Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Making the Most Out of Time Well Spent

I couldn’t have asked for a better day to fish the Sipsey this past Friday. The temperature was in the low seventies with overcast skies most of the day. You notice I said most of the day, which meant I was going to give it my best today for the six hours I was given. I feel every time I visit this place I am making up for the lost time in trout fishing. As most of you know I only started fly fishing for trout some ten years ago on the Caney Fork in Tennessee with my son-in-law. Little did I know on this one trip that my fishing perspective would change forever for me? The fly rod now consumes 95% of my fishing experience. The trout on the Sipsey get all my attention now during the late fall and winter months, where in years past I would be fishing for bass on Smith Lake.
I have said this before but I will reiterate it again how I wish I had found the fly fishing passion when I was younger. So every day I am “GIVEN” now is time well spent landing trout like this beauty with its colors all aglow for Christmas.
The water today was high when I arrived at mid-morning. As the day unfolded it begin to reseed. Two generators would be running about an hour before I would leave late afternoon. I’ve learned especially for us older anglers that one doesn’t need to stand an entire wading trip. Snack breaks, fly changes, and a pause just to soak up the beautiful scenery can be excuse enough to find a seat. On the Sipsey those seats come in the form of numerous large boulders scattered up and down the gouge.
This image explains why we as trout fishermen love this sport so much. I could still see vivid colors on its gill plate as it swims back into the fast run it was taken from.
A complete contrast in the color scheme here with this healthy bow; it inhaled the nymph so hard I thought I had hooked a rock. The current was the key to today’s trip; the trout were holding in small seams where there was structure such as rocks and fallen timber. One never knows how the trout will react from day to day on the Sipsey. Today numerous trout were in the mood to inhale a number of patterns I cast their way, which made the day special!!   
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22 comments:

  1. Mark KautzDecember 15, 2015 at 10:44 AM

    I find it increasingly difficult to stand for long periods of time too. The old back just ain't what she used to be.

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  2. CARFDecember 15, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    What a day, Bill!! Such a wonderful thing, when the fish cooperate on a beautiful day. What other flies were working for you?

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  3. rivertopramblesDecember 15, 2015 at 8:36 PM

    In a sense, each day like this is a special holiday in nature's calling. Thanks for sharing it, Bill.

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  4. looknfishyDecember 15, 2015 at 8:45 PM

    I hope what Lester Kish said is true...if so I've added many years to my life. The day you had sounds exceptional, glad you got to experience it.

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  5. cofisherDecember 15, 2015 at 11:03 PM

    Bill, you and I think a lot alike. I love fishing for bass and bluegills. But there is something special about trout fishing with a fly rod. The Sipsey is a great piece of water and I'm glad you are still having the opportunity to get out.

    p.s. I always enjoy your bluegill posts.

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  6. Bill TrussellDecember 16, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    Lester
    How true, as the song goes "We're Only Here for a Little While" ----thanks for the comment

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  7. Bill TrussellDecember 16, 2015 at 9:28 AM

    Mark
    My back is the first to go after about an hour, then it is time to find a seat. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Bill TrussellDecember 16, 2015 at 9:29 AM

    Justin
    I seldom fish a dry, it seems the trout are tuned in to the nymph most of the time. Thanks for the comment

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  9. dead fisherDecember 17, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    Bill
    All those young, "extreme" run and gun fly fishers see those boulders as structure or cover, where the oldtimers like us know they're there to intentionally make us take a seat and appreciate our surroundings. Great pics as usual.
    John

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  10. TROUTIDecember 17, 2015 at 3:30 PM

    Bill I follow you blog too !! enjoy reading your stories!

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  11. cofisherDecember 17, 2015 at 11:22 PM

    I have to give you and some of our blogging friends credit for even getting out. You guys amaze me. I've been taught that much past October is it. Nice going as always Bill.

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  12. NateshoresDecember 22, 2015 at 12:36 AM

    I drove up to sipsey yesterday from Jackson, ms. I had never fished the river and found it on the internet looking for a river close to me since the little red was generating heavy. I enjoyed it, stopped by the fly shop on the way. There was a learning curve for me, threw everything in the fly box, caught only three rainbows. Talked to a fella in the parking lot at the pump house at the end of the day and it seems a elk hair caddie with a midge dropper is the ticket (information I could've used 6 hours earlier, but what fun would that be? ) nice runs and pools past the pump house but the trout seemed to be picky. I will come back, nothing like getting beat by a river to spark a primeval need to solve the mystery of a river...

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  13. AnonymousDecember 27, 2015 at 9:57 PM

    I drove over from Clinton, MS and fished the Sipsey Dec 20th and had a very good time. The weather was great but I only caught 2 rainbows. I used a zebra midge and sow bug for the most part. Used a stimulator and zebra dropper at the end of the day. I fished just up from the pump house and was unable to unlock the mystery of the river and catch fish the way I should. I will be back with a few new tricks up my sleeve. Any tips would be much appreciated.

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  14. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:01 PM

    Howard
    I hope to spend the rest of fishing days with the fly rod in hand, that is how much I love the sport. Thanks for the comment

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  15. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:04 PM

    Drew
    How true from the standpoint of a life's fishing dream! Thanks for the comment

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  16. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:05 PM

    Walt
    I try to make the most of everyday I am given, especially when I am on the water. Thanks for the comment

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  17. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:07 PM

    Deadfisher
    I seem to find more of the boulders every time I visit the place. Thanks for the comment

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  18. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:09 PM

    Trouti
    Thanks for following and glad enjoy all the post. Thanks for the comment

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  19. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:11 PM

    Howard
    With weather in the 70's here it is easy to wade even without waders. When it gets below 50 I am inside. thanks for the comment

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  20. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:12 PM

    Blog Zombie
    Thanks for stopping by and for commenting.

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  21. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:16 PM

    Unknown
    One never knows how the trout will react on the Sipsey. Suggestion, never fish a pattern on the Sipsey longer than 15 minutes if nothing is happening. In other words change patterns often on slow days. Thanks for the comment

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  22. Bill TrussellDecember 30, 2015 at 8:21 PM

    Nate
    Change patterns often on slow days, you will hit on the pattern that will produce before the day is over. Fish nymphs using an indicator at least 2 ft. deep and sometime deeper in the faster water. Also use light tippet such as 6X , you will land more trout on days when the trout are hitting slow. The tailrace is pressured big time so one needs to use light tippet and change flies often when nothing is happening. Thanks for the comment

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