Saturday, March 24, 2012

Hands in your Pocket

The spring fishery...I used to live for it. I guess it is a rite of passage for every Steelheader in their progression through this passion. Each year the spring fishery seems to lose more if it's appeal. The bug's, warm weather, and the crowds...oh the crowds...
For the life of me I cannot understand what drives an individual to subject themselves to wall to wall, hands in your pocket fishing. I'll take a winter full of frozen guides, burning toes, and numb hands over sharing three feet of real estate on either side of me with anyone. I struggle sharing 100 feet on either side me... For me enjoyment isn't found in numbers anymore...it's found in those subtle rare moments of grandeur often alone with my thoughts. Success can simply be having the opportunity to fish and not see another soul.
Oh I long for November already...

9 comments:

FISH TALES said...

Can I get an Amen... I hate it almost as much as when the kings start to run... almost-

Harv said...

YIKES!!

To be honest I lost much of my affinity for spring steelheading years ago. The combination of limited open season water and high angling pressure on my local systems does not fuel my passion.

I certainly used to love 'Opening Weekend' but strictly from a hanging with the boys and drinking beer perspective - I actually used to wish for unfishable conditions so as to limit the shit rat convention.

If I am going to put up with sweaty balls and black flies I much prefer to be deep in Algonquin Park catching brookies and not seeing another person for days.... I am so looking forward to getting back in there this Spring!!!

On a brighter note, with that much open water over there and a Hyde you shouldn't have that much trouble finding solitude!!!

Go get 'em buddy!

lambton said...

I love hanging out with the boys and drinking beer...

Gil said...

I actually wished for winter for a few more weeks!

You are right Harv. It will soon be time to get out the little 5wt. ;)

Mark Kautz said...

A classic case of Combat Fishing. If one is not properly attired, see here:

http://www.northerncaliforniatrout.com/search?q=combat

It could be dangerous to your health.

Mark

lambton said...

Yeah Gil I hear ya...I fished my A$$ off this winter and still feel cheated. To go from negatives to double digit positives in the blink of an eye may be a joy to some but saddens me. There was no transition...I miss my solitude.

BTW Harv...don't kid yourself...There is no access on this river that is not under siege right now. LOL! Insert more Apocolypse now anicdotes here...

JB said...

YIKES!! It's all over until fall. :(

Steeliemax said...

think i could fit in there beside the 2 end guys with my spey rod looks like a tone of room to fly cast lol

Tony Nardi said...

Neat effect on that pic Brian. I hear you, a 100 ft is pushing it. I have always tried to seclude myself when steelheading, tapping into nature is way better in a quite area where one can take it all in. I much prefer a run with few or no fish over a run where the anglers out number the fish. Like Gil I was hoping this winter was going to be a long one. Good thing about this years opener is the crowds will be in vain as most of the fish will have done their thing and be back out in the lake. Soon it will be time for me to chase some resi's!