Drifting The Prairie Ocean Outdoor Journal

Chapter 58 Day 91 - Trout Season

2012-01-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

Torn Between Trout And Carp

As the sun warmed the prairie land this afternoon, I couldn't help but think of my outing on Blue River this past Saturday. Hiking into the wilderness at Blue on Saturday morning I knew full well I would find a muddy chocolate milk-like river. Still, the fish were there and fish were caught.

On the way in, it was easy to tell the wind was from the west and I was reminded of what Walton wrote, "Wind from the west, fish bite the best." Well, maybe. I think, however, Walton should have put some footnotes with that summation such as (1) Unless the friggin' river is chocolate milk!

It was all good though.

Today, fellow caster of fur and feather, that Grizzly Adams of carp-by-fly addict Charlie was on Blue - fishing the trout. He reported today that the river is trying to clear and is in better shape. Sounds like Charlie did okay this afternoon capturing trout.

Although he captured trout he reported the bait fishers on the bank were looking like forlorn souls not getting any bites at all. That news does not bid well for my Wednesday outing where I am entertaining some... bait chunkers. Yep, that's right... bait chunkers.

I'll tell you more later.

Anyhow, today would have been a good day to be on the river Blue - just couldn't swing it.

Instead, I spent some time on the vise and tied up a couple of trout flies and then switched to carp patterns for friend Charlie.

I didn't get a lot of patterns tied today - a couple of Carpolo Charlies in different weights, a mega San Juan wormball in claret, a regular sized San Juan wormball in red, and a Carp Tease. Tomorrow, I'll try and do some Crazy Charlies, Mysis Shrimp, and Clousers. Yes... Clousers will capture carp.

Later on will come the Carrots and Backstabbers and even more Carpolo Charlies in different color schemes, and good measures of all will be at Charlies' disposal.

Right now, the fly-tying desk is a total mess - an apocalypse of bou, rubber legs, dubbing, flash, and chenille, with material for trout flies such as pheasant tail and hare's mask - all laced together in no rhyming shape or fashion. The desk is a disaster - a sweet disaster of possible opportunities.

No, I'm not haunted by waters, I'm torn by species.

Chapter 58 Trout Season - Day 90

2012-01-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

Prepping For Carp By Fly Season

Staring through the picture window before daylight I saw ice crystals on the grass blades sparkle as they were illuminated by that miniature moon hanging on the utility pole. It looked cold this morning.

Yet, the pretty young lass giving the morning weather forecast promised the cold would give way to unseasonably warm weather later toward the afternoon hours. It was then I knew I would go to the creek to do some scouting for the grand and golden ones.

Trying to plan my time on the creek today, I knew that time would be short. Granddaughter Brillee spent the night and a skating party was on her schedule for today, so managing my time would be essential.

The mercantile store always beckons on Sunday morning so the schooner headed that direction. As I approached the Rock Creek bridge in the center of town, there was a group of does gently taking their morning graze. They seemed oblivious to the morning traffic and noise - impervious deer that somehow know they are safe within the real, but invisible boundaries of federal land.

With Rock Creek being only a block away from the mercantile store, this precious little water serves as a constant magnet on me. At least a half-a-dozen times a day, I walk out on the back dock and look at the tree line that runs south along the creek - wishing I was there instead of where I am.

There is an old dilapidated trail that runs the south course of the creek on the west side. The trail is rough and potted, overgrown and abandoned. Many a time I have taken that rough road to a lunch hour outing on Rock Creek.

I wish this trail could be rehabilatated so it could serve as a welcomed avenue for the hiker, walker, jogger, and occassional fly angler. The trail leads to the innards of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Making as short of order of work as I could, I arrive on Rock Creek to discover the same conditions as I found on Blue River yesterday. The creek is mostly an off-color and blended water and is only clear along the fringes with the deeper pools having little visibility. Spotting carp today was out of the question.

Although it would be difficult to see carp or any other living thing in the creek, trash was quite easy to see. It seems the flash flood of November has washed a lot of unwanted crap into the creek.

I guess if I truly looked for trash that was treasure, then this little dandy here would have been the treasure of today.

This little jewel of a big wheel jeep most certainly belonged to a child somewhere upstream. Most likely the toy was swept away by the flooding water that took place in November.

Not far downstream I found another real jewel of a piece of crap in the creek.

Having my waders on, the tire was taken from the water and dry-docked on the beach where the federal maintenance workers can reclaim this trash.

While on the subject of trash in the creek, it was a couple of weeks ago I found a red barrel in the creek and not knowing exactly what it was I decided to do some checking before removing it. However, when Charlie learned of the barrel he went to investigate himself and through careful deduction, much in the manner of Sherlock Holmes, Charlie ascertained it was a barrel from the football field.

Even though the trash barrel was three-fourths full of water, Charlie was able to heave it out of the creek and get it to dry-dock. I followed Charlie later and moved it a little further up where maybe it can serve as a trash barrel for the families that frequent this part of the creek.

As far as spotting carp today, I went skunk. Charlie seems worried that many of the carp are gone having been swept downstream. I'm not quite as worried as he is and have seen this before during the winter months. When I stop to think of the last several outings on Rock Creek, when looking for carp, I haven't seen a number of species including bass, catfish, and perch. These creatures are simply wintered.

At least I hope I right, for if I'm not it may be a very long carp-by-fly season this year.

Tonight I will start on a measure of carp flies for Charlie, and once those are done I'll tie some for my use.

Chapter 58 Day 89 - Trout Season

2012-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Of Beer And Brown Buggers

Sitting at the bunkhouse this morning I knew very well that the river Blue was off due to mid-week rain. The reports had the river as running chocolate. However, I'm not one for just sitting around, and therefore I pack the gear in the schooner.

Besides, fly fishing is the only form of exercise I get and after a week of not getting on the water I was feeling rather stoved. Additionally, I was dying to try out the new cane walking/wading staff Charlie brought me last week.

It was mid-morning when I arrived at the river and it wasn't long until I struck out on the trail into the wilderness.

I must tell you what a difference the cane walking/wading staff has already made in my fly fishing life. Today, there would have been no way I could have waded the river without that cane. There was zero visibility one foot past the bank.

However, the most amazing thing about this cane staff is the difference it made in my hiking ability. I would dare say it took 70% of the stress or effort off of my legs while hiking. I've always been much stronger in my upper torso compared to the lower. Today, I simply kept the cane in my predominant hand (right-handed) and when I come to one of those steep inclines I would simply bear down with my arm on the cane. It was truly amazing. It makes sense however with me having Popeye like arms - strong forearms, but not much mass elsewhere.

Hiking today, thanks to the cane staff, was a breeze! So, I'm putting all you young fly fishers on notice that I may be able to keep up with your young arses now!

There are some things we own that a value can not be placed. Just like that ol' dirty cowboy hat I wear, this cane staff from Charlie is already... priceless.

Arriving at Coyote Pass, the reality of the river's condition set in as you can see from the short clip below.

Since the trek had been made there was no reason to simply turn around and hike back out. Looking in the fly box the selection was rather easy.

The brown bugger - that Duke of Marabou Brown was plucked from the slot and quickly commissioned for duty on the high brown sea in front of me.

With a roll cast of twenty, maybe twenty-five feet the brown one was sent on his maiden voyage of the morning.

And how did he fare on that maiden voyage? Watch in the brown water.

On the hike out of the wilderness today I felt energized! I don't know if it was the cane staff that was causing me spry or the brown bugger producing in such off water conditions. Perhaps it was both.

So, thank you Charlie for the wonderful cane staff you created - it has already made a huge difference in my fly fishing life.

And, to you brown bugger - the Duke of Marabou Brown, here is something for you.

Oh bugger of brown
dear friend so fine
If you could drink beer
we'd drink one anytime

I'd tilt the glass
testament to your favor
Drink the pale ale
pleasure to simply savor

For you're the grand bug
when I'm on the river
Trout to my waiting hand
you never fail deliver

Chapter 58 Day 88 - Trout Season

2012-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

On The Fritz

Since Blue River is pretty much chocolate milk due to the rains of Tuesday and Wednesday, I decided to wipe the dust off of one of the pattern books in my collection and find some patterns to tie.

This is the kind of pattern book I like - lots of pictures, over a thousand to be exact. Many of the patterns are one's that I've never fished and I can see how I guy could get so involved in this book, he'd never get much fishing done.

As I was thumbing through the pictures and recipes, another fly pattern that has been the topic of discussion recently came to mind and I decided to tackle that particular fly.

The fly in question is called the Montana Fritz and when I first heard of this pattern I wondered who in the world would name a fly Montana Fritz unless it was a guy in Montana named Fritz. But, I don't think that's the case.

Materials for this pattern are few and simple, but, even with as much fly tying material as I have I still didn't have the exact color of one of the ingredients. Not to be outdone, I tied up a pattern with a much darker cactus chenille.

According to one fly fisher that comes to Blue this little fly is dynamite and I can't wait to try it. Maybe I'll get the right color cactus chenille and tie up some lime Montana Fritz flies and give them a try too.

Chapter 58 Day 87 - Trout Season

2012-01-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

Campaign Charge

It has been a strange week so far. Tuesday and Wednesday it was almost constant rain, which I should say we are quite thankful for. Rain however, in the amounts we received, does tend to blur the river Blue and shuts down fishing for sometime.

Today, it is in the mid 60's here on the prairie ocean and tomorrow is predicted to be even warmer.

The problem I'm having is that this time of year; at the window of an early spring; when the weather is so sublime; I, along with Charlie tend to start fixating on carp and trout season kind of takes a backseat.

It's a shameful thing actually. Trout are the pretty fish that bring us a tremendous amount of joy and pleasure and because of their existence in Blue River we experience spectacular sunrises and peaceful sunsets.

Carp though, have become our calling of sorts and after last year's slap-in-the-face by nature we are more excited than ever about this coming carp season.

On the local creek here there is cane. I guess that Charlie sometimes gets into a hunter-gatherer mode and one thing he looks for is this cane. He takes the cane and crafts wonderful gifts.

Today at the mercantile store, Charlie surprised me with two wonderful cane gifts - one being a walking/wading stick and the other being a fine cane flute.

I guess some will look at this as just another hand-crafted flute, but I have a different feel for this creation.

With me, since history was always one of my favorite subjects, I think there is a tendency to imagine and live in other times - times much more romantic than the time I have lived and currently exist. So, when I look at this flute I see a magical call - a campaign bugle that will sound to the grand and golden ones.

As you can see, Sir Charlie embellished the flute with the Carpolo Charlie fly and that serves as the standard to my belief that this is a carp flute.

Come around March, I will take this magical instrument to the fringes of the creek. There a few melodic notes will be played and those notes lingering and hovering in the air will be an attraction that the carp will not be able to resist.

Much like we can read in the Odyssey, this flute will serve like the Sirens that led many a sea-faring man to a fate they could not stop. The carp, just like the sailors of Odysseus, will not be able to resist the lovely, luring, voices - in this case the voices the carp flute will send forward.

The carp will follow the attraction of the melodic notes to the point they originated and it is there that the carp by fly fisher will stand with his offerings of marabou, chenille, rubber legs and flash.

Dazed and confused the carp will flare their gills and suck the offering where the lance will find their upper lip and the battle will begin.

Chapter 58 Day 86 - Trout Season

2012-01-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

One Fly Contest Taking Shape

Since the prairie schooner came down lame and has been in the shop and with the much needed rain blurring Blue River quite badly, which means not much chance of getting on the water, I decided to go ahead and order the prizes for second and third place in the 1st Annual One Fly Contest at Blue River.

Of course we all know by now the first place finisher will receive a $100.00 Cabelas gift certificate. Fellow fly fisher John Haney has been gracious enough to make a trip to Cabelas and now has that prize in his hand. He plans on delivering the gift certificate to yours truly on a February fly fishing outing.

The second place winner will receive an Okuma Sierra 5/6 fly reel. Now, an Okuma is certainly not a Tibor, but I can personally tell you these are tough little reels.

I have fished them for a good number of years and the poor things have been slammed into rocks, smashed up against trees, completely buried in mud, and in 2010 one Okuma reel had over 120 bulldog carp try and rip the guts out of it. They're good tough little reels and the second place winner should be well pleased with what the reel will bring.

The third place finisher will receive a Spirit River spring action rotary vice. Again, just like the Okuma isn't a Tibor, the Spirit River isn't a Renzetti. But again, this little vice will be a good back-up or secondary vise. I can also see how this can be a vise one would want to take to the river for some tying, particularly if a clamp board or table is also in tow.

All in all there are some good prizes to be claimed and we also hope to have a number of give-aways by random drawing.

Entries are still coming in and I should remind anyone interested that the deadline for entering is February 10th, so get those entries in soon please.

Chapter 58 Day 85 - Trout Season

2012-01-24T15:48:00.000-08:00

Friends With Chickens

This is my co-worker and friend Melissa. Melissa is an outdoorsy type of girl and she likes to fish so naturally we have become good friends.

When not at work, Melissa is on her farm near Dougherty, Oklahoma - a farm with a good number of critters. Among the critters there are chickens - lots of chickens.

When talking with Melissa it is easy to detect how proud of she is of her yard birds and she has a good selection of breeds. Most importantly she is always looking to expand her variety of breeds and that is where I come into this story.

When I think of a chicken, two things come to mind - fried and feathers. Oh yes, feathers - lovely, beautiful feathers that will tie lovely, beautiful flies that will catch lovely, beautiful fish.

Now, I see nothing wrong with trying to warm-up to Melissa a little more in the hope that I will come to know her chickens even better.

You see, as Melissa adds to her varied breeds in the yard, the opportunity for some very fine feathers presents itself.

About once or twice a week, here of late, I've asked Melissa if she has acquired any new breeds - particularly a bird known as a Buff Orpington.

Once she tells me she has said bird, the Buff that is, then my plan of action of clamoring over Melissa and catering to her wants and needs will be fully employed.

It will be at that time I will ask myself, "What does this girl desire - chocolate, flowers, egg Mcmuffins?" Perhaps there is a certain genre of music she likes, or something she collects like miniature porpoises... I don't know and it doesn't matter... I plan on getting whatever it is.

My effort is all in the attempt to grow closer in my friendship with Melissa and therefore coming closer to those delightful feathers on her beloved chickens.

No, I don't feel cheesy at all. I'll be upfront with my friend and tell her it's a few feathers I am after and in case one of the birds meets it's demise she should call regardless what time of night it might be.

Through a carefully constructed curriculum of casual communique, I will most certainly learn what tickles Melissa's fancy.

And... once I do, then said fancy will be fulfilled and my fingertips will grow a little closer to those beautiful Buff Orpington dressings.

Chapter 58 Day 84 - Trout Season

2012-01-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

A Sucker For A Sucker Punch

There has been a lot going on in the fly tying arena with trout season at Blue River this year.

Currently there is a fly swap taking place and then of course we have the 1st Annual One Fly contest taking place in March on Blue River.

Most currently there is a rather good discussion on midge patterns and how these creatures (the real bugs) can drive us nuts trying to figure out how to match them.

All of this talk about flies is with regards to trout.

However, last week in the mail I received a most delightful surprise in the form of four Sucker Punch carp flies tied my friend and fellow caster of fur and feather Kevin Harris. Kevin tied up four of these patterns and two were for me to use with the other two for Charlie.

I've read about the Sucker Punch over the last two years and I want to say the pattern was developed by a man named Dave Speer down Texas way. I think the pattern is tied with different colored legs, but, I like this particular color that Kevin used because one thing I've noticed is that carp like orange.

I gave Charlie his two patterns yesterday and have mine safely tucked away in the ol' carp fly box. All we need now is a little more warm weather, a little more rain, and we'll be in business in our conversations with carp.

Conversations With Carp

2012-01-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

Charlie Talks The Talk (And Walks The Walk)

In 2010, Charlie and I called our carp by fly adventures the Carp Crusades. In 2011 we came back with the Carp Redux, but, 2011 was a disaster because of the severe drought and temperatures.

In 2012, our carp by fly effort will be labeled Conversations With Carp, and today... Charlie started the conversations early.

I say he started early because generally we don't begin to fly fish for carp until March. To tell you the truth we don't see a lot of carp out and about during the winter months. However, this winter has been weird to say the least. Yesterday morning I was freezing while on Blue River. Today, it is somewhere in the sixties.

Charlie sent me a message earlier today saying he was going to go to the local creek and at least scout for the carp, so I decide to join him. When I catch up with Charlie he is armed with his fly rod and has spotted carp.

The wind today was howling at 35 miles per hour or more and it created a terrible chop on the creek. Standing high on the bank we could see the images of the carp, but, once you got on the same plane as the creek you lost that visual. So, Charlie went down to the creek and I stayed high trying to spot for him.

The first eight or ten casts produced nothing except I'm quite sure one carp picked his fly up and we were just late recognizing it.

Soon however, Charlie would holler "I've got one!" And, he did have one.

Charlie was using a make-shift hastily tied bonefish shrimp pattern I tied last year. We didn't get to use it much at all.

The difference in the one Charlie was using today was that it was predominately white with a red sac instead of pink.

Charlie hooked up with this carp on the blind. About eighty percent of the carp we catch here on this current of the prairie ocean is by sight, but, we've come to catch more and more on the blind.

With the prairie schooner being lame and me not being able to drive out of town and get to Blue... Charlie made my afternoon with his antics.

The only thing that could have been better is if the result turned out differently.

Chapter 58 Day 83 - Trout Season

2012-01-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Classified Information

The flies for the 1st Annual One Fly contest arrived Friday and they are currently under lock and key in the mini-fly fishing museum.

Not only are they under lock and key in the spare bedroom, the perimeter of this prairie home is guarded by a motley crew of killer felines.

And if someone managed to get past the fury of flying fur and the fiery claws of the frenzied felines outside the prairie home, in the effort to have a look-see at the flies, they would also be facing an interior threat from one mean motor scooter of a Chiweinie.

Meet Sadie - the killer Chiweine.

Good girl Sadie - keep up good work.

Chapter 58 Day 82 - Trout Season

2012-01-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

Grand Morning In The Wilderness Kingdom

This was a rare morning for me - I did not step a foot into the mercantile store. Instead I turned the prairie schooner to the east and headed for the beautiful Blue.

Arriving around seven, I hit the trail into the wilderness kingdom. It was rather chilly this morning and there was a steady north wind facing me head on.

However, the fishing was grand! Wading into the middle of a special stretch I took perch upon a submerged boulder and the brown bugger went to work right away.

It was one of those ice-in-the-guides morning. Moreover, it was one of those wind-induced tears in the eyes outings also. At times my vision was completely blurred from the tears welling in the corners. Hands numbed early and I never give thought to changing patterns because of my frozen digits and the fact the brown bugger was doing so famously well.

Soon, the reel would begin freezing up, but that didn't seem to matter much. The fish were only ten to fifteen feet to my side and they were being plucked at an almost rhythmic fashion.

I had to call it a short day however. It seems the prairie schooner has pulled up lame and the condition became terribly worse on the trip down. I would dare say there is a ball joint issue and therefore the schooner will stay at the stable until a wagon mechanic can have a look.

Despite the cold weather and the problem with the schooner it was a grand morning in the wilderness kingdom.

Chapter 58 Day 81 - Trout Season

2012-01-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

Trash Talkin'

Chapter 58 Day 80 - Trout Season

2012-01-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

Tying For Strikes... Hopefully.

In high hopes of getting a little time on the river over the next several days, I've been on the vise tying some patterns.

One pattern I've read a good deal about is the Rainbow Warrior nymph. Never have I fished this pattern, but looking at it... the fly should fish.

Not having the exact materials this pattern calls for I improvised. The pattern calls for wide pearl tinsel, which I was void of, so I used clear scud back. The Rainbow Warrior also calls for rainbow colored dubbing and not having any of that exact material, I blended my own.

I tied a second pattern tonight. First let me say that Michael Mercurio is some kind of guy. He's always doing something for someone else. Last year he sent me some studs for my wading boots and recently he gifted me with an Alaskan Amber beer. Last week when we were fishing the catch & release with Charlie, the subject of San Juan worm patterns came up. I told Merc that I had looked high and low for the claret colored micro chenille used in one particular San Juan pattern. The only way I knew about this pattern - the claret colored San Juan worm, is because Merc had given me one to fish.

That worm fished like no tomorrow. It would catch fish when nothing else would. I would end up losing the fly to a rock, tree, fish... I don't remember and since then I've been looking for the same colored material to duplicate it. Merc told me he knew where to get it and lo and behold in today's dispatch from the pony express there was the prettiest package of claret colored worm chenille. Ahhhhh.... bliss.

Going to tie some of these puppies up standard style, like above, and a tangled worm pattern also. Have plans to tie up some claret colored worm balls for those grand and golden ones - the carp. Killer!!!!

Chapter 58 Day 79 - Trout Season

2012-01-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

A One Fish Fix

This has been, for the most part, a really miserable week as far as fly fishing. As I said on Monday I was having that feeling of being a sharecropper in dry weather.

It's amazing what some of us will do to get that fix that we so badly need. Today, I took a so-called lunch hour and went to the river. At the river's edge I tie on the red-throat brown bugger and sent the ol' chap sailing - sailing backwards into the tree line where he became terribly entangled.

Freeing my friend I wade back out into the river and sent him the second voyage of this day. Soon, he would reward me with a small, but feisty bow.

That seemed to be enough. I spool up and return to the schooner to leave. A lunch hour goes fast when getting to and from the river takes the better part of twenty minutes, gearing up and down takes a good ten, and then getting our flies free of the clutches of the trees burns another five or so.

It was all okay though - that rush that came courtesy of one trout traveled through my veins - the body and soul relaxed with just that one fish in my hand.

I say all was okay... but, it really wasn't. I fished the lower end of Ted's Pool today on the northeast side bank. Saturday I was at this same exact spot fishing and after being rewarded handsomely by the river I did a good cleaning of the bank where the bait fishers sit.

On the way to this pool this afternoon I met four bait anglers coming out and we exchanged friendly greetings. Once I got to the bait-chunking sitting bank, it was unbelievable what I was seeing. The bank was totally trashed. There was an empty can of whole kernel corn, Dr. Pepper cans, and a empty plastic container of pimento cheese just to name some of the trash. Pimento cheese? Are they trying to give these fish heartburn?

Then, looking into the shrub line behind the bank I discover how the angling community have been trying to hide their trash within the cover of the thick shrubbery and brush. It's absolutely shameful!

I picked up one single piece of trash to carry out with me and intentionally left the rest. Sometime this weekend I'll go back to this spot just to see if anyone else has made an effort to remove the refuse from the river. If not, I'll do it - just call my action today an exercise in trying to understand certain river culture.

Field Test Report On Alaskan Amber

After enjoying the bottle of Alaskan Amber that Michael Mercurio gifted me recently, it is now time to post a field test report on said beer.

Alaskan Amber is a beer that certainly has taste... particularly to someone who has consumed light beers for many years.

You can expect about a one and half or a two finger head from Alaskan Amber with somewhat of a red color when poured into a glass (which I usually don't).

Upon first taste your palate will dance to the slight bite of this amber and somehow to me it was so reminding of a similar biting, but wonderful, beer I drank years ago - Jax.

However, unlike Jax, Alaskan Amber will deliver a wonderful aroma much like light cream and nutmeg perhaps. It is a wet beer and slides down quite easily.

The aroma of the beer is pleasant and I can see how the senses could easily cry-out for more.

So, in the overall assessment of Alaskan Amber the question begs, "How good is it?"

And, the answer to that question is... it's good enough to induce a fellow to think about moving to Alaska somewhere near the Kenai River.

Chapter 58 Day 78 - Trout Season

2012-01-17T15:19:00.000-08:00

Sweet Fascination With Glass

Last year, during the Carp Redux of 2011, I rediscovered the sheer beauty of glass rods. After initially fishing glass rods early in the fly fishing life, I slowly migrated to the faster and lighter graphite rods. Now however, I have rekindled a love affair with sweet and slow glass.

Currently I have only one decent glass rod that was purchased from a pawn shop. There are several more in the mini-fly fishing museum located in the spare bedroom, but all of the lot are in very poor condition.

Here lately, I've been thinking about venturing into the world of building custom glass rods. Most certainly I have no need for another expensive habit that would keep me from tucking money back for those days of so called retirement, but I'm afraid the mystery of building a glass rod is going to be too much for me to bear.

So as I usually do, when in need of wise and sage advice, I turn to my friend and fellow carpster by fly Charlie. Charlie has an affection for glass rods and it turns out he has some building knowledge.

In the initial dispatch to Charlie I ask for just basic information on what it would take to build a glass rod. His return dispatch or dispatches were rather detailed dissertations - chocked full of overwhelming information that led to this pea-brain going into overload.

However, I read his dispatches several times over a got a good basis of what all is involved in building one's own glass rod.

Then, I countered Charlie's words with a dispatch of my own with the subject being glass rod building suppliers. In my email to Charlie I threw out names like Steffan Brothers, Strubble, Lemke Concepts, and Hopkins and Holloway.

Soon, Charlie would dispatch me again and through his words I learn of E glass, Lamiglass, McFarland, Fenwick, and Tom Morgan.

Now... I have even more to consider. I feel like I'm back to square one.

One good glass rod is probably all I will ever want to build... unless it's addictive like the rest of the fly fishing world. In building one good rod that I can take great pride in, I figure it's going to take several attempts, which no doubt will lead to building more and more and soon I'll be on the brink of bankruptcy.

But, I'll have some nice glass rods at least.

Chapter 58 Day 77 - Trout Season

2012-01-16T16:10:00.000-08:00

Like A Sharecropper In Dry Weather

With the pressure turned up at work, I see few opportunities to get to the Blue River and pursue those pretty little fish this week and I'm feeling like a sharecropper in dry weather. There may be one chance to squeak in a quick afternoon trip, but, the weather is also changing on that particular day.

I can't gripe... it's been a really rewarding season so far and I am luckier than most living as close as I do.

Besides, there are a lot of things coming up like several planned outings with other fly fishers, the trout derby in February and the 1st Annual One Fly Contest.

Speaking of the One Fly... there are going to be plenty of the mystery fly on hand. Yesterday, I decided to go ahead and order the mystery pattern. I guess I could have just tied the flies, but, after more thought it seemed it would be more appropriate to have the fly come from an independent source.

So, after clicking the button confirming 60 flies I suddenly noticed I ordered the wrong size... the really wrong size. At that point I had no choice except to order another 60 units of the right size. Therefore, there are 120 flies coming this way soon. 60 will be dedicated to the One Fly for use and I figure the other 60 are going to end up in sets to be given away to contestants in a random drawing. All is good and well.

Going To Have To Get Creative

With the weather as pretty as it was today, a trip to the local creek to see if the carp were out and about was in order. The carp were not out and about, so I decided to go to the north part of the creek and try and get a handle on how much trash had washed down during the November flash flood.

It didn't take long for me to realize I was going to have to get creative on getting some of this crap out of the creek.

It that darn barrel is half full of water, as I expect it is, then there is no way my skinny arse is going to heave it out of the creek.

I guess I could try and invent one of those harpoon thingies where the barb's flex on the way in and then spread out once penetrated. Then I could take a well-rope and tie it on the harpoon and to the back of the prairie schooner and slap hard leather across the backsides of the ponies.

Nahhhh... I'll see if the help of the City crew can be enlisted and maybe they can bring a winch truck down there and get this ugly thing out of the creek. Have no idea where it came from or what it had in it, but I figure it was some kind of chemical - hell, it's painted red for a reason.

Right now though I'm not going to worry about it too much. I have a much appreciated prize awaiting me that came my way and thanks to Mercurio. I think it's going to go down good.

Chapter 58 Day 76 - Trout Season

2012-01-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Sunday Stuff

Networked Blue River

It's amazing how many things have been lost and then found at Blue River, primarily to the wonderful network of fly fishers and river people we have in place.

Most recently, the net above was lost last week, and recovered this past week. The net belongs to Chris Adams and Chris, myself, and Boone Mehrman had been fishing the south wilderness on a Saturday. After lunch, Chris and Boone decided to hit the catch & release area and that's when Chris lost his net. He didn't discover his loss until this Saturday and made a post on the fly fishing forum.

Charlie, my fellow carpster by fly, fished the catch & release this past Wednesday and found the net. So... the two connected and the net is now on it's way back to Chris.

There are plenty of other examples of lost and found accounts like one that occurred last year. A gentleman had finished his day of fishing in the catch & release and propped his bamboo rod, yes bamboo, up against the fence and drove off and left it. Remarkably he was able to recover his rod.

About seven years ago, a fly fisher from Frisco, Texas contacted me with the story of how he had placed his camera phone on the bumper of his SUV and drove off from the river. He told me the phone wasn't that important to him, but he did have a rather large file of family pictures on the phone he cherished.

So, I drove down to the river in search of his phone, but struck out. Not knowing anything else to do, I placed a notice on Scotty's front door describing the phone. The next day Charlie with the wildlife department at Blue called me and said he had discovered the phone a couple of days prior. The two were put in touch and a happy story was the result.

Not all stories of lost and found gear come out the way we want them to. This past weekend a fly fisher forgot he placed his rod on top of his vehicle and drove off with it. His rod has still not been found. I did the exact same thing in November of 2010 and nope... never found the rod.

The most memorable story of lost and found is one about a dog. A family from Ardmore had come to Blue to camp and brought their cherished family dog. If I remember correctly, and I think I do, he was a beagle. For sure, I remember his name - Stoops. Yeah, a dog named after a football coach.

They had Stoops attached to a chain at the campsite, but, as dogs can and sometimes do, Stoops went Houdini on them. The family searched until dark, but couldn't locate their friend. The next day I received an email from the family and I drove over to the river looking for the dog. As I drove each road on the river I would stop and enlist the help of the regular bait and spinner fishers and the old salts of the river. Again, I would place a notice on Scotty's front door.

This story didn't turn out happy. It seems Stoops had headed west, which was indeed the direction of his home in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He had made it all the way to highway 377 north that leads to the northern wilderness of Blue River. However, that's as far as Stoops would get. A county worker found Stoops body on the highway and called Scotty. Then Scotty had to call the family. The family recovered Stoops and took him home.

Watching Nature At Work

Yesterday while fishing a favored pool in Area 1, the river was very good to me. The bows were coming to hand one after another, which is always enjoyable.

However, there was another treat in store for me that I enjoyed every bit as much. I got to watch the nature in trout at work.

The water in front of me was crystal clear with a pale green background. I watched a trout picking off mayflies from his staging area or his lie most proper. This guy would launch from his lie and travel a good four or five feet to his intended target.

Once he launched, he traveled in a diagonal plane from deep to the surface and quicker than you could blink your eye, and at about the same time you saw the dimple in the surface, he would pluck the insect and reverse course. His method was extremely fast and oh so efficient.

I could have watched this fellow for hours and now that I look back on yesterday I wished I had just spooled up and sit there watching.

Spotting Designations

When on the Juan do as the Juanians do - visit Aztec Anglers.

Chapter 58 Day 75 - Trout Season

2012-01-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

The Difference A Day Can Make

Today marks the halfway mark of trout season at Blue River. It has been one of the more interesting seasons that I can remember.

The popularity of fly fishing on Blue River continues to grow and if this trend continues, we're going to need a bigger river for sure.

The outings with friends I have been on this year have been the best in my recollection... and there are more scheduled. The trout derby is scheduled for February and then in March we have the 1st Annual One Fly Contest.

Yesterday, the report was that fishing was slow, but today it was a much different story. Although the fishing, or catching, wasn't stellar for all, it was good for this fly angler.

Upon arriving at the river I drove straight to the south wilderness area only to find about twenty vehicles in parking area already. So... I turned around and went downstream. I didn't have to go far; just across the low water and up the hill where I would pick up a trail to the river.

Tying an olive bugger on the trout quickly informed me they weren't interested at all. The olive bug was replaced black and this fly took one trout, but, the activity was less than I hoped for. Finally, the Duke of Marabou Brown bugger came out and went on and ten trout in succession came to hand.

Probably, a fellow could have stayed in this spot and caught a good number of trout, but there were people to see.

After some very good visits with friends Ralph and Charlotte, Chris, Larry, and fellow carpster Charlie, it was time for me to return to my prairie home.

The weather today was again more like springtime.

Chapter 58 Day 74 - Trout Season

2012-01-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

Slow Day In The Catch & Release

When I hit the northern part of Blue River this morning it was 26 degrees. It should be noted though there was no wind. So... it wasn't all that bad and certainly not January pain.

I struck out on the trail where Michael Mercurio and Charlie Wright would soon join. We all had high hopes, I think, that it would be a stellar day of fishing... which, it was. It just wasn't a stellar day of catching.

I thought Michael did well, but in his own estimation he described today as slow. That's because Michael knows the catch & release area quite well and usually has twenty plus fish days that come with ease. Today, it was sort of a struggle.

Michael put me on a pool of water and bet me I would catch one before he got his rod assembled and he was right. Had a good number of strikes and caught a couple of bows but that was it.

When I arrived at the catch & release this morning I caught a bow with my very first cast and that led me to believe it was going to be one of those kick-arse days. It really wasn't.

As to why the fishing was so slow today neither Charlie, Michael and especially me had a clue. What we would discover is some dead fish. As I walked to the top of the c and r with Charlie the first thing I spotted was two dead trout. Later on and further down the river I spotted a couple of more. I think Merc also found some, and below the middle he called me to a pool to have a look at something he'd discovered.

In a soft eddy was three or four trout acting lethargic. Lethargic is the word Michael used and that's a good description. Confused and dazed is what I was seeing in these fish.

The second stocking took place in the c&r this past week and these may be some of the new stockers and they simply have not acclimated to their new surroundings yet. Hopefully this is the case.

The weather turned out rather nice this afternoon, the scenery was wonderful, and the company was fantastic. It was a good day of slow fishing.

Michael Mercurio in the catch & release area.

Charlie Wright in the catch & release area.

Chapter 58 Day 73 - Trout Season

2012-01-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

And Oh How The Crowds Thin

Year after year, I've seen the same occurrence take place on the river Blue usually around this time of trout season.

For the most part, those of us who fish during trout season at Blue River experience quite tolerable and mild weather. However as it is with cold weather trout season, seasons change and so does the weather.

Yes, the mild fifty-degree days we grow accustomed to begin to fade, usually in January - giving way to the Arctic blasts. Its called January pain.

But again, the changing weather in the form of frigid temperatures do not dissuade us... for we are the rugged lot known as fly-fishers! Uh huh.

If you're a fly-fisher then certainly there will be a day during January you will rise at an early hour and catch the morning weather report. A report that tells you plain and simply that the air is cold enough that water dispensed from a cup, thrust suddenly in the air, will crystallize before touching the ground. And, the forecaster will also let you know that the wind is scheduled to howl on this given day and the wind chill factor will become known as the wind kill factor.

But, the call is too strong, the gear goes in the wagon, you grab another cup of Joe and hit the road to... paradise? Maybe, maybe not, we will see.

Once you get to the river you quickly gear up while the vehicle, and the heater inside is still running, the first tinge of doubt slowly enters the backdoor of your mind. So, you jump back in the wagon for one final warm-up and then through self-talk convince yourself that your are on a mission to defy the elements and clean house on the unsuspecting trout.

Most admirable.

The wade you make to the designated water you've chose is slow and methodical, mainly because you know that one slip-up and you'll be taking the polar bear plunge, which will certainly bring an abrupt ending to your expected wonderful day on the water.

Ten minutes in... you find that your hands are already numb. Fingers that are coiled around rod and cupped around line are by now fairly static due to the fact the digits are also numb - numb with the exception of that unbearable burning feeling in the tips of the ol' digits.

By now, the olfactory has kicked in high gear and is running like the river itself. You snort, sniff and suck, but the olfactory keeps on producing as the product trickles down your face. If you have a moustache, like some of us do, then your agony is only compounded with the product freezing in that dividing meadow of your face.

Twenty minutes have now passed and suddenly you wonder if your ears are still attached or have they fallen into the river? If there is another part of the human body, outside of the ears, that is more affected by cold temperatures, it is most likely a body part that we normally keep covered... unless we live in a nudist commune.

With your ears aching and throbbing like there is no tomorrow you find yourself looking over both shoulders, keeping tabs on that clown of a fishing buddy you brought with you. Knowing your buddy quite well, you remain on edge and guarded because this is a guy that is most likely to sneak up behind you and thump your throbbing lobes.

The pain of your friend doing such an act is not your only concern - you are also concerned for his life. For you see if your friend committed such a thoughtless act it would call for swift and sudden action through retaliation that would result in murder right then and there in the river.

However, if you did grab your buddy and hold him under the current until he turned blue, and his body went limp you should not fear any charge that might be brought against you. Once the judge and jury hears your story you will most certainly be vindicated and set free. The judge will most likely go as far as telling you that never has there ever been a more clear case of self defense.

Now, an half hour has passed and you no longer can feel your legs or feet. The thought runs through your head whether or not your toes have turned black or maybe just a dark blue. You need to move about, but out of fear of not being able to perform said function you stand rigid as the doubt builds in your mind. As that doubt grows, the question of whether your are frozen solid in the river... a place you will remain until the spring thaw arrives, plays over and over in your head.

The gods of the north are tormenting you with their icy breath, but, you stand in defiance of their omnipotence. They blow another breath and your grab your collar and pull it a little tighter, while under your breath say, "Bring it on your dark northern devils!" Two minutes later they deliver a hard steely blow, and again, under your breath you say, "Okay, okay... I take back the devil thing!"

But stay you do. The word wimp is not in your vocabulary. Hmmmm.

At this point you begin to wonderful if you're the biggest idiot in the world, but with a simple look up or down the river you see that you're not, because you have company. But... the difference is these anglers are sitting on the bank, wrapped in cover-alls, with a fire going.

An hour has passed and even though you are sure your body is frozen stiff, your central nervous system is not. Working just fine, your nerve center is efficiently dissipating pain throughout your frozen carcass.

All this time you've been in the water you haven't had so much as a bump on your fly and if you did it wouldn't make any difference anyhow because your reflexes have totally shut down by now. The fish are smarter than you because they are holding deep in the column, slowing their metabolism, while laughing at your dumb-ass.

You decide to call it and as you spool your line in a trout slams your fly. You find the strength to bring the fish to hand, and in the excitement of this tiny moment you dare to wet your frozen hands, gently removing the hook and freeing the fish.

You tell yourself what a fine fly-fisher you are.

It took two minutes or less to wade into the river, but not it takes a good ten minutes to wade out. You make it to the bank and begin to go up the hill, looking like a waddling duck that has just had a prostate examination.

At the wagon you do not take the time to break the rod down and just like you throw the rod into the back, you thrust yourself behind the wheel where you turn the blast furnace of a heater on. Your day is done - you are toast. Well... frozen toast.

You pull onto the road while once again telling yourself what a fine fly-fisher your are.

Fine?

Yes.

Smart?

Uhhhh.

Chapter 58 Day 72 - Trout Season

2012-01-11T17:20:00.000-08:00

A Bluebird Trash Day

Today was so awesome you would not have believed it unless you were actually here. Today, it was spring in the middle of winter on the prairie ocean.

I dare say that today's beautiful weather was the calm before the storm with a severe winter front known as the polar express headed our way. As a matter of fact, the first tinges of that front could be felt around four this afternoon.

Around noon I saw my fellow carp by fly addict Charlie pulling into the petro pumps and I quickly pulled along his side. I told Charlie he should be on Blue River. Charlie said, "I'm going... please join me."

Charlie's invite was so tempting, but I still owed some hours to the company store and just couldn't make it. I hope Charlie made a killin'.

However, not all was lost. Taking advantage of the bluebird sky and warm temperatures I went to Rock Creek and began the spring cleanup a little early. There is a lot of trash to clean and it will take a while, but it will get done one piece at a time.

Chapter 58 Day 71 - Trout Season

2012-01-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

Pardon Me Please

Photo courtesy of Felix Frazier via the blog of Kevin Harris.

This trout season the subject of river etiquette has been quite a hot topic and rightfully so.

A good example is Blue River. Over the last ten years, Blue River has become increasingly popular and that means increasingly pressured - there's simply more folks and the same amount of river.

In the fly fishing community many of us pride ourselves on a good knowledge of etiquette while fishing a stream, creek, river, or larger body of water. However, as good as we think our knowledge of etiquette is, there are times we probably should review.

So, with that in mind here are a few thoughts about river etiquette.

Use Your Head

It's common sense for the most part. It's easy to see that someone is enjoying fishing a certain pool, pocket, or run of water and it's simply not polite to crowd. The best course of action is to stand back and watch. Oftentimes we can learn a lot while watching someone that is doing rather well at a certain spot. In addition it might surprise you at the invitation you will get from some anglers asking you to share their success in this honey hole they have discovered.

Working in the retail grocery business for thirty years, I have seen the gambit of rudeness - trust me. I equate crowding someones water to someone trying to beat someone else to the checkout lane or to a large display of a food item that is advertised at a hot price and "while supplies last".

The best course of action on the water is to wait until the angler has had his or her say with the water that's being fished and then take that water, or to simply leave (after making mental notes) and come back to that water later.

Be Polite - Offer A Wave

In my book, politeness and being friendly go a long way. Perhaps this is the reason I can honestly say I've never had a bad experience on Blue River. Bad in the sense of having an issue with another angler (I have had rather bad catching days).

A simple acknowledgement or hello can often break the ice and lead to a friendly discussion of what the fish are interested in and that often leads to a certain stretch of water being shared.

Besides, one of the experiences of fly fishing is getting to know other anglers. No, I'm not suggesting your gregarious nature will always be accepted or recognized - but that's not your loss is it.

Kids Will Be Kids

They're energetic, excited, enthused, and often extremely loud.

Seeing kids on the water should be a welcome sight to any of us older anglers. Kids on water today might lead to adults on the water later on.

Indeed they can be loud, splash around, and spook the daylights out of fish. But, instead of hushing, chastising, or being gruff with the kids, try calling them to your side and explain that fish have the unique abilities of detecting motion and sensing sound which can put them off the bite.

Be proactive instead of reactive is what I'm suggesting when it comes to kids. Granted you may have their attention for a good fifteen minutes or so and then they'll start chunking rocks again, but, there is no sense in making their fun day a bad experience. Find some other water and believe that maybe something you told them sunk in their blessed little brains at some point.

Take Out More Than You Carry In

Want to set an example? Pick up the trash you find on the river while your fishing. Someone else that is fishing will see you and whether they tell you or not - you'll gain their respect.

A cleaner river is the highest example of etiquette we can pay to the fly fishing experience.

You can find the blog of Kevin Harris at http://fishin-n-stuff.blogspot.com/2012/01/river-etiquette.html

Chapter 58 Day 70 - Trout Season

2012-01-09T15:41:00.000-08:00

A Good Week For Tying

Fly swaps can be fun, but I haven't participated in one for years. Currently the Blue River Fly Fishers have a fly swap going on, and I indeed did sign up.

I don't mind fly swaps these days... I just wish I could see a little better. A fly tying magnifying glass has been on the wish list for years, but, waders, boots, rods, or other stuff always seem to trump this much needed fly tying tool in this fly tying life.

Originally, I was going to tie a beadhead pheasant tail cripple (or challenged) pattern. However, upon checking inventory, discovery revealed a severe shortage on the appropriate sized beadheads.

One material I did have plenty of was hare's ear mask and hare's ear flavored bug fur so close to two dozen classic hare's ear patterns have been churned as an offering. I hope they will fish well for many.

Speaking of fly tying... when I arrived at the prairie home today there was a rooster perched in a tree out the back of the bunk house. I have no idea where the poor chap came from and felt rather sorry for him. He had took refuge in the tree, I figure, to escape the clutches of the area felines. At first, I try to coax him down, but he wouldn't budge. And, that's probably a good thing... I may have been tempted to borrow some of his feathers.

With the weather turning, for the most part, raw the rest of this week I do plan on spending a good amount of time on the vise. After yesterday's experience with those midge blasting trout, a good number of different midge patterns or in order. And then, there is a scheduled trip to the catch & release looming on the horizon and the need for some patterns for that area is also in order.

Chapter 58 Day 69 - Trout Season

2012-01-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

Too Much Enthusiasm

It seems like my enthusiasm got the best of me this morning. I knew any outing to Blue River would be a turnaround trip - get there, jump out of the schooner, mad dash to the water and maybe forty-five minutes of fishing, and then deadhead back to the workplace.

If I'd known this morning that once arriving at the river I would find the trout keying on midges, I'd just stayed at work. When the trout are fixated and feasting on midges, it... drives... me.... nuts!

In the water I was standing there was an assault by the trout taking place that was nothing short of phenomenal. It was a gorge-fest. I could easily tell from the numbers and frequency of the assaults that the competition from the naturals would prove to be too much for my flies.

After tying on six different midge patterns - different sizes and variations, I only had two eats and would end up losing those fish before they came to hand.

Finally, I gave up... had to get back anyhow.

I left the river with my tail between the legs.

VIDEO FROM MITCHELL GEORGE

Mitchell George has been doing some video work on Blue River and I feel obliged to include his video on these posts.

In this video, Mitchell takes us into the south wilderness and gives us a look underneath the surface.

Chapter 58 Day 68 - Trout Season

2012-01-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

That Wonderful South Kingdom

Pulling out from the prairie home this morning, Stone Temple was along for the ride with me. I wouldn't get to the river until shortly after 7:30 though.

Boone got to the river rather early and had already made one pass at Chris, but Chris was away from his campsite. By the time I hit the campsite, Chris was already in the water. Boone had decided to fish the water upstream from the crossing and make a second attempt at connecting with Chris and me.

Fishing around the boulder at 17, the fishing was on the rather slow side. Chris and I together only managed a few fish. Probably around thirty minutes after I had started fishing Boone makes his second run and we finally all meet. After a short visit and some coffee to warm us, we decide to hit the south wilderness.

The south wilderness would prove to be very kind to all of us today. The wind was still quite brisk out of the north when we arrived in the heart of the wild, but it wasn't long until it tapered down.

Everyone in our entourage was catching trout today. On my first cast in the south wilderness, a trout came to hand, on the second cast I missed the hookset, and the third cast another trout came to hand. We all went upstream and that's when the fishing got crazy. It was a fish almost every cast.

Boone was using San Juan Worms and midge patterns, I was using brown buggers and prince nymphs, and ol' Chris was using the one and only Bubba Bugger. Bubba was doing some damage on the trout today!

We weren't the only ones looking for trout today - so was Boone's friend Josie.

After about two and a half hours we were all in the double digits... except Josie that is.

The most ridiculous thing about fishing this morning was that Chris broke his rod tip about half way through the morning - yes, he snapped the rod tip off. But, that didn't stop Chris from fishing - he just kept roll casting and capturing trout.

After a good morning of fishing, we decide to hit Scotty's for some burgers and it was Boone's treat. Thanks Boone!

After lunch, it was time for me to head back to the prairie home, but Chris and Boone had their eyes set on the catch & release area, so I left them to their quest.

I hope they made a killin'.

Here's some action from today.

Chapter 58 Day 67 - Trout Season

2012-01-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

Due Process

Yesterday, I reported how delighted I was with the dispatch the pony express delivered to my prairie home. Today, was a different story however.

Instead of getting some more stuff or notice from Publisher's Clearinghouse declaring me a winner, the rider deposited a large brown envelope into the dispatch receptacle.

Grabbing the envelope, the first thing I noticed was the sender's address - Legal Division, Oklahoma Department of Mines. At first my thinking was, "Hey, they must have read the blog about those big arse holes in the ground they're allowing to grow!" Upon closer inspection though, the envelope contained a lot, and I mean a lot, of filed papers that were in response to the latest proposed mine that is currently under review in this area.

The majority of the paperwork involved was the same request for a formal hearing that I sent in. There were probably close to fifty other local people that filed the same paperwork as I did and like I said that adds up to a lot of paperwork. Sure hope they're using recycled paper.

There's an old adage on this sea of the prairie ocean that pretty well says, "If you don't like what your about to step in... then it's best to go around." But, there are times that the situation at hand is such you simply take a big step right into the middle of the mess.

What is at stake is a good number of things, but the main motivating factor for me was the continued assault on a unique and precious aquifer - a sole source aquifer that is the lifeblood of Blue River and many other small streams, creeks, and waterways in this area.

While perusing all the papers within the envelope, I noted with interest a rather formal letter of a request for a formal hearing from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. Also, there was another formal letter from the Department of Interior. These two agencies took the time and interest to outline their issues with possible problems of yet another big hole going in the ground.

In filing the request for a formal hearing there were a number of issues we listed as to why the application for another mine should be further examined. Please have a look for yourself what the first two bulleted issues are.

I'm sure there are those out there that think my only concern in this is out of fear I may someday be void of water to fly fish. This is so much more than fly fishing however. It's about this ecology, environment, and the community of wildlife that depend on humanity to make smart and well thought-out decisions.

Now that notifications have been sent informing those of us that asked for a formal hearing, the legal and political ramblings will accelerate.

It's at this point, I tend to fade from the whole process because I own no sense to legal issues and when it comes to politics I grow sick of my stomach.

I find it sad that for many of us all we have is our passion and passion, unfortunately, does not speak as loudly as it once did.

I am sure there are many, like me, that believe if it'd do any good we'd drive to the governor's office... and once there get on our knees and ask her to stop the destruction of our aquifer, natural resources, and future.

Passion seems to have no place in due process.

Chapter 58 Day 66 - Trout Season

2012-01-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

Pony Express Pleasure

I'm sure I'm not telling any of you folk something new by saying how hard it is to go through a day like today and not be able to be on the water. Everytime I stepped out the back door of the mercantile store today, the weather seemed to get just a tad bit... better.

It was torture I tell you. A fellow or lass could have been on the river today and been quite comfortable with a lightweight shirt on.

My fellow co-workers kept asking me what was wrong with me today, and with each time I would reply "nothing", they would ask the further extension of their question by saying, "Why are your shoulders so slumped?"

Somehow, the long day at the mercantile store came to and end and I went to my prairie home where my mood would certainly change for the better.

Never have I been someone that can not wait until the mail delivery arrives and this is probably due to the fact regular monthly bills do little to make my day so to speak. However today... the pony express was very good to me.

The dispatch delivered to my doorstep a couple of boxes of new fly line and a new pair of wading boots.

The Sage Ultimate Performance lines I ordered came today. Since they were less than half price it was an easy decision to order two just in cast the cat goes on another tear and chews another line up.

Then, there was the larger box of today's delivery. The new L L Bean wading boots arrived to take the place of the Simms I've been wearing. Although these new travelers are nowhere as durable as the Simms they are about half the weight which is going to help me tremendously. I got away from felt on this pair of boots opting for a safer, more water-healthy-friendly verison... and I'm glad I did. L L Bean has promised that the soles of these boots are of slip prevention design and it won't be too long until I put that promise to the test.

It didn't take long to enlist the help of Miss Carol and together we ripped the damaged fly line off the reel and added the new Sage. As it is with removing old line, that line has to go somewhere. I hate the thought of just tossing the line into the dumpster.

So, being on a never ending quest to achieve a cleaner, healthier, and sustainable environment I'd like to tell you about Flyvines. The lads and lassies at Flyvines take old lines and create fly fishing accessories. I'm sure you can contact the folk at Flyvines by email and get their mailing address to mail your spent fly lines so they will become someone's darling lanyard or sunglasses keeper. I plan on mailing mine in soon.

Chapter 58 Day 65 - Trout Season

2012-01-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Clear As Gin

I got to swing by the river today. Arriving around 2 p.m., time was extremely short having to be back at the prairie home by 3:30.

The river is as clear as gin in many areas. In the shallow areas it is transparent! When the river gets this clear we have to start re-examining our selections. Usually I go to smaller and more natural looking patterns.

Where I was on the river I saw trout keying on the midges, so I quickly grabbed my rod. With time being so short, here I was on the river trying to push 4X through a size 20 midge pattern. First of all, 4X is way too thick for that size of fly and secondly it's dog-gone hard to push that rope through a 20 eye. I would have saved time - by taking the time - to add some 6X.

Two midge patterns were lost at sea from strikes and me trying to set the hook too hard. One other midge was lost to the clutches of a cedar tree.

I really didn't do well at all today with only one bow coming to hand. The assaults by the trout were rather sporadic and one problem I had was not being able to get closer than thirty feet from where the limited activity was taking place.

So, be advised that the river in the campground area is clear as gin. I don't know how more clear it can possibly become.

Chapter 58 Day 64 - Trout Season

2012-01-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

Ancient Boulders Or Broken Arm Run

Last Friday while fishing with Charlie and Merc, Charlie got word that the trout were on the bite at a place he called the "rock field". I asked him if he meant the Ancient Boulders, but he wasn't familiar with that namesake.

On the way up there I told Charlie to be prepared for some of the toughest, if not the toughest, wading on the river.

It's hard not to fish the Ancient Boulders. As you look out on the river and see this garden of boulders you just know there are numerous pockets in between all the rock that are similar to what is known as tombstone topography.

However, getting to those pockets without breaking your neck is the trick. It's dicey! Once you make it out into the Ancient Boulders you have the return trip, which always seems harder.

Merc took the top section of the run and that's not too bad to navigate. Charlie went in a little below Merc and I took the middle. Trying to get about three-quarters of the way across the river, I slipped three times; coming close to going in the drink backwards.

The fishing at the Ancient Boulders can be rewarding. It's a searching run with this pocket here and that pocket there.

When we finished fishing the Ancient Boulders I started to ask Charlie if maybe we should rename this run to Broken Arm run or maybe Slip And Bust Butt run. It's rough.

You'll find the Ancient Boulders in the south wilderness about three-quarters of the way upstream toward the end of the wilderness. You'll know it when you see it.

A good piece of advice though. Take a wading staff with you or if you void of said staff find yourself a good sturdy limb - it will help you navigate this wonderful little run.

Chapter 58 Day 63 - Trout Season

2012-01-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Good Fortune And The Year Ahead

In celebrating New Year's Eve, Miss Carol and I decided to do Chinese food and therefore a trip to the New China Buffet was in order.

The eats were pretty dog-gone good I tell you, and of course as it is with eating Chinese cuisine there is always that fortune cookie at the end of the meal.

As I cracked the vessel that contained my future, the strip of paper inside fell to the table and the words revealed themselves. The cookie simply said, "You're life will be peaceful and fulfilling."

As I read the fortune that included the words peaceful and fulfilling... that somehow equated to the fact, at least to me, I would be fly fishing a lot more in the upcoming year.

When I am fly fishing I am peaceful. When fly fishing I find fulfillment.

They say whatever you're doing on the first day of the new year is what you will do the rest of that year... so I went fly fishing. On the river Blue I caught up with long time friend Chris Adams and we fished together. No, we didn't get to fish long, but, the time spent was peaceful and fulfilling.

It may come as a surprise to anyone that knows my rough talking, beer drinking self... that I find time to worship.

But, I do. More often than most think.

There was a time that my arse cheeks were so familiar with a certain padded pew that they probably had conversations with one another, while the man of the cloth was behind the podium and the choir sang away.

However, there came a time I opted to leave the padded pew of the brick and mortar building and take seat on a granite boulder somewhere within nature.

I believe I became somewhat like John Muir in my belief that we can find the presence of the divine in nature.

While sitting on a granite boulder the sky becomes the auditorium and the music of the river becomes the choir. Here I sit anytime I want - not just a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, and talk with God at my time of choosing. The conversations are more frequent than most would think, when most that know me... think about me.

My conversations, my worship, my prayers, bring me peace and fulfillment. Nature has become my church and as any good elder, any good deacon, any good steward... I try and take good care of my church.

So, if you see me on the river sitting on the boulder with the fly fixed to the guide of the rod, and my head gently bent down... just give me a few moments undisturbed.

And, then there will be fly fishing again.

Chapter 58 Day 62 - Trout Season

2012-01-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

One Fly Contest Date Scheduled

General Information

Date Of Event: March 10th, 2012

Place: Blue River Public Fishing And Hunting Area

Time Of Event: 7:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m.

Starting Point: Main Parking Lot Campground Area Blue River

Blind Pairings Will Be Prior To Start Of Event

Entry Fee: $25.00 Per Contestant

Purpose:

The purpose of the 1st Annual Blue River One Fly Contest is two-fold. First, the mission of this event is create a day of greater fellowship among the fly fishing community on Blue River. Secondly, this event is designed as a fund raising event with the totality of monies raised by entries fees and mulligan flies going directly to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife in support of the Catch & Release section at Blue River. Funds will be monitored by and through the Blue River Association a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Rules:

*As the name implies, one fly only. NOTE: Contestants will be given one fly and will also be afforded the opportunity to purchase a mulligan fly. The mulligan fly is by no means mandatory and is of the choice of the contestant as a strategy or avenue to further support fund raising. The cost of the mulligan fly will be $10.00 and this fee will also go directly to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

*All contestants will receive the same pattern and the pattern will remain a mystery until the start of the event. When a contestant loses the fly (or flies) then that contestant is out. If the contestant loses the fly (or flies) and wishes to continue fishing for the sake of fishing then that contestant must turn their score card over to the person they are paired with.

*Contestants will be allowed to retie their fly, but must notify their partner they are doing so.

*Dry flies as strike indicators will not be allowed.

*Scored fish are fish brought to hand. Each contestant must alert their partner when a fish is brought to hand.

*Each contestant is responsible for keeping their own score card.

*Each contestant should devise a way for measuring fish that are caught. Length of each fish scores additional points.

*This entire event is based on the honor system.

This event will be limited to 30 contestants. Deadline for entering is February 10th, 2012.

A copy of the general information, rules, and entry form will be available January 2nd, 2012. To obtain a entry form contact fishingcowboyblue@yahoo.com An entry form will be sent to you as an attachment. Print the entry form, fill it out, include payment and mail both in. You will receive a confirmation email once your entry is received.

Prizes:

The first place winner will receive a $100.00 Cabelas Gift Card.

Prizes for second and third place will also be awarded. Those prizes to be announced at a later date.

Chapter 58 Day 61 - Trout Season

2011-12-31T17:04:00.000-08:00

Autopsy On Mercurio's Mystery Montana Fly

He didn't know the name of the fly. He did know that it would catch trout though. He went as far as proving it yesterday afternoon while we were fishing the Ancient Boulders.

After he got through showing off, Merc cut the fly loose and handed it to me and asked me to see if I could duplicate the pattern. At that time, all I had was my regular glasses on and I couldn't really tell much about the fly. The fly went on the patch to be carried home to the deep dark laboratory of fly tying madness.

This morning I put the fly in the vise and turned on every light in the room, including all the lamps around the desk. The reading glasses went on because they work like miniature magnifying glasses on me, but, still I really couldn't tell what I needed to know about this fly.

The scalpel came out and the autopsy of this mystery fly from Montana begin. It's my understanding that Merc acquired this particular fly from the Bear Tooth Fly Shop on the Madison river. Yesterday, I don't know exactly how many fish he caught with it because I got rather bored watching him lift his rod tip time and time again. However, the fish he did catch did some damage to the fly and this is one reason it was hard to tell what materials went into the making of this fly.

So with the scalpel in hand I begin dissecting the fly just like we dissected frogs in high school biology. I always wondered where those frogs came from we were slicing open from bottom to throat. At any given time when someone in my biology class was dissecting a frog there were probably two million other kids across the nation doing the same thing. That's a lot of friggin' frogs!

Running the scalpel along the body, I discover the red material that made up the body was red flat tinsel. There was flash pulled over the thorax as a wingcase. Then in dismantling the thorax I discover a really neat colored dubbing - like a UV ice-sparkle-purplish colored dubbing. At first I thought it was purple, but, then it looked like it could be an ice blue. Still not for sure about the color.

Three strands of flash was pulled to each side and then came the... uh, wings... maybe legs... maybe shuck. This material had me puzzled yesterday on the river and although I'm still not absolutely certain what the exact material is... cdc will darn sure work. Cdc is some darn buggy stuff.

Here's what Merc's battle worn fly looked liked when he give it to me.

Deciding to duplicate Merc's mystery fly I quickly took stock of material I had on hand and discovered I was missing most of the required materials. I had no red flat tinsel, no UV ice-sparkle dub in purple or ice blue, no micro flash, and no gray feather material. What I did have was red flash, the ability to make some flash dubbing, regular flash for the sides, and olive cdc.

I put it together to see how it would tie. Here's my attempt using what I had. If I was a fish I would eat it.

In using what was on hand it was easy for me to see how having the correct materials will make all the difference. Flat red tinsel will lay out much better than the bou I used and having the right kind of dubbing will make all the difference too.

What remains the big mystery is the name of this fly. Merc can't remember, and I don't know.

Do you? If so, please leave a comment and enlighten us.

Chapter 58 Day 60 - Trout Season

2011-12-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

Long But Fulfilling Day

Eight hours on the river is about four hours past this anglers limit anymore. At the end of the day that tired feeling had definitely set in - but it was a good kind of tired.

Early this morning, upon pulling into Scotty's, I finally got to meet Wyatt. Wyatt was headed to the south wilderness. I wished him luck and told him he might run into John Haney up there.

From Scotty's I went to see if I could find Charlie at his campsite... but, Charlie was already in the river catching trout. I snuck up behind Charlie and took a couple of pictures of him capturing trout fishing off the sandbar and then I slid into the drink myself.

Charlie had made a good choice in selecting the sandbar because the fishing was very good this morning. I don't know what Charlie was using, but for me it was the brown bugger early, then switching to an olive bugger.

About an hour later, Merc shows up and he slides into the drink also armed with one of his ugly flies - a soft hackle pheasant tail and he begins to capture trout. Charlie and I both have to get out of the water to relieve the numbness for a bit and while on the bank surface activity begins off the sandbar. On the bank I rig the three midge offering and go back to the water. The three midge rig captures one trout on the middle fly - a midge pupa. Not long will pass until I completely destroy the rigging with a terrible cast, which I am prone to do.

Texasflycaster and a friend of his join us on the sandbar. Once again, numbness begins to set in and I leave these two to the sandbar while Merc goes downstream.

After warming I fish Ted's Pool and capture four trout here with the brown bugger, olive bugger, and that ugly Bird's Nest I tied last night.

By now it's time for lunch and we meet at Scotty's. It's during lunch we meet John Haney. John had fished the south wilderness early and done well and was going back after lunch. So... we all went to the south wilderness.

I don't know how John did, but, for Charlie, Merc, and myself... it was nothing for the first hour. Then Charlie gathers some intel and we head for the Ancient Boulders. It is here that we finally capture some trout, especially Merc with a magic fly of which he does not know the name. He gave me one and I'm going to try and duplicate it. The fly that brought me best results at the Ancient Boulders was a Disco Midge. This pattern had to be presented with little or no drag however, or the trout weren't going to eat it.

We walk out and discover John has already called it a day. Charlie breaks out the Belgian beer and all of us have a swig or two. Chimay was the name of this beer and it is definitely distinct.

In our conversations today the One Fly Event was covered and we made some good progress I think. Hopefully, more solid details will come in the next several days.

Here's some pictures of the guys from today.

Charlie with morning glory trout.

Merc fishing ugly pheasant tail soft hackle

Charlie's kickback campsite.

Charlie's hammock was mighty tempting after lunch at Scotty's.

Charlie searching for trout in south wilderness.

Merc fishing some usually trout rich water.

John Haney in the south wilderness.

Chapter 58 Day 59 - Trout Season

2011-12-29T16:26:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Ugly Is Better

Over the years I've met some talented and quite gifted fly tyers. Their skills are such they can tie articulated flies - flies that look almost real. Upon looking at their creations it is hard to deny that a fish would not eat the offering.

There are times, however, that ugly flies seem to work best. On some patterns, rough texture or the disheveled look is what triggers the fish we seek to strike.

One example is the Bird's Nest.

I quickly tied this interpretation of a Bird's Nest this afternoon and as you can see there is nothing pretty about it and there shouldn't be. Although, not articulated in anyway, I'll bet you a six-pack of anything you desire to drink this fly will capture trout.

Another fly that comes to mind and is often tied too pretty is the Hare's Ear. At fly shops I've purchased Hare's Ear patterns that are tied smooth and there is no spike to the fly. In my opinion, a Hare's Ear needs to have a spikey body and thorax to fish well.

There has been times a fly is being fished and without knowing or checking the fly it has come to unravel and fall apart, but is still catching trout and at times at a faster clip.

There are some flies each of us have that we give a certain hierarchy in the way they produce for us. The Hare's Ear has always been one fly that is at the top of the echelon of favorite flies for me. However, the Hare's Ear is not so lofty that it can not share a spot in the same fly box along with the hoi polloi.

And... it's most likely because I tie my Hare's Ear ugly and not common to so many beautiful patterns that exist these days.

Chapter 58 Day 58 - Trout Season

2011-12-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

It Only Hurts When I Don't Fly Fish

For the better part of a week, or perhaps a little more, I've had the darnedest pain in the pit of my stomach. I figure it's from drinking too much hot chocolate or coffee. The pain, although not debilitating, is most uncomfortable. It's with me at work and with me at home.

I have noticed, however, that anytime I'm on the water... the discomfort in the ol' bread basket is not. It's completely absent or at least it's not given any attention at the time. I guess we could say it only hurts when I don't fly fish.

Having long believed there is a healing quality to being on a river with a stick in the hand, being void of ailments comes as no surprise to me. No, there is no suggestion here that fly fishing has any kind of physiological healing power to it... but, there is some kind of healing that goes along with slinging the fur and feather.

Maybe, it's a mind thing. You know... the metaphysical world. I don't know... haven't given it that much thought. Quite simply I accept it and believe in it.

Today, was a no fishing today for me and of course with that being the situation... I was in terrible discomfort with the annoyance in my mid-section.

Nonetheless, I did spend the day thinking about fly fishing and spending some sawbucks in acquiring some much needed stuff.

After leaving the mercantile store today, there came a perfect opportunity to clean the fly line and add a little lubricant. In performing the process and while running the slick pad down the line, it suddenly felt like driving down one of those rural washboard roads. Closer inspection led to discovery of some severe damage on the last ten foot of floating line.

We have a number of homeless cats here at the prairie home that have come to depend on us for substance and measures of companionship. These wandering felines don't stay in the house, but, twice a day they are allowed to come in and partake of Atlantic salmon, free range chicken, and dairy- delight flavored cat food.

I believe it was Monday I had the fly line draped over the kitchen table doing some leader to tippet work and I left the room for about five minutes. Upon returning, one of the kittens was tangled in the line having herself one heck of a time. No, I didn't inspect the line at the time, but, in examining the line today I would say there is probable cause to interrogate this particular kitten further.

Stuff happens they say and indeed it does. We can dwell on it or simply take action to fix it. Today... I fixed the fly line dilemma by ordering not one, but two new packages of fly line.

Cabela's was still running their clearance on Sage Ultimate Performance fly lines. Two packages cost just pennies less than $60.00 and I figure I made $100.00 in ordering these lines. Regular price on one package was $79.99, so in doing the math... I made $100.00!

As the pain in my stomach worsened, I felt more need to make myself feel better so a trip to L L Bean's site was made and a new pair of wading boots is on the way. Feeling much better now.

Actually the wading boots was a necessity also. The Simms I have are absolutely wonderful. It seems though from last trout season to this, either the boots have shrunk or I've gained a half shoe size. These boots kill me each and every time I put them on.

I have tomorrow to get through in dealing with the stomach discomfort, but, come Friday I'm sure I'll be bouncing from boulder to boulder on Blue river fishing with good friends.

And... there will be no hint of anything that makes we want to drink Pepto Bismol.

Chapter 58 Day 57 - Trout Season

2011-12-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

Tough Two Hours On The River

If it hadn't been for the red midge larva today, the skunk fairy would have had my butt.

God save the red midge larva! Hip hip hooray!

I got to the river about 1:15 p.m. today and nobody could have told me it was anything short of a perfect day. The sun was shining ever so brightly; the temperature was rather mild. The surprise, however, was the wind. The wind was holding at a steady clip - staying constant and never letting up.

At the stretch of water I chose, casting upstream was the only option and casting upstream meant trying to push the fly through the column of wind tunneling down the river. At times my forward cast was on a horizontal plane.

In the first forty or so minutes, five different patterns were tied on and nary a one of them had even so much as produced a bobble or bump.

Across the bank were three spinner fishers arriving at the same time I did, and in watching them the entire time I never once saw a rod tip jerked or lifted. That's when I said to myself, "Oooh boy, it's going to be one of those days."

Moving to the southwest bank I tie on the Prince Nymph and at least the Prince has two trout try and eat it, but, I miss both hooksets.

Giving into the relentless wind, I decide to walk back up the hill and seek a windbreak further downstream. On the way up the hill was possibly the highlight of the afternoon in finding only one piece of trash - a discarded Mountain Dew bottle. Picking the bottle up I continue to the summit where the trash can waits. Once there, Matt pulls in for a visit.

Matt and I begin a wonderful visit and it isn't long until Bud, one of the game rangers at Blue, joins in. The exchange is nice and it's amazing what you can learn if you just listen.

When the visit with Matt and Bud is over I almost decided to forfeit the day to the dreaded skunk fairy, but, there is a change of heart. From here I go downstream to the boulder just upstream at 17.

The wind is somewhat calmer here and seeing a still-water situation in front of me, the red midge larva goes on. The red midge finds a beautifully colored bow while gently drifting down the river. Deciding to not push my luck and subject myself to further torment, the hook is gently removed from the fishes mouth and quickly kept on a guide. The leader is looped around the reel and I wade out of the river around 2:30 - thankful for the only trout I would catch today.

Skunk fairy... red midge larva says nanna nanna nan na!

Chapter 58 Day 56 - Trout Season

2011-12-26T16:00:00.000-08:00

Come Friday It's Fishing

On this southern sea of the prairie ocean today it seemed more like conditions one would find in Seattle. It was damp, soggy, and somewhat cool. Therefore I opted for a day away from the water and time on the vise.

However, come this Friday, it's going to be a'fishing with a couple of buddies. The plan is to hit the campground area then migrate our way up in the south wilderness.

Just thinking about it makes be salivate. Good fishing (hopefully), wonderful weather predicted, great fellowship, and a chance to finalize some things on the proposed One Fly Event at Blue River.

Short Casts

Today was a good day to also check for some after Christmas fly fishing specials. I didn't find a lot of great deals, but, did notice that Cabelas had a good offering of fly tying material at pretty good discounts.

The one item that stuck out was there clearance on tying vises. No, these are the creme de la creme of vises, but, they would make for good backup vises when we're in a pinch.

Check out Cabelas after Christmas fly fishing stuff.

Another good site for after Christmas stuff if Red Truck Fly Fishing.

If you haven't noticed, the wildlife department has published the rest of the stocking dates for the remainder of trout season (January through March). If you look closely you'll see all the stocking dates are on a Wednesday.

Here's the dates.

2012: Jan. 4, 11, 16, 25; Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; March 7, 14, 21, 2

Chapter 58 Day 55 - Trout Season

2011-12-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas From Blue River

Each Christmas since the year 2000 I have put up a whimsical story in poetic fashion titled Blue Christmas.

Sadly, I lost my companion dog and best friend Smokey in 2008, but, the wonderful memories remain.

There was not a place on Blue River he didn't follow me and oftentimes the current would be too much for him and I would turn around to fetch him up. I do believe there wasn't a swift enough current anywhere in any river that would have kept Smokey from me... or I from him.

So, with wonderful memories I once again post this Christmas time story of a wonderful friendship.

Blue Christmas

Twas the day of the night before Christmas, the season of cheer,
Me and Smokey was on the Blue, cause trout season was here,
Then there came a sudden blizzard, we found ourselves snowed in,
We knew that on the Blue, Christmas Day we would surely spend.

So we pitched a tent, made a fire, and the best of the situation,
Then came the dusk and with it, the night of Christmas celebration,
Me and Smokey walked to the river to gaze at the stars of the sky,
And thats when Smokey saw it...and then it caught my eye.

It was a bright burning red glow, that seemed to be way afar,
We knew it wasn't an airplane, or even a bright burning star,
The red glow came straight at us and then I heard that jingle bell,
I thought, "Is this jolly old St. Nick, Mr. Santa Claus pray tell?"

Smokey let out a big bark, and I said "No my little friend!"
”A less than warming welcome, we certainly should not send.”
The sleigh came hovering over the crossing, slowing to a stop,
The sleigh was full of toys and presents from bottom to the top.

Santa said, "Whoa Dancer, slow down Prancer, and you too Blitzen."
”Santa hears those trout a calling, so Santa is going fishin'!"
Santa stepped from the sleigh and put on his waders and creel,
Then reached into the sleigh and produce a fly rod and reel!

His face was full of content as he tied a bugger on his line,
Then he cast his fly into the water with a snap of thrice time,
A trout came up and took the bug and Santa gave a "Whoa!"
He landed the trout, looked him in the face and cheerfully said...."Ho Ho Ho!"

Santa gently removed the hook and said "My friend, you're free to go."
Smokey and I could see so plainly by the light of Rudolph's red nose glow,
And the trout slipped back in the stream in the Blue's beautiful pool,
Santa put up his gear because he knew having fun was the Blue rule.

By now a large crowd had gathered on the banks of the river,
And a message Santa had for all, Santa would now deliver,
Santa said, "So-long Mr. Coyote, Mr. Owl, Miss Trout,
So-long to your sir, and Smokey the trout scout with a snout."

Santa continued. "For you my friends, my present is so very clear."
"It's a present for all and each of you, a present to your hearts dear."
"May the sun shine ever so brightly, may these waters forever flow."
"May these trees always blossom, and these grasses forever grow."

Santa got back in the sleigh and it slowly ascended in the air,
Me and old Smokey were silent.....all we could do was stare,
The sleigh went in front of the moon and it's glowing golden light,
We heard Santa say, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Chapter 58 Day 54 - Trout Season

2011-12-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Duke On Christmas Eve

I really had my doubts about using that brown bugger tagged as the Duke of Marabou Brown after looking at the river today. The river, in the campground area, has made a dramatic return to clarity.

However, the ol' chap deserved a chance to see if could stage a repeat performance of last week... and he did.

My time on the river today was short, but, while there the fishing was absolutely insane. The trout were evidently in hari kari mode today, because it was nothing short of an onslaught the Duke was delivering.

It was easy to be impressed today by the quality of these trout. With the exception of one fish, none of the fish to hand today measured less than twelve inches, owning remarkable colors, and fat!

Getting to the stretch I wished to fish there was no one else around except a bait fisher on the east bank upstream. Soon though, a young bait angler and another fly angler would join me. The young bait angler was having all kinds of problems and not catching anything so I would end up giving him my water.

The fly angler hollered at me and asked if I'd mind sharing information as to what fly I was using and of course the answer no... wouldn't mind at all. Wading over to the fly angler to show him the Duke, we struck a conversation about the clarity of the river in the campground area. The gentleman told me he had fished the northern wilderness yesterday and the river was still stained up there. I don't understand what's going on in the northern part of this river - it doesn't make any sense.

After leaving this prime stretch of river, a downstream position was taken and the Duke went to work again, but, nowhere to the degree as the first place.

It was still quite cold when I was on the river today, but, little wind, which made it tolerable.

River Report

Instead of me trying to give a narrative description of what the river looks like in the campground area, I decided to share a video. Remember, this is a report for only the campground area, not the northern areas.

Chapter 58 Day 53 - Trout Season

2011-12-23T15:29:00.000-08:00

One Fly Contest Coming To Blue?

Will there be the first ever Blue River Fly Fishers One Fly Contest? Probably... perhaps... most likely... looks promising.

Certainly, enough interest has been shown by members of the fly fishing community at Blue.

Secondly, the event has seemed to get the green light from the caretakers of this wonderful outdoor resource.

There's a lot more than meets the eye in trying to get one of these type of events off the ground and make it successful enough that it will become something that fly anglers look forward to year after year.

There is the issue of which pattern will be selected on the day of the event. Then, how about the prize the winner will receive. Date and time become all important because different anglers have different distances to travel.

And then, what is the goal of the event. This one seems pretty simple to me - it's actually a dual goal. The goal of this first annual Blue River Fly Fishers One Fly Contest is to create a day of greater fellowship among the fly fishing community at Blue. Many of us exchange notes and messages, but, meeting someone in person is something special in it's own.

Secondly, the contest is to support this wonderful fishery and the Catch & Release section, which has been made possible by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

Come this time next week, most details should be finalized and the countdown will begin in seeing which fly fisher can take a mystery fly and show the rest of the pack how to use it in capturing trout.

Let the trash talking begin.

Chapter 58 Day 52 - Trout Season

2011-12-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

Longing For The Wilderness

Oh my goodness... today would have been a day to be on the river. Sun shining every so brightly with mild temperatures and little wind... just one of those days. Talk about a guy being absolutely livid having to be at the workplace today.

If I could have snuck away from the mercantile store, I do believe a trip to the south wilderness would have been in order. Last trout season I spent ninety percent of my time in the south wilderness, but, this season have only been twice - and there is a reason.

I've been nursing a nagging hip joint, and by making shorter trips and spending less time on the river on each outing,I've improved the ailment. Now that the ol' hip joint is feeling better I think I'm up for a hike into the south kingdom.

When we plan a trip into the south wilderness kingdom it's best to be able to dedicate the better part of any day. The water in this wilderness is so braided, diverse, full of pocket after pocket, it's impossible to explore all of these pleasures in a short time let alone a day.

Some of the best fly fishing I've experienced has come about in the south wilderness. Among my favorite places are Coyote Pass, the Cove, the Ancient Boulders, and Dividing Line Falls.

Although the fishing is usually good for me, the worse spanking I have ever received came about in the south wilderness this past season. A day of fishing was planned with Michael Mercurio and Chris Adams, and it wasn't long into the day these two characters started spanking an older man's behind.

And, they never let up.

But, such things is the beauty of this area. It was a wonderful day, in spite of the spanking, and a rare opportunity for friends to fish together.

Right now I pretty miserable in not getting to fly fish much. Have you seen that commercial where the guy turns into a diva because he's hungry and once they give him a Snickers he reverts to his usual self? Well... that was me today, but, I wasn't hungry. No, I turned into Lindsay Lohan today because I haven't been able to get to the dog-gone river this week and a friggin' Snickers isn't going to solve diva acting self!

Keep the Snickers... give me the river.

Chapter 58 Day 51 - Trout Season

2011-12-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

This Year's Letter To Santa

Here it is only four days to Christmas and I finally got my letter off to Santa today, telling the big man exactly what I want this year.

It's been many, many years since I've wanted something material for Christmas - throw a bottle of Old Spice and a year's subscription to a fly fishing magazine at me and I'm good.

Still, there are things I wish for. So, with that being said, here are the five things I've asked Santa for this Christmas season.

Dear Santa,

This year here are the things I hope you will bring and put under the Christmas tree while I'm sleeping off the volumes of egg-nog consumed in the spirit of the season.

1. More rain and less drought. C'mon Santa, I know you follow the blog and know what happen to Charlie and me last spring and summer while trying to pursue the carp. So... tie a big red ribbon around a whole bunch of rain clouds and send them over the prairie ocean this year.

2. Cleaner streams and less trash in our wild areas. Santa, maybe you can dispatch one of those invisible elves you keep in check down to Blue River and arm him with a taser gun. Everytime that elve sees someone throw trash on the river, he can zap them in the ass with 100,000 volts! That ought to stop em' from sucking eggs.

3. More fish and more fly anglers. This one just makes sense Santa. The more fish you can gift us, then the more fly anglers there will be, and as you know, being one yourself, fly anglers are pretty darn good stewards of our wild areas. So... wrap up a couple of battleship-size portions of fish and send them down this way.

4. Less time at work and more time on the water. Let's face it Santa... work sucks. I guess you wouldn't know much about that, only having to work one friggin' day of the year, but, I'm telling you... any bad day fly fishing beats a good day at work, which is an oxymoron to begin with!

5. Less tailing loops and wind knots. I know we've been over this before and don't you dare, Ho, ho, ho me over this issue anymore. Sure, I know you've told me the tailing loops comes from not drifting on the stop of the backstroke, and therefore the wind knots come from overpowering on the foward stroke, and yada, yada, yada. Just fix it Santa and I'll be happy.

Oh, by the way, you throw a pretty ugly open loop you know.

Well Santa, gotta go and I hope you'll grant all my Christmas wishes this year. If you find the time to stop playing with the elves, then let's get a day on the water together.

See ya Santa.

Chapter 58 Day 50 - Trout Season

2011-12-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

Getting Buffed For Carp

Today is day number fifty in trout season at Blue River and that puts us one third of the way through the entire season.

With each passing day, trout season at Blue gets shorter, but, at the same time... with each passing day, carp by fly season grows closer for Charlie and myself on our local carp creek.

This carp season, we will have more reason than ever to learn as much as we can about the grand and golden ones - what others simply call carp. One thing we've learned for sure is the need to always conceal ourselves from the acute senses these creatures seem to own.

Concealment translates to camouflage while we are pursuing the beeves that roam these local pastures. I figure when it comes to camouflage, it's much easier for me to disguise myself than it is for Charlie to hide himself. First of all, I'm about half the size of Charlie, or he's about twice as big as me... ever how you want to look at it. What I'm trying to say is there's more to Charlie to hide rather than there is on me.

Then, Charlie sports that long, white, flowing beard and it's a distinguishing feature about him. The only way I can see camouflaging that beard is for Charlie to stick some twigs, sticks, and leaves in it and to tell you the truth... I just don't see Charlie doing that.

So, since we have become dedicated carp by fly fanatics, it's time we step up our game and get buffed.

A good way to camouflage at least our face, is the wearing of a buff. A buff can be used to cover the forehead, or worn around the neck, or worn around the neck and pulled up over the back of the head, and more importantly pulled up over the front of the face.

Now, with Charlie's beard, I'm not exactly how well this is going to work, or how comfortable it will be, but, nonetheless, I'm going to order him one along with one for myself.

The good folk at Buffwear make a large selection of buff wear including a pattern that showcases the scales of the grand and golden one. Take a look.

I can't say with absolute certainty that wearing these buff's will make our carp by fly success any better, but, I'm willing to bet they will.

And... we'll look rather dapper wearing them.

Chapter 58 Day 49 - Trout Season

2011-12-19T15:57:00.000-08:00

One More Big Ugly Hole In The Ground?

Each time the schooner is hitched and a course set for the river Blue, the sea lane taken goes past a group of big ugly holes in the ground.

They're big ugly holes created by the significant mining industry that exists within this southern current of the greater prairie ocean.

It's rather simple what they do. They start digging, first downward, and then outward, and it isn't long until their efforts take the shape and form of a big ugly-ass hole in the ground.

There's a bunch of them already, and now it appears they may be one more on the way. Recently, application was made to create another big ugly hole in the ground. How big and ugly? Uh, about 575 acres of ugly.

What do we get in return for all these deep holes in the ground here on the prairie ocean? Well.... we do get some jobs - dirty jobs they are. Then, there's most likely some ad valorem taxes floating around. Big ugly holes result in less habitat for wildlife, and a whole lot of extra dust in the air. The worst part of big ugly holes is they result in a sensitive sole-source aquifer being punctured time, after time, after time - where pristine water percolates upward, resulting in less streamflow for the local creeks, streams, and rivers. Oh yeah, we get another hole in the ground too.

Big holes in the ground result in the taking of the natural resources of this area. There is mining of sand, along with dolomite, granite, and other rocks. Basically, they take big rocks and pound the daylight out of them to make little rocks. Then those little rocks are loaded onto train cars and a locomotive pulling a 100 car serpent heads south; on it's way with a payload of our natural resources to a destination where the resources will become road material.

Along the way, there are mesa's of rubble, waiting for transport in becoming a road, highway, or interstate somewhere.

It would reason that with all the stuff each and everyone of us throw away on a daily basis, there could be a process to reclaim all that stuff - stuff like plastic bottles, used tires, ripped-off shingles and roofing material and then smash, mash, slice and dice it, mix it all up with some kind of super binding agent and make road materials that will last 75 years or better. Most likely this has already been thought of, but, most likely the process is cost prohibitive and it's easier and cheaper to simply dig big ugly holes in the ground.

I don't like those big holes. They have been, and will continue to rob this area of precious water. Over the last forty years I've watched a good number of springs disappear. Since 1981, I've watched Blue River grow slimmer, skinnier, and less vibrant. It's to the point we could have a good number of wet years, instead of drought, and our streams and rivers would only recover to a mere shadow of what they once was.

The really sad part is the caretakers, those who own these big holes, will someday abandoned them. And once that happens, we who harbor in this southern current of the greater prairie ocean will find fewer jobs, less ad valorem taxes, less wildlife habitat, dried-up springs and streams.... and be left with a lot of big ugly holes in the ground.

Chapter 58 Day 48 - Trout Season

2011-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

They Cared Not To Look My Way

Today was kind of a cut-up or diced day. Usually on Sunday morning it's work for me and today was no exception. After about four hours I was pretty well done at work sitting at my desk finishing some papers. Looking at the calendar there, I realized there is only six more days to that big day that takes many of us months to pay for.

Owning a disposition of putting things off and being a charter member of the procrastinator's club, I forced myself today to get that one special gift I had yet to buy.

A southerly course was plotted that would require about a thirty-five minute voyage. Throwing anchor at the brick and mortar storefront, I soon entered Eskimo Joe's and quickly acquired the object that had become the latest fancy of Miss Carol's affection.

Back at the prairie home, the overcast sky had given way to the warming sun. There was no chance of making Blue River today, so the waders went on, camera was grabbed, rod stowed in the cargo hull, and it was off to see what the carp of our local creek were doing.

I would visit three different pastures at the creek - the Courtyard, Honey Hole, and Worm Pool, and nary a carp would I see. Actually, not seeing any carp at any of these pastures told me exactly where the carp would be. They would be at the pasture known as Well Springs - a deeper pasture with undercut banks.

It was back to the prairie schooner and off to Well Springs where, upon arriving, find the carp waiting... just as thought. There was a good community of carp - all suspended, none grazing.

Oh, they're there... suspended... just sitting pretty.

I tie on a worm pattern called San Juan Sweetheart's, which is basically two San Juan worms tied on one hook. Time after time I offer the Sweethearts to the carp putting the fly right in front of their face, but, they cared not to look my way. I know these beeves have to graze sometime, but, that sometime wasn't the time I was there today.

Carp by fly this winter is most likely going to be a crap shoot. I figure it will be mid or late March until they get really interested in grazing the pastures again.

In the short time on the creek today, I did discover that the nine inch rain we received in one night washed a bunch of trash into the creek. Trash like the piece of PVC below.

PVC can probably stay in the environment for like a gillion years or something and it has no place in a creek. I grab onto the junk and drag it up the hill to the trash container maintained by the city. The city guys are pretty good about picking stuff up there, so I figure they'll take care of it.

The further downstream I go, the more trash I find. Trash like plastic bags hanging everywhere.

I hate plastic bags. You see them hanging on barbed wire fencing, cyclone fencing, trapped in underbrush, captured by greenbriar, hanging in tree limbs, and submerged in our streams.

Plastic bags should be abolished. Now, this is coming from a guy who works at a mercantile store that dispenses probably close to a half a million of these things a year. At the mercantile store, I've pushed earth-friendly reusable shopping bags for years now and we've sold a ton of these things. However, the problem seems to be that people simply can't remember to bring their reusable bags and they end up getting more plastic bags. All those darn bags end up somewhere you know.

I've never been much for mandates, but, do think I would support a mandate to not use plastic shopping bags.

Yep, upstream is downstream and all the junk we find upstream will end up downstream unless we get rid of it.

So, I saw a lot of trash today, and saw a community of carp, but, the carp were not interested.

Thank goodness for those pretty little Rainbow trout. Will hit Blue at the next chance.

Chapter 58 Day 47 - Trout Season

2011-12-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

The Duke Of Marabou Brown

This morning, still not knowing exactly how clear some parts of the river was, I sit down at the tying vise and churned out a couple of brown buggers. I like brown in off-colored water.

Everything stowed in the schooner I shove off at around 9:30 this morning and take my time in getting to the river. Back roads are in order today and even a couple of stops to take some pictures including one of a coyote.

The coyote seems like a lonely creature. As to why, I do not know. I do know farmers and ranchers care not for the coyote. I like them though - figure they're just struggling through life like so much of our wildlife does.

Upon arriving at the river, it's easy to see the river is clearing quickly, but, this is mainly in the shallow runs. Today I wanted to fish the deeper pools and in the wide, deeper stretches there was still some problems with clarity.

Seeing the foggy conditions of Ted's Pool, the brown bugger goes on the tippet and with a cast he sails through the air. Almost as soon as he lands a bow takes a fancy to the bug and the first trout comes to hand.

Within ten minutes I know it's going to be a good day on the water.

Within thirty minutes, I realize it may be one of those rare days - the kind of day that doesn't come around as often as it once did for this fly fisher. The kind of day you'll end with triple digits, flirting with fifty fish or so.

The bows couldn't seem to get enough of the brown bug. Many of the strikes were so subtle these old reflexes didn't work well and half as many fish were missed as were caught.

The bugger kept taking the hits and soon one bow delivered a debilitating blow as the bugger came unravelled.

The bugger is retired from the field of battle and another brown bugger, similar in size, is selected. The second bugger is different with it's dubbed marabou body and coined as the Duke of Marabou Brown. A fitting name it would seem because this bugger, the second one, is even more favorable to the trout.

The onslaught continues. A few short minutes later, the cup of coffee consumed on the trail down seems to hit bottom and it's time to head for the bank and take care of that business. While there, I decide to go on downstream instead of just wearing-out this particular fishing hole.

Next stop is Glory Hole and here I decide to tie on a red San Juan to the butt of the Duke of Marabou Brown. The worm is to see if these trout are just really active or they simply like the color brown in off-colored water. The duo are sent sailing, but, it isn't long until the worm is retired, receiving no action at all. The worm cannot compete with the popularity of the brown bugger.

The first three casts at Glory Hole are straight upstream at a distance of twenty-five feet. Only one tiny strike is the result. Then, I remind myself to always fish the water directly in front or to the sides and with an eight foot cast to my right, the bugger finds an additional plethora of trout.

Again, not wanting to wear the fishing hole out, I move once more and it's downstream to Seventeen. Poor little Seventeen is still not fishing well and hasn't been for several years now. What the problem is, I have no idea. But, the trout seem to have forsaken this sweet little shallow.

Moving upstream to the boulder above Seventeen, more trout are found. Off the boulder is a felled seaside alder. The branches of this tree penetrate the soup and two trout are taken off of that tree. Pushing my luck I keep casting a few feet to the left of the down tree and I gamble one time to many. One of the submerged limbs grabs the Duke of Marabou Brown and he gives his life at sea.

Going to the fly box, I find a brown bugger pattern Chuck Kaminski gave to me years ago. Chuck's pattern is the same color brown I'd been using, but, he added a little flash in the tail. This bugger goes on and the trout begin their jousting once again.

It's now almost 1 o'clock and I've been in the river for about three hours. The back is nagging and it's time for me to go.

I did not have a fifty fish day in the time I was there, but, I was just a few fish short of forty. That's a good morning for this fly fisher.

Stopping at Scotty's, a Gloria burger and Coors Light to go is ordered.

The weather was absolutely beautiful today... as was the fishing.

Chapter 58 Day 46 - Trout Season

2011-12-16T15:48:00.000-08:00

My Sincere Apology

Yesterday, after going to the river, I posted that I thought weekend fishing at Blue River would be "iffy" at best. My reasoning for making that post was not only the condition of the river upon seeing it myself, but, also because of the possibility of more rain to come later yesterday.

The rain did not come.

However, while I was at the river yesterday looking at her condition, I had this gut feeling that the river was going to clear quickly. My problem was, I didn't have the balls to say so. I didn't have those gonads to say weekend fishing will be possible because I know of how many of you drive hundreds of miles to get here. And, if you did make such a trip this weekend based on my gut feeling, but, then found a river less than desirable... you would've been terribly upset with me. I can't handle that.

It's a funny thing about free-flowing rivers - they can trick you sometimes. Yesterday however, there was just something about the color and texture of the water that said, "This isn't going to be bad."

This morning Matt Gamble, Blue River area manager, made a post saying the river had cleared dramatically. This afternoon, Scotty of Blue River One Stop called me and said he had been to the river and along with Matt they couldn't believe how quickly it had cleared. He asked me to let people know right away.

So, I immediately made changes to Scotty's website and then to his Facebook account to let people know the river will fish good this weekend.

Again, I offer apology for not going with my gut feeling - a feeling I have honed over thirty years of watching this river.

I hope nobody cancelled plans to come to the river Blue this weekend.

Chapter 58 Day 45 - Trout Season

2011-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Update On ~~Blue~~ Brown River

Matt, area manager of Blue River pretty much hit the nail on the head with his river report of 8:30 this morning.

The river is not chocolate milk, but, it is a watered down version of beef broth. Having to go to Tishomingo today I decided to swing my Blue and have a look-see for myself. The question for many of you wanting to come is the simple asking, "Is the river fly fish-able?" It wasn't today, well.. I mean to say it could have been fly fished, but, capturing fish would have been a huge challenge.

The bad news is it's probably not going to be fish-able any this weekend with more rain predicted for tonight.

I've seen the river much worse, and today you could still see rock structure in the middle of some wide stretches. The fringes are somewhat clear and shallow areas could be fished. By simply listening to the river today it was easy to sense the river's flow was up significantly.

On the trip down to the river, it became quite evident that the river area received a much harder rain than we did here near my prairie home. Checking Rock Creek before I left, I found that this little creek is still fairly clear. Not the case for Blue River however.

Sorry to be the messenger of such disappointing news for those of you that live a good distance from the river. But, I rather see you not make a trip than make it to find a stew, soup, cocktail of nature's doing.

Here's the pictures from today.

Chapter 58 Day 44 - Trout Season

2011-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

Fishing A Trio Of Midge Patterns

A couple of posts ago I mentioned fishing different colors and stages of life in the midge world.

Although, fishing more than one fly on a rigging can be quite rewarding, it has it's problems also. Problems such as the secondary tippets (the ones you add to carry the additional flies) fouling the primary tippet or leader.

To combat this, I started tying an overhand knot in the added tippet after the added tippet was secured with a surgeon's knot. Clipping the short tag end of the added tippet, I simply take the fly carrying end and make an overhand knot around the primary tippet. This seems to hold the added tippet perpendicular, or at a right or left angle to the primary tippet.

Another thing to consider in saving yourself a lot of grief when fishing more than one fly is the cast you make. If you are proud of that tight narrow loop you can cast, then you might as well leave it at home when fishing tandem rigs - it's only going to cause you trouble.

When fishing multiple flies you need to throw those big ol' ugly open loops. Yes, they're big, ugly, slow, and lazy, but, they will keep your added tippets or flies from fouling each other. My friend, Bruce Dixon use to call these casts loopy-loops or circle casts.

And then there is the distance you are casting. When fishing multiple flies I have never found a reason to make a cast beyond twenty feet. I'm fishing the water near me because something I've seen has told me there is evidence of midge activity there.

When fishing a trio of the midge world I tie the weighted fly on the bottom or the deep column fly, let's say a beadhead Zebra. Judging the depth of the water and the speed of the flow, I may or may not add split shot about eight inches up.

For the second or mid column fly, I'll choose a midge with a more pronounced thorax which simulates the pupa stage.

And finally, as the top column fly, that is set quite shallow below the indicator, I choose a midge pattern that simulates a shucking or escaping midge.

One thing for certain is that the way I choose to present multiple flies is not perfect. I mix, match, don't mix or match, present one color in contrast with another color in the different columns. Some will argue what I do is plum silly... and that's okay. For me, it's all on the pathway of discovering all there is about fly fishing and particularly fly fishing using the maddening world of the midge.

Good luck to all of you in pursuit of trout by way of the midge.

Chapter 58 Day 43 - Trout Season

2011-12-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Oh, Those Old Cold Bones

In the moment the great creator decided to give my mother the only child she would ever have, there evidently was a shortage of construction materials. This shortage I speak of surely explains why little material was used in the creation of yours truly.

I'm skinny - there's no other way to say it.

I don't know if I mind being skinny. If I really try, I can see some advantages of being thin, skinny, skinrod built, sparse or whatever adjective one might come forth with.

In being skinny, never have I had to worry about the scales, or going on a diet... watching the waist-line, or going to the gym and sweating my arse off several days a week in order to keep the current wardrobe owned.

You won't catch me in a grocery store turning containers around looking at the calorie content of anything. If it looks good... it if sounds good... if it smells good... I'm gonna eat it! In being skinny, there has never been those moments when I'd pass on a slice of Key lime or coconut creme pie, or tell the ice cream scooper to hold back on the chocolate syrup - no, no, no,... drown it please.

However, there are some disadvantages in being thin also.

They make some kind of device that measures body fat. I figure if they put that device on me the response would be, "Mister.... your nothing but bone, blood, and sinew!" And, this is where being skinny becomes a great disadvantage.

Skinny people get cold faster when fly fishing during the winter. It's not hard to figure out why - there is no fat on our bodies to protect us from the darn cold weather.

Look at creatures in nature. Creatures like sea lions, polar bears, and some whales, that live in cold environments have deep layers of fat on their bodies. This fat insulates them from the cold temperatures. Have you ever seen a skinny sea lion?

One disadvantage is clothes. You ever try to find a pair of 28 X 32 pair of jeans? Oh, there are plenty of 30 X 32 pair of jeans available, but 28 waist size? Only on very lucky days do I strike gold in my clothing shopping.

Clothing problems I can live with, but the larger problem for me in being skinny is freezing my bo-hind off fly fishing during the winter.

During winter, I tend to layer clothng each time I go fly fishing, whether it be at Blue River or anywhere else. However, there are only so many layers a fellow can put on before he gets to feeling "stoved up".

After three or four long sleeved pull-over shirts, a guy can beomce cinched, or stiff, bound-up, and the elbows become locked up. The elbows, I dare to say, in fly fishing are somewhat important. Plus, with all those layers of clothing on, if you go into the soup they are gong to absorb a lot of water rather quickly.

Then, consider this. If you have three or four long sleeved pull-over's on, either you'll wear them outside the pants or inside and either way the waders are going over. As sure as the sun rises in the east, the urge to de-water the bladder will come about and it's tough trying to wade through four layer of shirts in opening the barn door. For some of us, when we wait too long, trying to get through all those layers to opening said barn door can result in... disaster. Enough said, huh?

So... I've been shopping here of late looking for some of the new-age technology in cold weather clothing that will keep my little butt warm.

Today, I looked at Under Armour products and so far I like what I read. Price point is usually a deciding factor, but, sometimes the comfort factor will far outweigh the price of any product. And, such is the case in my case.

I looked at a couple of other cold season undergarment products, but, they mentioned wool. Wool is warm no doubt, however, some of us who are of northern european descent tend to have problems wearing wool. People of northern europen descent have a high tendency to understand what eczema is and eczema and wool is kind of like fire and petro. For a person with eczema wearing wool is like asking for an invitation to the doctor's office and a big and painful steroid shot in the buttock. Been there, done that, it sucks.

I'm going to keep shopping and find some cold weather fly fishing gear because I'm tired of freezing my little arse off. I know there's not much to "freeze off", but the little I do have... I'd really like to keep.

Chapter 58 Day 42 - Trout Season

2011-12-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

The Madness And Mystery Of The Midge

It's safe to say that a fly angler could spend a lifetime trying to figure out everything there is to know about the midge and it would be the kind of thing that would lead some of us to drinking... more.

After all, there are several thousand species in the midge world. Then there are colors to consider, along with size, and different life stages of this insect.

In short, a midge is a two wing fly, belonging to the classification of Diptera. They are a quite small fly, but often thick in numbers. Chironomids are most likely the predominate presence of midges and they thrive in cold water environments where trout also thrive.

As far as colors to use, my experience, although limited, has been that black, olive, creme, and cinnamon will work at times on Blue River. But, the guessing game is which color to choose. Black is a difficult color to beat at most times I would suggest. I've only seen a trout's stomach pumped one time in my fly fishing life. As the gentleman who did the pumping emptied the deposits in the palm of his hand there was nothing but minute black midges. After seeing these creatures it was easy for me to go to the fly box and match exactly what the fish were keying on - a size 22 - 26 black thread midge.

I think that when we are tying our midge patterns we quite often tie them thicker than they should be. Most things in nature, as far as trout food, are usually smaller than we envision.

Size - oh how important is size? Extremely important, but again, it is usually a mystery to us while we are standing in the river. My approach these days, when strictly fishing midges, is to give the trout choices. Choices by way of showing the pretty fish three different sizes and stages of the midge. But again, the color is a guessing game.

And, then there are the stages that range from larva to pupa to emerging (or what I call shucking) stage, to the adult. Of these stages, I'm convinced that the shucking stage is the most important. This is where the midge is desperately trying to escape the shuck, to fly away, and is the most attractive and opportune offering for the trout.

Usually on Blue, when I get to the river early it's all streamers. Come mid-morning if the streamers are faltering, a switch to nymphs will be made. And in the afternoon, it's time to go to midges. However, if at anytime, there is evidence the trout are keying on midges, it's time to rig up a three midge offering.

Chapter 58 Day 41 - Trout Season

2011-12-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

To The Woods And Water

Anytime I can get beyond the concrete, the asphalt, the pavement - I do. Beyond these man-made things, and the brick and mortar, lies the excitement of the woods and the water.

Today, was a no fishing day for me. I couldn't possibly get to the river Blue for having to work at not one mercantile store, but, two.

In between those two store shifts was a break and taking advantage of that break I escape briefly to the local creek for a little scouting.

There is a section of the carp creek that Charlie and I so favor that we have yet to explore. As a kid, I remember it quiet well and explored it often, but, that's been a long time ago.

Our hopes is this stretch of water will hold carp and give us another avenue to pursue the grand and golden ones this coming spring and summer.

This stretch of creek has the characteristics of much of the rest of the creek with sandbars or shoals, narrow areas that flow into wide flat pools. The banks have been cleared at this place on the creek, probably the results of a local telecommunications company property being located here.

There's an old dam just below this run of water and I remember it well from thirty years ago. It had come a torrential rain in early October and my son and I decided to build a homemade raft and float the raging creek. We put in about 300 yards above the dam, but, our adventure would be short-lived. When the raft went off the dam, with us on it, our not-so-safe ship sank and we became caught in the violent down flow coming off the dam. The only thing that saved us that day was an inner tube we had tied on the back of the raft. I was able to break the rope free and we hung onto the tube until we could get to a bank.

I won't have to worry about such nonsense things anymore though - I simply fly fish for carp in this creek.

The weather looks really iffy for this coming week and a fly fishing trip for the pretty fish at Blue may be hard to come by. However, somehow a way to get to the woods and water must be found. Such trips are salvation.

Chapter 58 Day 40 - Trout Season

2011-12-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

A Baker's Dozen

It's hard to believe that today day forty of trout season arrived. It seems like the season just started yesterday. At this clip, we will be half way through trout season at Blue river before we know it.

It was a gorgeous day on the river today. Not arriving until half past mid-morning, the weather was still crisp and somewhat nipply, if you will.

Pushing the ponies across the river at Hughes Crossing we turn into the campsite overlooking Horseshoe Falls and Ted's Pool. Once there, I didn't know whether to slap leather hard across the ponies backside or to pull up on the reigns and stomp the foot-brake. Within the campsite were a lot of tents, vehicles, and people.

Deciding to stake my claim in the water no matter what, the ponies were pulled back and hitched. A trail was struck to the water and to my utter amazement there wasn't a soul on the river at Ted's Pool. Either folk had fished early or not fished at all because of the cold morning temperatures.

On the tying desk last night, I found a pink woolly bugger... yes pink. Can't remember why I tied a pink bugger - probably to torment pan fish or something, but, I grabbed the fly because I wanted to see if a trout would bite this... uh, not your usual fly you want to wade around the river when others are watching.

I tie it on and send it sailing into the stew. Damn thing catches a trout. Send it sailing again and there is a hard strike followed by a hard hook-set. Trout gets flies, fly fisher gets empty tippet end.

Then an olive bugger goes on and this boy goes to work right away. Today, it was much of the same as it's been on the last several outings - deep in the column, slow to little action on the fly. The action wasn't hot and heavy and the pool was worked from the right to the left. Then however, I shortened the distance and about six feet off a ledge was a remarkable little pocket. A pocket where the trout were waiting.

After ten trout were brought to hand the bugger is cut off and retired. Prince Nymph hasn't seen any action on the last several trips so he goes into the stew.

Funny thing about the Prince today - the fly had to be fished deep and a dead drift by itself wasn't producing. After a long dead drift a little twitch was needed to get the fish to react. Prince didn't do nary as well as the bugger, but, the two fish the fly took were significantly larger than the fish the bugger took.

Never again will I complain about my feet being numb while fly-fishing and here's why. It wasn't long after the second trout was taken by Prince that I heard voices behind me on Horseshoe Falls. The voices had distinct Hispanic flavorings and as I turn to look I see a family of four with pant legs rolled up and barefooted, wading across the falls. Barefooted! This had to be the toughest family of all time! Here I was in waders with neoprene booties and heavy duty wading shoes and I was already going numb.

Leaving Ted's Pool I go to Scotty's to get a beer and run into James Russell. James has been gone from Blue River for about two and a half years and it was good to see him. He had his friends Jack and Bruce with him and they had been fly fishing around the crossing early.

After they had lunch we met up downstream at Glory Hole to fish again. However, the afternoon was terribly off as far as fishing. After about an hour I bid goodbye to James and friends and headed to the prairie home.

I left the river with a baker's dozen of trout to hand.

Chapter 58 Day 39 - Trout Season

2011-12-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

Avoiding The Pattern Fatigue Trap

I admit it. When it comes to my fly fishing life these days, I tend to be a little bit lazy. Hasn't always been that way, and I'm not for certain it is all due to laziness. Sometimes I look at it as a matter of voiding inconvenience.

Tying flies on the tippet these days is not as easy as it use to be. If, by chance, the reading glasses are left behind at the bunk house, then I've pretty much screwed the pooch as far as changing flies a lot on that particular outing.

So, my choices are to suffer from pattern fatigue or constantly keep moving.

All of us has experienced this same thing. We arrive at a particular stretch of water, a pocket, a run, a back eddy and we toss a fly into the punch and with the first cast bring a bow to hand. Then on the next ten casts we bring anywhere from seven to ten more trout to hand. But... then it all quits. Another dozen casts and not nary a bite. That's pattern fatigue.

Pattern fatigue is quite simple. The fish in a certain structure of water you are fishing simply get wise to the pattern being used. At that occurrence it's time for us to make a decision to change patterns or simply move to another body of water.

I've been inclined, here of late, to move to another body of water rather than tie on a new pattern. However, at times it is to wonder if I'm cheating myself. The pattern doesn't actually have to change - the color can, and then if that doesn't work then it's time to completely change the pattern. In other words, you started and did well with a streamer, then once that quit, changed color on that same streamer pattern and if there's still no improvement, it's time to consider a nymph or something else.

Of course if the trout are keying on midges let's say, there's probably no reason to move or often change patterns if you can find the right stage of midge life the trout are after. In this case you'll not change patterns, but, rather life cycle.

Pattern fatigue is easy to fall into, but, can easily be avoided by holding your spot (where you already know there are fish) and going into the fly box until you find what the fish want.

Chapter 58 Day 38 - Trout Season

2011-12-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Good New For An Already Pretty River

It's always pleasing to hear some good news about one of our rivers. Good news is something that seems to come rarely these days and times.

Just last week, I shared not so good news about the Denver South Platte and how the concern and action of one man became infectious. Through that process the news turned out on the good side for this Denver river that so many in that area hold good favor for.

On Monday, there was a news release from the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy announcing the purchase of almost 500 acres along Blue River.

According to Mike Furh, state Director of the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy, the purchase of this tract of land is the first in a long time and unlike usual acquisitions, which are already in pristine shape, this particular purchase presents the challenge of rehabbing the land along the river.

Furh stated, "This is a river project."

When I read the words "river project" a smile came to my face. Owning the philosophy that "upstream is downstream", I believe the efforts of the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy will lead to a better river overall.

Furh went on to mention the issue of water quality, which is often overlooked in this time when quantities of water far overshadowed quality.

The tract of land in question is somewhat north of land owned by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, but, not so far that the efforts of the Nature Conservancy will directly benefit the portion of river that serves as a fall and winter trout fishery and overall wonderful year round fishery.

Chapter 58 Day 37 - Trout Season

2011-12-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Garage Sale Flies Continued

Going through the stash of garage/estate sale flies tonight I came across these pretties. This time I knew right away what the name of this pattern was.

So, here we go.

What is the name of this fly? (Hint - Starts with a "M" and is a feminine name).

Will this fly catch Blue River trout? Oh yeah... or at least it has before.

How to fish this pattern? Always trailed it behind a lead fly, however, I am sure it will catch fish on it's own.

Will I use this fly this season on Blue River? Sure, plan on tying it on soon and I do expect it to produce.

If you know the name of this fly then please leave a comment.

Chapter 58 Day 36 - Trout Season

2011-12-06T16:58:00.000-08:00

The Colors That Carp Like

It's trout season no doubt. It's also chilly outside with the wind chill delivering a feel factor of 17 degrees... way too cool for these old bones.

So, a lot of time is being spent on the vise these cold days. No, not too many trout flies are being churned - have plenty of those. However, there are carp flies and carp season is only mere months away.

When it comes to the colors that carp like, orange usually comes to mind. During the 2010 carp season, orange was a predominant color used in the quest of capturing carp.

The top producing fly of that season was the Carpola Charlie tied in orange and olive. Other top producers int he Carpola Charlie series included orange and yellow, and orange and brown.

When thinking of orange for carp how can I forget Mr. P's fabulous Carp Carrot. Wow... what an effective fly. Used this pattern a lot also in 2010 and there were times when nothing else would work the Carp Carrot would. Hat's off to the inventor of the Carp Carrot.

Then there is the color white. Carp seem to like white also.

2011 was a disaster of a carp by fly season here on the prairie ocean due to the drought and extreme heat. We had basically the months of late March, April, and early May. During those months I stuck with the color white and this is what took the large majority of carp I captured.

In 2010, another top producer was the white wormball known as the Great White Hope.

During April of 2010 and early last season, this color and pattern was, at a time, the go-to fly. Eventually the carp seem to see the fly coming, having met it before, and production fell. But... on how good it was for a while.

The Crazy Charlie, another all white fly, was very effective in 2011 also. And, then there was the Mysis Shrimp which was a killer pattern.

On the last trip to the fly shop I made sure plenty of orange and white materials went in the shopping cart.

Going to the vise to tie up some more carp appetizers.

Chapter 58 Day 35 - Trout Season

2011-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives And Fly Fishing

There's a stew on the stove-top, and as I peck on this laptop the stew is in the stewing stage.

With the weather being as brutal as it's been today, a chance at the river was out of the question. Maybe, if I were a younger man a trip would have been possible, but a younger man I am not and that is fodder for another piece later on.

The sky was gray all day and that somehow always says to me that it's the perfect day to go fly fishing for trout. However, the temperature has not penetrated the forty mark and the wind is as relentless as I have seen this trout season.

So, I cook today.

And since I am cooking, it reminds me of the more eclectic approach I take to fly fishing these days and one of the aspects of that is... good food... somewhere along the way to the water or back.

For years, if you walked into Scotty's Blue River One Stop, Scotty was the chief, head cook, bottle washer, janitor, bait expert, trout fishing therapist, propane tank filler, and all-around good guy. Back then, if you ordered a hamburger you got what is known as a "Scotty Burger".

However, there came a lady named Gloria and she took over many of the duties including cooking burgers. Scotty Burgers would rival any hamburger, anytime, anywhere. They were simply that good and greasy. But, I, like others, learned something when Gloria came along.

If you go to Scotty's place today and he is on the grill then you ask for a Scotty Burger. However, if Gloria is on the grill... don't dare ask for a Scotty Burger. If you do, she will tell you quite promptly and plainly she doesn't cook Scotty Burgers... she cooks Gloria Burgers.

You know what? Her burgers are as good as Scotty's.

Both burgers are so good, I've been thinking about trying to contact Guy Fieri and his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and see if Guy would come shoot a segment on these wonderful palate pleasing patties.

Guy, being the hoot he is, would probably get behind the grill and flip a few burgers himself. Then, as he usually does in front of the camera, he'll cram about half of one of Scotty's or Gloria's burgers in his mouth and declare, "Wow man, that's out of the park", or "Wow man, that's out of bounds", or Wow man, that's patent pending", or one of his other famous quotes.

After he wraps his shoot, I figure some of us could kind of surround Guy and begin to wear his arse out about fly-fishing down on Blue River. We could have it all planned and staged, having a set of waders ready for him. Then, we get Guy down there and put a fly rod in his hand to see if this fellow that can cook so good... can fish so good.

It will be a blast! And... Guy will probably catch some trout too.

Chapter 58 Day 34 - Trout Season

2011-12-04T14:49:00.000-08:00

No Trout Just Scout

Anytime it comes a shower of rain, you can bet your bottom dollar that Charlie will go to the creek to scout for carp. He learned a long time ago that the rain seems to get the carp out and about... just like yesterday. And, yes yesterday Charlie was on the creek.

He reported seeing a good number of carp up in the shallows feeding. Usually this time of year we see very few carp at all.

This morning was a work morning for me so instead of going to Blue River, I decided to do a little scouting of my own.

The creek is currently gin clear in spots, but still quite low in spite of the fall and cold season moisture we have received. The nine inches of rain we received in one night certainly did some sculpting on this creek and parts of it have been changed dramatically.

I only seen one lone carp while on the creek, but, even that was encouraging right now.

I also took a fly with me that I wanted to test to see how it would flow and land in the water. I've been trying to come up with an egg pattern that the grand and golden ones will be interested in.

What I've come up with is a simple thing actually. An egg on a curved hook with dumbbell eyes and a little antron on the arse end to try and disguise the hook point a little. It settles to the bottom each and every time with the hook point riding up. If the carp take an interest in this fly it will be one carp hooking son-of-a-gun.

Think I'll call it the Sunny Side Up Egg Carp Fly.

Chapter 58 Day 33 - Trout Season

2011-12-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Standing In The River Under The Cold, Cold Rain

The fly fisher continued to gather his gear and take to the transport outside. Sitting on a kitchen chair, hands formed around her coffee cup, his wife watched him pace back and forth. Already, she had made commentary as to how wretched the weather was this day. Damp weather that was certainly cause for a man to fall ill. Her words of concern, however, seem to fall short of ear-shot.

As he made another trip to the transport, he realized his wives concern and decided to address her in order to calm her mind.

"My love, today I will stand in the river under the cold, cold rain and at that place I will weave a magnificent story of epic battles with the trout.

My expectation is high; my confidence swells; I fear not standing in the river under the cold, cold rain. I will return to you with great tales, grand stories of how on this day, on a level field of battle, I dispensed great amounts of Tom's Trickery on the unsuspecting trout.

The trout will look at my flies as grand gifts and they will attack them with a passioned intensity... impaling themselves on the sharp lance. Escape they will try, but, they will capitulate as they come to my hand. The number of trout fooled today will be staggering.

And, when I return home to you and tell the grand story you most assuredly will tell others and those others will come to our home to gather me and hoist be high to their shoulders. Then they will parade me down the road and call to yet others proclaiming "Here is the true trickster of trout. For sure, he is a jolly good fellow."

As the parade continues down the road, the fanfare will only grow and all will go to a central place. At that place the good food and fine wine will come forth and we will revel late into the night.

I promise you my wife, I will carry a warming ale with me today. The kind of ale that blocks the chill from the bone and makes jolly a man. The kind of ale of that great warrior Beowulf's time; the ale he drank at Mead-Hall after his great victory. My victory today will be similar.

I tarry no longer sweet wife, the trout await"

Standing in the river under the cold, cold rain it didn't take long for reality to set. The fly fisher had been standing in the river for an hour and half that more. To his credit, he had only four trout - not the kind of numbers grand stories are made of. Numbers that will not cause fanfare or a cause to be gathered and hoisted high to the shoulders. Not the numbers that will parade a man down the street where a grand celebration at a central place, with good food and fine wine will come forth.

The rain dripped from the brim of his hat. Rain drops exploded and burst upon his shoulders. His body shivered and quake, trying to warm itself. Rain found it's way to the nape of his neck chilling the spine. The ale, long since gone, was not enough to ward off the effects of standing in the river under a cold, cold rain.

He spooled up and waddled up the hill to return home.

At home, as he opened the door and stood in the threshold looking similar to a drown rodent his wife arose from her chair. She had words to dispense, words that she had been holding and would now release.

"The cough and cold medicine is on the table - I'm going shopping. See you later o' great trickster of trout."

Chapter 58 Day 32 - Trout Season

2011-12-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

River Keepers - River Warriors - Fighting The Good Fight

It's always good to hear stories about people who care about our fishing water and water in general.

I don't know if there are any awards given to people who make an extra effort to protect our fishing streams and rivers. Awards like River Keeper, or maybe River Warrior, or maybe the Fighting The Good Fight For Water award. But, if there are... I would nominate some gentlemen today.

McTage is a good fellow in Colorado that seems to have this terrible addiction to fly fishing in general. Then, when it comes to the pursuit of carp by fly, his addiction only heightens.

It seems, that recently, McTage was on an expedition in pursuit of his favored carp and he was somewhere near the confluence of Sand Creek and the Denver South Platte in Colorado. As he reports it, he knew something was wrong almost as soon as he entered Sand Creek. McTage smelled petroleum.

With further investigation, McTage found an oily sheen on the creek and that's when he decided to take action. A call was made to, I believe, the Colorado Public Health and Environmental Authority. McTage explained what he had found, but, the response he got was somewhat lackadaisical. McTage grew frustrated rather quickly, but, didn't abandoned his effort.

Although this event would start at 9 a.m., McTage would pursue help until late mid-afternoon, but there was little results.

That evening he decided to take to writing about what he found on his blog Fly Carpin. Not knowing how effective his blog would be, McTage published the post and that got things going.

In Idaho is a fellow fly fisher named Gregg and he quickly picked up on McTage's blog post. From Idaho, Gregg called Bruce Finley at the Denver Post. Bruce, upon learning of McTage's story called the EPA.... and things really got rolling then.

Long story short is that a threatening environmental situation was stopped from getting worse because several men cared.

You can read the whole account by visiting McTage's blog at Fly Carpin.

To me, McTage, Gregg, and Bruce are all heroes and if there was a River Keeper, River Warrior, or Fighting The Good Fight For Water award, I would nominate these guys right now.

Keep up the good fight guys.

Here in Oklahoma, I expect to see more water heroes come forth. I'm talking about the plight of the Lower Illinois River - Oklahoma's first year round trout fishery.

It makes no sense to me, that with all the massive amount of water in Lake Tenkiller there has never been a single drop of water allocated for the Lower Illinois River.

To me it's a no-brainer - if the Upper Illinois River supplies Lake Tenkiller, then Lake Tenkiller should supply the Lower Illinois River. It's like someone said, "Let's build this big reservoir and screw the downstream side of it."

Oklahoma's Trout Unlimited, the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, and concerned individuals are making efforts to find a permanent solution to the problems this lovely little trout stream has.

I do believe there will be heroes emerge in the process and this story will have a happy ending.

Chapter 58 Day 31 - Trout Season

2011-12-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

One Rod - Two Opportunities

There are a lot of articles these days about Euro nymphing. At one time this type of fishing was generally referred to as Czech nymphing, but, then we learned the Polish, French, and Spaniards all had their own twists to this particular discipline of fly fishing.

Euro nymphing consists of shorter, lighter, and thinner leaders using several flies with at at least one being a weighted fly. With this practice the rod is held high, the line off the water and kept taught staying in constant contact with the flies.

Generally, 10 foot or longer rods are used in Euro nymphing and small rivers or streams are often perfect for this type of fishing. The angler is always concentrating and feeling for a pick-up on one of the flies. These days even longer leaders are being employed.

I don't know about the practicality of Euro nymphing on Blue River since it is such a diversely structured river. However, without thinking too much, or hard, there are several good riffles and runs that come to mind where Euro nymphing could be employed or put into play.

But, carrying a 10 foot rod, and only a 10 foot rod, on Blue River could cut us short to many opportunities and places we can fish on this river. There are many places, runs, and pools on Blue River that are simply too tight for such a long rod.

However, those clever devils at Temple For Outfitters have come up with a solution to such situations. TFO has created a series rod known as the BVK.

The BVK was designed as a four piece 3 wt. dry fly rod. Length is 8 feet. However, with the BVK you can purchase an adapter kit that makes the 8 foot dry fly rod into a 10 foot Euro nymphing rod. The BVK dry fly rod by itself is $225.00. The adapter kit will cost you another $99.00, but, you now have one rod that will serve as two rods.

The adapter or conversion kit replaces the butt section with an extra 24 inches of length.

As a 8 ft. rod, tight streams, small flies, and delicate and finicky trout can be pursued. As a 10 foot rod, the fly angler will have better mending power, can high stick without becoming fatigued, and practice the art of Euro style nymphing.

Find out more by visiting Temple Fork Outfitters.

Chapter 58 Day 30 - Trout Season

2011-11-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

The Ebb And Flow Of An Oklahoma Trout Stream

In the first three weeks of November, Blue River was the beneficiary of extra trout. Of course, all who love fishing for trout were pleasantly pleased. However, for some of us, it was a sad comment on the demise of Oklahoma's first year round trout fishery - the Lower Illinois.

Several things came together at once in the demise of this precious tail water. A leak in the dam, that supplied a constant flow of water, was repaired this past summer. Then there was the exceptional drought and the record heat of 2011. All these things worked together causing flow and water quality problems in the Lower Illinois river.

In September, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife suspended trout stocking. In October, there was a significant fish kill.

Good news is the stocking has been resumed at the Lower Illinois, but, the future of this beautiful trout stream is cloudy at best.

In his article for the Amarillo Globe News, Ryan Shelton shares his story in "Death Of A Trout Stream". Shelton describes his arrival at the Lower Illinois on opening day of trout season - not knowing about the issues surrounding the river.

What he found, what he saw, most certainly served as the catalyst and motivating factor for Shelton penning his article.

In that piece, Shelton includes a quote from Scott Hood, President of the Oklahoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Hood said, "It's a problem that can be solved by putting pressure on the government."

Shelton goes on to include the names of two elected Oklahoma officials that can help at the federal level.

As members of the fly-fishing community we should always fight the good fight when it comes to our fishing water. It is our duty to save every inch and every ounce of our fisheries.

I invite you to read Ryan Shelton's complete article and have included the link below. I also encourage you to contact the two elected officials mentioned in Shelton's article and let them know the Lower Illinois can not be lost as a trout fishery.

Death Of A Trout Stream.

Chapter 58 Day 29 - Trout Season

2011-11-29T13:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Afternoon With The Trout

It was a pretty afternoon today on the river, even though it was a little airy again. It was airy enough to create a complete riffle on the long, wide, and deep stretch of water I fished. This was a familiar water, however, I decided to approach it from the opposite side. Looking back now, I'm glad I did because it placed me on the inside lane of the wind; hidden behind a tall island that served as a perfect wind-break.

The side I chose is a more wooded area that overlooks the river and two different runs of water. Here there are a number of trails that will take you to both runs and it's nice to walk through those woods.

I took one of those trails down to the long, wide, and deep water and found a small sandy shoal that would allow a fly fisher to wade out about five feet. It was all roll casting today - no room at all for a backcast, but, that didn't seem to bother the trout.

Even though I was attempting a thirty to thirty-five foot roll, I would soon discover the trout were only eighteen to twenty feet in front of me. And... they would slam the fly - it seemed like they were hooking themselves. Fish after fish, fun... oh, so much fun. It wasn't a fish every cast, but, the cast-to-catch ratio was pretty darn high.

Never changed patterns this afternoon, just kept tossing the streamer. The trout were finicky in how the fly was moving. They wanted it deep in the column with little movement at all. Although I was slow-crawl-stripping all afternoon, I do believe if a fly fisher had fished under an indicator they would have actually done better.

Looking upstream, two good size submerged boulders catches the eye so an investigation is launched. The boulders are large enough for a fly fisher to stand on, but, the water between me and boulder was hard to judge. It looked to be chest deep, but, could have been deeper so I deemed it too dicey to try today since I was fishing alone. Maybe when someone is fishing alongside I'll try it.

What is amazing to me is that all these wonderful years I've had on this river, new pools and pockets are coming this way. The structure of this river is absolutely amazing with countless places for the trout to hide and make their lies. Exploring this river more is part of the goal of my Chapter 58.

The weather is predicted to change for the worse in the coming days. Today was a good day to be on the river Blue.

Chapter 58 Day 28 - Trout Season

2011-11-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Gifting The Gift Of Fishing

At the mercantile store that I owe my employment is a collection box for the Marine Corps Reserve "Toy For Tots" program. This morning I couldn't help but notice how forlorn the collection box looked - it was completely empty. Seeing this sight was more that this soul could bear so I scheduled a break to obtain a gift for some boy or girl.

Deciding what kind of gift to give was easy - I wanted to give the gift of fly fishing. Here at my prairie home there is only one of the big retailers and from the past I knew they always carried those inexpensive Shakespeare fly fishing beginner kits. The kits have a rod, reel, line, leader, and some flies. There is really no quality to anything in the kit, but, for a kid starting out they are almost perfect.

At the fishing section of the big retailer, disappointment set in early. Ol' big retailer did not have one single offering of any beginner fly fishing kits.

Pausing for thought, I realized what I was really wanting to give was the gift of fishing itself. The majority of us that fly fish today didn't start out fly fishing. Some of us are old enough to remember fishing with cane poles and bobbers. At my grandfathers home cane poles were all we had and we were happy to have that.

Big retailer had seven or eight different beginning fishing kits so my reasoning was to get one of these in hopes that it would spark interest in a boy or girl child somewhere. If that happened, then the day they might evolve to fly fishing could possibly come.

At the checkout stand I pay Markel and head back to the mercantile store where I placed the fishing kit in the Toy For Tots box - a box no longer empty. Soon after that, two fellow employees came up and handed me $40.00 and said they wanted to donate gifts also. The box is slowly filling up.

Having personally participated in the Marine Corps Toy For Tots program in the 1970s, I can tell you it is a good solid program where 100 percent of gifts donated go to the intended recipients - children.

So, I'd like to say to all the brothers and sisters of this culture we call fly fishing, if you see a Toy For Tots collection box somewhere near you, consider giving the gift of fishing this Christmas season.

It's an uplifting thing.

Chapter 58 Day 27 - Trout Season

2011-11-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Trash Can 101
Although the sun was shining ever so brightly today, it was easy to tell this would be a raw day on the river Blue. The temperature was in the low 40's, which is not bad as far as trout fishing weather, but, then there was the wind. It seems the northern wind god was being his sometime boisterous, belligerent self - his breath dispensing misery up and down the river.

Still, I wanted to be on the river and thought I could manage a little time in the harsh conditions. Uh... I was terribly wrong - didn't last long at all. Fishing off the Boulder at Seventeen put me in the middle of the river and the wind was sweeping all around my position.

Catching a trout right off the bat, it looked like fishing might be okay today. However, three short-strikes later, tears running from the corner of my eyes, hands going numb - the deciding factor that sent me packing was when old blowhard blew my hat off. His cold steely breath was too much today.

On day 24 I also fished the Boulder and you may remember me noting that some joker or jokers had been drinking beer on the Boulder and left their empty beer vessels behind. That day I didn't have a trash bag, but, today made it a point to carry one with me.

This is what I call the "before" picture - being the beer containers on the Boulder before they went into what is known as a trash bag. Imagine that!

This is the "after" picture of the Boulder after said beer containers had been placed in what is known as a trash bag. Doesn't the Boulder look much better now?

This is known as a trash can.

Can you say trash can?

Trash cans are called trash cans for a reason.

Do you know why trash cans are called trash cans?

Trash cans are called trash cans because they are meant to hold our trash.

Do you know there are trash cans on Blue River?

Do you know why there are trash cans on Blue River?

Trash cans are on Blue River because the river is not a trash can.

Okay?

Do we need to go over this again?

Thank you!

Chapter 58 Day 26 - Trout Season

2011-11-26T16:29:00.000-08:00

A Reason For On Line Fly Fishing Stuff Shopping

I made a conscious decision today to make this a non-fishing day. In hindsight it looks like that was the right decision with the rather nasty weather encountered today - northerly winds up to 40 m.p.h. with rain.

Yesterday was the infamous day known as Black Friday. Ah yes, Black Friday... the day that some shoppers get too excited and caught up in the frenzy and decide to pepper spray their fellow humankind, or trample them at the entry, call in a bomb scare, and even worse shoot someone.

Always having removed myself along with my rather not-so-temperate mood in crowded situations, I've always started my Christmas shopping the day after Black Friday, and therefore a trip to the big city was on the tab today.

Miss Carol is an outdoorsy kind of girl and likes outdoor-fashioned clothing - clothing lines such as Bob Timberlake, Natural Reflections, and The North Face. In the big city is Bass Pro and they handle every needful thing that Miss Carol requires, so it made sense to start my shopping there. In addition, I didn't see anything wrong with combining a Christmas shopping trip with a trip to re-supply a badly depleted fly fishing/fly tying arsenal.

As far as the fly fishing and fly tying stuff, I had two goals in mind - things that these days are considered essential gear in this fly fishing life. Since this body doesn't do the things it use to and the balance and coordination no longer allow for rock hopping, a wading staff was on the top of my personal shopping list today. Secondly, I wanted to replenish material to tie flies for the upcoming carp season.

Now, I knew that wading staffs could be pricey little devils, but, through self-talk and great visualization on the trip up, I could see myself opening the wallet and as the moth's ascended and hovered above the deepest and dark recesses of the money holder I would pluck a good number of Jackson's to purchase said wading staff.

Bass Pro didn't have any wading staffs. First disappointment of the day.

Now, at the fly tying section, there were two main items the carp-by-fly lives of Charlie and myself required. You would think that a fly shop would handle more than two sizes of curved caddis hooks, but, that wasn't the case today for me.

Then, I started searching for krystal eggs that can be slipped on a hook. I come up with an idea for a new twist on a carp fly recently, but... no krystal eggs either.

So, I bought some fly line cleaner, a bucktail, blood quill marabou, and a few other things and then went to the ladies apparel section.

The Natural Reflections line of clothing seem to put Timberlake and North Face to shame today. Miss Carol will be receiving a good and varied wardrobe of Natural Reflections this Christmas.

On the way back from the big city it came across my mind how poorly I had done in my shopping quest today. Poorly I say, and that's not mentioning the thirty-five dollars in pony feed I had to buy to keep the schooner ponies at full gallop.

I would have been better off to stay at my prairie home, save the thirty-five dollars in pony feed, while most likely being able to get everything I needed or wanted and get free shipping by shopping on-line.

In the competitive market of retailers these days, a good number are offering free shipping. L.L. Bean is one that comes to mind and I've always loved L.L. Bean products.

Sometimes... I really have by head up my arse. From here on... it's on line shopping.

Chapter 58 Day 25 - Trout Season

2011-11-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

Favorable Circumstances

For sure, today was going to be a non-fishing day for me because of the requirement the mercantile store had for me.

However, around mid-morning a favorable circumstance came my way - so favorable it would put me on the river Blue within the hour.

If I were to go into detail regarding this favorable circumstance I would certainly be incriminating myself and the result might turn out to be me standing in the unemployment line.

The event would place me in the community of Tishomingo and when we are in Tishomingo we are just ten minutes away from the river Blue

Of course I went. Why wouldn't I? The waders, boots, rod, fly packs and all the other stuff required was already in the schooner and it didn't take much convincing that what I was about to do was a perk.

Today on the river I wanted to fish a place called Ted's Pool. Ted's pool is a long, wide, and quite deep pool directly above Horseshoe Falls. Ninety percent of Ted's Pool is way too deep to wade, however, the downstream end is more shallow and full of rock structure - structure the trout think they can hide. Hide they may try, but if you put your fly in the right spots and employ the right presentation, the trout will come to you as they did today in my short time fishing.

Horseshoe Falls

Ted's Pool is above Horseshoe Falls

Soon after entering the drink at Ted's Pool, there was the pleasure of some company across the way - company in the form and fashion of a young fly-fishing couple. I like that. There's something special about couples that fly-fish together.

And as you can see this fly-fishing duo was finding the bows also.

It was such a beautiful day on the river today. I could have stayed all afternoon. But, even as favorable as the circumstance was, that got me to the river today, luck shouldn't be stretched.

With an olive bodied bugger with a bi-color tail of olive and yellow I caught a few trout. Then, I took a few pictures and left the river a happy man.

Chapter 58 Day 24 - Trout Season

2011-11-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

A Bluebird Day Not

Thanksgiving morning certainly wasn't shaping up to be a Bluebird day - wet and damp, hazy to foggy, gray and ovecast with enough southerly wind to make the body uncomfortable. It was hard to tell if this was a perfect day for trout fishing or a perfect day to not sit around the bunkhouse and be bored to tears.

Indecision has never been a vice I own and it wasn't long until I was in the prairie schooner slapping leather across the ponies backsides setting sail for the river Blue.

These days I take a more eclectic approach to fly fishing. I enjoy planning the trip, trying to imagine exactly what fly will be fished and where, and then... there is the voyage itself.

Each trip starts out pretty much the same... taking a sea-lane of hardended concrete.

Always, at the first opportunity a sea-lane consisting of a dirt road is taken. Something about dirt roads that seem to call this fly angler.

On the voyage I stopped by the old west town known as Sipokni West to see what the townfolk there had going on. However, town was vacant - guess they all loaded in the wagons and went somewhere else for Thanksgiving.

Shortly thereafter, I cross Pennington Creek and stopped to see how this little beauty was doing. Little Sister, as I call her, lost a lot of herself this past summer - growing thin and looking drawn. Today though, she looked to be filling out once again.

One of the main reasons for coming to the river Blue today was because of the conflicting reports received about the river's conditions. Right after this week's rain it was reported the river was murky and may get worse. Then yesterday came a report that the river was just a little murky, but fish-able. Today when I got to see the river for myself it was, "Blow me down - shiver me timbers!" This river is clear as a bell! Clear and extremely fish-able.

The trout at the first run of water I fished wasn't interested or frisky at all. And... that was okay with me because I wan't feeling very frisky myself having to fight a chest and head cold. Spooling up, downstream water calls me and on the way there I find a recently abandoned campsite with a campfire still going. I don't know who left the campfire, but, it was very inviting and I appreciate finding it. Stopping at the campfire, I take a seat by the fire and enjoy a cold beer. Nothing like a cold beer on a brisk cold day.

After the drink is disposed of, I step into the stew headed for the boulder above Seventeen. Here, the trout are willing and are feeling frisky. Almost as soon as the water is split I sense a drop in temperature and that makes for the decision to give the trout the fly low and slow - deeper in the column and a slower action. This presentation seemed to be what the trout wanted.

The trout today had some surprising size to them . No, they weren't big by any means but they were a pound and half that fish. And, another surprise was how many of them showed the characteristics of male trout. The only thing that figures, to me, is these were some of the pound to two pound trout the derby organizers placed in the river.

The wind continued to pick up and I decided to call it a day.

Standing on the boulder reminded me of why I prefer the wilderness areas to the main campground area. It's the damn trash. On the boulder I find six or seven empty beer bottles and folk we do not take our alchohol-laden beverages with us on the water. The wildlife department forbids it and for good reason. Void of a trash bag today, a bookmark was made, and next time I hit the river the trash bag will be with me and the damn beer bottles will be removed.

Overall, it was a good day on the river. Not a Bluebird day, but a good day that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Chapter 58 Day 23 - Trout Season

2011-11-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

The Thanks We All Should Be Giving This Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. For Miss Carol and me, this Thanksgiving is kind of a wash with me having to be at work early in the morning and Carol having to pull a six hour shift beginning at noon.

Most likely, we will go a non-traditional route, late in the day, fixing some tacos or maybe tamales. Our children are here, there, and everywhere, some of them traveling, and therefore getting everyone together would be a logistical nightmare.

I would like to go to the river Blue tomorrow afternoon and regardless of whether I get to or not, I will remind myself this Thanksgiving of all I have to be thankful for as a member of the outdoor community.

Here on the prairie ocean, we have been blessed with a wonderful outdoor and wildlife program managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

I truly believe if you ask anyone with the wildlife department about Blue River they will be quick to tell you that Blue River is one of the crown jewels of their program. Blue is a sparkling stone set concretely in the cap that a proud department wears so proudly.

Although Blue River is not one of the year round trout fisheries, it is the most popular fall and winter-time trout fishery in Oklahoma. In addition, this river has another distinction - a trout fishery that is classified as a put and take trout fishery, but, has a delayed harvest catch and release section - something that is unique. The delayed harvest catch and release area is the result of a proactive wildlife department listening to a small segment of the fly fishing community. I don't know how we could ask for more.

Blue River has a number of distinctions and the one I like best is the fact that it is a free-flowing river. No dams to impede it's natural flow or course - this river's direction is left to nature.

And on this prairie ocean we have excellent coverage of the outdoor community with people like Ed Godfrey, outdoor editor for the Oklahoman, and Kelly Bostian, outdoor editor for the Tulsa World Journal.

So tomorrow if I am lucky enough to get to the river, I will find a rock along the river's edge and take a seat, and it is here I will talk with the creator telling him of my thanks for all the blessings in my life in general, and as an outdoorsman.

Chapter 58 Day 22 - Trout Season

2011-11-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

And Oh... How The Rain Came

You see that weather map above... the one on my boob tube last night. That was the prairie ocean at 6 p.m. last night. All that green, yellow, and red was different rain systems plowing across the prairie.

Here on the southern sea of the greater ocean it begin raining mid-afternoon and rained steady for six or seven hours.

The Blue River area received even more rain and a report from Blue River Area Manager Matt Gamble reveals the river has gone murky and might be on it's way to turning into a beefy colored stew.

The good news is that we received much needed rain after such a miserable spring and summer, record heat, and terrible drought. The rain is good for this river since much of the river is spring fed.

Although many people stay on the river through the Thanksgiving holiday and following weekend, the fishing may prove to be tough. If you are a fly fisher, and you must go fly-fishing or go insane, then pack the darker color patterns. My favorite is a rust brown - fish brown in brown water.

Even though it is trout season I'm constantly thinking about carp. Today, after work, I decided to check Rock Creek to see how the rain changed this prairie ocean current. Much to my surprise the rain did little to disturb the color or flow of the creek. While standing on a high bluff looking down at the creek, riffles caught my eye. Directly below was some really nice carp feeding against the bank. I say really nice - they were like sows.

Figuring they needed their picture taken, I rushed back to the schooner and grabbed the memory maker.

Oh grand and golden ones, sweet beasts - I will visit you this spring. You should expect a visit from Charlie also.

Chapter 58 Day 21 - Trout Season

2011-11-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

To Overline Or Not To Overline - Is That Really The Question?

If we ask a broad spectrum of the fly fishing community including fly casting experts, line manufacturers, and rod makers about the wisdom of underlining or over-lining our rods, the answer we will most likely get is that it's best to put the appropriate weight line on the appropriate weight rod.

In other words, a five weight rod should receive a five weight line. However, these days, we see even the line manufacturers challenging that concept. Line manufacturers like Scientific Anglers have created a line of fly line that is not exactly what it says it is. SA has a series that is slightly more than the box tells us - it's labeled a five weight, for example, but, is actually a 5.5 weight. To me, and I have been wrong more often than not, that's over-lining.

This past weekend on Blue River an over-lined rod went with me. I could not have been more pleased with the performance of this rod and line. And, the fish didn't seem to mind either.

The rod in question was one of the two Cabela's Three Fork rods that Charlie recently gifted me. No doubt, they are a little bit on the stiff side and rather fast. By over-lining, the rod was slowed just a bit, causing a bit more flex and the delivery was really nice.

Charlie was the one that suggested I over-line these rods and that's because Charlie has had a long history of rods, weighing fly lines for grains and all that whoopy-do stuff. Charlie knows what he is talking about.

There are guys out there that do nothing but cast fly rods and they are indeed good at it. That kind of thing doesn't interest me at all however. Just can't see myself in some competition casting on a landlocked area or in some casting pool where there are no fish.

The argument, or intellectual discussion, I should say, will go on and on for years. Some will say it's perfectly fine to over-line while others will rant as why it should never be done.

For me, it's quite simple. The fish could care less if we over-line, use the appropriate weight, or even if we under-line. It's not like they're down there in the water column and suddenly say, "Hey guys, get a load of this! This joker has a 9 ft. 4 weight and he's got 5 weight line on it!"

No, that conversation in the trout community will never take place. All the trout will be interested in is that natural drifting pheasant tail nymph floating my their head.

Chomp!

There is more to fly fishing than capturing fish - much more. However, if most of us are honest about it, we do like battling the fish the most.

Resting my case.

Chapter 58 Day 20 - Trout Season

2011-11-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

Dependability

It wasn't too long ago I asked Carol why in the world she married me? Was it because she found me charming, charitable with my meager funds, or just simply drop-dead good-looking?

Carol... doesn't mince her words and quickly informed me she married me for none of the reasons I mentioned, but, rather for the fact I was dependable and she knew she could always count on me.

In our fly fishing lives there are certain fly patterns that we usually know we can always count on to produce. That's dependability.

Yesterday morning on the river Blue at 9:30 a.m. it was 65 degrees. This morning on the river at 9:30 a.m. it was 45 degrees with a noticeable breeze and a little mist. Since the Prince Nymph did so well yesterday I tied him on again went to the exact same spot as yesterday. Today however, it was a totally different story. I don't know if the trout got wise to ol' Princey boy or what, but, he couldn't have bribed a fish today.

After giving him ten or so runs the decision to go to plan B was put into effect. Some of the patterns that I've always been able to count on are the Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail, and the venerable Bugger. The Bugger went on and the fish started coming my way.

There are still a lot of campers at Blue River, but, the crowds on the water were much thinner today. I didn't have long to stay because of things to be done at the prairie home.

On the way in to the river this morning I saw two deer hunters dragging a deer from the woods. Guess their day was made. It is hunting season at Blue and there were probably a half dozen hunters in the woods on the road going in.

On the way back to the prairie home I got to shoot some deer of my own. Shot em' with a Fuji Finepix.

Chapter 58 Day 19 - Trout Season

2011-11-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

An Improving River
Blue River is trying desperately to return to the color and complexion that many of us consider normal. This morning the river had improved immensely and is now what I call a tannin color. It's my opinion the river is tannin-colored because of the muddy conditions caused by the big rain ten days ago, along with the runoff capturing much of the burned debris from the wildfire in the north wilderness. Then if we add the hundreds of thousands of leaves that have found their way to the river we get tannin.

If you are a fly fisher and sought out the shallow runs this morning at Blue, the river could have been very rewarding to you... as it was to me.

I went downstream and found a shallow run and tied an olive bodied bugger with a bi-color tail of olive and yellow on the tippet. The trout liked it. Then I switched to the red ass bugger, which has been the talk of the river lately, and again the trout liked it. However, my best friend of this morning's outing would be a size 14 Prince Nymph. Ol' Princey boy produced a lot of trout.

There were a lot of people on the river today - a lot of people. I guess they were thinking the same way I was, which was to take advantage of the 65 degree weather and try and get some good fishing time in before the big rain comes late tomorrow - a rain that is sure to blow the river again.

After catching so many fish in one spot I tend to get a little bored so leaving the downstream water a course is set upstream to the water below the Crossing. Here there are fly fishers, spinner fishers, and bait fisherman.

I stand in the river a good thirty minutes intently watching the other anglers. With the exception of one spinner fisherman who caught one trout while I was there, no one else caught any fish. When I first stepped in the river I tied on the Olive Zonker Minnow I spoke of recently. Casting it upstream and panic stripping it back, a trout absolutely slammed the Minnow. I got a hook set, but after about twenty seconds it was the old quick release and the trout said, "Goodbye cowboy."

Then, tying on the red ass bugger I found the only trout I would catch at this particular spot. It was near noon now and my prairie home called.

If making the river is possible tomorrow, think I will give Bubble Boy a run to see how he does.

Today was a rewarding and beautiful day on the river Blue. I give thanks and return to the bunkhouse.

Chapter 58 Day 18 - Trout Season

2011-11-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

So Far Away From Me

Thirsty... so thirsty. Not for a drink of water, but rather for water to fish. Water so near but I cannot seem to get there.

Michael Mercurio sent a message to me and Charlie too that he was coming up today to fish the catch & release area. He said he could use some company and Michael makes for wonderful company, but, Charlie was busy at his inn and I was tied to the mercantile store. The water escaped both Charlie and I today. Hoping Michael had a bang-up outing.

There is this weekend however and from what I am hearing it is go now or wait a long time. Anyone that is hoping to battle the trout of Blue River better do so this weekend or be prepared to wait for things to get better. The fore-sayers of the weather are predicting that we will receive four inches of rain come Monday or Tuesday. If that indeed takes place then Blue River is going to be a mess for the rest of November and into early December.

Even though the river is still murky and the wind is predicted to howl tomorrow, I have to go see the princess of the prairie and drown a fly or two.

Last trout season, near this time, I tied up a pattern called the Bubble Boy Soft Hackle and took it to Blue with me. On it's maiden voyage it caught trout and then caught more trout. But then... a shipwreck - the fly slamming into a submerged boulder and Bubbly Boy was lost at sea. I only tied one of this pattern and never tied another last season.

Tonight, I tied another Bubble Boy and Bubble Boy Jr. to go with it.

The Bubble Boy requires few materials - a gold beadhead, partridge feather, glass bead behind the partridge and dubbed body.

I may invite these two to go with the river with me tomorrow and if so they will get to taste the stew.

Also tomorrow, I am hopeful to find some clear fast riffles to try my hand at a little Euro nymphing leaving the indicators in the package where they belong.