Raz Gone Fishing

10/30 Guided Raft Trip on the Yough

2010-11-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

10/19 Yough Skies

2010-10-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

10/14-15 Highlands Stomp

2010-10-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

10/9-10 Canadian Thanksgiving

2010-10-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

9/26 Highlands Dinks

2010-09-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

9/12 Pine Creek, Ontario

2010-09-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Looking for Salmon.

Didnt see anything

Didnt catch anything

Bethany Beach n'at August 5-8

2010-08-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Went to Bethany Beach for a long weekend.

You cant drink all day, if you dont start in the morning.Managed to survive another Rogue Wave attackCaught a jellyfish off the dock. Not sure if that counts.

Judges?Went to the Indian River Inlet loaded with knowledge on how to land huge stripers and blues on the fly. Raz got a nice one on a bucktail jig.

Armed with my 9wt, huge clousers, my home made stripping basket, cleated boots, sunblock, and full sink line, i landed a 4" sea bass while sweating buckets at 6am.
Next time...

Youghin'

2010-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Went golfing with Lew, Madar and Ian. Didnt work out so wellNext morning went fishing with Sean and Rob. Worked out well for Sean Show Off
We all landed some smallies. Needed worms.

Whirlwind Ontario Tour July 9-18

2010-07-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Packed up some flies and drove North for a Canadian Wedding Confidence Fish
Wet FishAnd there was a Wedding. It was fun.

Toader

Doubled Over

You cant catch bass on a fly up here

Right, it's not a fly, its a crawfish fly

Go getchya big brother

Night before we left, i lost a huge musky that exploded on a big zarra spook. The fish came unbuttoned when two of the hookes straighted out on one of his jumps. I know where he lives and will return...

Then we drove even furthern north, and some east, and north once more.
Stopped to check out some natives
And found our big house in the skyThen fished

And Fished

Then HikedAnd Hiked some more

Then rented a canoe

And Fished. Andrea and I both landed some nice smallies on the little x-rap.
In my pre-trip research i found that this lake did hold Lake Trout. Got some laker flies sent to me, brought up the 9weight and some full sink line. Park Rangers pointed us towards the deepest spot. We paddled out, let out a ton of line, then drifted and stripped in line, letting it back out dozens of times until. Thump.

"Babe, I got one"

"Holy shit this is actually a fish, i got one"

In 100' of water hooking anything on a fly comes as a surprise.

Back he went to his depths.
Stopped on our island

Then another island. I fell in. But recovered to fish.

Drove back way way east then a little south.

Ate some poutineAnd Saw United!Then met up with Jeff to fish Lake Simcoe. Caught some snacks.

Went out with Mark to fish the mysterious Centenial Park Pond...
Not quite the game we were hoping for.

But they swim and eat flies.

Eh?

Father's Day/My Bday June 20

2010-07-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Loaded up the night before and headed to High Point Lake to hopefully land some toothy critters on the fly.Started early off by catching a nice chain pickerel on a big leech pattern.

Then this bass later on a spinner bait.

Corey caught a nice pike on a super fluke

Raz caught a nice pike on a perch colored flat-rap
I got this pickerel on a big double fly

Each landed nice fish. Also landed a Crappie that attacked my huge fly. weird. The pike just arent there in the numbers they used to be. Oh Well.

Evening on Chit Crick 7/7

2010-07-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Finally met up with Rob Walters to show him my section of Chartiers Creek. Temps had been super hot the last few weeks so we went later in the evening. Each tried our luck for some carp with no takers, then moved to the small waterfall.

God this bass a few minutes after setting the hook good in my finger. Bugs were terrible. Bass were hungry.
The second you'de turn on your headlamp the bugs would swarm without hesitation, so we hiked out in complete darkness.

Swampin' July 3rd

2010-07-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

Slept outside the tent in Conneaut, got up early, headed over to the dam at Geneva Swamp with Andrea. Not really knowing what to expect, we tried our luck. We each landed a few crappies right away, then something toothy broke me off.

Went past the Gilligan's place on French Crick and fished downstream at Cochranton.

Surprisingly didnt get any bass to take.

Did manage to have one pike blow up on my white and red diver in some slack water.

Golfed the next morning then met up with the kids who were having their Kids Derby.

No age restrictions?

Two diligent competitors.

USA and Chartiers Crick Cats 6/26

2010-06-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

Norm showed up early, we got some bagels and had a "Chartiers Sunrise". Its a new drink.Fished around. Caught some little bass. Then Norm hooked a whale

That turned out to be a catfishBought beers, drank beers and watched the US lose to stinking Ghana. Again.

Middle Chartiers 6/25

2010-06-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Fished with Andrea after work today on Chartiers Crick in McMurray.

We didn't catch chit.

Long Lake Trip- June 12-15

2010-06-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Left Friday after work traveled North, Then way East, then North again to Long Lake, NY for Mickey's bachelor party. Arrived around 3am, snoozed a few hours, stopped at a gas station for the best pre-made breakfast sandwiches you'll find, had some beers, rented a big boat, launched dad's boat. Then traveled 7 miles up the lake to our spot. Unloaded the gear and got to fishing.

Liquid Refreshers in our favorite Wal-Mart parking lot Raz's boat, docked and loadedThe Party Boat. Beware of Rogue Waves.
Crap weather the first day.

Found some smalljaws

The Bachelor
And his bride

Mist coming out of the mountains

Next day, the sun came out and so did the pike. Live baiting for pike. hold on to your fins.
Our Captain of the Party Boat. Captain Moose
View from the deck

Loaded up with deet and headed towards the thin blue line behind the cabin. found some tiny streams and tiny Adirondak Brookies.

View from the kitchen

Heading home as the weather got perfect.
We'll be back

Young Buc Get-together in the Highlands 6/5-6

2010-06-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

Left around 7am and drove to Ohiopyle in torrential rain. Feared that the streams would be blown out bad. Meadow Run was perfect. Just like my cooler. Met up with Josh, Kyle, Tippe and LoomisFished Meadow for a couple hours, and the others wanted to go Dunbar. Tippe landed a nice brookie on a bugger, and fishing was slow until I tied onthe magic fly.
We then hopped over to a smaller crick with wild Rainbows

Headed to the campsite. Most wussed out because it was pouring down rain while we were registering our site. By the time we got registered and took the softies back to their cars, the pouring rain petered off to a steady rain. Tippe and I set camp and got a fire going right away knowing we'd need hot coals to do some cooking.

Once the fire got going we headed over to the pond on the property. Found some dead stuff along the way.
Bluegill heaven on the 1weight.

Celebratory Domincan Rum

After about an hour of each of us slaying bluegills, it was back to the campsite to get our food cooking. Onions with butter wrapped in foil, ring peppers with hot sauce and butter in foil, camp potatoes wrapped in their foil cocoon, and last but not least, several pounds of lamb meat made into catcher mit sized burgers.

Sizzlin lamb burgers

Eatin was good.

Passed out hard in the tent. Woke up before Tippe and went back to the pond for more bluegill fun.

Broke camp as it started to pour again and headed over to Confluence to have some breakfast at The Sister's Cafe... Go there, it's good.

Waited out the rain and lightning while we put together rods and nursed hangovers...

Went over to the mouth of the Cassleman River. Saw a few pike, had one swipe and miss, and had another break off just after it struck my leech pattern. Definately a place to revisit with heaver leader for those pike. Weather was great by then, but we headed back home around that time, it had been a long weekend.

Memorial Day Quickie

2010-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

After the weekend long events surrounding Bobby and Missy's wedding, I wanted to get out, even if it was just a local shot to Chartiers Creek.

On the water early, accompanied by Logan, Don, and Kevin who was weilding the 2 hander. To say the fishing was slow would be an understatement. We left the usual spot and tried an area behind the former Mayview Hospital. I landed one fat little smallie there and it was getting hot and humid. Don and I stopped at Danny's Hoagies on the way home. Good Decision.

Peters/Piney Creeks 5/25

2010-05-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Went over to the local creeks with Dad, Corey and Andrea. Weather was hot and humid, fish were glued to the bottom. Corey caught a nice trout, and Andrea pulled in a nice trout and a sunfish on the fly rod. Dad and I went home skunked! No pics...

Chartiers May 22nd

2010-05-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Dad, Corey and I were up early to get onto Chartiers Creek as early as we could. The rain had fallen all night and showed no signs of stopping The water was actually pretty low, but its usual coffee with too much cream color. Started off right, landing this Largemouth on the second cast. Casted around until our arms nearly fell off.
Dad with a health little guy.

I went over to the little water fall and was throwing a small maribu clouser when all hell broke loose. Something grabbed the fly, and took off running. My initial thought was that I had foul hooked a carp... Fought the fish in fast water, finally good a look at its shoulders? Striped Bass? Fought it closer and closer, and to our amazement what I landed was a 27" Walleye

After that it was tough going, the water level was rising, so we got out of there. Home to dry out and upload these pics asap!

Chartiers Creek 5/16

2010-05-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

Met up with Mickey Sunday morning on Chartiers Creek to find some Smallies. Mickey started the day off right with this Walleye. Other than that, fishing was fairly slow. Landed a rock bass, little smallie and a carp later but fishing was slowww.

May 15 Crash Course

2010-05-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

So the Intro to Fly Fishing class that Andrea was signed up for got cancelled. She was bummed, but still wanted to get out. With recent rains i thought Chartiers would be blown out. It was not. After a quicky crash course on the less than finer points of fly fishing, she was largely left to sort it out on her own... A very fast learner I left her alone and got a few smallies of my own.

Largely left alone, andrea managed a few hookups, but wasnt sticking them good enough. Lesson learnt.

She was about done and ready to go home to Molson I had to stop for one more fish...

Niagara Escarpment 5/8

2010-05-12T11:11:00.001-07:00

Rolled into Innisfil, ON well after dark. The last two hours of the trip were in a complete downpour accompanied with constant flashes of lightning. Quick hello's and it was time for bed.

More rain and a significant temp drop overnight, up at 5am. Drove around in the dark and rain until we found our spot.

Breakfast of Champs

First spot was a small man made pool on an otherwise pristine brookie stream. Hooked up with one brookie, landed another, and was sawed off by a toothy predator.The Noisy and Mad Rivers come fast off of the Niagara Escarpment before meeting up with meandering meadow rivers.

High and Brown

Some pics from the fancy camera of my host.

Woke up to this...
Happy Mother's Day

Oil Creek May 1st

2010-05-05T05:32:00.000-07:00

Up early and a long ride north, then east, then northeast, landed me at the Petroleum Center in Oil Creek State Park. Josh, Dru, and Smitty were close behind. Figured i'd try swinging a bugger until a hatch and the subsequent rises started. No sooner were my boots wet that i saw a dozen risers in a minute, off went the bugger, on went the caddis. They were incredible selective all day. Had my best luck in the morning on a hotbutt caddis size 18.

Smitty dominated the troots with his secret parachute emerger pattern.

Loaded up the rods and drove further north to the Drake Well

Everyone landed fish on this section, the hot fly was still the emerger pattern.

some fish

Chartiers Creek 4/29

2010-04-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Met up with Mickey for a few hours on Chartiers Creek. Started up near Heildelberg. Caught a few nice smallies on heavy clousers, and missed a bigger one. Went way downstream to a park near Crafton and managed a few sheepheads of all things on a the white circus peanut. Fell down a hill, saw a huge Beaver that wanted a piece of Mickey, herons, bugs galore, some carp, and plenty of dogs. Interesting place to say the least.

Canonsburg Lake 4/25

2010-04-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Origional plans were to go find some smallies on the fly with dad. Rain and storms on Saturday suggested our time would be best spent on a lake. An early call to uncle ray and he met us at the launch. Time to drag some small spinners and spoons for some stockies at Canonsburg.

Uncle Ray easily whooped us, well into double digits.

Couple old Polacks in the boat...

is the plug in?

Peters Creek 4/15

2010-04-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

Got out for a few hours after work, wanted to see what parts of Peters and Piney got stocked. Saw fish every spot i checked. Lots of guys with coolers and lawn chairs already out. Got a couple in holes i rarely fish. Signs are good for the spring.

Chartiers Creek 4/13

2010-04-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Met up with Logan for a few hours on Chartiers Creek after work. Between the two of we landed nearly 20 smallies plus one Largemouth. Logan took his on clousers, I landed mine on, buggers, circus peanut, green bunny leech, green caddis dry, and a recent creation that represented a crawfish.

New water with Raz 4/10

2010-04-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Picked dad up a little before 6am, headed east. Checked out Indian Creek after a few times from those who fish it more often. Water was very clear. Managed a couple nice stocked brookies in the first hole. Did a ton of walking, which Raz's knees and quads weren't too happy about. Saw/spooked fish in another dozen holes upstream.

Next we checked out Camp Run. Conditions were tight and frustrating, ended up fishing down to the mouth then hiking back out. Drove over to Ligonier and fished about an hour at the Loyalhanna DHALO with no luck again. The water was a little clear and slow.

Headed over to St. Vincent in time to catch Annie's lax game.

New water April 3rd

2010-04-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Met up with Sam and headed further East to Little Mahoning, first time on this stream. Water was gorgeous, barely saw another fisherman the whole morning.

Saw lots of Stone Flies coming off, but nothing rising.

Sam put on a clinic with buggers and some nymphs.I later managed this gorgeous Brookie on streamer and Brown shortly afterwards before we headed back to the car.
Stopped for some Subway before heading to the next spot. Dredged streamers hoping to find some big brown trout. Hooked into this pre-spawn Smallmouth Bass instead!

Blue Wing Olives were coming off everywhere. We moved to a different section, fished our streamers until we noticed a few boils in the water. Finally we had spotted some rising fish. I fished a BWO dry to a rising fish. After a few drifts the Brown smashed my offering. Very rewarding to match a hatch and fish to a rising fish! Sam landed a couple, and I landed another to finish off very satisfying day of fishing.

Hiked out, was home before dark.

Happy Easter

Spring in the Highlands 3/28

2010-03-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

Don and I headed to the mountains early to hike in and check out a native stream he's been scouting for a while. Sky was heavy, and it wasn't until our hike out that it started raining.

The new 1wt

Headed over to Meadow Run and fished a few more hours in the pouring rain. Landed this fiesty Brown. Don put on a clinic with the bugger

Spring Saturday Morning

2010-03-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

Ran over to Peters Creek/Piney Run for a few hours last Saturday morning before the Pens early afternoon game. Landed two nice rainbows in the first section we fished. Was very bright out. Sean got one later on Peters, his skunk on Piney Run continues though...

Pond Fishing 3/20

2010-03-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

Met up with Logan and Tippe for a few hours on a big pond in Washington Co. Mile or so hike back in. Tippe caught a bunch of Crappies and a perch. Logan got some nice bluegills. I had a blast with bluegills on the top and a couple smaller Largemouths.

after work 3/12

2010-03-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

The snow started melting finally. Got out for a few hours after work on Peters Creek with Sean Brady. Sean picked up 6 on the day to rack up some more Dahlberg Cup Points.

Mountains 3/6

2010-03-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

Met up with Eric and Uncle Tom. Fished the lower part of Meadow, the air temp was 11, the water wasn't much warmer. Met up with Josh and Adam a little later, fished upper stretch. Lots of fresh stockies. Got my new 1wt from Adam and decided to use it.
Adam's nymph show.

Wilderness Creature?

2/28 Last chance at a Feb Trout.

2010-03-01T12:32:00.000-08:00

With temps in the low 30's and the possibility of a few parking spots being opened up from the Feb. snow storms I went over to my south hills stream for a few hours before the US-Canada Gold Medal Game.

Within 15 minutes I was rewarded in one of my favoite spots. This pretty 'bow took a prince nymph

Turned to my go-to the Hero Sculpin pattern and was once again rewarded nicely.

Went upstream to another spot I knew would be holding hungry fish. Had to park about a mile up stream and walk down because the parking areas were still full of frozen snow and ice. Along my walk I came across a neat looking hatch. Not being the bug expert I should be I snapped some pics. Midges perhaps?

Enough with the bugs. Slow stripped the heavy streamer in a deep pool produced 4 nice fish in about an hour. Two of the bigger ones I've gotten from there this winter. One was 16".

Headed home just in time to catch the full US-Canada game... Congrats Sid, Marc- Andre, and Brooks.

Ice Fishing Eh?

2010-02-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Headed north for a long weekend. Less snow in Ontario than Pittsburgh!?!?!

Brought along some ice gear hoping to get some time on Sturgeon Lake

Drilled a thousand holes...And sat and waited. Even Andrea tried her luck.
Spent a few hours drilling holes and trying spots in front of the house. So we decided to warm up a little then head to the other side of the lake, where summer weeds, and other ice fishermen indicated our luck might change. After a 3KM walk and drilling a few holes it was time to get serious! After a few minutes, boom! well sorta.
Andrea hooked one, but it got stuck to the bottom of the ice hole... bad bounce. That about ended her day and she headed for the house.
Mr. Warlow was bound and determined to catch a fish on his homemade jigging stick. Eventually a curious Perch took his offerings! Made sure to stretch it out a little for the picture!

The girls said to be home before the sun goes down, and we sure stretched that...

Snowmageddon

2010-02-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

So we got a few feet of snow last week. Dad and I went over to Piney Run to see if the water was open. Water was open and had great flow and color. Lots of timber was down in the water from the Snowmageddon! Had one hit on a big streamer, but it was cold and time to head home.

Tupper Lakee 2010

2010-02-02T05:18:00.000-08:00

Headed out of work on Wednesday evening, met up with Mickey in Wexford, met up with Jason in Cicero around midnight and made our early morning arrival at Tupper Lake around 4am. Got our gear together and were ready to meet up with our guide who never showed up, so we did it on our own, with the help of Absynthe and a case of bud light. Didnt catch any fish.

The Cabin
Fished another day, didnt catch any fish. It was cold, very cold. Had some warm food to help comfort the skunked fishermen.
View from out my bedroom window.

Third day, Mickey and I headed to another lake, supposedly away from the beaten path, and where the wind doesn't blow as hard.

We walked and walked and walked, finally some old dudes gave up their spots and...

I landed this perch. My first fish landed through the ice. Landed a few more before my hand started to freeze to my reel and it was time to head back.

Dahlberg weekend 1/23-1/24

2010-01-25T05:32:00.000-08:00

With the Dahlberg Cup Banquet at 5pm in the Highlands, I thought it best to fish as many places as possible before hand. With rain and a lot of meltoff, Meadow was supposed to be blown out, so I started at Dunbar Creek. I fished a small caddis dry to attempt to get something to take a dry, had one take a swipe, then nothing after that. Water was great color, but very very cold. Headed over the ridge to meet Eric at Allen Creek, saw a few fish, highlight was Eric's valiant attempt to reclaim his fly in the tree. We fished down Allen Creek, saw one trout. Fished into Laurel Hill Creek and down about a mile. I had one hit and hook up, but my skills let me down and the fish was off after a good fight.

At the Banquet I met some local guides and gained some awesome insight into fishing Western PA and the area. Came in 4th place this year behind Dale, Sean and Rob. But I did win the North of the Boarder award!

Headed to Eric's around midnight, got some sleep. Woke up to find these little boys crying and looking for attention.

Eric and I tried to fish his club's ponds, only to find out that it's closed for a few months. Hit a few native areas, Eric caught this Beauty of a Brookie in Linn Run.

Headed toward Latrobe, stopped on Loyalhanna under the Road Road on Route 30. Not long after Eric caught this Tiger Trout.

Rain started pouring and it was getting cold. Packed it up and headed to Sharkey's for lunch with Eric, Erica and the babies, and Annie then headed home.

Little Juniata and Spruce Creek 1/16/2010

2010-01-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Needing to fish, and most of our mountain streams locked up with ice we headed to central PA for a day trip to some spring fed streams that wouldn't be frozen. Left Dormont at 7, and Logan was kind enough to drive my car since i was still feeling the effects of Mexi Casa's after hour shot specials. Got into the water on the Little J right behind the fly shop, swung a big streamer for a while, wasn't feeling so great. Stopped and fished behing the yellow house a few miles up stream. Saw a few fish and some tiny midges coming off. No such luck there. Went over to the Penn State section of Spruce Creek, the mile or so section that Donnie Beaver doesn't have control of.

Water was beautiful

Pulled up this 17" rainbow Small green cadis pupaMr. Beaver lost a sign...More Stream pics

Logan rolled a steelhead of a trout in the deepest hole we found. So we fished for it fo the remaining hour or so we had.

Here's Andrea's first fly she's tied. Not too bad Eh?

2009 in Review/ Goals for 2010

2010-01-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

2009 was a blast. Keeping up with a blog was fun, I might as well keep it going

Fished PA, MD, WV, Ontario, Quebec, Mexico.

Caught wild Rainbows, Brookies, and Browns.

Landed a pike on the Fly.

Broke a fly rod on a fish.

Fished The Letort, North Branch and The Savage

Fishing Goals for 2010:
Catch a trout on a dry fly all 12 months of the year.
Get Andrea "hooked".
Improve my caveman-like fly tying skills.
Use more dry/dropper rigs, or nymph/bugger droppers.
Improve my line to line knots.
Fish out West.
Catch something through the ice.
Musky and Walleye on the fly.
Improve on my Caveman-like tying skills.
Continue to have fun.

12/27 Piney/peters

2009-12-28T18:39:00.000-08:00

Struggling to recover after a night at The Clarks show, I met up with Logan for a few hours before the Steelers game. Using the same big streamer, I managed one trout in the first 4 minutes, then zoned out the rest of the day and didnt land a fish. Nursing a hangover and a banged up toe, I stumbled and bumbled through the streams trying not to take a swim.

Logan landed 2 in the course of the day.Once i landed this sweet native on the swing, I knew our day was over.
Headed to my parents house to watch the Steeler game and snooooooze

Christmas Morning

2009-12-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

Made the annual Christmas Morning trip over to Piney Run for some winter trout before we opened gifts. This year dad accompanied me into the cold. Decided to use a huge atriculated streamer that I had recently bought. I had been doing good on black buggers, so this fly might get some hits.

I landed these two trout in a steady freezing rain

Moved locations a few times, mostly to blast the heater in the car on the way.

Stopped at one last spot, knew Dad should catch one here.

Dad will be bringing gloves next time.

Erie with Ben 12/19-20

2009-12-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

Andrea was meeting up with her gal pak from home in Buffalo for the weekend, so she dropped me off with fishing gear in Erie. Spent a few days with Ben trying to catch some steelies before the streams froze up. Got a late start after taking 3 and a half hours to get from Pittsburgh to Erie because of a snow storm, got started around noon on 20 mile. Ben landed a couple, then I hooked into a hawg.

Fished 20 for a while, then headed over to 16, met up with Logan and his buddy, lower 16 was devoid of fish, so we headed to the Walnut Project waters around 430pm. walked up to the chutes, very few fish seen. Hooked up with one, but it shook lose after a short battle. Things were starting to freeze up. Got showered and warmed up at Ben's place then went to Night Flights where the cold Labatts and Cajun Ranch wings hit several spots.

Up early on Sunday we headed to 16 mile. Had a few hook ups all day, none landed... Also tried at 12 mile, to no avail before meeting back with Andrea and making the 2 hour commute to Grandma's for dinner.

Snow Flies- Piney Run 12/5

2009-12-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

The snow was forcast, the cold was already here. Didn't feel like heading to the Highlands, or Erie, so stayed local and fished my favorite ditch with Sean Brady. I'd been telling him about this little stream for a few years and we finally got out. Decided not to try any Trout power worms and stick with the flies...

As usual i was getting my luck on a weighted black bugger. Landed a total of 6, missed atleast a dozen. Sean was doing well on his egg/nymph dropper, getting 6 as well on the lower nymph.

Great to get out in the colder weather with some snow flying.

First Cold Spell. Neshannock Creek 11/28

2009-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

Headed up to Neshannock Creek with Logan. Cold morning temps brought out the fleece liner pants for the first time this year. Landed a few here and there, even raised some on the surface.

Fished the main stretch in Volant then tried over at Cool Spring for the last hour. Logan landed one there and missed a few. Would be a nice spot to try again in the spring.

Foothills Fun in Fall

2009-11-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Guest blogger Josh Berezansky has taken the reigns for this installment of the blog's most recent fishing adventure.

November 22, 2009

Has the fumes of the opposite sex and adolescence sincerely taken over the vice of passionate portrayal? Due to the typical collegiate outlook, it’s been over a month since my last blog, and sadly, I’ve forever lost quite a few memories shared with new lifetime friends all sharing the same passion as myself. Women… bars… also known as ‘teenage wasteland’ has left me closing my eyes in unfamiliar places. and taken up the lay time I usually, though now seldom, devoted to my concentration on fly fishing. Razz, a friend I met through the fisherie.com forums, has been at me for weeks about getting to the water together. I finally had enough after countless threads that were posted with laurel highland fish that make even the novice angler’s heart race just a little faster at the tug of a swing or slurp of a dry. I twisted and turned the night before, rising just after 5 am and began the journey into the upper reaches of the Appalachian mountain range. After a brief introduction with Razz, we loaded the rods onto the straps that reside on the hood of his car, and were soon ginking our dries while quietly approaching the wild rainbows I had put my research in over the past year to locate. Our groggy eyes were quickly opened just a bit more as we saw a scurry of wild fins race upstream, forcefully reminding us that stealth, not fly selection, was the key to our success today. After missed opportunities, the splash of a small wild brought out the second nature of a fly fisherman, the hook set, and Razz and I were photographing the first catch of the day, all smiles, and a sense of optimism now touched the ground with each tread upstream.A few wild bows photographed, a few missed strikes that were accompanied with laughs, and the sun now high in the sky, we ventured to another wild stream that I had heard nothing but positive reports about, but surprisingly never ventured to. Easy public parking and a community center bordered the stream’s access, instantly bringing on that pessimistic outlook on wild fish being in the vicinity, however, was quickly diminished after wild brook trout was swimming out of my hands after the second drift into a hole that cut and eroded the bank, showing the roots of healthy, thick maple. With little time to fish, and the desire to swing some buggers to the fall stocking of fish in a local dhalo, we focused on the best stretches of stream, and moved rather fast. In the distance, I could see the mecca of the freestoner; a run that ran 40+ yards with a plunge pool at the head. As Razz slowly worked the tail, I could see an abnormally large fish sitting at the bottom of an emerging rock. Razz quickly id’d the fish and threw a size 12 stimulator a few feet to the left, and behold, a 16 wild brown turned to it’s side, slowly making it’s way in perfect harmony to the fly. A gentle sip and the firm set of Razz’s bamboo set the fish into fight and flight, ripping and tearing through the stretch desperately trying to break his tippet, but to no avail. Not a soul was seen on the waters we walked, adding to the story book experience. It’s days like this, when we, as anglers, set off into serene places, absorbing the tranquility of nature at it’s finest, that we are reminded the simplest things in life are actually the most complicated, yet most treasured things to acquire.

Happy Thanksgiving

Highlands Romp

2009-11-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

With minimal coaxing I was able to convince Tim to come out to Pittsburgh from Harrisburg. He wanted some "Arns and a Primanti Sammich". Logan came up from Washpa and we hit the South Side. The two of them got moderately to severely intoxicated while I DD'd them from Dormont to South Side and back. Home and to bed around 2:30am, up with the alarm clock at 5am. Logan still "woozy" from too many Irish Carbombs. Loaded gear and humans into the Red Troutmobile and headed for the Highlands under the cloak of darkness. My two passengers unable to keep their eyes open for much of the ride...

Started off at Meadow run to try for some of the stockies who have gotten smarter over the last few weeks. Add low clear water and it would be tough going. Tim got one in faster water. To the mouth we headed.

Nothing going at the mouth. Worked back up Meadow, chased this Palimino around.

Worked some water above the Natural Slides, Tim landed another.

Went over to Cucumber falls, the trickle was 99% devoid of the spawning trouts we saw the past few weeks.

Worked the Yough river pretty well, saw a few bruisers, swung some massive streamers, no takers. Left Ohiopyle area to head to a native stream. Stopped for some much needed refreshments.

Worked behind Tim and Logan who missed out on this little fella
Met back up with them a ways up, Tim had got into a few native brookies on his new bamboo rod to break it in a little.
Headed for home, my fellow Trout Bums helped me stay awake along the way...

Back to the highlands

2009-11-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

Dad had steelbows on his mind. But not me, Erie is a zoo. Low water, spooky, well decorated fish, tons of goofballs. After the recent successes in the highlands I convinced him to take a Troutbum trip with us. Was out in South Side with friends for a birthday, got home around 1:30am, slept for a few hours, Dad arrived at 5, picked up Logan in Washpa and off to the mountains. Met up with Uncle Tom in the parking lot. Fished the main spots with no success, made our way down to the river.

Picked up this girlie on a white bugger

Then this little wild fella on an egg pattern
Wild Boyz

Made it down to the main river, Dad went for a swim, Uncle Tom wandered, Logan drank a beer, I fished.

Saw a piggie Palimino hanging out at the mouth, wanted him bad, but hooked this nice river brown in the process.

Logan hooked a nice rainbow, but it eluded the net.

Hiked back upstream, found a few more wild girls.

They sure like the orange/peach blood dot egg...

Refreshed at the parking lot with some lovely turkey sandwiches prepared by Miss Andrea. We were going to head over to C. Falls, so I decided to string up the little bamboo to play with the little wild trouts.

Landed one little feller right away, but there definately weren't as many spawners in the creek as there were the previous week. Didn't help that gawkers and hikers had a few dogs thrashing in the water.

Logan got this pretty male.

Made our way to the mouth where it enters the big river, it looked fishey... Armed with my tiny bamboo rod I started searching for fall back spawners. Drifting my egg just outside the mouth of the run my light went slack, saw a big flash, but didnt get a good hook set. I knew she hadnt moved from that spot. Drifted for another 4 minutes, then my line bumped, knew it wasn't a rock, then the line went slack again, I cranked the the little rod to the sky nearly splintering it in the process. The battle was on with this taimen of a spawned out lady. I had to keep her out of the fast river rapids, Logan nearly went for a swim netting it, but she was landed before the rod completly bent in half.

20" and perfectly healthy river rainbow

Fished the mouth a bit more, landed another rainbow on a bugger, Dad landed two, but wasn't available for pictures...

We hiked back out, and complained about sore knees the whole way home.

Highlands on Halloween

2009-11-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

Spooky times. Was scheduled to meet with Josh, Dru, and Adam, only Adam was able to get out of bed and to the streams. Was in the parking lot at 7am, still a little too early for the sun.

Got into the creek about 7:15, swinging some buggers, and then my clouser/black nose dace creation and it paid off with this Palimino then another good rainbow. Also landed a smaller brown.

Adam showed up, we fished down to the mouth and back up, landed a few along the way. Went up to the upper stretch, which was more of a hike than a fishing experience. We each landed a brown in the upper section. The wind picked up, followed by the rain, we went back to the Slides, where Adam landed this huge rainbow that measured 25"

Packed it up there and went over to Cucumber Falls. It was holding a few smaller river run rainbows and browns. We each landed a few, before the crappy weather turned worse and we headed out.

KR. 10/31/2008

Linden for a few hours. 10/27

2009-10-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

Met Logan for a few hours before dark after work. Landed one fairly quickly, not nearly as many fish as the prior, did see some fat herons flying around, me thinks they had something to do with that. Logan landed a good one, about 16", down near the golf course.

3 Peat in the mountains

2009-10-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

Got to Dunbar Creek at 730 am. Got into some stocked bows, browns and a few brookies. Even got some to take flies off the surface when the air temp was 39*. Water had more color than usual which isn't saying much since it's usually crystal clear

Headed to Crick #2, a small native/wild stream with native brookies and wild rainbows. Fell off a rock ledge when the rock below me gave way, falling rock nearly killed Logan. Managed to land a native brookie in the first hole. Worked our way down about a half mile, landed some small wild bows and then hiked back out.

Had to stop at one last hole that i knew had to have some fish.

Got out of there, got some Subway and headed to Meadow Run for some stockie action. They were smashing my buggers, and taking Logan's egg patterns.

Logan enjoying his time with the 'boo

Logan landed a nice male rainbow, who got a little too excited...

Landed this river run male brown swinging my One Fly from last week.

Logan missed out on a big Palimino that would have given us the PA Grandslam for the day...

Farted around there for an hour and headed back home for the Pens game Got a little dicey heading home, didn't help that Logan drives like Ray Charles on Acid.

One Fly and beyond

2009-10-11T18:10:00.001-07:00

First time fishing the One Fly competition in Erie... Not too sure what to expect. Logan cleaned house on Friday scouting for saturday. Rained all day Friday into Saturday morning. Creeks were blown out. Started at 16 Mile.

My One Fly

Lake was rough

Started at 16, totally blown out, moved west to Racoon and Crooked. On Crooked we landed a handful of Browns, and since they were double points, we figured there was an outside chance we'd place! So, Logan and I managed to place 3rd and recieved a box filled with dries and nymphs! Went back out to 12 after the picnic and award ceremony. Fish were still pouring into the creeks, but we didnt land any... This about sums up the evening bite...

Lou with a Rock.

Went back to Conneaut Lake to crash for the night. Raz agreed to fish with us on Sunday, so he, Logan and I met up with Adam (Tippiecanoe) early on 20 Mile, but the place was a zoo. We went over to 16 Mile where it was less crowded, and managed to find our own hole with a pile of fish. We fished that spot from 8:40-1pm.

Feels good to hook one.

Seriously acrobatic fresh Steel

Nice fight.

Double Trouble

Logan with a creepy hero shot.

Nice fresh male.

Hawg

Hawwwwg
Tired.

I love Steelhead Fishing.

Few hours after work- Linden Creek 10-5

2009-10-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

Got out on Linden Creek for a few hours Tuesday after work. Tons of hungry fish. Got a few right away on trout worms, then switched to buggers, green weenie, egg patterns. They were hitting everything. Ended up bringing 8 to hand.

Neshannock Creek 10/4

2009-10-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Headed north on a dreary Sunday morning with Sean and Logan. Temps had dropped all week, there had been plenty of rain. Neshannock was a good candidate, especially since they had gotten some fish the week prior.

Started by the dam, my first choice fly was the chernobyl ant, and wham, fish on. This healthy holdover was fooled by the floating foam.

Logan got into some fish with an egg/nymph dropper
Creepy

Sean, nursing a touch of a hangover was fishing hard with the thingamabobber.

Borrowed a copper john from Logan, third or fourth drift and this healthy holdover Brown took off with the size 16 john.

hooked jaw

away ya go.

We walked a good ways down stream to work our way back. Had one good rainbow in fast water, and lost another good one in a deep pool. Worked our way back up to my favorite spot just below the bridge. Buggers in all varieties were the ticket.
One rainbow measured 19"

another 18"

Underwater release

Go'on man, you're free!

Last brownie right infront of the shop

Great day on the Neshannock.

First time on that creek for Logan and Sean, I'd imagine they'll be back.

Next week is the One Fly!

Letort Spring Run and Yellow Breeches 9/27

2009-09-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

I've heard the name, read the stories, seen the pictures... Letort Spring Run.

Left at 430am with Kevin, heading East on the Turnpike for 3.5 hours, met up with dudes at 8am sharp. Fished the Letort in a few locations, saw some hawgs, fishing was tough to downright impossible.

Had a Sheetz MTO lunch then headed south to the Yellow Breeches and The Run

Finally landed a trout on the 3wt that i bought LAST JANUARY! A small wild brown on a green Elk Hair Caddis dry.

Back to the Letort, I fished from a tree.

You've got mail
Photo by W.C.

Photo by W.C.

The Letort prooved it's legend as one of the toughest places to fish. The Yellow Breeches was more my speed.

3 bodies of Southern Canadian water... one freggin' perch

2009-09-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Visited the Great North this past weekend for a farewell party for Jeff as he heads to the Canadian Armed Forces in October.

Early morning on Sturgeon Lake hunting smallies...

No smallies, just one perch that hit a perch x-rap about its same size.

Soulja Boy?

Then over to Innisfil Beach, Ontario for the party. While waiting for the party to start, we walked over to Lake Simcoe to check it out. Super clear water, no fish.

Casting Shadows

Had a nice party... A local hatch was coming off.

Got up way later than expected on Sunday morning, didnt get into the river until 1pm. Walked a long way on a sore foot... Had one hit an egg sucking leech and take off upstream into a fallen tree, snap. One hit an epoxy egg, took off 20 yards downstream and around a bend and snap. Fell off a 6 foot undercut bank when it gave through on a soft spot. would have paid to catch that on video. Left foot/ankle got stuck so I was danglin there for a bit before i fell the full way down. luckily a tree below broke my fall and I didnt land in the water with the new St. Croix 9 weight. Only saw about 6 in about 2.5 hours. Foreign dudes had one on a rope at that big hole where i parked. only saw two upstream. seems most fish were doing the nasty and not interested in my offerings.
Nottawasaga River shots

Sunset on 407 West

Best of Luck Jeff

Please Support

2009-09-10T12:23:00.001-07:00

Please support these business enterprises.

http://www.laurelridgerods.com/ This company is owned and operated by my pal Adam, he makes custom fly rods, casting rods, and dare i say pin rods. I have seen a few of his products and his craftmanship is something to behold.
Tight Lines,

Raz

Mountain Weekend

2009-09-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Saturday of Labor Day weekend Eric and I had planned a Yough River float from Confluence to Ohiopyle. 11 Miles of tailwater from the Yough River Dam.

Box of streamers, terrestrials, and big nymphs.

Day Break on the Yough
The One Fly?
Where the Cassleman River meets the Yough
One of the two big bass I caught on the trip. Cudos to Eric for maneuvering the canoe in the rapids.

The new reel for Steel
Some Bugs.

All the rods at the end of the day.

Headed back to Eric's for home made perogies, grilled chicken, summer salad, salmon and other kind of fish. Along with some IC Lights, and a hot shower it was bedtime by 9:45. Up around 8am on Sunday to try a closer stream that runs into a decent sized lake. Erica fed us Blueberry Jags and it was off to the stream. A solid mile or two hike back into the woods, and we found the cold, very cold, and clear stream.

We were sure it would be full of natives, or stockies... neither.
Just full of two yinzer fly guys...

And this guy...
Fished out way down to where the stream empties into the lake. Caught some bluegills and smaller bass which was fun while it lasted. Hiked out and headed home.

View coming off of Laurel Ridge.

Evening on the Yough

2009-08-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Went to Ceder Creek Park Sunday evening for a few hours. Mom biked, Andrea walked Molson, and Dad and I tried to fool some fish. Two small hits on buggers, and missed a big carp that took a swipe at a clouser. The weather dropped about 20 degrees over the last 36 hours, that may have slowed the fishing. Some pics from the evening.

Canoe on the Yough

Family Pic

Terrestrial Life

Evening Outting

2009-08-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hit Dunbar Crick with Logan Tuesday night. Saw a ton of trout bahind the jackdams. Water was very low, extremely clear but fairly cold even for late August. I landed a few browns and two brookies. Pink Veil egg, Pink San Juan worm, and Chernobly Ant for me, egg patterns for Logan. Took some nice underwater pics. Enjoy

Logan's battle from underwater

Mouth Full of Chernobyl Ant

Yinz going fishing Eh?

2009-08-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Drove up to Dunsford, ON with Andrea, Corey and Keely, the later two relative rookies to the Great North. Got up there late Friday night, and on Saturday it didn't take too long for the brothers to chase some smallies.

Corey caught this hog, 3.5# smallie.

Underwater release pics

Bugger Lip Ring

Andrea got to try the new 7 weight out. And managed a little smallie on her own! Even held the fish!

Little Canadian Frog. Not the French speaking variety.

Last good bass on Sunday morning.

Molson in the Lake

2009-08-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Boss lady let me out of work early on Friday, headed to Peter's Lake Park with Mo and Andrea. Brought along the 3 weight to have some fun with bluegills and smaller bass. Walked around the lake, and Mo did some water training and some off-leash training. Molson got pretty good at fetching the bobber, now if he can locate some fish...

Quebec 2009

2009-08-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Returned sometime this past Sunday morning. The result of some 1,700 miles round trip was way worse than any jet lag has laid on me. Left Mrs. V's Grille in Brentwood around 11am on July 24th. Arrived at Pavilion du Lac Berthelot at 6am the next day.

The reason i was nearly detained at the Boarder...

Crossing the St. Lawrence. Not as dramatic as i had hoped. The last 3 hours were on this stretch of unpaved road... 3 hours in dark and rain.

Napped an hour in the car then we were flown out to a lake, the name of which escapes me. Arrived at our castle for the week... Hadn't done the #2 for about a day and a half at this point... though it would have to wait a few more hours.
Caught a ton of pike off the dock at dusk and in the early morning on top water lures. That was probably the most fun part of the trip. Though most were 24"-30" they all hit with fearless agression. Caught a ton of walleyes in the 1-2 pound range, perfect eating size was 16" inchers. Some of the Walleyes up there had a deep blue hue to their backs and fins. So, found out that the blue ones are sort of like Albino Walleyes. And the blue coloring is the color of the natural fish slime that they have and it becomes sort of a sun block...

Playing with the underwater settings... water was tea colored from all of the pine needles. you can see a few baitfish just off the dock.

Uncle Ray with a nice Walleye

My workstation for the week.

Uncle Ray hooked up with a walleye.

Uncle Ray cooking up his sauce.

The plane flying in more beer.

The Rapids

My only good Pike on the fly before the rod broke...

Well i had been trolling and jigging for pike and eyes all day long, everyday, then taking a boat out solo after dinner in back bays for some quite alone time with the 8 weight and some moster flies. none the first night, just a few follows. second night they were slammin but missing most hooks. got two small ones then one good one. third evening out, i went to this huge bay infront of a beach. same white with red fly as was previously successful. had a few swipes then a big boil and wham! i set the hook like i had been setting the hook on walleyes and pike all week. (not like i should have been while fly fishing, strip set the hook to the side...) Cranked the rod up like Roland Martin, and Crack! thought i was gonna be picking graphite shrapnel out of my neck. right below the second stripping guide. wet noodle break... if there's nobody there to hear it, does a screaming, swearing, fishing banshee in the wilderness make a sound? after about 30 minutes i took the positives. i had busted it on a fish and not by means of my hind-end like i had at Lake of the Woods... I had landed a few Before i broke it. I hadnt paid nearly top dollar for the rod, so it wouldn't be a complete smack in the wallet... and i was on vacation, so i was determined to allow Mr. Labatt Blue easy the suffering.

R.I.P. 8/9 Weight St. Croix

30-something" pike. also on the Medium set up.

Beer, maps, big flies...

27" Walleye. My best of the week. Fun stuff on medium action 8#

These guys were our best friends... Apparently they can eat 10x's their own weight in mosquitos in one evening...

Pike from off the dock.
Camp Lunch

Uncle Ray and I at the end of the week.

Huge Rainbow

After long days of fishing, it was time to hit the sauna/steam room then have a hot shower with lots of soap to scrub off all the bug spray, dried pike slime and sunblock... not so lucky.

Hope you enjoyed. Raz

Yak on the Yough

2009-07-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

No not a Kayak... but the mere mention of IC Light cans would be nearly enough to make me Yak, and I was indeed fishing on the Yough River upriver of Smithton, PA. Only 2.5 hours had passed since we got home from Tom's Diner following a long night of BYOBowling when my alarm announced that it was time to go fishing. Off i went, hands at TEN and TWO. Stopped for garden hackle at my favorite Sunoco and got a French Vanilla cappuccino, or whatever they're called. I wasn't even hungover yet, but possibly still under the influence of the world's greatest Light Lager. Met Kevin and Logan at the GetGo around 6am, into the water by 6:30. Wet waded out to, whoaaaaa up past the kids, and bam, the hangover started. Water was stained, about a foot visibility. Logan caught a sheephead and a nice rainbow floating night crawlers, i had one or two good hits, bouncing the natural baits on the bottom. Kevin was bombing an 8 weight with some class of Tarpon fly on the end. Moved down below the bridge in Smithton, landed one sheephead and one small rock bass in some slower water. called it a day around 11am. back to bed.

Didn't take any pics, but new waterproof/shockproof/freezeproof/crushproof camera is on the way just intime for the Quebec trip next week!

Chartiers at Dusk

2009-07-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Evening out on Chartiers Creek with Sean and his friend Mark. Caught an array of fish; Rockbass, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Smallmouth Bass and White Crappies.

Sean casting at a waterfall
Crappie on a bugger

Slab crappie on a popper

Fished until 9:30, walking back upstream past dusk was a treat.
Will definately be back, perhaps with some garden hackle in the arsenal.

Andrea's Bday Weekend in Dunsford, ON

2009-07-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

July 10th-12th, 2009. Points North.

Andrea, Molson and I headed to Andrea's house for her Birthday Weekend.

Good eats, good beer, fresh air, good fun.

Oh, Pappy Warlow, can we come in? Oh Canada!Trying the other dock

It worked

My first Lake Sturgeon Smallie

Side View

Matching the Hatch in Musky Country...Bday girl trying her luck... jig and worm? Coming back across the Peace Bridge

851 miles round trip. One good smallie, one little guy, two rock bass.

Got out in Mr. Warlow's new boat. The wind didnt allow us to get out in Jeff's boat though.

Quebec in two weeks.

New Water- Savage River, North Branch of the Potomac

2009-06-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 28th, 2009.
Left at 4:30am with Kevin and Don to head south to Maryland. about 30 mins past Deep Creek where Uncle Tom used to have a place. Packed up the night before and knew I was in for some lessons.

Sorry guys, you can't come...

Neither can you...Bright and Early on the Savage River

Might as well get in there and start swingin'

The 7x Stretch... Very few big holes, mostly pocket water. Not really my cup o' tea.

Fishing was hard, needed to sit and take pics once in a while

River Runs Through It- 2009

Fished from 730-130 had some lunch and a beer, packed the rods and headed to the next spot.

Off to the West Virginia/Maryland Boarder.

Barnum, MD, population 13.

John Denver's sort of place.

Decorations

North Branch of the Potomac River

Wild Rainbow on a white bugger in a deep fast stretch.

Back to the Savage River hoping to see an evening hatch
Not many fish rising, and when they did it was in NO particular pattern.

Heavy Midge hatch, few mayflies.

Sunset over the Savage River

Headed home late, fell asleep for a bit on the way home. Got back to Alabama Ave. at midnight.

13 hours of fishing. 1 fish. Tons of experience, definately want to get back soon.

Carpin and Bassin

2009-06-22T18:40:00.000-07:00

went out carpin with cousin Bobby below Cannonsburg Lake a few sundays ago. Very hot, nothing hitting on the surface, nothing hitting low, NOTHING hitting. nadda, zip, zilch. Went out to Peter's Lake Park with Logan on my b-day. Fished the small pond for an hour. one small bass on copper shallow shad rap. moved to the big lake, landed half dozen small LM's on rubber worms. Nice little lake, will definately return. Next day, went to Cross Creek Lake with Dad and Uncle Ray on Fathers Day.

Are you sure I can't come??

I'll let them catch the little ones

And i'll get the bigger ones!

Happy Father's Day

Catching up

2009-06-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

Andrea, Molson and I went up to the mtns to fish with Eric. Fished Loyalhanna and Laurel Hill with limited success.

Long Run

2009-06-02T17:17:00.001-07:00

Sunday Evening Delight

2009-06-02T17:15:00.001-07:00

Opening Weekend

2009-06-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

Going Dutch 4/4/09

2009-04-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Ideas of heading to Erie for spring Steelhead were shot down sometime around 1am with the recent rain turning the tribs to a washout of chocolate milk. Decided to stay closer and fish a new stream with Logan. Much closer and always fun to try a new stream.

The Dutch Fork Delayed Harvest section was up a bit more than usual and a little off color. I hooked one in a feeder stream pretty quickly, jumped twice then took me into a snag. Black buggers were the fly of choice, nothing new for me.

Logan with his Brown

Shadows of a fly fisherman

Right after Logan had a hit, I hooked and landed this rainbow, perhaps the same one!

What once was Dutch Fork Lake

Ahh Spring

2009-03-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

Hit Piney Run for a couple hours after work today. Landed one pretty early under the bridge on a black bugger, maybe 12". Later tried a white bugger at the lower stretch with no luck. Have only had luck on the black buggers in Piney Run/Peters Creek. Hmm. No pics. Super nice to get out a few hours after work to take advantage of the day light savings.

Spring is in the Air, just not in the Water

2009-03-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Left Pittsburgh on Friday, 58 degrees, sunny, not a cloud. Weekend in Southern Ontario, hovering just above freezing, windy, but sunny. First weekend of spring and in Canada I needed to wet a line. Andrea and I went out for a hour or so with Jeff to a branch of the Holland River, which runs north through the fertile Holland Marsh and into Lake Simcoe. Not all the beer funnels in Keswick can hold us back from a few hours of fishing!

Not the swift river system I'm used to in Western PA.

We were a few weeks early for when the crappies start feeding. Water temps were below 40*.

Just a total Rebel

My Catch of the Day. A floating cattail, 24"

I'll surely try again in the summer for pike and bass on the fly!

Happy Spring!

In Love with the New 'Boo

2009-03-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

No sooner was I back on US soil had my attention turned back to late winter trout fishing. Went with my dad and Andrea to the TU Cabin Fever show and that only fueled the desire. A week of warming temps teased me from the work desk.

Went to Smithton first thing Saturday morning to help stock some huge trout. They had more than enough help so I bs'd with some folks, and enjoyed a lengthy chat with Lou and his lovely young family.

Left there and stopped at my local stream. Met up with Tom and Kevin for a few hours. This was the 2nd time out with the bamboo rod. Here's my second catch, 15".

Saturday night Corey and I treated my dad to a night in Wheeling. Grubbed and drank at the River City Restaurant then took in the events at the Wesbank Arena as the Johnstown Chiefs visited the Wheeling Nailers. No fights. Lame.

Sunday morning got off to a slow start around the house. Dad and I went to the first hole and within 10 mins he landed this little fella.

Tried a bunch of different spots, the fish were not too hungry. Managed to land this Sucker on a prince nymph of all things...

Otter Creek Bamboo Rod. 6"6" 4wt Med Action

Dad was itchin' to go, but I needed one more cast, and strip with the bugger under a tree. About 10 yards up from where Kevin landed one on a bugger the day before. And I was rewarded with my persistence.

Like a Pro

Grip and Growl

14" and healthy next to the Bamboo set up.

Cancun n'at

2009-03-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

Made the trip to Cancun, Mexico with Andrea during her Reading Week. My first time to an all-inclusive, my furthest trip South, and my first time in drug war ravaged Mexico.

Here's the view from the Hotel Beach Paradise room 1588

Most memorable part of it all was going snorkeling. Here's my snorkeling buddy ready for the dunk!

Saw a ton of these guys, one big manta ray and tons of coral reef sponges and other invertebrates.

I decided that it would be an injustice if I didn't manage to wet a line in Mexico. I thought about bringing down my own rod, but glad i didn't. The fly fishing for Bonefish tours were in the $300 range... roughly half as much as the entire trip cost... Booked a charter for $125 with Big Game Charters. 5 people to the boat. One guy from Long Island, one from Minnesota, and two ladies from Wisconsin. All fairly accomplished anglers, and we were hoping to rip some lips on the high seas.

The waves were ridiculous. Easily the roughest I've been on. The Captain and mates said the current was rough, not to mention the high winds and HUGE waves... The yellow finned fellas that we saw the previous day while snorkeling... BAIT!

No Fish, No Tips...

Our Boats catch... 2 Red Snappers, and 3 Triggerfish, which are basically glorified aquarium fish that were a garunteed catch for those Tips...
The only fish i landed in Mexico... an 18" 3 pound Triggerfish. At least I didn't get skunked. I've fished all three major countries in North America before end end of February, quite the mini-accomplishment. However, all that I have to show for my travels thus far is a handful of holdover trout and this massive scale-tipping Triggerfish.

Sunset over the Lagoon from the balcony of Hotel Beach Paradise Room 1588.

Gracias, Buenos Noches

SKUNKKKKKED AGAIN

2009-02-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Went to Confluence, PA early on Saturday morning. The weathermen were calling for mild temps all weekend and i had to get out. The air temp was 25*F when i entered the river just down from the outflow of the Yough River Res. and the water temp was 38*F. I drifted and twitched Lou's Minnow for about 45 minutes in a stretch under the first bridge that had a bunch of other anglers. A few were landing trout on live bait and one fella was missing hits on a small nymph. It was my first time out on the new waders, and my legs were frozen stiff. Headed over Sugar Loaf road to Ohiopyle for some pictures and while I waited for Adam.

Meadow Run was open for the most part. Very clear but i could see trout in one hole. I tried small egg patterns, small copper johns and had one trout on for a bit on a brown wolly bugger.

Adam arrived. He landed a few. One on sucker spawn, another on small nymph.
I went for a short hike to the mouth to look for more open water but all i found was about 2 feet of open water leading to the mouth.

Met up with Dr. Eric and Erica for lunch in town and tried to head upstream as far as Beaver Creek. The scenery was lovely, the stream was mostly frozen. Adam and I headed over another range to see if Dunbar was any better. The water was lovely, the fish were absent. Saw a few other passing fishermen, no luck on their end either.

Headed home, cold, tired, sore and ready for some Wheeling Nailers Hockey with Ian.

On Sunday my dad and I went over to Peter's Creek to see if anything was up. Me neighbor had landed a few on the lower stretches the weekend and day before so we thought we'd try. The warming temps melted most of the snow and muddied the Peter's Creek end of things. The Piney Run side was up and colored but fishable. Still only a few Creek Chubs were landed. Below is a picture of the Confluence of Piney Run and Peters Creek. The later being the muddier of the two. We tried a few old spots with no luck, but again it was nice to be out even if I've still been completely shutout while fishing with my new Orvis 3 weight...

Super Bowl Sunday

2009-02-01T20:28:00.001-08:00

Nursing a wicked hangover and feeling very cozy on the couch didn't think i'd be doing anyfishing today. The weather was too nice though, climbing into the mid 40's and with the Steelers playing later in the Super Bowl there was plenty of time to get over to Peter's Creek for a couple hours with Dad. He landed two on my Loomis 4 weight on artificial waxworms. Took out the new 3 weight Orvis rod, but never got a bend in it; went home skunked!

Packed and Ready

Dad hooks up early

Lunker!

Fighting another. Must have a good guide.

The new Orvis reel in the snow.

STEELERS 2009 SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!

Cabin Fever

2009-01-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

So it's below Zero today, so it might as well be a good time to play around with some photos.

enjoy.

My Bamboo Rod

Sunset over Sturgeon Lake, Ontario

Fighting a Salmon on Pine Creek, Near Alliston, Ontario

x- Ray Steel

Black and White and Peach

Sketch
Splash

River LifeNo Spot Burning HereCouple of GoofballsSteelUncle Tom- Smile
Major Memories. Lake Misaw, Saskatchewan 2005. Me, Marty, Uncle Ray and Eric

Fantastic

January 10th Peter's Creek

2009-01-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

Fished Peter's Creek with Tom K. today. Originally were going to try to go to Indian Creek and some other small Brookie streams in the mountains, but the weather forecast suggested otherwise. The weather was much less than ideal. Was cloudy and near freezing when i arrived around 11am. Tom had already been out an hour before i got there and had landed one in a deep fast hole on a Trout Worm. When I met up with him we both had hook ups on wolly buggers. I landed two small rainbows on a small black beadhead flashbugger. By then the weather had turned to freezing rain. We moved upstream from there to a secluded stretch and Tom landed this very nice bow on a black bugger.

We moved upstream again to a familiar stretch with no luck. The weather had turned to a steady rain in the meantime. No luck there. Took Tom back to his truck and stopped at one last spot on my way home. The water went from a nice light green, to minty green, to nearly brown in the time i was there due to the melt off and the rain. Landed two further small trout on white Trout Worm. Headed home around 3pm.

4 hours in the crappy weather was better than sitting in the house on a Saturday.

January 4th Moose Lake, Ontario

2009-01-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

Fished Moose Lake near Haliburton, Ontario with Jeff W. temps were in the -20's *C. got out to the lake by 8. 6-8 inches of ice. large live shiners, fished a few feet off the bottom.

i had three hits. one huge hit lead to a long battle until i lost the Lake Trout at the hole. Jeff landed one in the 2# range. fished until about 2pm. only saw one other father/son tandem on the lake.

Jeff was using a buckshot spoon tipped with an emerald shiner. here's a picture of him with his laker.