Rain or Shine

Lots of quick stops on the river this month.  I know all the usual suspects have been slaying it, but I've honestly been working hard for the money.  Lost my biggest fish to date a couple of weeks ago in some heavy water near the state-line on a "Twenty-Incher" stonefly.

I'm convinced that for fish to get huge around here, they have to be discerning of their food and have a plan in place for the occasion they get hooked.  This guy did for sure.  I am determined to land my first big brown this summer...but it takes more than determination.

Below is Jan Nemec from Mimic Fly Fishing.  He's back up and guiding now...highly recommended.  Generous to the core, and doesn't ever make you feel dumb for not knowing everything.

Buggers. Check the detail on the stonefly husk.

Healthy bow.

Some fishy conversation.

 

Drop shot (see what I did there).

Hit Mogul with Brandyn this last week.  Our last trip was a hard act to follow, but this time out was particularly tough.  Got a few exploratory grabs, and not much more.  We were working our way up to Verdi with lightning in the distance when the pressure dropped and it started pouring.  It was raining so hard, a fish could swim straight up into the sky.  I found a large flat rock leaning eight inches past vertical, giving just enough shelter to keep me out of the deluge.  Thanks Bear Grylls.

 The whole time I was waiting it out, Brandyn was working his way up the river.  As in right up the middle.  Ain't no thang.

Best action of the day happened while I was moving down the bank to go home.  Knee deep, I stepped off a shelf and ended up mid-chest deep.  At some point in the 2.7 seconds it took me to look down, adjust accordingly and look up.  Line was screaming off my spool.  Off balance, I tried to slow the run by applying pressure to the reel, but the moment I did, my stonefly popped out of whatever big mouth found it.  No second chances on the Truckee.

Laughing with my kids, date-night with the wife, and making music with friends are a few superior activities, but a slow day on the river beats most other things.  Like so many have said before, it's strangely spiritual, deeply refreshing, and the adrenaline rush is always an instant away.