Sunday, January 2, 2011

Day 1, 2011 - We Fished, We Caught, and Mr. Q Provided Some Wisdom on Weird

The year started out well as not only did we get our feet "wet", we even caught fish!  When I met Mr. Q by the river about noon, the air was a cool 45 degrees, but the sun brightened the sky through high, thin clouds.  By the time we left the water, those clouds thickened and the sunglasses had came off.

The river was clear as air, low, and a cold 40 degrees.  Every rock, stone and stick on the bottom could be seen.  When you looked carefully in the deeper, protected flows, quite a few trout could be seen. 

Here's the bearded lad nymphing a fast run below a long, smooth pool.


And here's one of the wild browns I caught.  This one took a scud, as did all the others with the exception of one that took a black zebra midge.


And here's the scud that worked so well.  It's a simple tie; olive/gray fur with some clear antron mixed in, and a gold wire rib.  Easy and very effective.


At one point, while Mr. Q fished, I stood above him on the top of the bank overlooking the pool listening to him tell me about a mutual acquaintance of ours.  After he finished his story, I commented that the guy seemed pretty weird.

Mr. Q turned and shouted back at me, "We're all weird!"

"What the hell is it when we spend an evening sitting at a vise under a light tying flies with feathers and fur to catch fish on?"  .........."THAT'S f&%#ing  weird!" 

Then he hooked a fish on a fly he had tied.............

To each his own.  I'll take our weird over other weirds anyday.           

Here's to a prosperous 2011 to all!

And sharpen those hooks.

9 comments:

Mr.Q said...

actually when you really look at it; sitting at a vise imitating insects to predate on a form of nourishment, is as normal as life should be.....should I retact my previous statement?

Matt Grobert said...

It's no weirder than hitting a little white ball with a club down a manicured lawn only to find it and hit it again until you get it in a little hole...and then you start over again at the next tee.

Oh, crap, I do that, too!

Mr. Q said...

Well, I think that just ruins a good walk that could be taken by a river with some of those furry little hooks.

Jimmy229oz said...

Not to spot burn, but is this pic on the Musky? Its not often I think I recognize a pool from a picture.
If it is the one I am thinking of, I was skunked there.

Anonymous said...

Sure, That is where it is!!!!

Matt Grobert said...

Jimmy, it's the South Branch of the Raritan near the KLG.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Jimmy,
I have a smart mouth...and sometimes can't keep it shut...

jimmy229oz said...

I guess it makes me feel a touch better!

Harry Middleton said...

"not everything about fishing is noble and reasonable and sane...Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it, all of it, the good, the awful, the joyous, and the miserable, the comic, the embarrassing, the tragic and the sorrowful."