Shoulder to shoulder

The Big Slough Creek is not really a slough...

Etymology: Middle English sloughe, slo, from Old English slōh; akin to Middle High German slouche ditch

Date: before 12th century

1 a : a place of deep mud or mire b : also slew or slue \ˈslü\ (1) : swamp (2) : an inlet on a river; also : backwater(3) : a creek in a marsh or tide flat
2 : a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection

...and it is not really big, but no wonder it is so popular.  Not only is the weather great, but the fishing is fun.  Today a fly fishermen out for trout got a very hard hit.  The fish ran out his entire fly line to the end of the backing.  He fought it for a long time and finally landed an 8.5 pound channel catfish!  This creek is full of surprises.  So, I wrote a new song: "Down in the Deep at the Big Slough Creek".  Listen at http://www.cantos.org/fishing/music.html

Fly fishers caught and released many trout today.  The Women's Fly Fishing Clinic conducted by the Flatland Fly Fisher's Club was well attended.  The clinicians were terrific, and the one on one coaching was well appreciated.

The U.S. has 18.2 million fly fishers, but only 2.9 million go out regularly.  Of the 60 million sports fishers in America, only 1.2% (725,000) are women fly fishing enthusiasts.

Down in the Deep

Down in the deep of the Big Slough Creek

Lines are sunk as the fishermen seek

Legends and demons and the secrets the keep

Catch one and you leap! Honors you will reap!

Lose it and you will weep!

1. Waters of the creek are connected to the lakes,

to the rivers and the streams throughout the state

Fish are attracted to the deep water pools

For the sands and and the dams are to them like jewels.

2. November seven of ttwo thousand and nine

A fisherman nearly lost all his line

He stripped out the line and all the backing, too:

That giant of a channel cat, down the creek he flew.

3. Stories are told of the crappie and the bass

Fishermen come far, no matter the cost of gas

When they hook a big one they begin to shout

Whether sunfish or a catfish or a golden rainbow trout.

4. Fly fishing waters are the most special kind

Trout stocked waters are a rare and precious find

Flatland Fly Fishers brought the dams and the sand

We thank them for the lunkers, let's all give them a hand.