 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tramping & Fly Fishing |
|
|
Sept 30, 2006
Monache Meadows |
|
|
Do You Remember Your First Time? (continued) |
|
|
At day break I struggled out of the shelter which seemed to be sucking me back inside. I finally extricated myself, breaking two tent pegs in the process. But I was free at last to reconnoiter the area. The stream was only 50 yards away, with a couple of nice holes upstream and some fishable riffles downstream. I had some success on outings to the Lower Owens and Hot Creek, but since this was only my third fly fishing trip, I figured I would sneak back to camp, grab my rod, and explore the possibilities without embarrassing myself in front of my son and his buddy, both experienced anglers.
I was wrong! The phrase "don't leave home without it" took on a new meaning... never go anywhere sans rig!. Back at the tents, the boys were now stirring and heard me searching the Jeep for my gear. In order to distract them from harrassing me, I sent them in search of a new target: my sleeping son in his tent. The commotion escalated, and our site soon became a buzz of activity: my son playing monster, kids scurrying around being Power Rangers, their father trying to find the cooking gear for breakfast, and me attemping to set up my leader and tie on a fly with my poor vision deteriorating in the resulting clouds of dust.
I eventually gave up and took the boys down the path to see the river. The stone and stick throwing started, and youthful shouts of "Look at this!" and "Over here!" probably frightened every deer and trout within 500 yards... not to mention the lone hunter left behind trying to wet a line at the next camp three holes upstram. Breakfast took forever, and most of the morning was spent unpacking, keeping the boys out of the fire, and cleaning up. I finally got rigged up around 10:00 AM.
My son headed downstream with the boys, their Dad was left in camp for a little solitude, and I walked back to the original spot I had found (the scene of the rock assaults on the water). Those browns must have been really hungry! On my third good cast (forget the numerous foul-ups), a twelve incher took my fly as it settled on the water. After landing, taking his picture, and releasing, I figured this was going to be easy! |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Wrong again! My son returned with the kids (he had caught one 10" rainbow), handed them over to their dad (who went downstrem with them), and it was about an hour before we got back to fishing. My son headed up river, and I went to the second hole I hand found that morning. I tried this spot for maybe 15 minutes with no success, worked my way upstream about 50 yards, and then fished back downstream, finally getting back to the second spot. I was admiring my set up of the fly when the roll and splash of a striking fish caused me to instinctively raise the rod tip. After a short tussle I landed another brown, this on about 10". My suspicions of the fish being really hungry were confirmed by the big head and skinny body on this one. Made me want to catch a bunch of insects and drop them in the water. Hopefully the next time he is caught and released he'll be a lot fatter! |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
My son wasn't having much success, so after a snack we all piled into the Jeep and headed back on the trail downstream to find more open water and bigger fish. Another bumpy ride to find bait casters and spin fishermen. After seeing Bambi dead on the back of an ATV, and having a guy walk by with a K-Mart bag full of nice trout, I was discouraged. The kicker was when a woman slid down the bank where I was fishing, saying she had dirt and fish smell on her hads, and started to splash water on her arms within 10 feet of me. I quit for the afternoon and retreated to the hill where we were parked. At least up there I could watch the motor bikes roar down the trail and across the meadow without eating their exhaust! The guys finally returned around 5:00 PM, we bumped and humped back to camp, and had a great dinner. I went down around nine, and according to unsubstantiated reports, snored my brains out. (continued) |
|
|
|
next |
|
|
previous |
|
|
|
Tramping & Fly Fishing... topic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out the Door... home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|