Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

If the first day of the year is any indication, it is going to be a happy year.  Cool, sunny, very windy and fairly crowded at Taneycomo, the day started slow. I couldn't buy a take on a red soft hackle.  Finally switched to a hare's ear soft hackle and things improved.  First trout of the year was a 15 inch rainbow.  After several more takes and fish the fly was so torn up I decided to change.  Put on a red squirrel soft hackle and hardly had a break the rest of the morning. First cast and 7 of the next 9 casts I had takes and usually fish. After several fish and beginning to get tired, I said three casts without a take and I'm heading home. It seemed like an hour later, but probably wasn't I changed to 3 casts without a take or a fish landed and I'm going.  The next cast I had another 15 incher.  Time to call it a morning. Once I tied on the red fox squirrel I never had more than 2 casts without a take. The entire time I was fishing there was a great blue heron across from me.  I missed a few fish when watching him; the funniest moment was when a flock of crows very noisily flew by and the heron was stretching his already long neck to see what all the ruckus was about.  Three hours of fishing, 25-30 fish with two 15 inch fish is a beautiful way to start the new year. I just may try my luck again tomorrow.

3 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good day to me Ralph!
    I keep sayin that I need to fish more soft hackles, you may have pushed me over the edge.

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  2. Ralph
    Can I reference your bolg in a story about Soft Hackles. You fish them more than anyone I know.

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  3. Kevin: You may reference this, but I'm certainly not an expert. I just enjoy them.

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