Cold.

Yeah, 13 celsius with a whipping wind  is a little to much for me to venture out in a toon. In my last post, I mentioned that I caught a very nice perch in close to shore. Buoyed by that knowledge, I headed out to see if I could perhaps tempt something from shore. Ill advised really. The weather did not make it enjoyable. Did catch a few perch though. A couple decent enough to make the stringer. So really, for 45 minutes it was pretty productive.

As I said, I like things easy. Not sure what I will be doing for fishing. The toon was easy. Not so enthused about it in the colder climes. I have a real aversion to wearing waders while in a watercraft. This whole thing about not wanting to drown.

Olive Wooly Bugger

The first fly I ever tied was an Olive Wooly Bugger. Can`t remember where I got the tools and materials. Think it may have been a shop called Hookers that had a small fly tying section. I was working nights at the time, in a job that afforded a lot of free time. I filled that time tying up Buggers. For just a few bucks in materials, I ended up wrapping up a couple of hundred flies. From the first one to the last, I am sure there was an improvement in my technique. Seeing the odd survivors now, it would be impossible for me to tell you which was tied first. All were pretty awful ties. All worked. I also suspect all the best ties were the first to be fished, and eventually lost. Leaving me with the also-rans.

........a fat bass.

Like most neophytes attempts, the flies were far from perfect. But they caught fish. I had so many of them tied, that for decades afterwards, until this day, I still come across them in my boxes on occassion. I call them Ànorexic Buggers`, as unlike most beginners, I did not add to much material. In fact, the opposite was true. Perhaps to little. The thing is, those decades later, those Olive Buggers will catch fish on days other patterns, much newer and more ably tied, will not.

I rarely tie up colours of buggers other than Olive. I would say 90% of the time I throw a bugger, its Olive. I have my reasoning as to why this colour is so productive, and one doesn`t need to look past the food fare of fish to figure out why. A lot of food stuffs for fishie`s come in this colour.

Today was another very productive day on Horne. Perch are going crazy. Very aggressive, nailing everything. There also pretty fat and pretty feisty. Also managed a few nice bass. There was the constant threat of a downpour that kept me close to the launch. As a result I only fished a couple of hours before deciding to pack it in. Just before pulling out, mere feet from my launch, a managed a very respectable 11`` perch.

Recent outings.

So, I have been out twice in search of trout. Once was back to the previous spot where I took my first fish. This time I managed to hook several, but land one.

I will tell you this know...............not liking the river fishing bit. Just to finicky and annoying. My back starts giving me grief quick. Pontooning is so much easier.

I have to go back to that water prepared a little better. By that, I mean be set up for nymphing. The guy we got the tip from was a 'dry fly only' sorta guy, by his own admission. Those that have been reading my tripe for long enough will be aware of my affinity for such. So thats how I went rigged. Immediately upon viewing the water I thought........classic nymph water. I should have been setup as such on my second visit.

So far up here, I have seen shit oads of caddis, and few mayflies. The fish I hooked where all on caddis.

I also went out on another day, looking for more water. I found a real nice stretch, but could not interest the fish in a dozen of so casts. You know, I am so damn spoiled I expect immediate results. I really have to get over that. I can't blame my move up here and my other fishing exploits here for that though. That comes from fishing for trout in S.O. I really need to adjust my expectations.

Fish n' Chips. Fresh fish, gluten free.

I was back on Horne tonight for the first time in  a long while. Was hunting perch meat. Caught lots of those. Also caught a good number of bass. I broke off a huge one. You know those overhand knots that appear in our leaders, often via tailing loops? Thats where it broke me off. I have on 20lb tippet material. I was rather surprised. Tells you how much a simple knot like that can affect the integrity of the line.

I fished a few different flies today. All were successful. The Rabbabou Clouser and an Olive Wooly Bugger produced most frequently, and it was the bugger that hooked the mega-bass.

Been awhile.

So, as I mentioned, a tip lead to some water on the White River. Since it came to me through a tip from a local, I`m not going to say to much about its exact location. From what I know, the water holds Bows, Specks, and Whitefish.

The Little White from earlier this year.

Even after checking out the location the other day, it still took some searching around to find the exact spot that had been related to us. When I did find it, I was impressed. I didn`t get enough time to really fish it hard, and it was mid-day, with little surface activity from fish. A number of caddis were egg laying, and I saw a mayfly which I didn`t identify on the water a couple of times.

I did however spy a fish smack a one of the small tan caddis that were flitting on the surface. My determination based solely on aerial observation was that a tan-tan caddis in a size 16 aught to be appropriate. I managed to put a cast over top of it and hooked my first trout since moving here. A bow of 10`` or so. It was highly acrobatic. Highly. I was impressed with its vertical. I managed to rise a couple of others.

A guy who lives not to far away stopped by on his ATV. He confirmed that indeed, its a good section for trout. Nice to know. I`ll be heading back soon enough at a more appropriate hour.

Oh, and I have come to  a decision. I despise furled leaders. Just my opinion. Don`t get upset by it. I find I can do far more, with ease, with a hand knotted leader. One of my major peeves is that lays out to0 straight. It does this exceedingly well. Thing is, I almost never want that when I`m throwing dry`s. I want slack S`s. Serpentine. I did  not find it responded well to my attempts to rectify this with mends, casting or otherwise. As a result, I have just finished tying up and swapping out for a trusty old hand-knotted leader.

On the ride home I was contemplating that I had a new river to once again figure out the bugs on. I enjoy that. Somewhat. I mean, its always good when we are in tune with the rivers happenings. Not so fun on the nights when fish key in on something you have never seen before, and subsequently have no pattern the fish will respond to.

A day or so ago............

I was out one night a couple of days ago. Was another Esten Lake standard..........from what I can recall at this point. A LOT of boats out on the water. More on that day than all other days in combination. Last long weekend of the year maybe.

I`m sure if you look back through my posts, you`ll have noticed a previous mention of weeds in 14` of water. Generally, I will only see the tops of a few of the plants. Full growth starts a couple feet below. On all the lakes I have fished up here, I have consistently found fish....good fish..........in this type of aquatic structure.

Topwater was again very productive, and a sink not so much. And yea, once again I was just flippin out the GFC.

I also went exploring for something new. Found some good water and will be back there soon I hope. It was a follow up on a tip for some dry-fly trout water on the Little White.

Also of note, when on Esten last, I noticed Hex`s on the surface for the first time. I know I have lost my box of hex`s in the move. May have to get the tying bench
and wrap up a few.