PM Up North

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie in the C&R for a PM trip.  I was supposed to mix in another trip the following day but I have been under the weather and we'll get to that some other time.  We had a perfect afternoon to fish and usually quitting fishing by 4pm to drive back to Texas, it is amazing what I am missing by that move.  It sure is great to be able to fish this river to dusk.  The last 2 hours are splendid, with long shadows, many tugs and wildlife on the move.

Things started a little slow on the day but with the sun and mid 50's temps but there were plenty of bugs on the water.  Midges, small baetis, even stillwater calliebatis were out, along with gnats and some small bugs really hard to name.

The fish were on the small stuff early and I mean size 20 small.  For the first time this year I really felt that the smaller size was the ticket.  The fish were on the emergers and as well all know, that is a tough depth for success.  With the clearer water, I was on 5X fluro and I really think that helped too.  Here was a nice one from mid-afternoon.

As the day progressed the river takes on a new glow.  Long casting shadows really enhance the normal beauty of this place.  At dusk, as Charlie were packing out, a huge Barn Owl flew across the river from us and observed from a safe distance.  Just the extra hint of darkness did not allow me a pic of this great bird, but I will not soon forget it as he checked our every move.  Really pretty place as the sun goes down.

At last light I decided to go back big and the fish responded to this offering.  The Spanker put the hurt on them as this was a nice broad shouldered bow that could not resist.

Those of you who take part in our winter passion from Texas must take advantage a couple of times a year to fish  the Blue at dusk.  A great dinner and night was had in Sulphur and for those of you looking for an overnight place to stay, please consider Charlie's Sulphur Springs Inn.  A great place to be and a great place to breathe, especially with good friends.

Cheers and good fishing everyone,

Merc

Fishing with Friends

Folks I have been remiss in posting over the last week or two.  The Blue River has allowed me many moments of solitude over the last few years.  I really love the area and its beauty.  It is also afforded me new friends.  As a matter of fact, these new friends really should be classified now as " old friends".

Barry and Charlie now fit this classification.  We do not get many chances for all 3 of us to fish together but over that last two weeks or so, we have had the chance to fish together twice.

The first trip was a trip to discuss the One Fly Tourney and hit the South Wilderness and this last week we explored the C&R.  I will say that we all have had more productive days in terms of numbers of fish caught, but to spend time on the river with these guys is just a pleasure.  We all enjoyed the fellowship and yucking it up in between tugs.  I forgot my camera this last week but the week before I was able to catch my " old " friends in action.

Enjoy !!

Cheers,

Merc

Happy and Sad

Friday was my initial trip to the Blue River in OK.  Boy was I glad to hop on the bike for the ride into the C&R.  Excited enough to forget my rod tube as I turned the bike around to go back to the truck and get it.  As I approached the water a new trout season on the Blue was before me.  Man what a sight to be back and I could not wait to get a line wet.  Many fish would find my net on the day and I snapped a photo of the first one taken with a Jig.

As you can tell by the pic, the water was murky and stained.  Maybe a foot of visibility but that did not stop the fish from eating my many offerings on the day.  I found fish in the many holes that I have grown accustomed to and I found that gratifying.  What else I found, was honestly, kind of sad. 

The drought has taken its toll on our beloved river and I stopped fishing for a moment and prayed for rain.  The river could sure use a good flush and restore the flow to the falls.  It would also create so many other areas to find fish.  As I explored the river, I found a few fish out of the few deep holes but not many.  I snapped a couple of pics of the river levels, hoping by season's end, we get the rain to fill up the river.

I also found another hungry friend left over from the warmer season.  It was a nice tug and he sure was pretty.

It sure was nice to back on the Blue.  Like the title of this post, I sure was happy to fish again, but I sure was sad to see the state of the Blue.  Lets all hope for rain.  I would love to have to sacrifice a few days fishing for the rain our Lady Blue needs. 

Cheers,

Merc

Fall on the Juan

Another great trip with friends and strong San Juan fish.  Browns are on the move and the fall colors were off the charts.  I will let the pictures do the talking.  Lookout Oklahoma trout, your are next on the radar.

Cheers Everyone and Good Fishing,

Merc

Been a While

Well folks it has been a while since my last post.  Living here in Texas and being a coldwater fisherman, summertime turns to work and golf and fishing takes a back seat.  Well kinda.  I had the blessing to have an invite to go on my first trip to Alaska this summer and I will be back soon.  Like next year.  What a place and as I have told many, the ecosystem up there is what resonates with me.  Just wonderful.  If you have not done it, do it.  Pay the man, it will be money well spent.  Here are some highlights.

 Fabulous place and we'll put a wrap on that.  It's about 1 week to the first fall San Juan trip and trout season in Oklahoma is starting November 1, so I will not be a stranger.  Look forward to seeing friends on the river and finding friends in the river.



Cheers,

Merc

1 Weight Heaven

Got to Rush Creek this am for about 2 hours of fishing before yardwork and the Masters.  First cast and this little bluegill blew up the Miss Prissy.  What a fun rod to fish.  The 6'9" TFO Finesse.

I have seen and caught some good bass in the creek and have spent some time sight casting to them over the last month.  I was stripping blind in a nice hole when all of a sudden there was the Toilet Bowl Flush !

What a fun morning with about 30 to hand in 2 hours.  Still more creek to explore next time.

Cheers and good fishing everyone !

Merc

LMRF One Fly

The last couple of years I have gone up to the Lower Mountain Fork Foundation One Fly Fundraiser.  It is a fun event that raises money to put to river projects and other river enhancements.  It is also a chance to get together with some darn good friends and I always try to make a few more every year.

This year was no different as I got together with Eric Jackson and David Dillow on Friday night after fishing.  David is kind enough to offer up his cabin to Eric and I so the least I could do was burn some steaks for Nic, David's wife and the boys.  Eric brings the Scotch and all be darned if I did not come home with it ! 

Friday fishing was good as I got there in the PM and met David and Bree ( the cool fishing dog ) for some Oklahoma trout.  We explored the Evening Hole as most of the crowd had not shown up yet and the trout were cooperative on Soft Hackles, Midges and Pheasant Tails.

Saturday was a early wake up call for the One Fly.  We hit registration for the fly of choice.  This year was a tough one as we were given a size 16 Parachute Adams Dry Fly.   Oh yeah, it was sunny and the fish were NOT looking up.  I realized right away we were going to have to sink this bad boy and fish it sub-surface.  It did not take long on the 4th drift to hook a 17" bow in Lost Creek.  I have never spent much time on the Creek and it has never been that good to me, but all my fish in the tourney came from the creek.  Very surprising to say the least.  The pic below is not a great pic to say the least, but this male was a really cool looking fish.  You'll have to take my word for it.

Everyone had a good time at the One Fly and lots of money was raised for the river.  Many thanks to the ODWC, LMFR Foundation Directors and Menbers who participated in the event.  One thing I want to add.  The Department has done a wonderful job with the redo on Spillway Creek.  The habitat there looks great.  If we only had some regs on that stretch of the Fork.  Fished it PM Saturday and when the fish are able to stay in the river instead of being harvested left and right, it fishes great.  The work there is wonderful and should be mentioned. 

Cheers everyone and good fishing,

Merc