Almost time

So ends the regular Trout Season this past weekend. The Professor managed to get away for a two-day venture this past weekend. Not sure how he managed thus far.

Thus ensues about a 1/2 month of static limbo for me. It gives me time to focus on some OT at work, for much needed funds for the coming year. It also has allowed me to seriously contemplate (and by stating this I'll let the flood of emails ensue) narrowing down the "Collection" and take a gander around webs-ville to see some of "The Drakes" new entries into their 2007 vid awards.

Thus far the only ones that don't look like re-makes of TBD Vol 1 are the boys at Felt Soul Media and possibly the new TBD Vol : Iceland. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it's time for some new thinking/approach in the flyfishing DVD world already. Don't get me wrong they are all fine work, but seriously how many times can you portray fish porn without it becoming monotonous ??

Just waiting for consistant precip to head our way and then gear up for some Steelhead. Possibly a few trips NY side to blow the cob-webs out and get into the swing of things are in order (??)

From Brown to Silver..The Last 24

Headed back West for one last round on the Grand yesterday with the "Professor", looking for some sort of redemption from last Sunday.

Previous nights T-Storms in the area buggered us on the conditions however, making for a frustrating day looking for consistant risers/feeders. A small Trike hatch pre-dawn had our hopes up, as I watched the morning un-fold in almost a 60's psychadelic like trance.

Wasn't pretty fishing, sort of wingin it all the way, making some stupid-azz type casts & mends 'cause when we did spot fish, they were holdin tight to structure, giving us the big pectoral fin salute at times. Can't really complain about the season however. Tied into & landed decent hogs thru-out, the Professor & I did. Some fish were more memorable then others, for reasons of their own, yet each was appreciated. Lots of shitz n giggles & taunting of each other, while we ply'd the trade each outting, searching for our own persoanl jesus within. Good times, no doubt about it.


With that, it draws my season to a close on the Grand. Time to switch focus to the dark, cold & lonely ambiance of the Steelhead Rivers. Where one can zone out and seek a Zen type frame of mind. All seems right with the world during the Steelhead season. Watching a float meander by, or making some Jedi-type casts with the Spey & Switch rods, sorta gets the lost Mojo/Ju-Ju stirring in the soul.

The Professor has even geared up for Steelhead. Lord help his azz, once the first Chromer takes him into backing Bruce way. He'll get that zombie-like trance, start haunting online weather crystal balls, muttering to himself about lack-luster conditions/cold fronts, wonderin if he has enuff egg & micro speys to cover the day & sport wood everytime the barometer hits that special zone like the rest of us soon enough. Poor soul... He has no idea what's about to un-fold in the coming months...The only burning quetion is, wonder if he'll provide a good Single Malt for our excursions ?

Looking forward to a 3-4 day sabbatical NY-side, where I point the "Silver Goat" south-east for some early Nov Lake O. Brownage on the swing. Until then pic below says it all..

'Nuff said..

Served

So the Professor convinces me for one last (or second last) kick at the Grand this year for this past long weekend. Figuring I had been given Sage's newest release (ZXL) to mess around with for the Mrs', I figure what the heck. Sept is usually a good month to search out some of the Grand's hogs that are feeding up on Sept Caddis, Micro Caddis and the like. The fish are relaxed, on the feed & to a degree predictable.


Every-once-in-awhile a fish comes along (regardless of species) that completely humbles you. Regardless of what experiences you may have, had it completely does something that you are un-prepared for. Yesterday was the case, as I tied into a brute of a Hog. We had heard reports of this 28"-30" fish haunting our fav hole all year. Local guides had clients tie in the brute on occasion this year only to be owned by it. As luck would have it, yesterday was to be my turn. The take was subtle, but the battle that ensued was anything but & short lived. You just know you've got a pig on when a #5Wt is bent over & bucking wildly, resounding out the big shoulder-to-shoulder head shakes thats going on. A long hard run deep back into the slack water of the pool, with more head shakes and zig-zagging going on & next thing I know the whole line comes flying back at me. Served.... badly... I threw all my stink at him/her and they did the same, ultimately showing why they have reached that size.

The picture above is of the Proffesors' 22-1/2" that I christened last years new release from Sage (Z-Axis) on earlier this year. Adding insult to injury on the day...

Yup served...