The
above image pretty much sums up what I've been up to the past 3
weeks. I've been at the construction site often meeting with the
carpenters and meeting with sub-contractors. I hope to get out on the
water next week since the framing is almost complete. The ceiling
joist and truss work will be completed this coming week. We HOPE to
be in the house the first week before Christmas.
I hope to use this blog as an avenue to express my thoughts and adventures of all of my fishing expeditions and any other journeys I may undertake.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
When Poppers Fail Part Two
If you
are a fly fisherman, then you have fished surface poppers and landed
fish using them. There are times when the popper isn't as productive
as you've like for it to be, today was one of those days. A lot of
factors always affects the fish bite on a big lake like Smith.
Falling water, clear blue skies, heavy rains off and on for the past
week can put a dent in how the fish will react to any lure presented
their way. When conditions get tough then one has to experiment and
work harder for the bite, whether you are fishing warm waters or cold
waters.
I
started the morning at daybreak fishing silk smooth water, perfect
for popper action. The rock walls wouldn't give up the quality spots or bluegills this morning using the size 4 Boogle Bug, neither would the Barr Nunn
popper produce. As I worked the walls I encountered sticky humid
conditions so bad that the seats in the boat were moist. Thank
goodness the humid conditions improved some after sunrise.
I
retired the poppers after an hour of landing a couple of small gills;
when I say small I mean the kind you could actually false cast with.
Lucky I had my 5 weight spooled with the sink tip line that I hadn't
used since 2015. I like to fish a short leader when casting the sink
tip usually 6 ½ to 7 ft. I've found that I can control the cast
better and get a little more distance using the shorter leader.
The
black gnat tied to the short leader was the fly that got the most
action during the 3-hour trip. Four nice gills like this gem produced
16 fillets giving Cathey and I a delicious meal mixed with a green
salad and sweet tea.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Life's Lessons Learned
Sometimes
one can really get a reality check especially when a written text can
apply to you as well as the rest of the population; compliments of an 80-year-old gentleman. I have this list
as an app on my phone.
1.
Have a firm handshake.
2. Look people in the eye.
3. Sing in the shower.
4. Own a great stereo system.
5. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
6. Keep secrets.
7. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
8. Always accept an outstretched hand.
9. Be brave. Even if you’re not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
10. Whistle.
11. Avoid sarcastic remarks.
12. Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90% of all your happiness and misery.
13. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
14. Lend only those books you never care to see again.
15. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.
16. When playing games with children, let them win.
17. Give people a second chance, but not a third.
18. Be romantic.
19. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
20. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
21. Don’t allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It’s there for our convenience, not the callers.
22. Be a good loser.
23. Be a good winner.
24. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
25. When someone hugs you let them be the first one to let go.
26. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
27. Keep it simple.
28. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
29. Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
30. Live your life so that your epitaph could read: No regrets.
31. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
32. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
33. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
34. Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let someone else choose it for you.
35. Visit friends and relatives when they are in the hospital; you only need to stay a few minutes.
36. Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
37. Once in a while, take the scenic route.
38. Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, ‘Someone who thinks you’re terrific.’
39. Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
40. Keep a notepad and pencil on your bedside table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
41. Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
42. Send you love one flowers-- Think of a reason later.
43. Make someone’s day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
44. Become someone’s hero.
45. Marry only for love.
46. Count your blessings.
47. Compliment the meal when you’re a guest in someone’s home.
48. Wave at the children on a school bus.
49. Remember that 80% of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
50. Don’t expect life to be fair.
2. Look people in the eye.
3. Sing in the shower.
4. Own a great stereo system.
5. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.
6. Keep secrets.
7. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.
8. Always accept an outstretched hand.
9. Be brave. Even if you’re not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
10. Whistle.
11. Avoid sarcastic remarks.
12. Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90% of all your happiness and misery.
13. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out.
14. Lend only those books you never care to see again.
15. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.
16. When playing games with children, let them win.
17. Give people a second chance, but not a third.
18. Be romantic.
19. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
20. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.
21. Don’t allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It’s there for our convenience, not the callers.
22. Be a good loser.
23. Be a good winner.
24. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.
25. When someone hugs you let them be the first one to let go.
26. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.
27. Keep it simple.
28. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.
29. Don’t burn bridges. You’ll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.
30. Live your life so that your epitaph could read: No regrets.
31. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
32. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
33. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.
34. Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let someone else choose it for you.
35. Visit friends and relatives when they are in the hospital; you only need to stay a few minutes.
36. Begin each day with some of your favorite music.
37. Once in a while, take the scenic route.
38. Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, ‘Someone who thinks you’re terrific.’
39. Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.
40. Keep a notepad and pencil on your bedside table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.
41. Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
42. Send you love one flowers-- Think of a reason later.
43. Make someone’s day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you.
44. Become someone’s hero.
45. Marry only for love.
46. Count your blessings.
47. Compliment the meal when you’re a guest in someone’s home.
48. Wave at the children on a school bus.
49. Remember that 80% of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.
50. Don’t expect life to be fair.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Flies Used Flies Replaced
How
many flies do one use on any given outing on their favorite stream or tailrace? 5 or 6 flies is tops for me, which got me to thinking
the other day do I really need all these flies I carry in my fly box?
I had flies in the fly box that I hadn't used in years and some had
never touched the surface of the water. So to make space for the new flies I was going to add I starting culling those I seldom use. Take note
of the words “fly box” because that is the only box I use nowadays when fly fishing.
This
little Orvis metal fly box 2 ½ by 3 ½ has all the flies that I will
use on any given day on the water. It fits easily in my small chest
pack that is lightweight and compact as well. The older I get the
more I want to eliminate weight when wading and standing for long
periods of time in 55 to 60-degree water. Notice the difference in
the number of flies in the box before culling and after.
Given
the fact I had a well-organized fly box and the Sipsey Tailrace was
fishing some better than a couple of weeks ago; I decided to test
the waters with some of the newer flies that I had added to the box.
I was met with cloudy skies and of course high humidity and lots of
fog on the water surface. As I waded into place at access 5 I could
barely see the surface film for the fog coming off the water. I
decided to cast one of my new flies a size 18 Black Drake dry in the
direction of some trout feeding near where I was standing. I got a
hit after a few casts and thought I was in for some rapid top action.
To my surprise, just as quick as the surface activity started it
ended I surmised I was fishing the tail end of the surface feed.
With
the generation schedule changed I had to use my time wisely so after
surface activity slowed I moved on up the gorge. I replaced the Drake
with a fly Alan at Small Stream Reflections sent me sometime
back. I thought today would be a good time to give it a try. I tied
on the Salars Nemesis tight-lining it across a wide section that had some fast water in the
middle and slower water on both sides. As the fly drifted from the
edge of the slow to fast water I got a take and lost it just as
quick; poor concentration and slow hook set, not a good combo. I kept
working the Salars
slowly with some short jerks mixed in when a trout nailed it in the
middle of the swing, strong hook set, and the trout was in the net!!
Today
was one of those trips where one fly pattern didn't produce on a
consistent basis. In fact, that can be the norm on the Sipsey at
times. These trout see a lot of the same flies in the upper section
of the tailrace so it's good to show them a little something
different. My next stop was the log section in deep water where the
better trout hang out below the submerged logs. I decided to tie on
the Seal Leech to fish
this section. This is a fly that David Knapp gave me some years ago
to work in deeper water. I fish this fly a little unconventional by
casting it downstream and working it back slowly against the
current. As I work the fly I let it pause in the current and flutter,
usually during the pause is when I get the hit. Today this type of retrieve helps me land a couple of stocker trout just above the logs.
I was hoping for the bigger trout but I will take what this section
gives up.
I
ended today's trip at the Guide Hole, which is where the guys at the
fly shop bring a lot of their clients to fish the slow water in this
section. This part of the tailrace has a small seam with some fast
current above some slower water below. I think this little seam is
one of the best areas in the guide hole section. I've landed some
nice rainbow in this little seam. I've had much better luck in this
area using a small nymph with an indicator. I choose a red size 16
Copper John to drift
through the fast water and hopefully watch the indicator sink
quickly. It didn't happen quickly but I did manage to land one more
rainbow using the little nymph. All the flies used for today's trip
were some that I had never used here before and some that I hadn't
used in years. As I was leaving at access 5 the trout were into the
sipping mode, so I stopped to try to get a take with no success. I'm still having problems getting hits when the trout are feeding in this manner. I suspect they are feeding on tiny midges, but the color and the actual size is still a puzzle. I am thinking of purchasing a stomach pump----any suggestions are welcome!!
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Fly Fishing the Elk River With Bryson & B.T.
Nothing
like fishing with family, and Friday was another opportunity for me
to cast some flies with my son-in-law B.T and my grandson Bryson. He has been wanting to make a flow trip with us for the past couple of
years, and Friday we made it happen. We meet David Perry our guide at the river's edge below Tims Ford Dam at 7AM. I have fished with David
many times before and know that he will always put us on trout. The
Elk is a tailrace that is stocked once a month with rainbow and
browns. B.T and I have fished it from the bank at the dam a number of
times, with lots of other fly fishermen doing the same; to escape the
crowd the boat is the way to hit all the honey holes.
Pops
and B.T. were really pound of the way Bryson handled the trip
considering we were on the water fishing for 5 hours and then another
2 hours to get to the take out area. One of many trout that Bryson
would land before the trip was over. This trip was about Bryson experiencing the thrill
of trout fishing and learning how to land trout and safely return them to the water to fight another day.
One
happy little guy; I can't begin to tell you guys how much fun it is
to enter act with all three of my grandchildren at the ages of 4, 6,
and soon to be 9 years old Bryson. Sometimes I wish they didn't have
to go up so fast!!!
Monday, July 2, 2018
Beautiful Sunrise Fishing With Jason on Smith Lake
Some of my best fishing
trips are with my wife, son, son-in-law, daughter, and grandchildren. Today I spent some
quality time fishing Smith Lake with my son Jason, who is home for a week.
We left the house at 4:30 AM and started casting the big size 4 Boggle Bug popper
close to 5 AM . At this
time of day, there is practically no humidity and no heat. In fact, the air was a
cool 75 degrees. Daylight fishing is the norm for me this time of the year
mainly because of the heat and humidity.
A beautiful sunrise was
one of the rewards that we encountered as we left the launch at 5 AM . The other reward was the banner morning we had to land some quality Spotted Bass along the huge rock walls located on the
lake.
This Largemouth Bass was
the only one that was landed during the early morning trip. The largemouth will not hit the popper as aggressively as the Spotted Bass. There is a big difference in the fighting power of the Largemouth
Bass versus the Spotted Bass. The Spotted Bass is one heroic fighter!!! The Spotted Bass is Jason's favorite to land on Smith.
One of many Spotted Bass which exploded time after time on the
Boggle as Jason worked the popper inches away from one of the many rock walls
we fished early. The face of this popper makes a popping sound that really gets
the attention of feeding bass. Jason was using a bass bug line on his 6 weight
fast taper 9 ft. Sage fly rod. The bass bug line made casting the
big popper a breeze.
The bluegill didn’t get
left out on this outing. The Wiggle Tail nymph was used to land this nice size
female gill. In fact, all four colors of the Wiggle Tail got the attention of
the bulls and females. I didn’t count any the bluegill on this trip, because
Jason landed most of the counters. This is the same nymph that Jason used to
hook the trout he landed on Fuller Lake . Tightlines until we make another memorable trip!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)