Sunday, October 31, 2010

Weekly Update

Well, we’ve finally managed to dust off the steelhead gear, and throw a few streamers to some chrome. Schmidt made reservations early in the week for Casa De Page, and I managed to get the house/family stuff done to accommodate the 2 days…

Saturday was our day to shine, though there was some hard searching going on before we found success…

We started in PA, with little results. We ended up covering a few miles of water with only one fish even seen. Mike was able to coarse one drop back into a take, but that was the only action seen in PA.

We then trekked into OH, and started working our way west along some of the major OH tribs. Next stop was a “Because we’re going past it we should stop” section. Neither of us have ever seen or heard of a fish being taken from this stretch, but there was a small obligatory pull that made us get off the exit. We arrived to one car in the lot, and no people on the stretch. Considering that we left the PA lot with over 30 cars in it, there was some appeal to throw on the waders and at least take a swing or two.

As Mike chatted up the pair that was getting ready to leave, we found that they had walked well over 2 miles of water without seeing, feeling, or catching a single fish. For this trib, that’s quite unusual considering that clarity was perfect. As Mike was getting their locations, and where they had walked from, they started into “There’s no fish anywhere”…

“Fish” – I managed to tie into a LARGE chromer who took me for a ride and back.

After about 5 minutes of a fish running me up and down the pool, Mike was able to get the net over the largest steelie I’ve landed to date. Estimates are in the 12-13lb range. Not only was it a big fish, but it was a chrome, bright, pissed off fresh fish who was super pissed. That can only mean it was a great fight with a few scary moments…

As the two guys took off, we got come pics and released the fish. Mike then jumped into the run while I retied the leader…

BANG –

He’s into another pissed off fresh fish that was giving him and his switch rod a run for it’s money. Luckily I was able to manage a 3rd try with the net, and Mike was left shaking…

There were a few more stops, and a few more grabs, but the weekends high notes ended with those two fish. It was overall a successful weekend. Despite the temptations to tie on indie rigs, we both swung the entire weekend in considerably low conditions. We’re still looking for the big blow out to bring in the first good push of fish, but the season has started…

Hopefully the next week brings more action…


My Beast...

Schmidt's Beast

Schmidt's First Of 2010
Tasty...


Schmidt's a De-Hooker...

Page "Variation"...Tied 12 Hours Prior To Hookset

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Salmon In The Fraser

From the Globe & Mail (Mark Hume)

How to handle salmon management on Canadian Rivers

“It’s one of those things, everyone says ‘sure biodiversity is good’… [but] how much biodiversity is enough?”

Full Link

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Side Of Oil? No?

Great news for the Gulf...

"Gulf seafood has been tested over 27,000 times and there has not been one incident of it being oil-tainted"

FULL LINK - via business week (Mary Foster)

Be sure the help and support where possible!

Two For One?

Two flies for one fish?

"John Berry's Fly-Fishing for Trout: To catch more fish, use more than one fly" - via Baxter Bulletin (John Berry)



Monday, October 25, 2010

Weekly Update

Well the good news is that I haven’t forgotten to cast…

I finally managed a morning of casting in this last weekend in CT. Not a banner day, but I was able to pull a strike on a dry and land a fish on a nymph in less then ideal conditions…and only about 2 hours of fishing.

Things started before sun up and gave the run a go with some streamers early in hopes of coaxing a nice big breeder into a tango session…apparently the high water had different plans.

Nymphing ended up being the ticket, and a dry/dropper set up coaxed one small brookie strike…but user error meant no taker…

Next weekend should be epic if the rains come in just right, and Schmidt’s able to make the trek North!

Pictures:

Up Stream

Church


Lake

Down Stream
Player

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

Derby Finish....

Congrats to the winners...

Many fishermen braved the conditions, which were less then ideal this year...

Make sure to check out the leaders...as well as the sponsors who put on the event every year. It's a great tradition!

Link To Results

Hopefully next year...













Pic from MARK ALAN LOVEWELL's article in the MV Gazette - LINK

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Weekly Update

Well, this was probably the first decent shot at some fish this past weekend…and I kinda blew my chances of hooking into the first steelhead of the fall…

Regardless, the wife and I had a wonderful time in Niagara. On the way home today, we did manage a stop off along the PA shoreline to check out the fishing scene…

One highlight from the stop was seeing a larger lake run brown picking up eggs from the steelies…

Reports from the weekend were mixed. Fish are there, just not always taking. Plus the water tables need to come up. The streams are already low again, meaning we maybe looking at spooky fish in the holes for the next few days.

Hoping to knock the dust off the rod this week…got the itch after seeing the rivers today…


The Falls


Lake Ontario


Brownie hitting up some chromers for eggs


Chasing Tail















Ahh...Steelhead Alley is alive again...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Can-a-dia For The Weekend...

"Man Wins Fishing Contest With Hook Stuck in Head"

"A 23-year-old man won a regional fishing contest in which he fished for 10 hours with a fish hook stuck inside his head, United Press International reported."

LINK - Fox News

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Q & A With Sustainable Fishing Author

Check out the latest interview with Bart van Olphen...



















"Bart van Olphen is the founder of Fishes, a unique fish market in Amsterdam that is bridging the gap between the fisherman and the consumer. van Olphen is trying to create a social media network so that consumers can ask their "personal fisherman" questions about their catch, develop relationships amongst consumers and fisherman and sustain a fair price in the market for sustainable fish. Fishes is the first Marine Stewardship Council-certified retail store in the world."



LINK (From The Daily Green)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Barbless...Or Not...

Interesting read on the barbless debate....

"There is, however a slight but consistent increase in mortality due to barbless hooks."

FULL LINK -

From the Sun Journal

Finn's New Friend...

For those who haven't heard the story, a few years ago, Finn as a puppy decided to use a fly catch as a chew toy. Six flies made it into the little guys stomach, and after a LONG, EXPENSIVE surgery, all six made it out...

Here's a similar story...LINK (Spokesman Review)

Ahh the memories...

I'll have to see if we can get the x-ray of his little adventure...

Weekly Update

With some rain coming mid week, we had a decent flow for about 24 hours…not the soaking we need though…


Some fish are in the lower systems, but we need a good soaking to move them up. Some rivers are giving up a fish here and there on bait. With house work still on the to do list, I’ll finish that and take to the streams once we get the rains…

Monday, October 4, 2010

SalmonFest 2010

minus TMT...
















Jester's First Salmon - Sweetness...


The Man Himself...



Mr. Berkshire...and his BEAST!


Guesses on time of day?!

Way to go guys...trip looked awesome...sorry I missed it!

2011 here we come!


Sunday, October 3, 2010

Weekly Update

Well the rains have helped…just not as much as we had hoped for. Most of the fish have stayed in the lake, though the rains did bring a few of the fall run in. The best action has been surf side, but there are some reports of fish making it up into the tribs…

Rains will continue this evening and though the first part of the week, so fingers are crossed. We need to get to some casting in soon here…

Rumor has it that Schmidt and the boys had a great salmon trip this past weekend. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the festivities this year, but we were promised pictures. Hoping to get some sent over tonight or tomorrow...

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Derby Update...

Rumors are it's been a slow start for the derby...lots of wind, without the fish...

Though we have heard that this week the albie catch doubled...which shows signs of promise. If you can manage some time...all it takes is one fish...












pic from washington post...