Date: April 29, 2007
Location: Eagle
Air temp: high 70s
Water temp: ??? (I really need to buy some new batteries)
Hatches: Caddis (amongst others)!
Fish landed: 4 browns
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
XanFruit Booter
It was an early morning run, getting to FB's at 6am. After going through the McD's drive-through for some much needed biscuit sandwiches, we headed for the Curd River.
We went upstream and got a few on nymphs before switching to the cursed dry fly. On a side note, Fruit asked me not to divulge the fact he fished a dry, but he also told me not to mention his "not just a crush" on Jazz Hands. However, these facts were too important not to be published on the internet.
We moved back to the car not long before noon so FB could get home and shop for sink fixtures and tile with his better half. We each hit a final spot before calling it. Fruit, just downstream from the bridge tossing a dry. Myself, upstream, nymphing the narrow riffle.
After landing a brown and flipping another, I made a short cast above a little cut on the bank. The indicator twitched, I set, and a big fish darted from its lie. As has been the case with most of the other larger fish I've hooked, this one's first move was to dive and stay low. I pulled it from side to side while trying to also move it downstream away from the rocks and current.
I called out to Fruit (I recall saying something to the effect of, "Check this out!", which was heard as, "Bring the bat.") and he came over to net the fish. He pulled the fly out and helped me transfer it to my net for a measure. It came close to 17" and had a nice heft. After "the incident," FB had redeemed himself verily with his support.
Which makes me feel somewhat bad that I outed his dry fly and man crush leanings.
Quasi-SLAFfy
Date: April 28, 2007
Location: Warwick
Air temp: high 60s
Water temp: ??? (I really need to buy some new batteries)
Hatches: Some very small bugs, but no rises to speak of
Fish landed: Around 12, mostly bows, some browns
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
XanFruit Booter
We got a late start to the day, leaving around 1pm. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Naturally, we bitched about this fact as we drove to the stream, as we expected the water to be clear, levels low and the fish a spookin'.
We figured by this point, the Warwick would be our best bet, and sure enough, the levels were decent and the water was cloudy. This is a very spotty river, with large stretches seemingly containing only chubs. After a small brown and many, many chubs, the hot spots, where all the trout chill and drink their Remy, were found. They were the usual areas, replete with aggressive bows and the occasional brown. Both Fruit and I caught odd looking bows, that had the pink stripe of a bow, but the spots of a brown.
As we fished our way back to the car, we noticed a couple canoes on the big flat. Assuming the fish in that area to be spooked, we started making our way to the car to drive to the big pool. They left the flat and passed us by. Fruity B suggested we try the area anyways, and I wisely heeded his advice.
There are (usually brief and far too few) spans in fishing when everything is right. Your approach gives you a comfortable casting lane. Your fly selection is drifting naturally, and if intended, weighted enough and sinking to the right depth. The strike indicator is where it should be. You know where the fish are, trout tending towards the bank, chubs in the middle of the stream. Throw in some feisty bows and pheasant tails tied by Fruiter himself, and all one has to do is cast gently in the calm water.
Then, with everything right, you start pulling in fish, one after the other. When there is a lull in the action, you move up a few steps and start the process all over again, adjusting the indicator now and then, and getting it right each time. That's all a F.A.G. really asks for, much less on a warm spring day.
After things slowed down, we drove to the pool to see if we could pull out any hogs. Not much was going on, though FB was able to land a few decent browns. As the sun was setting, we went back to the car where a tweeker and his lady invited us to steal his motorcycle, insisting that we use the "brain buckets" if we did.
Fruit was able to get that sucker up to 97mph before he hit a badger and crashed into Curly's Bar. He will be missed, but at least I caught an ass load of fish.
Date: April 22, 2007
Location: Super Awesome Double Secret New Spot
Air temp: high 60s
Water temp: ??? (I really need to buy some new batteries)
Hatches: Didn't notice any
Fish landed: 4 (browns) and scads of hefty chubs
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
XanQuickdraw
The last time I was at Mr. F (the Woodland Critter Murder Mystery), I chatted a bit with a local who was fly fishing from the banks (no waders). He was quite talkative, and told me of the recent history of that area of the river. Legend has it, a big manure spill killed off most of the fish a few years ago, and the population has yet to recover in that area.
Of more interest, he asked me if I had fished at another spot on a nearby stream. I told him I had never been to that particular locale, and he very proceeded to very kindly tell me how to get there. He regaled me with stories of huge fish caught, brookies over 20", larger browns, etc... He claimed that he preferred to spin-cast in that area.
So today, QD and I decided to try and find this land of pigs. After a couple quick consultations with the map, we arrived at what we believed to be the spot. We parked by a bridge and started upstream. The river was of decent size, though large portions were quite slow (indeed, ideal for spin-casting). The delicate aroma of cow manure wafted through the air, seemingly carried by the humidity. There were a few riffles and small pools. We both hooked into some large chubs. Some had horns on their head. If there is a Hell, those fuckers will be there.
After our fill of chub, we decided to check out the area downstream of the bridge. We both landed some smallish trout (8"-10") as we made our way down. After a report from base informing us of incoming rain, we slowly made our way back up. QD landed a nice and plump brown. Our opinion of the spot was starting to improve. I hit a nice run an upstream riffle was feeding. Then, the fun began. I was fishing a couple mid-sized nymphs, and hooked into a nice 15"er. I had brought my 5wt with my 4wt reel, and even on the 5wt, the fish put up a very nice fight.
QD was nice enough to snap a pic:
Not long after, another connection and another great fight. Yet another 15", though this one was nice and chunky. After a few strikes and missed fish, I was able to land another decent fish. Probably the best fight was the last fish I had on, though he released himself on his own.
All in all, a good day and definitely a place to check out again. Curiously, as we were packing up in the parking area, a car pulled in driven by an older gent. He asked us about the fishing and told us how he used to fish there long ago. He even told us of another area to check out nearby. Not long after he drove off, another fellow drove in to ask us about the fishing. Very friendly folk out there in WI.
Date: April 15, 2007
Location: 10 Spot & Club Curd
Air temp: mid 60s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: Little flying things and medium tan flying things
Fish landed: 5 or 6
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Fruit Booter
Quickdraw
Xan
Non-members (Mouth-breathers):
Coach
What started out as a duo, turned into a foursome when Coach and Fruity made game-time decisions to fish. We decided to try a new spot out on the Curd River.
The spot was mostly shallow in the area we covered, with larger fish piled in the deeper runs and small fish elsewhere. The clear water and sunshine made fishing slow once again.
After a few of us pulled out some little guys, we decided to hit the Club. It was slow for the fly fishers, but I was able to go on a brief hot streak as time ran out. I found a riffle near the car that yielded 4 or 5 fish. Coach nailed double digits up past the big pool.
Date: April 14, 2007
Location: Mr. F
Air temp: mid 50s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: Little flying things and medium tan flying things
Fish landed: 5I drove into the parking lot at Mr. F to find a grisly sight. In the middle of the lot were the remains of some woodland critters.
While we await the initial forensic report, my investigative skills are well on their way in solving the case. As is their M.O., the killers were careless, and left a telltale clue.
A Mouth-breather bucket. Dirty, white, and sporting a cheap beer logo. Normally used for transporting worms, tackle or other assorted MB trinkets, or used for sitting when their knuckles get tired, this one had a far darker purpose.
All signs point to your average meth fueled blood orgy, a practice reportedly common amongst the worm dunkers and their ilk. We could only hope the poor little critters didn't suffer too much.
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
The sun was shining and the water was clear. I started upstream from the lot and caught a few by the bridge at the start. After making my way upstream a ways, tossing streamers in some large holes, I saw an armada of kayaks. I hiked back to the lot and headed downstream, where I think I caught the same 15"er I got the last time I was at Mr. F.
I ended the day back by the bridge catching one or two on a dry, and quit when my fly got caught in my shirt collar.
Meanwhile, the wheels of justice turn, and the perpetrators of this heinous crime shall be brought before the law.
Date: April 13, 2007
Location: OG on Curd
Air temp: mid 50s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: Little flying things and medium tan flying things
Fish landed: 5
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
QuickDraw
It was a slow day on the river(crystal clear waters) tried everything in my flybox the only thing that worked was Small BWO's and Small Caddis. Saw some large browns in the big pool. They wouldnt take anything not even the Bitch Creek. Oh well it was still nice to officially open the Dry Fly season. The fish were really spooky.
The Shady Grove was good to me, I ordered up a King's Cut of the prime rib(rare) and it was awesome.
Date: April 1, 2007
Location: Brule and Poplar
Air temp: mid 30s
Water temp: 40 at the Brule, no idea about the Poplar
Hatches: nun
Fish landed: skunk
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Tim
Xan
Well, the search for fish (larger than an inch) in the Brule continues. We got up there on Saturday night and hit the Kro Bar. $20 in pull tabs yielded nothing. We hit the river at 5:30am on Sunday. Due to the constant rain from the day before, the river was high, fast and brown.
We didn't fish much there, and went back to the Kro to regroup.
After some biscuits and gravy, we decided to leave town and hit Poplar Creek on the way back. Large chunks of ice were scattered throughout the stream, and even parts of the river bed were frozen. It has potential, but it might take a month or so. Despite the ice, we fished anyways and didn't catch a thing.
