Back from vacation, talk tomorrow. 

The Lost Writer

Yes, writers have to write. But fishermen also have to fish. And I am definitely a fisherman before a writer. So I've been out fishing, almost everyday. Many things have happened, and I have more shit to shoot than a hunter who ate a whole can of Baked Beans. But all in good time, so for now I'll just talk about one adventure. I was fishing The North Big T the other day, and the fishing was hot. It was about noon, and I had already pulled 30 fish. My dry fly was drifting peacefully down a nice run, when for some reason a fish attacked it... oh wait, that's my cue to set the hook. Set the hook I did, and I had another fish on. As I brought in my fish, I noticed that there was another fish following the first one. Not the first time this happened, but this was a little different. This fish followed the other very closely. I mean like perfect turning. After trying to watch the other fish for a minute, I lifted up my fish. And What-Do-Ya-Know?! Thank God for two-fly rigs!

August? No, It's Mid-July!

I've been crying myself to sleep the last month and a half by looking at the Boulder Creek Stream Flow Chart. The little dots seemed to be mocking me. Haha, this is where I should be. Look where I am! But when I looked the other day, I saw the flows starting to drop. This will be the one, I said hopefully. And when I checked the flows the next day and it read under 300, I was EXCITED! I had to work with the camp during the day,  but I talked my mom into letting me fish in the evening. The flows are still high, but there really are still fish in the creek! They didn't get swept away! Working a heavy point fly (Like A Golden Stone) and a smaller dropper into the banks and soft water is what produces fish. I managed to pull 21 in just over an hour and a half. Get out there, make sure you don't fall, and rip some lips! And Howard, when are we gonna go fishing?

Hot Shots Week 3

Here is this weeks hot shots. They're all from the same lake, but it was a real solid day and we got lots of pictures. I'll do the post soon, but for now I'm teaching a camp.

Why yes, I do catch some fish every now and then!

God Damnsel!

One of the flies that has really been gaining popularity in my book is the Damsel Fly. I have found quite a few Bass ponds around my house that have a solid Damsel hatch. The Bass are willing to come up and eat a big Damsel Dry Fly,  and the takes are cool. There is also always a Damsel hatch at the private trout lake I have been fishing recently. A Damsel to Damsel is the rig of choice, and watching a huge rainbow slam a big Damsel Fly is a truly amazing sight. So in the sport of all this, I've been trying to tie some Damsels. Here's what I've got so far. Nothing I love, but I tested them out this morning and they work. I do really like the full flash wings, which change color in different sunlight and as you move the fly. They also float nicely because of their foam bodies. Here's some shots I took while playing with the new camera.

Little Guy's Pack A Big Punch (Week Two)

This weeks kid's camp was a huge success. There were only five kids in this group, so it was a much more one on one experience. The kids were also a lot older, which helped with some quicker learning (Note to self: next week, also teach fish photography and holding). 

The first day of the camp was held at Pella again. The blue gill were hungry as always, and very wiling to eat some small nymphs. There weren't as many tangles as last week, but that doesn't mean there were few tangles. A couple of the kids in particular had a bad habit of trying to keep casting when they got a tangle. That's okay though, it was their first day. 

We spent the second day at just above 10,000 feet. Brainard lake was truly beautiful (I'd never been before), and it was nice to get out of the nearing 100 degree weather in Boulder. The kids learned a lot, and tangles were noticeably less. The only bed part of the day was that only two fish were caught. I even tried a few casts myself, to no avail. I decided to quit right after working my way onto a giant boulder in the lake, standing on it, throwing a cast into my backing perfectly toward a good area of structure, and slow stripping the leech I had on all the way back to me without feeling so much as a tap. It did give me some time to take some pictures for the shop, and test out my new Kodak Easy Share Camera. My old camera had stopped working, and after a good review from Howard the other day, I decided to buy one. They work great, thanks Howard!

The third day was a real treat, as we got to go back to one of the Private lakes that the shop has access to. Everyone had a great time, and many fish were caught. The first fish of the day was a team effort by me and one of the campers, me sight casting to the fish with a damsel dry fly and him fighting the fish. As it turned out, the fish was one of the few Browns that swim through that particular lake. I'll post the picture soon. In the mean time, I'll show you another picture. I got a chance to go back to the lake the day after the last camp, and work some cleanup. Seems we may have left a few behind...

My Co-Fisherman For The Day

Who knew, he really does fish! Howard and I finally got a solid plan together, picked out a time and a place to go fishing, and even a place to meet. I woke up at about 8:30 this morning, got ready, and hopped into my dad's car on his way to work. He dropped me at the shop, gave me some fly money, and headed off. I picked up some Meat Whistles, which are a big fly tied on a jig hook so that it rides hook up. It's above, for those of you trout snobs. Howard arrived a few minutes later, cool fiberglass rod in hand. After a few calls to my parents about, "How exactly do we get there again?" we found ourselves at Pella Crossing. Right as we got to the side of the lake we wanted to fish, I spotted a frog. Thinking it would be a cool thing to post a picture of (like Jay's salamander), I cast my line into the water and grabbed at the frog with my hands. The bending over must have moved my fly and attracted a nearby bass, because I soon felt a tap on my line. Fish on! After a good fight, and some picture taking by Howard, I brought the fish in. Not a huge bass, but a nice one.

 I moved on and looked for more fish, and eventually started talking to a nice spin fisherman who was next to us. "Hey J, Come here for a sec." With that, I turned around to see howard fish on. He eventually brought in what I will truthfully admit was the biggest fish of the day.

We fished a little while longer, but it was getting hot and the fish were no where to be seen. We went and picked up some lunch, and drove home. All in all, a great day!

Golfers, Please Learn Your F-ing Manners

I've never been a mean guy.... Oh wait, yes I have. Anyway, I was out trying to find carp on one of my favorite golf courses the other day, and the fishing looked crap. No fish to be seen, the Sun was hot, and the water was muddy. All I ad caught so far were about a dozen bass from the 3-10 inch range. Very fun, but not quite what I was looking for. I looked out into the center of the lake and watched for any movement. Not much. But then suddenly, a head appeared. A grass carp head. No wait, that was a Common! Light color and odd shape were the only things that made me think it was a Grassy. O yeah, and the fact that I'd never seen a 45 pound Common here before. I shit you not, 45 pounds. I laid fifty casts to him from a far bank, with no success. I had to move closer. I went to the forbidden part of the course, and started laying casts. My first cast was right on the money, around 6 feet in front of him. I started slow stripping, and he started moving towards my fly. Right as the fish was right in front of my fly, someone behind me said, "Don't make me tell you to get off the course again!" That made me jump, make a huge strip, and spook the fish over to the other side of the state. As it turns out, it was the same golf course staff member who told me to get off the course last time. As I told him some bull story of how I forgot, I walked toward the stupid far bank again. I muttered, "Hey, don't make me tell you to go fuck yourself again..."  "What?" the guy asked? "Oh, nuthin," I responded. As it turned out though, the far bank wasn't so shitty after all, and the fish Gods had mercy. No, not the giant carp. Just this...

We Need To Talk....

You ever had someone tell you that? Your first thought is definitely bad (right?) Well, we need to have a talk...

I have worms.

Do you want worms? Yes, I have hundreds of worms that I tied up this Winter that can't go to use now because the Creek is so high. So would you have any interest in getting worms? Each person is allowed a dozen worms, completely free of charge. All I ask is that in return you send me a picture of one of the worms in a fish. Don't ever catch fish? Well, stick them in something else and send me the shots. I'll start a page of all the people I've spread my worms to, along with their Blog Address. So, want worms? Email me ;)

fishonthefly97@gmail.com

Oh No..... The Worms

Did Ya Miss Me?

What's wrong with you? A week ago, I said that if you didn't hear from me to call the Police. How long has it been? No, I didn't drown. I've been feeshing. And untying knots. And un-hooking Sunfish. If I see one more stupid Blue Gill, I'm going to strangle someone. Yes, it's the Beginner Camps again.

Don't get me wrong. I love Camp. I just don't like tangles and small, sharp fish. Monday was Pella. We caught a Sunfish. Wait, no. 300 Sunfish. And how many tangles there were couldn't be counted. We managed to pick up a few Bass, courtesy of the Meat Whistle. At the end of the day, I was sunburned, tired, my feet hurt, and I was happy. Until I heard we were going back to Pella the next day.

Day two was about the same, except a little slower. Many Blue Gill Were Caught, many tangles were created, and few big fish were found. I did manage to pick up one cool fish though, a Smallmouth around 14 inches. Sorry, jumped out of my hands before I took the photo op.

Day four was a little different. It is a well known secret spot, but I'm not going to mention where. I'm sure a couple of you will recognize it.