For those of you who don't already know, my buddy Will of The Riparian Corridor blog is doing the greatest blog contest I've ever heard of. Read about it here. Very profound stuff on conservation.
Go do some practical conservation.
18 July 2011
Man overboard!
I decided to go out to Busch Wildlife yesterday afternoon to get some relaxing time on the water. I rented a $5 Jon boat, loaded my little bit of gear I chose to take on this simple afternoon excursion (only one trip needed to get from the car to the boat is the goal). I rowed my way across the lake to a spot that produced last year and dropped anchor and started to set up a rod. The wind had died down enough so that it was not a nuisance but was refreshing. I thought to myself, "Self, why haven't you come out here since last season? This is very nice!".
I noticed some fish hitting the surface near some pads so I tie on a slow sinking fly that does well in this situation.
I cast for about 15 minutes and decide to upanchor to move myself into a different position. Then KERSPLASH!!! I somehow lost my balance and did nearly a full back flip into the water.
The first thing I think is "I can't believe this is happening!". Then I remembered my iPhone is in my pocket. Then I said a few bad words that I'm sure the fish haven't heard in that manner before.
With my pipe still in my mouth (a la Popeye), hat on my head and my rod in my hand I swim to the transom of the boat and flopped myself in. I noticed that my rod is still intact and that my pipe went out but am generally thankful and completely surprised that I'm okay and kept my composure. I guess those times back in Boy Scouts practicing swamping our canoes finally came in helpful.
When I sat down to collect myself I realize that the world is blurrier than normal. Yup, my glasses and fitover geriatric sunglasses are swimming with the fish now.
Supremely frustrated I cast a few times and realize that I have enough time to fish before it gets too dark to drive home without glasses, so I did.
I caught several small bluegill and left unable to see clearly and call anyone because my phone had officially died a soggy death.
This was the first time in my 33 years of fishing that I have pulled something like this and hopefully I've learned my lesson. We'll see.
I noticed some fish hitting the surface near some pads so I tie on a slow sinking fly that does well in this situation.
I cast for about 15 minutes and decide to upanchor to move myself into a different position. Then KERSPLASH!!! I somehow lost my balance and did nearly a full back flip into the water.
The first thing I think is "I can't believe this is happening!". Then I remembered my iPhone is in my pocket. Then I said a few bad words that I'm sure the fish haven't heard in that manner before.
With my pipe still in my mouth (a la Popeye), hat on my head and my rod in my hand I swim to the transom of the boat and flopped myself in. I noticed that my rod is still intact and that my pipe went out but am generally thankful and completely surprised that I'm okay and kept my composure. I guess those times back in Boy Scouts practicing swamping our canoes finally came in helpful.
When I sat down to collect myself I realize that the world is blurrier than normal. Yup, my glasses and fitover geriatric sunglasses are swimming with the fish now.
Supremely frustrated I cast a few times and realize that I have enough time to fish before it gets too dark to drive home without glasses, so I did.
I caught several small bluegill and left unable to see clearly and call anyone because my phone had officially died a soggy death.
This was the first time in my 33 years of fishing that I have pulled something like this and hopefully I've learned my lesson. We'll see.
16 July 2011
Carps are strange fish
Yesterday evening on a whim, Will and I hit a local creek that confluences with a large river. We were just innocently tossing flies hoping to catch a few longears. In fact, he was mostly shooting film and I'd hand my rod off to him when I wanted to drink my beer.
Toward the end of our outing we stumbled upon a somewhat stagnant pool that was absolutely STACKED with large carp. As Will put it "more fish than water".
Thankfully we were in waders because the mud was up to our shins, and stinky. The water was not see-throughable but the fish were at the surface swimming in formation sucking in what seemed to be nothing but was probably an algae bloom or oxygen. They took no flies we offered them. We cast to them for 2 hours. Dropping nearly everything possible into their feeding lane or directly into their mouths. The takes we had were inhalations and the flies were exhaled as quickly.
We were dehydrated, unprepared nervous wrecks. By the time we left my right leg was numb and floppy and I thought I was going to pass out.
Honestly, I don't know what would have happend if I hooked into one - I was fishing my little 6'6" 2wt Orvis Superfine "One Ounce". The poor thing was literally covered in nasty, stagnant, carp water mud from tip to butt.
Boy was that fun!
Toward the end of our outing we stumbled upon a somewhat stagnant pool that was absolutely STACKED with large carp. As Will put it "more fish than water".
Thankfully we were in waders because the mud was up to our shins, and stinky. The water was not see-throughable but the fish were at the surface swimming in formation sucking in what seemed to be nothing but was probably an algae bloom or oxygen. They took no flies we offered them. We cast to them for 2 hours. Dropping nearly everything possible into their feeding lane or directly into their mouths. The takes we had were inhalations and the flies were exhaled as quickly.
We were dehydrated, unprepared nervous wrecks. By the time we left my right leg was numb and floppy and I thought I was going to pass out.
Honestly, I don't know what would have happend if I hooked into one - I was fishing my little 6'6" 2wt Orvis Superfine "One Ounce". The poor thing was literally covered in nasty, stagnant, carp water mud from tip to butt.
Boy was that fun!
14 July 2011
Fishing as being
As I mentioned before, it's been way too long since I posted last. It's been quite an interesting summer so far. I've fished quite a bit but never enough. I've stayed local and stolen moments when I could to get on the water. None more than a few hours at a time.
I've trash fished with Will and caught a freshwater drum.
We discovered a hidden quarry pond on public land. Caught a few bluegills and lost a gar.
I've gotten to know my favorite little bream pond a bit better - seeing it change from late winter to spring to full blown summer. I've caught the same fish over and again and I've recovered one of my experimental flies from a fish that broke me off. It was a lot smaller than I remember. I've seen some of the small trees lining the waters' edge fall due to the intense weather we've had. I've tried to upright those trees and when they wouldn't stay upright Will and I repurposed them into fish habitat.
I've developed some flies that really work, and really don't work. I've fished some newly developed flies that absolutely blow my flies out of the water (thanks Evan!).
I have not kept up with my goal of fishing cold water consistently at least once a month. I have not caught a trout since March. I have an itch though. I hope to scratch it soon. My wife and kids are going out of town next week. I'll have some house work to do but I think I can also fit some cold water work in there too.
Over the next few months I hope to go explore some new waters fishing for stripers in the North Fork of the White, maybe some more trash fishing, and maybe another trip down to Texas. I will, however, not forsake my home waters. They bring me great comfort and help me to start my day well when I'm able to visit them before work.
One thing that has really settled itself in me over the last few months is this: fly fishing is more than just a healthy distraction but it does not solve all my woes. It's a way of being and thinking and can help to make sense of things. It's not salvation but it's part of salvation, part of sanctification and redemption. And for that I'm thankful.
I've trash fished with Will and caught a freshwater drum.
We discovered a hidden quarry pond on public land. Caught a few bluegills and lost a gar.
I've gotten to know my favorite little bream pond a bit better - seeing it change from late winter to spring to full blown summer. I've caught the same fish over and again and I've recovered one of my experimental flies from a fish that broke me off. It was a lot smaller than I remember. I've seen some of the small trees lining the waters' edge fall due to the intense weather we've had. I've tried to upright those trees and when they wouldn't stay upright Will and I repurposed them into fish habitat.
I've developed some flies that really work, and really don't work. I've fished some newly developed flies that absolutely blow my flies out of the water (thanks Evan!).
Over the next few months I hope to go explore some new waters fishing for stripers in the North Fork of the White, maybe some more trash fishing, and maybe another trip down to Texas. I will, however, not forsake my home waters. They bring me great comfort and help me to start my day well when I'm able to visit them before work.
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