from the bench

All the reading, blogging, tying, and thinking about fishing doesn't satisfy my hunger for being on the stream -- it makes it worse.

Here are a couple new patterns using some cool streamer skull heads. As well as some tinkering with deer hair heads. In both patterns I've loaded a lot of weight onto the hook. The skull heads are nice and heavy. The deer head pattern has a moderate sink rate--wrapped two layers of wire on the shank (otherwise I'm sure it would float). Deer hair is sweet for shaping heads but it's so buoyant and I want these guys to sink.

Adding drama

I don't typically do too much photoshoping to my pics. Mainly adjust the dark/light balance & crop. With these pics I've bumped up the drama filter. Some good memories tied to these fish. enjoy.

Do you remember this fish, Tim?

gnarly old brookie. Nate remembers this fish.

little bow in the current

big bow from big run

April Browns

The stream gave me a couple b-day presents. Two browns that were 19-20ish. Nate caught some luck also with two big ones of his own. It was a slow day of fishing and then all of a sudden we we're catching these beautiful big browns. I think we better repeat our b-day trips next year. I can't remember having better.

John's Bday

I helped Johnny celebrate his birthday over the weekend in Iowa. This was a family trip so we only fished for a few hours, but we came upon a stretch of river loaded with big fish. When I say loaded, I mean fish > 15 inches in almost every run.

John finished up by landing two 19-20 inchers and I landed a 20 incher. The photos turned out great. What a weekend! Typically we fish for days just for a chance at one or two big fish, his weekend we found some nice ones in short order. Happy B-day Uncle.

Black Eyed Snakes tonight in Winona-I'll be there, will you?

-Neck hurts today, great show as usual!

Fishin the Pond

My 19-month son will stand by me while I catch panfish from the backyard pond. He's really into all animals. For now dogs are at the top of his list. Soon enough it may be fish.  

BTW, that's the 3wt I recently built - tossing dries. Perfect for this.