Fish Shocking

This weekend I got to be apart of a trout research project on the Middle Provo River called fish shocking.  The study was being done by the Department of Natural Resources.  I fish shocking is what it sounds like, you zap the fish with electricity.  A pontoon boat with a generator, charged wires hanging off the back and charged nets to net stunned fish is pulled up the river with people manning the charged nets.  As we walked up the river the fish get stunned and float to the surface while we netted as many as we could in a 10th of a mile stretch.  We made 2 passes in the stretch to make sure we captured most of the fish species in the area.  Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, White Fish and Sculpin fish were collected in the study.  We measured length, weight and species of the over 400 fish captured.  The DNR uses this data to tell what species are thriving and if some are under or overpopulated.  Some of the fish do not survive the study but in the area it is ok because the river is over populated and does not have enough food sources to produce a healthy trout.  I looked at this study from a fly fisherman's perspective.  I would rather catch a 16 inch fish that weighs 3lbs than a 16 inch fish that weighs 1lb.

Being able to be a part of this project was a real privilege.  Most anglers hope they get to do this some day but never get the chance.  I learned a lot about the river I fish so frequently and have a new found respect for the delicate trout population.

    

Fall Break

This last week was fall break.  I spent it in Hawaii at a wedding and in California surfing. No post about fly fishing or Dubstep music this week. Sorry.

Here is a new Dubstep song I really like though.

Got 2 Know

Mind Cleanser

The other morning I spent 2 hours trying to solve a problem I was having with one of my music programs. I was ready to pull out my hair.  I decided to drop what I was doing and picked up my rod and went for a fish.  I fished the same area I was at the day before where I had little luck.  This day was different.  I matched the bug hatch perfectly and crushed fish for the next 2 hours.  It made me forget all about my computer problems.  When I made it back to my computer I did a little research and fixed the problem shortly.  I can honestly say that the trout saved me this day.

RUSKO

Last week I got to go to a Dubstep show with my favorite artist, Rusko, performing.  This was my third time seeing him live.  Rusko is probably the most popular Dubstep artist in the US.  He is from the UK but decided to bring his up beat energy filled sound to the US by moving here last year.  He is an artist that I strive to emulate, whether it be his producing or performance style.  His beats are full of energy and have a poppy sound that isn't found in the UK scene.  His performance style is off the charts.  He is very interactive with the crowd. I try to take some of his styles when I perform.  Moving all over the place with the beats and letting the crowd know your just as stoked to be there as they are.
  Check out his website :
http://www.ruskoonfire.com/

New Media Slideshow

I just finished my slideshow project on passion.  I chose to do it with my passion for fly fishing.  I went out and took a bunch of pictures with my Go Pro camera while I was fishing.  I put the pictures together to make a stop animation movie.  I enhanced my passion for fishing video with sound and music.  It would have been nice to make a song for the video to express my passion for fishing.  I didn't really have the time,  so a chose a song that gave me a feeling of joy.  When I fish I'm at peace and happy.  Check it out.

Middle Provo

I fished the Middle Provo River yesterday for 2 hours.  I decided to fish right below the Jordenel dam.  The water that comes out of the dam is always at a consistent temperature.  This is perfect for a thriving bug habitat, thus making it a good place to fish.  The PMD nymphs are the most consistent bug in this area.  I thought about using some dry flys this day but since I know that trout eat 90% of their food under water I decided to nymph instead.  It has been getting really cold at night up there and the days not as warm so I knew that not too many bug hatches were going to be happening.  This also helped me make my decision to use a nymph rig.  I ended up catching 4 really nice brown trout; one was around 20 inches.  To catch fish your timing has to be right, just like DJing.  You need to be out on the river at the right time of day to catch the hatches or when the fish are the most active for that time of year.  When DJing you need to link your tracks so they drop at just the right time.

Memorial Day Shindig

Tonight I'm going to be DJing at a friends party.  I spent sometime yesterday get a few new songs ready.  I'm not really nervous because its for friends that I always hang out with.  They have heard me before and like the sound, so I'm ready to bring the noise.  It's going to be a late night I can already tell because people have been talking about it the last 2 days.  Even though I'm going to be up late, I'm waking up bright and early the next day to go fishing with a friend.  We are headed to a place called Current Creek.  I've only fished the reservoir up there so we are going to try the creek.  I'm hoping the fishing will be good to help me forget how tired I am.  After a night of loud music, fly fishing helps me unwind and gives me a different, less blood pumping high.
Wish me luck.