November Rains

GLX...the next day

2012-01-29T23:47:00.002-05:00

I slept in this morning. Saturday was a big day and its successes had left me more than content. I sat down with my morning coffee and reread my glx review. There was still some uncertainty in the assessment and the more I relived the previous days successes the more I longed to hit the water for round two. I mulled over some of my options and decided on a clean and quick session with no more than an 1-1.5 hours on the water.

I was after one more chromer and another shot at testing the limits of this blank. With the self imposed time constraints I knew where my best chances of pulling this off would be so I packed up the gear and headed to the river. It was now early into the afternoon and river traffic was minimal. Once again my preferred water was unoccupied so I dropped into the river and the hunt was on.

There was no easy participants but I stuck to my guns and methodically picked away. I was now at my limits on the bar and well into the middle of the river when I made a long throw deep into a slack water section. I mended my line and trotted back lightly on the float keeping my line taunt and my offering up off the bottom. The strike was violent and was not only visually confirmed but was accompanied by a firm tug felt through the entire blank.

The glx loaded up and the water exploded. My opportunity was before me. On the way to the river I had decided I was going to stand my ground and test the limits of this blank. I felt I knew enough about the rod to gamble a fish on it. So with some degree of confidence I went hard at this fish. Like all of the fish as of late this fish was hot and made some long deep runs. Each time I managed to stop and turn the fish.

The rod was in a full parabolic bend but never once bent into the handle as I had read on some of the previous forum reviews. It seemed to flatten out about 10" from the top of the handle. After a fair fight the fish made the bank and my day. It was one of those river bullet fall spawners. I have encountered a few of these fish this past season...They are long, lean with huge rudders. These fish really slam your offering and go ballistic once hooked.

The rod performed under this test and was actually quite enjoyable. I didn't feel underpowered on this fish but then again it was not a 8lb + class specimin. I still have mixed feelings on this blank but today was a move in the positive direction. The remainder of this outing failed to produce an additional steelhead bite but I did managed to root up a couple of handsome browns. It was a whirlwind session but quite enjoyable.

I learned a little more about the GLX and put a few more fish on the bank. The field trials will have to continue and I suspect the only true answer to my query will come with the spring runs in late Feb/early March. .

Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds

GLX...initial impressions

2012-01-29T02:35:00.002-05:00

For as long as I can remember Loomis has owned the centrepinning rod market. If you were anyone in the floatfishing scene you fished a loomis blank. It started way back with the Premier blanks then the Gl2, Gl3, IMX, and now the GLX series of rod blanks. Each rod brought forth improvements as the evolution of rod blank technology progressed. For the most part the search for the holy grail was a feather light blank with adequate power.

I always thought they were splitting hairs after the GL3 but the masses flocked to the IMX series of blanks with a passion. For years the IMX was the pinnacle of float fishing blank technology but like everything in life the show had to go on and the next bigger and bestest thing had to come along. For Loomis it was the GLX. This floatfishing blank spawned a rift in the float fishing community. There were factions that stood by their brand and praised the blank to no end and there were other factions that made claims the sticks were underpowered and inadequate for the sport.

At the same time Loomis made a conscious decision to only produce factory rods and thus eliminated the custom rod niche market. Blanks were no longer available and this added some fuel to the controversy as to weather or not these rods were worthy of purchase. If you sell custom rods it is in your best interest to pimp a blank that is available for you to sell and profit. While all of this drama unfolded I sat back and watched with mild interest. I had not yet fished an IMX and was quite happy with my GL3 so the temptation of shelling out $600 bones for a stick rife with controversy was not on my radar.

But still I followed the story as it unfolded. For the most part the Canadian Centrepinning scene seemed to abandon the GLX as a viable option and moved on to the CTS version. At the same time the growing American Centrepinning demographic embraced and seemed to worship the blanks. I have always been one to base my opinion off of fact and was curious to form my own on these rods. It was not until recent that a good friend afforded me that opportunity.

Harv Senior had an unfortunate incident on Ontario's Saugeen river back in November when he blew his GL3 up on a hot November Giant. Loomis stood behind their warranty and offered the Harv's the option to upgrade to the GLX for a marginal fee. They jumped at the chance and chose the GLX 1563 2S 8-12lb version. This was the most robust version of the stick available and was receiving the most praise from the Centrepinning scene. Shortly there after I was considering making a deal on a GLX I had ran across on an online forum.

Harv got wind of my venture and interjected with the offer to fish their blank all winter and make an informed decision as to weather or not this was indeed the stick for me. It's hard to turn an offer like that down and in no time I had the rod in my hands. At the same time, upon Harv's suggestion, I had arranged to demo the AVID and Frogwater.

This demo had a defined time period so the GLX would have to wait. Finally this weekend came and the opportunity to fish her was before me. I chose to pair her up with the Frogwater while I still had it in my possession and see how the ultimate light combo would fair on Michigan's finest flow. I rigged her up and made plans to fish below the coffer the next day. Saturday morning came and I awoke to fresh snow. The forecast suggest the possibility of a couple of inches but it was apparent that the system was under estimated and dumped a generous 5-6" of fresh powder.

The morning was a classic winter scene and I eagerly geared up and made my way towards the river. The roads were terrible and I was hoping this would work in my favor and keep the masses at home. As luck would have it the river was sparsely populated and my preferred drift was unoccupied. After the previous weekends successes on the wax worm it was my obvious offering to start the day. The GLX was a joy to cast and easily put my offering on the inside edge of the middle seam.

As luck would have it mid drift the float dipped and I was into a fish. Initially I thought it was a trout until the fish realized it was hooked and the battle ensued. The rod performed perfect and the fish was on the bank in a reasonable amount of time. It was a smaller fish and really not what I was hoping for to put the blank through its paces. I continued to pick away at my usual lines while working my way down towards the central bar until it happened...the float dipped, I set up and the water exploded. The fish have been unseasonably hot this winter and this fish was even more so.

The blank loaded up nicely and the fish continued to scream down river. Having heard the power of this blank is in the bottom end I put more pressure on the fish. The blank was now in a full parabolic bend and the fish was under control. Now knowing where my power and control point were with this rod I played the fish with reasonable control to the bank. The power of this rod is certainly in the butt section and made for an enjoyable exchange with the fish. The fish was a healthy 6-7lb hen and a fair opponent to trial this blanks characteristics. Initially I was impressed with the blanks abilities. The light weight characteristics made the blank a dream to cast and fish. The blank loaded up nicely and once the power was located seemed to control a fair sized opponent in a large flow quite well.

The large parabolic bend was actually a joy to fish once the power band was located. Another feature of this rod was the addition of recoil guides. The initial premise was to shed weight with additional benefits like ice up mitigation and guide durability. Again the addition of these guides on the blank brought forth controversy amongst the floatfishing community. Some praised the design as the answer for deep winter guide ice ups yet others complained of inferior metallurgy and line gouging. Today the guides seemed to take longer to build up ice than traditional guide designs and cleared quite freely but nonetheless still built up ice. They demonstrated no obvious adverse casting restrictions and overall the rod casted as good or better than other 13' blanks in my repertoire.

The morning session came and went and I was quite pleased with the rod performance. I had two quality chromers under my GLX belt and an afternoon before me. I had made plans to meet up with JB Ricks from the Consummate Sportsman Blog and float the river in the afternoon on the North side. After a courteous riverbank meet and greet we worked our way down to Suicide bend. For the next three hours we pounded the water to no avail.

Not even a trout or brown would come to hand. Upon my suggestion we decided to finish our day up near the coffer. Once again the fishing proved to be tough. It was getting late in the day and JB had an hour drive ahead of him so he made the call and pulled the plug. I wasn't yet ready to take it on the chin and opted to tough it out for another hour or two. We bid farewell and joked at the premise that the fish would turn on once JB hit the parking lot. I continued to work my way down toward the boat launch at the bend in the river. Once there I chose some slack water on the outside edge of the inside torrent that I frequently fish from the opposing bank. I made the cast and tended my line. The pace was moderate compared to the racing flow at my feet. The float made it's way about 10 feet until it disappeared and I was into a fish. Instantly I knew it was a decent but as the battle ensured it became apparent that this was the fish I longed for to put this rod to the test.

The rod performed flawlessly and was well into it's parabolic curve. The fish exercised the available real estate and took me well into the river and around the bend. I managed to get the fish to within 15 feet of the bank but I struggled to seal the deal and discovered my problem lied in the fact that I was working the fish with the top portion of the rod once he was in the shallows. Upon becoming conscious of this I loaded the rod up hard and into the butt section. Not until then did I get the required backbone to finalize the deal. The specimen was grand. A deep wintered buck of at least 30" and 10+ lbs. The rod handled the fish but did leave me with question as to how it would have faired with a hot November or Spring fish of similar proportion. The power of this blank comes late in the game and it is easily understood how one would be quick to dismiss this blank as underpowered.

I am not one to throw caution to the wind and lay the boots to a fish thus pushing the gear to it's breaking point. Having said this I was nervous discovering the power band of this rod. I can say with some degree of confidence that once you locate this sweet spot and learn how the rod fishes it will do you proud. The struggle lies with becoming comfortable with a late bloomer. One has to have faith in this rod and allow it to load up deep into the parabolic bend. This is where it ultimately performs. Because of this the rod is not for everyone. I still need a few more days on the river and multiple hook ups to determine if this is the rod for me but I can say without a doubt that it is not for everyone and not for every situation. If you are looking for a big water high gradient flow stick I'd suggest other alternatives. If you fish large-moderate to medium-small flows then this stick may be for you. With a $600 msrp I would recommend establishing your need prior to diving in head first. I currently own a Loomis 1562 GL3 and don't see enough merit in the GLX to part with the coin. To make the plunge based on weight would be splitting hairs. The guides really don't warrant the cost and the GL3 has more power earlier into the blank. If you were heading into this point as a progressive move from an intermediate or introductory offering and your fishing conditions met the criteria as listed above you wouldn't be hard pressed finding satisfaction with this rod. Now having said this...if you are one that has to lay the boots to each and every fish and stand your ground to no avail this blank may not be for you.
After a full day of fishing this blank I can honestly say I understand why it has spawned so much controversy. This rod is not for everyone and with a hefty price tag one should understand their needs and desires prior to committing. For now this is the review I will leave you with. As this story unfolds I promise to update this report with further honest and accurate assessment on the rods performance.
Until then tight lines...

St Croix 15' Avid Review

2012-01-26T22:49:00.008-05:00

Well I think I have already explained the perks of the GBO demo program to everyone via the Riverkeeper Frogwater post. The other item of interest I had gotten on loan to demo was St Croix's latest offering...the AVID series. In particular the AVID/AVS150MLM3. St Croix's 3 piece 15' offering to the Centrepinning world.

The specs of this rod are as follows:
*length - 15'
*configuration - 3 piece
*power - medlight
*action - moderate
*blank construction - SCIII Graphite IPC Technology
*rating 6-10lb 1/4 to 5/8 oz
*guides - Fuji® Alconite® Concept Guide System with black frames.
*handle - St Croix Sliding Rings
*manufactured in USA

First off... going in I have to say I had been a fan of the big sticks for a while. For a few years I began to exclusively fish a 15' Frontier. In fact I loved that rod so much that I bought a spare blank to spin up my own personal tie. Life interjected and things seemed to change so I never got around to it. It's on the list though just need to find the time and inspiration. So... I was willing and eager to accept an offer to fish the AVID. My initial impressions of the rod were positive. The glossy slate grey blank offers up a very refined look. The Black Fuji Concept guides add stealth to the presentation and the blue-grey guide wraps add just a enough colour to complement the blank while keeping the package clean and mean. I like the Fuji Concepts and had used them on my 13' Rainshadow 1562IST build a few years back. They are very sharp looking guides and have been bullet proof for me. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the sliding ring handle configuration but I do understand it's purpose on factory rods. It does provide some flexibility for the end user to land on their personal reel placement location.

I have a factory Loomis GL3 that I cherish with slide rings and have contemplated many times stripping the handle and doing it up with a fixed reel seat but just can't bring myself to tamper with something that already works. The St Croix offering is the same...it works and works good. The added rubberized cork accents at the top and butt of the handle add some elegance to the arrangement but more note worthy about the butt addition is the fact that it will provide some wear protection for the armpit tuckers...and trust me...mid day with this bad boy and you will be tucking it under your arm. I had a 13' St Croix Wild River that had worn a flat spot on the inside of the butt section from rubbing on my wading jacket underarm over the years. I miss that rod...a true noodle.
I didn't put the rod together until we made the cabin last Friday night. When I did I had my 15' Frontier beside her for an accurate benchmark comparison keeping in mind that I have a custom tie with a reduced guide count configuration. The first thing I noted was the blank butt diameter was larger on the St Croix.

I followed the taper of each through to the first and second joints and the St Croix diameter remained larger. This explained why the overall weight seemed greater. Now I am operating off of assumption as I technically didn't weigh both. I tried but we don't seem to have a digital kitchen scale at the cottage. (yeah I was surprised too!) Also there are fewer guides on my custom so that would lend to it feeling lighter as well but I'm still thinking its heavier. Another point of note... I question why so many guides? There are 14 guides on this blank adding to the overall weight. I'm sure that they could have reduced it down to 12 without compromising the action thus shedding some weight. I paired the rod up with the Frogwater as I was dying to fish it. Would probably been better to pair it up with a heavier float reel to afford some attempt at balancing out the rod better. Nonetheless I'm sure it would still remain tip heavy. Finally the morning rolled around and I got to put her through the paces. The thing I love about 15' sticks are their ability to effortlessly cast a mile. With minimal effort I was reaching the center lines of the river without being waist deep in the flow. Another point of note is the ease of line control. When fishing big flows line control is unparalleled with a 15' rod. This particular morning was under a severe cold snap so the plethora of guides were adding to the inherent problems of fishing below freezing...icy guides! The rod length definitely aids in line retrieval as one can pick up a "mile" of line and flick spin retrieve quite efficiently. This outing didn't offer the opportunity to put a bend in the blank but there was always the next day. Sunday morning found me on the river again. The temps were more favourable but there was a moderate and increasing downriver wind.

This quickly brought to light an unfavourable characteristic of the larger taper and lengh of this stick. The wind picked it up like a flag pole and added to the stresses it was putting on my shoulder already. Now there needs to be some form of understanding when fishing an affordable 15' float rod offering. The first is that there will always be some facsimile of stress on ones shoulder. There has to be...The ability to perfectly balance these rods out is slim to none without loading up the butt section with an anchor for a reel which essentially moves the problem. Some times we gotta step up and be men...Right! I'm just sayin...Go to the Gym! But when the wind is rocking and you are swinging a large taper stick it can be frustrating to futile. Point of note...I fished the Niagara one day with Norland. We made the hike down and it became quickly apparent that the wind was tunnelling through the gorge. It became even more so apparent when my Frontier had a bend in it and my float and line were flailing in the wind parallel to the surface of the water about 5 feet above it. Needless to say...that was not a fun outing. Finally my float dropped and the rod loaded up nicely. I will admit that the bend in a large stick will put a smile on your face. The lengh does offer up some forgiveness as well. I was cautious not to test the overall power of this stick on the first fish as I greatly needed the photo op. As luck would have it the fish won that round but there were 5 other opportunities that afforded me the ability to put the blank through the paces and some critters on the bank.

The following are my findings... likes and dislikes of this blank.

Likes:
-visually appealing...clean attractive finish and sweet lines
-Fuji concepts in black...very stealth
-15' length
-3 piece design...breaks down nicely for transport
-action...nice semi parabolic bend
-power...inherent power of the big stick. There when you need it.
-price...msrp $300

Dislikes:
-Norland
-butt diameter and overall taper
-number of guides
-overall weight
-tip heavy
-wind sock
-sliding rings

Final Thoughts:
I'll have to admit I was a little disappointed with this blank from the weight and taper perspective. St Croix had the opportunity to take some readily available feedback from the Centrepinning community and really challenge themselves to put out a fair priced production blank that afforded some progression in this regard. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what everyone really wants in a big stick and it doesn't take much effort to drum up that feedback. Also to me it was a marginal step backwards from previous 15' offerings to the steelheading community. Now having said this...the blank fishes well. It is heavy and picks up the wind very easy but it certainly is nice with a critter on the other end. It wouldn't be fair to compare this stick to say a GLX as the price point difference doesn't even warrant the effort. In summary if you are looking for an affordable "brand new" 15' float rod with a lifetime warranty and can handle a minor workout over the course of your day this stick is for you. If you are already suffering from shoulder issues or are just plain soft stay away. This stick is for men!

You can read more about St Croix and their AVID series of rods via their website http://www.stcroixrods.com/

Riverkeeper Frogwater Review

2012-01-24T23:04:00.000-05:00

In the last couple of years an Ontario fishing forum I frequent had started to embark on a really cool demo program. The program essentially saw fishing rod and reel manufacturers give the site host their products for users to demo and offer up comments and reviews. A very cool program for the end user and potential buyer to get their hands on some high end gear without risking their hard earned dime. Also an equally cool way for manufacturers to get accurate feedback from passionate individuals essentially free of charge.

I never really took part in the official program because of its popularity and waiting lists. I had honestly forgotten about it until Harv suggested I contact Bruce from the GBO board and look into getting a Riverkeeper to demo. I took Harv up on his suggestion and before you knew it I had a Rod and Reel in my hands to trial free of charge. The reel was the Riverkeeper Frogwater model manufactured by Robb Marquette from Stratford.
I had followed the introduction and evolution of Robb's reels online via forum chats but aside from holding Harv's Riverkeeper I had yet to fish one. The masses were quick to fall in love with Robb's artisan pin creation and thus it received rave reviews.

My initial first impressions upon holding the Frogwater was how little justice the pictures I had seen do for this reel. It certainly is a well build aesthetically appealing pin. After playing with the reel for a while I decided to contact Robb through email to learn more about him and his reels and start deliberations on a modified Frogwater of my own. I also wanted to pitch the prospect of documenting the event for a potential Magazine Article on the entire craft artisan pin creation process. First thing I discovered about Robb is that he is a very personable guy. He was more than accepting of my questions and ideas and was genuinely looking for feedback to better his creations. After lots of email conversations Robb gave me a brief chronological history of his evolution in the Niche Centrepin Reel manufacturing arena. The below is a cut and paste from that communication:

Hi Brian,

Got to busy yesterday for a reply,,,,work,work,work.lol
here a little history on my reels.

I've been making reels for myself since 1991, at first it was an attempt to have a larger diameter reel for fishing larger flows, and retrieving line faster, most reels where 5.5" or larger, at the time there where only 4.5" reels available to my knowledge.
I would use the reel a few times to find out what I liked and disliked, then sell to fund the next, I never did a clicker in those reels, as it was to much work, and I didn't much like the pawl and gear clicker that was the norm.

In 2007, after much discussion with the wife decided to purchase some quality machinery and start making reels as a hobby, I decided on a 5.25" reel to be my first run, but there was clicker problem!!!! After several attempts of recreating the same old clicker, a friend of mine said why not a motorcycle brake, and off we went,,, 8 months later and a lot of empty beer cans we had a very neat clicker design, and it worked well ,but was to big, so we took some weight out here and there, and made things smaller, then it was ready.

I made a run of 25 5.25" reels called the Riverkeeper, and they sold very well, but a lot pinners found them a bit big, and a bit heavy. So next round was to be a smaller reel 4 7/8's in diameter, same clicker, the reel was also called Riverkeeper, and wieghed in at 9.4 oz's I made 2 runs of 25 and again they sold well, but I thought they where missing a look on the back plate, so I ported it, and made 50 reels RK 2 meaning Riverkeeper Ported.

Shortly after I was done that run, a fella that had bought 2 of every run I made, asked if I could make him a reel that looked the same but even more porting and he wanted the reel to weight 8 oz's, he wanted the reel to fish Frogwater,,,,,hence the name, I made only one prototype, witch I still fish today, There are about 80 Frogwater reels in circulation, I'm planning on a run of 20 to take the Frogwater to #100 including the prototype, but i'm not sure what I'll do after that, Life has become very busy 4 kids 2 jobs and a honey do list as long as my arm,,,I call it my hobby that went crazy.

Finally the weekend came and my first opportunity to fish the Frogwater was before me. The conditions were tough but I wanted more than anything to run the reel and put it through the paces with the hopes of one willing player to tie it all together. To say my first day was a challenge would be an understatement. The temps were Arctic and steam was coming off the water which made the visual aspect of the game almost impossible. The fish were under lock down and the elements were weighing heavily on my body. The reel ran flawless but the trip didn't bode well for a detailed review of the reels performance. The second day saw a break in the weather.

The participants were willing and 6 hot fish put the reel through its paces. The following is a summary of my findings on the Riverkeeper Frogwater Centrepin Reel:
Visually the reel quite aesthetically appealing with current available color configurations of Black, Green, and Champagne. The front face porting and lines take inspiration from the likes of the Mykiss and John Milner Reels albeit different enough to have an identiy of its own. The fixed bearing cap looks handsomely familiar and would make Keith Snary himself smile. The key feature on the front face or spool are the handles.

Finally a Centrepin reel that has properly sized ergonomic handles that allow adequate comfort and function for the user with manly hands. I found the handle spacing perfect and the over all design afforded me the opportunity to efficiently flick spin the spool without false or botched attempts and never once did I injury my fingers or thumbs in the process. I have fished a lot of pins and these handles are by far the best I have encountered on any reel.
The back plate porting is attractive and where form really meets function. Much of the reduced weight of the Frogwater comes from this addition that the original Riverkeeper model lacked.

Aside from the handles the real gem of this reel is the clicker mechanism. The clicker design resembles a disk brake arrangement. I was told the inspiration came from that of a motorcycle. The design is genius and simply is the best overall clicker design available on any Pin out there. Clicker designs have been a pet peeve of Great Lakes Floatfisherman for years and Robb had found a design that makes this concern null and void. The device is engaged via sliding the centrally located handle in an upward movement. A caliper style arrangements slides over an inner ported stainless steel disk. There is no fidgeting or arc motion required in the engagement initiative . A simple upward force and the clicker is engaged. The dual ball detent design affords the spool to be locked in place with more than adequate pressure to transport the largest of great lakes floats to and from the river without line detensioning while still providing the opportunity for the angler to turn the spool if required. The tolerances on this reel are precise and exact and meet or surpass those of similar higher end Pins on the market. The startup is best described as effortless and meets the premise of which the reel was named...Truly a Frogwater fishable reel.

This speaks volumes to the precision craftsmanship and quality Germain ABEC5 bearings incorporated in the design.
If I had to choose one pet peeve I have with this reel it would be the inability to remove the spool effortlessly while on the river. I'm certain this was a conscious decision on the manufacturers part but there are times when the quick spool removal feature comes in handy. To many this is of no issue and I currently own reels with similar designs and manage fine.
The reel is simply a pleasure to fish and one takes to it readily as if they have fished it for years. Priced similarly to comparable pins in this category one would certainly be pleased with the their purchase and have a quality reel that would be handed down through the generations.

Reel specs as quoted from manufacturer:
-spool and back plate material - 6160 T4 aluminum.
-spool diameter - 4 7/8"
-spool width - .625"
-spool depth - .350"
-316 stainless steel accessories including the clicker disk, that is controlled by 2 stainless steel ball detents
-ABEC 5 stainless steel bearings ( German)
-overall Weight - 8 oz's
-colour options: Black, Green, Champagne
Robb Marquette and Riverkeeper Reels can be contacted via email at reels1967@hotmail.com
or by phone at 1-519-272-9881

#*%$!...That can't be good

2012-01-22T23:52:00.001-05:00

The cabin was extra cold this morning. Cody-buddy didn't wake me for his 3 a.m moonlight piss so the woodstove didn't see any refueling during the early morning hours. There was definite hesitation as I rolled out of bed at 7:45 to re-stoke the fire and start my day. Between yesterday's bitter cold session on the river and the afternoon work out from snowmobiling and raking the snow off the roof my body was feeling the effects. The morning air still harboured a wicked bite as it hit my face upon opening the front door of the cabin to let he dog out. The swaying of the trees spoke to a moderate breeze. I was seriously leaning towards a morning on the couch with the fire, Internet and some Baileys coffee.

I sat down, powered up the lap top and started to check the blog roll. The coffee was magnificent and I settled in nicely watching the fire start to dance that magical way it does when it's burning efficiently. After acknowledging some comments on the day priors post I opened up the Consummate Sportsman's blog and was pleased to see "Hollywood" Ricks had spun off another HD video. Each video JB has been knocking out betters the prior so I was anxious to review "January Slab Hunt". I must say the video was awesome. It certainly put a smile on my face and more importantly had me motivated to get off the couch and geared up to hit the river. I noticed there were 2 or 3 squirrels hitting the bird feeders hard this morning and I took this as a positive to indicate a somewhat warmer shift in the weather. I loaded up the van and headed for the river.
Prior to this trip I had made arrangements with Bruce Farrell from the Grey Bruce Outdoors board to demo a 15' St Croix AVID adorned with a Riverkeeper Frogwater Edition Centrepin. The gear is on loan for a limited time and I was anxious to put a bend in the big stick and run the Frogwater through some big river action. The day priors session spoke to the refinements of the reel but I really needed a fish or two to develop an informed opinion. I have been getting bombarded from my Michigan brethren to run the "Waxie" as they call it this time of the year.

I decided to stop and pick some up on the way in the hopes that a Brown or Rainbow could be enticed at a minimum. I wanted every option available after yesterdays lock down.
The river was once again deserted. I had the run of the water below the coffer so I decided to start up tight with a black and red Norland special. I gave it a fair run and decided to switch it up prior to working my way down the drift. I adjusted my float and tied on a new #10 135 Dai Riki Scud to my 5.6lb Raven Flouro tippet. The maggots were looking me in the eye so I popped open the container and mulled around the sawdust for a big fattie. After two drifts tight to the coffer I threw out my third and started to shuffle sideways towards a gravel bar that protrudes out into the flow. Doing this I took my eyes off the float to concentrate on the substrate of the river when the rod was almost pulled from my hand. I set up and a very hot titanium steelie jumped a foot or so from the surface and screamed down river. The avid loaded up nicely and it was fish on! For a late January steelhead this fish was on fire and gave me a run for my money breaching the surface multiple times. From what I seen it was a purple buck in the 7lb range. I was cautions not to put the boots to this fish with the big stick as I was unfamiliar with the blank and the power it possessed. Just as I was starting to gain some ground the float flew over my left shoulder and the fish was gone. Anxious to evaluate the incident I collected the slack line and pulled the rig in for a close inspection. Fully expecting a broken leader I was surprised to see the knot had failed on the hook end. Disappointed

I shook it off and retied a fresh hook, chose another fattie waxie and picked away at the middle seam working my way down towards the large bar. From here on in things got weird. For the next hour and a half I hit five more fish of which three were blown from the hook popping free. There was no denying the effectiveness of the wax worms. I had fished them before but never with as much conviction as I had today and never with as much success and reward either. The three other fish I lost were well into the battle and almost done deals when the hook just popped free and the rod went lifeless. I couldn't really figure it out other than I was very hesitant to hammer them on the hookset with the big stick and a non-stretch mainline that came on the Frogwater. Needless to say I did manage to put a couple of nice fish on the beach. One was a 6lb Titanium buck that was simply outstanding and the other a long pretty hen in the 7lb range. All of the fish today fought remarkably strong for the time of the year and I could only tie it to the shift in the weather and figured they were putting on the feedbag after the day priors lock down. The hen was giving me a tough time once I put her on the beach and in my haste to keep her under control and eliminate any risk of getting the Frogwater wet I leaned over and my camera fell into the water in front of me. Instinctively |I grabbed it in as soon as it hit the bottom but not before it had become completely enveloped in 6" of the frigid waters of the Big Manistee.

Reluctantly I powered it up and hoped for the best. It came to life but I could see the lense had seen some minor moisture. During all the ruckus the Frogwater Centrepin got splashed and was now frozen up. I positioned the fish and took a few shots for lucks sake and hoped for the best. The camera took the pictures and I accepted this a positive and cleaned as much surface moisture from around the lense as I could prior to tucking it deep into my waders for the remainder of the outing.
As expected the water splashed on the reel had locked it up solid and the rest of the morning was played out fighting an ever increasing cold wind with the big stick, frequent attempts to de-thaw the reel and another blown Steelie. Tight tolerance pins are works of engineering but can be ones nemesis during the frigid months. It's imperative to exercise every precaution practical to keep these pins clean and water free at these times.

That don't work for me and my shutter bug tendencies. It's a risk I'll aways take for the photo. Today it didn't work for me, the reel and my camera but I wouldn't change it for a minute. After a harsh lesson of what typical deep winter steelheading can be on Saturday morning I managed to turn it around and hit 6 quality Michigan Steelies in the matter of a few hours today. The landing ratio was poor but I'm gonna chalk that up as a learning curve issue with the new gear and my reluctance to hammer them on the hook set. I plan on putting up a detailed review of the St Croix 15' Avid and the Riverkeeper Frogwater Edition Centrepin reel soon so stay tuned. As of 4pm this afternoon I think I have managed to dry out the digital camera and just may have dodged a bullet. It was a matter of time and I should probably feel blessed it hasn't already happened multiple times like it has to my useless acquaintences. Time will tell.

Arctic Cold

2012-01-21T23:58:00.001-05:00

I tried to fish this morning. I should have known better as the forecast forewarned me of pain and despair. But still I went... driven by the blind desire to fish...trial some very cool gear...and mildly quench my never ending OCD affliction.

I had forgotten just how short these Arctic session need to be and left the river nursing my burning cold fingers and toes.

Today old man winter won a small victory but I will be back...

Snow Deer

2012-01-20T23:27:00.000-05:00

Pulled the game camera tonight and was pleased to see we had alot of visitors since our last trip over. Finally got some much welcomed snow here in Western MI. Things should get interesting on the river.

My Rig

2012-01-10T00:41:00.004-05:00

O.K. so I got a legit request to put up a post describing my "rig" for steelheading. aka my Centrepin setup. I had never really thought about any form of technical education through this media. After some consideration I opted to email the said individual his request but later thought I might as well cut and paste the entire conversation here for any of the visitors or lay people that may not be familiar with the Great Lakes Float Fishing Centrepin setup. I make no prior claims to being any sort of expert. I merely responded with my personal beliefs and system for Great Lakes Steelheading. I am coming out and making the statement up front...what works for me doesn't necessarily work for others. Steelheaderes are a funny bunch. Like most of the world now actually....Haters! Purists may have alternate opinions. F*ck them...its fishing and should be fun.
Hope you find this helpful and at a minimum hope it brings a smile to your pathetic muggs.

cut n paste email...
Hi Fish Tales…

As per your request about my centrepinning rig…
I can tell you that you will need a 13’ float rod with an action suitable to the flows you are going to fish. Large turbulent flows require a stick with some backbone like an St Croix Avid in the 6-10lb line class or an 14’ IM8 Raven or a 15’ 3 piece Frontier or maybe the new Rainshadow XST in 13’ 6-10.
As for a centrepin reel go with the industry standard Islander IS float reel. Best all around production float reel ever. Will last you a life time and they are bullet proof and beautiful. Get a black one and roll cool on the river ;0) I have a gold, black and slate grey.

Line is simple…I use cheap and frequently replaced Berkley Trilene XL mainline in a 10lb class. I run green because I am straight and dig chicks... And it looks cool on my reel…oh ya and I'm straight.
Now you may need to beef up your mainline depending upon the flows you are fishing and the size of critters you are after. If you do I’d go up to 12 or 14 max. The thing with Berkley XL is that it is cheap…very limp, casts great, strong as shit and cheap. I mean cheap because you will get a lot of line twist and need to replace your mainline a bunch of times like every 6-8 trips is what I do but it’s only $6 bucks a pop.

Next comes the rigging part…
Here ya go…depending upon your flow choose the smallest float you can get away with keeping in mind more weight is better for casting and you do need to see that f*cker when it floats down the river. But… fish can see giant bouy’s a mile away...right!!! eh!!! I only run Drennan floats and in particular I like loafers in 8gm size. I’m getting old and the small orange speck on the loafers is getting hard to see but I’m holding out until I have to switch because I’m a stubborn regimented pos and then it will be to a Drennan Piker or Zeppler about 11 gram size or less. These are not cheap but all other floats out there are Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Im not a balsa fan ;0)

Float goes directly on your mainline then a micro swivel tied to mainline and fluorocarbon leader. Don’t cheap out on your leader…only run flouro…I prefer the Raven 5.6lb variety as the sh*t is as tough as cable and the fish don’t see it. Some peeps will argue that maxima is just as good in off colour water etc…I don’t give a F*ck why risk it. You will get way more hookups running flouro hands down end of story. I always run a 18-20” flouro tippet. Then your hook of choice. If you are using jigs then it’s decided. If you are running flies then it’s decided. If you are running roe bags then I suggest Dai rikki scuds in a #10 or larger depending on your flow, fish size, and line ratings.
Then comes the weighting system. So…you need to understand that you have to load up enough shot under your float in order to make it sit in the water column properly…without any weigh and the float will not work it will just lay on it’s side on the water surface. Experiment here. Keep in mind that your offering at the end of your rig needs weight to get down to the bottom. I primarily bulk shot my rigs. Quick and easy…simply put 3 or so split shot of size req’d above your swivel on the mainline. Then adjust your float up your mainline for water depth that you are fishing and put your split shot under it to make the float work and voila..you are ready to fish. You can easily adjust for depth with this rig by sliding your float and split shot up and down the line as req’d. Some peeps stagger shot from the float down to the leader every 6” or so…those people also tend to be homosexuals. Kidding… not really…

That is way too much work and a pain in the ass for me. The secret to successful steelheading is getting your sh*t to the bottom quick. That is where the fish are. The float and center pin allow you to fish long lines parallel to the shore with minimal swinging. One can cover a tonne of water quickly and efficiently. The ideal is to keep your mainline off the water thus eliminating the need to mend for obvious reasons. Keep your line as tight as possible and don’t be afraid to trot back on the float in order to try and keep your offering leading your float. I don’t get all too anal about that as some times a lagging bait occurs and for some god forsaken reason I tend to still catch fish…weird…now the purists will call me out on this but my blog does have a few pictures of steelhead on it. ;0)
Any questions? Clear as mud? Keep it simple…don’t over think it. Get your bait down, keep your line tight…set up on any abnormal float deviation.
Btw…I see you have fished the Situk in AK…I’m jealous…very jealous…I actually may hate you…joking…My rig would work perfect on that flow. 8 grm drennan perhaps a 12lb main line, 6-8lb flouro tippet and #8 or #10 scud or #6 jig hooks with marabou that would be a lot of fun!!! Almost booked a trip for this may…just may do it yet…who knows.

Hope I helped and didn’t offend,
Brian Morin
Aka Lambton
http://www.lambton101.blogspot.com/

OK now Haters...Start Hatin... Oh ya and in my defense if Arn and Norland can catch fish with this method there must be some form of legitimacy to it...those guys are useless.

Blanco

2012-01-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Well for three days in a row the Alarm lost the battle. I really didn't give it much hope this morning. I awoke just shy of 9 am to clear blue skies. The sun was a welcome sight and there was a moderate bite in the air. The lack of wind and warm sunshine had my hopes up for a late morning bite so I gathered up the gear and made a quick escape to the river. For the next hour I struggled to entice a take. Then it happened...the float dropped...I set...the GL3 loaded up...and as quick as it began it was over. Opportunities on days like today are far and few between. Knowing this quite well I worked my way back up to the top and called it a day. This mornings results didn't really surprise me. The river has been hit or miss the last couple of weeks. It has been on or completely shutdown. It was nice to feel the sun on my face and breathe some cold clean air. Any opportunity to spend some quality time on the river in January is certainly a gift. I really wanted to load the GL3 up again and put her through the paces but it wasn't meant to be. Can't wait to return in the coming weeks and try again.

Crimson Ho

2012-01-08T01:00:00.003-05:00

With an 8:30 appointment at the local garage for our van the game plan this morning was simple. Wake at 6 am, resurrect the now dwindled fire, and relax on the couch for an hour with a warm cup of Joe prior to hitting the big river. Well once again the comfort and warmth of our bed overpowered the piercing alarm and I found myself rushing around the cabin at 7:30 frantically trying to get everything in order so I could have my wife drop me off at the river access prior to the Van's scheduled repair. After yesterdays success and the minor temp drop of the night prior I was pretty much prepared for a tough morning session. The 15 or so vehicles already at the access site really didn't surprise me much as it was Saturday and it has been a consistent theme this winter with the unseasonably warm weather and the lack of snow for other winter pastimes. I made my way down to the river with hopes of some open water below the coffer. I was pleasantly surprised to witness a lonely stretch of river until well around the bend.

The weekend warrior focus was above the coffer and that didn't hurt my feelings in the least. I picked my starting spot and tossed a green and brown Norland Marabou special to the center of the fast water shute. Three or four drifts later and the float dropped. It didn't take long and a large trout launched a foot and a half from the river and spit the jig. Promising results I thought to myself as I inspected the jig and made another throw back into the run. For the next hour I struggled to entice a take. The cold damp wind didn't help matters and my lack of winter acclimation was starting to take a toll on my demeanor. A short walk was in order to warm up and get the blood flowing. I was hoping the inside of the big bend would find my salvation and warm my now chilled body. This water seldom lets me down and in no time the GL3 was loaded up.

By the immediate head thrashing and surface rolls I could tell I was into a decent sized late run Coho. These fish are almost textbook in their fighting strategies and are almost a 180 degrees from a steelie. With no boat between me and the shore like the day prior I worked the fish back towards the bank and the small window of real estate to beach the fish. He was a gnarly Crimson Buck in full spawning colors. His kype was pronounced and armed with a multitude of serious fangs. It was very apparent that his run from the lake was met with great resistance. His scared body told a grim tale of the hardships of the river. These gnarly males will battle to the end for prime spawning rights. Unlike King Salmon Coho's will readily seek out any available forrage while they are in the river and attack with great aggression.

I still get a thrill out of hooking a decent one and marvel at the astounding spawning colors they transform to in the name of procreation. After a multitude of pics the old man was released and we bid a farewell. The entire episode took a tole on my hands. I had underestimated the cold river water and the damp chill in the air and now my hands were aching. I took 15 mins to regain my composure and get my hands working again before working my way back up towards the coffer for another shot at the center shute. I was now thinking that I would cut the morning session short and get back to the cabin to take care of some errands.

I noticed the section was now vacant and I made my way up to fish the bottom end where I typically have the best luck. As I dropped in the river a couple of Indicator Fly fisherman dropped in the river above me and we all started to cover the water. I was admiring the pace of a similar line I fish in the spring when the float dropped and I set up to a giant Steelhead. For the next 10 mins I struggled to turn the beast from the fast water. Any inch I gained was quickly recouped. I was reluctant to put the boots to this fish as the jigs have a well defined limit and I wasn't prepared to lose the fish on a straightened hook. The fish was winning the battle and there was nothing I could to but hope for the best.

My hands and shoulders were aching. Finally I started to gain some ground. Still the fish fought back and wasn't quite ready to surrender when my worst fears were realized. Without warning the 8gm drennan flew past my shoulder and the fish was gone. I quickly inspected the jig and was pleased to see that it's integrity held. I knew my chances of landing this fish were dwindling as the battled lengthened so I wasn't overly surprised or disappointed when the eventual happened. I actually think there might have been more disappointment with the audience that had formed on the far shore. My hands were now throbbing with pain and once again I found myself idle in pursuit of warmth. A chill had now set across my body and my toes were also starting to hurt from the cold. I made a few more good drifts before succumbing to the elements and calling for my ride. I was happy with my successes and the stern reminder that sometimes the fish have to win too. I contemplated just how big that fish could have been as I made the hike out. The pain in my toes reminded me of the joys associated with winter steelheading. Tomorrow is another day...I wonder if the alarm will lose again.

Sweet GL3 Redemption

2012-01-06T21:47:00.006-05:00

With the gift of unseasonably warm weather and a reprieve from work for the holiday season I have been blessed with a multitude of opportunities to frequent the river. My last posting spoke to tremendous success during an afternoon session. The following two day’s I had also fished but to no avail. It was quite disheartening actually with three sessions producing not even a single trout. It took the wind out of my sails and left me scratching my head. We returned home for New Years Eve and a couple of days of work before repacking up and heading back to the cottage for this weekend. In my absence the weather bounced from sub Arctic lows to this morning’s +6 C heat wave. I had planned to take advantage of the break in the weather and launch the Hyde this morning. The work week had left me in arrears on the sleep front. Truth be told I had less than 12 hours sleep over the course of the week and I was bordering on exhaustion.

The thought of leaving the comfort and warmth of the bed this morning lost all romantic appeal with the coming of the spine tingling 6 am alarm. Plan B was quickly brought into play and the subsequent alarms were reset for a later rise. The cottages proximity to multiple river accesses is a blessing and affords me the occasional option of a leisurely morning rise. This morning would be such an occurrence and after a couple of cups of Java and a quick glance at the web I was off to the river with cautious optimism. As previously stated the last three trips to the river stung and I was looking for some form of redemption. With hopes of a lonely river I swung into the access parking lot. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to witness a dozen or so vehicles already there. On the hike down to the river I overheard a couple of anglers chatting about the lack of action all morning. Determined not to let this ruin my outing I continued down the stairs arriving to the river. Here I met another angler on his way out that spoke a similar tale.

The section I intended on fishing was now lonely and I wasted no time rigging up a fresh spawn bag offering. I opted to bring the GL3 over to MI with me on this trip in the hopes that I would run two rods out of the Hyde. This would allow me the opportunity to bounce between roe and jigs without retying. This morning I decided to give her a run on the big river. After a half dozen or so drifts with fresh coho roe I decided to cut to the chase and put a Norland Jig on. After reaching for the jig case and opening it up I was about to decide what colour to start on when a black and red jig fell into my open palm. Considering this as close to an omen as I care to believe in I tied her up and made the first cast to the inside seam of the center shute. As little as 4 seconds into the drift the float dropped and I was into a giant fish. The GL3 is a lot slower than the Rainshadow and was bent over from the cork. The blank was handling the fish fine but It did leave me thinking how it would fare on a similar fish in the spring or early November on this big flow.

It definitely would be a hook and chase scenario. After a decent battle involving luck, prayers and promises the fish was swung to the bank. She was a giant mint hen in the 10lb class. The jig didn’t stand a chance but somehow managed to hold it’s integrity for this encounter. By now the people I passed on the stairs were now around me asking a multitude of questions and preparing to wet their lines again. After a quick photo session the fine lady returned to the big river a little educated with nothing hurt but her pride. The lonely section of river I had was now populated with three anglers. It was of no concern to me and I worked my way back up to the foot of the coffer where I retied a new flouro leader and opted for an olive and brown jig.

I picked away at a series of lines while I worked my way down towards the bottom of the run. Just prior to reaching the next angler I set up on another fish. This one was in the 6 lb class but put up a stronger battle. I managed to swing her into the shallows for a few pics and quick release. Not wanting to draw any more attention to myself I decided to leave the run to the other fishermen and slid down to some favoured lines on the inside bend. The river is running at 1500 cfs which makes the entire river accessible. I waded out onto a gravel bar and picked my lines and began covering them thoroughly. A couple of peeps in a jet boat came storming up the river and around the bend. They ended up anchoring directly behind me putting themselves between me and the bank. I literally began to wonder how I would land a decent fish now when my float dropped and I was into fish number three. This fish was a tad smaller in the 4-5lb class and resembled a summer run fish or a spent fall spawner...very long and lean.

I gestured to the boat that I would have to swing this fish behind them when they offered to net her for me. It took a little doing but I managed to swing her into the awaiting net. She was a pretty clipper with some signs of river life on her body. I asked the guys in the boat how their day had gone and they also spoke a bewildered tale of zero success. I could tell this fish wouldn’t go to waste in their hands and made a quickly accepted gesture of a fresh free meal. There is a put and take aspect to some of the MI fishery and this lady fit my requirements for harvest. I didn’t mind helping these guys out and they certainly appreciated the gesture.

After a brief discussion I handed the run over to them and carried on my way. The remainder of the the outing turned up a few more trout and another shaker steelie. The Jigs were definitely on fire today. Hopefully they do the trick tomorrow but I suspect the river will be over run with disappointed snowmobilers and fair weather fishermen. The warm temps are both a blessing and a curse. Today it worked in my favour and I rekindled my confidence and reaquainted myself with an old friend. Sure felt nice to put a big bend in the GL3. She is a light slow rod and I almost forgot how much I love that stick..

The day after...

2011-12-29T01:48:00.003-05:00

Tuesday was a swift reminder that sometimes no matter how hard you persevere mother nature has the upper hand. To me it was fairly obvious that the cold front that barrelled in had a significant impact on our finned adversaries. From all decent accounts the entire system fished tough from top to bottom. I reluctantly left the warmth of my bed this morning knowing very well the temps were well into the negatives. Fueled with a desire for redemption and the fact that the river traffic would most likely be at a minimum I prepared to gear up and brave the frigid temps. Arriving to the access my suspicions were confirmed with only one other person present. The air had an crisp bite but the lack of wind made the cold bearable. I started below the coffer and fished the next hour hard to no avail. The guides were icing up and frequent breaks were in order to warm my hurting hands. With the lack of river pressure I decided to continue down river and visit the usual haunts. Aside from a 14" resi-bow I was struggling to find that chromer I was after. Finally at the end of my travels I dropped down to one of my go to runs for spring fish.

After a couple of drifts my float dropped and the fight was on. Soon redemption was realized and a long and lean dime bright chromer lay at my feet. After a few pics the fish was released but not before a violent escape attempt that saw my reel and rod get doused with water. I knew it was going to be trouble for me as the temps froze the reel up instantly. I had gotten what I had came for and decided to head back to the cottage for a thaw and an afternoon run into town for supplies. On the way back from Manistee I noted that there was still no wind as evident by the vertical plumes of smoke emulating from the chimneys. There was still a couple of hours of daylight left so I hastily unpacked the van and geared up for an impromptu afternoon session. Once again the river was deserted. I was clinging to the hope that the afternoon sun would be enough to turn at least one fish on and grant me the opportunity to persuade a take. Things were looking grim as 15 mins passed without a take. I bounced between white and olive/brown jigs and decided to switch up one more time to a solid black with orange accents. After a half dozen or so drifts my float disappeared and the rod loaded up well into the drift. I could tell it was a large fish by the giant tail that appeared from the fast water. After a strong run and thrashing on the surface the fish subsided and started to run up river towards me and into the shallows. My suspicions were realized when the large barred pig of a Coho appeared from the depths.

She was an amazing specimen with brilliant crimson bars adorning her sides. By the size of her belly it was evident that she had yet to spawn and was determined to do so. I managed to fire off two quick pics when she went ballistic, splashed me in the face, jumped over my left side and made a quick run back towards the river. I instinctively grabbed for the line and made a last ditch effort at bringing her back to the camera when the it went slack. I smiled to myself as I wiped the water from my face and watched her jettison along the shore and back into the run. I retied another black and orange jig and made my way back out toward the middle of the river. By now a couple of guys in a small aluminum had anchored their boat directly below me about 10 yards past my drift limit.

They were far enough as to not impede my drift but left me with an uneasy feeling as to how I would fare with a hot large fish. A few more drifts and my fears were realized. I set up on a giant steelhead. After giving me a quick purple flash at the surface the fish ran hard down river. I had no choice but to clamp down on the fish and hope for the best. Initially I paused the beast briefly but another strong run ensued and the leader broke midway. I shrugged it off. An opportunity missed is always better than never having had the opportunity at all. Once again I retied a fresh leader and grabbed black and orange jig number three from my vest. I was now confident where to concentrate my efforts and started to pick away at the section making longer cast after cast covering every line. Once again my float dropped and another chromer was head shaking at the end of my line. This fish was more manageable and I quickly turned it towards the bank and away from the anchor rope threat and eventually onto the beach. I was now an hour and a half into this session and was 2 for 3.

I was losing daylight fast and took no time returning to the river. Systematically I stuck to my game plan and drilled line after line waiting for that orange speck to disappear. True to form if droped again and I set up to a couple of quick head shakes and then slack. 2 for 4 and my confidence was at it's peak. The bite was on and I had no reason to believe I couldn't fine another before dark. Another dozen or so drifts and the rod loads up to another giant fish. Similar to the first big chromer this fish runs hard down stream. The anchored boat once again is posing a huge threat to my chances of success so I had to bare down and hope for the best. Yet agaim the line gave and the fish was on its way. By now it was starting to get difficult to see my float and prospect of losing another hot fish was not very appealing. I was happy with the success. The lost fish... well that's part of the game I guess. One thing for certain...this episode definately had be thinking of stepping up approach. Time to break out some 8lb flouro or better and take my chances with the hook strength. Quite the difference a day can make. I think I'll sleep in tomorrow and hit the river after lunch for the afternoon session. I got my jigs in order for the duration of this trip but will be putting a fresh order in with Ella as soon as I get back. Solid body black with orange and red accents feathers have been killer as well as the solid white with crystal flash bodies and solid olive. I think I'll get Ella to give this old fella a jig tying lesson. I haven't turned a fish on roe over here for weeks. The jigs are on fire.

Fishing versus Catching

2011-12-27T18:10:00.002-05:00

If it was easy it would be called catching.

I was excited about the prospects today would bring. With temps forecast in the positives and overcast skies I could only image just how promising the day would be. I made a conscious decision to fish the Hyde at the top of the river as the weather man was threatening freezing temps for Wed. and I didn't want to waste an easy opportunity this late in the year. The launch was effortless but it was evident that others decided to take advantage of the temps as well. Traffic was busy compared to the past few weeks but I guess it goes with the territory as it is the holidays.

With grand expectations I set adrift. Hole after hold produced nothing. I was half way down my intended route and losing confidence when I got slammed by a decent fish in some fast water. Instantly I could tell it was a brown and brushed off the excessive fight as a result of the swift river currents but soon it was evident it was a large resident. After a decent battle I managed to swing him into the new net and then into the boat.

It was my best resident brown to date...A pristine football of a male at least 2 lbs and pushing 18-19". At times these resi browns can be a hindrance but I have never lost appreciation for just how beautiful they are. After a quick pic he disappeared into the magical waters of the Manistee. I continued on down river struggling to find that big chromer when I set up on a nice resident Rainbow about 17" in a deep water hole. These fish too are works of art and always have me reaching for the camera.

By now the forecasted cold front was starting to encroach and the skies were darkening as the wind started to pickup. I carried on around the bend in haste to my last hope at chrome redemption only to come up short handed. I decided I better double back as things were looking sketchy and I was starting to worry about the ramp freezing up. As I pulled the boat out the snow began to fall and the temps were into the negatives. A couple of gentlemen were launching when I pulled out and I had to chuckle to myself at what this crazy obsession can persuade people to do. With only a couple of hours of daylight left and snow flurries in the forecast these dudes where on the prowl for chrome. LOL! I guess we have all been there in some form or another. Tomorrow is another day. I will find redemption wading below the coffer. Hopefully the colder temps will keep the traffic to a minimum.

The Best Gift Ever...

2011-12-24T17:34:00.001-05:00

I gave myself an early Christmas Gift today...With aggressive holiday plans and the ever looming end to the Ontario season I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and treat myself to some much needed solitude...A solo trip to the river is always healing and filled with gifts inside of the gift if one opens their eyes and looks beyond the obvious.

The bite of winter was in the air and frozen guides were evidence that the lockup is around the corner. The old girl was in her glory and marginally proud of her banks. She was dressed in Emerald green with shore ice accents.

The fish were in their winter holding patterns and willing to participate. The silence and sense of isolation afforded by a lonely river in December is unparallelled.

The opportunity to fish a river alone in this day and age is priceless. The ends do justify the means and my now tired and weary body has no regrets.

Our little river is a special place and today I said good by to her for the remainder of this season. It was nice to share an intimate outing with her and bid my fond farewells.

May you all have a safe and wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas, tight lines, and best wishes.

Frozen Anchors and Cracked Fingers...Winter Steelheading

2011-12-20T23:15:00.003-05:00

Sitting in front of my computer in the comfort of my home I am contemplating just how to capture the past 48hrs of steelheading at the cottage. I'm tired and my hands ache. We started the trip off with an afternoon session that left me feeling quite excited about the next two days. Monday's forecasted temps were very encouraging and I was excited arriving to the upper river with the Hyde in tow to discover that we had the river to ourselves. The next 8 hours would prove to be a series of unfortunate events.

The day ended on a blanco. It wasn't like we didn't have our chances. The ones that came across my path were poorly stuck or simply got the better of me. Some days you can't do anything wrong and some days you can't buy any luck. We did managed to put a multitude of very healthy resi rainbows and browns into the boat though and if it wasn't for their aggression the day would have been very dismal. This mornings game plan was finalized over coffee.

The decision was made to forgo the upper river and head right down to the lower. The boat was left out overnight so all we had to do was load the motor and the rods and make our way to the launch. This proved to be a poor call. The night time temps had dropped well below freezing and the bottom of the boat was now full of ice. The anchor rope was frozen solid as well as the anchor itself in the bottom ice. Minor details to hardcore steelheaders but a pain in the a$$ nonetheless. Arriving to the launch we were quite surprised to see another 5 or so rigs already launched and on the water.

The ramp was very icy where they had launched but we were lucky enough to have the far side of the ramp untouched and bone dry. As we launched two more rigs pulled in. I noticed it was the Hawkins guides and assumed they were starting their days later now as the bite was now into winter mode. We made our way to the first run and crossed our fingers that the anchor would release and function with the frozen rope and mechanism. We were to struggle with this system for the remainder of our outing and it proved to be yet another pain in the a$$ for the morning.

The forecast was predicting a marginally positive one degree Celsius but it certainly wasn't making any attempt at breaking free from the negatives. We struggled with icy guides, frozen anchor systems, reels, hands, and toes. Be bounced around for a couple of hours without so much as a sniff. The feeling of fishing heavy pressured 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th water in the extreme cold was testing my patience. After the 5th unsuccessful location I decided to double back, cut our losses, and head for the cabin to offload the boat and see if we could redeem ourselves wading the water below the coffer.

This proved to be a wise decision. The fishing was tough but I still managed to persuade a couple handsome players to come to hand. The roe bite is definitely on hold but the bug bite seems to be the ticket. Norland jigs once again saved the day. Solid black and black with fire-red. Also to note a flashy white iridescent jig put the hurt on a multitude of resident rainbows and browns. Multiple passes of the black jigs produced nothing and when I switched over to the white I popped two fish in two drifts. Not sure if the resi's are keying in on a minnow or waxi presentation but one thing is for certain...they are on it!

It was nice to feel the big bend in the rod today and get some redemption for a tough day and a half. Monday just seemed to be one of those days where a guy couldn't do anything right and this morning was a bitter cold reminder that the elements can and will have an effect on the outcome. The poor fish don't know what the heck is happening. Plus 8 temps one day and -3 a couple days later. They set up for winter mode and then mother nature throws them a curve. It's all part of the game I guess but I know one thing for certain...my old body takes a hell of a beating on these cold outings. The last three weeks of fishing has wrecked havoc on my hands. They have dried out substantially and I have a multitude of cracks on my fingers and thumbs. At one point today after dealing with one of my fish I noticed my hands were actually bleeding. Now every time I inadvertently bump something with one of my affected fingers it sends a jolt of pain like an electrical shock through my entire body. LOL! I ain't getting soft!!!! It is an unreal pain. The joys of getting older I guess and the price to be paid for fishing like a Fiend. A price well worth it I guess... now where is that hand lotion.

Late Afternoon Session

2011-12-18T22:59:00.002-05:00

With a green light from both work and our wives Arn and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity for some pre-Christmas Steelheading and drove over to the West Side.

The weather this year has been kind to us steelheaders and today we arrived at the cabin, unpacked, geared up and slid down to a river under +1 C temps and little to no wind. With only a few hours prior to sunset we decided to wade the river below the coffer.

Jigs and spawn proved to be the ticket accompanied with equal amounts of confidence and determination. The fish this year are large as are the resident rainbows and browns.

We put in three hours and turned 3 steelhead and a multitude of browns and rainbows. It took me a little bit to dial in on the jig colour of the day but once I landed on Olive it all came together rather quickly.

The highlights were my 8-9lb mint hen and Arn's big resi brown Nice to get the lines wet before the main session tomorrow.

-10 on the Jig

2011-12-10T23:21:00.004-05:00

It was family weekend at the cottage and I couldn't wait to spend some time with the Girls. We arrived at a reasonable hour Friday night and quickly put flame to the new woodstove. It certainly is nice knowing the dollar meter isn't rapidly spinning out of control every time the propane forced air furnace fires up. And honestly...there is no comparison to wood fired heating. We settled in for a warm night of liesure.

My wife had plans of Christmas baking with the girls on Saturday. I was anxious to get the Hyde back out on the upper river but the biting cold evening air had me second guessing my morning plans.

The alarm came early as it usually does and I awoke to the bad breath of a 90lb Labrador retriever overly anxious for his morning meal. The cabin was cool so I stoked the stove and let cody buddy out for his morning business. Upon opening the front door I was overwhelmed by a stern brisk cold. I knew it was well in to the negatives and I knew I would be in for a rough solo morning venture. I reluctantly weighed my options and the comfort and warmth of our bed won the vote. A few hours later I re-awoke and made the morning coffee.

While I savoured my morning java I reformulated my day. The new plan had me poking my way around the banks of the upper river. The boat would best be left for more civil temps and a more acclimated self. The weather network was bragging of -10C with the windchill and I was not prepared for an extended outing of frozen anchor ropes and slippery boat decks. The wading initiative gave me a quick egress in the event things were unbearable.

Arriving to the access I wasn't surprised to witness a lonely river. The mid-day sun was bright but it offered no comfort from the harsh bite in the afternoon air. Having been graciously reminded of the winter Jig effectiveness the week prior by JB I was keen to float some Ella Norland hand crafted Canadian Jigs. Ella loves to help her dad tie up jigs and roe and the last couple of Christmas's I was fortunate to be on the receiving end of a multitude of them.
I chose to start with a black and orange jig with a woolen body. After getting my jig saturated with water and the marabou pulsing I chose my line and made the first cast.

I was disappointed to learn the float reel had frozen solid on the descent down the stairs to the river. The previous weekends outings were under substantial rainfall and the gear had been soaked. It had been quite a while since I had to contend with a frozen reel so it took me a while to rid the gear of the ice buildup. Three or four casts later hand me shuffling down river about 10 yards and picking a line further into the river in a fast shoot coming off of the coffer. The second pass on this line and my float dropped. Instinct had me set up to a monster of a fish.

It was quickly apparent that the daunting cold would be both friend and foe. The cold weather had put the fish into a manageable winter mode but the bite in the air was laying havoc on my aching hands. With some luck I managed to beach the 30" double striper. It was a beast of a buck and had to push the 11lb mark. He showed no signs of shyness on his take and crushed the black maribou jig. With hands aching I assisted him back into the majestic flow unharmed. I couldn't have been happier. In less than 10 mins on the river I had banked a world class winter buck and on one of the Norland's Jigs.

With plenty of water to traverse I continued to work my way down river and around the bend. The water level of the river had dropped a good 6-8" from the previous weekend and I was struggling to find some more willing players. I worked my way down to my lower travel limit with only a chunky brown to show for the efforts before turning around and making the hike back up.

Arriving back to the coffer I had another hour of daylight left and decided to tie on a black body with red inner accent marabou jig. This colour combination has been one of my goto options when running the jig back on the Ontario flows. Today proved to be no different. Over the course of 30 mins I hit another stellar buck, a big hen and lost another fish on a straightened hook. The takes were ferocious and the fish were all large specimins in full winter dress.

The river was lonely and the fishing was outstanding. The ends do justify the means and I found my once cold aching body rejuvenated and warm from the adrenaline rush of giant fish. The quality of fish never cease to amaze me and the sense of new found appreciation I have for these MI flows every time I visit them seems to have no end. Each and every encounter we have with these fish is a gift and I cherish each as such. I am a blessed man. As I made the asscent from the river basin I couldn't wait to get back and tell the girls of my outstanding afternoon.

Opportunity

2011-12-08T21:50:00.002-05:00

Opportunity..noun...[op-er-too-ni-tee]... a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.

In life one has choice...Seize the moment and embrace the opportunity to live life to the fullest or ignore the wonderful gift and go on not knowing the grandeur of what could have been. Today we embraced the gift and visited a Lake Huron Jewel. It had been a while since the home waters had come into there own. Recent times have converted these precious flows into high rising and quick falling systems. There is no longer a fishable in between and the window is very tight. The fish seem to have managed to adapt fine. As a steelheader you have to seize the opportunity or roll the dice.

This time of the year can be hit or miss. Some years have had the rivers locked up in a frigid icy grip by now while others find the emerald gem flow open through to the season's end. Even when the flows manage to keep open there is always the ever daunting risk of morning slush this time of the year.
The forecast was marginally mild in comparison to what we have dealt with in past December outings. Arriving to the access site I had to question the thermometer. It was apparent that the cold wind was definitely adding a windchill effect but still it bothered me just how much the cold was bothering me.

Arriving to the rivers edge she was exactly as predicted. On the front end of being fishable. Impeccable timing mid week typically equates to peace, serenity, and sore shoulders. Today's outing was a-typical. The fish were scattered throughout the system and nothing came easy. The way it should be in my opinion. Large numbers and fish in a barrel can be novel but more than not ruin a man. The cold nights and runoff have put the fish in a pre-winter state of lethargy. They fought hard but a few degree's warmer would have had our asses handed to us numerous times on this big water day.

Big water brings inherent challenges. The fish can scatter throughout the system and one needs to be persistent and approach the river with a plan. Another challenge comes in the form of crossing. One would think they know their own flows intimately but big water changes the game. A multiplier to the dangers of crossing in December are the frigid temps. Today I witnessed a near tragic situation get thwarted but not before humbling my peer and giving him a new found respect for our ages and river conditions. I gave up crossing the river without a staff a long time ago and can proudly say it has come to my aid many a time.

One over occurring theme of the day was the cold. I has been a long time since I have had to contend with the cold on this level. To be quite honest it was no where near the severity of typical winter outings but the effect early on was harsh. It was never an issue that couldn't be dealt with via a small hand warming break or walk in the bush but more a reminder of our ages and maybe we are getting softer. The hike out to the car was certainly another indication. Driving back we discussed the hike and weather or not we would consider it this winter under a foot of snow fall.

The thoughts and sentiments were certainly leaning towards the softer side. Are we at the beginning of the end...I highly doubt that but will our approach be more thought out and reasonable...I would think so but honestly who can say?
So today we seized the opportunity...the gift of fishable high water in December and today we were rewarded for living.

December Rains...

2011-12-05T21:22:00.002-05:00

Day 2

The rains starting falling late Friday night. Waking early Saturday morning I wasn’t much surprised to learn that it was still raining. It was forecast for the entire day. The cabin was still warm from the previous night’s fire and I was happy the wood stove's form met function. After feeding the dog and reinstating the fire we discussed the mornings options over a coffee. With Friday’s successes in our pockets there was no real urgency to hit the river. We landed on a leisurely start to the day that would start with some peppered bacon and eggs. The rains were showing no signs of reprieve so after a few hours of couch moping and WFN surfing we decided to make a break for the river.

There was a decent rain in the works accompanied by a moderate chill in the air but nothing the Goretex and proper under layering couldn’t handle. Considering the extent of the gloomy day we were quite content and dropped the drift boat in at the Tippy launch. I was eager to fish this section again after the week priors success with my daughter. By now we were pushing 11 am and I had to chuckle at our overly late start. The idea in this section is to find and fish as much dark green water as you can located along the float down river. This typically occurs in the buckets located behind the gravel bars and ridges of the river along with the occasional trough and extended run. It wasn’t long when my float dipped and I set up on a fish only to feel the solid confirmation and textbook flash before the hook popped.

It was a terrible feeling as I wasn’t totally certain just how many opportunities we would come by having started this late in the morning. My feelings were validated as we only managed to pop a few fattie browns along the next hour and a half of drifting. This was all to change when we reached a deep water section just above Suicide. I was fairly confident we would find some luck here as I lifted a fish last Saturday with Taylor out of this section so we situated the Hyde properly to fish it hard. I was just about to give up on this run when I re-adjusted my depth and made another drift through. It was a good call on my part as the float jettisoned into the green abyss and I set up on a large hot dime.

The fish exploded and ran well down into the Suicide bend. I was in the rowing seat. After Norland’s crash course in rowing I wasn’t prepared to turn over the oars LOL! With the anchor rope in one hand and the float rod in the other the chase was on. Norland was on the net and dialed in. It wasn’t enough just dealing with the hot fish but at times I had to correct the boat position and keep tabs on our proximity to shore and river obstructions. It must have been quite the act as we worked this fish to the net dropping and re-pulling the anchor. Finally I managed to get the chrome hen near the boat for a shot and in the blink of an eye Norland made an insane snatch and grab. It was impressive… If I had blinked my eyes I would have missed it. The fish was a strong prime specimen in the 7-8 lb range. She couldn’t have come at a better time as our damp spirits were beginning to lose confidence in the day.

After a healthy release we motored back up to the top of the run and started our decent back down into suicide bend. After a well deserved break I decided to get back in the water. We were now a ¼ of the way into the bend and I was on my second or third drift when my float slammed down. Once again I was setting up on a fish but this time it was confirmed by an enormous leap from the depths followed by a sharp run and two more epic jumps. It was a giant double stripped buck and he was pissed off. Instantly my left arm reached for the anchor rope and I cleared it fast as the fish continued to break the surface and race down into the bend. The fish jumped a total of 7 times over the course of our battle.

Amazing for a fish setting up for a long winter. Once again the circus was in town and we fumbled our way down river in pursuit. At one moment I wanted to reach into my pocket and get the camera so I could take a picture of Gene. There he was…net in hand…one leg up on the gunnel in a focused stance ready to pounce with fury. The anticipation on his face was stellar and I knew then and there that we were going to land this fish and we indeed did just that. It was outstanding. Kind of emotional actually. My arms were aching and before me was a pristine example of the state of the West side fishery. Just a stellar double strip buck in full Winter dress. The fins were darkened to the full burgundy tint and tipped with a stark white tips. The Double stripes were vibrant and well pronounced. The checks were crimson armor plated. He was a handsome beast pushing 10lbs and proved his prowess in the water and air. It was an outstanding moment as we witnessed him jet back into the depths of suicide unscathed and no worse for wear. Our day certain had taken a turn for the better and we were now Amped. Back up river we motored and began to make the same drift. I positioned the boat just below where I hooked the buck and Gene made a few passes through some nice slower paced water. His thirds pass through I was focused on his float and it dropped quick. He set up to nothing.

We were certain that had to have been a fish and commented on the sentiments as he recast to the same line. We watched in utter anticipation as the float meandered down to the general local of it's last disappearance. Then it happened…it dropped and Gene set up on a long buck that breached the water instantly. It was a very good fish and once again the chase was on. We were now about half way down the bend and close to shore. We had some options. One was to risk my inferior netting abilities and play it out in the Hyde or row to shore and put the fish on the beach. As the battle ensued we chose option B and Gene leaped from the boat in the shallows. This still proved to be no simple task as Gene and I worked the fish down river abandoning the Hyde all together. We managed to swing him into a small cove where I scooped him up just for certainty.

It was an awesome fish. A long ruby red striped river warrior with a lime green hue. This fish was tough and his body bore the indications that he was a true river soldier. The beach landing afforded us the opportunity for a nice photo op and we took full advantage of it prior to the healthy release. We were now three stellar fish into a late start and stoked. The day took a drastic turn for the better and we couldn’t have wished for more from it. With an hour or so of fishable daylight left we reset the gear and made the row back out into the drift. Wanting to fish the back end of the bend we made our way down when my float dropped and once again we were into yet another hot fish. This time a smaller silver hen in the 5-6 lb class but nonetheless a workout.

At one time during this battle she was screaming downstream towards a large log protruding from the river. Her intentions were obvious and I had to clamp down on her and hope for the best when she turned and raced back up river toward the boat. The anchor was dropped and the boat was weaving in the current from shallow water to deeper water. We just happened to be over the shallow water when I decided to make my break for the shore. I jumped from the boat and worked the fish towards the shallow gravel bank. Norland was laughing his ass off and in hot pursuit. We managed to find success once again and put her on the beach. Here we were 4 fish into the day, water logged rats, and happier than hell. The boat was in the middle of the river and we were on the shore laughing about the entire episode.

We marvelled at the power of these fish and the fact that we had the river to ourselves. We made a few more attempts at the bottom end of the bend but it was apparent that we were losing daylight and had to make the slow motor back up to the launch. We arrived back to the cabin under darkness, off loaded out saturated gear and settled in for a hot meal and some cold Rolling Rocks. The discussions that evening mostly centered around how quickly our day turned around and just how enjoyable this miserable cold and rainy December day turned out to be.

Today was testament that it truly isn't over until the fat lady sings and perseverance and confidence are the most valuable tools in ones wading jacket. These are the days that get eternally etched into our memories for these are the stories we will tell and relive for many years to come. They are the days and experiences that money can’t buy... Days that should and will be cherished for the rest of our lives.

Norlands Unicorn...

2011-12-04T23:49:00.004-05:00

Day 1

Well the stars finally aligned. The weather was forecast to be fishy, I had a free schedule at work, and Norland had the green light to join me for a few days of pre-winter/late fall Steelheading. With some vacation time saved and a daunting wood stove install task hanging over my head I decided to head up Tuesday night and Gene would meet me at the Cabin later in the week.. The wood stove install was a little more involved than I had anticipated but after two full days of mental and manual labour the job is done. I couldn't be happier with the end result.
There are still some minor details to finalize but the stove is in, looking beautiful, and cranking out the heat. This was giant monkey on my back. With major commitments at work this year I had considered paying someone to install it. The quotes I had received were coming in extremely high and I struggled with paying a ridiculous amount of money for a job I was quite capable of completing. With this said and the major fall outage at work I managed to keep putting the daunting task off.

Looking at the weather window I decided I better bite the bullet and get it done. Just as I was finishing up the final caulking and nailing of the roof flashing Norland rolled in. True to his useless nature he showed up just in time to do nothing. LOL! Typical!!!
I cleaned up as he unloaded his gear and we settled down for a couple of cold drinks and some dinner as we discussed recent events in each others lives and the game plan for the following day. There was a minor cold front that crept in shortly after Gene arrived so we decided to take our time and get to the river launch for 8am.

When morning arrived we discussed the days events over a coffee and agreed on fishing the lower river out of the Rainbow bend launch. The morning air had a crisp bite to her and the remnants of a mild evening snowfall was visible on the ground. As we made out way back to the launch access we rounded the final corner to witness an empty parking lot. This was certainly a gift and we were quick to offload the Hyde and make our way down river in hot pursuit of some chrome. The first couple of locations were stingy and didn't produce a single take.

I could sense that Norland was thinking his Michigan curse was going to continue on and haunt him. The third location we set up at I managed to hook a nice clipper early into the drift. I was nice to feel the rod load up and the validation of our efforts. After a decent battle we put the fish in the boat. We continued to work our way down river to the next location. Not long after situating the boat I hooked a little skipper and sent him on his way. Gene then set up on a decent fish but no sooner than seeing his rod load up nicely his main line broke and a dire look of disbelief and despair fell across his face. It was a sizable fish and Gene took it hard. He shook it off and retied. While he did that I dropped the boat down about 30 feet to fish a nice foam line coming off the current break of the sunken tree.

About 3 drifts in I noticed Gene's lost float start to make it's way into the seam we were fishing then disappear under the surface. I was clear that the fish that he had lost dropped down to this run and set up on the line we were targeting. We figured that fish wouldn't be alone and made a couple more drifts. A few drifts in and Gene hooked up with a tank. The fish started to run down river and the chase was on. We knew it was a big fish but were both shocked when it broke the surface. With no other options we worked our way down river in the Hyde in hot pursuit. After a couple of feeble attempts the huge buck made the net and I lifted him into the boat. He was a giant. Definitely Genes personal best Steelhead. He measured out at 32". We didn't get a girth measurement but this fish would easily hit the 14 lb mark.

The fish was awesome and couldn't have come at a better time. By now Gene was shaking and couldn't have been happier. After a fair amount of glamour shots we sent him back to the depths from which he came unscathed and no worse for wear. Gene celebrated the epic victory over a Creemore and a bologna sandwich. LOL! The remainder of the day found us poking around the lower river desperately looking for a hookup. But as fate would have it we were unsuccessful. The fish were certainly there but were put down for some reason. We talked to other steelheaders that experienced the same findings. We couldn't have been happier with our rewards and the encounter with the giant MI buck. All afternoon all Gene could talk about was the call he was going to make to Advanced Taxidermy when he got back home for the reproduction mount. LOL! It was a good feeling watching him put that fish in the net and I couldn't have been happier for him. He certainly has taken his licks over there and more than earned that fish. We arrived back to a warm cabin and the inviting aroma of crockpot chili. We lit the inaugural fire in the wood stove and discussed the next days game plan over diner and some cold beverages as we settled in for the evening. Life is good.

On a side note...I attempted to teach Gene how to work the Hyde. That proved to be a lost cause. LOL! I'm just glad he didn't have his sidearm in the boat as I'm certain he would have shot me in the face for my lack of patience. I can't be around useless people...LOL! ;0)

to be continued...day 2

T on the upper

2011-11-26T22:30:00.002-05:00

I'd been looking forward to this morning for the last month. Today was to mark the first time my youngest was to float the river with me for some steelheading action. The weather forecast had me concerned. With a fair amount of rain in the mix and a 12 year old on board I wasn't sure how the morning would play out. The temps were still predicted to be unseasonably warm but throw in a good downpour and I could quickly see my fishing partner's spirits turn and the inevitable request to go home surface.

We launched to a river with minimal pressure. The rifle deer season has certainly taken the main focus of the outdoors demographic away from the river. We started out the morning with a couple of chunky browns and Taylor handled them perfectly. We worked our way down to some favoured water where I lost a steelie on my first pass through. The second pass produced a very handsome football brown that Taylor played perfectly to my awaiting hands.

A few more passes and Taylor hooks up proclaiming "Daddy I got one help!" By the tone in her voice and the followup "HELP!" I knew it was a steelie. Looking up from my rowing seat I could see the fish was screaming down river. Taylor was doing awesome at keeping her rod up high and the line tight at all times. I pulled the anchor and the chase was on. We must have dropped and pulled the anchor 4 or 5 times before being in a position to make an honest attempt at landing the fish. By now we could start to get brief glimpses of the creature. It was an awesome 6-7 lb double stripe buck. Taylor was getting exhausted and ready for the workout to end. She made an initial swing towards the net. I just about had the beast in the net when the fish shot like a bullet back into the emerald depths. Soon he was heading under the boat and my worst fears came to reality. He was wrapped around the anchor rope. Hanging over the back of the Hyde I made a desperation attempt at freeing the fish from the rope when the leader broke and the fish was on his way after a farewell jump beside us. Taylor took it like a champion. I tried to keep my composure but it really affected me. I wanted that fish so bad for my little girl. She earned it and couldn't have made me more proud . She shook it off like she had caught a million steelhead when in fact this would have been her first of any size.

We continued on with our float. By now there was a constant drizzle and we were starting to get saturated. I could tell Taylor was starting to lose interest. With a longing to see a previously discussed Beaver Damn she kept her desire to return to the launch hidden. I managed to land a nice 5lb hen and my net girl Taylor once again surprised her Dad with an outstanding net job. She actually took the liberty to tell her Dad she was better at it than me. I think Red and Arn would attest to that after the net fiasco from a couple of weeks back. After loosing another lenghty battle with a giant buck at the top of the Tunk hole we decided to motor down to the Beaver Dam and then call it a day.

By the time we returned to the launch we were a couple of drowned rats. The temp had dropped a little and Taylor was getting chilled. She didn't complain and helped her dad get the Hyde back on the trailer. The new Goodyear Wranglers made short work of the ramp and soon it was coffee and hot chocolate time at the Brethren EZ-Mart before setting our course for the cabin. Taylor was a trooper out there today and made her dad proud. Although the steelhead had the upper hand today we still managed to find them and I can't think of a better way to have spent a rainy late November day.

Open

2011-11-21T20:25:00.000-05:00

The Stuff...

2011-11-21T00:09:00.003-05:00

Sunday morning came too soon for my weak and weary body. The bone-piercing wail of the alarm clock at 6 am could have easily been redirected with a simple flick of the wrist. I needed no more fish. Saturdays outing had more than bought me a weeks worth of work until the next trip to the river but the previous nights rains had me intrigued. The cold front that moved in while I was on the River Saturday ended up delivering on the promise of cold precipitation. By the sounds emanating from the metal Cottage roof there would be enough to shake things up a bit. My hopes were banking on a shift in the ranks. Perhaps move some fish around in the system and push some higher up. From my experiences the entire river has been fishing awesome this year from top to bottom. After the small victories I'd achieved on the lower river recently I was longing to return and further explore the area but with an abundance of chores piling up back at the cottage I opted for a quick walk and wade trip on the upper river.

This option proved to be a wise decision as I experienced a virtually abandoned river filled with some new and willing players. The fish were outstanding and I could not have asked for a better pace. I got my a$$ handed to me a couple of times and managed to win a couple sparing matches as well.

The morning reminded me how much I have missed those December outings when I can hear my own thoughts and enjoy pure isolation. I guess that's probably why I enjoy floating the river in the Hyde. I'm long past the days of being seen...or aiming for double digits. Now its about becoming invisible or maybe even lost if you will...

If I could only bottle the intensity and excitement of being in the zone and dialed in on a lonely river I'd be a rich man. The stuff that makes the numbing cold go away and the burning pain subside. The stuff that gives us super human senses and the ability to will a fish from the depths. Yeah...that stuff. That's the stuff that comes to me on days like today. You know what I mean...

Solo on the Lower End

2011-11-19T19:59:00.008-05:00

With the Rifle Deer Hunt well underway I was anxious to hit the lower river and witness the shift from water to wood. True to the stories I have been told the lower access point was virtually abandoned. With boyish anticipation I offloaded the Hyde and started my float down river.

It was a classic late November day with moderate winds, overcast skies and a cold front on the fringe. To this point we have experienced moderate success on this section of the river.

Each float the river reveals more of her secrets. She tends to lead one on wild goose chases. She demands your full attention and is adament that you pay your dues. Today's float was a small victory in that regard. I have been logging mental notes each and every trip. Some from my successes and some from other boats. Nevertheless... while on the river I have been doing my homework.

This is not your typical steelhead water. There are countless miles of river to cover and just as many log pileups. It has to be broken down into sections and covered thoroughly. Not every log pile stacks fish and not every perceived lie provides reward.

It is imperative to do whatever it takes to shorten the curve and time on the water is the best remedy. Today was to provide some validation and reward for the hours logged and the homework done. It was nice to fish this water with some form of confidence and achieve validation.

Fighting fish from a boat with the float gear is far removed from wade fishing. A net is manditory and putting a hot Lake Michigan Steelhead into the net solo with the 13' rod is no small feat. Today was another rung higher on the ladder. It was nice to be able to properly position the Hyde, make the proper drift, and set up on a willing player.

Another small victory experienced along the journey. The adventure continues...

Gossip Session

2011-11-15T08:16:00.000-05:00

Wonder what the latest Gossip is around the bait pile?

Top of the Bottom

2011-11-14T21:29:00.002-05:00

Today we re-focused our efforts back towards the lower river.

With the Hyde we are restricted to the top of the bottom end but nonetheless still privy to magical waters.

As luck would have it we won some and lost some.

In retrospect any time spent floating this river is always a victory for the soul.

Good friends, constant laughs, God's Country and epic chrome.

Day 3 and the leaves

2011-11-13T21:35:00.001-05:00

Day 3 found the boys recovering from the previous evenings bon fire. With huge ambitions of a first light expedition we found ourselves more inclined to tend to our swollen heads and the daunting task of the leaf cleanup. I don't know if our heads were bigger than the yard clean up task but we tended to both and still found time for an afternoon session on the river. The highlights were some fat resi-browns and Arn's bonus late season Ho.

In God's Country

2011-11-13T09:31:00.001-05:00

Fishing in Gods country...The hours pass like minutes...

11-11-11

2011-11-11T21:14:00.001-05:00

Today marked yet another milestone in the Michigan chapter.

Ever since we purchased the cabin I have longed to float the lower river with the Hyde down from Rainbow in November,

It didn't take me long to learn that fish stack heavy in the lower river from October through to the spring push.

After a relentless 8 week work lockdown Arn, Red, and myself made a break from plastic making purgatory towards some chrome redemption.

Day one couldn't have gone any better. We woke to fresh a white blanket of fresh snow and made our way towards a promising day.

Although we didn't put huge numbers up we all did manage to feel the raw power of fresh November Chrome.

Morning River

2011-11-07T21:14:00.002-05:00

Lake Run Goodness

2011-11-06T22:14:00.002-05:00

Floated the Big River this morning with Red. The morning had the makings of a stellar fall day. The fishing proved to be tough but Red pulled a rabbit out of a hat with some "Lake Run" goodness.

I've been waiting a while to come face to face with one of these brutes. Although this wasn't the behemoth the system is known for it certainly was a damn fine specimen.

Certainly one of the most handsome finned creatures I've come across in some time. But then again...next to Red an Orangutan would look dead sexy.
Congrats on the Fish Red.

Morning Brown

2011-11-05T21:40:00.000-04:00

Manistee Gold

2011-10-31T20:55:00.002-04:00

Norland you can keep your secret society Mennonite Gypsy Roe...I got my Manistee Gold...
Now if I could just escape from work...

Newsprint Steel

2011-10-30T21:37:00.000-04:00

Cold Steel Therapy

2011-10-29T07:50:00.006-04:00

Medicine for the Soul

Who Rolls Harder than Norland?

2011-10-28T11:39:00.000-04:00

Norland…International man of mystery, guardian of the nation, scourge to middle management, and genuine POS… There are not a lot of nice things I can say about him other than he likes his Scotch, Beer and imported cheeses and oh ya… that Mf’er rolls hard.
I’ll even go out on a limb to say I know no one that rolls harder. LOL!

Point of note:

1. Snowmageddon… while the rest of Ontario hunkered down cowering at what was pitched as the snowstorm to end the world we took the Tercel across the barren Ontario hi ways in search of chrome. What… we did bring a plastic shovel with us. You know…just in case. And we did put the beat down on a few before we even came to our senses.

2. Norland takes Tercel down gigantic snow covered hill to river valley access. Upon retreat from river discovers snow now frozen over and road iced up. After numerous attemps and the risk of sliding off of a cliff he abandons the vehicle and calls his wife to come and pick him up. He returns days later with a pallet of salt and sand to discover ice has melted and rescues the vehicle by driving it out.

3. Last winter’s Freak Snowstorm that shut down hi ways and international border crossings stranding hundreds on the 402 for days and employing the services of the Canadian military...remember that one???Well we took the Tercel down barren and deserted MI hi ways to meet up with a Guide and fished the lower Muskegon under hurricane force winds and blinding snow. We certainly drew some looks of concern from the 4x4 crews that day. Oh ya… and we put a few in the boat as well. I still remember the look on the faces of the snowmobile guys when we pulled back to the boat launch.

4. Ice Breaker SS Norland hooks a chromer in a very narrow slot of open water on a well frozen over run after a long unsuccessful outing. With no regard for his personal well-being he refuses to lose the fish and proceeds to bust up and set free a sheet of Ice no smaller than a pickup truck…He landed the fish!

5. Another colder than Hell mid-December outing whilst fishing back in the sticks Norland decides to cross an unfamiliar piece of raging water. Part way in and on the edge of no return he commits to find himself swimming the remainder of the crossing with one arm in the air holding his rod and the other paddling for dear life while bobbing off the bottom. He is completely soaked and fishes the remainder of the sub-arctic day out fishing me…POS!

6. We learn of “secret access” road back to holy water believed only accessible via 4x4. Norland throws caution to the wind and drivesTercel back where no Tercel has gone before. New shit-rat precedent set! Great moment in Steelheading History!

7. Under explicit instruction from the mother of his children to be home no later than 4pm Norland rolls in the drive way at 6 tired and beat down from a long day of inhumanly possible fishing antics. As a bargaing tool he bares gifts of smoked back bacon and sausage. Now that right there is hard core sh*t!

Fueled by nothing more than Bud Light and Bologna sandwiches the man is truly unstoppable. Nobody rolls harder than Norland and I’m glad he is my friend and fishing partner. "F*cking GPS"

Friends of the Night

2011-10-26T10:37:00.000-04:00

A little while back I had the urge to purchase one of those Trail/Game cameras that seem to be the rage in the hunting world. For me it was an idea fueled by a desire to captures some images of critters frequenting our bird feeders at the cabin in the winter months as well as any two legged "Red-necked Critters" that may be sniffing around.

Well along came an awesome deal through Cabela's and low and behold we had our own motion activated Infra-red camera.

When I was up at the cabin on the "Roe-Run" we decided to set it up on the salt licks and bait pile we have out back for the deer.

A week later my wife was up at the cabin and pulled the camera to download the picks. We were quite astonished to learn there is a great deal of activity that goes on back there after dark.

I can see this thing is going to be a tonne of fun in the years to come. Enjoy.

5 Years

2011-10-25T10:41:00.003-04:00

Well, well, well...Time certainly flies doesn't it? One blinks their eyes and before they know it 5 years have slipped through the cracks. I started this blog on a whim and never really expected it to be anything short of a passing fad but here I am some 270 posts later typing number 271 with some 44K+ hits to my record . I never really expected it to turn into what it has...a venue for creativity and a means of capturing meaningful memories of a thing I am so very passionate about.

It certainly has been nice to have a venue to share my adventures through photography and the written word. More so, it has been even nicer to have had a journal to go back in time and re-live the adventures of past. One can also re-live external events unrelated to fishing through the mindset experienced in the writings of that time.

A lot of things have happened over the past 5 years and I suspect many more will continue to unfold as I work my way toward another 5. If for nothing more than a journal of ones adventures I highly encourage anyone considering embarking on this effort to take the leap. For me it has opened up a venue for creativity. It has challenged my mental being and challenged my creative efforts. Subsequently, it has led me down a road that I may not have even considered possible or achievable...namely publication.

I have learned anything is achievable and never to sell ones self short. If you are truly passionate about something and are willing to share it there are others that will enjoy and appreciate the efforts.
Looking forward to sharing future adventures and creative endeavours. Keep checking back and offering any comments and feedback.

Wild Huron Chrome

2011-10-23T20:49:00.001-04:00

There is no comparison...

Black and White

2011-10-21T21:31:00.002-04:00

They say a picture speaks a thousand words. If this is indeed true then a well selected Black and White speaks a million.

October Chrome

2011-10-20T20:18:00.001-04:00

Here in the Great Lakes there is nothing that compares to the power and grace of October Chrome. The hunt is on...

Roe Run

2011-10-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

The 2011 fall season has been pretty much nonexistent for me so far. With a regional role at work and 3 three major plant Shutdowns underway my leisure time has been put on hold. With these types of Industrial work events everything in one’s personal life comes to a grinding halt. Every ounce of me wants to complain about my situation but common sense and direct exposure to the 180 degree alternatives have rendered my big mouth shut. I have a great job and am fortunate for where I am in life. The current economic status of the US, and my direct exposure to it via family and community, has really put things into perspective for me.

So having been away from the cabin and the river since early September we decided to make a break for it in the form of a whirl wind tour up to Manistee County after Saturday’s 10 hr shift. I wanted to make sure things were in order at the property and make one decent attempt at the kings while there was still Roe to be had. Barbaric as this may sound it is actually the lesser of all evils for me as one single Hen Chinook will fill my fishing needs for a year or more. This subsequently renders me a catch and release fisherman for the remainder of my outings. This accompanied with the fact that the Big Manistee is a Salmon Factory pretty much clears my conscience.

The King season had been well on it's way for several weeks now and arriving I wasn't sure what to expect. Much to my surprise the river was teeming with fish. Literally everywhere you looked there were Salmon. Kings and Coho were stacked. Earlier reports were indictive of an epic season and from what I witnessed I would agree. It wasn't long and I was hooked up with a few different freight trains only to exchange farewells at 50mph. I poked around the river long enough to find my "golden egg" and decided to get out of there while the getting was good. I spent the remainder of my day off at the cabin completing some much overdue chores all the while wishing I was staying for a few more days. Back to work Monday for another set of 6-10's or 12’s. Oh ya and I just found out that my outage commitments may extend into mid November. :O.

Part II

2011-10-11T10:47:00.002-04:00

Steelhead Dreams Part 2 - by Todd Moen from Todd Moen Creative on Vimeo.

Steelhead Dreams

2011-10-10T15:59:00.001-04:00

No matter the method or the location... the passion, desire, and obsession live within us all.

Hanna Belford...living the dream. WOW!

Steelhead Dreams by Todd Moen from Todd Moen Creative on Vimeo.

Week 5

2011-10-09T21:16:00.003-04:00

All work and no play for me lately. Work..Grrrrr.. well I'll leave it at that. Make hay when the sun shines! That saying is getting old. The rivers are spilling over their banks with Anadromous adversaries and I am embarking on week 5 of an 8 week shutdown. I know when it's all said and done and the money is in the bank it'll all be good but right now it stings. I had some time this morning to start getting ready. The efforts were surprisingly healing and I can't wait to put them to the test. Who wants to float the river in 80 degree temps anyways? :O.

Life as Norland...Fall 2011 Edition

2011-09-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

It ain't easy being cheesy! Just ask Norland...

GoAnimate.com: Life as Norland 2011 Fall edition by lambton101

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Boys Weekend

2011-09-12T12:16:00.002-04:00

With ridiculous work commitments for the month of September and October I decided to get the boys together for a preemptive Salmon strike on the West side. The efforts proved to be more an appreciation of good food, drink, weather and company than the typical extreme fishing assault. To say we struggled to put the Kings in the boat would be an understatement but we did see countless numbers of fish on the move. The run is in it's infancy on the big river.

The trip was healing and filled with laughs. The highlight would have been the twin Hyde trip down the big river on Friday followed by the evening trip to Traverse on Saturday for dinner and beverages. It's a tough life but someone has to do it. ;0) It saddens me to report I'm on the hook at work for the next couple of months but when I return it will be full on Steelhead season. Can't wait...

There Here...

2011-09-03T21:46:00.000-04:00

A couple kings kickin around the West Side Flow's this weekend...

August Smallies

2011-08-20T12:26:00.002-04:00

The river continues to give up some nice Smallmouth. The deep colours these fish sport are awesome. The big lady is on the verge of handing herself over to the Kings. I witnessed a few porpoise while I spent my brief 45mins on her banks this morning.

It won't be long until the madness ensues and all hell breaks loose both in the water and more shamefully along the banks. Salmon season is almost upon us.

Although I long for some anadromous species to test the new Imperial I do not look forward to the mayhem the Kings bring to the river. It's all a part of the program I guess. Stay tuned for Salmon 2011 in the coming weeks.

Prolific Hatch

2011-08-19T22:11:00.002-04:00

I managed to slip down to the river this morning. We hadn't been up to the cabin for a few weeks and I was anxious to get a few drifts in. I had heard a minor push of Kings had made their way up the river last week and I was curious to see if any had made the 24 mile or so trek up to Tippy. My question was answered as soon as I parked the van and witnessed a giant dead king dumped beside the garbage bucket. It was obviously fresh from the night prior and I was confused as to why someone would just dump the beast. The only thing I could figure was the male was mistaken for a hen and was dumped after the perps slit the stomach to reveal an absence of roe. I was excited to see that some kings were up this far already and made the hike down to the river. There was nobody on the water and I had the place to myself.

I really didn't expect to find any kings but I did have high hopes of a few browns and perhaps some river smallies. On my way down river I couldn't help but marvel at the hatch that was underway. It was crazy...Stones everywhere. I struggled for a bit trying to find a player and suspected the stone hatch was to blame. I managed to turn a small brown when a single siren blast went off from the dam followed by a sudden blow out. The river went from crystal clear to mud brown in a matter of minutes. I waited about 10 mins to see of it was a temporary condition but the river didn't clear so I packed it in an hiked up to the parking lot. Curiosity had the better of me so I went to the lookout to see if the river had cleared or if the pond above the dam was chocolate. To my surprise the river was once again running clean and the pond was crystal as well. The dam staff must have been de-silting and my lack of patience put me off the river. Live and learn I guess. Tomorrow is another day.

One Stop Shopping

2011-07-31T11:09:00.000-04:00

Finally a store that understands my needs! God Bless America!

Manistee Bronze

2011-07-31T00:21:00.002-04:00

I awoke this morning at an unscheduled 7 am courtesy of the old school ring tone on my work Blackberry. I pondered letting it ring and just rolling over and back to sleep before sheepishly reaching over and acknowledging it's existence. It was indeed work in need of some assistance. I guess my guys all let their phones ring and rolled over back to sleep once again outsmarting me. After dealing with the issue at hand I decided I might as well make an early morning of it and get some coffee on. After all we were at the cottage and the sun was just starting to poke through the trees surrounding the property.

There is something to be said about waking before everyone else and having your morning coffee with nothing more than your thoughts. I seldom get the opportunity at home but at the cottage I embrace the gift. There is comfort in the silence here. The days itinerary consisted of a trip to the garbage disposal, the township office, and then an afternoon float down the big river in the Hyde. I knew my afternoon would be filled with fishing opportunity but for some reason the river was calling me this morning . After a quick breakfast I informed my wife that I would be hitting the river for no more than an hour or two and would most certainly be back in time to run our scheduled day.

On the drive to the access I finalized my game plan an figured I would have no more than an hour on the water before having to make the hike out and drive back to the cabin. Arriving at the parking lot I grabbed my gear and made the ascent to the river. Arriving to the coffer I was astonished by just how many people were fishing the water I had intended on floating. The river was pretty much locked down and I watched in disbelief as the fly guys and lure chuckers dealt their crafts. After a couple of minutes I decided to call it and head back up the stairs to the van. On my way back up I talked myself into having a look above the coffer. Once again there were a few guys but plenty of room for me to put in a few drifts.

I paused in a state of indecisiveness as I was torn between making a feeble attempt at this water or hiking back to the car and getting on with the original game plan for the day. I started to make the climb up and turned back to the river for a few drifts. I'm glad I did for it wasn't long until I discovered a steep drop off and current break that held a pod of Manistee Bronze. Funny how things that seem to be working against you turn around for the better. I spent no more than an hour down on the river and managed no less than 5 Smallies and a few browns. I am not a bass guy but Smallmouth on the pin with the big rods are always a blast. That's the best hour I've spent on the river all summer. And to think I almost bailed on the entire opportunity.

Gills

2011-07-23T22:54:00.002-04:00

After another day of heat and an impromptu trip into Traverse for some shopping and diner I earned the remainder of a fast dwindling summer evening on the river. I would have never imagined my quarry for the evening would be Bluegills but once again the big river surprised me. Large gills, light line, fast water and the center pin can pass the time quite nicely. I had plans of targeting big Gills on Pine Lake earlier in the Summer but this didn't pan out.

I would have never guessed I would have found them below the coffer. Some of the colours on these fish are quite impressive and from what I gather they taste phenomenal. Some day I guess... but for now they are all back swimming chasing bugs and other aquatic critters.

Summer Browns

2011-07-21T23:23:00.002-04:00

The humidex hit 45 C in Sarnia today. That's 113 F for my metric deficient friends. At least 10 cities in Ontario posted record high temps. Luckily for us we left the hustle and bustle of everyday life a few days early and escaped to the cabin for an extra long weekend on the West Side.

Today the beach was calling and the clean cool waters of Lake Michigan kept the scorching temps at bay. After spending the best part of the day on the beach with the girls I managed to slip down to the river to spend some time waste deep with my thoughts and a few finned friends.

The pinnacle of Summer presents it's own challenges when chasing trout but determination and fine tools always meet the mark. Today the Imperial once again proved it's place on the river and together we managed to fool a few Summer Browns.

Breaking in the Imperial

2011-07-09T00:03:00.000-04:00

With the Imperial in hand I had been wanting to put some river time behind her. Summer isn't the best time for a die hard Great Lakes Steelheader to get a new toy but here on the West Side of MI there always seems to be some options. Armed with a couple of tips from fellow bloggers indicating the Skams were in the river I managed to slip down this afternoon for a couple hours. The trip intentions were two fold. First off I was wanting to put some river time on the new Imperial and maybe capture a few images of her in action.

Secondly I was hoping to pull a rabbit out of a hat and find one of those Skamania to tangle with. My confidence really wasn't all that high. The fish seemed to enter the river late last week and the high temps and full sun of the day wasn't going to work in my favour. Nonetheless there are always fish to be had down below the coffer and I was determined to spin the new toy.

The game plan was simple. I was going to wet wade the river and pick away at the fast water and seams below the coffer and work my way down to the buckets and troughs behind the gravel pile-ups to the first bend. As expected the reel performed flawlessly and my choice of a rear mounted clicker option couldn't have been better. The clicker is rock solid and operation is very intuitive.

The center nut proved true to it's function and a much needed reel flush was as simple as could be. The reel is a runner and will certainly do me proud when the runs start this fall. I didn't manage to find that elusive Skammie but I did find everything else under the sun from Browns, Rainbows, Small Mouth, Red Horse Suckers, and even a catfish.

It was time well spent on the river and nice to put the new toy through the paces.

Ready for Action

2011-07-07T10:18:00.001-04:00

With minor production delays and an unexpected Postal Strike the Imperial finally found it's way into my my hands. I can say without a doubt that it was well worth the wait. The redesigned center spool nut adds an unrivaled touch of class and functionality. The reel is simply a piece of highly engineered art. It has completely surpassed my expectations.
Finally my vacation arrived and I got some time to spool her up. She is ready for the river and with some luck I may find an hour or two later today to put some drifts behind her. Fingers crossed!!!!

Pine Lake

2011-06-18T18:08:00.000-04:00

I finally got the hyde out on Pine Lake. Rob at Pappy's told us the Blue Gills weren't on the beds just yet but I was anxious to check out the lake and more importantly find the Bald Eagle nest. Having received the low down from from my local man in the know Jim P we set out for a nice boat ride. The lake is a giant sand bowl. Structure is limited. So much so that logs were set all along the shore line in 4 feet of water anchored down with cinder blocks to provide structure. The Gills weren't on the beds but the crystal clear water didn't hide the abundance of Large Mouth Bass that we witnessed. We also witnessed a few giant snappers basking in the sun.

With Jim's directions it wasn't more than 5 mins before we were yards from the Eagle nest and an incredible encounter. At one time a parent shrieked a cry, swooped down to the lake, grabbed a fish, and returned to the nest to feed her offspring. Looks like only one eaglet survived on this nest. Statistically one or two offspring survive. Last year on the Little Manistee there were three eaglet's that survived. Apparently this is quite rare. There was a prolific dragon fly presence on this lake. They were landing on us repeatedly over our stay.

When you get to see them up close they truly are remarkable insects and they eat mosquito's too! No shortage of those SOB's right now. :0( We caught no fish but it was nice to get out on the lake and see what it is all about. I suspect it will turn on in a week or two.

Lamprey

2011-06-14T14:51:00.004-04:00

The opening of the Welland Canal brought great economic prosperity to both the US and Canada. The Canal provided a means to economically transport commodity items in mass via giant Lake Freighters to the World. Prior to the canal such shipments were impossible due to the unsurpassable Niagara Falls. The Canal was an engineering marvel for its time and brought great economic opportunity for the Great Lakes but it also opened up a navigable waterway for invasive species and resultant detriment to a healthy fishery. The worst of these alien attackers proved to be the Sea Lamprey. Prior to the Canal Sea Lamprey were native to much of the Eastern Sea board and also found residence in Lake Ontario. Because of the natural barrier at Niagara Falls they had not penetrated the Upper lakes. With the opening of the Welland Canal this was all to change.

Sea Lamprey are a voracious parasitic predator native to the Atlantic ocean. Like the Salmon and Steelhead it is an Anadromous species finding itself living/feeding during it’s adult life cycle in the lake or ocean and returning to the rivers and streams to procreate. The Lamprey has a suction cup like mouth lined with razor sharp teeth and a raspy tongue. The Lamprey aggressively attaches itself to a host where it carves away the outer scales and flesh to actively feed on blood and bodily fluids. An anti-coagulant exists in its saliva to aid in the process. As many as 1 in 7 hosts will die from Lamprey attacks. During one Lampreys life cycle it can consume and destroy as much as 40 lbs of fish. The entire lifecycle of a lamprey can range from 5 to 8 years with 12-20 months spent in the adult stage of the cycle in the lake feeding. They migrate and spawn in freshwater rivers where larvae hatch in the tens of thousands. This Larvae resides in the mud bottom of the rivers where it filter feeds for much of its existence before metamorphosing into voracious predators and head to the lake.

The Sea Lamprey began to enter Lake Erie in the early 1900’s through the improved canal. In the next 20 years they found a foot hold in Lakes Huron and Michigan. By 1946 they had invaded Lake Superior. By 1947 the sea lamprey had established viable populations thorough out the entire upper Great Lakes and were wreaking havoc on a the fishery. Between 1940 and 1950 the Sea Lamprey led to the destruction and collapse of a once viable fishery. The former Apex predator Lake Trout were becoming decimated by the voracious appetite of the parasitic lamprey. Lake Trout, White Fish, Lake Herring and Chub populations were almost brought to the brink of extinction. Reported Lake Trout harvests in the early 60’s were down from annual amounts surpassing 15 million pounds to mere reports of 300 thousand.

Virtually every fish caught showed signs of lamprey attacks with some bearing witness to as many as 10 or more encounters. Invasive Alewife populations exploded as a result of predation losses which in turn brought stressors to other native species. The entire ecosystem was on the brink of collapse and drastic measures were needed before there was no return. The governments of Canada and the US formed a coalition to fight off this threat. Thus the birth of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. In 1958 after the testing of an estimated 6000 compounds the commission scientists finally developed TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) or Lampricide as it is commonly referred. Now the commission had an effective means of controlling the voracious parasite. Over an aggressive 40 year campaign the Commission managed to reduce the lamprey populations by as much as 90%. This program accompanied by aggressive stocking initiatives saw resurgence in the sports and commercial fisheries. The program enjoyed great success complimented by further developed non-chemical measures like Electric Weirs, Dams, and the more recent Male-Sterilization initiative. While the threats in the lower lakes were under control the recent Health and comeback of the St Mary’s river began to give an edge to the Lamprey once again. The once murky and heavily polluted waters of the St Mary’s river were seeing resurgence. The river health was coming back as was Lamprey habitat.

The sheer size and volume of the St Mary’s made viable deployment of TFM ineffective and the Lamprey began a strong resurgence. The St Mary’s river proved to be as much as 25 times larger than any river the Commission had successfully treated in the lower lakes. The Lamprey were undertaking their spawning and larval stages in the lower St Mary’s river where in turn they would undergo metamorphosis and deploy to upper Lakes Huron and Lakes Michigan. The problem was prolific with estimates of lamprey populations rivaling those of the pre-TFM era. Once again the Great Lakes Fishery Commission had to look for a cost effective means at regaining the upper hand. Through the utilization of modern global positioning and deep water technologies key larval rearing hot spots were established and treated with deep water slow release lampricides such as granular Bayluscide. Also through a partnership with the US Army core of engineers Lamprey traps were built on the river and an aggressive Male Sterilization program was undertaken.

This program see’s fertile captured males sterilized and re-released to compete with remaining fertile males for active mates thus reducing the amount of fertilized lamprey eggs and subsequent hatched larvae. Once again the commission was gaining the upper hand and the populations were coming into check with the lower Great Lakes. To this day the St Mary’s river is deemed as the Lamprey Hotspot in the Great Lakes. Consensus has been met that the Great Lakes will never rid themselves of this parasite but a sustainable healthy fishery can be maintained with vigilance, proper management, and determination. One can only imagine where the Great Lakes would be today without the determination and commitment of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. With modern day invasive threats on our door steps we can rest assured that the best in the game are on it and are prepared to do battle to protect our precious resource.

**Lampricide application images from Luddington Division of DNR applying TFM on Pere Marquette**
**Other Image credit goes to Google...thanks Google your the best!***

Orioles

2011-05-29T09:56:00.000-04:00

Orioles...for some reason these birds seemed to be a rarity at my home in Canada. Perhaps it was suburbia that kept my encounters with these brilliant critters at a minimum...I don't know...but when I did see one it was so brief that I never really got to appreciate the experience. With the cabin here in Wellston I have quickly learned there are plenty of Orioles around and an encounter is as easy as opening ones eyes if the proper treats are left out for temptation. The males are a stunning dark black and orange while the females seemed to have a washed orange and brownish-black appearance. The males are quiet and reserved while the females are flamboyant and quite vocal. Hmmmmmmm weird...

Skamania

2011-05-21T00:25:00.004-04:00

In the late 1800's fate would see the first Great Lakes steelhead introduced into Michigan's Ausable River. Shortly after organized stocking were taking place throughout the great lakes. Agencies across the states and provinces of the Great Lakes began their Steelhead programs. The origins of the brood stock were primarily from key West Coast systems chosen for genetics. These initial programs and stocking were to develop into distinctive modern day Great Lakes Steelhead strains. Some of today's better known or more sought after Great Lakes Genetics include the Michigan or Little Manistee strain and Ontario's famed Ganaraska Strain. By the mid to late 1900's the states and province of Ontario had established programs and a somewhat self sustaining Wild Steelhead population with annual returns of huge proportions. The programs were a tremendous success with well established populations and distinctive regional genetics. The fishery was however primarily a spring, fall and winter fishery. Enter the skamania. In 1971 the visionaries of the Indiana DNR sought a strain of steelhead that entered the rivers in the early summer months. A summer run if you will. Their search lead them to Washington's Skamania Hatchery which had a successful summer run steelhead program in play on the Washougal River... a Columbia River Tributary. Their intent was to provide shore anglers with an almost year round near shore fishery. The summer run genetics would compliment the Michigan strain and Wisconsin strain currently being stocked by the state. Initially the program was met with limited success but the Skamania's adaptability to hatchery rearing and the commitment of the Indiana DNR to the program eventually led to a world class Great Lakes fishery. By 1982 the rivers of Indiana were experiencing healthy annual summer runs and today is the premier destination for the Summer Run Great Lakes Steelhead fishery. Along the way the state of Michigan also attempted their own Skamania program but it too was met with initial mediocre success. This accompanied wtih the fear of compromising the more favourable "Little Manistee" genetics let to the decision to abandon the program almost completely. Currently only two rivers in the state of Michigan get annual plantings of Skamania. One being the St Joe and the second being the Big Manistee. A private club from Ontario with assistance from the MNR also embarked on a limited Skamania program. Stragglers from Michigans programs found their way into Ontario's Saugeen River. Here along with assistance from the MNR a private club harvested eggs for their own impromptu Skamania program. For 8 years the program showed signs of potential but the successful returns quickly dwindled and the program was abandoned. To this day some stragglers or strays from Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin find their way into Lake Huron Tribs.

If you have ever had the privilege to tangle with a Skamania you will know of their raw brute strength and affinity for air time. Characteristically long lean and slender these fish do not shy themselves from breaking the surface in multiple aerobatic tumbles testing ones nerves and gear. Their fight is quite simply unforgettable and at times so intense successful release of these fish is not an option. Lactic acid build up in the seasonally warmer water pretty much renders these fish as table fare. Personally, aside from recent years limited Big Manistee catches. I can only recall one Lake Huron accomplishment. Many describe these fish as extremely long, slender giants with big heads and giant googly eyes. The one I encountered most certainly met the criteria as she taped out at 34" with all other characteristics matching the ID. She was caught on a smaller Huron system and thankfully so as the limited pool size only helped my case and eventually led to a subsequent landing. I can say without any doubt that this fish would have most likely found freedom within moments on a larger system. Nonetheless we had the pleasure of the experience and an encounter I will never forget.

As of recent I have found myself away from the river and thinking about future opportunity for the 2011 calendar year. With the acquisition of the cabin in Wellston and the proximity to one of Michigan's only two stocked Skamania Rivers my curiosity went into overdrive. It would only be foolish to overlook this opportunity and more foolish to go into it blind so my quest began. As you have just read the research has been compiled and a game plan has been formulated. Now it is up to Mother nature and fate. Hopefully I will have some reports of successes in the coming months along with some stellar images of chrome missiles.
These fish will certainly put the new Imperial through the paces and provide a much needed injection of chrome during the summer months.

Exciting Times...

2011-05-13T18:49:00.004-04:00

Well it's official. I'm on board with the Kingpin crew. Exciting times. Looking forward to working with Stuart Ward and Bill Shearer on promoting the Kingpin name, contributing to their Blog, and fishing the New Imperial hard. Some of you may recall I had the priveledge of field testing the prototype back in April of last year. Click Here.
Keep an eye here and at the Kingpin site http://www.kingpinreels.com/ for Blog updates of our adventures.

Destiny

2011-05-11T10:47:00.000-04:00

As a child I would rummage through my parents photo albums and marvel at the pictures that predated my existence. Many of the Polariods contained people that I had never met and places that I had never been. There were a few Polaroids that subsequently became burned into my memory. In particular were two photos of young men holding fish of imaginary proportion to a child. Truly giant fish never before witnessed by a young aspiring angler. The first time I viewed these photo’s my father was quick to tell a story of what seemed to be a mystical place in a foreign land where fish grew to epic proportion and filled the rivers spilling out of the banks. For as long as I can remember I had heard and known of the Big Manistee and Tippy Dam from my fathers youthful travels. To a young child such a place seemed distant and magical and for the better part of my upbringing and adult life it remained as such. For some reason it had always seemed so far away and unreachable. Still to this day I can conjure up the images of two particular pictures from the photo albums of my childhood as if I were viewing them for the first time. It was not until I read a post put up by a fellow Great Lakes Steelheading blogger that I got the itch to seek out this destination. That initial trip would lead me down a road that would eventually find myself frequenting this locale on a regular basis and eventually purchasing a cabin of our own in the Manistee National Forest. Now I can be considered a local all stemming from an old Polariod picture from my youth and my fathers colourful stories of his adventures. Life is a weird. Call it destiny if you must but I do not try to understand life's mysteries anymore. I have learned it to be much more rewarding to enjoy them.

The above image is the only Manistee Salmon Polaroid that survived a recent basement flooding at my parents house. It will soon adorn the cabin décor up in Wellston.

Fond Memories

2011-05-09T14:11:00.002-04:00

For as long as I can remember fishing has played an integral part in my life.. I have fond memories of fishing with my father and uncles in the Lower Lake Huron watershed. It was not until we relocated to Bruce County for employment that I was introduced to Anadromous species and caught my first steelhead. These were different times and the phrase catch and release wasn’t even coined yet. Aside from that the fishery was healthy as well as the lake. There were no Zebra Mussels or Gobies and the lake actually was a foot or two higher. My childhood memories of living in Inverhuron don’t include PS3, Xbox or the Internet. They are filled with images of running the sandy banks of the Little Ausable looking for Rainbows or getting startled by the thumping of grouse in the cedar bush. Simpler times and I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything.

I don’t have a lot of fishing pics from my youth but my father did manage to drum up a few that survived his basement flooding a few years back. Here are two that I can share. I was in the second grade when we moved up there. I would have been 7 which makes it spring of 1977. These images pictorially represent the beginning of it all for me. It was these early days spent on the Little Ausable with my dad that defined who I have become today.
The first pictures is with my father sporting a smoke, giant glasses, and a rather exhausted demeanor and the second is with my late Uncle Gerald. Notice the old Ford and the stubby on the bumper.
I come by it honestly… :0)

Spring

2011-05-08T11:36:00.001-04:00

Signs are everywhere... The weather is making a swing for the better. Well... better if you are not a steelheader.
I think that I am done for the season. There are still a fair amount of fish in the systems but for me its run its course. Time to swing gears and look at new opportunities. Resident Browns and Rainbows on the pin and fly and those dinner plate bluegills are calling. Looking forward to getting the kids in the Hyde and making some relaxing drifts through Gods country. Good times ahead...

Old Friends Reuninted...

2011-05-06T23:33:00.004-04:00

The runoff had pushed and carved a trench through the remnants of fall foliage and the well-worn forest floor. It was apparent that there had been a fair amount of precipitation in recent weeks. Not the kind that makes the lawn grow but the kind that cannot all be absorbed into the ground prior to it running along the surface and forming torrents through low spots and hill sides.

Just how much I pondered as I made my way through the bush and down the river valley. Would the prior days rainfall have an impact on my impromptu outing? Surely these tell tale signs of flash flooding were from earlier in the year. Was I walking into a river of despair? Would the day be spent marveling at the nuances of spring and nothing more than a peaceful walk amongst an old friend?

The trail veered hard to the right but with boyish anticipation I ventured forward towards a panoramic vista and subsequent determination of the rivers state. Apprehensive at first I peer over the edge. What lay before me was a river running proud and clean. Gin clear to be exact and to the point that I could count every rock on the river bottom.

The opportunity to fish is a gift that we all take for granted but the opportunity to fish with favorable conditions is truly a blessing. Today I was to be blessed. I could feel my heart rate increase and the sense of urgency to get to the river intensify. With determination I made my way along the trail to rendezvous with an old friend. It had been a long time since we had the pleasure of spending time together and I was anxious to get reacquainted.

It was apparent the spring thaw was hard on the old girl and the forest that adorns her banks. For reason’s unbenounced to me recent years thaws have been uncharacteristically hard on the river basin. Has there been an increased tiling initiative in the region or is it perhaps global warming? These thoughts race though my head as I witness signs of a river that crested 4-5 feet above its current state. One thing I know for certain is that she will find a way to the lake and there is little that will stop her pursuit.

We often forget we are guests on this planet and mother nature is ultimately running the program. The run I decided to start at this morning I hadn't fished in a few years. I recall the many fond memories of fishing this location with friends and of past success undeserving of any one person but this morning wasn't meant to be. Determined to take advantage of the solitude and mile or two of deserted rivershed I promised myself to not waste valuable time on unproductive water.

The days itinerary was lengthy and demanding so I proceeded on around the next bend. This day was to play out in a run and gun fashion spending enough time at each location to recall the memories of the past 7 years successes and good times shared with friends all the while turning a fish or two in the process. I managed to fish my way up to the upper reaches and Genes obsessive new water.

It was only fitting that I was to land the fish of the day on the first drift through his favoured run. Fishing solo offers a different experience than fishing with friends. It affords one time to ponder the random thoughts that flow through our heads and contemplate them to a realization.

Sometimes the realization is personally profound and sometimes bordering ridiculous but nonetheless a process of healing and self cleansing. There is more to fishing than catching fish my friends and to me, as to many I suspect, it provides much needed therapy.

Hiking out I marvelled at the fact that I had not seen a single sole the entire day and how true friends can become reacquainted without as much as a single word. I suspect this will be my only visit to the shire until late in the calendar year. One thing is certain, when I do return she will be there with open and welcoming arms.

Whore

2011-05-01T21:51:00.000-04:00

This weekend I did not fish. This weekend I whored myself out to the man for a couple of reasons. First off the money on overtime borders the realm of ridiculous. Secondly, and most importantly, I couldn't leave my guys hangin. We were into a major outage and it looked like things were going to run hard into the weekend. One side of me wanted to head up to the cottage and the river but my heart couldn't leave in good faith. My heart was right. After working 16 on Friday and 20 hrs on Saturday we managed to wrap it up and hand the unit over to operations. I used to live for that shit and to be honest it was kinda fun getting out in the field with the boys. They are good guys and work very hard. The river will be there for me next weekend and I will be the tax man's best friend for a little while. It's a f'd up world we live in.

*&$%!

2011-04-29T07:11:00.001-04:00

Seriously...3900cfs WTF?
Oh well...this just may be what I needed to force my hand. Stay tuned for something new and hopefully exciting.

Norland is a DB!
Harv is the Devil!
Arn is ???? Dutch I guess :o/

Openers of past...

2011-04-28T15:58:00.001-04:00

Opening day is deeply rooted in tradition. Like many I used to count the days and long for the opportunity to fish the now open stretches of Ontario's steelheading waters.
In recent years we have abandoned this tradition but for some reason the stars aligned in 2009 and Norland and I made the pilgrimage. I'm certainly gland we did as I would have never gotten this classic video of my good friend proving that confidence, perseverance and determination are the best arsenal in any steelheaders kit.

Enjoy...I could watch this video over and over again as it truly depicts just how special this sport is to those that really "get it".

Norland 2009 Opener from Brian M on Vimeo.

Harv 10

2011-04-24T19:58:00.001-04:00

"Lucky lane 10" Harv announced as we jocky for position at the busy Port Huron US Customs Port of Entry. Approaching the primary booth the young officer asked us the nature of our visit. Harv was quick to inform him we were headed for a few days of fishing in Wellston, MI. The young officer was as equally quick to question what species of fish we were going after as if to catch us in a lie. Harv proudly replied we would be targetting Steelhead. The young officer smiled and said "Isn't that close to Manistee?" then wished us luck while sending us on our way.

In the blink of an eye we were on the interstate and once again I found myself heading West in pursuit of good times at the Cabin and on the river with a good friend. These trips seem to pass rather quick as we catch up on each others personal lives and ongoings. Not to mention the occasional conversation on whats happening in the steelheading community. Today's journey was also fueled with the knowledge that the Big River was coming into shape rather nicely. The flow had steadied at a very comfortable rate and the visibility was falling into place. The conditions had the making for a recipe of success. We both shared an outing on this river a few springs back that will never be forgotten. With this memory fresh in our minds we both knew of the potential for something on the verge of ridiculous. I was at my whits end on trying to predict when the river would pop and was reluctant to verbally express any forecast.

I was feeling the frustration of mediocre successes while still harnessing a boyish anticipation of grandeur. But that's fishing I guess and that's what makes it exciting...unpredictability and the allure of the unknown. We managed to get away at a decent hour. This coupled with the HEMI hauling proverbial a$$ we found ourselves in Wellston with plenty of time to unpack, crack a cold one, and don the gear for an evening session. To say we were alarmed when we pulled into the access parking lot was an understate.

The amount of vehicles clearly spoke to the state of the fishery. Soon we found ourselves working our way down river to some unoccupied familiar water. The lead chuckers on the opposite side seemed to be finding a few fish with consistency so we knew there was an abundance of fish up. Harv managed to hook up a few times and landed a nice little coloured up buck. The DNR had obviously dumped a bunch of smolts into the system as the piranha were devouring everything that remotely resembled forage.

Frustration began to set in as the water we wanted to fish was occupied or full of roe ravaging smolts. We doubled back in hopes of finding some open water below the coffer. By now light was failing us and we only had time for a few drifts.
I opted to drift tight to the coffer and soon found success only to witness a few large tail splashes and a broken leader. Zebra mussels can reap havoc on ones line and once again the details cost me vindication. We decided to head back to the cabin and weigh out our options for the morning.
After a quick dinner and some drinks it was time to tie up some roe for the next days adventure.

We discussed how the day would play out and landed on fishing first light on foot below the coffer and the afternoon on the lower river in the Hyde. The morning found us at a very populated river. Once again we pounded the water and Harv landed another coloured up buck where he had the evening prior. The smolts were devastating my morale and we decided to hike down to the tail out of Suicide. Harv agreed the new route was much more friendly on the body and mind. Arriving to the river we were pleasantly surprised to see less traffic than up towards the first bend. The tail out looked amazing. The flow was perfect and the colour was hypnotizing.

The only problem was that there was no where near the amount of fish that there should have been. We continued to pick the sexy water apart and finally my float dropped and the rod loaded up nicely. It was such a nice feeling to finally get a decent confirmation on a hook set. Upon landed the 3 lb drop back male it was evident this fellow had been rather busy this spring. One side of his mandible was completely missing while my hook was set in the other side that was barely hanging on by a small strand of flesh. It was sad to see but at the same time consoling to realize just how hardy in body and spirit these fish are. It truly is amazing what these fish can endure in the name of procreation. We continued to pick away at the magical water without further validation.

Naturally I worked my way up around the corner and missed Harv do battle with a giant brute of a coloured up buck. The fish worked his shoulder good but Harv managed to put him on the bank for a couple of pics. I was disappointed to learn that I had missed the entire ordeal and the photo opportunity. We decided to head back to the cabin for lunch and a break on our now tired and smashed bodies. Over lunch we decided to pass on the boat and to look for an alternate scene. We landed on checking out the Sawdust access. We had a great day there a few springs prior and wondered if we could at least sniff out a few fish while finding some reprieve from the crowds. We were pleasantly greeted with an open stretch of water but also cursed with an increased wind.

Suckers were rising everywhere and Harv proclaimed he had a good feeling about this outing. Before I knew it my rod once again loaded up and I was into a decent fish. Before long she was swung into Harv's tailing glove and on display for the camera. She had done her business and was starting to regenerate before heading back to the big lake. She was a long lean fish and would have been very impressive before she dropped her eggs. Not long after I looked down river to see Harv's rod bent over fighting a fish. I worked my way down the bank to give him a hand just in time to tail a fish a big football of a hen. She was beautiful and clearly was going to be the fish of the trip. The wild fish of this system are remarkable and she proved no different. I fired off as many pics as Harv would let me before his girl hands became too cold from the water and we sent the lady a drift. Now the winds were really whipping and we struggled to get a decent drift in. I managed to lose another fish off of a high bank in a deep bucket behind some gravel but after that it was pretty much all we could do to stave off the wind. We decided to give Suicide a shot since we were right there and the drifts in that section were pretty much at your feet from the giant stairway side of the river. We didn't managed a thing which was kind of surprising as there are always fish in this section. After a tiring climb up from the river we returned to the cabin to recharge over diner and a few drinks. We settled in nicely and pondered our options for the morning. Without a giant amount of fish in the system we joked about sleeping in and foregoing the morning session. As the drinks flowed and the hours passed the seriousness of this option was finalized and the two old guys did just that. It's funny that something that wouldn't even have been mentioned a few years back was now a viable option. We spent a lazy morning going over the prior days pics, had a few coffees, visited the weir, and packed up before heading home. It was not the stellar outing we had hoped for but a lot of fun nonetheless. It was nice to hook up with Harv again and nice to see him land a beautiful chromer. On the arrival to the Sarnia Port of Entry Harv tried to get in lane 10 but was cut off by the gasoline and grocery crowd. Hmmmm superstitious are we???????????

I'm just sayin...

2011-04-17T18:17:00.002-04:00

Sometimes we all take things for granted.
So to error on the side of caution I'm putting this out there for those that may benefit from it.
You crazy kids know who you are. :0)

Click on me...Click on me...Click on me

How's your Spey er....Day going?

2011-04-16T23:17:00.001-04:00

We woke to the sound of wind and rain pounding on the cottage roof. After careful deliberations over coffee and Kahlua we opted to head south and fish the White. From what I had been reading the White was fishing very well this spring. Arriving to Hesperia we were chillingly greeted with a mediocre to low gin clear flow. The first thing that crossed my mind was to cut our losses and double back to the big river. We decided to tough it out. A couple of small browns and a few hours later found us heading North back towards the cabin and the big river. After a quick lunch we headed towards the access and the infamous stairway. We made our way down the stairs when I recalled Norlands stairway mishap the weekend prior on the slippery wooden stairs. I had a chuckle to myself when we were nearing the first set of wooden stairs. I was about to warn Red about Norlands misfortune when his feet went out from under him and he went down hard. He skidded down 7-10 steps in the blink of an eye. I was certain he had injured himself and asked if he was alright. The first thing from his mouth was a statement that he had broken his new 13' Loop Double Hander. Once again I questioned his well being only to get a similar reply but this time including some expletives. We evaluated the rod and determined only a 2"-3" section of the tip was broken off. Red figured he could re-rig and fish the remainder of the day but soon realized he would be making the trek back up the stairs to the truck to get his pin after the spey rod blew up on the first cast. Red informed me of the minor explosion and the fact that he was now running the pin a while later down river.

I felt bad and tried to console him by informing him of the large fish I had just blown in the big water. I carried on down river to fish my isolated gravel bar. A little while later Red appeared on the bank behind me. He asked how the fishing had been then apprehensively informed me that he had gone in and was soaked fighting his first fish of the day. He then went on to tell me he lost the fishing trying to save himself from completely going under. It was all I had to contain my composure. On one hand I really felt bad for him with the rod incident but on the other it was clearly apparent that he was having an amplified Norland moment. Red was adamant that he was not cold and wanted to continue fishing so we hit another spot. A cold front had started to work its way into the region and it wasn't long before Red was feeling the negative effects of taking on water in the Spring. We decided to cut it short and get back to the cabin so he could dry off and warm up. Once we reached the truck Red couldn't find his keys. I could see the day was taking it's toll on old Red and I quickly produced his spare set that he had happened to bestow upon me in the event of such an unfortunate occurrence.

By now Red was at the end of his rope and there was only one thing that could turn his misfortune into something positive so I quickly reached into the cooler and grabbed him an ice cold tall bud light. We laughed at his expense the entire drive to the cabin and pretty much for the next couple of hours. What can you do but laugh in times like these? Today the River beat the Jesus out of Red. The final tally was 2 blow fish, one major soaker, one destroyed high end Spey rod and two sore old guys. Lookout Norland! Old Man Maxfield is gunning for your title.

Wind and High Water

2011-04-16T00:07:00.003-04:00

After seeing the largest rise in flow for the season the USGS site indicated that river crested and began to come down. Arriving late Thursday night with hopes of fishing a river full of willing players we were marginally disappointed with the conditions we were presented with Friday morning. The river was still high and dirty compared to where she fishes best. This coupled with the million mile per hour winds left us struggling on the water. The morning saw us launching the Hyde at High Bridge and working up our way up river. With the winds, off colour water and increased level and flow we struggled to find any fishable water let alone willing players. We decided to cut our loses short and head back to familiar water where we knew the fish would be congregated and hopefully stacked up. By now the winds had increased in intensity.

At times the wind made it impossible to run a decent drift. It was frustrating as the lead chucking crew on the far bank were somewhat consistently hooking up. Determined to find a few fish we persevered and worked our way down river. The river was off colour but very fishable when reprieve from the wind could be found. I dropped into a familiar cove and ran a few drift where we have had success in the past on big water days. A half dozen drift through and a familiar pumping and thrashing was realized on the end of my line. It was a decent fish and from the brief glimpse I got when it broke the surface it appeared to be a chrome hen.

After an exhausting battle in the big water I managed to swing her to the bank. She was a large fin clipped stocker that had a deformed mandible from a previous human encounter a few years prior. She was full of roe and ready to drop her treasure. It was karma as I was questioning my roe supply at the cabin and indicated to Red how nice it would be go get a loose hen. I could not have asked for a better fish to selectively harvest. When it comes to my Roe I am very particular. I prefer to keep it simple, natural, and clean so I water harden. I refuse to add any salt, borax or concocted cures whatsoever. So with one on the bank and a rejuvenated supply of cured roe we continued on searching for additional players.

Red managed to hook up at the Tunk Hole with a large fish that I was certain was all but landed when the hook popped on the final run. By now the wind was even stronger and chunks of trees were falling in the forest and in our general vicinity. We decided to call it and double back to the cabin for dinner and an early night. On the hike back you could see some trees had buckled under the wind load and we were notified of a large White Pine that came down near the coffer. It had been a long day and our aching bodies attested to our efforts. The cold beers were welcomed back at the cabin as was diner and the couches.
As I type this entry the rains have returned. Nothing too heavy and hopefully nothing that will negatively impact the water clarity. Hopefully the winds subside for Saturday and we find a bunch of willing players.

Norlands Curse

2011-04-12T20:34:00.000-04:00

The State of Michigan has instilled a curse on Old Man Norland. Every time he seems to hit these magical waters things tend to go south and today was to prove no different. Having struggled for the past couple of months to secure a date to head up to the cabin we finally landed on this weekend. The conditions looked like they were coming into shape and there was a slim possibility that this could be the time. After too many cold ones the night prior we woke pre-light for a morning session on the Big River. Knowing full well that it was Saturday and the circus would be in town we settled on the couch for a couple of coffees and conversation before dragging our sorry asses to the river. The access lot was jam packed. We weighed our options and hit the trail towards the Tunk . Along the way every inch of the river was being exploited. Much to our surprise the Tunk hole was almost void of pressure with the exception of a couple of guide boats.

The river was carrying a surprising stain and the level was up about 6" from the week prior. We fished the old girl hard but couldn't seem to put anything together. Getting discouraged by the amount of pressure we cut our losses and headed to some private water on Bear Creek. The water looked promising but the day's surprisingly high temps and full sun were more conducive to sitting on the porch versus steelheading.

We made our way up river picking apart all the sexy water we came across. I managed to pick up my first Bear Creek Steelhead out of the slack water of an inside bend in the river. She was a pretty 3 or 4 lb drop back hen that really didn't want her photo taken. As I fumbled with my camera she managed to wiggle free and find freedom in the dark waters of Bear Creek. We continued on up river fishing everything that seemed fishy but the full sun and prolific bug hatch were not working in our favor so we cut the outing short and made tracks. Norland really wanted his homo Swiss and Morel Sausage so we hit the Dublin General Store for some prepared meats. Morel Sausage, Jerky Dip and Maple Jerky was our poison and the plan for the remainder of the afternoon was to sit on the porch with a couple of cold ones and some good eats. By now the skies were clear blue and the temps we in the high 60's. The chairs on the porch were sure a welcomed relief as we cracked a cold one and dove into our treats.

After filling our faces with goodness we decided to take a drive to the Weir to see if the Eagles were sitting on the nest and how the Steelehead Egg collection was unfolding. Much to our surprise the DNR had two pens full of Steelhead and they were jumping fairly regularly at the Weir in an attempt to migrate up river. It brought back childhood memories watching the steelies attempt to jump the man made obstruction. It was Norlands first time to the Weir and first time seeing the Eagle Nest. I was certain I had seen some movement on the nest when all of a sudden a giant white head appeared out of nowhere looking down upon the river. It was nice to see they were on the nest tending to this years offspring. We spent some time admiring the Eagles and Steelhead before heading back to the cabin for the remainder of the day. On the way back we decided to do some scouting and check out Pine Lake. We had gotten a tip of extremely large Blue Gills taken this winter through the ice. Apparently Bluegills in the 13+" range are very possible on this system. The lake is virtually in my back yard so we thought we better check out the scene and get the down low on how we are gonna get the Hyde out on her for some Bluegill action on the fly later this spring. Much to my surprise the lake was a decent size and the access was excellent. Another thing for the must-do list.
The day was a gift after such a hard winter and it really was nice to reunite with Norland.

Later that evening we went for a nice walk through the bush and explored the property a bit before settling down for a home made Lasagna dinner.
Sunday morning came way too early and was repelled by the mystical snooze button. The early morning thunderstorm left be longing for more sleep and with little ambition to face the Circus. Finally I managed to raise my weary body from bed and put a pot of coffee on. Out side there was a fairly heavy fog and as I approached the picture window to peer into the front yard I startled a large Tom and 3 hens as they foraged around in a remnant snow bank for captured seed from the feeders. This was the first time we had seen some Turkey on the property and was kinda special. My wife prides herself with the amount and selection of bird feed she has available so for her the encounter was extra special. After a lazy hour of drinking coffee and chatting we decided to make an attempt at the river. We hit Horseshoe bend in hopes of some isolation and solitude as well as easy and accessibility. We were granted both but under a torrential downpour. The river was very stained but we gave it our best only to come up empty handed. (Norland curse thing...you know!)
Not wanting to totally pack it in just yet we doubled back towards Tippy and the Tunk Hole.

Once again we were dealt another blank. By about noon we were both ready to hike out. The temps were in the low 70's and we were damp , sweaty, and most likely smelling like a$$. Norland also had to get on the road and get home for a dinner date.
We made our way back to the cottage and parted ways. It was nice to get together with a good friend. I certainly wish the fishing conditions were better but as in life some things you cannot control.

The big river is in her prime as I type this. Early to mid week she should fish outstanding but who knows... I am at my whits end on attempting to predict her outcome. Tippy Dam pond is ice free and today's rain was big and very warm. A huge push should have come up from the lake. The next couple of days will certainly tell the tale. Dare to dream...

It has begun...

2011-04-11T15:33:00.001-04:00

Nearing 3000 cfs there will most certainly be a fresh push of critters in the upper reaches of the river.
With cold weather in the forecast things seem to be shaping up nicely for this coming weekend.
What's that noise you ask???? Why that's me cracking a smile.

April Snow Storms

2011-04-03T22:06:00.000-04:00

This mornings outing was to be short and sweet. I had plans of fishing the Tunk hole for a few hours and then bugging out of the valley to pack up and make the drive home at a decent hour. On the way to the Tunk hole I stopped at some familiar water that had looked neglected this morning. The first drift through produced a 3/4 lb brown. The water looked mint and I just knew there had to be a decent fish in this deep hole. The third drift through and my thoughts were realized with a nice 5 lb chrome hen.

Not wanting to get side tracked from my original game plan I released the pretty girl after a few pics and hiked back through the bush to my destination. Often one location that fishes well one day can leave one scratching their head the next. This is typical with fish on the move and today I found myself scratching my head. To be quite honest I really wasn't all that surprised as this year has been nothing resembling consistent. Before overstaying my welcome I took the opportunity to hike a trail from Tunk down towards Sawdust. I was curious to see if we had been busting our asses through the Brier patch from Hell for no other reason than being uneducated tourists. This indeed proved to be the case as I effortlessly followed the manicured pressure treated wooden board walk down to the tail out of Sawdust. Once again the Irony of it all surfaced and I had to laugh at myself. The plan was to fish my way back to the truck and then hike out and make plans to head home. Suicide owed me a fish.

This was fact and I was determined to pick something out of one of the emerald green pockets. I pounded every piece of fishy looking water until it happened. The float dropped and I set up on a 2 lb chrome missile that thought he was 10lbs. It was nice to finally put something together down there. Shortly after the release it started to snow. I was a nice spring snow shower that was actually welcomed initially. I continued my way out of Suicide and through the Brier patch to my next location. After settling in a tremendous thunder boom rolled through the valley and the snow flakes increased from pea sized to Toonie sized gobs of wet powder.

The entire scene was surreal as I cast my float out into the wall of white. The contrast between the deep fluorescent orange and the stark whiteness was impressive. Snow was accumulating on my shoulders and hat brim in short order. The Rainshadow was even getting a decent accumulation. Random flashes of lightening began to surface and the thunder was almost immediate to follow. A thunder snow storm... By now I had overstayed my welcome so I carried on up and out of the river valley. The accumulation on the roads wasn't more than a couple of inches but it was heavy, wet and very slippery. I knew my ride home would be interesting. As it turned out i had no idea just how interesting it would prove to be. Some parts of the state had seen twice as much snow and the lack of snow plows on the roads found many motorists in the ditch. From Wellston to Sarnia I must have witnessed 30 or so places where someone was or had been in the ditch. At one point I had to make a 911 call for someone that was way down deep in a giant ditch and almost out of site west of Midland.
April snow storms. I love to fish in them but could definitely do without the road time.

The Tunk Hole

2011-04-03T00:57:00.004-04:00

Five Thirty come far to early for my aching body this morning and it was soon apparent that I would not be pursing first light fishing opportunities. Six-thirty turned into Seven-thirty and eventually nine-thirty before my weary bones rolled from the warmth the bed. I gazed out the window as I put on a pot of coffee to see a dreary overcast day with the makings of rain or snow. Cody buddy was now at my heals wondering where the heck his breakfast was and what the hell was taking me so long.

After getting the dog settled I sat down to my morning coffee and some WFN as I pondered what exactly the game plan for the day would be. Without any notable precipitation over the night and the fact that I got blanked the day prior on the lower I pretty much ruled out drifting out of Rainbow. My other option was to take the Hyde up higher and launch out of Tippy or Highbridge but it was Saturday and I new the crowds would be on the water. This along with the fact that I was flying solo left me on the fence as to what to do.

It was looking like it would be 11 before I would be able to hit the water so I was leaning towards wading the river. Last weekends success was still fresh on my mind so I decided to hit Tippy and work my way down towards Suicide Bend and see if I could turn a fish or two. Arriving at the access I noted an increase in traffic. This was to be expected as traditionally this time of the year would be prime time. Arriving to the bottom of the stair I was not surprised to see the run below the coffer fully occupied down to the first bend. I carried on around the corner and hiked up to my next destination. It proved to be occupied as did the next and the final location.

The river was getting pounded and I pondered doubling back and heading to the cabin to hitch up the Hyde and float Highbridge down. On the hike back I remembered having a conversation with a gentlemen the night prior on the river trail. He had his kids with him and they were out for a hike in the woods so the kids could shoot their air riffles and carry on like boys do. He had just hiked back from the Tunk hole with his boys and informed me that there was only one guy fishing there . I had heard of this location but have never fished it. We talked about that run for a little and I logged it in my memory bank but with no real significance behind it.

For some reason it came back to me. There is a large set of wooden stair that lead to the top of a ridge on the way down river from the coffer. I had always wondered where that stairway led to and speculated that it may lead to the Tunk Hole trail. Harv and I actually talked about it the weekend prior. So here I was with limited options and time to explore so I took the trail. Much to my surprise the Tunk hole was closer than I would have ever imagined. I guess the closest distance between two points is indeed a straight line.

I carried on down the trail from the Tunk Hole parking lot and soon found myself at a large stairway down to the river. I could see from the top of the stairs that the water was clear and deep. From this access I found myself on the outside of a sharp bend in the river with many deep water runs at my feet. There were only a handful of anglers present and they were well down river leaving me a tonne of prime emerald green water to explore. Dead Sexy new water excites me and my day took a drastic turn for the better. I quickly settled in at the foot of the stairs and made a long drift down to some overhanging cedars.

Soon I found myself into a pound and a half rainbow that got my blood pumping. I fished this water thoroughly and found no more players so I made my way up river about 30 yards to a small gravel plateau that gave way to a very deep bucket and trough below it. Two drifts in and I set up on a giant fish. Soon the Mykiss was screaming line as this fish made its way hard down river. I had about 175 yards before the next angler and I was starting to get concerned if I would be able to stop and turn this fish. I could see some large trees down in the water past the downstream angler and I couldn't tell what lay beyond them.

I was feeling apprehensive at chasing this fish as I really didn't think the chase would be short lived but I was running out of options so down river I went. By now the fish was down where the next angler was and making every effort to go further. Luckily to me he was retying his rig on the bank and he turned to look when I announced that I was coming down with a big fish. He politely smiled and gave me the breathing room to play out this fish. I eventually managed to get the fish turned and out of the main current and eventually on the bank. I already new it was a large fish but as always I was overwhelmed by just how large he was. He was in the 32-34" range.

A giant double striper and an outstanding way to break in this new water. After a bunch of pics he disappeared into the green to fight another day. With my nerves shot I managed to retie my rig and work my was back up to the gravel plateau. After a few more drifts I headed up another 50 yards and was amazed at how the water just continued to look better and better. The deep water was practically at my feet so I lobbed a 10' cast off the bank and watched in as my float followed the contour of the river bank until it disappeared below the surface and the rod loaded up nicely. I could feel every headshake and began to see flashes of chrome through the crystal clear water.

Thanks goodness it was a smaller fish and I managed to keep the 4 lb chrome hen in the run and eventually on the bank. This bullet was fresh in and dime bright. Just a beautiful chrome hen I thought to myself as she raced back into the depths. After a few moments to regroup I lobbed out a new bag on the same line and the float once again disappeared. This time it was a small colour up buck. I carried on for a dozen more drifts and decided to slide back down river and fish some of the water below the stairs where I had landed the giant buck. By now the other angler had left and the water was vacant so I was curious to see of I could snipe a fish or two out of that section. I fished the section hard and couldn't seem to put it together when without warning my float dropped and I set up to a quick headshake and then nothing.

Initially I shook it off as bottom but upon investigation the bag looked suspect and I thought I might have missed an opportunity. Not ready to give up I continued to pound the water and a dozen drifts later my float once again dropped in the same location. This time I set up on adecent fish. After a worthy battle I managed to put another double stripe buck on the beach. These fish are magnificent in their full spawning dress and are very photogenic. The Michigan fish seem to take on the extreme when it comes to spawning colours and really are beautiful. By now I had 4 steelies on the bank and a nice rainbow to boot. A cold front had moved in and the temps were hovering below zero. I decided to crack a celebratory beer and make the hike back to the truck. On the way I marveled at how an outing with such a dismal forecast took an abrupt 180 with nothing more than a sense of adventure. There is nothing more I love than success on new water. I am learning more and more every outing on this magnificent river and it continues to impress me with amazing water and super amazing fish.
On a side note: With the exception of the chrome Hen todays fish have been in the river for some time. This holds true to my theory that the main run has yet to come. Tremendous fishing opportunities lie ahead. Timing is everything. Here's hoping....

The Lower River

2011-04-01T23:52:00.000-04:00

The last time I floated the Big Manistee we put in at Rainbow and motored up river. We were fishing on the front end of a cold front plus we had big off coloured water. We still managed to find some fish and christen the Hyde. Today I was flying solo and quite excited about heading down from rainbow into the wintering water. We really haven't seen a decent push of fish this spring and with the warming trend and snow melt I thought the lower river might be the place to find a few new fish along with some privacy. The early morning drive across the rural Michigan countryside was stunning. The sun was rising and the fields were full of deer.

I really is quite amazing just how many deer you can see in the fields at dawn or dusk in the spring over here. Arriving to the launch I was pleased to see this section of the river was indeed quiet. I quickly put the motor on the boat and finalized the remainder of details before I backed the boat down the ramp. Before I knew it I was drifting down river but not before netting a nice 7lb female for a shore angler at the launch. For the next five hours I pulled anchor, rowed the boat, got snagged, and re-tied. I could not buy a fish on this section of river now matter how hard I tried I must have re-tied no less than 20 times. There were a few guides on this section today and they shared my predicament. "No fishies in the down-low".
The float and solitude was good for my soul and the boat maneuvering experience was money in the bank. I'm actually starting to get the hang of it. I decided to cut my losses and head back to the launch with hopes of dropping the Hyde off at the Cabin and fishing Tippy for an evening session.
I managed to get the boat in the garage in good time and headed toward the river.

On the way down the stairs I ran into a gentlemen taking a rest mid way. He indicated that he had not seen a fish hooked down there all day. By now I had nothing to lose and made my way down towards the river. Much to my surprise my preferred location below the coffer was free so I quickly slipped in and made the cast. Three drifts in and I decided to change my roe bag to a fresh one and pierced one of the eggs for good measure. The float hit the water and went no more than 10 feet before it disappeared and it was fish-on. It was very nice to feel the rod finally load up. After a decent battle the fish was on the bank and success was realized. After a few pics the fish swam away no worse for wear and I turned my body around just in time to see someone slip into my spot out in the run. I decided to carry on down river and see if I could coax a couple more before sunset. There is a certain time of the day when the sun starts to set that the river takes on an amazing glow. My secret gravel knoll was occupied so I had to go to plan B just slightly down river.

I slid down the bank and into the river. A drift or two later and I was into a decent 1 1/2lb brown. Some of these river browns are just stunning and this one proved to be one of those fish. By now the days activities were taking there toll on me and I still had a decent hike back to the truck so I packed up and started back. On the hike out I thought about the days events and the irony of catching fish at the dam versus the boat. That's fishing I guess and I'll take it any day over catching nothing or worse... having to work.

Reload

2011-04-01T00:47:00.000-04:00

Sunday Morning Session

2011-03-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

The alarm broke the silence like finger nails on a chalk board and I quickly rolled over to find the snooze in the darkness. Having fine tuned the entire process I was back fast asleep in no time until 10 mins later and dammit the submarine was sinking once again. Those of you with IPhones will know the tone. It is unmistakable and will wake the most hung over of individuals in a heartbeat. It is an evil tone directly sent from Lucifer himself but this morning it was different. It was semi welcomed. Semi meaning only met with 3 or 4 snooze sessions. With Saturday's successes still fresh in my mind and visions of monster bucks and chrome hens I managed to pull my aching bones from the warmth of the bed and out to the kitchen to put some coffee on for the useless rubes in the other bedroom. We all must have shared the same excitement as the boys were soon to follow. We found ourselves on route to the river shortly after first light. The word must have gotten out as our first choice of starting water was well populated. We shook it off and put the legs to work and hiked down river. The early exercise was a mixed blessing as the morning temps were a crisp -13 C on the truck thermometer. The snow crunched under our feet as we navigated through the forest along the river. We were blessed to have the remainder of the river to ourselves this morning and spaced ourselves out in a very long sweet section of productive water. It didn't take long before we each had a couple of lb fish to our credit and I noted just how much colder the water felt on the hands this morning. I also felt a burning sensation on the tips of my ears that was certainly reminiscent of January and February Steelheading.
Unknown to me Harv had hooked up with a nice hen and put her on the bank for a quick photo op with Arns help. I was out in the river on a sweet little gravel bar that virtually isolated me from any other company up or down river. I had just happened to retrieve my rig and looked down river to notice a fish had come up to the surface just before a large sunken tree about 25 yards down from where I was standing. I gently dropped my float in front of me and watched in anticipation as my rig approached the location. And like it was scripted my float slowly disappeared followed by a quick and firm hook set. The surface of the water erupted and then line screamed from my reel as another very large fish shot down and across the river.

Suddenly a giant buck leaped from the water on the other side of the river upstream from the direction my line indicated the fish was headed. The brute was racing through the run so fast that the line drag in the current didn't allow me time to catch up with him. A sudden feeling of hopelessness set upon me for what felt like the next 15 mins as I tried fruitlessly to persuade the beast to come to my grasp. Harv came out to the gravel bar to assist when things started to look like I had a remote chance of success. We got the fish to within ten feet of our location when the rod went silent. I was certain the fish had gotten me on some wood directly in front of us in some deeper water so I released all tension and watch the float waiver in the current void of life. I was about to give up and try and pull it out when the float moved a foot sideways and the game was once again on. After another couple of minutes we managed to get the fish about a foot from Harv's grasp when it seen his mug and made one last ditch effort at freedom. I was a good call on his part as the hooked popped free and came back at me with a nasty mess of braided line tangled on it. The braid must have been the culprit of the initial snag and it was a wonder that it became untangled from the bottom without my line breaking. Good knots and good Flouro I guess. By now I was almost relieved as my hands were in a very poor state.

I remember fishing one December with Norland in the Shire and his hands were so cold fighting a giant fish that he was begging me to take the rod and spell him off . I now knew what he felt that day and as I attempted to warm my hands in my jacket warming pockets the pain intensified as they came back to life. Big fish have their place I thought to myself but this location was no place to fight giant fish. Especially without a net. I shook it off rather well and at least Harv got a good look at the beast as did I when it did it's initial jump from the river. After my hands regained dexterity we fished the section a little more before secumming to Arn's desire to hike through the brier patch to the inside of Suicide.

We made the hike from hell and fished that miserable piece of water to no avail once again. Don't get me wrong...it is nice water but I have learned that it has it's time and place and is better fished when fish are starting to do their business. We plugged away fishing our way back towards the access site. Arn lost another decent fish in the middle of the river as did I. By now it was getting towards the middle of the day and we had a long drive home so we made the call to "high-tail it" out of the valley and get back to the cabin to pack up. It was a good morning outing with everyone experiencing victories and defeats. Things are headed the right way and with the coming weeks warming trend they can only get better. It's always a lot of fun when the boys get together for a reunion and this trip proved to be no different. I sincerely hope our schedules align once or twice again over the coming month for an opportunity to better our successes and increase upon our laughs.

Norland is a DB!

Sign of things to come

2011-03-26T22:04:00.001-04:00

Today was a pleasant surprise. The temperature hovered below freezing and was wreaking havoc on the guides but the skies were clear, clean, and crisp. The fish gods finally shined upon us. Today was a pleasant surprise indeed and truly a sign of things to come. I've said it a few times recently and I'll say it again. We are on the verge of the main run. Next weeks warming spell will certainly tell the tale. If today's fish are any indication of what lay ahead then it will be absolutely ridiculous when it pops. Way too tired to conjure up a wordy entry so I'll let the pictures speak the tale. Props to Harv for taking some amazing photos and proving to me that my Sony isn't all that bad I guess.