Was Jesus Green?

Before I dive in to my report, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that it is Earth Day.  I know scientists are getting better and better at finding planets out there in the great beyond, but I am particularly fond of this one.  And while we may disagree on the primary reason why, my outdoor friends that subscribe to a faith and those that don't can agree that taking care of the big blue ball we find ourselves on just makes sense.

I've never understood why many in the diverse and often poorly represented Christian camp push back on many environmental issues.  Yes, human life is paramount in creation, which is precisely why we should be first in line on taking care of the world around us.  Ignoring the biblical mandate to rule over creation justly and with wisdom is lazy.  I don't care if you call it "creation care" or "stewardship over ownership".  Pick up after yourself.  Support businesses that offer great products/services and think green.  Pay attention to what your political party's darling is doing on stewarding your area resources.  I know environmental issues are complex and multi-faceted, but a simple launch point is to ask the question, "if everyone out here did the same thing I'm doing, would we be better off or in trouble?"

Anyway, John McConnell probably never dreamed things would be the way they are today, but here we are.  I'd love a world (and a local river) where the picture above is difficult to pull off, but today it is not. </rant>

Tried my new greys 10' rod for the first time and love it.  Lots of bugs hatching as the waters warm a bit.  Got into the biggest "Sierra Bonefish" of my life (20"+ and battle scarred) and a healthy cutbow that made several big runs that got my feet scrambling through the muck on the banks.  Most fish took a micro-may, San Juan, or prince nymph.

 

Soon it will be time to ditch the layers under the waders and mid-day outings will no longer be so generous.  Bring a bag for trash you stumble on and see you out there.

Big Misses

The process of getting a fish to hand is the culmination of a hundred factors, some resting on you and others out of your control. This is what drives most men mad in life...and fishing.

I lost several brutes this week. Lazy hook-set here, an inexplicable pop there.  Hard to say whether it was me or them. What I do know is that they aren't fighting sluggish and reserved anymore, the way they often do in winter. It's a full on assault.

I did haul in no less than 50 yards of mono-filament line from someone chucking spoons.  Shameful to leave that much synthetic material in the river.  Whenever possible, recover your line and dispose of it properly.  Please.

Starting Over and Over

Executive summary:
Baetis, caddis, stones are doing the heavy lifting. Days are either non-stop action or super slow with little in between. The rainbows have redds out so watch your wading.

Full write-up:
Spring is here on our calendars, though it's been here on our thermometers for six weeks already.  Local reports are saying that the last "major" system pulled the nails out of the coffin for this summer but comparing flows to last year doesn't give me much relief. A few pictures from recent stops on the "T":

It took me several years to overcome my resistance to fly-fishing. In the end, it wasn't gear or access to great water that kept me from fly fishing earlier in my life. It was the prospect of starting over. I remember the day I realized that a skilled fly-fisherman could out-fish a skilled lure guy any day of the week.  That's when this hollow ache started in my gut. I was going back to the drawing board.

This past week, I felt that same visceral heavy feeling rise up in me while out with Doug Ouellette. Doug's a knowledgeable and personable guide and a generous friend so I welcome any chance to get out there with him. Even when Doug's not teaching, he's teaching.

Though we both got into some good fish, his short-line nymphing was clearly obviously slightly superior that day to the hardware I was throwing under my indo-rig.  He pulled a whole school of fish out from a run I covered first with my favorite stone and baetis combo. If you look closely, you can see Doug's signature "Sweet Pea" hanging out of the rainbow's mouth below.

 

Admittedly, it's a further leap from a spinning rod to a fly rod, than from an indo-rig to short-lining but it still requires a reset. I suppose if you want to move along in this journey we find ourselves in, you can't buy a house on one approach.  Best to rent a while and keep moving.

The Clinic - Pyramid

A good day at the 'mid' with some local guides. Pass it on.

The Clinic - Pyramid Lake (Preview)

A sneak preview of our next video releasing this week.