3 Days of Fishing

This weekend marks 4 out of 10 states for 2012. I went down to Maryland for the weekend. With all of the "big" game fish out in deep water or up river spawning, we had to turn our attention to one on the only species around this time of year. Yellow Perch make their way up-river between February and March to spawn, so fishing the mouth of creeks with minnows and chartreuse jigs has always been the method to success. Instead of minnows and 6ft light spin rods, I had an Olive Zuddler minnow and 5 weight fly rod.

Over 15" Yellow Perch

 Hot Fly: Olive Zuddler

After a nice weekend in MD, Chris and I decided to take out the eight weights and try our hand at a few winter Musky. The good news is we found one, but the bad news is he didn't eat. If you have ever gone Musky fishing you know that often times this is the case, however we still fish relentlessly for these apex predators. Most of the time it is the anticipation of the take that keeps us fishing for these beasts.

Musky Fly

Not bad for an IPhone - Musky in the trees

Hot Flies: Who knows!

Finally, Joey and I decided to hit the Tully this morning for a couple hours before work. If you ask Joey the fishing was Awesome... Me not so much. Joey ended up with about 6 to hand, all were beautiful hold-over fish. Some days its just not your day, and today was that day for me. Maybe tomorrow :)

Beautiful Tully Trout

Hot Flies: Prince Nymph, Zebra Midge

Alaska Memories

It's been 3 years since I guided in Alaska, and it has also been 3 years since I've been there. I have tried the past 2 summers to go back to visit my old boss and the other guys I worked with, but with no success. But, this year is going to be different. I'm 100% going. Well I hope anyway.

While I was cleaning out my tying desk, I came across an old CD from a couple steelhead trips. Paul, Jesse, Tom ( my old boss, and 2 other guides) and I spent the first month before clients showed up chasing steelhead in the many lake-fed streams that make up Baranof Island. This is where my love and obsession with steelhead started. There is nothing like walking up a river sight fishing for steelhead for 3 days and seeing no one except the guys you came with. After having a hard-drive crash on my computer, I thought all pictures had been lost (that is what I hadn't posted on Facebook). Its been 3 long years away from her banks, and since memories are all that I have, finding this CD is a gold mine. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do.

Tom with a beautiful Alaskan Steelhead

My first one!

Another Beauty

Step 1: Climb on-top a log

Step 2: Hook a monster!

Step 3: Climb down and fight monster

Step 4: Smile!!!

Wilderness walking through the Tongass National Forest (with a fly rod)

Some small wildlife

I will never forget this fight

Paul with another beautiful steelhead

One of my favorite shots

Jesse with a nice buck

The stories and places these fish can take you

Salmon River Float

This past weekend Joe and I headed north with my boat in tow. Our plan was to float from Altmar to Pineville, hopefully find a few fish, and check the river for any changes since last spring.  Once we had the boat in the water and headed downstream, we realized that the only obstacles that we would be dodging would be crowds of people and other boats. With the water level at 335 cfs and the weather in the high 50s, the fishing pressure was all but high. Joe and I floated most of the afternoon, doing a bit more floating than fishing, and at the end of the day Joe landed one huge King Salmon.  The good news is we did see a lot of fish throughout the float.

Monday was another beautiful day; Lenny drove up to try his hand at a steelhead or 2. Lenny and I hit the river at first light. The pressure was less than the day before but still we had to float past a few of my favorite spots.  Despite all the people and the slow day we had Sunday, I had high hopes. It was about half way through the float right about the time Lenny had given up hope on even seeing a steelhead when I hooked the first one. Not long after that I had one in the net--first steelhead in my boat! Lenny hooked 2 more but we only had one to the net all day.

After we finished up I headed down to the DSR for a couple hours before having to meet up with Joe after he dropped off his clients. It was a slow evening for me; I hooked 2 fish and only got one to the beach. 

Here are a few photos from the weekend:

              

Oak Orchard & Salmon River

I left on Tuesday morning headed to New York for a week of "big game" fishing. Well kinda, I was headed to Oak Orchard with a few friends including TCO's mail man Steve Nelson. Steve and I have fished many times before; one of which was why I was headed to the Oak. Last October he invited me to a fundraising fly fishing tournament put on by the St. Marys Archery Club it was a blast; great food, free beer, and a lot of big fish.

This year was no different; Steve and I both with Atlantic Salmon, Steve and Steve both also placed for browns. Each day hot coffee and fresh home cooked breakfast awaited us around 5:30 am, after a great meal we turned our headlamps on; with full stomachs we went off looking for our spot on the river. Lunch was served every day but I found myself skipping that to continue chasing the shadows that pasted in the deep. When dinner rolled around we were all reluctant to put the rods down and head in, but with the smell of steaks cooking it was a hard bargain. Being have been there before and knowing what was for dinner I was the first one out of the river and in line for their famous fish fry! It was amazing.

Steve with a nice Brown

Quinn with a hefty King

12lbs of pure beauty 

1st place fish 

After a night of drinking and celebrating I was off Saturday morning to visit my sister just north of Pulaski. It should be no surprise that I was out the door Monday morning at first light headed for the Salmon River. The report from Joey that morning was more than promising, I was geared up almost before I had the car parked. It wasn't long before I had my first fish on; however that was short lived. If you have ever been steelhead fishing you know exactly what I'm talking about. Well luckily that was not the only one of the day. I managed to get a few to hand throughout the day and lost a couple in between. I fished solo most of the day until Joey finished with his clients. We fished till dark, each hooking a couple but only getting one to hand (I had one to feet) but that doesn't count.

This is what I live for!

Joey with a solid Buck

It was nice to finally hook a couple Steelhead; the bad part is...well we are back in PA :)