All Points Fly Shop + Outfitter - News

Words + Photos: Josh Thelin

I recently brought the newest offering from TFO fly rods out with me on a trout & landlocked salmon trip to northern Maine. I consider this area my home waters so it's always good to bring gear into a setting I know well. The scoop I got about the Axiom II-X before I left on the trip was that "it is similar to the TiCr-X, but updated." Seeing as I was preparing to do mostly streamer fishing on this trip, a fast action rod capable of handling sinking (tip) lines was perfect. I was also interested to see what differences from the previously released Axiom II existed. 

(Last July I brought the 5wt & 7wt Axiom II with me on a trip to Labrador. That review can be seen HERE)

At first, with a quick wiggle, the rod stands out as being fairly fast with a softer comparative tip section. What stood out was, for a 5wt, how substantial the butt section seemed. It was visually thicker than most 5wts and with the additional fighting butt, I felt like I was holding a rod which would be very capable in saltwater as well. 

One of the biggest complaints about the TiCr-X was the lack of accuracy. This is not uncommon with rods that are fast throughout the blank. But, in my opinion, with a slightly softer tip section the Axiom II-X picks up where the TiCr-X left off. During my time with this rod, I fished not only out of a drift boat but also on foot. This gave me various situations and conditions in which the rod would be tested. Most of my time I was rigged up with the Rio InTouch StreamerTip WF5S6 - this is a fly line that I feel comfortable fishing out of a boat or while wading and has a good sink-tip length and sink rate for the waters and conditions I was fishing. The line requires a faster rod to handle the heavier head/sink-tip and the Axiom II-X did a great job. I could pick a good amount of line up off the water and recast with little effort and could easily carry heavier streamers if necessary. The stronger butt & mid sections also provided good fighting power (similar to the Axiom II), so I could have confidence turning the larger fish's head in fast moving water - which luckily happened on a few occasions. 

The accuracy in this setting however wasn't really put to the test as I was mostly swinging and stripping flies where pinpoint accuracy wasn't required. So, I also strung up some InTouch Rio Perception WF5F. This gave me a better idea how this new rod from Temple Fork Oufitters would do while throwing dry flies or soft hackles. Although it was pretty clear that this rod preferred the grunt and growls of longer casts and heavier lines, the Axiom II-X did a solid job of allowing me to flick line accurately off the tip, even at closer distances with a floating line. It wasn't until I worked out more line however did the rod start to come alive.

The fit and finish of this rod is well done too. Although bolder/brighter colors with  rods or reels isn't aesthetically high on my list, I didn't mind the blue finish of the Axiom II-X. Recoil REC stripping and stainless steel snake guides combined with an anodized aluminum reel seat make this rod well built and ready for saltwater. The cork handle is of good quality and the carbon fiber insert shares a similar blue color. 

 What I was looking to get out of the rod - a solid streamer rod that can handle sink-tips and bigger flies - was accomplished. This new TFO Axiom II-X has all the power that the TiCr-X had, but some with added accuracy and improved tracking. If you are looking for an "all-around" trout rod, this might suffer with your short distance dry fly needs, but will exceed in many other ways. I have a pretty aggressive double-haul, even while trout fishing, and found an added bonus was this rods ability to absorb being "over-powered." This translated into good line pickup and helping to roll-out the sink-tip before recasting. It was certainly a streamer work horse. 

I enjoyed fishing this rod as it proved to be exactly as advertised. I needed a good rod to handle my streamer fishing and this new one from TFO served that purposed dutifully. I am very inclined to pick one of these up for myself as a new trout rod. The stiffer, fast action of this rod gives it less versatility in freshwater (trout) fishing, but I can see this rod doing serious things in saltwater. The slightly softer tip (than the TiCr-X) will give it an added advantage with accuracy and presentation on the bonefish flat and enough muscle to manage New England coastal conditions. I'm very curious to try the heavier weights!

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Leif is back with another great trout streamer! This fly is tied using mostly Craft Fur. Varied slightly, this can also be deadly in the salt for Snook/Baby Tarpon/Redfish in the mangroves.

Check out the video below!

Materials Used:

• Craft Fur: https://allpointsflyfishing.com/products/hareline-extra-select-craft-fur
• Senyo's Laser Dub: https://allpointsflyfishing.com/products/senyos-laser-dub
• B10S Stinger Hook: https://allpointsflyfishing.com/products/gamakatsu-b10s-hook-stinger
• Flashabou: https://allpointsflyfishing.com/products/flashabou 

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Here at All Points, the goal is to not only provide quality gear and travel opportunities for our customers and clients, but to also be a respected resource for useful information on fly fishing. Whether it's gear reviews and fly selection, or trip reports to tips and techniques - knowledge is power. The more you know, the more confidence you'll have on the water. This in turn can create more success on the water. Plus, it can help prepare those looking to take a trip so they can make the right choices before they leave. So, who better to ask about specific fishing regions than the guides that are on the water there every year?

This is the first installment of "Ask The Guide." These interviews will be with guides all over the world to help fly anglers get the real scoop! This first one is a conversation with Chris Williams who is a guide out of Riverkeep Lodge in Labrador, Canada. 

1. Name?

• Chris Williams

2. Dates/days of fishing season at Riverkeep?

• Mid June to the first week in September

3. When do the fish usually arrive in the river? Do they arrive at the same time?

• Landlocked salmon show up first usually by mid to late june; Lakers follow the salmon into the river and a few pike will be found. Whitefish and brook trout come in by mid July as the hatches draw them in combined with lower water levels and rising temperatures. As the water temperatures rise and the spawn is over for pike they will show in numbers by mid July as well.

4. What are the main insect hatches?

• Caddis flies, may flies and dunns are the main hatches. There are seasons when large green drakes and stone flies are numerous enough to be a factor.

5. When do these hatches happen?

• Air temperatures and water levels affect hatches. By mid July the conditions are usually prime for hatches to start; however, there are days prior to this that small numbers can be found and turn on dry fly fishing for short periods of time.

6. What are the main baitfish?

• Minnows, small burbot, and fry make up the main bait fish. They are usually found all season and streamer flies patterned to them work well.

7. What weight fly rods/lines do you suggest for fishing at Riverkeep?

• I would suggest 6 weight fly rod for dry and wet fly fishing. I would also recommend an 8 weight for pike fishing and trolling with streamers. If you are using a rod for trolling I would recommend a weighted line that gets you deep in a hurry. My opinion on trolling is if you're not hooking bottom sometimes you aren't deep enough.

8. What are your top 3 dry flies

1. Goddard caddis
2. Orange stimulator
3. Royal wulff/coachman with red in it.

9. What are you top 3 wet flies/streamers?

1. Bait fish patterns (all colours) with silver tinsel weighted body.
2. Egg sucking leech/woolly bugger patterns
3. Any small dry fly pattern in an emerger. These flies should retrieve just below surface with a very slow retrieval.

10. Best/biggest fish you’ve seen caught at Riverkeep?

• Brook trout = 10+lbs.
• Landlocked Salmon = 13+lbs.
• Laker = 36lbs.
• Whitefish = 8lbs.
• Northern Pike = 26lbs.

11. Top 3 suggestions for anyone who is coming to Riverkeep for the first time?

1. Come for the thrill of the adventure. Appreciate where you are and let the fishing take care of itself. Those who come gungho to catch a huge fish usually have the hardest time; too much self pressure hampers your ability.
2. Regardless of how much fishing experience you have listen to your guide. We have fished this water for years and know what it takes to be successful. Too many people will not not take advice and fishing any new water is different then any other place you've fished.  Even casting and retrieval may be different from what you are used to. If I advise you on how to play out a fish listen, often people get over excited and impatient when playing that fish of a lifetime.
3. If possible, ask to contact a guide or the camp before your trip. We can make suggestions and advise you on what you will or will not need to bring. It makes a connection with us before you arrive and starts a relationship. We want to see repeat customers and a good relationship is the key element to that.

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As our DHC-3 Otter cruised over the expansive gap between Labrador City and the Atikonak River, I couldn't help continually saying to myself "I have never seen so much water inland in my life." Lakes, ponds, streams, creeks, and rivers seemed to scatter towards the horizon like a splatter painting. Some would connect while others stood isolated, but from above it all appeared like one huge checker board in the water which we were 'jumping' over. The pilot turned us 270 degrees to the south in preparation for our landing in front of the Riverkeep Lodge. 

The lodge owners and guides greeted us and we all unloaded our gear and provisions for the upcoming week. In transition on their way out was an older couple in their 80's. "An 8lb salmon and she got a 4.5lb brookie" the husband explained as we made small talk before they boarded for their flight back to Labrador City. We had little question about what flies they used as he had them all organized deliberately on his hat, mostly streamers. I nodded to myself in confidence as I do a lot of streamer fishing here in Maine. 

We were shown to our respective cabins, made friends with our beds for the next week, and then headed to the main cabin to get an orientation of what to expect for our fishing until the following Saturday. I had heard before we left that ice-out at various other locations/lodges in Labrador was quite late this spring, so it was not surprising when we were told that the water was cranking for that time of year. "We usually wade this river" Steve Murray, the owner, explained "but we will be fishing out of boats this week as the water is still quite high...this is the highest I've seen it in over a decade." Some lodges had even cancelled their first weeks of anglers because of the delayed spring with ice and snow covering cabins well into late June. So it did not surprise me that we would also be dealing with the repercussions of a long winter. "Hence all the streamers in the previous guest's hat" I thought to myself...

But I was ready! Prepared with various sinking lines and boxes of weighted and unweighted baitfish and sculpin imitations, I came with a full arsenal of gear and it proved to be well worth it. This did not mean however that there was nothing hatching. A giant salmonfly stumbled around the main lodge during orientation, and the first afternoon we went out, a thick line of caddis flowed along the bank of a section they called "the Aquarium." I had never seen this amount of concentrated caddis floating on the water. While looking at this sight of thick caddis along the edge, my guide for that day, Eric, said "that's nothing, you should see it when it's really thick." The rest of the week was similar in the insect life, with sporadic caddis hatches and juicy stoneflies/salmonflies. 

Our week's routine was fueled by hearty meals prepared by the family which allowed us to fish from sun-up to sundown. Lunches were taken on the river at their "lunch bar" to keep lines in the water longer. The lunch spot even provided good fishing opportunities. Daylight started at around 5am and lasted until 10pm, so these were long days, especially if you wanted to fish after dinner. But, the guides working at Riverkeep are tireless and very willing, seemingly anxious, to bring clients out on the river even after a belt-loosening dinner and desert. I can not say enough about the friendliness and willing attitude of the guides. 

This tenacity of the guides was certainly put to the test as well. With the high water and unusual condition of the river for that time of year, there was no cruise-control set with these guys. They were constantly moving around, trying spots even unlikely for that time of year, and always wanting to get their sports into their desired fish. If something didn't go as planned, you'd hear them say something along the lines of "you have no idea how badly I wanted you to get into a fish there." It was with that attitude which gave us a big mixture of fish. Fish were spread throughout the river but willing to take flies. Bigger streamers and buggers indeed proved to be the best bet and with simple color changes brought us every fish the Atikonak River provides for anglers. Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Lake Trout, Whitefish, and Pike all held inside the pine tree lined river. Of them all, the salmon fishing was the most consistent and productive. Out-fighting a pike 3-times it's weight, the landlocks were willing to take streamers and seemed to specifically like some white articulated ones I packed.

One of the most memorable fish of the trip was caught in that "Aquarium" section. We had seen some fish, including Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and Whitefish rising for caddis falling out of the Black Spruces nearby. As they floated and danced their way down river, the caddis would be interrupted by splashes and then taken down under. After a couple of missed fish on dry flies, I switched to a streamer on a sinking line. Cast in the tail section of this run in the slower moving water, I came tight to a fish that made my Galvan reel scream with a couple of strong runs. After a lengthy fight with a very strong fish my guide netted this Landlocked Salmon which was exploding with color. A very clean fish. It was dark with deep blue cheeks.

The Brook Trout had not fully arrived in the river yet. They were absolutely around, but not how they would have been in normal conditions. I have a suspicion that if I were to go back in a week or two that it would be lights out brookie fishing! I've heard reports and seen the pictures. They're there in the Atikonak for sure... The first to arrive in the system are the Lake Trout and Landlocked Salmon, then shortly after that the Brook Trout make their way into the party. But regardless we certainly found some at the end of our line. My largest came during one of the evening outings. With a stomach overloaded from dinner, my guide and I came up to a section they called the "Boulder Field." With a black woolly bugger, I cast upstream, stripped three times and instantly felt myself hooked-up. Almost as soon as the line came tight, a fat male brookie came (unusually) jumping out of the water and tail danced a couple times up river. It was a quick fight as I got it along the boat in short order, but lost it right as the net was about to plunge underneath the fish to bring it to hand. I caught some other nice brookies, but the one that night lingers. 

We made our way though the week catching the Antikonak's offerings with regularity. It was the health and size of the fish that was most remarkable. For a fish the same length you might see here in Maine, the Atikonak's version was significantly fatter. Well fed fish, with plenty of food resources that saw little fishing pressure, gained weight by the pound. With this in mind, our guides were quick to tell everyone on the first day to "get the fish on the reel as soon as you can." There are a lot of trout anglers who fish at Riverkeep that are not used to the size of trout found here, so many anglers would lose fish while trying to strip them in. With the use of strong leaders and tippet, but making sure fish were properly fought helped to ensure more were landed successfully. 

(Only the strong survive in Labrador. This landlocked salmon looks to have successfully escaped a recent tussle with a Pike)

What Gear I Used

I was very generously supplied by TFO rods and Galvan reels to be used and tested on this water. 

• RODS - 5wt TFO Axiom II (for dry flies), 6wt TFO BVK + 7wt TFO Axiom II setup with sinking/sinking-tip lines for streamer fishing.
• LINES - The 5wt had InTouch Rio Perception - 6wt had Scientific Anglers SONAR Titan WF6S (triple density) - 7wt had Rio InTouch StreamerTip WF7F/S6
• REELS - Galvan Rush Light R5 and Galvan Torque T6 + T8
• LEADERS/TIPPET - Dry flies: Rio Powerflex 9' 3x / Streamers: a straight section of 3-5ft of Rio Fluoroflex Plus 2X-0X tippet (Depending on weight of fly).
• FLIES - This list could be never-ending, but (short list) for dries - Goddard Caddis, Hornberg, Elk Hair Caddis, and Stimulators. Streamers - various colored buggers, Golden Retriever, Grey Ghost, articulated streamers in Galloup style, and deceivers. Don't be afraid to tie things larger than you normally would. These fish have a lot of food, gotta get their attention!

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Here in New England that really just means one thing: Preparation. 

Preparation for April 1^st – opening day! Winter has been long up here and it has taken a toll on more than just fly fisherman’s psyche. I spend March getting ready mentally to return to my favorite areas and watersheds and making sure my gear is ready too. Here are a few things I do to get ready for the fast approaching season. These help get me excited to fish and hopefully ensure my 1^st trips out in April are as productive and successful as possible. 

Organization:

For many of us our last days on the water were some time ago. I use March to go through my fly boxes and take inventory on what flies I need to tie more of and to organize my boxes. The second part of the above advice can be applied to fly fisherman individually. Personally, I like my fly boxes to be color coordinated, organized by size and pattern and totally filled to capacity on April 1^st. It’s a silly thing, as I will probably use no more than 4 flies on opening day, but it mentally makes me feel better knowing my green drakes are stocked and ready to deploy even if there is zero chance I will tie one on until late June. Some anglers do not care this much about fly box organization, but March is a good time for everyone to take stock of last season’s lost tackle and make sure we have the flies we need. 

Fly Tying:

If you are into trying your own flies, I find March to be a great time to tie. The act of tying flies only increases my excitement to go fishing. I think about big fish hooked and sometimes lost on flies I have tied. I also take this time to fill my boxes with proven patterns and often make tweaks to patterns that I think could work. This gets me thinking about trying out these new patterns or even just simple small changes to time tested patterns. 

Attention To Detail:

In addition to filling my fly boxes I go through my entire pack/vest. Now is the time to think about replacing older products. How old is that spool of 5x tippet? How much dry fly powder is left in that container? Tippet and leader material, especially monofilament, definitely has a useful life span and can lead to easy break-offs if not replaced over a period of time. I normally will only use a spool for 1 year – 2 at the most. Other things to consider now would be to toss in some fresh glasses wipes or lip balm to my pack. I also take a look at most of my flies. We all get lazy after a long day of fishing and will not dry off our flies.  This can cause rust depending on what kind of irons/hooks are used. I will sharpen my hooks, especially on my streamers or larger hook points.

Gear Check-Up:

Now is the time to address any lingering gear problems. Did you have a small leak in your waders that you decided you could live with in September? Well, you won’t want to live with it in April when the water temp is 34 degrees. Get it patched now or replace with new. When was the last time you stretched out your fly line?  If it has been in your cold garage wrapped tightly around a spool for the past 4-5 months don’t plan on laying out any tight loops on opening day. Stretch that line out and clean and dirt and residue off it now with a line cleaner. It will lead to better casts and more fish when you do make it to the water...   

Lastly, remember how much fun it is to be out on the water. Enjoy the process of getting ready to be fly fishing again. 

Words + Photo By: Tim Ervin

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