Be happy, life is too short!: 2010

Hello everyone,

Don't forget to watch my videos on youtube!http://www.yspecial.com/

The flow is still around 470 cfs and the visibility is close to 3 feet.

The fishing has been very good to excellent as usual all the way down to the bait fishing section for those whom using genuine AK flies.

There were prolific midge and baetis hatches on few overcast days so we even used size 16 Andy's Candy fly few times for change.

The weather has been also cooperating for us (few degrees warmer than normal) but I hear the change is coming early as next week so be prepare for it.

Anyway the best flies were:

iYongspecial> Andy's Candy Midge/ Mayfly> Yong Wing> Yong Flash> Yong Blondie in order

Here's interesting info from NM Fish and Game:

Reasons Underlying Overall Satisfaction with Fishing

in New Mexico During the Past 12 Months

AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT THE FISHING IN

NEW MEXICO DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS

(Top 8 Unaided Answers)

Total

Responses

(n=389)

Caught a lot of fish 24%

Did not catch many fish 17%

Did not catch any fish 14%

Waters are stocked well 10%

Waters not stocked well 10%

Had a good time/enjoyable 8%

Water levels were good 6%

Enjoys the outdoors 6%

Here are few recent email I received:

Hi guys, my stay was fantastic, wind was an issue but I endured...Wed. I spotted a baetis hatch in the back channel of baetis bend and boy did I have fun...the hatch lasted about an hour and landed at least 12...grey, cream, bloods and blondies did not work at all...maroon, I specials, and wings worked very well...yesterday I went back my honey hole...fishing by 8: 00am...again I caught several but the highlight of my week was catching 2 back to back browns on the maroon special one of them was so beautiful, draped in orange that when I first caught site of him I thought it was a carp...that fish was so beautiful it should have been in a magazine...18 1/2 inches hooked jaw and the orange coloring was remarkable...huge spots both red and black very vivid colors...I wished one of you would have been with me for the photo op and lasting memories...

Happy Thanksgiving your friend

CoCo

Hi Andy, thanks for the photos. It was great fishing with you hope we can do it again next year. Sorry to have gotten sick, must have been a mild flu or food poisoning. Didn't last long. Take care of the fish, see you hopefully next time.

Jerry

Andy, Thank you for showing us a great time on the river and Andy’s methods for successful fishing. Please email me the photos. I enjoyed our time together and your fishing methods helped us catch a lot of fish. Great fun. Thanks.

Paul Powell

Andy,

Truth comes from the observation of nature, seeing things so subtle they are invisible to most eyes. Not you! You are one of the rare ones....someone who can see and somewhat control nature. A true master.....

I had a blast learning from you. I knew I would. I will be back, when , I do not know. I am open to suggestions. 3 days was not long enough to familiarize myself with the river. I have to fish at least 4 days next time . thanks again for the great experience!

Bob Mizono

My brother and I were fishing next to you on the San Juan upstream of texas hole Wednesday morning. You had a group of clients sight fishing in the shallows, and they were all slamming fish on the surface. i was already missing the action when i decided to check out youtube to see what there is to see about that miracle of flyfishing known as the San Juan...first video i clicked i recognized your voice, just wanted to say that you are one hell of a guide who definitely knows what he is talking about. Your clients and me and my brother got our moneys worth!! I am planning on moving out to Durango, one of these days i will say hello, that's a promise.....

tight lines from Pennsylvania!!! (fisherman's paradise on Spring Creek used to be my home waters while I attended Penn State....we are both a little lucky it seems...)

Malcolm Holley

Dear Andy,

Richard and I wanted to share this photo with you and also thank you for a wonderful trip on the 28th of October. You had come very highly recommended, and after a day on the San Juan with you, we now understand why! We both learned a tremendous amount from you, and also had a really great time doing it. Your teaching style insures a high degree of retention, even for an old guy like me or a young pup like Richard. You had us catching fish within minutes and as the day progressed your "gentle" coaxing had a significant impact on our newly acquired skills. We used to be pleased with 2-3 fish a day on your river, but now I don't think either one of us will be happy with less than several dozen hookups a day.

We must have been taught well because we were back on the river for two days following our trip with you and had folks actually asking us what we were "using"! It's really fun to walk into the "Kiddie Pool" were several people are fishing (but not catching) and start catching fish right under their noses!

You are one of the best Andy, and we will be back for more!

Thanks for a great trip,

Richard and Jim

Happy Fishing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Andy Kim

Hello everyone,

Currently flow is at 500 cfs and the flow should stay as such until

2011 spring (According to BOR email confirmation).

Fishing is about the same, still very good to excellent for us.

There have been larger midges and baetis hatches since mid September. Just about everyone still think we're using small flies...

Many of struggling fishermen ask me and my clients what we're using, see CoCo's email below.

The visibility of the river is around 3 feet and sight fishing is the way to go on most places during the day.

Strangely more crowd have been showing up last week or two which translates to dead trout lying on the bottom of most popular holes. *Please practice proper fish handling technique(s)

Looking at the sizes of those dead trout, around 18-19”, my guess is that most of them died due to keeping trout out of water too long for your photo op. Keep the fish in the water up until your snap shot of your trophy! Try to keep the whole process under 10 seconds. Revive them properly before releasing!

The best working flies:

i-Yong Special > i-Yong Blondie >Andy's Candy midge/ baetis > Yong Flash > AK-Salad in order

Note, there will be more baetis hatches rest of the season. So stock up on Yong Wing and Andy's Candy Mayfly flies before you head out to the river!

Here are some pictures of my younger brother out in Los Angeles
on Merced River in California. (Just out skirts of Yosemite National Park)
catching and releasing nice trout on Y-Ugly dry fly. Hooked bunch and missed lot more...
October caddis is huge according to my brother John.
He was there on the 23rd of October and had a blast during the rain...
He fishes there when ever he goes up to Yosemite National Park.
He and his family was there on a birthday trip for his wife and he was able to drop some
fly on the Merced for 30minutes and landed 7 and unbuttoned 3 in the afternoon two weeks ago.

These are recent email from clients:

Orale Vato...Good Morning!! Your flies did it again...on Th. & Fri. I tore them up...I was the only one in upper flats catching fish...I must have had 6-8 men ask what I was using...I even showed them the flies, told them about you and gave them your #...one guy Don said he would email you...I hope you guys connected.

Warm Personal Regards, COCO

Andy,

As usual we had another great time fishing with you. Attached are a couple of pictures of fish that we caught on our own Sunday and Monday afternoon using Master Kim's fishing techniques.
Thanks again,

Steve

Andy,

We sure enjoyed spending the day with you last Friday. We did well Saturday and Sunday as well using the flies you made for us and the techniques you taught us. Hope your sciatica is better. As I said I would highly recommend the inversion table which will eliminate your problem. The brand I recommend is Teeter. It is the best as far as I’m concerned. Good luck and tight lines.

Fred Bennett

Thanks again Andy. We had a great trip and hopefully learned a lot. Fred and I did pretty well on Sat. and Sun. using your technique and flies.
See you next time.
Randy Hearne

Andy,

Thanks for a great time on the river! I continued setting the hook too hard yesterday most of the times. The interesting part is that when used only wrist, I landed fish. Imaging that! So I am a strong convert to easy setting of the hook now. I will need a lot of practice, though, old bad habits die hard!
Naomi hooked and landed her fist SJ trout on dry fly, Andy's candy, last fish of the day yesterday, just before we were ready to leave. Awesome! She was so thrilled! I think she is hooked on SJ, thanks to you! Hope she will be coming to SJ with me in the future.
I will try to computerize my shooting film of Naomi, and send it to you.

Thanks again!

Roman.

Dear Andy, Thank you so much for an enjoyable time fishing on Tuesday. I also enjoyed watching you mess up my spin cast rod. You actually made me look pretty good. I would appreciate it if you would send me the pictures you took of my fish so I can show my wife. Thanks again Andy for a great time and when I'm coming back with my wife we will call for an appointment for a day of fishing. Many Thanks, Mike Pollock (Oklahoma)

Hello Andy:

I am enclosing two photos I shot of you trying one of my Tenkara rods. Just open the enclosed attachments to see them. You may use them in any way you wish.

I enjoyed meeting and fishing with you and hearing your ideas on catching San Juan trout. You are a gentleman.

I gave Mike the video you brought by the motel room and he thanks you for it.

Regards,

Kent Halsell

Hey Andy,

I am back home and really missing the trout. I had a great time and it was good to see you again. Hope you got at least one good picture of you with your trout and without the snagged san juan worm. If you want to get away from the cold and come down for some golf, let me know.

Matt

Andy, greetings to you from Corrales on this very pleasant evening here in the high desert of New Mexico.
Thanks so much for sending that series of photos. The bend in that four weight rod tells a story all of its own. I was able to share the photos and part of the trip with Carol. She sends her compliments on your guiding and photography skills.

Also, thanks very much for the really nice tip on fishing below that island in the Kidde Pool. As I mentioned to you, I fished the Texas Hole for about an hour without success. The guides in the boats were having a slow day as well.

I moved upstream and found that location below the island in the Kidde Pool. The place was loaded with feeding trout and the water was crystal clear. I kept thinking, "Boy, I wish Andy was here to see this." I fished for quite awhile and managed to hook several fish. Setting the hook was problematical. After I experienced my third serious tangle, I looked at my watch and thought, I better be heading home.

Can you give me the basics on the leader that you constructed for me? I will take your instructions and tie up a couple of leaders to use for my next trip the San Juan. Hopefully, I will be able to get back up there around the last week of October. Maybe the fall colors will hang around that long.

Hope you had a great day on the San Juan.

Adios amigo.

Patrick

Hey Andy, Thanks again, Roy!