Going Over 2013 Goals

2013 was a great year for fishing. I set several goals for myself and it was fun trying to accomplish them. Here is a list of the goals:

1. Fish More with My Daughter 
2. Explore More Wild Streams
3. A Year That Kicks Bass - Really learn my local bass waters
4. Catch 7 NC Citation Fish in one year using only flies
5. Tie and Use More of My Own Flies

I'm probably the most proud of accomplishing the first goal. I was able to fish several times with my daughter.

I had a lot of concern about this. Was she still too young? Would she enjoy it? Did I have the patience?

The experience was a severe test in patience and I had to reside to the fact that fishing with my daughter meant no fishing for me.

That wasn't bad but I had to admit there were times I wanted to fish as well. Sometimes we compromised, mostly when fly fishing. I'd cast and hook a fish then let her reel it in. She hated this. I'd try to tell her she caught the fish herself but she would have none of it. She only felt she caught the fish if she hooked it and reeled it in. I couldn't blame her. I would have felt the same. The times we spent on the water were some of my favorites and I look forward to our trips this year.

My goal to explore more wild streams was also based on trying to catch my first North Carolina brook trout. I had fished several waters where the fish were present in the past but never caught one.

It became more difficult than I thought it was going to be. The scenery made up for the lack of fish.

My buddy Jim joined me on many of these quests. We found some really great streams and we noticed brook trout only seemed to be in certain sections.

Finding them was always exciting and I never got tired of the hunt. This small stream trout fishing is something I will try to continue every year. The experiences out weigh the fishing. It's hard to feel anything but joy when you're on these streams. 

 The bass fishing this spring started with a bang.

I was catching bigger bass than I had in previous years and I seemed to be figuring them out.

At least I thought I had. Then the rain came. We had the most rain in at least 20yrs in the Triangle. The rivers were swollen and almost impossible to fish. Especially for fly fishing. It really killed my goal of fishing more local waters for bass. In the fall I had forgot about bass and looked to the mountains for fishing opportunities. I'd have to say I didn't accomplish this goal and I'm eager to work on it again for this year. 

 The Citation goal was probably the most difficult to accomplish. Especially without a boat. I have a float tube but I don't really count that as a boat. I'd like to blame all the rain this year but honestly it probably had nothing to with it. Catching panfish over a pound just isn't as easy as I thought. I really wanted the large mouth bass citation(8lbs or 23inches long). I never even got close. In the end I was 3 citations short of 7. I'm glad I didn't take this goal too seriously. It could have really ruined my year. It wasn't all bad. I did hook up with a fish that has been one of the most difficult for me to catch. American a.k.a White Shad have been evading me for years. The abnormal rainfall allowed these fish to run up closer to Raleigh. I knew this year was probably my best chance at catching one.

I had heard these fish were large but this one was enormous. It had to be over 5lbs. I was really happy to have accomplished this from land and with a fly rod. What this taught me though is at least where I live; fly fishing for these fish is not worth it. You really just make things overly difficult for yourself. I will still chase these fish in the spring but it will be with a spinning rod. 

 This year I probably tied and used more of my own flies than I ever have. It was a goal but I didn't consciously try to use my own flies it just worked out that way. I used soft hackles 90% of the time this year for trout.

I tried to get out of my comfort zone and enter a fly swap. Trevor at Fly-Carpin was nice enough to let me join his.

It was a great time and I'd gladly do it again. My fly was even featured in CarpPro Magazine. I gained more confidence in my flies as I used them more. It's amazing how many flies just work.

Maybe we think too much when it comes to what fish will eat.

The year overall was amazing. A couple other great moments was catching my first red drum

and my biggest trout ever in Utah.

I can't complain and I look forward to what 2014 has to offer. Happy New Year everyone!

Interesting Indicator and Weight System

These guys might be onto something....

Fishing With Mom

My mother and I went fishing before Christmas. I have been wanting to take her to a wild trout stream for quite awhile. My hope was that she would catch a brookie.

Pretty good day.

Stocking Fish By Train

Pic taken from Susquehanna, Pride of the Fish Commision

I was doing some research on a tip that smallmouth bass were one time stocked in a local stream. In my search I ran across this article. It goes over the history of stocking fish via train. I was surprised to find out fish were stocked coast to coast as early as the late 1800's. The technology as the trains progressed is very intriguing. 

"By the early 1920s, the fish cars had accumulated an impressive record. A 1923 report indicated that, over the previous 20 years, the output of the various hatchery activities amounted to 72,281,380,861 fish which were distributed by fish cars traveling 2,029,416 miles and detached messengers 8,104,799 miles."
~The Fish Car Era of the National Fish Hatchery System

The article is very interesting. One of my favorite parts is about hiring a crew of people to aerate the water by hand as a shipment of striped bass traveled across the country.

Bad Mouthing Orvis

For a long time I have been bad mouthing Orvis. My main issue was how pricey their products are. I felt the brand name was synonymous with snob.What I started to notice was year after year I seemed to be buying more Orvis stuff. When I hit the stream now I sport a Orvis Chest Pack and Waders. It's not that I have more income or less access to other stores. I have found that Orvis has some pretty good deals now and then. Better deals than you can find at other stores and even online retailers. Even my beloved Sierra Trading Post can't compete sometimes. 

Orvis is also one of the few stores that seems to consistently provide programs to get people into fly fishing. Free fly tying and casting classes. They even offer a free trip on local waters here in the Triangle. They provide all of the equipment, waders and boots included. Of course the end goal is hoping you'll get hooked and buy gear from Orvis. Still the gesture is there and it is getting more people exposed to the sport. If you sign up for their mailing list you will get coupons fairly regularly. The best coupons are the $25 off a $50 purchase. I mainly use these when I stock up on tying supplies. I have been looking for a decent cheap midge box for quite some time. I was surprised that Orvis had one of the cheapest options. They have come out with slim pocket fly boxes. These boxes vary in several different sizes and no matter what size you choose they are all $10.

The midge boxes come with a magnet at the bottom and fit great in your pocket or fishing pack. Orvis has really converted me into liking them. I still think many of their products are over priced but I have to admit they are good quality. Their fly tying materials are priced pretty much the same as most fly shops. I'm not recommending Orvis for all of your fly-fishing needs but I do suggest giving them a look the next time you're hunting for something.

Early Christmas Presents

Gotta love'm.

Against The Rhythm

There are times in life when things just don't seem to fit right. The signs are obvious but we either deny they exist or try so badly to will them to change. I've always felt there is a rhythm to life. You can either go with it or against it.

I just crawled back into bed with my wife. "You're not going she asked?" I was supposed to go fishing with someone for the first time but when I arrived at their house there was no sign of life. We had been communicating by email and he never gave me his number. I tried emailing him when I was there but never got a response. I waited 20min then headed home. Just as I was getting comfortable back in bed my phone rang. "You've got to be kidding me." I said. I reluctantly got up and checked the phone. An email was there stating that the person I was meeting slept through their alarm and asked if I still wanted to go. It was already an hour past when we were supposed to leave and I wasn't sure what to do. My gut was telling me the day was already done for and I should stay home. "You're already ready, you should just go." My wife said. I did want to go fishing. I grabbed my gear and headed out the door quick. Even with the feeling that I was going against the rhythm. Not just against it but at full speed. So fast in fact that on the way to meet back up with my fellow angler I was stopped by a policeman. Our greetings were short and I left with a ticket. Another sign that the rhythm of the day was just not right. I wondered if I should just head home. I told myself, even though not truly believing it, that what I needed if anything was a good fishing trip. After meeting up and hearing several apologies for the late start we headed to the coast. The forecast called for mid 60's weather and rain possibly in the evening. When we arrived it looked like the forecast was a little off.

As we walked to the surf drops of rain started to hit our face. I felt this was just par for the course on this day. My new focus was just not to drown or get a hook stuck in my head. I figured that's where this day may be headed. There was no surprise when I saw absolutely zero bait in the water. I still figured the day may be salvaged with one fish. One fish to make the whole morning go away. Then my line jerked and started to move with the current. "Got one!" I yelled. Something wasn't right. This fish wasn't fighting very hard. As I brought it closer I couldn't even tell what it was. Turns out it was a dead fish. Those usually aren't biting but when the rhythm is disturbed anything can happen. Going over the positive things in my life and trying to learn from my mistakes is all I could really do to brighten up the day. 

In the end the rain stopped and I knew there were a lot worse places I could be. I started to fish less and watch more. Several porpoise breached the water in the distance. The sun tried to show itself several times creating beautiful scenery.

Even with the events of the day I was able to fall back into rhythm.