By Ralph Artigliere

         At our October chapter meeting, the “fishing tip” was how to get great fishing tips and information from the internet.   The advantage of the information age is that we do not need to buy a book, go to the library, or even go to a TU meeting in order to get answers to our questions or to learn new techniques or to see video of the bugs trout are eating.  From basic to advanced skills and knowledge and everything in between, the internet has all you need to know and more.   At the meeting I was asked to do a written piece on the internet information available so our members can access some of the places I go to researching for myself and for the teaching I do.  Your wish is my command.  Read on.

         Want directions to a new stream or fly shop?  Mapquest will get you there.  Want information on how a Georgia stream is fishing or what flies to use?  NGTO or the Unicoi sites have that information for you.  NGTO (North Georgia Trout Online- the title tells it all) has the advantage of being able to ask questions on the most obscure places or fishing topics with a good chance at an intelligent answer Find and join NGTO (at no cost) at  http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/.  Unicoi Outfitters has some of the best information and maps and current reports you can find on the Toccoa and other local streams at http://www.unicoioutfitters.com.  Want to know the time it takes the rising water to reach Curtis Switch?  Check out http://www.unicoioutfitters.com/toccoatailwater.html. 

         Want to know a fly pattern recipe?  Easy.  Google the name of the fly.  Type in zebra midge, and here is only one of the many step by step sites you will find:  http://copperfly.net/zebra_midge.php. 

Not only can you find the recipe for free without buying a book, for many flies you will find step by step tying directions, variants, and even video showing how to tie the fly.  It’s all free.  When I was learning to tie flies, I paid $30 and more for videotaped fly tying instruction from famous tiers for a few odd flies.  I used each tape once.  Frankly, I tie none of those “specialized” flies any more.  What a waste those videos were!  Now the internet supplies me with video and pictures and text on hundreds of flies, including the few hot flies I want to tie at a given time.  And if the fly is a bust or I lose interest in it, I still have the experience at NO COST.

         Do you want to learn a new knot?  Go to the Orvis website where you will find step by step instructions on knots with terrific animation.  Try it at  http://orvis.com/orvis_assets/files/index.html.

            Want some tips on casting?  Go to the internet.  Here is one example of          Joan     Wulff I found through Midcurrent Fly Fishing (Midcurrent is explained below):  

awesome flies he found on the internet. They not only look great, they catch Toccoa trout. I find this very cool.

http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/wulff_dynamics_04.aspx.

         At the meeting, I showed some video of Tom Rosenbauer talking about reading water.  Become a fan of the Orvis Facebook page, and those videos are easily accessible.  I find them to be entertaining and educational.  Rosenbauer’s oral podcasts are even easier to find at  http://www.orvis.com/podcast. I also showed video of mayflies and midges.  I got those from Midcurrent (see below), but you can directly access the amazing midge video at http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/cutter_midge.aspx and the mayfly video at http://www.midcurrent.com/video/clips/cutter_mayfly.aspx. 

            When you find a particularly good website, share it with your TU friends.  Not everyone is surfing the web just about the time that a website or web location hits the radar screen.  We can all use a nudge in the right direction once in a while.  In that spirit, let me tell you about an e-newsletter and website that I have subscribed to for free (do you get the impression that I am thrifty… yes I am).  Midcurrent Fly Fishing has magnificent articles, video, stories, and book and equipment reviews about fly fishing in fresh and salt water.  They recycle their articles, which means you may see the same thing a year or so from now.  But they constantly have new stuff and they have past articles and video indexed and available.  More importantly, their information is authored by the best, most knowledgeable people I know, and it is well written and well indexed.  This is the best online source for fly fishing news, knowledge, and enriching entertainment that I have found.  Did I say it was FREE?  Try it at   http://www.midcurrent.com/.  If you are not satisfied, I will give you your money back on this article.