Saturday, October 22, 2016

Simplicity

"...there's not much difference between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot"...

- Stephen Wright         

... picked up a 'Tenkara' fly rod recently, so last weekend packed it up to 'Dunbar Creek' to try it out...

... not going to delve much into the mechanics of the thing; we were compelled more by the apparent simplicity and small stream capability... this particular model, a 'HellBender' manufactured by 'DragonTail Tenkara', telescopes out to a maximum rod length of 13ft (adjustable to 11ft) from a collapsed rod length of 24 inches (pictured above) straight out of it's metal carrying tube (not pictured)...

... it's ready to fish in about two minutes by simply attaching the furled fly line to the rod tip-end 'Lilian' cord by a simple 'girth hitch' knot...

... we pre-rigged the 4X 'tippet' to the fly lines small metal o-ring attachment with a simple 'clinch knot', and the same from the tippet to one of the three included fly patterns - we figured that we'd stick with their system for the initial trial run but got a few of our own nymph patterns along as well... when all is said and done, you're holding a 13ft, strong action, very light carbon fiber rig with 13.5ft fly line...

... the logic here is that you want to achieve a delicate "presentation" (fly angler talk) where only the fly contacts the water, the fly line itself remains suspended; the only difference we see unlike regular fly fishing... there's no reel involved either - they provide ya' with a foam line holder that slips over the grip end of the rod - we went to the hardware store and picked up  a hand full of 1/2 inch plastic 'twist locks' and made a set of line keepers for securing the line when collapsed and moving about - our favorite function of the entire system...

... casting took a bit getting used to - had more than a fair share of tree and brush snags and wind knots, but after about two hours of goin' at it was able to plop the fly on the water "gentle as the falling autumn leaves" - was almost a work of art...

... didn't catch any fish, however - was out for around four hours - spotted a few medium-sized 'Brook Trout' here and there wallowing in the shadows - was droppin' the fly right in front of their noses but they weren't interested - if anything we probably should have weighted the line a bit - don't know what those 'Tenkara Flys' they provide are, but they were floatin' a bit light to our liking...

..."the fishing was good, it was the catching that was bad"...

                                                                             - A.K Best

... ventured out again the following day...

... had been talkin' to a guy the day previous who was doin' OK catch-wise using a (large we thought) 'Wooly Bugger (to our surprise) - landed  a decent size "Brookie" even as we were speakin' - so considering that we figured we'd tie on the old stand-by 'Muddler Minnow' - don't know why - had planned on only using nymph patterns right up until reaching the stream - usually only fish the 'streamers' in the river - and then didn't even weight the 'muddler' ta' boot (?)...

... fished upstream the whole distance from the 'Boy Scout Dam' up past 'Betty Knox's' meadow and saw more fish in the creek than ever - counted fourteen 'Brook Trout' up to that point - couldn't get one to strike...

... really like to fish the faster water and tailouts and got one large Brook interested enough to leave his hiding below a  long rock ledge, but he'd only sniff around...

... got into some small natives up past the the large strainer dam  in front of "Betty's place" that were a bit more active, with repeated strikes from one small guy who was feeding in some fast riffles, but it got to be obvious he was a bit too small to swallow the muddler - should have switched to a smaller nymph pattern then and there but by this time had been out for just over three hours, enjoy'n a nice day otherwise, and wanted to look around the area a bit; hadn't been up that way in a few years...

... lots of mushrooms and saw this 'Black Bear' track...

... strolled over to check out Betty's old pasture...

... supposedly Betty is still around spookin' the place - steppin' into that open meadow it can occasionally feel like a million eyes are watchin' from the surrounding woodland shadows...

... a pretty atmospheric area - can feel like dusk even in the middle of a sunny afternoon with the dense softwood tree canopy of the stream hollow casting a heavy shadow... and there is always the one instance where ya' hear a sudden loud twig snap directly behind ya' only to turn around and see nothing - happened this day as well - turned just in time to catch sight of a small dead sapling falling for no apparent reason about twenty feet behind... Betty's way of havin' fun with "visitors" we guess...

... no fish, no ghosts (we think) - otherwise a good day... on the way out snuck back in to one pool where a large swimming Brook had ignored us earlier; hoping he had forgotten by now - dropped in several perfect casts unseen and unacknowledged from the stream bank - watched and inspected the crystal clear water for several minutes but never saw him this second stop - so decided to call it a day, intermittently casting random pools and riffles on the way back downstream

..." If you fish the wrong fly long and hard enough, it will sooner or later become the right fly"...

                                                                                                                                   - John Gierach

... not today...      

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Gorilla Glue

... got back out on the MTB's the other day for a return to some fall bikin' with 'Muscle Girl Sarah'...

... she showed up amped and ready to roll... 

... been a few months and personally a bit out of condition - so we stuck to the standard "cruiser" trail - about seven miles with around 500ft elevation gain... luckily she has yet to memorize the route so for the most part was able to control the pace and avoid getting smoked...

... even pulled a "Goodman" on me (def: repeat a hill climb twice before those following reach the top - passing them on the way back down and, if they're really doggin' it, on the way back up as well, which tends to really piss 'em off) on the signature long hill climb...

... after around three miles, though, ya' reach the rolling ridge top...

... with about a final half-mile of a bit technical, washed and rocky 450ft downhill to finish (and a bit steeper than the photos would suggest...

... so what's this got to do with 'Gorilla Glue'?...

... well, finally delaminated the soles of an ancient pair of 'Merrils' we been ridin' for maybe twenty years and in all conditions (with minor repairs throughout) - strictly have used 'em only for ridin', so they still have some decent tread on 'em - not ready to give 'em up... depending upon how flexible that 'Gorilla Glue' is, should be good to go for another twenty...

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Big Fish, Light Rig

... as much as for the fall ambiance, try to get out as much as possible this time of year to enjoy the fly fishing hereabouts - other than early summer don't bother with it as much the rest of the year, but like to inquire of others we run into when out and about along the river and streams to keep up with how the "fish are bite'n"...

...ventured out last Sunday evening along the 'Yough' - was only the fourth trip since finally purchasing this years fishing license this past September and each time to the same river spot - total catch the prior three visits numbered two average size Brook Trout - wasn't expecting much different this time, if landing anything at all - but, don't matter one way or the other - anyway, as 'Thoreau' said, "Most men fish their whole lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after" - could apply that phrase to just about any outdoor pursuit...

... was gettin' to be around 5pm and had been out for little over an hour workin' a 'Muddler Minnow' the whole time - always a good streamer bet when fishing the 'Yough' - might have had one strike about a half hour earlier, might not - wasn't a bug in the air nor anything breakin' the surface as far as the eye could see the whole time as well - was gettin' ready to call it a day when a surprising light hatch started to go off and it's settin' off a few fish to breakin' a bit further downstream... decided to let the 'Muddler' float a bit further down to where the action appeared, maybe about another sixty feet - had a lot of line out by this time, almost down to the backing, and started workin' back upstream when WHAM!! - got somethin' and it's big and strong... now I'm tryin' to land this thing - it's tuggin' and fightin' like crazy - broke the surface twice about a foot in the air - and I'm makin' a hell of a mess of about 80 feet of fly line while tryin' to let him run with it and prayin' the whole time he doesn't break the light tippet he's hooked...

... Man! - why didn't I buy the heavier weight fly rod I've been meaning to get for the past ten years with consideration always to the massive trout (bass as well) I've forever seen yanked out of this river!!  Always knew it was gonna' come back to bite me in the ass!!! Don't matter now!!!!...

... he's got the 5 weight nearly bent in half whenever I'd apply any pull at all but after about a minute of goin' berserk he's (thankfully) a bit played out and I'm able to bring 'em in and he's not bad - big Rainbow Trout about 14-16 inches and stout - near five pounds we bet - not the biggest we've ever caught but definitely the biggest on a light fly rod considering the size of the fish...

(internet image)
... didn't get a photo and tossed 'em back as usual - here's an image we "borrowed" - a very nice painting actually - for the unfamiliar few...

... Lots of fun!!...