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[Hook-NM]

 I worked the Victoria Day so a weekend away wouldn't be a gong show at the campgrounds. It was a good bet to leave Friday morning and get a good spot because by it was full 6:00 PM. My wife and I went to Roche Lake, the same as last year at this time. That was my first attempt at fly fishing where I soon learned my rigging and gear was inadequate. Things worked a little better the next trip made with my dad to Tunkwa Lake about a month later. I won't go there again to keep any catches because they were muddy tasting due to the warm shallow water.  It’s definitely a learning curve. So another new rod, reel and line package was added to the arsenal. The only thing this time as usual,  a good deal isn’t always what it seems - the floating line turned out to be slow sinking.

Anyway, trying the fly rods wasn’t producing, similar to other people, so I trolled hardware mostly the first two days and got to see the whole lake (while scoping the anchored fly fishers to see where it was productive).  Trolling got me 2 – one 3# keeper and one C & R. From watching the sport fishing shows I tried pumping its throat which was full of bloodworms. After supper I tried one of the scouted locations noted and caught a 4#er.

So the next and last morning pumped with new enthusiasm I tried another of these locations and was bombing out after 2 hours. So along comes this guy in a rowboat, sets anchor 60 feet away and catches 6 fish in an hour while my same luck and the other guys around me continues – zilch! I holler over to lucky boy and it turns out he has an artificial voice box which isn’t loud enough to hear. Another half hour and still no luck and my blood pressures on the rise now, so I’m thinking I can try trolling again or ask this guy what he’s using by rowing over, which is what I do. Fortunately I have two similar flys and give them a go. Another 1 ½ hours with 4 fished hooked encourages this method for me – 3 lost and one 5# keeper. The mornings now over and it’s time to brake camp and go home. My knowledge of fly fishing is still on the bottom of the bell curve but slowly improving.

My wife enjoyed the beer and sun back at camp the first two days while catching a good sun burn. Ironic because the camping site she picked had two huge trees she liked for the ability to hide in the shade of a warm day.

[GoldHammeredCroc]

Another 1 ½ hours with 4 fished hooked encourages this method for me

Its the start of a whole lot of fun.  Keep at it as it only gets better.

A good tip also is you will get what you pay for.  Once you find that you enjoy the fly fishing, you may wish to invest in some better gear.  It will be easier and less troublesome to cast and you will immediately see the results of your new purchase.

[troutbreath]

Your wife had the riight idea except for any flesh burning. Go ahead and try to catch more fish if you think that will bring you the same amount of pleasure.

[Hook-NM]

Chasing fish is my escape from a high stress office job. Salmon & steehead were my main pray, though being outdoors on the water is good enough but making a catch is a bonus. I've managed to work the persuit of sturgeon into the equation lately. I had been asked frequently why I don't flyfish. If I disappeared to the interior on a regular basis my fishing widow would probably team up with a land shark. That's spelled l-a-w-y-e-r. 

A recent truck and camper purchase has provided my wife with her creature comforts. Damn I hate backing up to launch a boat I can't see until it's almost jackknifed! But the better half , like most of the other guys I ask ,doesn't get the timing of hand signals after years of previously owning a travel trailer. Who knows the pleasure of watching a husband and wife test their relationship for others entertainment in this situation? Walkie talkies help a little and are great for being summonsed back to camp for dinner and/or wobbly pops before they're all gone.

So I digressed, my wife enjoys camping with a good book, her faithful lap dog for company and an occasional visit from the guy in the boat that never sees shore too often. I know the learning curve for fly fishing would be steep without any mentors. The first lesson learned this year is crappy line = substandard casting. Anyways I now have the whole year covered pretty well forfishing endeavors. Now if I could only get out of the weekend chores that interfer with being out more?

[chris gadsden]

Nice report along with an entertaining read as well. Keep them coming and good fishing.

[Hook-NM]

Hi Chris,

I ran into you on the Vedder by the train bridge road one morning this year. I was driving a Honda and thought, 'Could that be the infamous leaf mobile'? You pointed out a good crossing during the low flow at the time while we watched a solo angler land a steely down river on the other side.

Thanks for the compliment on the report, but I'll never have match the length or number of your reports. Well maybe when I retire.

Harve