Dry Flies, Rivers, Trout & Tarpon.: Questions

'Cause I sure don't have any answers. Shoulda quit while I was ahead after that first day in the perfect spot at the perfect time with perfect conditions and fishing like I was supposed to. Pretty much a shit show since then. Blurred vision. Back/shoulder. Trying too hard. I don't know.

Next day on Armstrong, I couldn't get back in that killer spot all morning. (Nelsons--why don't they stay on their own damn creek you can't hardly get on?) I fished the flat above, and had a few chances late morning in a sparse hatch, but it was the beginning of some poor execution.

Next day on Depuy, no morning hatch. Spent time discussing such pressing issues as selectivity (the myth, and lack thereof even admitted by Swisher himself) To grease or not to grease the leader. (Always grease it!) Loop knot or clinched knot. What did the bug say when you asked it why they're all hatching in the late afternoon. (It didn't speak English) Three different PMD's or simply little yellow mayflies. (Just say no to latin) Baetis now hatch all season. The place in Florida that's most like Montana. (Not tellin') The flood as it happened. (Tom was there, here, then.) These fish will now eat a SJ worm after the flood. (Blasphemy) If cripples were really crippled, they'd have a cane and a wheelchair. (They just haven't immaculately emerged) Live bugs move, and our flies need to do that too, sometimes, most of the time. It was good conversation, even if re-hashed.

The light hatch finally came in the afternoon, with the wind. Fished the upper re-entry run, caught some dinks, and blew a couple nice ones. All in about two hours. The evening was ok after the storms, but still no picture-worthy fish, and the light sucked.

This morning was about the same. Some rising fish once the late hatch started, but nothing to get excited about. Fucked up a nice one around lunch time before taking a break. I returned early evening, On approach, still in the grass, I saw the one I wanted. The day maker, goin' to town. I got the eat, then pulled the hook trying to land it for the killer picture. (Oh, I mean he "spit it"🤣) After that, I thought of what I tell my clients all the time. "Shake it off, don't stew over a lost fish or you'll never get another one." And I really need another fish-in-the-water picture.🙄 Well, I was still kinda pissed. It had the vibrant colors, the crimson gill plate, the size, and the light was perfect. I never recovered, yet continued to get eaten and eaten. Couldn't hook a fish or keep one on if my life depended on it. And it usually does.

I thought of Chief Brody, "What's the point? . . . hooks and lines." So, to hell with landing fish or fish pictures. I'll go with post-flood creek pictures, Norman on the creeks, and lightning that I'm getting every day except today . . . so far. I haven't stepped on a rattlesnake or surprised a bear yet, but there's still plenty of opportunity. As I'm typing this, the trailer is shaking and I hear distant thunder again.