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.......