Thoughts from a Master...my father

Lessons from the river

San Juan … Life -- January 12-14

Tie new tippets – cut back to leader – Remove clutter
Cast slower – less knots.
Clean fly line – before every trip
Walk slowly – out of the water
Work water slowly … back and forth … fish move!
Cast every cast as if a fish were going to be there
Need bag for change and small items in duffel bag
The next water isn’t any better than this water.
Pack fewer clothes – more socks and underwear – less fishing shirts
Straighten fly line and leader
Enjoy the view. Slow is better… look around.
Take a break to warm up
Bring a sandwich.. sit down to enjoy it.
Check ferrules often… wax them up.
Smaller flies … always … straighten trailer.
Fix knots … they break
Quality, not quantity.
Bigger Rod – Ok in wind and new water. Use smaller rods in Minnesota
Chest pack okay … smaller is good. Pack good.
Glass cleaner at hand
Alone is good … talk to others. They will help you.
Vest … not required for warmth. Turtleneck, shirt, Wind Breaker.
Eat Lighter … more often. Less bread and carbs.
Walk slower in the water… watch and wait.
Drink more water
Lip treatment … sun screen a must.
Small ditty bag for all the musts
Small brush to clean boots and waders
Repair seams on waders
Snacks of dried fruit .. not nuts and junk or meat.
Less is more .. Equipment, flies, sell off, give some away.

What if the next fly he sees is yours?

Teaching in the LiFE class has been quite an experience. It has really given me a good chance to spend quality time in the Word.

This week's teaching is a good reminder to me that I can't just let it sit in my head, though, I need to put it into action. That reminds me of a time on the Cloquet River near Duluth, MN.

My dad and I were on a 1/2 day guided trip for smallies. I was using a 9' 5wt Diamondback with sinking line and a gargantuan Muddler Minnow. I have to be honest, casting has never been as much of a chore as it was that day. Strangely enough I managed to catch a 17" walleye early in the day, but not many smallmouth as we had hoped.

As luck would have it, we were about to be witness to a pretty significant Hex hatch...if you haven't seen one, I suggest you try it...Sure enough, down the stream they came. We watched as these newly born bohemouths would flap their wings in an attempt to dry off and fly away before being dragged back under by a swirl, sip, or usually the splash of a hungry bass.

Anyways, we watched this one fish consitently taking these Hex--always in the same spot, without fail. My dad waited and waited for the right opportunity to present his imitation. Hex after Hex floated over his feed lane, every single one...gobbled.

"Dad, what are you waiting for?" I thought to myself. Then came those profound words from our bearded guide from up north, "What if the next fly he sees is yours?"

Ready...Set...Witness...

Amanda's Riffle

North Branch of the Whitewater. Just below where the ATV path crosses the stream from the cornfield. The wind is nasty. One fish has come up a couple times while I was working on a near terminal...make that terminal tangle. #16 Tan Caddis down 30" to a beadhead dropper...Copper John, or a pheasant tail, or something.

Ryan is downstream with my dad. Amanda and I have been working our way up. She caught her first one already--a fingerling but it was pretty. She's learning really well.

Multiple currents. The foam line we want to hit is only 15 feet away, but it's gonna' be tough. A back eddy at our feet, slow, fast, then slow again stragith across. Probably not the best place to be standing for a beginner, but we tried downstream already and there was no place to stand--did I mention the wind? This will have to do.

First cast...gross, but let it go, you never know...pick it up.

Second cast...better...did you see that? Your dry fly disappeared. Could have been bottom. Pick it up.

Third cast...too much drag...pick it up...he won't want it...we have to fight the currents...big mend upstream next time.

Cast again...nice mend...wait for it...this could be...lift it up...fish on!

I think she's hooked, Ryan.

Till next cast...

My first blog...

I thought it would be good to get my fishing, teaching, life, etc... experiences down on "paper". This is as good a venue as any, I guess. We'll see how it goes...

-Tight Lines