AuSable day trip.

I spent my Saturday on the Au Sable river in Mio MI and had a great time and caught some nice fish. I generally don't fish the Au Sable, not for any good reason but I have my spots that I frequent and know the holes and the runs and that keeps me content. The urging of a friend finally won over my stubbornness and off we went.
Started off strong and was hitting good fish on Isonychia nymphs, but the day changed as they usually do and I had to switch up my game plan. Round two winner was the classic Prince Nymph tied under a small midge. Between the awesome fishing and the meeting of new friends and having some good conversations with my old friend the day was hands down my best trip in awhile.
It is just another example of letting go of your comfort zone and watching the world open up before you.
Here are a few pictures from my trip, and don't laugh, the sun was in my eyes..


<((><
Jeff

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First Bow of the day

My buddy Al and his first fish of the day

Another Bow who took a Prince

Please take a look.

Over the last few months we have all seen the hilarious videos of "Hank Patterson", you know the blow hard fly fishing guide...But do we really know who Hank is? Well I didn't and I'm glad I checked into it.
Hank is actually Travis Swartz a film maker and fly fisherman who has a heart and a sense of humor. The "FishOn' project is an amazing collaboration of Travis and his crew and I implore you all to head over to Trout Jousters and take a look. Follow the link below..

<((><
Jeff

http://www.troutjousters.com/fish-on/

A day away.

4:30 am, cold outside. As I rummage through my cold weather gear to find the appropriate layers to keep me on the water, I cant do anything but smile...Im going to stand in water when it is 27 degrees outside and I am so damn excited, I cant wait!! Truck is packed...truck is always packed..

5:30 am, wife is getting ready to walk out the door for school/work.

6:15 am, wake up the kids and get them off to school.

7:00 am, Alone... in the truck at the McDonalds drive thru for a coffee, out of the parking lot and on to I-75 heading North to the river.

7:53 am, As I step out of the truck to face the wind on my cheeks, the aroma of the finally ready to drink coffee (what the hell McD's...cool it down) fill the space between the open truck door and the great outdoors. I slip my legs into the waders, I put on my backpack and my SIMMS chestpack and get ready to unleash the beast from her tube of solitude. I construct it piece by piece until it becomes the perfect 9'6" fish tamer that im sure is gonna make this day all I have imagined it as.
guide by guide I thread the line through and always checking that all guides are in line because you know that ya just cant give those a little turn to correct em on the water.. I cut my tippet and tie on the most perfect length I can ever remember tying....and now its time....."THE GLO BUG"....I choose an orange on this morning and I know it will be perfect... A short walk down to the bridge...down the bank and I am home..

As I walk upstream to my first run I move two Salmon. As they rush by me, I notice there Zomble like flesh and know the Steel are home. My first cast is right OFF target and into the rocks...Nobody saw it so it never happened...... but the second more delicate cast is a perfect tight loop that drops the egg in the exact ripple I was looking at while in my back cast and the day really begins. Witha a little mend I feel the unmistakable tap,tap,tap..and I set.... No it isnt a Steel but it is a hefty Rainbow who give my first..(cough,cough..)cast a return with a deep bend in the rod and a reason to unhook the net from my pack..

The bend in the rod was the theme of this day, time after time and cast after cast they returned with a Trout on the end, it was perfect..Damn my left foot is cold!!

Up river I move with the stealth of a 250lb ninja...and the bends continue. But damn my left foot is cold...and then I feel it, the rush of cold water through my sock and across my toes and the sinking feeling that this day is coming to a close.....WHY!!!!

On the most perfect of days this has to happen..God hates me thats it.. or could it be when I patched these waders two months ago and my wife told me " you just buy new ones cuz winter is coming" I maybe should have listened??
Either way and despite the wrinkled cold ass foot, I was happy...my day has given me fish and memories and another reason to share with you all.. So after three hours and a ton of fish I return to my truck one sock short and the heater turned onto the floor, I head South and turn the radio on and reflect on my nearly perfect day....kinda thirsty though.....Oh I still have my coffee......SHIT.....thats hot!!!

<((><
Jeff

Whats goin on!

Well after a busy month and the welcome addition of Bronchitis into my life, I am on the mend! So much to do before the tournament and handling the nervousness that it all goes well and everyone enjoys themselves has got me a bit on edge. It's funny how in the beginning of an idea the outlook is so promising but as it grows closer I'm thinking everything that could go wrong will! In the meantime I am simply praying for a good turnout and a good time for all involved.
My time on the water has been very limited as of late and that really is hard to deal with. Between work and home commitments time is scarce and to a stream addict anytime away is never good time. I am gonna try to get out the next day or so but we shall see!
On the tying front I have been engulfing myself into #20 BH midges for winter. I love the fact that they are so versatile that you can create them out of any imaginative and they are always winners. I have tied some pretty marginal looking Lil midges and slammed fish on them. Now I don't set out to be marginal but luck over skill wins with me any day! I ahve found that in the waters I fish, dark is key and the bead head is a must. I have though been able to not rip all of my hair out in the attempt to put a 1/16 oz bead head on a #20 hook, if anyone has a secret here please enlighten me. Brat sized fingers and Stevie Wonders eyes aren't meant for this....LMAO.
So that's it just a little glimpse into whats happening here at HOTF. I hope all of you are doing well and that you all take the time to hit the water every chance you get and to enjoy all that we are blessed with. To my East coast friends I pray that all is going better and things continue to become less of a struggle.

<((><
Jeff