I finally get to fish
between the heavy rains, we have been experiencing here in Alabama. What a great day to start my bluegill quest for this
season. The temps were in the seventies with the water temp reading 65 which is
on the verge of the spawn. Some of the big gills were on the move and staking
out areas close to cover in water four to five feet deep just off the shaded
banks.
My first nice bull of the morning was taken
hugging
the shaded bank in the brush pile. The Black Gant got its attention. I’m glad I was using my 9 ft. 4 wt. otherwise I would’ve
had trouble landing it.
I felt like the top image could grace the wall of any den, with its lush green canopy of trees lining the
banks of this nook. RFD's FlyBox Foam Butt Caddis would get a savage hit on the other side
of the sunken tree; again shade and cover was the ally for this nice gill. I
thought I had found the honey hole, but again the fish were not bunched to spawn;
one fish and keep casting.
I would end the day
landing numerous small bluegills and this fighter on my 3 weight. I feel good
about actually accomplishing this year’s quest because I’m back on my home
waters; 23 away from the finish.
Believe me when I tell you
guys that today’s visit to the Sipsey was special not only for the trout caught,
but to meet these two young fly fishermen. They were headed down the tailrace
to fish the really deep sections. I hope they had success, it pleases me to see
the youngsters with a fly rod in hand.
My first cast and my first trout that was to be one of many that I would touch on a cloudy overcast day. The two-hour trip consisted of casting nymphs early and closing out the trip with the Gnat. Sorry guys for the bad image; I'm a work in progress when it comes to camera work.
One of the things I love about this place besides landing the trout is all the handy rock stools. They are positioned up and down the gouge for; let’s say the “seasoned fly fisherman.”
Overcast skies, a slight
breeze out of the west and a huge rain front in the forecast for Thursday morning
told me to wet a fly on the Sipsey today.
