Pages

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Snowing

Click on photos for full size image.
The snow is coming down, but so far it's light. Just a nice touch up to the world.
The mountain is veiled until its Grand Re-Opening.


The rock face across the road is a study in contrast.


The dogs are celebrating their Husky heritage.


And the wading boots are still waiting forlornly in the pickup. Maybe it's time to put them away for awhile.

Basketball Report: Lost

Click on photos for full size image.
Both teams lost last night. They played a school from a town that has the reputation, true or not, of recruiting kids to their sports program by enticing families with talented kids to move there. I suppose that's the kind of rumor that gets started when they consistently beat you in every sport.
Jeremiah's team lost by 50 points, and they were lost in the big trees again. They played against a seventh grader who must be 6' 2". But they did their best.


Isaiah's team lost by 30 points, even though they got off to a good start. They didn't have the excuse of playing against guys much taller than them, but they did get schooled in the fast break. Maybe they did their best. But, boy, I hope not.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Chance of Snow

Looks like we could get a little snow...


This Afternoon
Snow Likely
Hi: 20F
Tonight
Snow
Lo: 16F
Tuesday
Snow
Hi: 25F
Tuesday Night
Chance Snow
Lo: 19F
Wednesday
Slight Chc Snow
Hi: 29F
Wednesday Night
Slight Chc Snow
Lo: 18F


Thursday
Chance Snow
Hi: 23F
Thursday Night
Chance Snow
Lo: 14F
Friday
Slight Chc Snow
Hi: 21F
Friday Night
Slight Chc Snow
Lo: 13F
Saturday
Slight Chc Snow
Hi: 19F
Saturday Night
Slight Chc Snow
Lo: 9F

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Trout Fly of the Year Awards

Click on photos for full size image.
I've been thinking a lot about the past season, now gone and much missed. It was a good season, and a few special flies helped make it so. It's time to honor those flies with the Trout Fly of the Year awards.

TROUT FLY OF THE YEAR
The best fly of the year, far and away, was what I came to call the Big Bomber. At a time when hoppers should have been bringing slashing strikes, the fish assiduously ignored my hopper flies. I tied this on one day on a whim and on the first cast a very nice Brown slammed it. For the next two months this fly--sitting still or stripped, dry or wet--consistently worked the fish--big and small, Browns and Rainbows--into a tizzy.


RECIPE
Hook: #6 2X streamer hook
Thread: Black
Tail: Light deer hair, thick
Body: Black dubbing, thick
Rib: Wide gold tinsel
Wing and head: Natural deer hair, head clipped

FLY OF THE YEAR--FIRST RUNNER UP
In a similar fashion this fly, the Carpet Caddis, saved the Spring. I couldn't buy a surface take until I finally tied this on. Fish came from yards around to grab it before it could get away. The season came alive with this fly.


RECIPE
Hook: #12 curved shank 2X streamer hook
Thread: Black
Tail: Olive Antron yarn
Body: Olive dubbing
Rib: Thread
Underwing: Black Krystal Flash
Overwing: Olive Antron yarn
Hackle: Brown saddle, oversized

SECOND RUNNER UP
This little Stimulator came in handy at odd moments when the action slowed down on other flies. I tied this fly on in late October when the big fish were up but not touching any of my tiny flies, and it took the honor of bringing in the best fish of the season--maybe of all my seasons at the lake--the now-famous slab of a Brown. Nice fish. Nice fly.
  

RECIPE
Hook: #12 curved shank 2X streamer hook
Tail: Black deer hair
Body: Orange dubbing
Rib: thread
Wing: Black deer hair
Hackle: Brown saddle

HONORABLE MENTION
These flies were consistent fish getters under certain conditions. When trolling, I almost always went with a Micro Leech, red or black. And I had some fine days early in the season when I drifted the orange Caddis Nymph under an indicator.


SPECIAL CATEGORIES
BEST LAHONTAN CUTTHROAT FLY
I tried for a long time to hook one of the over sized Lahontan Cutthroats at a nearby lake. It was this big soft hackle that finally did the trick.


BEST MOUNTAIN TROUT FLY
I had a wonderful time catching beautiful little trout in a tumbling mountain stream. I cut and prepared a rod from a wild cherry sapling, put on about six feet of 5X line, and tied on this little caddis nymph. They loved it. I loved it.


BEST FLY TIED UP JUST FOR HALLOWEEN
The last day of the lake season was Halloween, so I tied up a fly in honor of the occasion. It's a big Stimulator, primarily black (black being the key ingredient in any fly at this lake; as Henry Ford said about the model T, "You can have any color you want as long as it's black.") with an orange rib and orange wing. What do you know, it worked.


PRETTIEST FLY
I don't know, I just think this is a pretty fly. I haven't seen it in a long time, I don't remember if I caught anything on it, and I have no idea where it is right now. Maybe I lost it.

Friday, November 26, 2010

What I'm Thankful For

Click on photos for full size image.
For my whole big family--Kim, brothers and sisters, parents, and so many more--but especially my grandsons...


And my children. I couldn't be more fortunate--or more proud.


And yes, to be honest, I'm thankful for these and so many more and for the whole experience of finding and catching them.


I'm thankful, too, for our home: the big, beautiful world that sustains it all.


Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Everything's Relative

Kim looked at the thermometer earlier this evening and exclaimed, "Hey! It's warming up. It's fifteen!"
And now look: a heat wave!


Thanksgiving River Trip Put On Ice

Click on photo for full size image.
A couple of weeks ago I had enjoyed the notion of trying to catch a steelhead on or around Thanksgiving. Then the cold settled in.
I've never seen it like this so early, and even later in the season this much ice is a rare occurrence.
But, here it is. You can't wade in it, and you can't walk on it. So, I guess I'll just have to stay in tomorrow and have some more pie.