Panfish Revisited

How can you not love it when an artist that most of us recognize for his trout images veers into various directions and pays serious homage to the humble sunfish. Having been away from the stream for a while, I've been pondering when and where I could sneak in a session for these little guys. James Prosek puts it all so well in this issue of Garden and Gun. He waxes nostalgic about his fascination with the world of bass professionals, the crazy lures they use and the luxurious boats. As a kid, that affected a lot of us and it was easy to scoff at the little fish under the dock except when, maybe, you'd use one for bait! You don't need to be old to have a little wisdom and an appreciation for all creatures should be engrained in us all hence, The Bluegill!

Link: HERE

Weather Channel Gets It Right

File under: In these bizarre times - it's the little things.

Trying to stay in step with the theme of this blog not to mention post something new after a long absence, I have this fun offering. Upon a recent visit to the Weather Channel website, they dished their usual fare of "additional content". You know, the stuff that's relevant but also which often seems more devised to engage us versus help us decide whether or not to go to the corner store in a T-shirt or a sweater. Well, that said, they scored a home run with me as they showed footage of salmon migrating across a road during a flood (pretty old news to fish freaks worldwide) but top it off, an homage to air travel of yore replete with none other than Led Zep standing outside of their private jet. I'm speechless! 

Flat Trout

Well, I couldn't resist with this title. A few weekends after the Carp Throwdown (which was a blast), I found myself forfeiting the ever-frustrating corbina quest and stripping a good ol' clouser through a deep trough and nabbed this beauty. Undersized but healthy as hell, I released the fish to fight another day ...

Opening Day 2015

Confession, I'm on a stream, yes a stream watching FC Barcelona v.s. Espanyol ....

Illustration: Brynolf Wennerberg circa 1914

The Spot's Fly Fishing Expo - April 11 & 12, 2015

This weekend's event will be nothing short of amazing!

Details here: http://flyfishingexpo.net

Trout Fishing in Long Beach? - The Double Haul Ball - Sat. March 14th, 2015

This event focuses on local salt and is well worth the effort to check out! Details at: bit.ly/DHB2015

Heaven Below - Fall 2014

A terribly long overdue post here and a return to the world of "Black Diamond Trout Fishing" adventures! Lots of fishing has been going on but I have been terrible at posting ... Here's a fun one to make up for it all. Earlier this month (Nov. 2014), I was fortunate enough to rally the esteemed company of Jimmer and Phil to visit a deep and mysterious Sierra canyon that I have a soft spot for. Another friend John recently hit this area with great success. Our trip was less filled with bragging right sized trout but still amazing fun and a great visit to this magical place. A trip earlier this season with Oliver, Don and Rebecca coughed up larger fish. This second trip, later in the season of this drought year made it unusually easy to wade and wander about. That alone added to the novelty (tragic as it is) to this trek.

Access to this canyon was made over a moderate pass.

There was even snow!

Compare this photo from 2014 with the colors of 2012 (below).

This spot is usually difficult to cross even in fall.

The beauty persists.

The risks persist!

Usually it's rattlesnakes, poison oak and ticks.

This fly had just popped out of a fish's mouth...

and into my hand. Nice fish too.

The trout persist. *Jimmer's fish
One of many fish and perhaps one of the finer specimens.

The buddies persist!

Myself, Jimmer and Phil.

Visit their sites and blogs.

 http://www.highcountryflyfisher.com

http://fishhunterphil.blogspot.com

and be inspired!