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.
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.
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.
Sounds like a great day! I am glad to hear you are human and can fall in the muck like the rest of us. I hope you did not injure your knee again.
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