Weekly Update (Non-Steelhead)...

THANKSGIVING!!! The time of year where leftovers invade the refrigerator and smelly aunt’s give you the best lipstick coating that they can muster up…

After 8 ½ hours back to CT on Thursday, we were in line for a great feast…after getting to bed around 2:30 AM, I managed to get up and try a new spot along a smaller river back in CT…

Considering time wasn’t on my side, and I was wader-less, the trip yielded nothing more then a sight seeing tour through some old familiar back roads, but with a warm cup of coffee, it was a great way to start off the trip…

SPOT #1 - Up River

SPOT #2 - Down River

The feast was great, and I was comatose after the first course…so it was football and couch after that. We then later made the trip over to moms with FINN. Jim and I reminisced over a fire, while Amy grabbed some old photo’s…more to come in a later post…

Finn before dinner...

Finn After Dinner...

Anyways, Jimmy and I set up an electric fence for my mother on Friday morning. Amy, Finn, and I later headed back to her mom’s and I shoved off to another CT stream with the father-in-law. After some hesitation to the urban location, I was amazed to see fish rising to some BWO.

Sure enough, as Gary threw rooster tails for browns, he was able to manage a nice large native and brought it to hand…

First Fish...

Considering this spring was my first introduction to dry fly fishing for trout, it was amazing to see fish rising to bugs in such cold weather. Needless to say, I did have two flies in the bag and within the first half hour I managed a nice little native rainbow on the dry…

Bastard wiggled his way onto the bench...swam off like a champ though...

As the sun faded, then rises stopped so I moved to a small stone and found one more participant. Again, another rainbow…

Couldn't help but notice the deformed gill plates...

After that, we met up with Amz and headed out for Appetizers and caught up on family…

Saturday morning brought me back to the same stretch of river…alone this time, and with a pair of waders…for some more exploration…

Despite some colder temps, and a cloudy sky, the fish began to rise again at about the 11AM hour. After some lame attempts with some different stones, I was finally about to coax another small ‘bow to take a hare’s ear…missed another on the same fly, and again missed another on the dry…Pictures:

Different stretch...

New water...

Artist Shot...

Another...

More Water...

TMA Water...

Last Fish of the trip...

Little Hare's Ear Anyone?!

Saturday was Holly Brunch at Amy’s Grandparents, and again, after stuffing my face…was off to the sweet pillows that surrounded my futon…

All and all it was a great weekend. Finn traveled like a champ, and I caught some fish…here’s a few more shots from a Page Thanksgiving Road Trip…

Best Part Of Turkey Day...LEFTOVER SANDWICH...

Finn traveled like a champ...

Overall a great weekend...

Next weekend will bring us back to the home waters...amazing going fom small native trout to big steelhead within a weeks time! Enjoy the leftovers!

Quote of the week...

"That will put some smither in your rinctum" (not exactly sure on spelling)

-TMT's Uncle

We're holding our own here in CT...finally found fish today...will provide all details in the weekly update!

Walmart & Bristol Bay...

From Midcurret.com...(click)

"Buying farmed salmon only supports the perception that coastal and riverine development like the enormous Pebble Mine project -- which directly threatens Bristol Bay fish -- are harmless."

ENTIRE ARTICLE

Great news from up in the Last Frontier...

Happy Thanksgiving

From one of the best...

Steelheading: Week #7

OK...lets start off with COLD WEATHER BLOWS...

Per Per Justin's request, we began Saturday a bit later then i was thinking because it was supposed to be a bit colder. We left the shop at 7, and were stream side by 8:30…took our time, and were expecting a river full of fresh fish. Despite the high expectations, we were greeted with a stream of slush (And anchor ice to boot). After an early struggle with hang ups and cold legs, we decided a visit to the local breakfast joint would allow us to warm up and the ice to burn off…

We began the afternoon with a nice hike into some solitude…and after some ice breaking in key runs, we were able to find some holding fish. It was a bit later in the day then we’d have liked, but Justin was able to light them up within a VERY short amount of time. His orange egg was the color of choice for the weekend, and you can guess who’s going to tie them up this week…

Anyways…here’s from Saturday:

SLUSH BLOWS!

RIVER OF SLUSH...BLOWS...

Justin tied on...


"Justin's Run"


One of Justin's chromers...


A late day fish from Justin...

All day we covered two access points...Justin managed about 7-9 fish...I managed about 4 hook-ups...yeah...tell me about it...

Sunday was a lowly day...he was in the shop, I was cleaning (really just sleeping...at home...)...

I grabbed him at the shop at closing, and we headed off to some local water...aka some EMPTY water...and found nothing except for numbness...It's amazing how a STOCKED river can be so void of life...even the guides are having a tough time turning fish...makes you wonder what’s going on...

ANYWAYS - Travel edition next weekend. Connecticut on Wednesday, Some fishing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday...home Sunday. Hopefully some native brookies will break up to monotony…TO BE REPORTED ON…

Quote of the Week...

"A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it."

~by Arnold Gingrich~

The Big Show...

SCHMIDT is set up to display at the International Fly Tying Symposium this weekend...This is in support of him...

Check out the site and see some of the names...hopefully we've got pictures to share upon his return...

Steelheading: Week #7 MID WEEK UPDATE

Well time hasn't yet shown it's head for this seasonal weekend warrior, but updates from way out EAST show fish are still scattered throughout the tribs. Fish have been getting darker, though the lowering rivers should show some fresher fish this upcoming weekend...Thanks to Conklin for that confirmation!

Another group is out scouting today so by EOW we should have a better idea of where this recent rain/snow mix left us. Their calling for about a foot between now and Saturday AM.


FYI - Steelheading Week #8 is going to be travel edition, as I'm planning to be picking off native brook trout back home in CT. We'll see which side of the stick lady luck wants’ to be on...

Dear Pirates...

"Now, maybe I'm just unusually paranoid about trifling with mysterious corporate juggernauts after seeing Quantum of Solace last night, but I'm a bit concerned that you've bitten off more than you can chew here. I mean, really, you thought you'd hijack $112,000,000 worth of product from the crown prince of oil companies and walk away unscathed with a handsome booty to boot? Really? Really?"

Full Article

LOVE IT!

View from CASA DE PAGE...

'Tis the season of steel...

Farewell Sweetness...

OK...for the summer time person, Winter blows. I was hit with the harsh reality that I need to give up on the summer of '08. Granted I’ve been pushing off the bass flies, and haven’t been wet wading in months, but I keep saying “man, I should run over to the pond for some bass”, when in reality, they’ve already gorged, and are now hunkered down for the long cold spell…They seem to accept it better then I…

To top off my Sunday depression of rivers being blown, cold temperatures outside, and the parting of a family pet…I get the following message read to me on the itouch…

“Issued by The National Weather ServiceCleveland, OH 3:46 am EST, Sun., Nov. 16, 2008
... LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CLEVELAND HAS ISSUED A LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING FOR THE EAST LAKESHORE COUNTIES... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY.
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TODAY. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES BY TONIGHT... WITH 6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE BY MONDAY MORNING. LOCATIONS ACROSS INLAND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AS WELL AS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF GEAUGA COUNTY COULD SEE LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS... POSSIBLY MORE THAN A FOOT OF SNOW BY DAYBREAK MONDAY.
LAKE EFFECT SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH ADDITIONAL MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
IN LAKE EFFECT SNOW THE WEATHER CAN VARY FROM LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IN NARROW BANDS TO CLEAR SKIES JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING ACROSS THE REGION BE PREPARED FOR RAPID CHANGES IN ROAD AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.”

Now as I wait for the gas heater to rally up the fly tying room (Converted 3 season room), I can’t help but wonder where the summer went. Below are my memorable’s from this last 6 month warm up…

• Married Life – She’s been great with the fishing hobby…something I was worried about
• Got brother into the fly fishing gig…
• Started TMT to help get rid of cabin fever…and it’s turned into a bit of a fun project…
• Found one of the most beautiful places on the earth…Potter County, PA. Not to mention some of the best food EVER at the First Fork Lodge (This also meant discovering Trout on the fly rod…completely different from spinning…)
• This last fall I went to Michigan to fish the salmon run with Schmidt
• Got the canoe out onto the water…
• Got the DSLR camera I wanted and have taken close to 10,000 pictures already…I just need to get into a sorting mood with them all…
• Made the donation to Bristol Bay…made friends at Felt Soul Media…had cards made for the wedding trying to bring attention…
• Got the new fish mobile (Subaru)…
• Fished steelhead early in September…and have done pretty well this year thus far…
  

So as I think back on the accomplishments, here are some pictures of the last 6-7 months that have made for a pretty good year…

Bassing began early for me...cabin fever and too many people on the rivers...

Big Brownie from the POT...trip with Dan...

One memorable hole from Potter...no fish found but I know they were in there...

Wife getting to experience Potter first hand...note fly rod on right...

RELAXING...

Jimmy's first REAL fish...fly fishing at it's best...

Just one of those shots you find on the storage card and think...wow...that was beautiful...

I remember this stretch very well...about 45 minutes from the lodge and the anticipation just kept on building...

Jimmy doing the trout thing...

Jimmy trying to hack a delicate cast...

TMT + Bass = bliss...

Conklin tied in...again, beautiful...and fun to watch!

Jim's photo of the year...

When Jimmy got bored, it was docks and 'seed sized poppers on the 5 weight...his slab of the summer...

Fenway franks + beer = bliss...

Great getting to be in Fenway...

More midnight piggies...

Finn's first swim...all natural...

MI Salmon this fall...blast...

hmm...

Schmidt's first trip up to CASA DE PAGE for some chrome action...

All and all a summer we won't soon forget...just sad to see it go...

The Douche...

From Buster...a revolt from petty rich people on saving their classy rig...

and asking for government help

BUSTER'S POST

MSN POST FROM BUSTER

Steelheading: Week #6

Well last weekend really tuckered me out...and with this shit ass blanket of darkness hitting us so early in the day, I've become the weekend warrior I despise during the summer...

Regardless, the passion still runs deep...so yesterday staring at my computer screen, I came to the realization that fishing this weekend would be impossible with the amount of rain coming our way...

This led to a phone call, and then to a decision to swing deep pools in the darkness.

Long story short my week #6 was a bust…no fish and minimal time on the river…

Guides from the shop has good success out East…both PA & OH…

Though not from last night, this is Justin from a night trip last year on the home waters…

Quote of the Week...

"Fire it up, fire it up

When we find the perfect water

We'll hang out on the shore

Just long enough to leave our clothes there"

MODEST MOUSE

More Porn...

From a creek out East...

Mike's new lense captured this....

Video of Steelhead Landed 11/08/08

Courtesy of Mike's New Camera...The sickness that affects us...

I've got the first part of the battle...

Below is the picture of the hookset on this one...