Date: July 20, 2007
Location: Eagle, The Great Lawn & Bridge
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: too dark to see
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Booter
Xan
TP
I admit, I like Bob Seger. I wouldn't call it a guilty pleasure (like my secret glee of hearing Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel," or some Hall & Oates), and I only have his greatest hits album, but I will go on record saying he has some fine tracks.
In our email exchanges planning out this night fishing session, I invoked a few lines of his seminal work, which serves as the title of this post. As TP was getting ready to leave work that day, whose raspy, heartland voice came on over the PA? If you guessed the seminal Michigander, Throb Seger, singing "Night Moves" no less, you get a cookie.
As we drove to the stream, we discussed the significance of this coincidence. Was it an omen? And then, it came, like a light from the heavens. "Turn the Page" burst out from Booter's radio. We had been thrice blessed by Ann Arbor's favorite son.
This was our sign.
It turned out that the fishing fucking sucked, so Bob can go to hell.
We started at Eagle to once again rain mice over the boulder field. I once again managed to foul hook a brown, while TP and Boot caught a few, though nothing big. The fierce strikes and loud splashes were curiously absent this night.
Once we gave up on the spot, we drove to the where TP and I had fished once in May and tested the waters near the bridge. Nada. We then made the short jaunt to the "Bridge," where the hits picked up, especially at Quickdraw's favorite run, but nothing of size was taken.
Next time I'll quote Kid Rock.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
P.Y.T.
I've come to a moral crossroad, and I don't know what to do. My search for new (to me) music has been taking me to some odd corners of the spectrum. For example, I recently purchased two Klezmer albums and three Devo offerings, and while they didn't do much for me, they aren't my cause for consternation.
I had somehow gotten a Michael Jackson song in my head. Not knowing the title, I went to iTunes to see if I could find it. Using the preview feature (which btw is waaaaay better than Amazon's), I was able to find the song, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" from the album, Thriller.
I purchased the song and it turned out to be a pretty good tune, but in my searching, I found another promising track. So I downloaded that as well and was rewarded with a bangin' tune!
I have never been a huge MJ fan, not owning any albums past Off the Wall. My memory of 80s pop culture is also spotty at best, but I couldn't for the life of me remember hearing this song. Certainly this song stands up with his best, and I felt practically cheated that DJs, club or wedding, have never busted out this track in favor of over-played hits like "Beat It" and "Billie Jean."
To give you a window into my head, when I hear a song, the first things I usually focus on are the melody, instrumentation and production. Lyrics come last. The song in question is "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)".
After listening to and enjoying the song a few times, I hit rewind on my iPod to try and decipher the lyrics. Then, it struck me. In light of recent history, the title alone gave me cause for alarm (and made me start laughing on the bus). Images of a naked MJ crooning this song to Macaulay Culkin while cradling a chimp danced through my head. The actual lyrics didn't help, a portion of which I shall sample for you:
"Nothin' can stop this burnin'
Desire to be with you
Gotta get to you baby
Won't you come, it's emergency
Cool my fire yearnin'
Honey, come set me free
Don't you know now is the perfect time
We can dim the lights
Just to make it right
In the night
Hit the lovin' spot
I'll give you all I've got"
So here I am. Is it wrong for me to like this song, given the events and revelations of the past 15+ years? By actually paying money for this, am I also guilty of his (alleged) crimes?
In the end, I hope this will go towards the payment of his settlements to various lawsuits, and maybe everyone can get their lives back on track. I had hoped that writing this down would help me sort this out, but my feelings are still confused. I feel dirty.
New Feature: Great Gas Station Names
From my earliest days of driving around the lands of the Great North, I've noticed fantastic (pervertedly suggestive) gas station names. It started with this one, but after seeing numerous others, I have come to the reckoning (hope) that small town gas station owners have a great sense of humor.
I offer to you, as the start of this series, the one that started it all (for me).
I offer to you, as the start of this series, the one that started it all (for me).
Skunking in Skunk City
Date: July 15, 2007
Location: V
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Fruit Booter
This time, we parked by the highway to scout new water. After casting to fish that probably weren't there, spooking some small trout and suckers, and trespassing on farmland, we called it to go shoot some clays.
Someday, we will figure this place out, and/or get lucky with a huge fish. Days like this are merely the penance we must pay. Or at least that's what I tell myself.
Location: V
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Fruit Booter
This time, we parked by the highway to scout new water. After casting to fish that probably weren't there, spooking some small trout and suckers, and trespassing on farmland, we called it to go shoot some clays.
Someday, we will figure this place out, and/or get lucky with a huge fish. Days like this are merely the penance we must pay. Or at least that's what I tell myself.
Boy, you got a purdy small mouth
Date: July 14, 2007
Location: iRiver
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: a few smallies and a pan fish
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Quickdraw
Xan
Dead fish. The stench wafted through the small gravel parking lot when we arrived. This was our first outing at the iRiver. Quick's coworker has fished these waters, so we thought we would give it a try.
Walking along the path toward the stream, QD's sharp eye spotted a nice little treat, wild raspberries. We plucked and ate the finest looking of the bunch as we giggled like little schoolgirls (or farted, I forget which).
After sampling the fruits of Wisconsin, we got into the water in search of trout. After a short walk downstream, we came upon a fishy looking run and began to cast. Not long after, I saw a fish attack one of my flies and the battle was on. I only saw a glimpse of the fish as it bolted downstream. After a short but strong fight, it popped the fly and made its escape.
It didn't look like a trout, and my suspicions were later confirmed. Further upstream, I began to bugger a slow, deeper stretch of water. I started landing smallmouth bass.
I'm a trout angler by name, station and creed. In moments of levity or drunkenness, I may confess to be a more general salmonidae fellow. My experiences with "rough" fish are limited, but I dare say my prejudices were challenged this day.
The smallie, while an ugly and stupid creature, has one fine feature, they are quite the fighters. Like Michael Vick, I likes me a fighter. While not as fierce as the 22"er I pulled out of the V, or a trout in a raging Montana river, the smallies put a strain on my arm.
However, it was trout we were after. After we both landed a few decent smallies, we decided to drive to another spot of the river where we hoped to find our prey.
A ways downstream, we found an area that did hold trout. Unfortunately for the trout I found, I false hooked it in the eye. Sorry, little guy.
That was all the action we would find there. We called it a day and finished our session with cheese conies at the local A&W.
All in all, a beautiful day filled with fresh raspberries and my first smallies.
Location: iRiver
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: a few smallies and a pan fish
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Quickdraw
Xan
Dead fish. The stench wafted through the small gravel parking lot when we arrived. This was our first outing at the iRiver. Quick's coworker has fished these waters, so we thought we would give it a try.
Walking along the path toward the stream, QD's sharp eye spotted a nice little treat, wild raspberries. We plucked and ate the finest looking of the bunch as we giggled like little schoolgirls (or farted, I forget which).
After sampling the fruits of Wisconsin, we got into the water in search of trout. After a short walk downstream, we came upon a fishy looking run and began to cast. Not long after, I saw a fish attack one of my flies and the battle was on. I only saw a glimpse of the fish as it bolted downstream. After a short but strong fight, it popped the fly and made its escape.
It didn't look like a trout, and my suspicions were later confirmed. Further upstream, I began to bugger a slow, deeper stretch of water. I started landing smallmouth bass.
I'm a trout angler by name, station and creed. In moments of levity or drunkenness, I may confess to be a more general salmonidae fellow. My experiences with "rough" fish are limited, but I dare say my prejudices were challenged this day.
The smallie, while an ugly and stupid creature, has one fine feature, they are quite the fighters. Like Michael Vick, I likes me a fighter. While not as fierce as the 22"er I pulled out of the V, or a trout in a raging Montana river, the smallies put a strain on my arm.
However, it was trout we were after. After we both landed a few decent smallies, we decided to drive to another spot of the river where we hoped to find our prey.
A ways downstream, we found an area that did hold trout. Unfortunately for the trout I found, I false hooked it in the eye. Sorry, little guy.
That was all the action we would find there. We called it a day and finished our session with cheese conies at the local A&W.
All in all, a beautiful day filled with fresh raspberries and my first smallies.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Beaver, Damn!
Date: July 6, 2007
Location: Eagle & Club
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: too dark to see
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
TP
Quickdraw
Another mouse outing at both Eagle and Club. Pat was making a long overdue trip to the stream, and his first night outing of the year. While TP was slaying them, Quickdraw landed his first fish on a mouse, netting a total of three. This was the second or third.
He was also successful in catching one of these:
The pics aren't very good, but you get the idea. Nice job, Quickie!
Location: Eagle & Club
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: too dark to see
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
TP
Quickdraw
Another mouse outing at both Eagle and Club. Pat was making a long overdue trip to the stream, and his first night outing of the year. While TP was slaying them, Quickdraw landed his first fish on a mouse, netting a total of three. This was the second or third.
He was also successful in catching one of these:
The pics aren't very good, but you get the idea. Nice job, Quickie!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Cougar Creek
Date: July 1, 2007
Location: Curd Mouth, Bridge
Air temp: 80s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: skank
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
TP
Xan
Sleeping in after a night of keg stands and general sin, the prospect of spending a Sunday relaxing in an air conditioned room, trying to once again lead the Lions to a Super Bowl in Madden 2004, sounded like the best plan on the table.
As I was settling into a home game versus the Saints, I got a call from TP. Scout out a new river? Sure, why not. If anything could shake the effects of the previous night, stream time would be it (especially since T offered to drive).
From his agents in the field, TP had gotten word of trout activity not far from the Curd. We initially set out for one river, but found ourselves closer to another investigative worthy creek. Plum Creek, at least in the areas we found, turned out to be crap.
We then decided to explore the lowest areas of the Curd. We found an access point not far from the mouth. From the bridge, we saw a couple huge trout, and many, many larger suckers. We also discovered the local watering hole, occupied with families and cougars.
After gearing up and exchanging pleasantries with the locals, we went up the river. The water was decent in spots, and we saw some fish, but there was no action. We then drove to the Bridge, where we fished Quickdraw's favorite run. Fish were rising, but not to any dry we threw at them. The skunk continued and the day was done.
Location: Curd Mouth, Bridge
Air temp: 80s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: skank
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
TP
Xan
Sleeping in after a night of keg stands and general sin, the prospect of spending a Sunday relaxing in an air conditioned room, trying to once again lead the Lions to a Super Bowl in Madden 2004, sounded like the best plan on the table.
As I was settling into a home game versus the Saints, I got a call from TP. Scout out a new river? Sure, why not. If anything could shake the effects of the previous night, stream time would be it (especially since T offered to drive).
From his agents in the field, TP had gotten word of trout activity not far from the Curd. We initially set out for one river, but found ourselves closer to another investigative worthy creek. Plum Creek, at least in the areas we found, turned out to be crap.
We then decided to explore the lowest areas of the Curd. We found an access point not far from the mouth. From the bridge, we saw a couple huge trout, and many, many larger suckers. We also discovered the local watering hole, occupied with families and cougars.
After gearing up and exchanging pleasantries with the locals, we went up the river. The water was decent in spots, and we saw some fish, but there was no action. We then drove to the Bridge, where we fished Quickdraw's favorite run. Fish were rising, but not to any dry we threw at them. The skunk continued and the day was done.
All That Jazz (Hands)
Date: June 30, 2007
Location: Famous Original Ray's
Air temp: 80s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: tricos
Fish landed: 2 (brown)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Fruit Boot
Scotty Mac
TP
The Artist Formally Known as Yeti (TAFKAY)
Jazz Hands!
Xan
We were fortunate to have a founding member of F.A.G. return for a visit to the hallowed waters of Curdville. Jazz Hands arrived from the beaches of California pumped for some stream trout and curds.
After many stops to acquire food, gas and a friggin' license for Jazzy (which was ultimately purchased over mobile phone), we arrived at Famous Original Ray's where we met up with TP.
Fishing was initially productive, with a trico hatch underway. The fish weren't going nuts, but they were feeding above and below. After a few fish were landed around the big pool, we adjourned to the gallery for some sight fishing.
It was slow, and the weather was hot, but the shade and herbs provided relief. The fish of the day was landed by Booter when he stole Jazz's spot and landed a 15"er.
We fished our way back to the car and then headed to the EPB&G for (three baskets of) curds. After stuffing ourselves and getting screwed over by the pull tab machine, we headed back to the Cities for keg stands. That's how we roll, sucka.
Location: Famous Original Ray's
Air temp: 80s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: tricos
Fish landed: 2 (brown)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Fruit Boot
Scotty Mac
TP
The Artist Formally Known as Yeti (TAFKAY)
Jazz Hands!
Xan
We were fortunate to have a founding member of F.A.G. return for a visit to the hallowed waters of Curdville. Jazz Hands arrived from the beaches of California pumped for some stream trout and curds.
After many stops to acquire food, gas and a friggin' license for Jazzy (which was ultimately purchased over mobile phone), we arrived at Famous Original Ray's where we met up with TP.
Fishing was initially productive, with a trico hatch underway. The fish weren't going nuts, but they were feeding above and below. After a few fish were landed around the big pool, we adjourned to the gallery for some sight fishing.
It was slow, and the weather was hot, but the shade and herbs provided relief. The fish of the day was landed by Booter when he stole Jazz's spot and landed a 15"er.
We fished our way back to the car and then headed to the EPB&G for (three baskets of) curds. After stuffing ourselves and getting screwed over by the pull tab machine, we headed back to the Cities for keg stands. That's how we roll, sucka.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)