Slideshow: July Fishing 2015

Heavy rain and cool temperatures extended and already great season! Check out these 48 photos from our adventures.

Fishing Report: Back in Business!!

Today I received Tenkara USA Sato rod. I was planning on doing some prospecting on the Lil E tonight anyway, so I threw in the back of my wagon with my pack, put on my waders and headed to to the river. As I backed out, I heard an awful CRACK! I was sure that I had toasted another skateboard, but to my shock, I found what was the carbon fiber tube of my Sato split in half.  Fortunately, the rod was in pretty food shape. The tube did its job. I put the rod into my pack, and went on my way. 

This is not the start I was hoping to have for my excursion, but I was to excited to FINALLY be back in rubber pants, standing in my river, waving a stick.  

The river is still high, and pushing hard. But the water is clearing up still running a cool 65 degrees. I'm always amazed how many things change in the streams after the floods. I fished a few runs and hoped for the best, but expected a rough go. So you can imagine my shock when what I thought was a snag started moving upstream. I raised my rod tip and a golden flash shot 2 feet in the air. After a short fight I netted a plain looking golden broo??? Bone? What I thought was a Brown Trout turned out to be a sucker. Oh well, at least I felt a tug.  

The river seemed to improve as I fished. You can see shades and structure pretty well and the bottom in some places. The fish are holding in the middle and back of the runs, as they tend to do when the water gets high. I set my Orvis Recon aside and strung up the Sato. On the third trip through the run a soft bump turned into a fat Brown Trout! A beautiful fish with a huge gash on the one side. After safely releasing the fish, I switched back to the Recon and missed a fish on the swing, only to take a 13" brown a few cast later. Not a bad day all things considered. After all, this was a prospecting trip. 

A couple things to cosider if you get a chance to get out there. The Mosquitos are awful. Make sure you pack and use the nastiest stuff you have. Just keep it away from your fly line, sunglasses and anything else plastic. We have had a few cases of West Nile reported in the Middlebury area, so be careful. Also, the water is really strong and things have moved around quite a bit. Use your sea legs.  

I think the fishing with only get better over the next week. We should have plenty of water for a bit... Hopefully we can keep it cold.  

-ak

5 Things To Do Until The Waters Recede...

10 inches of rain in a little over a week and a half equals one blown out river system. The streams were fishing incredibly well. Hopefully, Lord willing and the creek don't rise (literally), we'll be back at it by the end of the week, but until then, here's my plan to pass the time.

1. Tie bugs

 An awesome summer season has put a hurting on my bug supply. Amish nymphing leaders too. Hoppers should be heating up, and I've got a new design to validate, code named The Fence Hopper. (I feel I should explain since Stanifer didn't get the Amish slang of fence hopper. When young Amish decide to become "English", they are said to have "Jumped the fence". Thus Fence Hopper). I do my best work streamside at a picnic table at Riverbend or poolside. 

2. Bike

 I'm trying to utilize the ATO fish bike for the majority of my recon. I check on the streams daily utilizing The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. The Pumpkinvine stretches over 25 miles and connects Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, and Shipshewana. The trail is almost entirely paved and weaves through the the beautiful Amish countryside. There are plenty of coffee shops and watering holes along the way.

41 Degrees North

A few of my favs are 41 Degrees North downtown Middlebury, with an impressive selection of craft beers on tap, and the Pumpkinvine Cafe, where you can get a latte, shop for antiques, and buy a golf cart. 

3. Golf

Time to go into Hex Night Fishing Guide mode. Here's the schedule:  

10:00AM: Wakeup, slam a black coffe, two PBR's, 3 eggs and 5 slices of extra thick cut bacon from Hoosier Meats.  

11:30AM:  Meet other guides at golf course, bet the tips from the previous night's guide trip on everything from longest drive to star putter. Play a quick nine. Down three more PBR's. 

2:00PM: Grab a Red Bull and Grilled Cuban from Martin's Deli. Grab some supplies for the client shore dinner and some more PBR's. 

3:30PM: Two more PBR's, short siesta. 

5:00PM: Tie some bugs, check the rods, reels, and other gear, pack dinner. Slam another Red Bull. 

7:00PM: Meet the nights clients, get the grill going, and get the NY Strip Steaks on. Sell the clients on the belief that the bite is "epic", has long as we "get some bugs". Provide a crash course instruction on not hooking the guide in the head. 

9:00PM: Get streamside, eyes up, and wait.  

9:55PM: First bugs show up... Game on! Bag 6 fish over 20" and convince client it's purely their amazing ability to cast perfectly in the dark to feeding fish. Switch into professional photographer mode. 

2:30AM: Secure next year's trip dates with client. Load up gear, head home. 

3:00AM: Three more PBR's and a shot of Jameson to wind down. Hit the bag after you down the other half of your Cuban from lunch.  

10:00AM: Repeat.  

Now, since I can't fish, I guess I'll play 18 and just clean the garage.  

4. Build Some S*** in the Woods

My boys were attempting to build a "fort" in the woods behind our house. After two full days, Quinn asked me to come and take a look because things "weren't working out." What I found were a few old boards nailed together in a clearing... And half my garage. I told them that the plan was flawed, and the next day I would show them how to build a proper shelter. The next day we built not one but two shelters with only two machetes and some twine. The Dual Survivor guys would be proud. An experience me and my kids will never forget. The bonus was that we all got a proper case of poison ivy. Earning me a shot in the ass at the doctors and a text from the ex wife. 

Still way work it.  

Poison Ivy

5. Blog. 

So there you have It! This week is looking to be hot and hopfully the rains subside. But until then, this is my plan to take my attention off my fishing jones. 

-ak