David, same back at ya!
I had a FANTASTIC time as always when I'm able to get up to David and Candida's. Started off great right away after I was warmly greeted and found none other than Lee Soares sitting right there in his family room. I've been following Lee's posts and adventures for years and it was a real honor and an absolute pleasure to finally meet the man. Lee is one of those great fellas you feel completely at ease with and like immediately, and after you spend 10 minutes with the guy, you just know he was born to be a fisherman.
Very unfortunately, Lee had another engagement so he wasn't able to join us for wet-wading this warm water stream I had never been to. And a real honey of a stream it was:
Sure wish I would have taken more stream shots, as this photo doesn't do any justice to the many nice runs and slower sections it held. Almost all of the water was 1 -3' deep, which was just perfect for wet-wading and the place was absolutely infested, I tell you, with spots and smallies like this with some smaller and some bigger ones that will make you sit up and take notice:
Great, great fun on the 2 wt. rod I brought and even managed to coax some off the surface with a little red/white deer hair Tap's Bug, as did David on one of his foam patterns.
Despite constantly insisting on giving me 1st and/or sole shot at the best holes, I think David still out-fished me. As it was, I know I counted over 30 bass brought to my hand, and I'm sure David got more. Heck, if I'm not mistaken, he pulled 17 out of one section alone.
Also got a green sunfish and a squawfish. Was surprised we didn't pick up more green sunfish, as the water in many places looked perfect for them, but as David noted, it was perhaps just a matter of the water warming up a few more degrees.
It was really something to see that huge catfish circling over and over around a huge old Caterpillar-sized truck tire in plain view. We both tossed at it without any success, although it would have trashed me on a 2 wt. Here's a picture of it -- just look in the center of the tire and you can make it out, although this photo doesn't do justice to how big he really was:
Again, a fantastic day! Thank you so much David for having me up and showing me around that stream! Be forewarned, though, if you ever make it down this way to sample some of my waters, I too will similarly insist you take the best shots.
-- Mike
Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.
Bookmarks