Photos from the West Branch

Despite crazy winds and high sun, we made it happen again. Bob and Rob made their second trip to the West Branch with me this year. After having to cancel three times last year because of high water, we had perfect water levels and rising water temps. Warming water had fish and bugs moving around, Blue Quill and Hendricksons were everywhere, and when the wind died down, the fish were up and munching.

Nice work Guys!

West Branch Weekend with the Parenti's

One thing I love about my job, is sharing my obsession with others. This past weekend I had the privilege of sharing not one but two of mine, travel and rising trout.

After one smallmouth trip, countless fly tying lessons, and a few weeks of house sitting, Drew and Linda became more than just customers/clients. Sometime over the winter while eating chicken tacos, and talking about last years fishing trips, the West Branch came up. After a few months of planning and picking a weekend, we were finally on our way.

Drew and Linda make a trip to Montana each year, to see the best the west has to offer, so I felt the need to show them the best the east has to offer. High winds made the first day tough, but we made the best of it. Day two was a new adventure, no wind, but high sun, we were head hunting. Quill Gordons, and Blue Quills floated down the river like micro sailboats, as we watched the banks for rings and white mouths. It was a challenge, big fish mean smart fish, but we made it count.

Fall on the West Branch

After a very successful movie night at the shop, I woke up to my alarm at 3 am, in a semi zombie state, I went outside and hooked the boat up. Jack, Casey, and I were headed for the west branch with 6wts, sinking lines, and boat boxes full of streamers. Jack had asked me about 2 months ago if we could go strip streamers on the WB in the fall, umm yeah! So we checked the gauges and it looked perfect. I 100% forgot to look at the wind, opps 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 40, I rowed my ass off. But we managed 2 fish on streamers, and 2 nymphing the fast water. Cold beer, deer sausage, and brats for a hot lunch, and home made monkey bread for dessert. A short story but some awesome pictures to go with, enjoy!

Wild Trout

There is something to be said about an animal that is born and raised in the wild, their outlook on life, their predatory instinct, survival instincts, it just amazes me every time I get to experience it. Trout have to be one of the coolest creatures swimming, when you hold a wild fish, being from a small mountain stream only pushing 4" long or the 20" plus from Montana, each fish holds a story, no fish looking the same.

This past week I mad another trip up to the Delaware river with my lady friend, conditions where tough,   Wind gusts of 30 plus mph, high sun and low water, but the fish were still ready to eat. Mid day between the gusts of wind we found fish rising to just about everything, drakes, hendros, olives, sulphurs, and caddis. We watched fish rise waiting for the chance to make one cast, half the time our flies would just get blown all over the river. We managed a couple fish, and it ended up a good day. 

Then mid week Casey and I headed to a small stream outside of Reading, where yet again, I was amazed at these wild fish, and the size of a couple of them. They are just relentless, a 6 inch fish with the heart of a 20 inched, it will give any 3wt rod a run for its money.