Rocky Ford Creek

  Well Poppy didn't make it, he had forgot that he had told his  father-in-law Jim that he would take him hunting over the long weekend if he didn't already get a deer.
      As it turned out it was just JB and I that made it to Rocky Ford, that's cool more one on one time making sure that JB gets into fish.

8:30 Nov. 25 overcast skies but a warm 40 with very little wind.

I had brought JB a pair of my Simms waders to wear but with his long ass galut feet and him only having a pair of  tinny runners he had to wear his old neoprenes. 

 Without us seeing each other for servile years He said something in the line of. "I just can't get over how gray your hair and beard have gotten. "  I just let it roll off. After us getting suited up and the rods strung, JB asked me what are we using?   

His line had been on the reel for so long with out being used looked like a pigs tail or slinkly. So we had to give it a good stretch to get the kinks out tye on another leader, old school line so we had to  cut off the looped 4X leader and put a nail knot EZ stuff. Then when I saw he was going to tye on some old 5X mono tippit on I stopped him there and gave him a spool of fresh 4X fluorocarbon, told him to tye on about 2 feet. He had to think about it a minute or two to remember how to do a blood knot but he got it. then I gave him a box of flies first the box without some tippit tyed on. " Come on Gregory! I can't see to tye those on. You got a pair of cheater I can barrow? Then I handed him a box with the tippit tyed on, just use a surgeon's knot or a blood and you're ready to go. 

    He ask me what I was going to start out with? 

  I'm starting out with a Sz 18 brown pheasant tail without a indicator, and showed him. He went with the same. 

We were on the water by 9:30 and there were 5 or 6 guys down at the pinch off mid stream. It took awhile to get his casting down. Hi sticking it so that his back cast didn't get hung up in the reeds behind him but he got it. getting the feel of the drift was the next challenge, but he pick that up pretty quick too. 

We leap frogged from spot to spot working our way down from the middle of the creek on the west side down to the bridge I hooked a 5 fish and landed only 2 by 11. JB being a lil rusty got snapped off and we had to retye on another bug.  We crossed the closed bridge and started back up the east side and by the BIG ROCK JB got his first good hook up and didn't get to excited and played the fish like a old pro. Slipping, sliding and falling down in the shoreline slime, but he keep his rod tip up and and this one was in the net. I was above him saw the hookup and was able to strip my line in while watching make the run down to get the photo shot. JB was one happy Boy just like a kid with his first fish ever catch ever on his own.

I just wished I had my GoPro so that I could show everybody the new dance steps that he did. 

The sky got dark a few times with the threat of rain, but never dripped down on us other than a small amount, another good thing with both of us leaving our rain gear at the trucks. It was early afternoon that I had to peel off my sweatshirt and just leave on my lite jacket. 

   By 1:30 we had made it to the middle and the pinch off there were 5 guys fishing here and on this side and 4 more from the other lots of casting and no catching.  JB  found a spot to work while I keep heading up.

  I found a small clearing in the reeds looked like a good spot so I headed in. About half away I stepped into a Muskrat hole a sank to my knee, and fell on my ass, swamp muck all over me. Picked myself up got as much as the muck off and made it to the water. Small peninsula maybe 3 feet wide. strip out some line after dipping my reel into the water. I saw a couple of fish rising and had to do a long roll cast to get out to them. Third cast hook up and the fish took off up the creek. I put some pressure on and stepped back and off the edge I went into about four foot of water landing on my back snapping off the fish and almost swamping my waders. Now both boots are full of stinking swamp muck my back is all slimed my tyed on sweatshirt is wet and flopping on my ass when I walk and I no longer have a fish or fly on my line. I work my way back out missing the Muskrat hole and retye on another fly this time a Sz 18 BWO emerger after see several fish  and look slurping off the surface.
I found another split in the reeds and headed in watching a couple of fish rise to the far side I stripped out what I thought would be enough line to make my cast, but I fell short by 8 or so feet from where I wanted it. As I started to strip back in with that little wake it was taken by a brut and my O my did it like to run and jump. he headed bac at me and then turned and headed into the weeds I laid my rod down and was able to get it turned, heading into the stronger current we did a little tug a war and I soon was going to my knees to scoop it up. With the long leader I put the leader thru the first two guides and at the third guide and the thump I was just about able to reach with my net handle fully extended rod bent bac behind me his head almost in the net a wiggle from him and he was gone. along with another fly.
    Licking my wounds and with my head down JB comes walking up just as I made my way out to the trail. " Bummer Brother, I saw the whole thing that was a nice fish, I would of live to get a picture of it with you. My reply. Lost another fly but he was worth it and was going to have to let him go anyway.
JB....... "How the hell did you get so muddy, you look like you been rolling in the muck?"
            I told him about the Muskrat hole firsh them about the hookup and fall.
  JB...... "I heard the splash but didn't know it was you was down at the spot just below ya."
We both got a big laugh and JB said "I'd give ya a slap on the bac but don't wanta get my hand all mucky.
By now it's getting to be close to 2;30 and so we decided to start working our way back towards the trucks since the sunset is close to 4. On the way back JB hooked into a couple more One was huge got it close but the fish found a good hiding place in the weeds and He couldn't free him. but could see him. I suggested we cut the leader and as soon as we did we watched it swim away looking bac at us laughing all the way.
 We stopped at the big rock where he landed his only fish He gave it the go again with no success and had me give it a try. My second cast and drift it was game on almost all the way to the net then it spit the fly and was gone as fast as it could swim.
We then headed back over the bridge and worked our way bac up I found a spot I wanted to try, JB watched a while until I caught the weeds across from me and I had to break off and retye up all my stuff. By the time I was done he was long gone heading bac to the middle. I stopped twice more and got me another fish, then another hole and hooked up but lost it, slipped on my ass again. By now it was getting to the point where it was getting to hard for me to try to retye on another fly so i headed to meet up with JB.
 On the way I met up with a fellow (Jack) that was there from Portland he and his son had been coming here every year Thanksgiving weekend for the last 9 years since his wife passed away. and this was the only time he got to see his son who flies out St. Louis for the trip.

I later found JB and he just got to where he wanted to be and had his line out said he'd be up shortly.

At the truck I started pulling all muddy stuff off and noticed my net had come off its magnet holder somewhere between talking with Jack and seeing JB, and by the time JB got up to the truck it was to dark to go look for it.

We headed in to Soap Lake to see about getting a decent room and some grub, we stopped at the market to pick up Beers and some milk. I asked a couple if they knew of a good place to eat and a to get a room. " Better go into Ephrata son the man said just about everything here is shut down for the season. Unless you want to spend big money to stay at THE LODGE and what they'll charge you for a room we can live on for a month, We also heard that you can buy groceries for a family of six to eat a week for what it will cost ya for a meal.

So off to Ephrata we headed. JB googled cheap motels in Ephrata and came up with three. The Knight was the frist place he pulled into I followed. 50 bucks gave us a nice room friendly desk clerk, discount for TU/AAA members. Just wan't to see my ID. Which by the way I didn't know that I had left it in my pants bac home But I showed her a picture of me from one of my other C cards and that was fine. we were paying cash anyway. She also told us about a sports bar that had the best food around for the $$$$$. So after a quick check of the room and throwing what we could in we headed to The 12 Hawks Sports bar. Giant Burgers and very reasonable. I'll be back there again. both places.

It didn't take us long after the dinner a few more brews at the rom befor we were dead asleep. Saturday morning up early before the sun hitting up Walmart for cheaters for JB eyes, then to grab some breakfast and bac to the creek. I headed out looking for my lost net. JB headed bac to the east side of the creek so that we weren't lookin into the sun when it came up.
  Never found my net but I get get a small bow that was only about 10" the only fish I landed that day, I hooked many (4) lost them all way before they would of made it to the net.  It stayed overcast till about 9:30 and with a bright sky the fishing completely turned off. we stayed getting in lots of practice cast and by noon we noticed that most everybody had left.
We headed back to our trucks and never even pulled off the waders and headed up to lake Lenore, it was as calm as glass we checked to see if we could see any cruzers, Nothing JB talked about meeting up with a friend by three rivers to do the late Muzzleload deer hunt. We said our good byes and we both headed up 17 stopping at the Dry Fall overlook to be amazed at just how low the water was no mre Island to row between.
Another round of good byes and we'll have to do this again soon. We both had a blast. The highlite for me was just getting him there and the bonce wasn't me catching fish it was watching him and it resparking the fire for him to want to make the time to do it more.

 
     

Good times so glad JB could make it.

A unexpected call

Sittin here thinkin about what to tye up next now that the Rocky Ford Creek boxes are almost full, nothing larger than a size 16 and down to sz 22. Scuds, Flashback nymphs, some Pheasant tails, different Midges, Dries, Bloodworms, emergers, Chironmids. zebra midges. Most have the tippit put on while in the vice so that I can get bac to fishin when broke off.

sz 20

Two boxes

So anyway first Jon Boy calls this morning, said he was in to going, and just a couple of minutes ago Poppy called said he was in. 

Poppy lives in I-da-ho  and Jonboy over on the wetside,its been years since the three of us got together. The plan is to meet up in Ephrata, early Friday fish all day have some chow, get a couple rooms, twisp some flies, crash, get up early (haha) and get back to the Creek and fish till maybe 2on Saturday then all head home. Should be a blast.

 Jonboy came over when I was still guiding to rip some Steelhead lips out of the drift boat and I got him into a couple of nice ones.

Not a bad day

  

Neither of them get out and fish as much as they like anymore you know that life thing just to busy making a living feeding the family and the hustle for work and responsibilities. 
Where I learned life is an adventure you better enjoy the ride now because tomorrow there just might not be the time.
I truly believe that they will make it, but no matter what, I know that I'll be going the day after Thanksgiving.        Ginny knows that this is what I love to do, and she backs me all the way.
Winter is coming the roads will be getting bad Snow, Ice, Fog, so I had better get-R-done now. 
           Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and i'll be typing again soon.
                    Fish when you can, rod bent & Tight lines my friends.     

Omak Lake under dripping skies

    Just got bac from Omak Lk 37 degrees a little rain but well worth the trip. I had the lake to myself until just about noon. I was fishin off the north east shore around the corner, the whole beach was empty.

 So what do these guys do after watching me hook into a couple of fish.
   Yeah you know!  they set up camp on both sides of me the one that went pass asked: Hows the fishing?? Looks like you found a pretty good spot...............

Packing his over size tackle box that probably has everything in it from Shamo to silver dollar blue gill, carrying a salmon size rod.

I throw out a couple more cast and brought in another fish and both of them had to rush over to see it. Dang thats a nice fish, ante you gona keep it? As I let it go.........

I let it go and pick up my rod and started heading back towards my truck by the boat launch, stopping on the way here and there casting my line. hooking three more fish.
It was getting time to leave anyway my big guts were starting to gnaw on my little guts.

I had a good time tho with putting 10 fish in the net the rain let up a few times, never really pored hard. Yes it's better to just bit my lip sometimes bear and grin at the others, Oh I really wanted to say something other than good luck. I wasn't going to rune my day..

Gray's last pontoon trip of 16

Took a trip up to Fancher Dam on Sunday for my last outing of the season. 
 Weather was great for the middle of November, overcast with a slight drizzle of rain and no wind.  Water temp was 45 degrees and the lake was almost full of water. 
   I had the whole lake to myself.  It took me awhile to figure out where the fish were.  I trolled down the lake in about 15 to 20 feet of water with a few hits and only one fish in the net using my usual flies for this lake (micro leeches, zug bugs, etc).  Once I got to the east end I saw some fish working the shallows. Not having a floating line with me (big mistake)  I pitch an intermediate line into the shallows with a small pumpkin head (size 14) and started to strip at a fairly quick rate.  The fishing was always great but now the catching was outstanding.  I had a fish on almost every cast and it stayed that way for the rest of the day.  The fish were not big, mostly in the 10-12 inch range with about 70 percent Bows and the rest Brookies.  The Bows were fat and healthy, the Brookies a little skinnier but both put up great battles.  I continues to cast to the shallows in the east end and then all the way back to my rig with great success.  By about 4:00 my feet were getting numb from the cold so I grudgingly called it a day. I did not catch anythng worth getting my phone wet for but it was a great last trip.  Time to put the pontoon away for the winter, clean all my lines, restock the fly boxes and wait for next spring.
 
Weather today was outstanding.  Wishing I had waited a day or two to put up the pontoon.

Lb Blue with Ken

I met up with one of my fishin Buddies, Ken Stone under cloudy skies at about 9:15 this morning and we were in the water in no time. Rippin lips, the water temp hasn’t changed for the fishin sure did. The fish were deeper today until just about 11 then, if you watched the water surface you could start to see the hatch coming off slowly and by 12:30 it was on small Caddis fluttering off the water. I finely made it to my spot and dropped anchor with my Sage Accel 3764 and size 14 Elk Hair Caddis I started pitching into the shallows, lots of rejection and only a couple of takes. I changed out to a sz, 16 and it was game on.

Ken made his way down and after letting him know just what I was doing soon he too were in the game.

For a while it was just about every cast weather you pitched and waited or pitch and twitch you were sure to get a strike.

After putting more than 15 in the net and loosing the size 16s I had I put on a prince nymph in the same size 16 and gave it a fling and almost the same thing. Fish after Fish. It was hard to pull away but I had to go you see I have a new leak in one of my pontoon and I was starting to list to one side pretty bad, bad enough that I went to the ores in order to get back to the launch. Back in the canyon at that time of day (3:30) it was getting dark.so it was time to check out. 

At home tomorrow I'l have to disassemble and find the hole, do the repairs and maybe just maybe think about put it away till next season or I can find the hole repair and take it out for a few hours just to see if I got it fixed,    

Happy Ken  netting one of his many!! 

gota love this stick casting 40+ ft 3764

Little dri-flies and hungry fish

Sunday's trip to LB Blue lake

9:45 am slight overcast air temp. 47 light wind water temp 46 2:30 air temp 54

Gary and Scott met me at the beginning of the Limebelt Rd, the 6.5 miles of road in to the lake is clear with just a puddle or two, the lake was as calm as could be and the fish were boiling here and there, It didn’t take us long before all three of us were in the water.

I started out almost like always bounding the shoreline I rigged up with the same fly as yesterday my Drunkin-dragon on the camo intermittent line. The water gin clear and you or I could see the bottom at 20 ft. and see the fish darting bac and forth into the shallows then bac into deeper water. All three of us headed down the right side of the launch banging fish all the way.  Then it got slow Scott headed for the south end of the lake along the deep side or across from the launch. While I worked my way bac towards the launch heading south and started picking up fish again in the less than 15 ft of water.

I met up with Scott and we found fish Hungry fish cruzin and picking off Caddis flies as they were coming off in less that 3 ft of water.

I was pitchin a small 14 buzz tail nymph fly that I tye right up close to the shore line when It hit the water before I started my strip came the swirl and smash!! Turned out to be a big broad shouldered Bow. (didn’t know there were any left in there)

We all caught a good bunch of Brookies, I did get a 14 inch Cuttie and that Bow.

By 2 my feet were getting numb and my knee was worked pretty good I headed back to the launch with a happy face.

Inside the canyon it looked like it was late with the sun hidden, the wind never came up. My truck temp gage showed it was 58 what a great time on the water.  

just one of the many

Therapy and the Grand Slam

I received a call the other night from my friend that has the private lake, he asked me how my knee was doing after having surgery on the 27^th of last month.

I said.  It’s was doing well and that I had already went bac to work on the first and had gone to physical therapy twice.

“So do you think you’re up to doing some fishing yet?” Was his next question. “I know you start getting a little cranky if you don’t get in the water much.”

“I was planning on going down to meet up with one of my Buddies from the Wetside to fish Rat Lake again this will probably be his last trip over the hump before winter set in.” 

“Well why don’t you tye me up a few more of the crawdad flies and maybe bring over something you think will work this time of year, you and your Bud and give the pond a try, nobody has fish it since you maybe a month ago.”

“I’ll find out want he wants to do and whip you up some dads and thinkin that maybe some Drunkin-dragons would work bout now and I’ll see you on Saturday morning weather we fish there or head out somewhere else.”

After I hung up I headed back to the bench and whip up some Crawdaddys and look up my recipe for my Drunkin-dragon twisted up a ½ dozen of each and a extra six pac for myself.

   Jeff showed up on Friday and he and RB hit Rat again, I had things to do, some work to finish up and another trip to the therapist for the knee not the head. (I’ll get that therapy on the water) Later that nite RB texted me and said they were having beers and thinking about going back to Rat. Would let me know in the AM. RB did tell me that he caught 15 nice Bows on his last Disco Dolly Parton (DDP) and he needed more.

Saturday morning 8:30 am, just pulled into my friends and got the text from RB, Jeff’s dad pass away and he headed back to the Wetside.

So I fished the pond alone. With eyes watching me from the house.

Under gray skies very little wind if any at all at times. Before I even got the boat completely ready I watched a couple of rises and quickly put the Sage One together, put on a sz. 12 elk hair Caddis and gave it a fling it hit the water and the swirl and gone tight line and first fish a tank of a Bow. By the time I got it landed and released the sky was starting to drip. I hurried up and finished getting the boat ready and into the water. By the time I was ready the clouds got thinner and I took off my rain jacket and put on my hoody.

With 3 rods rigged up one dri, with elkhair caddis. My fast sink, with a DDP and a ol friend from out of the closet my good old Lamiglas 6wt, strung up with a line I had forgotten all about my Cortland 444 intermitted camo, with a Drunkin-dragon. Great line for pulling fish out of the weeds.    

I started out with the Drunkin-dragon, out off the launch about 40 ft and pitching bac at it into 5 ft of water let it sink, but before it got close to the bottom the strike and heavy pull heading for the deep water and digging down and into the backing. 10 to 15 minutes later I got my first look at it a nice Tiger. It fought hard and when it saw the net it took off again almost busting loose. Finally into the net.  What a hogg!!

Check the fly, check the knots and back into the water, staying close to shore and pitching up close to the weed and reeds four or five cast later another take this one ran for the sticks and I was able to move around and pull it out, Beautiful Brown was soon in the net.

I repositioned myself and while doing so watched deep back into the weeds a couple of rises. Switched over to my dri line with the Caddis and gave it a fling it hit the water, I gave it a twitch and slurp it was gone and my rod was bowed with a monster Bow. This brut almost took me to my backing but turned and came rite bac at me, never getting it on the reel, but in the net. With a pile of line on my stripping apron setting the net with a floppy fish really makes a mess of things.

 I got it all untangled and changed back to my intermittent line and gave it a fling again. Soon it was another Brown taking my dragon and tugging on my line.

I hadn’t even made it to the first turn and already had four fish.   Not counting the one from shore. The sky open up for a short while and the wind also did both came and went pretty quick and back to calm and gray. The water temp has cooled off quite a bit since I was last here down to 47-48 and the water level has risen up about a foot. Hiding some of the shoreline weeds. I made it to the corner and pushed out into deeper water of about 16 ft. dropped anchor and worked the corner with the dri line for a while until the lite rain started again. When I decided I really should have my rain coat with me. the truck isn’t that far better go get it. I put away the driline and grabbed the Boobie line and gave it a fling I waited till it went under water and gave it a fast strip once twice three times a charm and BAM fish on. Up and out of the water boobie hanging out of its mouth and my rod flipping around this fish was full of action for the few leaps it made.  To the left to the right  and away it goes knots and fly holding tight. Another Bow in the net.

I’m starting to feel the moisture coming through the hoody and on my shoulders, better hurry up and get to shore and the rain coat. (dumb ass should of took it with me in the first place) I bee lined it bac to the truck pulled off the wet hoody and tee shirt. Put on my flannel shirt and rain jacket and headed bac out fast.   Almost a rerepeat with the Dragon but this time it was Brown, Brown, Brown until something felt different the way it took off not going deep or coming out of the water this fish just stopped and stayed down, thinking I lost it in the thick weeds, but I could still feel the head shake now and then, it must of got me around a branch in the water and hung up I stripped out about 4ft of line gave it some slack and felt it move. Bingo all rested up and on the move again. Slow hard pull out into deep water, readjust drag then the turn heading back into the shoreline weeds. I lifted the rod to the left and put on the breaks slowly a couple of strips and now I’ve got it under control and heading towards me. staying down not letting me see it until I could see my leader a monster Brookie. I dipped the net deep and missed then again this time up and under it. WOW nice fish he was hooked deep in the side of the mouth and I needed my hemos to free the hook. Grand Slam all four fish in under an hour and a half. This doesn’t happen very often not here or anywhere.

The rain quite and became just a lite drizzle off and on more, off then on, my fish finder batteries went dead, but didn’t need it anyway I know the water temp and pretty much how deep it is stayed close to the shoreline working all three lines off and on for a while each did make it all the way around the lake by 1:30. Back close to the launch I decided to make one more pass just to the corner and back before heading out, by then I had caught 6 fish on my caddis 1 being a Brown, two more Tigers on the Dragon and a bunch of Browns and a few more Bows, serval Bows on the DDP but had only caught that one Brookie. Gotta try one more trip out to the corner and back for a Double Grand Slam. I had my best luck with the Intermittent line in 4-8 ft of water, so I looked inside at my fly boxes and found one of Bill Olgalvie’s shedge patterns that worked great for the Brookies up at Lost Lake so I tyed it on and gave it a fling out into the deep water a few times, nothing shallow water again nothing, made the turn to head back to the launch and pitched up into the reeds or just short, let it sink and with a really slow retrieve. Half way back BOOM the take a big splash up and out of the water YES YES another Brookie. Then nothing, lost, strip in check the fly,……….then Bam fish on again, the game begins again 5 or 6 minutes later I grab the net and pull in another Brookie. Double Grand Slam, I am Blessed. Thank you very much. What a great day one that I will remember for a while. O I’m sure some of the detail will be lost like some of the other fish I lost today yes every fish I hooked didn’t make it to the net some were LDR for those of you that don’t know (long descent release) I lost a couple of flies to fish maybe a bad knot, maybe a tooth nicked leader/tippit.

Tiger

Brookie

Fat Bow

the Brown

Ending the Season with some good friends and fish

The last who-raa of our 2016 lake season! Yes there are some lakes that will still open, but on Thursday the 27 I go in for surgery to have my knee repaired. Now we know for sure that there will be no North Central Washington Steelhead season.

So a few of my good old fishin Buddies from the Wetside came over to hit up a couple of lakes with me as a last Who-raa.

After spending the day over in the Winthrop area fishin Big Twin 3/4s of the day and getting in a short time at Davis before the wind came up. The catching was there but few and far between. It wasn’t just us, others we had talked to were doing just about the way we were. SLOW

So after a adult beverage and leaving the Methow Valley I made my way bac over the loop. And was thinkin of where we can catch some fish for our last fun full day of fishing.

I sent Gary and RB a text and let them know what was up, then it hit me They have never fished Rat lake, It’s close to RBs and I hadn’t fished it since the rehab.

Back to the phone and the fingers clickin out the texts to the fella’s Rat Lake above Brewster you in?

Rat Lake 10/22/16 48@10am water temp 51-2 overcast with big fluffy cloudy all day and slight wind most of it. 54@2pm

We all had a fine time at the Rat!! The water was just right and the bite was on lots of 12-14 bows some 14-16 and yes there were some in the upper teens. 

1 of Jeff's hogs

Oh I'll be still be chasein tail and rippin lips.
Just now I have to go farther.
Soon it will be Rocky Ford Creek time!
  

Skagit Slivers

 First things first I hate the new setting on my phone really hard to get to camera while fishing!!

Tuesday the 4^th, I got home from fishin at my Buddy’s private lake and was reading the paper. My wife came in and told me that our good friend Lil Ruthie was going to start her treatment for breast cancer on Thursday.

You wanta go see her? I asked.

Love to!! She has always been there for us.

I’ll call Richard to see if he would watch Sassy. (My Dog).  

Within minutes we were getting everything together and then the bubble popped.

“ We can’t leave until I get my prescription filled and that not till Thursday morning sometime.”  Ginny said.

“That OK we’ll leave as soon as it’s ready.”

I was going through some of my emails and ran across one of the WDFW announcements COHO to open on the Skagit River. “Perfect” I yelled out!! Honey I’m going to get a little fishin in while we over seeing Ruthie.

Ginny came in from the bac of the house. “What are to yelling about?”

“The Skagit is now open for Silvers so I’m packin up my Spey Rod and gear to take over with us.”

The wader, Pac and the gear were all put together, now all I need are some Coho flies. I checked the internet got some ideas and headed to the bench, dug out what I needed and put together a dozen flies with what I had.

We got the call for the prescription at 9:30am on Thursday, everything loaded into the truck off to get gas , Ice and we’re off. Dropped my dog Sassy off with Richard and Wetside bound.

We always stop at Early Winters camp grounds for a stretch of legs and pee break before heading over the pass, next stop is Newhalem  a stop for a bit to eat and another pee break.  The head waters of the Skagit coming out of Gorge lake.

Next stop to check out the water Cascade River Bridge to check the river, color and flow. It all looks great. Turn around and get back to going down river. We made two more quick stops before getting to Lil Ruthies.

We made it there just before she had to leave for her first Cemo shot. It had been overcast but no rain as of yet. But the time I had our stuff out of the truck and in the house it started to drizzle and the wind started picking up. I headed to the Skagit brewery of a few beers. I gave my old fishin partner a call to see what he was up too. Got the machine, left massage for him to call me ASAP.

Wayne called while we were eating dinner. So after finishing up dinner and me doing the dishes while the girls talked I headed over to see Wayne and Toni.

While there Wayne told me I had to have a Discover Pass to park anywhere on the river. Bullshit I said.

He didn’t want to get up at dark thirty go stand in the rain to watch me catch fish and maybe him catch one. He would have to fling gear because I didn’t bring him a rod to use.  The gall.

Friday 6AM light rain dark and headed to breakfast. My choice to eat still closed. Up river I headed with a cup of coffee and a Cliff bar for breakfast. Getting to Loretta Creek, just as the sun rose. Suited up put the rod together and headed out.  Pretty dirty where the creek came in and up above a gear guy.

I waded out to waist deep water stripped out the Scandi line I had on tyed on a fly and proceeded to work my way out farther and farther stripping and flinging I must have been casting 80-90 feet and letting it swing when I got my first tug and hook set. I must have been too excited because I lost that fish, then the same on the next one too and I lost the fly along with it.

Retyed on another and by the time I was ready to relaunch two more guys showed up one jumping into my line of swing. He was drifting something so I watched his line of path and timed it so that we wouldn’t get hung up together. My third swing we he crossed my line and drugged me in. a few more swings fish on and this time I was over the excitement and was working the fish closer to me when he cast over me again., But this time my line was hi in the air and his slid down and on to my rod and reel I was able to pick it up and tossed behind me. I worked my way in to shore and grabbed the tail of a nice Silver of maybe 7 lbs. By eight o’clock there were two more cars in the parking and not a one of them fly fishers. I then came out of the water and headed down River walking to get away from them.

I found a spot the current was a lot stronger than I wanted so I switched out putting on my Skagit head with a mow tip same fly and gave it a fling after fling don’t know how many but then I got the tug, hard and fast strong and solid, game on. With the swift current and a steep bank to get up it was a challenge but I made it along with another Silver, this one 6-7 pounds. Two down and more guys on the water.

I headed back to my truck and headed up river to another spot I knew about farther off the road and has some good water in the past. While on the way the rain started coming down. I parked my truck up way above the path to the hole walked down to it and headed in, half way in I heard a truck pull up and stop, two doors slam and I just keep walking. When I reached the sand bar it looked prefect and if they were gear guys we should have enough room for us to fish I’ll take the low end and have plenty of room to swing.

I was in the water waist deep when they came up on the bar. They saw me and headed up away from me. after 10-20 swings another tug then nothing just a bump, then striping in I turned to see another guy coming in through the woods and Bam a heavy tug and fish on. This was no little Silver it was pulling hard and taking line rod bent deep, moving farther out into the river stronger current. Then out of the water not slowing down out of the water again and I get a good look at it big King Yup BIG KING there is no turning this fish, my reel was singing rod bouncing and I knew I had to get it off or I was going to loose all my line. With the rod tip down almost in the water I was able to get my hand wrapped around my backing and give it a hard pull but it didn’t bust off two, three tries still on backing wanting to cut my hand, then another jerk and it’s gone. Thank God. I get the line back on the reel and it was broke off from where the 8lb Maxima was tied to the 2 ft of 12lbs Maxima. Lucky that all I could say.

Back at shore I retyed on more leader another fly and headed back out. And with just a couple of swings another hit and fish on this time a Dollie release it and started over again soon another hit and nothing guess I tried to set it to fast set the tip down again and tickle tickle tickle, tug, set game on again. I made my way bac into shore with another nice Silver, releasing it and hearing some shit about releasing fish from one of the guys that had just come on the bar to fish. Him, telling me that if I don’t want them he’ll gladly take them home. I wanted to go bac out but the smart ass that wanted my fish headed out to my spot with his gear.

So I walked out and headed for my truck to go up to Pressentin Creek and just maybe get a spot, hoping with the rain it wouldn’t be to crowd, or ???????

Pressentin was pretty much clear when I got there. Just one other guy and he was workin some slow water with a spoon. I walked way above him and out on to one of the sunkin sand and gravel bars. Knowing that it would be tuff to land a fish if caught be I’ve caught’m here before and landed them.

The guy throwing the spoon hooked 2 fish and landed one. I got out to where I needed to be stripped out line flipped it out there about 60ft and let it swing. Then another then the tug and then the rain really started coming down. My fish was hopping and jumping up and out of the water three four time and I di have a hell of a time getting back to shore to release the fish just as I was ready to put my hand down to grab some tail a log hit me in the back almost knocking me down a scaring the shit out of me. and I lost the fish but not the fly. More and more stuff was flowing down river the wind was picking up the rain coming down in buckets and the spoon guy was running to get out of it.

I headed for the cover of the trees to get out of the down pore until I could hear branches falling; I’ll be safer in the water I figured. So I headed down below the creek and found another spot. It seemed as if the rain was getting heaver but it wasn’t going to stop me. I dug out the Cliff Bar ate it  and had a chew back in my lip heading back out to fish. Thirty minutes of swinging nothing rain not letting up wind blowin up river harder, hard to keep the belly out of the line, Yes I bagged it in.

All in all I had a good time on the Skagit once again. Maybe I put in if’n I find another spot down river it’s almost noon now and I’m sure that it can’t be raining this hard down below.

I didn’t find that spot down below bac at Loretta Creek I stop to get out of the waders, I watched the gear guys for a short bit they throw there shit over one another even NO RESPECT for others.

My day 9 fish landed 5being Silver, 3 Dollies and 1 off the wall Humpie, lost 3 don’t know what and had to bust off a big King before he spooled me, could have been in a couple of fights but you know it’s just not worth it.  

The weekend with new rods and some old friends.

New Sage Accel rod test

I received my new Sage Accel 376-4 rod on Friday, after having a pretty crappy day at work this changed everything my became better. I went and dug out some of my smaller reels, checked the lines that was on them and found just the right on to put on it also found a empty short rod reel case to put it in. the case has room for a pack of leaders, a couple of spools of tippit and a small fly box.

I grabbed two of the other reels that I found and took off for the water. The main thing I wanted out of this rod was to be able to let the line float downstream maybe  20 to 30 feet and be able to pick the line up and do a roll cast cross water in the wind. My Sage Flight 376-4 was just too soft to do this. I thought long and hard and of what I wanted, I looked at the Sage Bolt is a utlra fast rod the same as the Circa both have their place, but neither of them are as short as the Accel.

The Accel is a medium fast action bends deeper in the blank, recovers just a bet slower and still has the power to punch thru the wind. And if I want to slow it down alittle  more I can always put a heaver line on it or a lighter line to speed it up my goal for this rod is to punch thru the wind but still have that light delicate presentation of dry flies at 30-40 feet.

I don’t plan on using this rod for bobber lobbing or hopper dropper rigs just small dries.

So now off to the water the wind is up at the house blowin in at 6+ MPH so up on Salmon Creek thru the valley maybe up to 9 or 10.  I first string it up with some SA GXP 3weight line put on a 7’6” leader 2ft of leader and a size 16 Adams and walk over to water where I know its open and about 25 ft across strip out some line and picked my target. And yes the wind is blowin, downstream steady and hard. The rod did just what it was supposed to do just I was short line laid out fly turned over everything was just rite. Now the roll cast test, almost perfect I’ll need to practice that a little more. 15 minutes later down pat.

I did catch a fish or two while getting this down but both were very small one 6 inch the other maybe 8. But the rod was doing what I wanted.

I changed out the reel with some heavier line same leader set-up and gave it a fling defiantly did slow it down but was able to punch thru the wind a bit better.

Saturday morning 7:30 am   Big Green Lk. 56 wind blowing at 8-10 MPH from the south.

I started out with the 4 weight line on the Accel and brought out the 3 weight line to change out to, still the same set up.

I worked my way across the lake to the far side and just let the wind push me down working the edges with the dry some cast pushing the line into the wind other with the wind. The 4 weight line was doing great keeping the line and leader straight with little effort at 35 ft. When I reached the top of the lake I changed out the reel with the 3 weight line and rowed back up to where I started with the 4 weight line. Same test totally different results much harder to keep the line tight and straight in the wind both facing and with, and a lot more effort to do so.

I then put on a small red strike indicator just to see my cast behind me better and to see how the line was turning over. The results my back cast needed to be shorter and stiffer more crisp of a stop, but it straighten out the cast and leader. After changing back to the 4 weight reel, and doing the same I was able to lighten up and relax more. I also was able to get a longer cast both casting into the wind, across wind and down wind. I definitely slowed the rod down.

While doing all the cast with the indicator I had serval fish come up and hit it. So I tyed on a sz. 16 red Humpy and gave it a fling and this was the first real fish to play out on the rod a nice Bow of 14 inches. Awesome rod action good flex thru the entire rod. I then spent the next 2 hours ripping lips and having a blast. It was close to 11 am and I had something to get done at home with regrets. Well there is no cell reception out there so as sooon as I got closer to town my phone went off and a voice mail.

I was from my Buddy Shawn, he and Dan were in town and were headed to fish Green. I pulled over and gave a call. They had come over to fish Buffalo on the reservation and maybe be hit up Omak Lake. The wind was the killer at both so they were headed to Green.

I said that was just there the wind wasn’t too bad blowing but fish able. And that I needed to go home and get a different rod.             

  When I returned they were there and so was another friend Brian and his son. Good times after a quick lunch, I was back in the water. I tyed on one of my Punkinheads and was back to rippin lips. Soon I had a crowd around me asking what the hell was I using.

“Just a bug that I tye.” What it look like? I pitched one close to Brian and he took a look. Got any more Bro? I passed them all one except to Dan no I’ll try something else. Soon we were all catchin, except Dan, now he wanted one.

I left about 3 just couldn’t take the wind any more. They were ready to pull out as well.

Sunday Gary was down to pick up his new Spey rod and head over to the river to play with it. Man it’s sweet Redington’s Chromer 7136-4. I set it up with a Redington Behemoth 7/8 put on 150yds of backing and slick shooter and started out with 500 grain shooting head. There is lots to change his old style of casting. And we changed shooting heads many times. We settled on 535 gr. O did I say? This rod is sweet. With the Scandi line 425gr the rod shoots line like a dream. EZ 90plus feet true and straight, good bend thru out the whole rod smooth. I'll be telling you more about this rod in the future.

Few and far between for Buzzard BG was better

         Buzzard Lake 8am Blue skies with big white clouds air temp 54 water temp 62 lite wind

I was up at Buzzard early and in the water not more than 10 minutes before the first strike and tug, less than 30 feet from the launch, Big strong Bow, it dug down and headed for the deepest part of the pond making my reel sing that sweet song. Into my backing before it quit,  what impressed me to most about this fish was just how big in the shoulders it was. I couldn't get my hand around it.  it measured only 17 inches fought hard like it was the king of the lake.
   Then after I set it free it was the longest time before I got my next strike I thought many time do I still have a fly on only to strip in all the way to see, nope not fouled, not full of weeds, OK change out  I did this many times.I when into the deep water the shallow water I tried different speeds of retrieve still nothing. After  almost a hour I got a slight bump, (must of been a weed) no it was a bump then another one nothing hard just a little tap tap tap. then came the fright train smash on a very slow strip.

Another hawg  but this one didn't run as far or as fast but did come out of the water twice. On the second leap into the air my line went limp and I thought for sure I had lost it, I started bring in my line to check the fly stripping in maybe 10-15 feet then all of a sudden my rod tip took a dip behind me the fish had made a 40 plus run and ran right under me a behind me. I kicked and spun the boat around he had headed into the Lilly pads. it took a while to get it out and into the net. My fly the Punkinhead was deep down his throat to the point I had to be careful to get it out, with out hurting him.Able to get it out with the hemostats and spent the time to get him going again.

I clipped my tippit up a few inches and put the fly back on I was a good 30 minutes later that I hooked up with another fish and while playing this one out, a pick-up pulled up with a couple of guys that were drunk and loud, laughing and caring on throwing beer cans in the water and then pulled out an aluminium boat out of the back throwing a couple of rods in a plastic tackle box in dropping a battery in and one fell in the water while trying to put the ice chest in the boat.
He stripped down to his shorts and and the other guy found some what looked like women sweet pants that were way to big for his waist and only came up  below his knees. It was funny.

They get in the boat banging the ores, sliding the ice cheat back and forth making enough noise to wake the dead in the next state then I watched one of them pull out maybe 20 foot of line, pulled it back and put a chunck of power bait on it.

I figured that any fish had just moved to the far end of the lake so I headed that way. away from them. On the way I did hook into a small bow of maybe 10 inches and they both saw it and made a bee line to head my way. Splashing the ores and yelling for me to let them see it.  At that point after showing them the fish I turned and headed back to shore and packed my stuff up to leave. by the time I was ready they were back by the launch and asked me if I would like one of their beers.I respectfully told them "NO thanks, I'm done for the day.

Buzzard beauty

It was still early enough for me to head over to Big Green and be in the water before 11:30 so that where I headed. When I got there a young couple in their I'd say twenties  were just getting out and putting their kayaks on top of the car. Once again I had the water to myself.

                      Big Green 11:30 filtered sun @ 61  wind maybe 4mph water temp 66
Lots of fish in BG after the rehab. but it had been a while since I was here and the last  time the was back in the spring. I think?????????
I still had on a Punkinhead on my deep sink and a chromimide on the bobber lobber so I set out with just the two rods, I could see some smaller fish close to the launch swimming about so I headed out across to the other side and into deeper water about half way I pitched out the fast sink and let it settle down while I keep kicking and it wasn't very long before I had my first tug,. I know it wasn't close to the bottom. so I lifted the rod and striped in a 8 inch fishy..this time without kicking I pitch out maybe 45 ft. and just let it sink let out some more line and then started kicking again. with rod in hand I got the hit damn near ripping the rod out of my hand. Thunk snapped off.
    Strip in retye and cast let the wind move me. In 24 feet of water 40 seconds before stripping on a long 50 cast there we go fish on again and again the wind keep moving out into shallow waters so I would row back up pitch out count and BAM fish on. biggest was a 16 a few 14s and 5-6 12s, never did use the bobber lobber and by 2 I was tired of the wind and headed for the launch for home and lunch.

Yes I believe I had a good Labor Day had some entertainment by some drunk clowns caught some fish at not one but two lake a couple of them were toads and strong.  

BG fatty

         

Few and far between for Buzzard BG was better

         Buzzard Lake 8am Blue skies with big white clouds air temp 54 water temp 62 lite wind

I was up at Buzzard early and in the water not more than 10 minutes before the first strike and tug, less than 30 feet from the launch, Big strong Bow, it dug down and headed for the deepest part of the pond making my reel sing that sweet song. Into my backing before it quit,  what impressed me to most about this fish was just how big in the shoulders it was. I couldn't get my hand around it.  it measured only 17 inches fought hard like it was the king of the lake.
   Then after I set it free it was the longest time before I got my next strike I thought many time do I still have a fly on only to strip in all the way to see, nope not fouled, not full of weeds, OK change out  I did this many times.I when into the deep water the shallow water I tried different speeds of retrieve still nothing. After  almost a hour I got a slight bump, (must of been a weed) no it was a bump then another one nothing hard just a little tap tap tap. then came the fright train smash on a very slow strip.

Another hawg  but this one didn't run as far or as fast but did come out of the water twice. On the second leap into the air my line went limp and I thought for sure I had lost it, I started bring in my line to check the fly stripping in maybe 10-15 feet then all of a sudden my rod tip took a dip behind me the fish had made a 40 plus run and ran right under me a behind me. I kicked and spun the boat around he had headed into the Lilly pads. it took a while to get it out and into the net. My fly the Punkinhead was deep down his throat to the point I had to be careful to get it out, with out hurting him.Able to get it out with the hemostats and spent the time to get him going again.

I clipped my tippit up a few inches and put the fly back on I was a good 30 minutes later that I hooked up with another fish and while playing this one out, a pick-up pulled up with a couple of guys that were drunk and loud, laughing and caring on throwing beer cans in the water and then pulled out an aluminium boat out of the back throwing a couple of rods in a plastic tackle box in dropping a battery in and one fell in the water while trying to put the ice chest in the boat.
He stripped down to his shorts and and the other guy found some what looked like women sweet pants that were way to big for his waist and only came up  below his knees. It was funny.

They get in the boat banging the ores, sliding the ice cheat back and forth making enough noise to wake the dead in the next state then I watched one of them pull out maybe 20 foot of line, pulled it back and put a chunck of power bait on it.

I figured that any fish had just moved to the far end of the lake so I headed that way. away from them. On the way I did hook into a small bow of maybe 10 inches and they both saw it and made a bee line to head my way. Splashing the ores and yelling for me to let them see it.  At that point after showing them the fish I turned and headed back to shore and packed my stuff up to leave. by the time I was ready they were back by the launch and asked me if I would like one of their beers.I respectfully told them "NO thanks, I'm done for the day.

It was still early enough for me to head over to Big Green and be in the water before 11:30 so that where I headed. When I got there a young couple in their I'd say twenties  were just getting out and putting their kayaks on top of the car. Once again I had the water to myself.

                      Big Green 11:30 filtered sun @ 61  wind maybe 4mph water temp 66
Lots of fish in BG after the rehab. but it had been a while since I was here and the last  time the was back in the spring. I think?????????
I still had on a Punkinhead on my deep sink and a chromimide on the bobber lobber so I set out with just the two rods, I could see some smaller fish close to the launch swimming about so I headed out across to the other side and into deeper water about half way I pitched out the fast sink and let it settle down while I keep kicking and it wasn't very long before I had my first tug,. I know it wasn't close to the bottom. so I lifted the rod and striped in a 8 inch fishy..this time without kicking I pitch out maybe 45 ft. and just let it sink let out some more line and then started kicking again. with rod in hand I got the hit damn near ripping the rod out of my hand. Thunk snapped off.
    Strip in retye and cast let the wind move me. In 24 feet of water 40 seconds before stripping on a long 50 cast there we go fish on again and again the wind keep moving out into shallow waters so I would row back up pitch out count and BAM fish on. biggest was a 16 a few 14s and 5-6 12s, never did use the bobber lobber and by 2 I was tired of the wind and headed for the launch for home and lunch.

Yes I believe I had a good Labor Day had some entertainment by some drunk clowns caught some fish at not one but two lake a couple of them were toads and strong.    
         

the plan and O how they change

The plan was to fish Buzzard after hearing that it was replanted with some nice catchables and some jumbos. Yesterday should of been the day to go BUTT to many chores to get done.
   Today I went up knowing that the wind was blownin at 12+mph here in the valley. Up at Buzzard it must of been blowin 20+mph when I arrived at 9ish. it was a froth, white capped and stiring mess. I got out of my truck and the wind blew my door closed and just about blew me over.
I got back into the truck and pulled out hopping I could catch Mighty Mouse before he drove all the way in. We met about half way and got him turned around. We stopped where the road meets HWY 20.

   Off to Lil Green
                         9:30ish sunny at 59 a little wind but nothing like up at Buzzard. water temp 64

We were in the water by 9:30 and within minutes into fish, and I mean lots of fish not the biggest but all were hungry, healthy, and full of fight, We both did some 16 inchers lots of 14s and a few 12s i think both of us did hook 1 or 2 that were under 10 inch.

MM spotted lots of fish in deep water of 30+feet close to the bottom and worked his booby fly for a short while catchin a nice fatt bow. I think its called a Pamala Anderson,  I keep my Punkinhead on and dug out just one before I returned back to fishing about 30 feet off shore the weeds are pretty thick closer in and almost all the fish I did hook up with were in 12-15 feet of water

the wind stayed steady blowin harder at times and towards the end I anchored up so that I was casting with the wind threw on a strike indicator and pitched out a chronie and bagged 3 nice bows while MM headed for the launch.and by 1:30 we were both out of the water and loading up.

2maro if the wind calms down I'll go back up to Buzzard and then try fishin Big Green    

I've gettin me a new Creek rod, but still love my Sage Flight

     Spending the last couple of days pitching small dry flies on Salmon Creek really changes my perspective and makes me think a lot more of fishing moving water again.  My only problem is that most of the good water is to damn far away , say I-da-hoe, or Mon-tanee. Sure we have the Methow, Boulder Creek, but this time of year to much tourist traffic for me to go fish a few hours.

Johnson Creek up on the top is great fishin but the greedy land owner now wants me to help pay the bigger part of his taxes in order to fish and walk on his land.

      This morning I was up the creek early my Sage flight 370-4 with a size 18 PMD tied to the end and on the water just after sunrise 6ish. The air is really starting to cool down at night so today it was 52 and zero wind and that deep in the valley I knew that it should stay cool and as long as I could stay to the eastside of the creek so I didn’t have to look into the sun at least till 9ish. Then I would have to switch sides to keep my shadow off the water.

    I started up above Happy Hill and work my way down I figured it should take me all of about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to make it just over a mile. By then I was going to have to either restock my fly box or have something to eat. I parked and headed up creek and at to first spot just below Mel and Barb’s house I hit the water at the deep hole.

    My third cast produced the first fish a little par marked Bow of 10 inches.   Then four more only smaller and a lost fly to the weeds hanging over the bank.

            It’s tuff for this old set of eyes to retye on another size 18 even with my magnifiers. So I tried tying on a larger PMD and in 10 casts only had a few hits. So I took the time and tyed on another 18 (what a pain) but it was worth it and in no time I was hooking up again. By about 8:30 I was in some pretty shallow water and crossed the creek to the other side and my shadow was back off the water.

   The catchin had slowed down and I changed out to a black elk hair caddis and keeping it down sized with a 16. Sliding it right under the cut bank above the bridge I found my biggest fish of the day so far and fatter than the rest 15 inch what a fighter on the 3 weight I could only run so far with the tall brush and I knew where he was heading into the deepest of holes with all the limbs of the fallen tree. I made it back across the water up the bank and put the pressure on. He would give me only inches at a time and fought it all the way with me having to get in the water a couple more times before I set the net under him.  (FUN STUFF)

     I checked my fly and the knot at the tippit to leader all looked good and walked back up to where I hooked him hoping I could find his buddy if he had one. Not there but down maybe 20 feet I found one of his partners a fat little 12 inch Brookie. Oh what colors this one was all decked out lookin good for the ladies.

   I lost my blk. Caddis to the weeds behind me and switched out to a 16 Adams and as soon as it hit the water I had two fish attract at it. Slamming into each other, then a smaller fish taking it as they splashed it out into the faster current. Wish I had some video of the crash.

      On the east side of the bridge is a big deep hole and lots of little fish little being 3to 6 inches unless you put on a nymph and get down to the bottom. Not me today just fishin the dries. There is a big up eddy in this pool and I set the Adams to work casting into the main current mending two three times and then the line was headed up stream and the fly goes down. Small fish, small fish, small fish Big Bow big bend in the rod and snap! Wasn’t expecting that!

Retye and try that again, this time I’ll be ready for that and bingo there it was on the fourth cast.  And my fly was still in his mouth. So I got my fly bac, too boot.   

I spent the rest of the morning working my way down to and passed the two bends pulling out only a couple of other fish to speak of another nice Brookie all colored up also about 12 inches.

My big fish of the day was the bow at 15 the one I’ll remember the most is the one that I re-caught and got my fly back.

      I had a great time and as predicted the wind started blowin harder than my Sage Flight could handle so Now I’m really thinkin of getting me that Sage Accel 376-4 I hear that it has the power to push little flies thru the wind and still be on target. 

                                         I'll let you know what I think of it soon.

           Keep the faith go find that small creek with a lite stick and have some good old fun.

Time on the water with Jay Kehme

Okanogan River 6:15, low and clear at 920CFS, water temp 72, sky clear and already mid 70s.

   For those that don’t know who Jay Kehme is here is a little about him: Lives in Omak with his wife Rita and Daughter Jordan. Works for Conservation Northwest as the Okanogan Outreach Coordinator, He was appointed by former Governor C. Gregorie to the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission 6 years ago.  He is an advent hunter, love to hunt Elk and yes likes to fish from time to time when he get a chance to have a fly rod in hand.

When I asked him. What he thought his best accomplishment was in the past 6 years being on the commission?

Jay: By far the biggest accomplishment is getting the Road Kill bill passed hands down.

Tell me a little more about it. 

Will here is the jest of that bill, Kill a deer or elk with your rig be it car or truck while driving you get to keep it, go online fill out some simple questions and you’re done. Meat on the table.

That simple?

Yup that simple.

.

Anyway we were all rigged up and headed down to the river and wetting a line by 6:20 the river.

 Within just a few casts we were both in catching bass not the tug we were looking for but a tug.  

By 9:30 we were heading back to his house for coffee.   Between the two of us we must of caught 20-25 bass and had a great time just hanging out getting to know each other better and I can see us doing this much more often.