A video update of the switch rod assault on the Brule last weekend...
Roll'em:
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Playing Catch Up
Busy, busy....as we all like to say. I'd have probably let the update slide had I not been prompted by a fellow angler who tore me from my stupor today by emailing me a fish pic. (I'll get to that soon enough). I've decided to compress the past few weeks into a single post. The subheadings will be: Brule, Florida, Book and Coasters.
Here goes:
COASTERS
I received an email today from a guy I'll call TP. TP and I had the pleasure of playing on the same hockey team this past winter (for one game) and spent much of the time discussing steelhead, bonefish, trout, permit etc. The conversation spilled out of the hockey rink and into the local watering hole and then the discussion included painting...which TP does well. I've asked him if I could included a link to his gallery website which you will find on the sidebar under "Others of ill repute" and also here: http://riverblendstudio.com
If you dig talent, fish and/or art check it out.
Anyway, TP sent me an email today with a short note that he caught a coaster shore casting last night. I'll let the pic speak for itself:
This is pure goodness for a few reasons.
1. It's Lake Superior and it appears that the coasters
are back...(at least this one is).
2. Standing on the shore of Lake Superior and
catching a fish is among my top religions see
previous post
3. I like when good things happen to good people
4. A coaster is a brook trout...look at the pic again.
Thanks TP!
FLORIDA
I sojourned with fam the last week in March to Marco for a week of bliss. The sun was hot, the beer cold and the flyfishing sucked. The water was off color and the wind and waves pounded from the south and south west. I fished a 10wt with an intermediate line and a stripping basket to even have a chance. I managed a couple of Ladyfish, Jacks and Macks and thought I hit the jackpot one morning when a grab was followed by a 150 yard run and 15 minutes of leaning hard into the big stick. The leader held and so did the rod. The fly held too...right in the side of a 30+ lb stingray...I was on the other side of the jetty from the one I foul hooked last year. Damn it. I had a snook act just like a bone in the flats of the Tigertail Lagoon and he sucked the fly off the sand like a bone too. He came unpinned on the first leap. We did have some fun with a cast net that my buddy Matt picked up from the local hardware store and we ventured out a couple of evenings to catch shrimp which Matt, my father-in-law and my daughter used to their advantage as bait for a host of saline critters.
That's all I've got...more later.
Here goes:
COASTERS
I received an email today from a guy I'll call TP. TP and I had the pleasure of playing on the same hockey team this past winter (for one game) and spent much of the time discussing steelhead, bonefish, trout, permit etc. The conversation spilled out of the hockey rink and into the local watering hole and then the discussion included painting...which TP does well. I've asked him if I could included a link to his gallery website which you will find on the sidebar under "Others of ill repute" and also here: http://riverblendstudio.com
If you dig talent, fish and/or art check it out.
Anyway, TP sent me an email today with a short note that he caught a coaster shore casting last night. I'll let the pic speak for itself:
This is pure goodness for a few reasons.
1. It's Lake Superior and it appears that the coasters
are back...(at least this one is).
2. Standing on the shore of Lake Superior and
catching a fish is among my top religions see
previous post
3. I like when good things happen to good people
4. A coaster is a brook trout...look at the pic again.
Thanks TP!
FLORIDA
I sojourned with fam the last week in March to Marco for a week of bliss. The sun was hot, the beer cold and the flyfishing sucked. The water was off color and the wind and waves pounded from the south and south west. I fished a 10wt with an intermediate line and a stripping basket to even have a chance. I managed a couple of Ladyfish, Jacks and Macks and thought I hit the jackpot one morning when a grab was followed by a 150 yard run and 15 minutes of leaning hard into the big stick. The leader held and so did the rod. The fly held too...right in the side of a 30+ lb stingray...I was on the other side of the jetty from the one I foul hooked last year. Damn it. I had a snook act just like a bone in the flats of the Tigertail Lagoon and he sucked the fly off the sand like a bone too. He came unpinned on the first leap. We did have some fun with a cast net that my buddy Matt picked up from the local hardware store and we ventured out a couple of evenings to catch shrimp which Matt, my father-in-law and my daughter used to their advantage as bait for a host of saline critters.
 |
| Me and my daughter...she put on a clinic! |
 |
| Shrimp/Bait |
 |
| A jack...one of many that she brought to (my) hand. |
An interesting side note: The rod and reel that my daughter used to wail on the beach fish was a freebie.
I was fishing my flies on a dropping tide in the lagoon and noticed the rod laying in the mud on the tidal flat. I suspected that some poor angler lost it overboard and that it had spent a few weeks or months on the bottom, exposed everyday at low tide and overlooked because it was both salt crusted/barnacle ridden/filled with sand and 2 miles on foot from the nearest beach access. I actually walked right past it as I fished the dropping tide. On my return I decided to check it out and found it to be a 7' Loomis rod and Shimano reel. I carried it back to the Condo, gave the rod a scrubbing and tore the reel apart, cleaned and rebuilt it with canola oil for lube. I stole 250 yard of 8 lb test from my father-in-law and it worked like a champ.
BOOK
I was going through some my photos a few weeks back and saw some interesting shots that seemed to want more than a place on my hard drive. So, I wrote a book. A photo journal actually, but a nice diversion and a cool thing to have on the shelf.
BRULE
I recently picked up a new St. Croix 11' 8 wt switch rod. For a couple of reasons.
1. The 13' rod seemed a little too much for my favorite steelhead river.
2. The 10'6" rod seemed a little too short for my favorite steelhead river
3 The 11' 8wt seemed just about right and the $260 tag seemed to be a cool price....AND since the production in Mexico hasn't started yet it's a domestic product..I like to think that some folks in Park Falls, WI are having a nice dinner or perhaps their kids got some shoes outta the deal.
The Skagit line, miracle braid and T8,T11 and T14 are in the mail and the tying desk is gettin busy.
I'm watching the flows and I'm itchin'...
That's all I've got...more later.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Day 1 of 2011
I headed out to my home water today for the first angling of the 2011 trout season. On the water by 1:30 after a late start due to a big ass omelet that I decided to build, daylight savings time and a stop at the fly shop for a new WF 4 F. I dredged nymphs for about 2.5 hours with only one touch...I wasn't really working it too hard since all the"spots" were being attended to by other anglers and I was left with the scraps. I decided to quit screwing around, cut my leader back to 1x tied on a fresh tippet of 3x, clamped a few shot on and started to swing a big ugly black fly that I had tied last fall for steelhead. 15 minutes in, with full sun overhead, a big fish came out from cover and crushed it. 10 minutes later a second fish did the same. The first taped at 20" and the second taped at 18". When I got home my wife asked me how I did. "I got two", I replied. "Only two?", she asked. "Yep, only two."
Saturday, January 29, 2011
January 28, 2011
St Pete Beach FL - Seatrout.
After a week of work and meetings, flip flops and a flyrod were in order.
I fished from 1 pm - 2 pm and landed 5.
Whew! I needed that...
After a week of work and meetings, flip flops and a flyrod were in order.
I fished from 1 pm - 2 pm and landed 5.
Whew! I needed that...
Friday, October 15, 2010
Rendezvous 2010
This is bound to be a multi-post report since I suspect I will add more pics as I get them from other attendees.
An interesting event the 2010 Rondy...given that it was originally slotted as a two man assault and further that it was planned for a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it's amazing that the head count reached 10. This event seems to occur (by this name at least) whenever the hell we can manage it. It'd be great to say we pull it of annually, though we don't. It happens on the banks of a particular (hallowed) river whose name you either already know or won't find out by reading further. We welcomed some new faces and enjoyed the company of the returning core. The weather was stunning (though not necessarily for steelheading), the beer was cold and the food was 5 star. Special thanks to those who opened their hearts and coolers to others and a heartfelt shout out to my Bro K for hosting yet another EXQUISITE wild game feed featuring the best damn cut of meat I have ever eaten (to give you some perspective, it was venison, a beast about whose flesh I don't usually rave).
It's difficult to explain how this crew of anglers only managed to land 3 steelhead over the duration of the Rondy, whilst still feeling like they had a fair shake and real opportunity. This humble reporter is not too proud to show his scorecard of 0-3 including two breakoffs on hot chrome. The fact is, there were fish in the river and most of us managed to tangle (if even for a moment) with one or more. The Rondy Cup, if there were such a prize, would have to go to returning veteran Brother B for his landing of 2 in one day. His sib T managed the 3rd fish in the family trifecta which is documented on film below. Returning angler JP connected with two wild fish, My brother K bumped a few (no surprise) and a new face, AK connected with a leaper for a few wild seconds as well.
I feel inclined to thank all who attended for playing nice and making the days on river and in camp another sweet memory to add to the stack. For two nights of camping bliss on the well worn cushions of his 1970 something Transvan and for letting me skip the steps of set-up and tear down of my own tent I owe a thanks to my longtime friend Mr MJHM.
Not to belabor my gratitude, but I shan't forget to thank T for showing this 20 year fly rod angler a thing or two about swingin' for steel and also to JP for a nice road trip home as passenger.
From conspiracy theories to brownies made from "special" ingredients (black beans if you must know), from the Birch to May's, we covered a lot of ground and covered a lot of water. Thanks all.
And now, let's groove to the smooth sounds of AC-DC.
An interesting event the 2010 Rondy...given that it was originally slotted as a two man assault and further that it was planned for a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it's amazing that the head count reached 10. This event seems to occur (by this name at least) whenever the hell we can manage it. It'd be great to say we pull it of annually, though we don't. It happens on the banks of a particular (hallowed) river whose name you either already know or won't find out by reading further. We welcomed some new faces and enjoyed the company of the returning core. The weather was stunning (though not necessarily for steelheading), the beer was cold and the food was 5 star. Special thanks to those who opened their hearts and coolers to others and a heartfelt shout out to my Bro K for hosting yet another EXQUISITE wild game feed featuring the best damn cut of meat I have ever eaten (to give you some perspective, it was venison, a beast about whose flesh I don't usually rave).
It's difficult to explain how this crew of anglers only managed to land 3 steelhead over the duration of the Rondy, whilst still feeling like they had a fair shake and real opportunity. This humble reporter is not too proud to show his scorecard of 0-3 including two breakoffs on hot chrome. The fact is, there were fish in the river and most of us managed to tangle (if even for a moment) with one or more. The Rondy Cup, if there were such a prize, would have to go to returning veteran Brother B for his landing of 2 in one day. His sib T managed the 3rd fish in the family trifecta which is documented on film below. Returning angler JP connected with two wild fish, My brother K bumped a few (no surprise) and a new face, AK connected with a leaper for a few wild seconds as well.
I feel inclined to thank all who attended for playing nice and making the days on river and in camp another sweet memory to add to the stack. For two nights of camping bliss on the well worn cushions of his 1970 something Transvan and for letting me skip the steps of set-up and tear down of my own tent I owe a thanks to my longtime friend Mr MJHM.
From conspiracy theories to brownies made from "special" ingredients (black beans if you must know), from the Birch to May's, we covered a lot of ground and covered a lot of water. Thanks all.
And now, let's groove to the smooth sounds of AC-DC.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
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