Auuuugggghhhhh!!! Yawn, stretch, scratch, repeat. Roll on out of bed, shuffle to the kitchen. It's time to make some coffee.
Coffee is made, so let's have a cup.
This last week felt a little disjointed. My car blew a brake line when I was fishing with Steve Martinez the previous weekend, so I had it in the shop on Tuesday. Not wanting to work on Saturday I worked long hours the rest of the week to make up for it.
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one fish from Tuesday |
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Morgan mends her line |
She did manage to hook up on a really hot double-digit fish that took off on a scorching run downstream. It was the last hole, right at dusk. Morgan only had her indicator rod with her, and I had made her use my chucking rod because I know where the fish lie in this run. My crappy running line got wrapped around her arm as the fish made it's way downstream and that was end of story. It was nice to have someone run the camera for my fish but I was really hoping to get some good shots of her with one. Next time Mo'.
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big mean buck from Sunday |
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Alex Cerveniak with one of the day's fish |
Well I was negligent, or overworked, you choose, and didn't get the next interview done last week. I'll do my best to get my interview of fiberglass rod builder Shane Gray done this week. I have two others besides- bamboo rod builder Lou Burhart, and Au Sable river guide Kelly Neuman. Kelly has put up a half dozen streamers and a really nice fly box to give away, so be sure and look for that one.
Monday Morning Coffee Reader Loyalty Giveaway.
Speaking of giveaways, it is time for me to reward my loyal Monday Morning Coffee readers. The trout opener is coming up in two weeks here in Michigan and I want to help you get ready. The good folks at Rio have sent me 4 Power Flex tapered leaders in 5X and 6X and some hats and visors from Fishpond. Enter your name and email address in the form below and I'll draw four winners tomorrow after 5 PM. The short entry window is to reward my loyal MMC readers. I know you're out there. If your name is Sanders and you never read this before Friday- sorry dude, I'll send you an FR sticker as soon as I get around to making them.
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Okay, it's time to go to work- let's get after it.
I normally don't win things, but you made it so easy I had to enter. Nice thing you did for Morgan. I'm sure someone will be watching over you for that kindness.
ReplyDeleteMark
Well, I hope you win then. And if you don't win, I have a couple of spares. I'm at that point where I want the people with me to catch fish, unless it's Alex, in which case I don't care- I want to catch fish so we can get some pictures taken- Ha!
DeleteIf it weren't for the fact that it flows right through my gills, I'd be a coffee drinker. But I definitely wouldn't drink it from a spotted cow mug. Now leave me alone.
ReplyDeleteIf I drank it out of a brook trout spotted mug would you be tempted to eat it?
DeleteHa, thanks, Jason. Not sure that your running line was necessarily crappy--just that that is the bane of all running lines, perhaps: they loop in really awesome ways everywhere. If it hadn't been my wrist, it would have been my forceps or the tag end of my wader suspenders or or or or or. Or next time I'll just work the indicator rig harder. OR NEXT TIME I'LL JUST SHOOT THE STEELHEAD IN THE FACE. SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GET FROM ME THEN, BUCK-OH.
ReplyDeleteKidding. They just drive me nuts.
And your honor stands (mostly) unscathed ;). My apologies for not getting something seriously photo worthy.
Ha. Mostly. I was afraid of that- can I make it up to you in brook trout? I'll keep your threats of violence in mind and do nothing to anger you next time on the water.
DeleteYou guys are kicking it hard out there. Well done! I wish our steelhead season lasted longer than it did out here in WNY.
ReplyDeleteHow long is your season? I have done well since last November, but only because we had a mild winter. Spring was unusual and resulted in a month-long spring run instead of the usual two weeks.
DeleteIt just so happens that my name is Sanders, and I'm early this week...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a few good days on the water. Those fish are ridiculous! Just make sure to save some of that good juju for this week.
Have a good one!
Ah, that's pretty funny. You are early this week. I'll send you a sticker anyway. Glad you made it by.
DeleteYay!!! You had a Fish Tuesday!! And a productive one...Looks like fishing is hot out there right now! Dang...wishin' I had steelies. Lucky you. And sorry for showing up late on the contest. Well...that silly thing called taxes kind of took up my day...Ha.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the fishing has been great lately. I'm looking forward to fishing dries for trout soon. Glad you made it by, I'll be giving away more stuff soon.
DeleteWe get a good fall run of steelhead along with some lake run rainbows starting in October going into late November. And if the water is good we will have a consistent flow of fish enter throughout the winter until the thaw and spring rains bring in the big spring run of steelhead, which usually starts in March. This year's spring run was shortened due to the extreme warmth, which sped up the spawn and shortened the window of opportunity on many of our WNY tribs. We usually can still get into a few fish at the end of April/early May. This year, the whole thing was done by mid-April!
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing about this years tributary fishing was that all the WNY tribs remained open through out the winter, giving us plenty of opportunities to pick on all the big drop back brown trout and the occasional fresh run steelhead.
Ours follows much the same pattern, but because Michigan has such a long South-North coast we have a much longer window, if one is willing to drive a little. The big-name streams further south peak April 1, my streams around April 15 and UP streams last of April and first week of May. With the mild winter we had I had great fishing all winter, instead of the usual three feet of snow and shelf ice, so this was my best winter ever. I'm getting ready to write about it.
DeleteYes...very similar! Our WNY freestone tribs usually lock up with ice due to the frigid winter conditions.
DeleteI look forward to read your interpretation of this years events!