Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Fishing Deep Slow Runs

Cold fronts, rain, and high winds have kept me off the lakes for the past week so the Sipsey was my go-to fishing fix. The deep runs of the Sipsey were my target for the afternoon trip. With my 9 ft. 3 weight Streamflex in hand I proceeded to wade up the gorge towards the deep channel of the Sipsey.  I was rigged with my dry dropper, in the form of an Adam with a size 18 Midge.  
Boulders and logs dot the bottom in this deep run providing an excellent ambush area for trout to feed.
A hungry midge feeder
Lots of patience and a slow drift was the key to get takes today. The trout were not interested in the dry and were hitting the midge light. At times the take was so light I missed numerous hook sets.
The midge bite slowed so the bead-head nymph took over at the end of the trip. The partial gill plate didn’t stop this bow from attacking the nymph as it floated over a submerged log.

I am thankful I made this trip last week because I had a mishap at the gym Monday that will keep me off the tailrace for some time. I fell leaving the platform area where I walk on the treadmills. I wasn’t watching what I was doing and missed the last step on the platform and turned my ankle and sprained my wrist; both are kind of black and blue. The trainer told me I would not be able to walk on the treadmill for weeks, so staying off this ankle is going to be a boring experience for me. He said the less walking I can do the faster the ankle will heal; really a stupid thing I did, but I have realized I need to pay closer attention to steps from now on.

25 comments:

  1. Bill that's awful. Please do exactly what they tell you. We don't heal as fast.
    Take it slow.

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  2. Alan
    I've been sitting for the past three days, some of the swelling has gone down. I need to get back to fishing. Thanks for the comment

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  3. Bill I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. My wife just recently fell down the stairs in the middle of the night while taking our new pup out to do his business. She fractured her left food and was put into a walking cast and then to a full cast and crutches. I'm hope you are a happier camper than she is. I'm sure you're happy that you got out when you did.

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  4. Like Alan said, we old guys just don't heal as fast as we used to. Take 'er easy.

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  5. Howard
    Sorry about your wife and hope she recovers soon. I need to start watching steps a bit more. Thanks for the comment

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  6. Mark
    I've got to remember I'm not 40 anymore--the swelling is going down some. thanks for the comment

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  7. For us fly fishers, getting screwed up on a treadmill or a staircase seems more likely than an accident occurring along a streambank because we don't expect it, though I speak from personal experience in saying that accidents can occur there quite readily at our age. Take it easy, and get back on the water by the safer route, one step at a time!

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  8. Ouch!
    I'm sure time away from the water is going to drive you nuts, but sounds like it's exactly what's necessary. Rest up, heal up, those fish will still be there.

    Enjoyed the trip report by the way.

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  9. Best wishes for a thorough recovery, and perhaps a speedy one. Glad you made it out before that to share this with us. I'm always using the handrails on stairs these days. Too many falls going up when the right foot almost clears the stair...

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  10. Nice info about fishing deep pools. Don't feel bad about the treadmill mishap. I hurt my knee yesterday just getting on the bus for my kids field trip. I have no idea what happened. Just went to put weight on my knee getting up the stairs and it hurt like crazy. Still isn't right today.

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  11. Walt
    Getting older has some advantages, senior discounts, but being clumsy is not one of them. I was in a hurry to leave the platform and get back to rig up for Tuesday's fishing trip. Thanks for the comment

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  12. Dang Bill, that could have been really serious. I bet if you were walking the treadmill in waders, nothing would have happened. Get well man.

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  13. Kevin
    The deep runs on this tailrace are some of the toughest water to fish here. The trout stay deep and the angler is guessing that there is trout lurking behind one of the logs or boulders. I was lucky I found a few. Thanks for the comment

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  14. Michael
    This has happened to me before, but I was younger and I was back up and going in few days. This time will take much longer. Thanks for the comment

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  15. Fading Angler
    The side rail is always my friend, as is a wading staff on the water. Thanks for the comment

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  16. Sorry to hear about your mishap Bill..heal up fast!

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  17. Go easy my friend!! Get healed so you can fish!!!

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  18. Lester
    I learned since the fall that I damaged the tendons in right leg, which will take some time to heal. I hope to back on the water next week in the boat no wading. Thanks for the comment

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  19. Pen
    Thanks hope to back on the water Tuesday fishing for monster bluegill. Thanks for the comment

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  20. Drew
    It will be a while before I put on the waders again to fish the tailrace, sitting in the boat will work for me come next week. Thanks for the comment

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  21. Sorry to hear about your little mishap. Wading boots have good ankle support and falling in the water is a lot gentler than on dry land, so I think you're much safer getting your workout at the river. Hopefully things will settle down with the weather soon so we can get out on the lake. Take care of that ankle.

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  22. Jay
    Yes hitting a carpeted concreate floor is tough, and using your right hand to break the majority of the fall is even worst. Hopefully we can make a trip in a few weeks. Thanks for the comment

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  23. Trouti
    May be looking at while before I can wade again---very frustrating!!! Thanks for the comment

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  24. Ouch! Sorry to hear of the mishap. I have a blackbelt in sprained ankles, and have been through A LOT in my life. Wish you a speedy recovery, so, you can get back in the gym and back out on the water!

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  25. Thanks Justin--I'm back in the gym now, but at a much slow pace for the time-being.

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