Coming soon to a stream near you

Soon, my little friend. Soon...

battle ready

This day seems so far away from now....

American Beauty

A classic from way back. I just love the tails on those shortheads; they are so sanguineous.

Fools Rush In

Hard to believe it's been almost two weeks already.



This weekend is the upcoming fishing "opener" across Minnesota. This is the time I take the weekend off and let all those ass clowns beat each other up at the boat ramp and fish elbow to elbow to each other. I'm not into jockeying nut to butt with other guys, and for what? A walleye? Homey don't play that.


Little do those guys know that I've been fishing open water since early March. I think I'll sit right'here, crack open a tall one, and bask in my awesomeness.

There's always next week.

Signs of spring?

Spring is creeping about, haunting my thoughts. The National Weather Service is busy forecasting for another major flood on the Red this spring as FEMA and the local media are busy hawking, pushing flood insurance down homeowner's throats. As people are starting to prep sandbags for a flood a month away, all this talk of melting snow and spring runoff has got me thinking sucker, white sucker.


Last year I made it out on February 25. Even though we are near the same amount of snow pack as this time last year (20+ inches), temps have remained fairly cool making it hard to think outside winter mode. Regardless, river flows are well above last period. The Otter Tail has been above the 80th percentile all winter long, and is now at record flows downstream of Fergus Falls as the Corps of Engineers plans maximum drawdown before spring run off. Flows will be high again this spring and will likely prove a challenge locating concentrated fish, and even harder getting a fly to them.


I've still got a few more winter missions planned before ice out. Late ice is always a hot time for filling the freezer and smoked fish. I need to get my share of tullibees this year. Meanwhile, I've been casual at the vise and my flies haven't really amounted to much other than a few Czech style nymphs ready for the first sign of the spring sucker run. Maybe it's the gray-skied daze or the stockpile of unused flies piled in my boxes from last year, but I'm just not motivated. Yet.


Maybe the first robin sighting or a day above freezing will break me from this funk. Just Maybe.

splendour

Missing It

I've been monitoring flows and the seven day forecast as if I was still fishing; force of habit. We're on the cusp of a major arctic blast breaking it's icy grip; Temps finally rose above 0°F/-18°C today. Perhaps a shot at 20°F/-6°C soon. I'm dying to get out. I haven't fished in almost a month and it's killing me. I'm just no ready to give it up. Just one more chance for '09.


I've got a trick up my sleeve; A secret mission is in the works. I need a Christmas carp.

locked up

Things are not looking good for getting out one last time this season. Air temp is currently -13 °C, lakes are starting to ice over, fresh snow is on the ground, and the gauge on the Red River of the North just dropped to 0°C within the last hour. That means river ice boys and girls.

I'd like to catch a carp in December; I'd also like to try and fly fish at least once in each month. There's a shot at a few possible -10 °C days this month, though I'll be fighting iced over guides and frozen hands. Might be getting time to fire up the sleds and breathe in some two-stroke exhaust. Better get the ice fishing gear ready.

A distant memory

I need to change my current disposition and catch me some carps. This sucks.