PA.

"With an increase in insect life and unseasonably warm water temperatures. Streams such as the Little Lehigh, Saucon, and Monocacy are seeing nice hatches of Blue Winged Olives size 18- 20 in the early afternoon. Nymph fishing has also been productive with small pheasant tails size 18, 20, 22 , Sucker Spawn, San Juan Worms. Midge larva and pupa are taking fish under the surface. This week while fishing, I encountered Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, Blue Winged Olives, and a variety of Caddis. A number 10 dry caddis with a caddis emerger or larva is a deadly pattern for the caddis emergence when very little surface activity is present. The surface activity will continue getting better and better in the next two weeks.
Look for caddis hatches as well on other Pocono streams such as the Brodhead and McMichaels. As the flows on the Lehigh River drop, fishing should pick and join the other area streams. Look for fishing to continue to stay productive from here on out as other big hatches are right around the corner. The Jordon Creek in Allentown is being stocked with trout from the Queen City Trout Nursery on Saturday morning, stocking will start behind Home Depot on Mac Carther Road (145)( 7th St), and continue to 4th street. Shad fishing on the Delaware is starting to pick up and this weekend should be good. By next weekend I expect the shad fishing to be a lot more productive. Note we are supposed to get rain Sunday through Wednesday of next week".

To book a trip with Chip give him a call at 610-434-0490 and put yourself in the picture.