Bucket List

First off I have some fishing friends out there who in my book are more deserving of this honor than I am.  Mitch, Chris, Dave, and especially Ryan without you guys I would have never picked up a fly rod or I would have without a doubt put them down a long long time ago.  (I LOVE YOU WIFE.)  Those relationships and memories are what life in general and especially this sport is all about…Catching something is just a bonus.

I don’t have a “Bucket List” but I do have a mental notepad full of fishing related desires.  One of the things not on that list is now at the tip-pity-top, with a big X scratched threw it.  To have a photo of myself on the cover of a fly fishing magazine was all but unthinkable until a few weeks ago when a phone call from Kent broke the news.  It wasn’t until a few days ago that I got to see it for myself.  If the picture was on the last page of south pole fly fishing magazine buried in a collage of hundreds of pictures that would have been fine by me.  But thanks to Louis Cahill’s master Yoda  photography skills and Kent Klewein’s coaching, I find myself gracing the cover of and a 2 page contents spread in Trout Magazine.

I am beyond excited and humbly thankful to the guys over at Gink and Gasoline, they are a BLAST to fish with.  I’m not sure what exactly you have to do in order to deserve such a thing.  I, not so simply, found myself in the right place at the right time, with the right people.  I mean come on look at this guy a Loop jacket, Simms beanie, Redington waders, Korkers boots, Sage Reel, G-Loomis rod and a fishpond backpack I am a branding nightmare holding a fish that could have been easily swallowed by some of the monsters we caught in that river.  Some fancy company didn’t send us there to shoot pictures, just a group of guys out fishing, although one of us just happened to be a successful wizard with a camera.  Which is why I think this picture looks truly F^&#ing awesome.  Anyone who thinks fly fishing is not a sport should go and park themselves in western New York, smack dab in the middle of a December freeze for 5 days of Steelhead fishing with a  long rod.  The cold was indescribable, everything froze.  I literally had to crawl into the shower just to break free from the ice in order to get out of my boots and waders.  All of this is why that trip deserved the most amazing pictures I have ever seen.

More pictures from this trip last year and this years trip which wrapped yesterday will continue to trickle out from time to time.  Here are a few from last year that the Gink and Gasoline guys have put out.  As you can see Trout Magazine chose their pictures for their needs.  My favorite from the group below is Kents giant Steelhead grip and grin from up at the dam.  Not that I’m arguing with their choice!!!

Purification

How can something so dirty, smelly, foul, rancid, putrid, ripe, so downright awful make you feel so much better?  1 word TROUT….ok 2 words WILD TROUT…….maybe 3  BIG FEROCIOUS WILD TROUT!!!!! (ok that was 4 words).  Another successful fishing trip is in the books.  Wasn’t a huge numbered 2 days as compared to previous trips, although I won’t complain about a 50 + fish 2-day trip.  This was one of those trips where on occasion I found myself saying this is F-ing awesome. 

Day one found me on the stream around noon-ish looking at great flows, higher than the norm but a pleasant sight to see since this stream has epic nymphing/streaming potential.  After a closer inspection it did have a little greyish hue to it, which is not uncommon for this stream after a good rain.  The CFS had been on the downslope for 5 days now so why it was still cloudy is beyond me and it was not something I had planned on dealing with.  Usually that color means this stream is shut down.  Now one assumes the color is because the all of the ground in Wv feels like a saturated sponge causing a lot of runoff still coming into the stream.  The day started off a little slow, I think because of my desire to nymph.  Once I tossed aside the nymph rod hit my stride on slinging streamers it was GAME ON!!!!!  Every fish I caught day one had a big fat full belly.  I had one brown came out of the water after a fly that was so fat he just belly-flopped on the surface instead of that smooth swing and a miss roll back into the water (if I caught around 50 in 2 days I bet I had twice as many swings and misses).

As you can see from the rocks on the wall this isn't the first spewage to be dumped into the stream. Maybe it's their version of hatchery feedings.

I really have no idea what happened to this picture.

Another WMD victim.

The next stage of my trip I found myself contemplating where to sleep.  My choices were to either make the 40 minute hop over the mountain and stay in a nice hotel with breakfast.  Stay 10 minutes down the road in a shit hole that I have personally vomited in and know of at least one other that has done the same.  Or, since I brought my sleeping bag, camp out in the back of my car in the Wal-Mart parking lot.  I chose the latter.  Why?  Well….I’m cheap and it’s not that I’m strapped for cash it’s just the principle of the fact that I know I can sleep perfectly fine in the car.  It’s cool outside, I’m dog tired and probably could have slept under a bridge (which I don’t recommend).  My wife was in Canada and with her upcoming trip to Italy we had planned practicing how or if Skype would work so I needed to stay close to a WiFi source (thanks Wal-Mart for making your password so easy to figure out).  So despite my parents and wifes approval I spent the night sprawled out in the back of the Prius with my sleeping bag and blow-up pad in the Wal-Mart parking lot.  Slept like a baby after getting off the boob that had just been burped.     

Is that a Tarpon Fly in your mouth? I think so.

After getting micky-D’s breakfast I hit up a stretch of water that I have nicknamed Raul’s Miracle Mile (much more than a mile).  Last November Ryan managed something like 200 fish in 2 days of fishing this section with quite a few being over 16 inches and a few pushing the 22-24 inch limit.  So Ryan when that train full of bad karma finally smashes into you we will be sure to have this section of stream dedicated to your glory’s.  Thankfully the water had cleared about 50% and dropped about 6 inches so it was NYMPHING TIME!!!  After 3 days on the South Holston and Watauga rivers then my first day on this trip throwing streamers was getting old.  Plus my arm and wrist were starting to feel the effects.  Within 15 minutes I managed to pick up several fish.  When the bite cooled off I switched over to the meat rod and swung a WMD through a few zones .  I picked up a nice kyped up male that was sitting about 10 feet downstream directly to my left (rookie mistake not letting my flies completely swing out).  The next 7 hours basically played out like this.  Nymphing for a while until the bite stopped, switch rods and bounce a streamer, then move upstream and repeat.  The last hole of the day turned out to be the best.  After switching to the streamer rod, which I think at this point had a white/red muddy buddy on it, I had a massive rainbow come from the bottom and completely circle my fly.  One of those hold your beath mind blanking WFT misses.   He, which turned out to be a she, did this about 3 more times, each time a little less aggressive.  So I switched flys….olive muddy buddy….WMD….Black Muddy Buddy…..Orange/Yellow Tarpon fly, Yellow Muddy buddy, some angel hair pike fly.  Just before I decided to pack in up for the day I ended up tying on a 3-year-old fly that I got from where I have no idea.  I would describe it and show you all a picture but I think i’ll keep it to myself for a while.  Basically it was a black streamer with a REALLY heavy body.  1 cast and a slow strip is all it took and WHAM (an old school batman WHam SHazZam).  Great acrobatic fight with a short bulldog session and in the net she went.  Now I’m alone and it’s a bitch to photograph fish by yourself, especially a big fish.  The mark I made on the net later taped out at 24-26 inches but without a good picture I guess I have to go with a lower number like 22 since I have no evidence.  Regardless of its size a great fish.

Why would you walk down this road? A. To buy something illegal. B. To brush up on your arson skills. C. To get to the car quicker in order to fish longer. D. All the above.

 

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Not So Secret..Secret Weapon

Freshly Tied SteelHead Crack ready For Sale.

Yes he CAN fish also.

1st Steel on the Spey

The Hulk with another Large Specimen.

Carp Sessions

When Holiday weekends roll around, I usually sit around drinking beer, sometimes I catchup on household choirs, or I loaf in the sun at the lake property. However this past Sunday (might I note it was a holiday weekend) my amigo Matt called and invited me carping, so against my better judgement (fishing on a holiday weekend) I grabbed my gear and hit the road to “Lago Carpachino”. As usual, Bojangles was a little slow on the cajun fillets, so I was a few minutes late to the party. Matt and his friend Paul had already launched the skiff and were already stalking some fish when I pulled up.

The morning started off slow and  there were a few shots here and there, since the sun was still low on the horizon visibility wasn’t the greatest. As the sun burned off the morning dew we were able to spot some feeding fish. As usual, we would line them, make a sudden move, miss a take, and so on. Blown shots are part of the sight fishing game, and when it all comes together you are usually rewarded with some sot of visual stimulation like a vicious take, or screaming run. Carp favor the redfish in many ways, but  they will refuse a fly just like a permit or bone.

Matt tried his hand first, and didn’t have the best luck (although he wasn’t given the best shots). I tried my hand next, and struck out on a few fish. After a few blown shots, Paul spotted a small pod feeding off a shallow point near an overhanging tree. I made several casts only to have the fish I was targeting turn the other way. I decide to target another feeder, so I placed the fly directly in his path and made a couple of small strips. The fish seemed interested, when all of a sudden another carp came from shadow of the tree and snatched my fly ! I quickly strip set, and played the fish to open water. While he wasn’t a 10 pounder, he was definitely a worthy fish. After a few hard runs I brought him to the boat, snapped some pics, and released him.

Matt was up again, so we head to another flat and quickly spot feeding fish. Matt lays out a nice cast and a large carp eats his fly, Matt strip sets like Bill Dance sets a hook, and after a violent head shake the carp swims off with a new lip piercing. Several more casts, several more eats, and no fish to hand. I was feeling bad for Matt, he hasn’t really fished much this year, so he had some rust to work out. Since it was approaching lunch time, we headed back to the ramp because Paul had to leave. We grabbed our gear, told Paul good-bye  and  headed to prep Matt’s boat for launch.

About 15 minutes later we were back on the water in Matt’s boat heading for another flat. Once on the flat I crawled up on the poling platform and started scanning for fish. As I poled the boat across the flat a few mudding carp were spotted, but the carp seemed to spook before Matt could cast to them. We weren’t having much luck, so we decided to head to another flat. When I was poling out, Matt spotted three carp cruising near shore. He made a quick cast and it was “Fish On”. Matt’s carp made several runs before coming to net. Again not a huge carp, but a worthy specimen nonetheless .

With a couple carp to boat, numerous shots and eats, it was time t call it a day. The holiday hoards had officially converged on the lake and it was asshole to elbow with jet skis, ski boats, etc!

Ryan

HardKor

Article Stolen from KORKERS.

Capt. Kent Klewein

 

Business Name (Outfitter, Lodge, Employer): Reel Job Fishing, LLC

Website or Blog address: www.kent-klewein.com and www.kent-klewein.com/georgia-fly-fishing-blog

Number of years guiding: Nine

Number of days on the river: 125-150+

Favorite river(s): Noontootla Creek, Toccoa River, Yampa River, Green River, Roaring Fork, South Holston, Watauga River, Gros Ventre

Favorite fly and why: Mouse Pattern because you know it’s almost always going to be a big fish that eats, and the takes are freaking awesome. How can you not enjoy V-wakes behind your fly, toilet bowl flushes, and explosive strikes, come on right?

What KORKERS product do you wear?: Korkers Guide Boot and Predator Wading Boot. The BOA Lacing System is the BOMB! Clients also wear Streamborn Korkers Boots with the Predator and Guide Boots. Korkers are used exclusively for us and our clients. Why?, because they’re honestly the best boots on the market.

What one item would you never head to the river without?:Well I once forgot my wading boots fishing out in Montana on a chilly 5 degree day, and had to wear my Justin boots. That sucked. But I’d be in a world of pain if I forgot my floatant and nippers.

Favorite music to take along: Ryan Bingham, 311, honestly I really need my ipod with all my beats. I’m one of those guys who likes just about any kind of music.

Your most comical fishing memory/story: Trailering a duct-taped up rental drift-boat that required constant bailing with a giant U-haul truck out in Wyoming for a week in 2009. Boy, did we get some funny looks. Just about everything went wrong that trip, but we did still get into some pretty killer fishing and landed some trophy trout. Did I mention we almost got struck by lightning as well. Tingling fingers was the first for me and hopefully the last.

Interesting Facts (fishing or non-fishing): Decided to be a fishing guide when I was ten years old. Once used a chain-saw to defend myself from Brown bears in Alaska. When I’m not on the river you’ll find me bass fishing on our lakes. I’m a smallmouth bass junkie. I’d rather tie my fly patterns than buy them. I like to fish different variations than the same old flies in the bins at the local fly shop.

Catch you’re most proud of: Toccoa River, 26” Wild Brown Trout taken on a mouse pattern. It’s really hard to pin-point one catch that I’m most proud of, but the take from this brown trout looked like a cruise missile launching from a submarine and I’ll never forget that memory.

Favorite type of fishing ( Steelhead – Salmon – Trout): Trout

Other Hobbies: Camping, Hiking, Fly Tying, Hunting

HE FORGOT TO MENTION HE SOLD HIS SOLE TO BENT ROD MEDIA

North Branch Part Deux

Every year we head North to the Maryland , West Virginia line to fish the North Branch Potomac tail water. Last year was a banner trip, lots of fish, and numerous fish landed over 20 inches. This year was another story,well at least the first part of the trip.

Last years pics !

Number 2 within 20 mins !

After working all day on thursday, I loaded the truck, and hit the road. One Redbull and a 5 Hour Energy shot and I was hopping. It was the longest 7 hours of my life, my body was tired, but my eyes were wide open from all the energy supplements.  I wheeled into the Savage River State Forest and set up camp around 6 in the morning. Murph, Mitch and Jeff (aka Shawn) wheeled in shortly after I did.

I had a quick pepperoni roll breakfast along with a redbull and I was set. We launched the boats , run shuttle, etc and were fishing by 9:30.

Evidently WV had just stocked the put and take section above the Catch and Release section, cause the hoards had converged on that section of river. It was a sight!

What a Pussy! Nice day on the river and he is sick!

On to the fishing, or lack of good fishing. It was a killer day weather wise, 80 plus degrees, sunny, bluebird skies, but the fish were hunkered down. I managed a few fish, but the one that stuck out in my mind was the Cutthroat I landed after lunch.

Murphy seemed to have the hot fly for the day, because he was catching three fish to my one. Mitch was sick and slept through most of the float. Jeff kept changing flies until Murphy graciously gave him one of the special flies he used to rake fish. I reverted to the streamer game and had many follows and missed strikes, but none seemed to want to commit.  So needless to say, Friday wasn’t a banner day. But we were on the water and that is what counts.

Saturday we fished the section Below Westernport where the dirty water discharge from the paper plant stains the river. Our amigo Otto had joined us for the remainder of the weekend. Jeff left earlier that Morning and Murphy left for Florida the night before (might I add Murphy is a giant D-bag for bailing on the rest of the weekend).  According to some this section of river holds the biggest fish. But man its an ugly float for the most part. A difference of daylight and dark when you compare it to the upper section we floated Friday. Anyways, the fishing was steady, and a lot better than Friday. Most fish were cookie cutters, a few 14 inchers, and one lost 16+, and a few bass in the mix. We found the flashier the fly the better.

We floated for about 8 hours, wading and exploring some side channels along the way. After the float Mitch decided to call it a day early and head home. Otto and I returned to camp for some dinner and beer. Shortly after we get back Otto found some fresh Morrell’s that had taken up residence under a tree near our tents. We threw together some fired potatoes and deer back strap for dinner, drank some beer and watch the fire. Shortly after polishing off some beer a MD DNR officer showed up. He was checking   see if we had paid the camping fees and to inform us that Maryland had just passed a law starting in 2010 regarding the possession of Alcohol on State lands. Well this was new to us, and since we were from out-of-town and the law just went into effect. he let us off with a warning. I will say he was a rely nice guy, and he filled us in on some really good fishing spots.

Sunday we awoke to cloudy skies and fog. It had rained during the night. We packed up camp ate some pop tarts and headed back to float the Barnum section, and get some redemption on the fish that had eluded us on Friday”s float. After dropping a truck at the takeout, we arrived at the put in just as the rain started back. There was a dense fog blanketing the river as well. We launched and worked our way down to the C and R section. It seemed like a great fishing day. Cool temps, a light rain, and a little fog cover. As soon as we anchored I nailed two fish and lost two more. This continued for the next several holes. The fish were definitely eager to eat. At one point I watched a nice bow come up and eat on the surface and return to the depths. One cast later he ate my nymph and gave up a hell of a fight.  Otto was nailing an equal amount of fish as well. he was drifting a crawdad pattern along rock ledges and was cleaning house. My only question at this point was ” Where the hell were these fish on Friday”, it seemed like a totally different river.

Poor critter didn't make it across!

As it neared lunch time we pulled the boat off at a killer wading spot to fish and eat. We decided to wade out and fish for a few. After a few casts I hear Otto holler big fish, so I made a mad dash for the boat to retrieve the net and stumble down to him. Sure enough it was a big fish, and she had no plans of giving up. After slipping and sliding to get down river and sneak up on this slab I was able to net her. We snapped a few pics and Otto released her unharmed.

On my way to fish a side channel, and I am confronted by this pissed off goose!

The rest of the day we floated drank some beer, and slapped streamers.  Knowing I had a 7 hour drive back, we decided to call it a day at 4:30.

Ryan