Blog Posts

FLY PULSE FEBRUARY: Trout Time, SALMON SURVIVOR Date, & Punxsutawney Nymph?

2/6/2022

TROUT TIME
Currently buzzing at 52 degrees Fahrenheit, our classroom 55-gallon tank waits on the Rainbow Trout eyed-eggs to arrive from the PA Fish & Boat Commission. The last two years have been challenging for all TIC participants due to Covid restrictions, delays, and schedule changes. As we usually receive our eggs in early November, this year, we will receive them this week in early February. The kiddos are excited.

It’s always a hopeful time for all when the eggs arrive. These round orange dots, about the size of an eraser head with little eyes inside, represent the beginning of life for the trout. We provide the perfect scenario including shade, oxygen, runs, riffles, and pools, much like a trout stream. The eggs will sit in the hatching baskets until they hatch into the alevins (sac-fry). Then, we will wait further for them to button-up and begin feeding and swimming freely within the tank. By March, I'm hoping to share some pictures of our trout fry.

PUBLISHING DATE
I’m also happy to announce that the publishing date set for my middle grade novel is…

(DRUM ROLL, PLEASE)….

AUGUST 2022!

The Relevant Publishing team is currently working on the final drafts of Salmon Survivor behind the scenes, getting the Library of Congress information registered, and creating the cover work. Sheila Dunn’s salmon artwork will adorn the novel’s cover. We decided to have the fresh Sockeye (Red) salmon on the front and the wrap the salmon around the book. Her rendition of the Red when it comes back to spawn in its reddish head and olive body colors will be on the back cover. Here's an example of the cover, artwork, and possible font.

The interpretation for the reader of the full salmon journey from beginning to the end played a part in our choice to use both of the salmon stages (fresh from the ocean and mature spawning versions). We hope that Sheila’s work will entice readers and anglers alike to open the book and read Salmon Survivor. Check out her work and website at www.sheiladunnart.com.

I’ll have more updates in March to share about the book and ways to pre-order your copy and novel goodies to share.

In the meantime, while fishing is at an icy standstill due to Punxsutawney Phil’s winter outlook, hope you're getting some winter fly tying in. Does anyone have some groundhog fur to tie up a Groundhog nymph pattern?

FLY PULSE JANUARY: Fly Culture Magazine, Teacher Gift, & Barbless Hooks

1/3/2022

FLY CULTURE MAGAZINE
With the start of 2022, I'm thankful to share my article in the Winter 2021 issue of Fly Culture Magazine. Fly Culture is, "a fly fishing journal of high quality writing and photographs that capture the essence of what fly fishing means to us all..and focuses on what our pastime means to us and the moments we have on the water, alone or in the company of friends" (Fly Culture website). Pete Tyjas, the Editor in Chief, and the Fly Culture staff provide a tremendous compilation of writing and photography each season, and I'm really honored to be a part of it.

My article, called "The Silence and Solitude of Steelheading," revolves around winter steelheading and how nature really sings in the deep freeze. Most of the time, I visit the Erie tribs with my fishing friends, but on this occasion, I went by myself. On this trip, the water created amazing crystals near the shoreline you can see below. One of my favorite lines in the article eludes to the steelheading sipping the snowflakes: "I imagine the steelhead softly breaking the water's surface to engulf the flurries of snow, a spontaneous snowflake hatch."

Check out Pete's podcasts and others on the site which showcase fly fishing from around the world. If you're interested in purchasing an individual issue or yearly subscription (4 issues), visit the Fly Culture website for details.

The Silence & Solitude of Steelheading by Christian A. Shane

TEACHER GIFT
Among the great gifts which my family shared, a Christmas present from my students really sticks out this holiday season. One of my fly tying students tied his best version of a bead-head Woolly Bugger and attached it to his family Christmas card and a Starbucks gift card.

So proud of the progress my student "Tying Tigers" group (including Grades 6,7,8) has made during our weekly club meetings at school, and this gift really represented our time spent together learning, tying, and experimenting. Nothing better than a hand-tied fly pattern.

I hope this 2022 season brings you some time on the water alone...or at least with friends who are willing to lend a hand.

FLY PULSE DECEMBER (Silver Shadows & an Amazing Artist)

12/5/2021

SILVER SHADOWS
As a steelhead angler, what prompts my fishing friends and I to brave the wintery weather conditions and wade in frigid water to catch these elusive fish in the Erie tributaries? Is it figuring out what pattern, color, or size they want to feed on? Is it being sure to put that exact drift right on their noses? Is it battling them after they realize they're on the line? Is it sharing awesome fishing experiences and nature's surprises with other friends? Is it enjoying the walk back to the car in the tributary shallows when the ice begins to form?

I'm sure these all add to the entire angling experience, but as shown in the video above (Thanks to Charles Cantella for taking it), there's nothing like holding a massive silver-fresh steelhead and releasing it to be caught again.

AN AMAZING ARTIST
An artist asked if she could paint a portrait of me on the water. I agreed, sent her a picture of me on Twenty Mile Creek in Erie, and this is the beginning stages of the painting on her easel. She's not only a great artist, but she's also my mom, Dianne Bauman :) I'll prompt her to paint some more scenes from the water...

Check out her portraits, landscapes, and paintings at her website (www.diannebauman.com).

I'll be excited to share more information about Salmon Survivor at the start of January 2022.

Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

FLY PULSE NOVEMBER: Nature's Crayons & Pre-novel Predictions

11/1/2021

NATURE'S CRAYONS
Anthocyanin, carotene, xanthophyll. Have you ever heard of these?

To the Life Science teacher, these chemicals mark the colors which are absorbed and reflected in leaves. As we discuss parts of a plant cell, I’m teaching these “leafy” vocabulary terms to my students. Reds, oranges, and yellows become visible in the leaves after they cease their green “food-making” photosynthesis in the chloroplasts and chlorophyll of the cell, creating the fall foliage we know in Western PA.

To an angler, the changing palette of color signals the steelhead run up the tributaries of the Great Lakes, especially the closest one to Pittsburgh, Lake Erie. That cold sting in the air prompts me to think of steelhead running (Always found that to be a funny term for swimming). The daily weather and rain remind me to check the USGS water gauges for the ups-and-downs in the water levels and turbidity, and of course, touch base with my fishing friends to coordinate a steelhead trip.

The colors aren’t just present in the changing leaves but in the fish we catch as well. In mid-October, I landed this 18-inch beautiful tiger trout on a #14 Prince Nymph pattern. It splashed and surged away just after a quick pic, leaving a swirling trail of leaves behind. Whether it’s a fish, a sunset, or just a drive, I hope your autumn starts off with something colorful.

PRE-NOVEL PREDICTIONS
As the book launch for Salmon Survivor draws closer, I'm optimistic to see the graphic components of the novel coming together. Pittsburgh graphic artist Nick Cobler continues to design the fly patterns for the novel. His digital illustrations come to life as they shrink down to fly size. Check out the Pheasant Tail Nymph pattern...really amazing and realistic details.

What additional goodies would you like to see in some pre-book order presents? Stickers? Bookmarks? Magnets?

Feel free to send your replies via email and share this FLY PULSE blog link to young and old who enjoy angling, wildlife, and the great outdoors.

FLY PULSE OCTOBER: Holding the Memory, Novel News, CFR

10/1/2021

HOLDING THE MEMORY
“After soaking the maple wood strips for a day, the net maker pulls the fragile lumber from the water and bends it around a curved form. When the wood fibers air out and dry, the wood has a unique characteristic to hold its memory in the familiar tear-drop, forming a unique net shape.”
-From my upcoming article in the January/February 2022 issue of PA Angler & Boater Magazine.

After researching the art of net-making with my two friends, Dave and Dale (both skilled and accomplished net makers), the analogy of the wood “keeping its memory” kept popping into my mind. I thought back to so many fishing trips with my aged, wooden net. I thought of times during Opening Day of Trout with my own kids and watching their faces light up when netting a trout. With friends, I thought of not wanting to lose the big one for them and scooping up a huge fish in the net with big grins and high fives to follow (...and yes, we have lost a few out of the net).

My old net holds a lot of memories and has traveled with me many stream miles. It just seems appropriate to fish in a beautiful place and net an amazing trout with a wooden net, full of memory and hopefulness for the next fish to come. Then releasing the quarry, watching it tail out of the net back into the shadows. Now that's a memory worth holding.

NOVEL NEWS
Great news to share as my Middle Grade novel, Salmon Survivor, is the in the works for publication in 2022 by Relevant Publishing LLC. We’re in the Draft 3 (D3) editing and revisions stages. The Relevant Editing Team from Sutton, Alaska, really has assisted in getting every Alaskan detail correct. Wait until you read about Jack’s “moose encounter.” Thanks to Linda and the team for all the answered questions and suggestions to make the novel amazing for readers.

I’m also excited to share that Nick Cobler, local Pittsburgh graphic artist and fly angler, will display his technical drawing skills with the fly patterns in the story. He has the unique style of making these flies really come to life.

Nick layers his sketches, creating a realistic style reminiscent of black & white, pen & ink drawings. Check out this amazing rendering of an Elk Hair Caddis. This one is really special since the opening line of Salmon Survivor is, "The Elk Hair Caddis drifted smoothly on the stream’s surface like a sailboat."

See more of his artwork at www.nickcobler.com. More news in October on some of Nick’s amazing fly patterns in the novel.

CASTING FOR RECOVERY
This summer, I attended the Western PA Casting for Recovery retreat as a River Guide on Spruce Creek in State College. I met some amazing women who have battled (or are currently fighting cancer). Paired up with a wonderful person, both of us are Yinzers from the 'Burgh. So we hit it off on the water, hooked into some fish, and really enjoyed the short time together.

As all the River Guides can attest, the CFR day is one of the best days on the water thanks to the bravery and resiliency of these women. Thanks to all the Western PA volunteers, staff, River guides, and retreat participants for a great CFR season.