Another fine BC Day

Couple little clips for BC, "enjoy your picture show boys".

How (not) to land a Trout from John Berry on Vimeo.

Another BC... I know, I know.. from John Berry on Vimeo.

BC Again etc.. 10/24

O the Joy! Those of you familiar with BC know the feeling of which I write. It was a cold gloomy day, rain threatened and the wind howled. Very first cast brought a decent rainbow to hand foretelling a great day. We started at the "regular" spot, Hondo catching fish after fish by doing the "stimulator dance". Sticking with dries, mainly big ones, we had a productive time. Later in the afternoon a major hatch of bluewings came off. After a time the fish lost interest in the big flies, and thus we switched over to tiny flies. This yielded the big one in the photo to the right. Eventually, I tired of not being able to see my fly, switched back over to a big bushy, and preceded to catch fish after fish in the "honey run". At this point, Hondo was crying for the cold, an begging for us to leave. I had him do jumping jacks while I caught another 3 fish. I finally acquiesced, and we hiked out. Glorious brothers, simply glorious.

Birthday Bash

Took Hondo out to "mini-AK" on his birthday (10/10). It was a cool, beautiful fall day. Had a grand time, catching salmon, and a few 'bows and browns.

Mini AK from John Berry on Vimeo.

Mini AKII from John Berry on Vimeo.

S. Fork Bust

The Unguided set out to conquer the mighty S. Fork, and were humbled. It has been blamed on perfect weather and a MASSIVE hatch of "homoerectus". Such is life. Enjoy the quick pics.

I need to clarify. We did catch fish. Our best day probably netted us 15 or so. Just none very large, and the action was slow. At one point on the last day, using a secret weapon, I hooked into 6 fish in a row. All smallish Cutts around 14". Hope that cleared the waters a bit.

Wilderness; A Gov'na Film

Wilderness (the revision) from John Berry on Vimeo.

RELEASE

Release~ from John Berry on Vimeo.

Again, BC

Took Hondo and another friend up to BC. short outting, lots of bushwacking and stinging nettle. some fish. one very nice 'bow ended up at the end of my line, last cast sort of thing. Water was low and clear. need more time out there.. can't rush the BC. till next time..

A Little Suprise Today

With the kids heading back to school tomorrow, I took today off and we headed to a favorite wild place on Harpers Creek. As an after thought I threw in my 3wt and a fly box. I gotta say, waving that little rod around after throwing the 8wt in Alaska felt awkward. I told the kids to swim in the lower pool so I could fish the upper plunge pool. 3 casts in this plunge pool from a spectacular water fall and I hooked a nice 11" rainbow. He had a little girth on him, for a wild NC 'bo, actually pulled so hard I though it might be a small mouth. So why tempt fate, I put the rod up after that cast (well, truth be told, I had tippet on that was deteriorated and I lost my fly on the next cast)... Makes me look forward to some fall outings on these little wild trout waters.

Hooked

Another Unguided Production, a little rock n roll rendition of the Alaska 2009 trip. Quick n Dirty...

Hooked from Mick Berry on Vimeo.

Back on the Water

Just a little jaunt up the canyon... fished a rough & tumble section, lots of pocket water, lots of trees... nice to be back out.

Back from The Last Frontier

"Team Unguided" has returned from the wilds of Alaska with stories to tell, and hours of film to edit. The expedition was a resounding success and the fish were plentiful. All thanks to Mikey, his gear shop and hospitality was all one could ask for. I've never drank so many milkshakes!

Enjoy this teaser of the Gov, and more will be forthcoming. Oh, and Hondo the Mule is the newest "Oncorhynchus mykiss Club" member, congrats!

Unguided Alaska 2009

The Time is NOW! The crew is off on their latest adventure, this time to the ******** River in SE Alaska. Below is a link to our "spot' page, track our progess.. and stay aprised of the latest developments.
See ya later!

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0MfA4oodxkj87uRSA6sU8smR0JGuykQ9R

Pablo
Mule
Gov'na

Salmonfly hatch 6-12

Ran up the canyon here, with kids in tow, and found the salmonfly hatch going on. Caught fish after fish, they were smashing anything! Fun few hours. Even had Noah catching a few.

If you'd like to see the Rookie's latest escapades, check out his site.

http://www.troutundertones.blogspot.com/

Birthday Bash

Black Canyon IV from John Berry on Vimeo.

well, what can I say boys? Amid rain and cold, we stuck with it and were rewarded for our efforts. Don't know if I can ever go back.. that would be tempting fate.

Best Day Ever!

ok, that's all I can say. I'll post some photos, but it doesn't do it justice. suffice it to say, caught about 40 fish, mostly between 14-19" Jumping, hopping, slamming mutha rainbows.. I was amazed at the ferocitiy and downright disregard for life that these fish showed. Many took me to task, and won. I had many bust my tippet like nothing, or tangle me in rocks and limbs.. leaving me shaking and confused.. quote of the day, "OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH!" a few 'bows jumped 5 times in a row.. a site to see. Anyhow, I'll stand by my words. best day ever.

Black Canyon: the Threepeat.

Ok, I'm not original.. but when the water is low and clear.. you've just gotta go.

Black Canyon: The Return... again.. from John Berry on Vimeo.

Not so Hot at New

Small Small Mouth on the New River from Mick Berry on Vimeo.

Beautiful day, but not much happening with the smallies. Floated a section rarely floated because the water conditions were high enough, but that also made for darker water. Used a green wooly with no result, then tied on a egg leach which made it nice to see in the water. Figured out they would take it just hanging in the current when I had cast and was messing with the canoe (teathering it to my waste) when I caught a little smallie by accident. That worked for Christian also on her black rooster tail.

Quote of the day:
Govna: "can you see your lure right there spinning in the current"
Chris: "Yeah, I'm suprised it doesn't give the fish a seizure from looking at it".

May head up into Virginia section in June after the spawn and see what happens.

The Rook on the Weber

Rook & Pablo on the Weeb from John Berry on Vimeo.

Black Canyon: The Return

Black Canyon: The Return from John Berry on Vimeo.

Mikey on the Naknek

Ok, boys, I'm writing this 0n behalf of ole Mikey.. The past weekend he finally got out to the Naknek and had a blast. He spent a couple days there, had some awesome weather and some not-so-awesome weather. One day had huge ice chunks in the river, one about took Mikey to the Great Stream in the Sky. He had to work a bit for the fish, usually landing about 20 a day. Had several that were 36", the average being 5lbs and up. You can tell by his sublime grin he had the time of his life, and is doing his best to get back there ASAP! Enjoy. ps. a lot of these were caught on a 6wt rod... he did though finally move up to an 8.

No Break in the Streak this Week

Had to keep the streak alive boys. Hit the lower section of Jfork today. Put in at the horse trailer lot, haven't done this section in a couple of years, but decided to try since a truck was parked at the rangers house. With the volume of water, I was fishing all the "micro" runs. I imagine these are overlooked by most piscators, and sure enough, took my first brookie in a shallow run in the middle of the stream, what a delight. This section is marked by a lot shallow water, but again with all the volume this spring, there were some runs and fish in them. Also a lot of flat water. I was fishing downstream, working a woolly bugger. Caught a number of small mouth and red eye bass. Seemed to only be a couple of fish in each run. There are a couple of deep, long runs in this section where the stream runs up against the mountain but other than one little brown and the small mouth, didn't do much there. Lots of walking through the shallow areas, very pretty, but not too productive.

Took a couple of pictures and video on my blackberry, but can't $%#*$*$ figure out how to get them off. I aint bringing that thing again. Not only is it hard to take pictures with it, but it buzzed to remind me of a meeting I was missing- I don't like that one bit. When you're out you're out man, no electronic leashes to interupt the outdoor experience.

Black Canyon

Pablo & the Mule in the Black Canyon from John Berry on Vimeo.

AK Fix

Pablo Landing Salmon, AK 2008 from Mick Berry on Vimeo.

Quick Fix

Felt that need, or itch to get out today.. the weather was too nice, though predictions of thunderstorms filled the afternoon sky, I ventured out regardless. Only to remember a doctors appointment, that cut my day short.
here's the 411:
Quick trip up LHF. Water was a tad off color and high, most of the snow gone, 60 degrees. Nice day, took several decent trout, tried a variety of flies. Check out the link for videos.

http://vimeo.com/4141020 The Intro
http://vimeo.com/4140722 The Catch
http://vimeo.com/4141555 Walk & Talk

if this link works, I'll add the others in a bit.. tight lines. Here's a couple of other vid's from the days events.

Men and Boys

70 and sunny isn't necessarily a good thing on the Jacobs fork, just like a full moon, it brings out the -------. But, given my need to feed the addiction, I was going in regardless. I met my buddy Bill (need to add him to the site) at the 127/10intersection a little after 2. We were standing in the stream stringing up at 3:05. I toyed with hitting the lower section, something I haven't done this season, maybe not even last season, but there was a truck at a lower turnout, so we headed to rangers house- why is that you just get stuck in these routines? Mainly I wanted to get Bill into fish and this section tends to get less attention and even though it was Thursday, it was sunny and the day before a holiday, so I feared the worse for the upper section. As soon as we stepped in the stream I spotted trout in the shallow run above us. I advised Bill about the success of the egg pattern, and to prove my point, I took two brookies on the egg in the first few casts. I love fishing this stream when the water is up- gives so many more runs and fish seem to be more dispersed.

Bill got off a little slow, victimized by the combat fishing terrain. I guess I'm so accustom to these tight spots, it doesn't bother me much-


I'm not sure I can still back cast. I took one brookie on a slingshot cast up under a branch. Eventually as we moved up, Bill took a couple of fish and was getting in the groove. 8 or 9 trout in, I looked up and spotted two yahoos coming down stream. #@$@#^% %#$@&! I hate seeing someone in my river! I watched them for a minute and dashed up to the big pool I was working up to, just to stake my ground. Two young guys, I asked them if they'd put in at the campground- yes they had- meaning all water above us, all MY PRECIOUS, PERSONAL WATER had been pilfered over by these two naerdowells. I was particularly talkative and they passed by on the other side of the stream. Bill stopped and chatted with them, just out of earshot, and I happened to notice that number 2 was wearing topsiders for wading boots- I tried to get my camera out and snap a shot, but decided against it. As bill came up to me I asked what they said. Caught four between them, one guy had on a dry the other a streamer. Well, do we stay or do we go?

We eased up to the next hole and could see several nice fish in the tail. Bang, bang, bang, took them just like routine. Maybe these guys hadn't bothered anything. We kept having success and I caught a couple in fast little pocket in between pools, always fun, makes me feel so superior to these other fair weather piscators- only a real fisherman would think to prospect in these short little brushy runs, let alone take fish in them. I left a couple of runs for Bill and headed up to slick rock. Caught a sweet rainbow there (see film- no that's not a strike indicator, it's egg with a black wooly dropper) but he came off at my feet as I was getting the camera to still mode, he was nice 13" or so, good girth. I sent Bill on ahead to Christian's hole and took 4 more fish out of slick rock. When I got up to Bill he was fighting a nice brookie, good on yah mate! He proceeded to take 15 trout out of the pool while I watched and munched on snacks, lazily fishing the upper section and missing two trout because of my inattention.

I suggested Bill eventually switch flies and thought he might run the entire pool again with a second menu item, and I eased up to the next run. And so it went. All the way to the campground, right in the boot prints of the youngens- I guess that's the difference between men and boys.

Finished up putting on a show for 4 campground spectators who looked on in amazement as I deftly flicked the fly up under branches dangling with broken off lures and took wriggling trout after trout. There was a 14" light colored, possibly rainbow in the last run with several brookies and I took most all the brookies, but the big boy alluded me. On my final attempt, a nice trout drafting next to the bigun I was angling for actually took my fly off the submerged rock where I'd landed it trying to swing into the big boys nose- that was funny and I figured a good note to end, so I took his picture with my rod (notice the fly is a lime trude with a split shot head- I love being creative).

It's almost too easy- though very enjoyable. Bill told me of a fellow coworker who has been taking very nice trout at the top of linville gorge, right below the falls, says no one has the umph to hike down there... I'm thinking end of next week when wife and kids are at disney world, I may need to pay the gorge a visit. Pablo know's the gorge, this is the upper section where it's still a little open.

There you have it.

Tale of Two Rivers

It was the worst of times and it was the best of times. Let me tell you the tale of the Black Canyon.
I arrived at 11 ish, the song from my car speakers blasted the aptly named song by the Cars,"hello, hello again". One car in the parking lot (found out later those yokels were shooting rock chucks) so I had the river to myself, a first. I quickly headed upstream a bit.. tied on a royal wulff and started casting. It was therapeutic to just enjoy the act of casting a dry on a large river.. haven’t done that for a while.
After a half hour of no rises, I added a dropper, and in a bit had landed a little rainbow. Added another in short order. That was it for 3 hours. I switched up flies many times, dry only, different droppers, nothing. As fatigue weighed in and concentration waned, I decided to switch up one more time. I put on a massive stimulator (stimulator?, I hardly know her) and tied on a bead head prince nymph (party like its 1999!) That’s when the action began. After one cast, I was fighting a jumpy bow… and so it went for a half hour. I landed 9 or 10, all decent size. I had started using different techiques, ie.. stripping that nymph, swinging it, and a little jiggle, teasing those fish into striking. The Gov'na would have been proud.

I was having a grand ole time, just like Black Canyon used to be. Things I forgot though. How hard it is to wade in that river, how you need a wading staff, need a net, need more nymphs, and how strong those rainbows are. I'm making this note to self.. bring those things next time! And bring a sinking tip line, with streamers! (n.t.s.)



that last trout was a dandy.... He flashed at my fly twice before taking it, right along the bank. He took off downstream, into that fast water.. I was holding on for dear life.. trying to keep from breaking off, and trying like mad to get downriver, after him. Those of you who've been to that river know how treacherous it is to "run" downriver after a fish...after 15 min & a hundred yards, I finally coaxed him into shallow water where I was able to "corral" him with my boots (I need new boots). Enough said, what an ending... all told 71 miles from my door (1 1/2 hours, n.t.s.) I must go back, soon.

Solitude

What a day. No one in sight, clear water, many fish. Hiked into LHF, felt like walking into the arms of a familiar lover. The 411: landed 8 or 9 fish, nothing under 11. I missed several others, had a very nice brown on (twice) momentarily, and lost several flies to a wayward tree limb. The most memorable was losing that brown. I had come to a very deep run, had taken a trout from the back end, but then saw another swirl a little farther up. You know how you can see the back of the fish break the water, then the tail rotate over... you can tell its of good size.. I flicked a great cast right up into the overhanging tree, had to break off. Tied on another fly, lost that one too. finally put the fly right in the sweet spot.. gulp!.. I stung him and popped it out of his mouth! Tried again, nothing. Tried a new fly, smaller, gulp again! this time I had him on for about 8 secs.. that's right, I rode that bull for the allotted time, then he popped off... Drat! Fun nonetheless.. what a day!

I'm amazed by how many fish, and good size fish are in this stream. They were starting to stage for spawning, and I spooked out many fish in the riffles.. some quite nice, say, 16" or so.. and for this size stream the number per run or hole is incredible...

The Carolina Quartet

How do you describe that feeling when it's a weekday and you've got trout on you schedule? I did stay focused through the morning and then about lunch time headed for my meeting with Jacob Fork. Cloudy and cool. I scoped out the upper section and one angler was up there. I decided to hit my favorite haunt. Water was very heavy from all the rain recently, it was a little off in color, and really amazing how the runs change when there is so much water. Couldn't sight fish with the volume and dark sky so resorted to "strip searching". Wasn't long before I took my first brookie on a black beadhead woolly bugger I'd tied as a dropper to the egg pattern, really using
the egg as an indicator, these trout can take it so gently you gotta try and see your fly under water, in fact I missed two fish before I took number one. Took a little brown on a dead drift in the gorge, watched a big fish flash around it, and then ended up taking the small mouth in the cut of the big rock (fished from the right hand side- if moving up stream) I was standing on. Fished all the way up to Christian's hole (took three brookies there) and then decided to keep going. It had been quite awhile since I've fished that section. With the water so heavy there were great runs in areas that wouldn't typically hold fish and I had a ball taking trout in fairlyshallow water swinging the woolly bugger down current. There are also two really nice deep runs up in this section, one of which yielded three trout on three casts. Fished all the way up to the campground, it really wasn't that far. Skipped some of the shallower water and then fished right there at the parking lot, taking the big brown. He hit the fly as soon as it hit the water and I missed him and on the next cast he hit again really hard and put up a good fight. The next section up I caught the little rainbow. The section just above the parking lot is really cool, couple of deep plunge pools and a gorge type section. I need to check this section out more thoroughly next time. Didn't catch anything in these pools, did miss a fish and saw another flash at the fly. By now it was getting dark and I was terribly dehydrated, so weak I could hardly walk. I had forgotten to bring water and although surrounded by clear cold water, I didn't want to chance giardia. With out the strength to walk the 2 miles back to my car, I had to rely on my British special forces training.

GEAR REVIEW:

Love the slimline chest pack. I picked out my flies ahead of time and put them on Velcro backed pads which fit perfectly in the vest. Loved being able to open my "fly box" by unzipping the pack's main compartment. Very light, don't even notice it and perfect for scampering under bushes and over rocks- excellent and cheap, I only paid $14 for it.

Didn't try the foot warmers. Its too warm here to try them out now. One of you snow bound boys gonna have to test them out.

Gear List- update as needed

Group
Tent- 4 or 6 man
Sleeping bags
Pillows?
Thermarests

Matches/lighters
Firstarter
Fire logs
Tarp ?
Rope
Cargo nets
Firearms
Ammo
Bear spray 3 or 4
Brick of firecrackers 4
Rain slickers
TP
First aid kit
SAT phone or SPOT (Hans)
Small shovel / axe
Binoculars
Zip lock bags
Remote detonator (Hans)
Net (Hans)

Kitchen
Table
Stove
Fuel
2 pots
Frying pan
Paper plates
Utensils
Fillet knife
Mugs
Chairs 3
Dish soap
Scrubby
Paper towels
Storage box for kitchen items
Milk jugs with frozen water

Crying in my Rocky Road / Pablo's "Man Room"

First Day out and skunked, but that's not what it's all about right?

So, after a very pensive day, I took to the hills to get out of my head. It was a gorgeous day, mid 70s if you can believe that. New equipment begged me to break it in. Although the weather was "perfect", there was no fish to be caught by the Mule today. My years of not being skunked on the water have come to an end. But... who cares, fishing isn't just about the fish. It also has to do with communion with nature and drawing closer to our almighty creator.

So here it is BOYZ... my first day out in 2009 (somewhere near SLC, UT)

If This is Monday, Who Needs the Weekend!

Got the water about 9am. Decided to hike to the top of the upper section and started where the two smaller streams flow together to form the Jacob's Fork. Above the confluence is wild trout water. I looked it over, lots of plunge pools, very steep on one side and cascading, who knows, maybe when delayed harvest ends I'll take a walk up one of those and see what it's about. I had missed a big brown in the first big hole my last time out... (Hey, I don't think I posted one of my outings...gotta check that out- ok, I checked, I haven't missed one, I didn't go last week- no wonder I had to get out today).

Anyway, I stumbled and fell down before I even made a cast, did one of those nice sit down falls where water runs down your back- that's always a fun way to start the day. I had hits on the first two casts and hooked numbero uno on the third cast. That is such a great way to start- gets you focused real quick. It's hard to go the first hour with out any action.

Spent a lot of time working down the upper section, up until noon or so, and only caught 3 or 4 fish. The whole time I was using a bead head black woolly bugger. Caught two stripping and one on the dead drift after he missed it on the first pass. I think that area has really been picked over. So as it started warming up and as I was getting close to the parking lot I decided to go check out the middle section at the rangers house.

Soon as I put in at the trampoline there were brookies stacked up in the runs. The egg pattern worked as usual, and it's amazing how you can take fish one right after the other from a small run and the ones left will scatter for a bit and then reconvene and you can just pick them off one at a time. By now it had warmed up nicely and I lost the fleece and a thick mayfly hatch started coming off. Trout (smaller ones, but still...) where rising at the top of the pool and I frantically put on a size 18 adams - but they were having none of it, rising around it but ignoring it. So I switched up to a tiny (24??) little adams looking fly and flicked it out there 5 or 6 times, same results. Thought it might be the color, both had light bodies, put on a black body fly 24 or 26- teeny, hard to thread the tippet. Even so, on that flat water it was very distinguishable. Alas, same result. By now the hatch had slackened so I tied back on the egg to drown my sorrows. I still hadn't taken any of the bigger fish and on the first cast a big dog flashed from nowhere (under the ledge of the long overhanging rock I was standing on) and hammered the fly. Ok, here's my great photo op, so as I'm playing the trout and trying to take out the camera to get some live footage, he runs up stream and pops me off!!!! Drat.

I took a couple more smaller trout with my last egg pattern and then decided to see what was cooking in the upper pools. Caught a couple in some pocket water as I made my way up and at the gorge caught 3 decent fish, but couldn't get the bigger ones interested. Slick rock was looking good with 8 or 9 nice brookies on the far bank. I skirted it, saving it for last and went up to Christian's pool. This big pool had 10 or 12 nice size fish in it and I cast my egg to them a couple of times but didn't do anything. I'd kind of gotten tired of catching them on the egg and really wanted to see if I could get a take on one of the minute dries at slick rock, so I headed back down there.

Trout were rising, but seemed to only be juvies and I made one cast with the egg (one last cast before I switch up) and bang, nail an average size fish and again as I'm wresting the camera out, pop, he breaks me off. So I sat down in my favorite lounge chair and chilled out for a while. Tried to take pictures putting my glasses over the camera lens to see it cut the glare and I think it did, see the attached photo where you can make out the brookies of slick rock lined up like a U-Boat armada.

So I decided that was that. I was tired, had caught 15-20 trout, and need to be back to take Morgan to vball practice. But instead of bushwhacking straight up hill to the road, I ambled down stream, doing the accompanying walk n talk- that's pretty cool. When I got back down to the trampoline hole I noticed a large trout at the bottom of the pool with an egg stuck in it's top tip.

Try as I might, I could not get it interested in another egg (whatever happened to two eggs over easy), or a couple of woolly's, so I caught one last consolation fish and broke down and headed home.

Luckily, when I got home I had the polypro gloves from Pablo waiting for me and he had graciously included a bunch of easter eggs in the packet- good on ya mate.

On the gear front, didn't have anything new for this outing. The low profile chest pack I ordered last week hasn't arrived, so that'll be the test for next week (already got that one on the calendar, Thursday, put it down). Lost my dang clippers- DOH! Hate it when that happens.... The video never does the stream justice. This is absolutely beautiful water, but I have to admit, there were times today when I felt a little stale with this water. Need to mix it up a little. I've heard the stream that flows around Mt. Mitchell golf course is loaded with trout and the other day, a nice old gentleman who I helped with a city issue invited me to play golf at Mt. Mitchell because his son runs it... don't care about hitting a golf ball out there, but maybe flicking a fly. Gonna call him back tomorrow.

First Day of Spring-

Wish I could tell you boys I had a helluva day, and caught many fish, alas, it was not to be. It was one of those days were you work hard, fall hard, stumble around, curse flies and fish.... but ultimately, you land a trout, and it's all worth it. Such was the case today. It was just good to be outside.. fishing were there is not a chance of anyone fishing above or below you. No motorcycles nor four wheelers.. just you and water.

The 411: Fished above Porcupine. Weather, 45-50 deg. Water a bit glacial colored. Fish, not many. After fruitlessly plumbing the lower end of the stream, I was about to call it quits. Something in the back of my mind, questioned whether I should head upstream, to the open area, get out of this pocket water. Thus I did. It was only a short jaunt from where I ended in the pocket water, to the open grassy area near the girls camp. The first run I cast into I hooked the below featured trout. No skunk for Pablo.

Shortly thereafter, I retired for the day, glad to have been out, and to have landed a trout. All in all, the new gear (I've become a gear whore) worked quite well. The waders were great, breathed nicely. The chest pack was wonderful. The hat, light and comfortable. My feet, cold. Still working on that dilemma. Went directly to town, and the local Roundrocks fly shop, and bought more gear. YES!

Till next time... adieu.

Rain and 40 Deg

Forecast called for mid 40's and rain, that sounds like the Togiak in July eh. So I packed gear the night before and got up early and made it to the Jfork by 8:20am. Surprise, Surprise, there were not 14 car loads waiting to get in today, hmmmm, wonder why. It was raining so hard I backed rightup to the Kibo at the lower horse trailer parking lot so I could change under the canopy. Both pairs of liners (polypro and 400wt camos), two pairs of wool socks and an extra neoprene booty over the sock foot of the wader, it was a little tight in the boot, but felt "OK" once it got wet. Hardest part was raising my knee high enough to get my boots on. With all that "stuff" down my waders, it limited the range of motion, but not a problem. Sweatshirt, 300wt fleece, wading jacket up top. Threw on a balaclava and man, that made a big difference, very warm head and neck. Only problem was my dang hood on the wading jacket kept getting down over my eyes, driving me crazy and of course my glasses kept fogging up, but I couldn't see anything anyway with it so dark and raining on the lenses. Eventually I figure out if I put my ballcap under the hood it kept it out of my face. The gloves where hard to get on, not sure I'll be able to wear polyprop liners under them, but they were actually warm and although we've debated the finger/thumb opening, I'm glad I've got them cause it's such a hassle to pull the gloves on and off, and actually you can blow into the holes and warm up your fingers a little.



Anyway, the fishing was tough. Couldn't see anything and with those gentle takes, I missed several fish. The vid explains the rest. Feet got just a little cold after 4 hours, not freezing or miserable, but they weren't warm anymore, not sure what the answer is there. More space in the boot might help. Also realized when I got out and changed clothes that my fleece was damp on the sleeves- that waterproof breathable just doesn't quite cut it, I wonder if there is a truly waterproof breathable jacket, maybe made out of the same stuff the waders are made out of??



Any way, that'll probably be my only "wet run" of the gear. No question I'll be in better shape than last year to cope with the weather, but I'm still hoping it's sunny and 65 all 8 days. Suite me to never even open my dry bag.

Rolling Clear Water

On the water by 1:30, back on the top section where I was Thursday. Immediately it was obvious that the weekend had produced a pounding. The holes where I took 10 fish now were visibly empty. Took a little while to get in the groove, but once I stopped "retail" fishing and just hitting the spots, the stream came alive, it actually felt more like a stream that size should with 1-2 fish in likely spots and some runs with no fish (at least not seen or caught). No need to do a blow by blow. The egg worked well, the takes where so subtle that several times I had a fish on for a second when I didn't know it and lost them because of no set. The water was gorgeous, very high and full, giving lots of cover. Found a really neat run backed up by a big windfall and after taking two specks on the drifting egg switched up to a lime trude and caught three more nice ones on a submerged strip. Two memorable moments: I got up into the bank and under trees to fish this one run and just as the egg was easing out into the current a big head flashed up and gently took it. I jerked my rod back right into a branch and the line went slack and he spit it out- combat fishing, you gotta love it. Later at another deep run a big head rose and opened his mouth like jaws. His head came completely out of the water with his mouthing gaping open and somehow I jerked the fly and he missed it completely, I swear I heard his teeth snap together. Don't know that I've ever seen such a gaping rise.

I met the friendly park ranger and he checked my license (doesn't even have a license Lisa- name that movie) and we had nice chat. He said he opened on Saturday and there were 15 "car loads" waiting at the gate at 8am. Said Sunday wasn't as bad... This is definitely a weekday thing. Even so, there were several fishermen out today, most of them older gentlemen that stayed closed to the bank and fished the big deep holes, so I had my pickins of the riffles and shallow stuff, which suited me fine.

On my way out an older fisherman approached and low and behold it was my old buddy Dennis from Mecklinberg IT. We had a nice chat, I hadn't seen him in 7 or 8 years and was surprised that his name came right to me, must be that spiritual fishing connection thing. He was actually right above me on the stream and told of taking a big brown on a woolly bugger after he'd hooked it three times and it got off. I told him about our AK adventure and he mused dreamily that his shot at AK had probably passed him buy but for some guided thing which he wasn't too fond of, I know I liked that guy!

So basking in the peace of a successful Monday jaunt and diet coke buzz, I merrily rode home, not a cloud in my mind. The rolling hills eased by, dotted with cows, old homes and delapidated barns, shirtless scraggly teenagers and old guys in trucks who we mutually nod and wave our hellos through our windshields like old friends as we zip past each other at 50 mhp, and all is right with the world. What a gift, what a blissful gift to have my mind empty of all concern. A free gift from rolling clear water and speckled little Salvelinus fontinalis.

A New Favorite Section?

Took the "rook" out to Jfork. Hit the rangers house section. When we first put in at the shed, I spotted a group of specks in a shallow run- perfect! But after drifting 2 microscopic flys over them I only got some tepid interest. The rook went up ahead a ways and with his 9' rod was finding it challenging to stay in water instead of adlers. I decided to move up and gave him a wide berth with lots of fishable water. After finding no fish in big run, deep hole, slick rock and Christain's pool, I was scratching my head. The water was really high, but gin clear, and slick rock had a totally different look and current to it. We decided to venture further up and see what else was going on. We stopped at the camp ground and looked around but saw no fish so we went up to the last parking lot and looked around and there were a number of fish in the run just upstream from the viewing platform. There were also a number of fisherman milling around at each of the stops, so it was obvious that DWR had made a visit and jobs were taking a back seat to casting.

After a few refusals the Rook reminded me that the guy at the orvis shop and sold him and insisted that egg and egg variations were the way to go. So I tied on an egg and fished it on top like a dry and on the second cast a speck came up and gently nibbled it- wham, a miss. Next cast, fish on! First fish of 09. I took about 8 out of that run. The rook was struggling. I moved up, this is the upper section, which I fished once last year with great success. This is pure dryfly water, shallow and plenty of runs. The fish where spread out nicely. On one section I found a nice rocky cut bank with a narrow run.... Looked like a good Brownie lair. I bounced the egg off the rock and as it eased down the channel a big head came up and then a second head shot up to snatch it from the first- whoohooo, but a miss. Next drift another flash but nothing, then third drift and here he came a thick trout casually took it in and we were off. Turned out to be another speck, but much larger than the others so far. And so it went.

The sun dipped below the trees and the air took on it's March chill and I ended up at a middling deep pool taking trout on the first 9 casts, twice two fish fought for the fly. A brown lost it's mind, tired of seeing his aggressive speck cousins one up him and actually came out of the water and took the fly on the way down! It was an absolute free for all. Most the fish ran about 13", with enough girth to bend your rod and keep you from pulling them out of the water. I got to the point where I was talking to them, fondly expressing my appreciation and complimenting them on their style of take and beating their brethren to the prize. Eventually my hands were freezing and the sun had wained and the rook was no where around. I kept waiting for him to round the bend and come into sight where if he hadn't taken fish I could put him into my spots, but he never came. So I got up on the trail and hoofed it back to the parking lot. He was in the first hole where I started and had caught two fish. He'd lost his egg pattern early on and nothing else much was working.

All in all, a great day! 30+ specks in a couple of hours. I could do this tomorrow and the next day, and the day after! Season has arrived. Until June I'll have easy access on many an afternoon to some eager brookies. Eventually I'll find a full day and get back to the wild water, see what's going on there, but for now, the J Fork is my honey.

Good for the Soul

When one walks outside on a clear day in March (intending to work) and is greeted by the sun and a warm 55 degree breeze, there is but one thing to do. Make a mad dash back into the house gathering fly rod/waders/boots/vest/hat/(what'd I forget?) throwing them all pell mell into the back of the fish mobile and lay rubber all the way to the stream.

What a day! I shan't bore you with all the details... suffice it to say I shared time with mule deer, a gaggle of wild turkey's and a few willing trout. The glorious sun shone, giving me hope that the dark days of winter were at last waning. Oh the crunch of crusted snow.... the cool water lapping about my legs... brrrr. that's a bit too cold... damn, that's cold... what the ??

A nice tear in the waders! The fish Gods smiled as if at an inside joke.. knowing full well I'd just cyber-visited the great of Halls of all Things Cabelas, therein buying a brand spanking new set of waders!!! Glory be! Only one week till they are in my greedy little hands.

Speaking of hands, you know the saying.... "a cold trout in the hand is worth... what?" Fill in the blank.

I cannot put into words the nourishment to my hell bound soul, to be back in the water after such a long and cold winter. Like the Gov'na says, "it's all about just being there". Boys, I make you all a commitment right now, I will be there a whole lot more.......

Waxing Philosophical

I have a Sunday evening ritual which evolves right around the first dreamy thoughts of spring. I first check my blackberry (that's a modern day implement of slavery to you freemen) to see what my afternoons look like for the coming week.. Hm, Thursday or Friday look good- couple of things but they are... castable.... Then pull up weather.com (don't you love the access to fishing info) and Friday shows 50% chance of rain, but Thursday, cloudy 10% chance and 63 degrees. Mmmm, what sweet pickins. So I unload my booty from the recent Cabalas run and stow my tiny little flies (see note to self from last entry) and my 7x tippet and flat rock pool is already in sight, now I just have to keep my nose to the stone for the next four days and I'm in water.

The mission statement of Trout Magic really captures it all. Is fishing that important? No, but for those of us who have chipped the hard baked clay from our souls to find our spiritual moorings to this beautiful earth on which we walk with all of her lovely variety and thrilling wild life, the man made pursuits of modern man seem so... foolish. Yes, many people have their escapes. Many paint their faces on Sunday and scream their lungs out with 100,000 of their closest friends as gridiron monsters crash into each other in true gladiator fashion, and others haunt the man made valley's in search of that perfect swing and that elusive par, I hear the siren call of these "pursuits". But these are not by brethren, nor are the decaled, big motor, yankem into the boat, competitive fisherman. No, there are only a relative handful who have chipped away the last shards of adam's sweat induced clay and found the real peace, the real tranquility which a $1,000 rod and all the orvis gear in the world can't buy. I'm more akin to the little asian guys I saw sitting on a bucket drowning worms in the lake, hoping to fill that bucket with dinner. They fish out of necessity, to feed their bellies. I fish out of necessity to feed my soul.

The Old Haunts in Winter

The scriptures say, that by your thoughts you shall know them.... That certainly holds true for a fisherman. Even in winter, it's never far from my thoughts. As luck would have it, a few short days after the tactical blunder I was at a community event and ran into an old fishing buddy from my days working for the County. Although he too had long since left that employ for greener pastures and "they just aint as much stress in my job now as that other'n" meaning, he can laze around more and fish frequently, who can blame such a man? Anyway, after pleasantries and sharing that I'd just run into his bosom fishing buddy Charlie just a few weeks earlier at a corning event (truly, the fish gods have been active in my life this winter- must be the Alaska residue, what say ye?) I shared my latest outing to upper lost cove and begged for info- "ol bro, remember that I used to be your big boss and instead of ratting you out to your supervisor when you and charlie were lazing around, I'd sit on a bucket and we'd talk fishin' for hours on end, all the time on the clock, now please, man, tell me where you fish in the winter."

He scratched his scruffy beard for a minute and I could sense his hesitation. "I was actually thinkin on fishing tomorrow you know."

"oh yah, where?"

"you can always go odor to the davidson, but them fish is seen it all and that aint that fun"

"yah, yah, I've been there, those fish are obnoxiously finicky...."

"you ever been over there to the church?"

"You mean on the watagua?"

"Yah"

"Yes, I have been there"

"That's a good one"

My thoughts "what the??? that's delayed harvest man, they quit stocking that in October you mean to tell me there's fish carrying over the winter???"

"Hmmm"

"I like south mountain to, caught a few nice ones there the other week."

"Really, hmmm, so south mountain, yeah, I think I've heard of it...."

"ok man, you looking good, take care I'll see you again in 10 years when the fish gods weave our paths back together."

So, with new intel, I'm thinking, when, when, when can I go.... So on Tuesday morning I rise early and dress for another work day. I drop the kids off at their schools and then head.... back to the house. Quickly I throw my stuff in the trunk. I've got a 3:30 meeting I can't miss, but everything this morning can be ...cast aside, no one will ever know I went fishing. A wisper of guilt drifts across my mind- man this must be how it feels to have an affair- but my mistress is pure and my guilt insincere.....hehehheee. and I'm off.

It's a beautiful day in February, one of those day's when April pokes it's head into winter just to tease you're casting wrist. Temp about 70, little cloud cover. I hit my old haunt, right there at the ranger house, fish that section away from the road that takes a little more effort to get to. Tuesday, not a soul in sight, this is MY Park, I own this stream! The little rod feels so sweet and natural in my hands. I tie on a dry and start working the sides, thinking, it's browns that have survived. The first few runs I don't raise or see anything. Then as I get up to the pool right at the house, a dark shadow darts from in front of my foot, a brown, a skittish little brown who's survived the winter- my buddy was right.

I can't locate or bring him back up, so I ease to the next hole. And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a big fat rainbow and eight tiny rain deer! The bo was big, sharking around in the deep pool (I'm naming this pool Big Gourge). I tried the dry, too deep they weren't coming up. I tied on a brasshead nymph, a look, a look, come on! look and leave. Tie on a streamer and some split shots, drop him way down there on the bottom. Let him sit. Then twitch, twitch... .nothing, just turn away and head to the back of the pool! Dang it.... Two more fly's five different angles, nada. Who was I kidding, he'd seen me, and wasn't still here because he could be easily fooled.

I scaled the rocks to the next run. A slow flat fairly shallow but big run just below the big pool I have fondly named, "Christian's pool" from last fall. Here I spy the beauties, about 8 of them moving around. I sit patiently and watch... a rise- oh yeah, a rise. Then another! We're in busines boys. Tie on the tiniest little mosquito I've got and still it looks like a styrophome cup floating on that still water! Drat, my first cast lines right on their heads and off they scatter. Ok, rest this one, go check out Christian's pool. One lone fish marks my arrival by shooting from the tail end and out of sight. No visible fish in the pool. I give it a wide berth and work up to the head making a few gentle casts into the riffles feeding the pool. Nothing.

Back to the lower pool (I'm naming this one, Slick Rock). Sit and read the scriptures for a while and eat an orange and dose off sitting in the loop of a root that holds my against the hill, and wonder, isn't this enough? In February, early February to sit in the April sunshine at slick rock pool and watch a few trout rising opposite me. One in no more than 12" of water right on the main flat rock that makes up the middle of the pool.... Eventually, no, it's not enough. So I tie on a greenbody mayfly, tiniest thing I've got (note to self, buy some more smaller fly's for these boys on slick rock). I make a good cast way up and let it smoothly drift down to to below the rock where they are lounging, but drat, the slow current I'm across get's me drag and a line correction causes too much disturbance--- got get a better spot. So I painfully ease out into the water (I'd been standing by the bank casting across to the opposite bank). Slowly, slowly easing across the big slick rock until I can reach the current with my rod tip. An easy cast and now a perfect drift right off the slick rock to the sweet spot.. and HERE HE COMES- a nice little brookie starts up to the fly, "YEAH YEAH YEAH" but just as he takes it, I raise the rod and pop, nada. Either too quick or he had a change of heart just as he got to it. Ok, three more casts, nada. I've learned from these fish that two or three looks is all they will give a fly. So I have to wade back where I've left my vest and tie on another one. A little emerger looking guy with a green body (note to self BUY MORE TINY FLYS). I ease back out to the same spot and wait a few minutes to let everything return to normal. Then a delicate cast and smooth drift. Just as the fly swirls off the slick rock- HERE HE COMES... wait wait, wait, DOH, another miss!!!

So, is that enough. April sunshine, wise wintered fish and two misses? It's already 2pm and I've got to make that 3:30,so yes, yes it is enough and although I have not pictures of fish to post for my snowbound western brethren, my heart soars, I've had one of those rare spring days in winter and ground hog be damned, SPRING is less than six weeks away!

On the happy ride back to reality I have a glimpse of of my future, a glimpse of my pipe dream nestled in some remote valley of some unknown mountain range in a western state over looking a trout stream let's just call, dry creek! Yep boys, this here is the Govna's Mansion and the Govn'a is holding court!

Tactical Error leads to more hiking than Fishing

No matter how many times I read my fish notebook and read that it's fruitless to fish in the winter, I still do it! What's that definition of insanity? Well, luckily then I made a huge tactical error and spent 2 hours driving, 2 1/2 hours hiking and 50 minutes fishing, which was a gracious plenty. Last summer I noticed that the trail to upper lost cove had been improved and you could drive down there. I'd walked that a couple of times 2 or 3 years ago and had in my mind this big deep pool, so today I decided to go back to that pool and drag a few woolies through it and see what happened. What a mistake! First of all, not suprisingly, the road was locked, but my notes said it was a 20 minute easy walk. So I suited up, including 2 fleeces to hold off the bitter wind in the 40 degree temperature. 45 minutes later, and one sliding, stumpling, bumbling straight down hill episode, I was finally to the end of the road, but the water was nowhere in sight... So I stood and gandered at the trail sign there for a while, 7.5 miles, what does that mean? 35 minutes later I finally make it down to the water, and dang if the water isn't all shallow and flat, great dry fly, but I'm draggin around my big stick with sinking tip. So I wander down stream looking for some pools but find nothing. I headed up stream and found one pool and made a few half hearted casts and strips, but nada. The coolest part was that it started spitting snow and ice was forming in the eyes... It was 4 bells and I knew I had a solid hour of hiking up hill, so I headed back, dang, what a hike, I got a little loopy and almost took the wrong trail, but I didn't and about dark I made it back to the car. So, aint going back there any time soon. Should've hit the main branch of Wilson creek where I could've thrown it around some and not spent all my time walking, so that'll be the plan next time. But put it down, not even out of January and I'm already on the book!

Adding to the AK list

You know I work with a bunch of very professional and thoughtful people here in the Govna's office. When I pulled up our secret river on the Nat GEO topo sight and was showing them where we'll be, the first thing out of Debbie's mouth was, "Do you have a will?" She is our paralegal, always looking to be sure we've got everything covered. I realized, no, I don't even have a will. So, add it to the list, either get a will or be sure it's updated, and don't make Pablo, Govn'a or Mule the executor- just in case none of make it out alive!

Just had to...

I just had to post this video... I savor that day, the day we found the fish!! Not to mention the awesome falls... Enjoy.