Saturday, November 27, 2010

Couldn't buy...

... a bite today. Skunked. Nada. No love. Yes, this happens. When it does, it makes you appreciative of the days when fish are cooperative, rising and taking your flies eagerly. I don't want to start blaming this or that or over-analyzing it, at the end of the day it doesn't matter. I couldn't figure out how to adapt and the wind made things worse. So I decided to call it a half-day and drive home and take my daughter to the movies.

Today I focused on fishing with my Amago and the no.4 level hi-vis fluoro line from Tenkarabum. The level line made it easier to cast in the wind (until the wind became too much and blowing directly downriver). I am still trying to figure out how to properly fish without an indicator and I agree that the hi-vis line makes it much easier to follow the drift and probably to detect strikes (did I mention I had NO strikes yet?). The line was a bit kinked from being stored, but stretching it out while extending the rod took care of that. I remembered somewhere reading to keep a bit of kink in the last foot or so that would enable to detect strikes easier when the line became tight. I agree, I was very much able to detect immediately when I hung up on the bottom. I am sure it also works when a fish actually takes your fly, but, well, maybe I can confirm that next time when I actually get one to bite.

This was also the first time I took out my new waist pack (yes, some would call it a fanny pack) and I am so for very happy with it. Small and compact, it holds what I need, plus two granola bars should I become hungry. It also functions as a wading belt and my net and a bottle holder can be easily attached. It became a bit wet due to my lack of wading abilities (I slipped and was barely able to recover) and my inability to gauge water depth...

My rig consisted of a size 16 RS2 Sakasa Kebari, the one I tied for the swap mentioned in the previous blog entry, my go-to fly, a size 20 lazy RS2 mercury as a dropper as well as a 3rd dropper a size 20 Wire Bloodworm which I later changed for a size 20 souped-up Top Secret Midge.

RS2 Sakasa Kebari
















Lazy RS2 mercury














Wire Bloodmidge

















Top Secret Midge
















No fish pix today, but some shots of the river:






















River Notes:
South Platte River, somewhere below Deckers
Flow: 190cfs-ish
Water Temp: 38F (so I have been told. and which would explain to a certain extent lack of bites)
Air Temp: 23F @ 10am, 56F @1.30pm
Weather: Sunny, windy/breezy

3 comments:

  1. Hey Karel, glad to know I'm not the only one who gets skunked on on S. Platte! Nice post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Jason. It was tough yesterday, lol. But that makes us appreciate the days we catch fish much more!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice report despite the fact there were no fish. Happens to the best of us. Looks like some beautiful water & surroundings.

    ReplyDelete