Pacing Ones Self

I'm covering far less water today. The pace matches the slow speed of the Pac Bay 4wt I built this winter. I fished it a couple of times on the Green for very early season midges, but today was the first real date with it, and I'm in love.

So it's not that hard to put the sport back in sport fishing. I use some different flies, fish some different angles, slow down and soak it in a little. Don't be so damn greedy. My head is back where it belongs now, enjoying the precious few days of sweet summer and PMD season.

I do leave the sitting ducks alone today, but there aren't as many of them. The bugs are fewer, and consequently the rises too. I am spooking fish from shallow riffles that were probably rising yesterday.

I have been noticing a bunch of logs sticking out from the bank like this all up and down the creek, and it took a few days to realize that they have been placed there. They're all 90 degrees to the current, and anchored into the cut bank.  Not sure who did it, but nice to see effort being made.  There's been a big fish feeding behind nearly every one of them!

I have to play the long game on the flat water. I take my time, wait for the ones I miss to come back up, and watch others spook away on the first cast.  

Purposefully restricting myself, it was time for the floating nymph with the little hanging wiggly tail.  It got some good eats.

There were some big spooky mothers here that kept me busy for a while.

I try to not use spinners, hangers, and soft hackles today, just to see. It's hard!  I mean that's over three fourths of what's in my PMD boxes.  So I cave and bring out the delicate long distance game with a soft hackle, and that ups the fool-a- big-fish rate to give me a chance.  I engage a few fish for up to 20 minutes, on and off.  Win some, lose some.

Another rainbow

I see a big swirl here and think it's a muskrat. But then I see it again, and it's a fish eating. After the soft hackle fails and I switch back to the hanger for the first time today, the fish of the month eats the fly of the month and becomes the splash and toilet flush of the month. But I have nothing to show for it. It happens.

This legendary great is a winner right through the evening bite today.  It's sparse, it's alive, with Antron, hares mask, and partridge. What more do you want or need in a fly?  Shows up grade on a light background too.

As I wait and process one that's going to sting for a while, I see a pretty good head directly across the creek on the left side. Could it be him? There won't be any doubt if I catch it. It's the biggest fish I've seen here. After a couple more rises I'm pretty sure it's not him but it's a nice one. Two fly changes later I catch it.  

Hey, other than casting at the one giant fish, I went hanger-free today!  Never tied on a traditional spinner of any sort either.  I probably won't make a habit of it though.  But it's good to know I can if I want to. 🤣