flyI4
Fishizzle, I use worms but I'm looking to upgrade!
So last weekend was a total let down and a rewarding experience all in one. 2 weeks ago- I took a buddy up that is recently getting into fly fishing, but is the type that picked up a rod and right off the bat could cast 30 ft- but unfortunately had terrible luck with me last year heading up during the second part of the season. I called him a couple weeks ago- told him we were going up- and he as all about it and drove it with me that friday. Things worked out as expected and the bugs along with the fish were there and the wind wasnt- a key factor this season. We had a third buddy that missed out- we kept texting him fish porn telling him next weekend we are going to kill it , bugs are here fish are here...blah.blah.blah. We all knew lightning doesnt strike twice and we were gunna get screwed. We ALMOST did. I headed up last thursday night and met up with my buddy who missed the prior week's success- he was all pumped up and I wanted it to work out for him as it was his first time fishing the area. I met him at the shehawken ramp at dark when I got up to the area and he told me the fish were a pain in the ass doing a weird hump back rise but weren't taking his dry fly. Pretty much summed up my rant to Dennis at catskill flies years ago when he explained to me that the fish will take caddis subsurface and it looks like a take, but its not. We kept the initial greeting positive and said we didnt' care that it was gunna rain- we were going out at 5am and were gunna kill it. Shaking off a mild hangover- we were out there at 5am and as I hoped we hooked up early, but too early. Everyone knows a fish in the first 5 casts is a curse. We did not have a strike for 6-7 miles after the first fish and kept rowing/fishing hard as the river kept getting rained on but no color yet. When the color came- so did the fish. We moved a bunch but it was one of those days where short strikes and exciting attacks outnumber landed fish. So be it- still fun fishing and we beat the surge at the dam- cacnt complain.
Woke up on Saturday and things were bad. We floated sweeper territory and only landed one fish after throwing sink tips all day. No risers despite a heavy hatch of "hendos" as beetle would call it, and glassy pools in certain sections. We got off the water around 6-630 and started drinking immediately. Of course- we started bullshitting about how tomorrow would be different.
To our surprise- it wasn't pure bs and alcohol the next day and the next day was different. 200-300 cfs was the difference between bugs being ignored and bugs being noticed (sometimes). They rose enough to pick them off in certain calm areas and we actually had a banner day for any weekend, let alone a high water, desperation float. It was fun. But the biggest and most rewarding moment was the last 3 hours. My buddy I had fished with had never fished the D, and had basically only fished out west while hiking,ect and throwing hoppers. He had never fished a heavy "hatch".Day 1 of ignored bugs was obviously dissapointing. The second day, we were watching bugs float by in a calm tail out assuming the same result was imminent, when just as I pulled up anchor, the first fish rose. The dude got real pumped up. I said it was a "sporadic caddis rise"..... tried to keep rowing.A second fish came up. Got called out on my bs(trout nazi u need to learn these guide terms.). Anchored again. Before I knew it- 10-12 fish were rising around the boat. My buddy starts doing this chuckle that sounds like bevis and butthead as he rubbs his hands together saying "its happening baby". Before you know it I'm saying "Its happening baby". It was real cute. He got 3 nice fish. We rowed in feeling content. Another brah fallen victim to the fly rod, FF this is your opening to call me a hypocrite for adding to the crowds, but its tough to deny that its a great feeling when someone experiences big fish on the dry for the first time.
Woke up on Saturday and things were bad. We floated sweeper territory and only landed one fish after throwing sink tips all day. No risers despite a heavy hatch of "hendos" as beetle would call it, and glassy pools in certain sections. We got off the water around 6-630 and started drinking immediately. Of course- we started bullshitting about how tomorrow would be different.
To our surprise- it wasn't pure bs and alcohol the next day and the next day was different. 200-300 cfs was the difference between bugs being ignored and bugs being noticed (sometimes). They rose enough to pick them off in certain calm areas and we actually had a banner day for any weekend, let alone a high water, desperation float. It was fun. But the biggest and most rewarding moment was the last 3 hours. My buddy I had fished with had never fished the D, and had basically only fished out west while hiking,ect and throwing hoppers. He had never fished a heavy "hatch".Day 1 of ignored bugs was obviously dissapointing. The second day, we were watching bugs float by in a calm tail out assuming the same result was imminent, when just as I pulled up anchor, the first fish rose. The dude got real pumped up. I said it was a "sporadic caddis rise"..... tried to keep rowing.A second fish came up. Got called out on my bs(trout nazi u need to learn these guide terms.). Anchored again. Before I knew it- 10-12 fish were rising around the boat. My buddy starts doing this chuckle that sounds like bevis and butthead as he rubbs his hands together saying "its happening baby". Before you know it I'm saying "Its happening baby". It was real cute. He got 3 nice fish. We rowed in feeling content. Another brah fallen victim to the fly rod, FF this is your opening to call me a hypocrite for adding to the crowds, but its tough to deny that its a great feeling when someone experiences big fish on the dry for the first time.
