Slinging Streamers In Solitude

It was thirty-eight degrees when I stepped out of the prairie schooner this morning to line my rod. At 7:15 this morning I arrived at the cow pen or horse corral or whatever it is on my way to the delayed harvest catch and release area on the upper end of Blue River. Today's trip would be only my third since this area's inception and only my second chance to actually fish it.

As I tied on the barb-less bugger I suddenly realized that I had dressed quite lightly for the early morning chill but figured the walk would warm me up a bit. I struck out.

Along the trail I begin noticing the planting fields that Matt and his crew have established. They are plowed areas that look to be planted in a winter grass....quite green actually. I passed one, then the second one, and as I strolled past the third something big and black caught the corner of my eye. My first thought was, "What's a cow doing up here?" However, it wasn't a cow...it was one big ass black wild hog. Now, when I say big ass hog I'm not exaggerating. This hog had to go three hundred pounds! I was about one hundred yards up trail from hog so I grabbed my camera wanting a "close-up" but I was as close as I dared to get. I snapped the picture and as I was looking at hog, hog was looking at me so I decided it was best to head up the trail. As I walked up trail, often turning to see where hog was, I kept watching for trees I could scale and I guarantee you there wasn't a single tree I couldn't scale in short order if ole hog had came my way. And...I would have scaled yon tree in world record time.

I've never been a hunter but if I ever start I'll hunt wild hogs. There are a load of them around this country and they absolutely tear up jack wherever they decide too.

As I continued to walk my hands started to sting some so I kept changing rod carrying hands and sticking my free hand inside my waders next to the ole beer paunch which I have come by quite honestly by purpose.

Another ten minutes or so I arrive at the Catch & Release Area proper. I am looking for a particular spot...one that Donny Carter had sent me a picture of a couple of days prior. After fumbling and stumbling around for thirty minutes or so I find that sweet spot and cast a line. I missed the first three, four, or five strikes but then land a fat and fiesty bow. I have to tell ya guys, these bows have shoulders. The highlight of my day would come with my third bow and this fellar was a golden. She was a beautiful little fish and as I tried to ease my camera out of the waders while holding the golden at the edge of the falls she slipped off that barb-less hook. Adieu pretty golden girl.

I would end up staying in the Catch & Release area about an hour and a half and manage a dozen or so healthy bows. The wind was as still as a mill pond early but as the forecasters predicted the Gods of blow raised their voices and the leaves started falling into the mirror of reflection they had dangled for so long. It was time for me to go.

I decided to go see Scotty and how he was motivating and then visit sweet Seventeen in the campground area. Upon arriving at Seventeen I was somewhat taken back because this is as poorly as I have ever seen this little pool. I saw outcrops of rocks that I had never seen before and took some pictures just so I could remember this particular experience. Shortly after wading into Seventeen it became apparent she was void of trout. With my sunglasses I could see every single pocket and pool and there simply wasn't any trout holding. It was almost noon and I decided to return home to await a better day to court Seventeen. Today was the first time visiting her since I lost my pal Smokey and he was heavy on my mind.

It was a good day. I was able to sling streamers in solitude at the Catch & Release and my entire time there I was the sole fisherman. I did meet three gentlemen from Texas on the way out and they asked, "How's the water upstream?" I simply replied, "You'll have fun."

I hope they did.

Get-Together and Brethen Of The Big Ass Campfire Bullshiters

The Blue River Fly-Fishers gathered on November 1st, 2008 for a most delightful get-together along the banks of Lady Blue.

Actually, this meeting had been in plans for a couple of months and came to gain some reality last Tuesday when Ralph Fullenwider pulled the Ruff Diamond into the parking lot of Blue River. Ralph had come early to secure the group a spot and ole Ralph did just that by getting the beautiful camping area known as Area 2. Yours truly got to the river proper on Thursday pitching the tent and making a second run for more camping stuff. Chris Adams arrived soon afterwards but found himself having to return to Denison to take care of some business matters. Ralph F. held his post while everyone else was busy trying to get to the river.

On Friday, Chris returned to the river as I, and by that time Ralph James and Larry Simpson had arrived. At 2 p.m. on the dot, as he said he would, Vernon Forrester arrived with his vast array of Dutch Ovens. Later that afternoon David Dillow and his furry friend Bree sailed into the river with a pickup load of firewood that certainly proved to be the fodder for the forming of the Circle of Big Ass Campfire Bullshiters Conclave.

Now, this Circle of Brethen Bullshiters came about sometime in the Friday p.m. and if I remember correctly there was David Dillow, Larry Simpson, Chris Adams, Vernon Forrester, Ralph Fullenwider, Harold Beck, Carol Radford, myself, Bree, Blue, and then there was Ralph James who decided to hold high court in this Circle of stories from years past and unbelievable events. As the bullshit got thicker I kept watching for incoming vehicles because we were expecting Jeff Joseph to arrive from Prosper, Texas at 8 p.m. Turns out Jeff was running a little late and arrived at 9 p.m. with son Ben in tow. Hey...if you haven't met these two guys you are in for a treat. Jeff and Ben are two of the most delightful guys you'll ever meet on Blue River. And, with the arrival of Jeff and Ben the "Circle" grew and the bullshit got deeper. Soon thereafter, Laura Adams would arrive to join Chris and Laura was somewhat tired after putting in one of those long days at Mom's Bakery in Dension. Miss Carol was delighted to see Laura since she had been the only girl subject to the bullshiter's onslaught and being "just one of the guys". But, on a personal note Miss Carol sends a message to all the hairy leg guys of the conclave and Miss Carol loves spending time with all of you.

It must have been around midnight when the bullshit just got too deep and some of us found ourselves troubled in the wading so we started phasing the cirlce out and retiring to our campsites for the night. Now, I really know how it came about but somehow I seemed to be appointed "keeper" of the flame of the conclave of bullshiters and I tried to step up to that task dutifully by burning half that rick of wood David had delivered.

After about four hours of sleep I awoke to see the familar flickering of our Circle fire and my immediate thought was that David Dillow had arose early and had the fire continuing. It was four a.m. Saturday morning and I rolled my ole butt off the air mattress and donned by campfire perfumed jeans and shirt to join David. Well, David was still sound asleep...the campfire had continue to burn all night on it's own which seem to send some kind of almost divine message to me that said..."Keep the Circle of Bullshiter's Fire Going". So, I did...burning about another quarter of a rick of wood.

Daylight comes. With the announcement of opening day I am in my waders, rod in tow, headed for the crossing at Area 1. I am so rusty, not having made a cast in four months, I forget all kinds of essesntial things like tippet, but I am called by the flats below the island. I arrive at the stepping off point just above the island and find another angler in wait. I politely ask him if he prefers to fish the ledge and he quickly answers yes and I respond by telling him I will go downstream from him. He seems to indicate okay but doesn't move out of my way so I step around him and take one step into Lady Blue. Now, it's been several months since I've been to visit the Lady and she has reason to be mad at me...and I guess she was. With that first step, she trips me and I fall face first into her pleasures. I break my precious TFO. Pretty much that does my weekend as far as fly-fishing seriously and looking back at it now I think it was a good thing. Sometimes I think I put too much on fly-fishing itself and not enough on the overall fly-fishing experience such as friendship with my brethen and sisterhood of the angle. Well, I got a good good measure of that experience this weekend and it was fantastic.

Back at the meeting place it was time to break out the Dutch Ovens. I had planned on cooking along with several others. Vernon Forrester come prepared to really cook and Vernon had four or five Dutch Ovens going on at once which is a task for two people. But, Ralph Fullenwider came to the aid of Vernon and Ralph proved to be one heck of a campfire cook's helper. Speaking of Ralph, and you have yet to meet him, uh...one of the first things he'll tell you is that he's hard to get along with. I think this is one prime example of why he fit in so well in the Circle Of Big Ass Campfire Bullshiters Conclave. Ralph F....is a sweetheart of a guy.

Soon, other cooks started filing in like Donny and Linda Carter, Kent Wohler (wow...this guy's an artist with the Dutch), Kevin Harris, Harold Beck's lady friends, and on and on and on. Chris Adams had his smoker going all weekend and offered up pork loin on Friday night and brisket Saturday. Jeff Joseph brought chili, I fixed chili, and I think Kent made a chili dish...lots of dang chili. Harold Beck made appetizers with stuffed Jalapeno's, Vernon made some very special biscuits, cornbread was offered up and the rage I kept on hearing about was the oatmeal pie which I did not get to partake in...dog-gone it!

During lunch, we held the raffle and silent auctions and what a hoot that turned out to be. Our group is so giving it should speak volumes for the individuality that can exist as self but step up to a part of an overall greater effort. For offering we had Larry Horton's carving, Lane Kregel's handmade knife, Robert Murphy's pontoon boat, and Ralph James ole grey flies.

Folks, in less than two hours we raised $450.00 for the Wildlife Department and Blue River. After lunch, Matt Gambel was on stage in the woods and he ansered questions from a good number of the group. Matt also praised the group for being so active in the future of Blue River which should make us all feel pretty darn good.

Fishing for the most part started off slow but the ole seasoned veteran's got into their niche's later in the day. Donn "The Donn" Riss found his niche down at the ledge above the crossing catching untold numbers of bows. Chris Adams and Robert Murphy also found some honey-holes and had a ton of fun playing with the bows. And, then there was Cody.

Cody is the young fly-fisher on Blue River that everyone and their dogs, cats, and parakeet knows. He's a dandy shining example of a young man and evidently he is quite focused. Cody caught 118 bows on Saturday. Now...that should make a grown man cry...and it did. Haven't cried like that in years.

And in closing I'll say thank goodness for the Blue River Fly-Fishers. I know very well, without the wonderful friendships I have gained through this group, my life would be lacking. Lacking and wanting for what I have now...some delightful friendships with very good and caring people.

And besides that...I wouldn't be a part of the Circle Of The Brethen Of The Big Ass Campfire Bullshiters Conclave. I mean...that will look damn good on a resume'.

The Motley Crew

A Chance For A Wonderful Artwork

Texas Fly-fisher Larry Horton is a wonderful wildlife artist specializing in hand carved wooden artworks about one of our favored species - trout. Pictured above is one of Larry's latest creations the Cutbow.

Larry is offering this beautiful piece to be raffled to raise money for the Blue River Fly Fishers so they can donate all the proceeds to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. The funds will be used in support of the Delayed Harvest Trout Area at Blue River, Oklahoma. One hundred percent of the funds raised by this raffle will go directly to the Wildlife Department.

The raffle is open until 1 p.m. on November 1st, 2008. The drawing will be held on Blue River at the gathering of the Blue River Fly Fishers. You do not have to be present to win. If you would like to enter this raffle by mail then mail your $10.00 check or money order payable to Barry Shrader to the following address.

Barry Shrader
700 E. Wynnewood
Sulphur, OK 73086

Barry will be responsible for keeping a log of all entries alongside double numbered raffle tickets. All funds collected through November 1st will be kept by Barry until the drawing and then turned over to the Wildlife Department. As soon as possible after November 1st, Barry will make a public posting of all entrants and funds received.

This is a chance to win a wonderful work of art and help Blue River along with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

Hard Goodbye To A Good Friend

I lost my best friend today and yes he was a dog.

It's a funny thing about dogs. They tend to be better friends than most people...at least that has been my experience in life. Dogs are not judgemental, critical or hurtful, and they never try to screw you around. I honestly don't know if I can say that about all the people I've known in life that said they were my friend. Dogs are always forgiving and the one thing they want to do along your side is simply to love you.

Probably the worst thing a dog can do is crap in the floor and that's probably our fault to begin with due to our busy schedule and not being in tune with the animals needs.

My trout scout Smokey died today from cancer, mutiple tumors in his lungs. It seemed to happen rather sudden beginning this past Friday. His doctor told me this past Monday that it was either a heart valve or a tumor. He suggested we treat the heart valve and remove the fluid from around Smokey's heart and lungs and therefore that is what took place. But, Smokey only grew worse struggling more and more the ensuing two days of Tuesday and today. I took Smokey back to the doctor and another x-ray revealed the tumors, that were more easily seen since the fluid had been removed from his lungs.

Being God-like is a job only for God but I couldn't wait for that divine wisdom, which none of us truly understand, so I let Smokey go.

My decision today was one of the hardest I've ever made.

I'm no stranger to the face of cancer. I lost Susie to cancer and Smokey was one of my last connections of Susie's and my life together. Smokey and I had a wonderful loving life with my Ann. I guess you could say that Smokey and I were very lucky to experience some wonderful loves in our lives but now I have lost him.

I could tell you that I don't know which, the loss of my friend, the fact he had cancer, or me making a God-like decision, is bringing the most tears to my eyes. But if told you I don't know which it is, I would be telling you a lie.

It's the loss of my friend. My very good friend.

True Blue

As part of my annual trout season ritual, I traveled to Lady Blue the day before official trout season ended. I went not so much to battle and capture the bows but rather to say so-long to their tribe. I knew that their numbers along with their days of life were diminshing.

So I plopped a fly into a seam and a connection with a beautiful little bow was mine to be. I brought the fish to hand, removed the hook and gave a message that he could take to the brethen and sisterhood.

I came today not just to say so-long to the bows but to see if the bronzebacks had become active and I didn't prove that to any extent. However, shortly after arriving I did capture one fat little smallie. Now, less than an hour with Blue I had one bow and one bronzeback and somehow I felt totally satisfied...so I quit fishing.

I went downstream to Seventeen because not only is it my favorite place to caress this beautiful little lady, it is the place I alway judge her health and today she looked quite vibrant. Both the flow and level of Blue was up. The level of the river at Seventeen was half way up on Sam's Rock which is something I haven't seen in quite awhile. Although she looked quite healthy today she is still not the river she was in 1981 or even 2000. But, she was more lovely than in the recent past when drought has caused her to look distressed.

While at Seventeen I gave myself time to reflect and ponder a question that has been on my mind. The question is simply whether I am more of a fly-fisher or just a man that loves a special little river, or perhaps a mixture of a little of both. That question still remains unanswered for me, however there is one thing I know that may answer it for anyone else.

If someone approached me and made me an offer of fly-fishing anywhere in the world at anytime but I couldn't ever fly-fish Blue again...I would have to simply say "No thank you sir, I'll stay with Blue." Maybe the answer I look for is in that thought itself.

I guess it could be argued that I am true Blue. On the trout bum tourney in 2005 I fished some very wonderful water in other parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. But not once in the eleven day outing did I feel comfortable...you know...at home. I wasn't. We all have water we call our home waters and Blue is mine. It truly is the only place I care to fly-fish for trout and will always be such.

I hope that last bow I caught, the one with the message, will be my last bow this season. And I hope the bow will take my message to his kinship for the message simply was "Live at peace".

I think I will take another couple of weeks off from fly-fishing and reorganize my flies for the search for Smallies at Blue. I know that they are there and they await us who practice this science of love we call fly-fishing.

Barry

A Fisher For President

I use to catch trout here quite regularly but haven't battled one in this particular spot for six years now. You see, for the last six years this particular part of Blue River has been void of water. Void of water due to increasing demand by humankind resulting in more withdrawal from the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, along with a prolonged drought.

Our waters are truly diminishing. And, they are most likely diminishing quicker than we realize or want to acknowledge. The reason I am mentioning water in this post is because this is a Presidential election year.

For the most part I have a genuine distaste for politics. However, I do love the politics during a Presidential election. For me it's the best programming on the boob tube. Presidential politics is better than the greatest soap opera of all time and prove to be one grand circus act. But, with having said that, I honestly do pay close attention to what the candidates have to say.

In this Presidential election there are only three possible people that would be king...or queen as it is - Obama, Clinton, and McCain. So far in listening to all three they pretty much sound "samey". In other words they are telling us, the constituents, basically the same thing. All three seem to have a platform of the economy, national health care, national defense (or the war in Iraq), and energy independence. How disappointing! With all of those things I could include the word "stupid". It's the economy...stupid! It's national health care...stupid! It's national defense...stupid! It's energy independence (and I damn tired of paying through the nose for gasoline)...stupid!

So far I have yet to hear one of these candidates barely or perhaps not at all address the environment, natural resources, and then there is the subject of water.

I really don't get it - the fact that water, it's future use and management is so ignored, and hardly ever mentioned in the debates of these candidates in their seeking of such a prestiged and highly held office. I mean my goodness, don't they realize what an important role water plays in shaping of our economy? Health care? What the hell are we going to need national health care for if we all end up dying of thirst? National defense? I would think any country without water would certainly have the weakest national defense. Energy independence? We won't need it! Energy independence may very well fill our gas tanks but the last time I checked you can't drink, shower, or fish in gasoline!

I want to vote for someone for President this year so I decided to check out all three candidates in hopes of finding the slightest glimmer that one of them likes water or something associated with water. So I decided to go to Facebook and see what they listed as their interests.

On Facebook I checked Obama first. Now Obama lists his interests as basketball, writing, and loafing with his kids. Certainly nothing wrong with any of those things but I would hope to think a guy who has set fires in countless hearts across the nation...would be a little-bit more interesting. And...his interests didn't mention water so I take it he doesn't like to fish.

Now Hillary, in listing her interests on Facebook, includes going to movies, reading, and crosswords. Again, nothing at all wrong with those interests but no mention of water and she probably doesn't even know what a fish looks like.

So, that brought me to McCain and his profile on Facebook. Now, we all know that McCain has been labeled a "Maverick" and he seems to be a "Man's man". Under his interests he starts off with sports, hiking, fishing, and then boxing...wait a minute! What was that? Did McCain say fishing! He did, he did! John McCain, under his interests, listed fishing!

Glory be, shut my mouth, slap my grandma...we have a Presidential contender that likes to fish and I figure anyone that likes to fish has to like water or at least have a little concern for it.

I really wish McCain would have expounded on his interest in fishing. Hopefully he is not one of those "Buster wants to fish" type of guys...you know the kind that shows up with a coffee can full of worms with ole Rawhide in tow. The best case scenario would be that John McCain likes to fly-fish. My gosh...wouldn't it be a wonderful world then?

I going to vote for the next President and maybe it is for lack of a better reason but I'm voting for someone who likes to fish.

After John McCain is sworn into office I guess Obama can go back to playing basketball, writing, and loafing with his kids and Hillary can catch a movie, read a little, and do some crosswords.

And then...maybe President McCain will decide he wants to fish and show up at our little Blue River to angle.

Now won't that be a most welcomed and sweet kick in the ass?

Oklahoma's Lake Record Recognition Program

When the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife announced it's Lake Record Recognition Program, I greeted it with great excitement and enthusiasm. In my mind it was sheer genius! What angler wouldn't want their favored water or their own fishing ability to be recognized by the state wildlife agency?


Shortly after learning about the program I fired off an email suggesting the wildlife department consider expanding their program to cover rivers, streams, creeks, and small waterways.

I have yet to get a response.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Rainbow from the Illinois River recognized or a Brown from the Lower Mountain Fork showcased. And then...how about Lady Blue showing off a dan dan dandy Small mouth or Spotted Bass. Personally, I would like to see someone recognized for catching a two hand sized Sunfish from Rock Creek, the Glover River or some other small waterway.

I mean...wouldn't an overall fishery recognition program encourage us who already angle to angle somewhat more? And...wouldn't the fact of being recognized create a whole new generation of anglers when angling is on the decline?

I know very well that the Wildlife Departments program is in the pilot stage. My goodness, less than a month into it they had to place a lake into their "pilot" program, a lake not originally consider, because someone almost broke a state record by fishing this lake. In other words I know the Wildlife Department needs time to expand the program. But, if it's help they need...I figure it's readily available.

There are two main reasons for this writing. The first is that I truly believe our smaller waterways should be recognized and in doing so we will create more anglers. Secondly, I fully expected at least a courtesy response in reply to my email suggestion to the Wildlife Department.

I didn't get that, and thus I am making this post in hopes that anyone that feels the same will copy the link of this post and send it to the Wildlife Department. Perhaps, in the text box you can add, "Guys, you might really should consider this, since it might just help fishing overall".

My main argument is this. Oklahoma is very proud of it's lake fisheries and rightfully so. However, if our rivers, creeks, streams, and small waterways didn't exist...then neither would these lakes.

I'd like to see someone argue that point.