Fishing with Charlie

One of the beauty's of fly fishing is spending time outdoors with friends.  The BRFF Group on Yahoo has been good to me as I have made several friends over the years that I enjoy fishing with.  Charlie Wright from Sulphur is one of these guys who is really fun to fish with.  Charlie and I spend a couple of days a year meeting on the river, usually up in the C&R area.  We both love the place and the fact that the area requires a little work to get to makes it that much more special.  That is the beauty of this section of the Blue.  This past Tuesday afternoon, Charlie and I met  to rip some lips on the Rainbows of the Blue.  A blue bird day it was with sunshine, light breezes and tugs from the fish.  Here is a great pic of Charlie getting his rig ready for battle.

Charlie had a good day on the river Tuesday but as we all found out, our time on this earth is precious and we all should learn to appreciate our time here.  Charlie just wasn't right all day he later told me.  We had a great time on the river and he was kind for giving me the BRFF discount to stay at his Inn in Sulphur.  Those who want to do an overnight, must take Charlie's kind offer to stay at his place.  We went to a great dinner at Roma Italia in Sulphur and we parted ways until coffee in the morning.  As most of now know, Charlie had a mild heart attack after dinner that night.  He is doing well and resting after being flown to OKC Heart Hospital Tuesday night.  Thanks again Sheri for emailing me the next morning so I could share this with our forum members for thoughts and prayers.  Good luck Charlie, get to feeling better and God Speed my friend.

I headed to the C&R Wednesday and the fishing was just off the charts.  Fish were eating midge larvae early in the slack water with a red larvae I tie doing most of the damage.  Around 11am, this hits stopped and I tied on a mayfly rig with a olive hare's ear with a soft hackle dropper picking up fish and gray foam wing emergers taking fish as well.  Here is a beauty from one of the side channels in the C&R and a cool photo of the area.

 

 

All in all another great day and a half on the Blue.  This trip was outstanding for fishing and friendshp.  Lots of big fish this go round and another chance to fish with a good friend.  The Good Lord blessed Charlie and I this week and thank goodness we will have a chance to fish again together hopefully soon.  One last pic of a new friend from the water of the Blue as well.  This piggy was a pleasure to find in my net.

Good fishing everyone and make sure to spend time with friends and family in the great outdoors.

Cheers,

Merc

 

San Juan Freeze

I love winter fishing.  As a matter of fact, the gear nowadays is so good that winter fishing is usually very pleasant and has become my favorite time of year to fish.  You can hike for miles with no sweat and mosquitoes.  This is when I tend to fish the most.  Especially when you live in Texas summers.

Well this was cold.  And this was not winter fishing.  I found myself in Navajo Dam NM at the San Juan and it felt like Arctic fishing.  Thank the Lord above that the first two days had no wind.  This was clear sky Northern NM frigid nights.  Like 6 degrees at 8:30 in the morning.  Yuck.

Looks like my 8 hours fishing days just turned to 5.  Keep the coffee going brother, I am staying in for another cup.  My bud and guide friend Chip got to the cabin a little late on Sunday morning and I gave him grief but two hours later, I was kind of relieved.  Cold out there on the boat.  But the inhabitants of the San Juan don't care if it's cold.  A leech, a larvae, and they will help warm you up.

This Juan trip was short and sweet and the leech was the go to rig.  Leech to the red or in the PM a foam wing emerger and as always on the Juan, the right depth would be rewarding.  The C&R area on Tuesday AM before my trip to ABQ and Texas would be more of the same along with my four friends.

Well everyone, Happy New Year for 2010.  I ventured into my birthplace of Durango this week and all I can say is " Happiness is in your rear view mirror ".  Looks like I have taken that to heart.

Cheers everyone and GOOD fishing !

Merc