Sliding

They closed the schools on Friday due to the extreme driving hazard, so everyone jumped in their cars and drove to the stores and recreation areas.  My grandkids went to hill at Sedgwick County Park. What a coincidence: my favorite place.  I fished as long as they lasted on the hill, which was not very long.  I fished with a catch and release spin caster.  His single hook Mepps had none of the usual luck today, nor did my trout jig.  I used toe warmers in my socks, which felt good in the creek.

Rescue on the Creek

Charles is rescuing lost lines and lures at the end of the day's fishing.  This hole yielded dozens of fish today, nearly all returned immediately to the water. Many of the dedicated fly fishers not only catch and release, but do clean up and other improvements every time on the water.  This is a wonderful place, with friendly faces every day.

Some hit so hard, that they had to be transferred to the frying pan, as the hook was too deep.

Even fishers who just started two weeks ago learning to fly fish, did well today.  They were hitting on bright flies, whether big or small, midge or wooly bugger.  Many of the fish were good jumpers, exciting to play.



We also saw a spin caster with a gold spinner catching them on every cast.  Many are like him, unaware or uncaring of the rules.  At least he was turning them back.

Fair weather fishing

Fair weather fishing is always a problem for me: I stay too long.  It was cold until the sun came out later in the afternoon.  I fished upstream for hours all alone, and never got a strike.  I did lose flies, and spend a lot of time untangling line.  I have trouble getting tangled when I cast.

In the afternoon, the sun came out, and it was very pleasant.  I took off the gloves, and headed south.  I found the downstream full of fishermen having good success with bright midges, especially chartreuse (bright green).

Several caught lunkers, including this 18 inch rainbow.  I saw many fish turned loose, but some fishermen can't resist bringing one home for the fry pan once in a while.

It should continue to be nice weather for the next 5 days.

Cold Water Fishing

I have been sick in bed, not fishing since Christmas Eve.  Today I finally went to the creek for a couple of hours.  I spent most of the time battling tippet tangles.  Does tippet tangle more in the cold?  I finally got a couple of small dark midges in the water and got three strikes before losing everything in a tree.  Then I left to tune a piano.

I was surprised that the creek water was so open, since it has been so cold for so long, and has not gotten above freezing yet.  The lakes are all frozen over.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be over fifty degrees and windy.

Fly tying

The Flatland Fly Fishers demonstrated fly tying last night at the January meeting.  Someone is demonstrating every month.
http://www.flatlandflyfishers.org/

New Year's Day Single Fly Tournament

I had been looking forward to this tournament, and what a day!  Winter hit with very cold weather and storms AFTER the tournament.  New Year's Day was the nicest winter day of all.  Did you see the blue moon?  However, my wife would not let me go out on the creek since I stayed home from work complaining about a cold for over a week.  I stayed home in my pajamas all day!

There are 41 blue moons in each century.  A Blue Moon comes on New Year's Eve only once every 19 years.  My wife rushed outside when I told her, then returned complaining that she could not see how it was blue.  So, I used Photo Shop to create this illusion.

If you will send me photos of the Single Fly Tournament, I will compose a new song called "Blue Moon Fishing".