My Best Day Ever

The first thing I noticed was how white everything was. It must be winter, but it doesn’t feel cold. I’m standing at the edge of a deep pool. On the opposite bank is a logjam, but the water is deep, as the dark color of the pool seems to extend right to the bank. I’m fishing.

I begin by casting my line just short of the logjam and it starts to move with the flow of the water. I feel a tug and raise the rod way over my head. I bring it to shore and it’s flopping around, while I stand there laughing. One cast, one fish.

Another cast is made. This time further upstream so it passes the logjam. At the logjam I feel another tug and yes, I hook into another fish. Two casts, two fish. I look around and no one is in sight. I’m all by myself. Who’s going to believe me?

I stay in the same place and make cast after cast at that logjam. Another fish is hooked. Three fish hooked and landed in what seemed like a two minute period of time.

Just after the third hookup I feel a tap on my shoulder but don’t hear anything. Now someone is shaking me and I finally hear someone say “John, John, it’s time to get up”. I wake up with a start and a smile.

Boy, I hope dreams come true.

Go out and fool a fish!

If Only The Fish Had Cooperated

It’s the middle of winter and hard core fishermen try to steal any time they can on the water. I’m not sure I fit that category although my wife may say I’m crazy. But Old Man Winter has lost his grip for a few days. It is Mid-January, and temperatures are approaching 60° in steelhead alley. Who can pass up a chance to get on the water? Maybe the fish will cooperate.

Last week all the rivers were blown out. Now, most of the rivers are fishable. It’s time to get out before the next rain event. Maybe the fish will cooperate.

For me, I’m going to hit a creek that flows into the Grand River. It’s in good shape. Maybe the fish will cooperate.

Being retired it seems that these days my toughest decisions revolve around whether I should drift an egg pattern or swing a streamer? I’ll take the easy way out and try a little of both. Maybe the fish will cooperate.

Sunday and Monday are out, so Tuesday’s the day. Warmer temps mean one or two less layers of clothing, and no ice on the guides. Perfect. Maybe the fish will cooperate.

Tuesday comes and there’s rain in the area, but it looks like there’s a window of dry weather for a couple of hours. I arrive at the creek and there’s another car in the lot. He’s downstream, so I head in the opposite direction, and hit a couple of pools. The water was stained from the overnight rain but still fishable. Working an egg pattern through the pool attracted nothing but a small branch. Time to switch to the streamer. Cast after cast produced nothing. Change colors, nothing. The fish aren’t cooperating.

This creek had good flow, and a slight stain. Perfect conditions early. If only the fish had cooperated.

(Click on image for larger view.)

 

Through all this I didn’t notice the sky was darkening. Then the rain started. I decided to take a break and head to the car. At about the same time I reached the car a loud rumble began. The thunder was just as good as any summertime storm and it hung around for a few minutes. Then the heavy rain started. So, my outing was cut short after two hours with nothing to show for it.

If only the fish had cooperated.

Go out and fool a fish!

Ways To Beat The Winter Fishing Shakes

Turn the page on a new year and the first three months can be the cruelest. Cold, snow, wind, and ice can mess with our ability to fish local waters. Fishermen are at the mercy of the weather more in these months than any other time of the year. Temperatures can fluctuate wildly, winds blow constantly, and precipitation can change from rain to sleet to snow in a matter of hours. Then you have to watch the flows of the rivers. The Lake Erie tributaries can spike quickly during a heavy rain or snow melt. Throw all these factors together and you get a chance to fish maybe one or two days a week. And, that’s only if the USGS river gauges and the seven day weather forecast show promise. I, for one, don’t want to be out on the river if it’s flowing at 1,500 cfs, even if it is 50°.

So, what do you do to reduce the winter fishing shakes? You notice that I said reduce, as it may not be possible to completely eliminate them. Well, let’s take a look at a few things you can do to make it through this time of the year.

Grab a friend and go to an outdoor or fishing show. You’ll be able to check out new equipment, talk to outfitters about trips, look at boats, and maybe find a new hot lure or fly.

Read a book on fishing. I know, nobody reads books anymore but give it a try. If you fly fish there are some good reads out there. Want to learn about nymphing techniques check out George Daniel’s Dynamic Nymphing. He also has a book on streamer fishing, titled Strip-Set. Both are excellent if you want to improve your technique. If steelheading is your passion there are quite a few books for you. One I really like is Best Streams for Great Lakes Steelhead by Bob Linsenman. Bob is a well-known guide, and he shares tips and techniques on catching chrome.

Learn to tie a new knot. It seems like everyone who gets into fishing can tie a clinch knot and a surgeon’s knot. But, how about a blood knot, Palomar knot, or perfection loop? Grab some mono line, find an animated knot tying site online, and learn something new.

Watch some fishing shows. The cable channels know about the winter blahs. That’s why January is the start of the new season for fishing shows. There are shows for every type of fishing you may be interested in. Most of the shows are geared toward the largemouth and smallmouth bass crowd, but if you like saltwater fishing or fly fishing you can find several shows. Check out the Outdoor Network, NBCSN, and Destination America. In fact, some cable companies carry the World Fishing Network, a network totally devoted to fishing. If you have access to that network, you are in heaven!

Plan a fishing trip. Now is the perfect time to plan that spring or summer trip. Maybe find a new blue line and plan on exploring it.

Tie some flies. No better time to fill the fly box than right now. If you have some friends who also tie, get together, drink some beer, and tie some flies. Now that’s a great way to spend a cold afternoon or evening.

Attend the Fly Fishing Film Tour. Spend an evening viewing some of the best fly fishing films of 2017. These are well produced films that take you to places you may never visit. Some films tell a good story. Others smack you in the face with outstanding fishing and visuals.

Check your gear. There’s no better time to check your gear. Have leaky waders? Time to fix them. The winter downtime is also perfect to clean or replace fly line, or spool new monofilament line on spinning, baitcasting, and centerpin outfits.

If you still have the shakes after trying some of these activities then go fish. Throw on five layers, grab a buddy, and break some ice. But be safe.

Go out and fool a fish!