Yesterdays fishing started with a bang

[dcabarle]

The weather was mildly hot and the skies were blue with a few clouds here and there but no big deal. I got my waders on, rods strung up, and the pontoon boat ready to go. I pulled the car up to the parking area then walked back down to the boat. I dragged the boat 5 feet to the water and BANG!!! One of the pontoons split wide open. I walk back up to the parking area, get the car, take the boat apart, put one of my rods away, and drove to another location.

From this location, it's a good 1/4 of a mile to the river from where you park (at least that's what it feels like when you're walking there). Once at the river, I walked downstream a little bit and started fishing with my Thomas & Thomas Vector. There were no fish rising but I did manage 1 16-17" brown on an iso nymph used as a dropper.

I left the water and was going to walk further downstream but heard some thunder. Then the trees on the other side of the river looked like they were going to topple. Then some lightning started up and the trees on the bank I was fishing from started to sway heavily. I walked back to the car and sure enough, the rain came. That didn't last longer than 20 minutes or so.

As I'm leaving the car, I decide to switch rods from the T&T to the Sage XP. So I rig up the XP and walk back to the stream then proceed to walk further downstream. I get in the water because I see a spot I want to fish and wade out to the area. I take my fly off the holder and pull some line out. Then I get a litte tangle at the tip. I got as close to the tip as possible to unhook my line from where it was snagged. I thought I got it all but I guess not. I pulled on it again and snapped the tip right off. Back to the car again... This is a helluva lot of walking...

I get back to the car and string up the Loomis, and make my way back to the river for the 3rd time. This time I walk downstream pretty far. I find a potentially good spot so I sat on the bank and watched the water for a while. Then I hear a gulp. A few seconds later, I see a monster brown. He would come up once every 30 seconds or so. Then a guy in a pontoon boat parks a bit upstream from me. I'm not sure what he was doing but he got back in and put the fish down. I then walked upstream a little bit looking for rises. I then see a fish splashing around in the tailout current of a rock. That's a tough cast. I tried getting myself into a little better position but it was rough. Then for about 5 minutes, I saw fish everywhere. By the time I put the fly on that I wanted to use, it died! What the hell was that all about!?!?!?! No more fish anywhere. It was like the 'eat at joes (FOR FREE)' sign lit up and all the fish took joe up on the offer.

Anyhow, I'm sure something good will come out of this one day. I did get a bit of excersize from all the walking . Hope some of you had better luck then me!

 

[Scott]

I was out yesterday as well, up in the Poconos. I too, got rained on, but for a lot more than 20 minutes.

Other than a few late white mayflies, sporadic cream midges, and a lone BWO coming off there was nothing going on at all.

The water temperature was a comfortable 64.1 degrees (as measured on a digital NIST conforming traceable certificate of calibration thermometer).

I caught one brown on a copper john dropper below a cricket, fished in tight to the bank under some overhanging limbs between two laydowns. He dove in towards the tree branches hanging in the water twice and I was able to power him out & away each time.

In another pool there was a new deep cut bank from the recent floods with bushes and grass overhanging the water. I caught three more browns off that bank on ants, including this 15" one:

All in all a good day, as I didn't break or lose anything.

Sorry to hear about your troubles Dennis, I hate it when things break which seems to happen to me far too often.

 

[jholland]

What a Day!

Dennis,
Sorry to hear about your tip troubles. I have one for you. I didn't get rained on but the water was very nice and no Scott, I didn't take the temperature but I would like one of those thermometers. I had sent back my favorite JP Ross and instead they built me a new one. I still like the action of my old 43T but the ferrule is definitely wearing out. Anyway for lack of practice lately, I've been missing fish on dries and last night was no exception. One of my friends also has my light so at dusk I tied on a Wooly Bugger and started catching fish. There were Whiteflies, Iso's and some Caddis on the water. I then hooked something big probably a Brown but my line was wrapped on my rod between the reel and the strike indicator and I hadn't seen it as it was now dark. That fish bent my rod double and broke off leaving my line knotted to my rod. At that point, I headed to the diner. -JH

 

[Scott]

I didn't take the temperature but I would like one of those thermometers.

I actually had one laying around the office that I gotten for a project, and never used. I was cleaning up my office the other day and was going to throw it away. I decided to check my old wet bulb stream thermometer against it instead (and was happy to see a reading of 64 degrees on that as well).

I don't think it was expensive, maybe $25 or so.

With all the flak flying around about temperatures lately I thought I'd mention what I was using. It's easier to read than my armored wet bulb too.

 

[Eagle Claw]

From my perspective, just getting into the river would be great. I kicked a soccor ball eight weeks ago and tore the mcl tendon in my knee. The knee has not stabilized much since the accident and I am not very happy about it. I tried a sissy stream once and could not handle it very well,,,,the rest of this season is a wipeout for me and maybe permanently....will have to wait and see. Now that really sucks. From my viewpoint just standing in a slippery rock strewn river and doing some practice casting would be a great day, especially in the fall with all the colors and lack of other fisherman. Oh well, I can always sit on the bank and watch others, now thats what I call some bad days.

 

[Mike Ridolfino]

I tried to fish the KLG yesterday and managed to snap my March Brown rod between the 6th and 7th ferrules without even touching the water. Luckily, they're going to replace the whole rod for me, no questions asked. Nothing like getting :skunked: without even making a cast.

 

[sushi]

I tried to fish the KLG yesterday and managed to snap my March Brown rod between the 6th and 7th ferrules without even touching the water. Luckily, they're going to replace the whole rod for me, no questions asked. Nothing like getting :skunked: without even making a cast.

how did that happened???

 

[mang]

The weather was mildly hot and the skies were blue with a few clouds here and there but no big deal. I got my waders on, rods strung up, and the pontoon boat ready to go. I pulled the car up to the parking area then walked back down to the boat. I dragged the boat 5 feet to the water and BANG!!! One of the pontoons split wide open. I walk back up to the parking area, get the car, take the boat apart, put one of my rods away, and drove to another location.

From this location, it's a good 1/4 of a mile to the river from where you park (at least that's what it feels like when you're walking there). Once at the river, I walked downstream a little bit and started fishing with my Thomas & Thomas Vector. There were no fish rising but I did manage 1 16-17" brown on an iso nymph used as a dropper.

I left the water and was going to walk further downstream but heard some thunder. Then the trees on the other side of the river looked like they were going to topple. Then some lightning started up and the trees on the bank I was fishing from started to sway heavily. I walked back to the car and sure enough, the rain came. That didn't last longer than 20 minutes or so.

As I'm leaving the car, I decide to switch rods from the T&T to the Sage XP. So I rig up the XP and walk back to the stream then proceed to walk further downstream. I get in the water because I see a spot I want to fish and wade out to the area. I take my fly off the holder and pull some line out. Then I get a litte tangle at the tip. I got as close to the tip as possible to unhook my line from where it was snagged. I thought I got it all but I guess not. I pulled on it again and snapped the tip right off. Back to the car again... This is a helluva lot of walking...

I get back to the car and string up the Loomis, and make my way back to the river for the 3rd time. This time I walk downstream pretty far. I find a potentially good spot so I sat on the bank and watched the water for a while. Then I hear a gulp. A few seconds later, I see a monster brown. He would come up once every 30 seconds or so. Then a guy in a pontoon boat parks a bit upstream from me. I'm not sure what he was doing but he got back in and put the fish down. I then walked upstream a little bit looking for rises. I then see a fish splashing around in the tailout current of a rock. That's a tough cast. I tried getting myself into a little better position but it was rough. Then for about 5 minutes, I saw fish everywhere. By the time I put the fly on that I wanted to use, it died! What the hell was that all about!?!?!?! No more fish anywhere. It was like the 'eat at joes (FOR FREE)' sign lit up and all the fish took joe up on the offer.

Anyhow, I'm sure something good will come out of this one day. I did get a bit of excersize from all the walking . Hope some of you had better luck then me!

D, I feel your pain. I woke up before my wife and snuck out to fish for a bit. Drove about an hour, rigged up, and walked about 25 minutes to the river. Sat on a rock to watch the water and was stung by a hornet just below my left eye. In thirty seconds I was Rocky Balboa's twin, after the pummelling! I put my face in the drink but it would not cool. Came home after two painful, fishless hours to a "talk" about what I had to do around the house and something about responsibilities. Later in the evening, the swelling increased and had all but encircled my eye. Hopefully the next trip will go a little smoother.

imp:

 

[Fly Tier]

at least one good thing will come of it all.... After about 6 phonecalls and lost shipping, you should get a replacement pontoon from Scadden, if the pontoon blew out at the seam. Take a good look at the other before calling them. You will probably get 2 new ones, may have to pay the difference for the tubeless, but it will be worth it. If you just need one, you know the drill. They may send you a green one by mistake. Then you will really look like your ready for the holidays. As far as the sage goes.... oh well...may not want to describe it like you did here when you send that back.

"I got as close to the tip as possible to unhook my line from where it was snagged." --should have gotten all the way to the tip.

" I thought I got it all but I guess not." ---don't think....KNOW

"I pulled on it again and snapped the tip right off." --- You broke it during a simple cast right?

 

[quality time]

Knee injury

From my perspective, just getting into the river would be great. I kicked a soccor ball eight weeks ago and tore the mcl tendon in my knee. The knee has not stabilized much since the accident and I am not very happy about it. I tried a sissy stream once and could not handle it very well,,,,the rest of this season is a wipeout for me and maybe permanently....will have to wait and see. Now that really sucks. From my viewpoint just standing in a slippery rock strewn river and doing some practice casting would be a great day, especially in the fall with all the colors and lack of other fisherman. Oh well, I can always sit on the bank and watch others, now thats what I call some bad days.

EC,

You're right, this really sucks! You might be able to get back in the game this Fall though.....think drift boats!

Hope you feel better soon.

QT

 

[dcabarle]

D, I feel your pain. I woke up before my wife and snuck out to fish for a bit. Drove about an hour, rigged up, and walked about 25 minutes to the river. Sat on a rock to watch the water and was stung by a hornet just below my left eye. In thirty seconds I was Rocky Balboa's twin, after the pummelling! I put my face in the drink but it would not cool. Came home after two painful, fishless hours to a "talk" about what I had to do around the house and something about responsibilities. Later in the evening, the swelling increased and had all but encircled my eye. Hopefully the next trip will go a little smoother.

imp:

OUCH! Sounds like you visited the Neversink Gorge? Sorry to hear about your sting. That really sux. How is now? My father got stung by yellow jackets a few years ago and his entire head swelled up like a beach ball on steroids. I can only imagine how that must have fealt. Hope you're feeling better.

at least one good thing will come of it all.... After about 6 phonecalls and lost shipping, you should get a replacement pontoon from Scadden, if the pontoon blew out at the seam. Take a good look at the other before calling them. You will probably get 2 new ones, may have to pay the difference for the tubeless, but it will be worth it. If you just need one, you know the drill. They may send you a green one by mistake. Then you will really look like your ready for the holidays. As far as the sage goes.... oh well...may not want to describe it like you did here when you send that back.

The funny thing is that I fear you're not kidding! I have to call Scadden to see what kind of deal he'll give me. If I'm lucky, I will get a green one right on time for Christmas. Then I can rig it up with christmas lights.