It's been a while pt. 2

I also managed to have my first guide day of the year. It was an interesting day weather and fishing wise. The fishing was definitely spotty with certain spots performing outstandingly well, with others failing dismally. I believe that the fish had fed all night due to a full moon, and due to the cold water and low barometer were not going to feed actively all day. The fish we did catch were for the most part caught deep nymphing black and red zebra midges (sz. 18) and on orange jig-a-glo's. All in all it was a good day, with fun clients.

After spending a day in the shop assisting Denny prepare for the coming season. I joined a couple of friends on a float down B. We had a good day, despite the fishing being abysmally slow. It was however rather exciting for two big reasons. I caught a decent fish on a sz. 12 PMX cricket (dry fly), and missed two others. And while fishing a streamer pattern that I had tied earlier, it was an incredibly hot fly. I had many strikes, but due to lack of mojo, and a long tail on the bug, I was unable to land all but a couple fish. 

My next post should be coming in a few weeks, when I return to the river full time.

It's been a while pt. 1

I have had a couple of busy weekends this month. To start with, I joined a few of my good friends on a trip fishing the Grey Reef section of the North Platte. We met up in Alcova, Wy the night of the 13th, and had the perfunctory kick off for a good weekends vacation. (cocktails, and lots of stories) We then passed out for the night visions of fighting rainbows dancing in our heads.

We then woke up the next morning to gray skies and threatening snow. We didn't let this daunt us (for the moment) and took off to start the day.

The fishing was dismal at best, it seemed that we might have hit the river a little too early in the year, and the weather wasn't doing anything to boost our spirits. So after a couple of fruitless hours a few of us decided to take off and spent that night warm and at the bar with a couple of cocktails. I ended up drawing the short straw and had to row out alone (for the most part) in a raft, not my favorite craft on a river. We then proceeded to have a memorable night that most of us probably don't remember all of. 

Day 3, We awoke to pounding heads and clear skies. It looked like it was going to be a great day compared to the second day. After a tasty deep fried breakfast in Alcova's one restaurant, we headed out to begin the day. I started the day fishing with the girls on the trip (essentially guiding) but it turned out being a good deal, My friend ended up catching a beautiful rainbow that was somewhere around 20 inches. And we didn't have a net on board so my hands got really cold.

After a bit more fishing I switched out and got on a different boat to where I could have a chance to fish a bit more. It was a few of the guys from the trip, and one of the 3 of us had never caught a fish on a fly rod, so Danny (another guide on the Green) and myself made it our mission to make sure he accomplished this feat. After a bit of fishing, a few penalty shots (shots of booze for losing an obvious fish), and one landed bit of driftwood. He finally caught his first fish on the fly (one of, if not the biggest of the trip)

 

I finally managed to catch a small little fish about 17-18 inches, but good and healthy and fought hard. (it was caught on a double when Ben caught his (above)). All day we deep nymphed a black flash woolly bugger, and an orange attractor nymph of some kind below. We then fished for a bit longer with limited success, until the urge to party our way down the rest of the river got too strong. We had a good time floating out, tossing a football between the boats, and just having a good time. 

We then ended the day with another deep fried meal, and passed out early to take off the next day for wherever we called home. I do feel sorry for whoever had to clean the rooms as our partying left a bit of damage.

(and this was after we had cleaned up a bit, let alone the muddy wader boot prints all around the room.)

Coming Soon!

I am heading out to Grey Reef for the weekend, I will be putting updates up upon my return.