I got home from my Spokane tour yesterday in time for dinner as hoped. Granny and I chilled on the back porch well past sunset. This week has drained me to the hilt. Nevertheless, I couldn’t wait to get on the water with Bob to a favorite haunt. We met at 6 AM.
It was a beautiful drive to the river. The sun was rising and lighting the changing leaves of the oaks and maples and a long list of other hardwood trees. I continue to think about losing Sammy almost every minute. Each day gets better but this blow is still mindboggling to me. As all anglers know, fishing days are healing. I couldn’t wait to launch the boat. We pushed off at 7:30.
There’s a heatwave going on here in northern Wisconsin. Last Sunday it was cold enough we chased muskies but today we packed for smallmouth. Neither of us can get enough smallie fishing in so we took advantage. Let’s just say we caught a bunch and a few monsters.
There’s a couple particular places where I’ve seen a musky on this river but not caught them. Bob packed his musky rod and I had him toss his big fly in both places. The first fish followed his fly half way to the boat but never ate. The second one ate his fly instantly. It’s a little guy around 24” or so. We never took him from the water and did a quick release. Its pretty cool how we’re getting this musky stuff figured out!
The smallies continued to impress. If a spot looked like is should have a smallie, most of the time it did. Bob caught a few on topwater, I fished a white deer hair fly just under the surface. It didn’t matter. These fish seem very unmolested. I also stuck this pretty little pike on my bass fly. I was lucky that he was hooked on the tip of the lip so he didn’t get to steal my fly today!
Bob took the oars for the entire last hour of the day. It was a long day I should mention. We covered a lot of miles and weren’t off the water until 5 PM. I sat in front of the boat and enjoyed an ice cold Leiny Light. I didn’t just take in the scenery however; I made some casts as well with a heavy Clouser. I’m glad I did. I caught this lunker that was a hair short of the holy 20” mark.
That’s it for fishing for a few days. I need to work. My speaking season is on and next week I head for Richmond VA, to deliver a full day seminar to Fly Fishers of Virginia. I’m ready to stay busy so if you need a speaker for your club be sure to contact me.
Those are beauties!! Then again, aren’t they all.
Bummed I’m gonna miss you here in Virginia. Thinking about you as you process the loss of Sammy – sorry man.