Fishing with Mike L

Mike L and I fished for some lake run browns last Friday. We had a good spot to ourselves and were successfully catching nothing. About 30 minutes later 4 guys come down and get right in our way. As much as I know to expect this during the fall runs, I was a bit upset because there was plenty of room around because there were not that many fisherman out that day. Then, they proceeded to catch fish after fish. While Mike and I were catching nothing, we could at least be comforted by thinking that maybe there weren't any in this hole, well these guys showed us that we were just not catching them. I was also a bit upset having to wait to cast because their drift was well into my area.

Well, we had fun anyway but just a bit ticked off by that. I ended up seeing a great blue heron, a mink, some fish, a red fox and 2 turkeys on the trip!

Dying Feathers with Big Zill

Earlier this year Big Zill and I dyed some feathers using Kool-Aid and vinegar.



First we mixed the Kool-Aid, vinegar, and water...


Then we stirred in some feathers...


Then we microwaved them for about a minute, maybe 2.....


And rinsed them off and let them dry!


It worked pretty well, and I'm told they should hold color good enough to fish, but I haven't tried fishing with any of them yet.

M.O.A.E.S.L.

The Mother Of All Egg Sucking Leeches is one of the coolest patterns I've seen tied in a while. Matt (Day5) ties this fly up in such a way that I've never seen before. One of these days I'm going to rig up something like this so I can tie a few of them too. Having fished some he's sent me, I can tell you that the action these jointed flies makes is awesome!!!

Oak Orchard

Today I fished with Graham, Brent, and Howard, who is from Brent's club back home. After a few hours of tossing flies, I finally caught this beast on a black stone fly! I had a few other hits and lost another one. It was a good day but cold and snowy, with some hail.

Fishing with Graham, Brent & Alex

Today I went out to Oak Orchard creek to see if I could find and meet Graham. I ran into him just after noon and he was fishing with Brent and Alex. When I walked up Brent had on a steelhead and I stopped to watch. I seemed that Graham was nervous that I would steal his spot in the water if he got out to grab his camera, so I said "I'm not going to take your spot, but I'd like to introduce myself." He was relieved and after photographing the fish he offered to let me join them in the water and fish. I proceeded to practice casting while the rest of them caught fish or had hook ups. I had nothing, but that was expected. Just before I left I met Fred and his friend Joe. Tomorrow night we will all tie together!!! I can't wait!!!

Casting Practice at Sandy

I went to Sandy yesterday. There were a lot of salmon, but I only saw 1 brown trout. Hopefully the rains today will bring more water to the creek and then more browns. The salmon didn't want any of the dozen flies I tossed at them. I did foul hook 2, but broke them off. One shiner took an egg, and that was it. My boots ripped so now I'll have to duct tape them up since I can't afford to even window shop for boots. Someday I'd like to get good equipment so I'm not trying to get buy on cheap gear.

1 week from tonight, and GFP with guys from all over the country will be in full swing!

Fished Sandy Today

Got out to Sandy today with Crystal and Brooke and Tyler. We set up the pack and play and took turns fishing.




The water was low since we haven't had much rain and the canal hasn't been let out. I hope it gets let out November 1st so the fishing can pick up.


We did see a bunch of salmon running around and Crystal spotted four brown trout (not pictured).


We spotted this sign about a place buying fresh salmon eggs, and as much as I don't like the thought of people harvesting fish just for eggs............



......after seeing 2 dead torn up salmon in a garbage bag on the side of the road.....Crystal liked the sign even less!


Gotta love watching them run!!!

Graham's Cracker

Tied up a few Graham's Crackers tonight. See the pattern at Fly Tying Forum.



Here's a video of how to tie the Graham's Cracker!

Russell Station

I just got back from about 30 minutes of fishing on the lake side. The water is still low, but with the lack of rain we've had, that's to be expected. Steam was coming off of the flow from the power plant, so I didn't expect much salmon action. I saw a few small bass or perch, and a number of good jumps from salmon, but those were out about 100 yards still. Again, the water was really calm and it would have been nice to have the kayak out there. I just gotta take it out for it's maiden voyage still. I'm wondering if an early morning there would be productive. That might be soon enough where the water temps would still be cool before the power plant gets going for the day.

Russell Station

Yesterday I went to Russell Station. I only fished for about 20 minutes because nothing seemed to be moving through. The flow has been pretty low lately and therefor the water was likely still pretty warm for the salmon. Reports have been made that some are in and out, they must have been out yesterday. I did however see 5 or 6 jumps about 100 yards or so off the shore. Soon those could be in closer to shore and catchable. I really wish I had my kayak out. The water was calm and I would have easily been able to get to them.

Genesee River: October 6th 2007 - GFP Fishing Trip #2

Last Saturday we took our second Guys, Flies & Pies fishing trip, into the Genesee River Gorge to fish at the Lower Falls. Sean, Brian, Ché and I met at the rose park at 6am for the hike into the gorge.

We geared up and set off down the path. About 1/2 way down, just before the final decent down the steepest part with all the rocks, my left knee decided to play "old" and started to hurt a bit. Either way, we hiked on. Sean and Ché went ahead and fished in the spray of the falls first, while Brian and I stood downstream about 100 yards, ready to fish where the falls flow and power plant flow meet.

Brian turns to me and says "You going in?" Now, it's important to know at this point, that I rarely plan on really wading into the Genesee river. I have in the past waded across to the island, and even into the falls flow, but generally I only go a few feet in, if that far. So when Brian says "You going in?" I replied back "No, not really." He then said something like "Well, I am." I should have believed him, because he took one step into the river and the rock he choose to step on, choose to move. He went in up to his arm pits and was soaked. He took a few a moments to gain his footing, and just as he was about to stand up I realized that he could float down the river, and so I stepped forward and offered him a hand to get out. He stood there on the shore, dripping wet, just kinda dazed. After a few minutes he took off his waders and rested because he hit his knee on a rock on his way down.

I kept my composure and didn't laugh....until Ché and Sean came back down and asked what Brian was doing.

Brian decided to call it a day about 2 hours later and started his hike out. When he got to the base of the trail he decided to take a break. During the break he decided to fish. Brian then caught the ONLY fish of the day between the 4 of us. It was a 12 inch something (he couldn't identify it.)

By the time I got home, I had a call from Brian saying he got a new cell phone, and within 6 hours of that, I got a call saying he will be on crutches for the next week due to a very bruised knee.

GFP sustains it's first injury!

Oak Orchard: October 3rd 2007

I fished Oak Orchard today and although I saw a few salmon, there weren't nearly as many as I had hoped to find. Fishing pressure was light and by the time I left the creek around 2pm there was only 1 other car at the parking area.

I fished down from the bend and saw suckers, bass, sunfish, and salmon, but only caught 1 red ear after begging it to take the fly.

Up at the dam there were a lot of salmon, but the casting room sucks and so I didn't fish there at all....and may never fish there, at least during salmon season. Lots of guys were fishing from up on the walkway and a bunch were wading, but that kind of shoulder to shoulder fishing is just not my style.

Checked out Sandy on the way out to OO, but didn't see more than 1 dead salmon and 1 brown. Soon, hopefully, the browns will start running and we'll see more.