Hey guys! Finally down here in Los Angeles this past week, our water temperatures hit the magic 67-68 degrees. This is the time I wait for all year, when you can target the corbina in shallow water and sight or vicinity cast to them. These pics came in to me through my friends from LA to San Diego. Love the shot of the corbina and perch on the tandom rig shot by Kent Conklin of San Diego. Dust off your 6 weight and get out there. If you need to get up to speed I will throw in a shameless plug, please grab a copy of The Corbina Diaries.
Please watch this short film with Dr Sylvia Earle and Yo Yo Ma, it is very important we all make our voices heard, please sign the letter (link below), make your voice heard or it will be made for you…
Add your name to the letter to #DefendtheDeep.
Sign the urgent public letter to stop deep-sea mining before it destroys ocean life.
member states https://www.isa.org.jm/member-states/ The ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission, which oversees the development of deep sea mining regulations, will meet in early July to discuss the yet-to-be mining code draft. The earliest that mining under ISA regulations could begin is in late 2024 or 2025.
I have a fun article called Pirate’s Party in this issue that talks about the beginnings of the flats fishing along Long Island’s north shore for striped bass in the late 80s. I got to interview two old friends Capt. Paul Dixon and John Abplanalp (Walker’s Kay Chronicles) who were both at ground zero when this all took place and started an entire new craze on the East Coast. It saddens me that many West Coast Fly Shops do not carry this publication, especially now that we finally have a voice on the west coast. Next time you walk into your local shop please ask them why this magazine is not in the shop? I am working my ass off trying to get good articles on our west coast fishery and talk about the history of our sport. If we want these stories to be heard we need to support this awesome publication, I believe it is the best saltwater flyfishing magazine in the country, please try to pick up a copy. Thanks…–Al Q
This month, all new and renewing members will be entered for a chance to win this awesome, one-of-a-kind, AMFF/Yeti Roadie Cooler. Winner will be randomly selected on May 1.
Recently renewed? No worries. You can renew again and your current expiration date will be moved ahead one year.
Consider giving a gift membership—and you’ll both be entered to win!
A big thank you to Yeti for their ongoing support of AMFF, and to our members for keeping fly fishing history alive.
Hope to see some of you guys at the Pasadena Orvis Fly Shop, tomorrow for a fun slide show of being prepared for your next local or international trip! We’ll be at the shop from noon till 2:30pm. I’ll be with my pal, Larry Acord who has much experience in the field of medical safety. Should be fun, bring lots of questions…
This is hopefully going to be some sort of a series. There is no rhyme or reason to when they will happen. Best to check this website. I will be doing a fly tying demo of the classic EP Peanut Butter, you are welcome to bring a vice and tie along. I would like to invite my friends and fellow fly fisherman to attend. Its free and something to help build community. Hope to see some new and old faces out there…. the first one we did was the EP Spawning Shrimp and I think there was some good info exchanged and I know we had a few laughs for sure. The EP peanut butter is a simple, yet effective small bait pattern that can represent any baitfish depending on the colors you choose. From a Bluegill to a Pinfish, i will do a classic Black/Purple used for everything from tarpon to freshwater bass… Cheers – Al Q
Top Row: Al Q and the great Andy Mill, The American Museum of Fly Fishing booth prior to the doors opening, Al Q and Ben Whalley. Second Row: Ben Whalley and Scott Stryker in Renzetti Booth, Dave Blinken (Mastery of the Vise Podcast Series, on-line host) and Al Q, Jim Freda (Shore Catch Charters, Ed Jaworowski, and Al Q Third Row: Jonny King and Q.
Sorry for this late post! Last month I was fortunate to travel to the Edison Fly Fishing Show in New Jersey with my good friend Larry Acord/Bajios Rod Socks. I was asked by Tail magazine to walk the show, distribute magazines and hopefully get some new and old friends to contribute content for future articles and fly tying pieces. I even got to meet up with all my friends at the American Museum of Fly Fishing booth which was great. Check them out online, they provide lots of great fly fishing history and content.
It is always bitter sweet for me to visit this well attended east coast fly fishing show because I have lots of history growing up back there and seeing all my old fly fishing friends kind of makes me sad we aren’t living closer to each other. There is so much saltwater fly fishing history on the east coast; it is where is all began here in America. The fly tiers are unequaled in their mastery. It always feels like its a high school reunion walking up and down the aisles. I always run into interesting people and get to make new friends. How can you not get inspired by all the talented new fly tiers on instagram these days like Capt. Ben Whalley for instance. Ben’s from Maine, he’s so talented and such a cool dude. As soon as I saw Ben we gave each other a big hug. Its that passion and mutual comradery that I always feel at this show. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great group of fishing buddies out here on the west coast. I am very fortunate and blessed. I just wish more of the younger west coast anglers would embrace saltwater flyfishing as one community and be more inclusive, less into their little clicks, and self promotion. Anyhow I am getting off my soapbox! Sorry for that digression.
It was very refreshing to be able to mingle with some amazing fly fishermen in Edison, see lots of cool new products and rub elbows with the legends of our sport. I am always learning something new. The fly shows look to be back on the rise after the dreaded Covid lost years. The Edison Show for me has always been a great indicator of how the fly fishing industry is doing as a whole, it always leads the pack! The enthusiasm seems to be high and we seem to all be moving in the right direction. Spread the love and take a stranger fishing. Cheers – Al Q
The Q’s Bay Ghost Shrimp! This simple shrimp pattern using synthetic Artic Fox Zonker strip in a peachy pink color for the entire fly. One material. The eyes are burnt mono, the legs are sand/black Sili-Legs. I use micro Krystal flash in black and pearl for Antenae. The body is dubbed with the under fur of the Zonker strip. Lead eyes are 5/32 and hook is a Gamaakatsu SL11-3H size 6. Weed guard is 40 lb. flourocarbon. Happy tying… –Al Q
This is a success story in the making, a great solution to cleaning up all the storm trash that filters out into Santa Monica Bay. It’s nice to finally see innovative solutions to problems that can be overbearing. Please watch this video, its really special….and I am so glad its in my backyard.
flies, sand & surf 