Dates: August 22, 2009
Location: Various parts of the Curd
Air temp: upper 70s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: 6 (3 brooks, 3 browns)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
QD
After scrapping a planned float due to bullshit hot weather and wind conditions, Quick and I decided to canoe the Canyon on this day. But, QD wasn't feeling well in the morning, so we decided to keep it simple and do a normal outing.
We went to the Curd instead, first going to QD's favorite run. We soon discovered it was really friggin' cold to be wet wading, but pushed ahead anyways. We didn't catch shit there.
Next up, was the Great Lawn. Finding a mouth-breathing family fishing from the bridge, we walked upstream to the first pool, where I was able to land one or two. We hiked up a bit, but low levels and the bright sun made for more futility.
To end the day, we decided to hit the EP spot. I started casting from the mousin' stations, and landed a brookie right away. QD went downstream and I went up. Landing a few more fish here and there, I made my way back to the stations, were I met up with QD, who unfortunately had gotten the skunk.
After the fishing was done, we went to town, where they were holding their annual summer festival. We saw the largest horses I've ever seen, paired up and pulling sleds laden with huge concrete blocks. We sampled various culinary delights, and then went back home, to tell all of the feats of strength we had witnessed.
Showing posts with label Bridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bridge. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, July 18, 2008
Silent Night
Date: July 5, 2008
Location: New spot, Bridge & Lawn
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: 1 brook
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Booter
Xan
Scooter
Needing a healthy restocking of flies, I headed out to Lunds late on Saturday afternoon. After dropping a healthy amount of dough on a wide assortment of dollar flies, I decided to check out a spot high up on the Curd. QD, Timbo and I had driven here once, but did not explore the area as the river was high and muddy. Now, it was slow and clear, so I set up and headed upstream. The river was mostly wide and slow. The few riffles I saw were quite shallow, though I did scare some fish here and there. After a ways, I headed back and went downstream from the bridge to find more of the same. I tried fishing one riffle, but didn't get any strikes.
Having some more time to kill before Booter and Scooter would join me for some night fishing, I went down to the EPB&G spot to see if I could get some casts into my favorite run. Alas, the area was crawling with fishermen, so I got back into the car and headed to our rendezvous area, the Bridge Spot. The sun was setting behind the bluff, and I made a quick nymph run along QD's favorite spot. There were fish rising here and there, but I was too lazy to tie on a dry, and found no interest in my copper John.
Walking back to my car to get my headlamp, Boot and Scoot pulled in, and we had a beer. After finishing our round, we hit the river as the last bits of sunlight faded into night. I was able to pull a small brookie on a hex dry before I could no longer see my fly on the water. Now, it was mousing time. The absence of moonlight made the fishing even more difficult, and the action was slow. Perhaps the uneven barometric pressure or lack of moon had some effect, as the hits were few and far between for all three of us.
After fishing around the bend from QD's spot, we headed to the Lawn, where we fished two areas. More of the same. Tired, we called it a night and headed back home.
Location: New spot, Bridge & Lawn
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: 1 brook
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Booter
Xan
Scooter
Needing a healthy restocking of flies, I headed out to Lunds late on Saturday afternoon. After dropping a healthy amount of dough on a wide assortment of dollar flies, I decided to check out a spot high up on the Curd. QD, Timbo and I had driven here once, but did not explore the area as the river was high and muddy. Now, it was slow and clear, so I set up and headed upstream. The river was mostly wide and slow. The few riffles I saw were quite shallow, though I did scare some fish here and there. After a ways, I headed back and went downstream from the bridge to find more of the same. I tried fishing one riffle, but didn't get any strikes.
Having some more time to kill before Booter and Scooter would join me for some night fishing, I went down to the EPB&G spot to see if I could get some casts into my favorite run. Alas, the area was crawling with fishermen, so I got back into the car and headed to our rendezvous area, the Bridge Spot. The sun was setting behind the bluff, and I made a quick nymph run along QD's favorite spot. There were fish rising here and there, but I was too lazy to tie on a dry, and found no interest in my copper John.
Walking back to my car to get my headlamp, Boot and Scoot pulled in, and we had a beer. After finishing our round, we hit the river as the last bits of sunlight faded into night. I was able to pull a small brookie on a hex dry before I could no longer see my fly on the water. Now, it was mousing time. The absence of moonlight made the fishing even more difficult, and the action was slow. Perhaps the uneven barometric pressure or lack of moon had some effect, as the hits were few and far between for all three of us.
After fishing around the bend from QD's spot, we headed to the Lawn, where we fished two areas. More of the same. Tired, we called it a night and headed back home.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Date: June 8, 2008
Location: Bridge & Great Lawn
Air temp: 70s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: ?
Fish landed: 3 browns
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Booter
Scoot
Scooter, Booter and myself headed to the Bridge to play in the brown water. Recent rains had slightly raised the water level, while discharge was about twice the norm. The water was very murky, but fortunately, the river wasn't blown out and the fish were feeding.
We parked by the bridge itself, and started to make our way up the stream. I was able to land a decent trout just in front of the bridge to start the day. Reassured that the day wouldn't be a complete bust due to the water color, I continued to nymph the run, much to my future dismay. The prior day I had spoken at length with a fellow fly fisherman. The topic of suckers came up, and I happily declared that I had yet to catch one this year. Naturally, I hooked one the very next day. My second fish quickly splashed the surface when I set, giving me the false hope that it was troutish. It kept low for the remainder of the fight, though after seeing it flash a few times through the murk, I started to get a bad feeling. As I brought it to the surface after it tired out, I let out a shriek of disgust. I had on a large, disgusting sucker with my stone fly impaled through its inflamed sphincter of a mouth. Still awaiting my new net to be shipped, I was faced with the prospect of handling the putrid bag of mush with my bare hands. However, I got lucky, and the large fly I had been using was easily accessible, and I was able to pop it off without having to handle the shit eater. After the unpleasantness, I moved upstream to find fish of repute.
Fishing was slow all day, with few rises due to the brown. We worked the immediate area and then headed to the Great Lawn. We stuck close to the immediate lawn area, and each of us pulled a few fish here and there.
Scooter pulls in a nice brown.
Once we were tuckered out and hungry, we decided to forgo the EPB&G and try out the Lawton Bar for a change of pace. The Lawton had been closed for a while, but was now open again. It is a very simple bar, with a small menu of mostly burgers and fried apps. We tried their curds and had a few burgers, but were not overly impressed.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Left Hand Blues
Date: May 11, 2008
Location: Great Lawn and Bridge
Air temp: 60s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: Caddis!
Fish landed: 6 (4 browns, 2 brooks)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Sunday was sunny and windy, with waters sadly unaffected by the recent rain. The water at the Great Lawn and Bridge were low and clear. The primo conditions of early season are quickly becoming a sweet memory, as the water level drops and the fauna rise. To make matters worse, the start of the regular season is bringing added pressure to fish that are learning once again to be more wary.
Most tragic of all, Booter's triumphant return to the streams ended before it began, most likely due to some South Asian scourge. The only thing that could save this day would be the later season's saving grace, juicy hatches.
Caddis, followed later by tricos, grasshoppers, hex, mice, etc..., are a solid hatch throughout the warmer months. A heartier meal than the tiny mayfiles of early season, they will offer a steady rise throughout their convergence to the water's surface.
I was lucky enough to arrive in the middle of a hatch. I started catching fish not far upstream from the Lawn's access point. I lingered at a few runs, picking off trout here and there, but had the hankering to keep moving up. I was curious to fish the large pool not far up, but saw some folks from the Lawn Compound already there. I headed back to the car and went to the Bridge. The caddis had died down by then, and with that, the action. I hit a few runs, but quickly called it a day.
Location: Great Lawn and Bridge
Air temp: 60s
Water temp: ?
Hatches: Caddis!
Fish landed: 6 (4 browns, 2 brooks)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Sunday was sunny and windy, with waters sadly unaffected by the recent rain. The water at the Great Lawn and Bridge were low and clear. The primo conditions of early season are quickly becoming a sweet memory, as the water level drops and the fauna rise. To make matters worse, the start of the regular season is bringing added pressure to fish that are learning once again to be more wary.
Most tragic of all, Booter's triumphant return to the streams ended before it began, most likely due to some South Asian scourge. The only thing that could save this day would be the later season's saving grace, juicy hatches.
Caddis, followed later by tricos, grasshoppers, hex, mice, etc..., are a solid hatch throughout the warmer months. A heartier meal than the tiny mayfiles of early season, they will offer a steady rise throughout their convergence to the water's surface.
I was lucky enough to arrive in the middle of a hatch. I started catching fish not far upstream from the Lawn's access point. I lingered at a few runs, picking off trout here and there, but had the hankering to keep moving up. I was curious to fish the large pool not far up, but saw some folks from the Lawn Compound already there. I headed back to the car and went to the Bridge. The caddis had died down by then, and with that, the action. I hit a few runs, but quickly called it a day.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Oscar Party
Date: March 29, 2008
Location: Bridge & The Great Lawn
Air temp: mid 40s
Water temp: 46
Hatches: midges
Fish landed: 11
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Timbo
Quickdraw
Xan
The mid 40s weather had persisted since I last visited the Curd River. Timbo wanted to try the area he and I had explored last year, which is conveniently located near Quickdraw's favorite spot. We first arrived at the Bridge, and seeing as there were no cars there, we decided to take advantage of the fresh water.
QD had been riding the skunk so far this year, and if any spot would kill the skunk, it was this one. Holy shit-balls... the skunk was killed. As I was still setting up by the car, QD was landing his first fish of the year in his money run. Timbo went down to join him as I headed upriver. I landed a plump brown on my first cast, and soon brought two similar trout to hand.
Timbo made his way up to my locale, having only caught snags. During one snag, QD had pulled a Booter and caught a 16" pig. Timbo would have his due, however, as he started landing fish just upstream from me.
When QD joined us, he had landed 8 fish, 5 of which were plump, two of which were pigs. After we had fished out the two prime stretches near the road, we got in the car and headed not far upstream.
The day continued much as it had, despite the cold, cutting wind. We fucked around and got a triple double. Quickdraw was on FIRE, setting what is probably a new personal record at 17 landed trout. Timbo netted close to that, while I was also able to get over double digits.
When we dream of the start of fishing season, we dream not only of being able to fish again, but of days like this. The best bets for primo conditions are at the beginning and end of the season, and this day hath now been written in the Fly Angler's Guild lore.
A day like this needed a fitting end, and we obliged with spicy curds and burgers at the EPB&G.
Location: Bridge & The Great Lawn
Air temp: mid 40s
Water temp: 46
Hatches: midges
Fish landed: 11
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Timbo
Quickdraw
Xan
The mid 40s weather had persisted since I last visited the Curd River. Timbo wanted to try the area he and I had explored last year, which is conveniently located near Quickdraw's favorite spot. We first arrived at the Bridge, and seeing as there were no cars there, we decided to take advantage of the fresh water.
QD had been riding the skunk so far this year, and if any spot would kill the skunk, it was this one. Holy shit-balls... the skunk was killed. As I was still setting up by the car, QD was landing his first fish of the year in his money run. Timbo went down to join him as I headed upriver. I landed a plump brown on my first cast, and soon brought two similar trout to hand.
Timbo made his way up to my locale, having only caught snags. During one snag, QD had pulled a Booter and caught a 16" pig. Timbo would have his due, however, as he started landing fish just upstream from me.
When QD joined us, he had landed 8 fish, 5 of which were plump, two of which were pigs. After we had fished out the two prime stretches near the road, we got in the car and headed not far upstream.
The day continued much as it had, despite the cold, cutting wind. We fucked around and got a triple double. Quickdraw was on FIRE, setting what is probably a new personal record at 17 landed trout. Timbo netted close to that, while I was also able to get over double digits.
When we dream of the start of fishing season, we dream not only of being able to fish again, but of days like this. The best bets for primo conditions are at the beginning and end of the season, and this day hath now been written in the Fly Angler's Guild lore.
A day like this needed a fitting end, and we obliged with spicy curds and burgers at the EPB&G.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Back in the Saddle
Date: March 23, 2008
Location: Curd (Bridge)
Air temp: low 30s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: black midges
Fish landed: 4 (browns)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
It was time to stop fucking around. Fuck this winter, fuck the ice, fuck paltry fish. Resurrection. This was the word. On Easter, it hath be. I fired up the golden chariot and headed to Quickdraw's favorite spot on the Curd. This is a place with trout, trout with girth, in places I have known.
The gauges on the Curd were measuring normal water levels and flows. The ice here, if there had been much, was gone. I went right to the sure run, and the river provideth.
In quick time, I was into trout. I landed four right away, two around 14" and plump. After the 4th, I spent a goodly amount of time trying to retrieve my flies from a high tree branch, because I'm a cheap ass. The 5th trout proved elusive. The first attempt freed itself mid-fight. The second was landed, but of undetermined hooking. The third, I merely flipped in place.
I made my way out of the run and decided to drive to a spot up-river, which I had heard was newly open to public use. I found the area still posted, and with the temperature dropping slightly, I called it good and then called it a day.
It begins again. Now.
Location: Curd (Bridge)
Air temp: low 30s
Water temp: ???
Hatches: black midges
Fish landed: 4 (browns)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
It was time to stop fucking around. Fuck this winter, fuck the ice, fuck paltry fish. Resurrection. This was the word. On Easter, it hath be. I fired up the golden chariot and headed to Quickdraw's favorite spot on the Curd. This is a place with trout, trout with girth, in places I have known.
The gauges on the Curd were measuring normal water levels and flows. The ice here, if there had been much, was gone. I went right to the sure run, and the river provideth.
In quick time, I was into trout. I landed four right away, two around 14" and plump. After the 4th, I spent a goodly amount of time trying to retrieve my flies from a high tree branch, because I'm a cheap ass. The 5th trout proved elusive. The first attempt freed itself mid-fight. The second was landed, but of undetermined hooking. The third, I merely flipped in place.
I made my way out of the run and decided to drive to a spot up-river, which I had heard was newly open to public use. I found the area still posted, and with the temperature dropping slightly, I called it good and then called it a day.
It begins again. Now.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Night Moves
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Afternoon Delight
Date: March 10th, 2007
Location: Bridge & Club
Air temp: mid 40s
Water temp: ??
Hatches: a few little black flying things
Fish landed: 7 or 8 (brown)
Present members of the Fly Anglers Guild :|: Upper Midwest Chapter, for this outing were:
Xan
Quickdraw
Tim
More sun, less snow, (King Of) beer(s) (great call by Tim), and gin clear water greeted us at the Bridge. It was another slow day, but I was able to pull out a nice 14"er. Tim landed the first Brookie of the season. Quickdraw once again had good results with the Bugger.
Another great call by Tim was to wedge our (fly) rods underneath the windshield wipers of the Saturn as we drove to the Club, after exhausting the Bridge spots. Even at speeds of 50mph, the (fly) rods didn't budge.
After landing some tiny trout and flipping some others with a streamer, we headed for the EPB&G to cap off the expedition with some curds.
We received a cellular communiqué from the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers (KDMB) that they landed a bevy of trout in a separate trip elsewhere on the stream. Sadly, their ilk, with their "power" worms and ape-like shuffle, may never realize that while they "caught" a lot of trout, none of them counted.
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