Back to basic's.

Somewhere along the line my fishing has switched directions and I'm not sure it is a good thing. Today I awoke and got in the truck and drove to see a friend who lives out of state but was up north camping. Like I always do I loaded my fly gear up and headed North. But this day was different. After a nice visit with my friend I hit the road with all intentions of hitting the river on my way home, but something clicked. I drive this way a lot and always pass by these small creeks that I know hold Trout , but just little guys, and then it hit me. Little guys are what got me into Trout fishing to begin with and the very thing that makes me the fisherman that I "think " I am today. So "to hell with it" I said "I'm fishing here instead. What a morning! I worked my ASS off trying to get these "little guy's" to hit and when they did...HOLD ON....I felt like a kid again, I'm crawling through the weeds to get creek side, casting from my knees not to get silhouetted in the water and having a riot doing it. When did my approach to fishing become trophy based? Why do I not fish like this anymore? I had the time of my life and caught quite a few trout, mostly Bow's but did manage two Brookies. I will take this day with me forever and try not to lose site again what was always important to me, being there in the moment when the only thing on my mind is ....fishing and not the size of the fish.

Little Houghton Creek run.

Where the Brookie's hung out.

Today was a good day.

<((><
Jeff

A good read from a good guy!

I haven't yet had the chance to comment about the magazine I stumbled on quite a few months back. I was doing as I do quite often and that is search the web for more Fly Fishing material to read. I happened upon" The Cedar Sweeper". As I read more and thumbed around I decided to subscribe. I have to tell you that I love this magazine and enjoy the personal touch that Editor/Publisher Chuck Sams puts into every issue. To top it off for me It's in my beloved Michigan. The photography and writing is superb and every issue has been designed in my opinion for the novice fly fisher all the way to a seasoned vet. Take a look at it and you be the judge, but I'm sure you will see what I have seen in every issue that is is put together with the love and compassion that only a fisherman could do and it is a welcome edition to my reading and relaxing. Give it a look at the link below.

www.thecedarsweeper.com

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Jeff

Where is the balance?

Like most of you, I fancy myself as a fisherman but in my mind it's so much more. It's an obvious obsession with me and I know this by the way my wife See's the way my eye's twitch when It's been too long away from the stream or while at work (and this happened today) my mind wanders so far away from my obligations there that I started babbling incoherently to the females at my work about why it would be so much better to have a constant 65-70 degree day so the water temps would stay regulated... and I am met with "Huh..yeah that would be good". LOL.. But as I sit here at my desk tonight writing to you all, my mind is focused on the task at hand because as fisherman....you get it!! I ask myself every morning at the sound of the alarm at 4:45 am, "why can't I get paid to fish?" who of us haven't asked that question? But for now I suppose I'll just keep getting up and going to the "Not Fun" job that I have now until I get the call from the fishing big leagues that I'm getting called up for a starter spot on the river, and then 4:45 doesn't seem too damn bad!

<((><
Jeff

Enough with the heat!!

WOW, whats with this heat wave? I am itching to head to the stream but am so afraid of the water temps, knowing that they are in the high 70's doesn't make me feel ethical about stressing a fish out to then watch it roll away as opposed to swim. So what is a fly junkie to do when the stream isn't an option and the days off are flying by without wetting a line? Well of course I think of ways to entertain my mind around the house, like sitting at my computer reading about fishing, going through my flies and making notes on which ones are running low, and of course trying to stay cool while rummaging through the cupboards eating when I'm not even hungry. At this pace by the time the water is cool enough my ass won't fit in my waders!! On the positive note they are calling for a high of 82 degs tomorrow and a low of 63 degs tonight.....could it be??....will the water??....cooler temps??.... I'm getting ready now!...God, let my waders still fit!!

<((><
Jeff

One of those mornings.

A lake Huron sunrise.

I awoke and had the need to hit the water, but not the Trout stream which I would normally run to, but the big water. It's a feeling like no other to be in a canoe in a body of water so vast and so beautiful that as far as you can see is just more of the same. I felt alive and relaxed and ready for the day. A bonus was I brought along my #5 weight and did some dry casting and caught a 14" Large mouth, now that was just a bonus. I patrolled the flats with my eyes on the water looking for a wake or a roll of a carp but nothing surfaced except that little bass that hit after only two casts to his location. So there I am in the middle of this pristine water scape with nothing but a canoe a fly rod and the certainty that God gave me this day, and I thanked him. I love living in Michigan and love the fact that all of this is one mile from my front door, I see a second trip in my very near future.

<((><
Jeff

Light packing is all that was needed.

Ready to start again.

Well after A long month I am finally moved into my new house and actually hit the water yesterday. Water temp was OK early but as the morning went on it was creeping to close to the 70 degree mark and I chose to halt any further casts because as we know that is where we start losing fish to exhaustion. What a wonderful morning though and i did catch quite a few fish over 12". Now I am ready to start working again in the new High On The Fly headquarters (shown above).

<((><
Jeff