Thursday Night:
Stayed up too late tying new ideas on overpriced triple-articulated hooks with high expectations of Pre-cold front muskies.
Tying station disaster...there's a vise in there somewhere:
Friday:
Woke up at 4:15 AM to finish loading the gear and Crawdad and meet up with V Wake to journey to some remote waters. Gusty winds and spitting rain greeted us with muddy feeder creeks as the river began to rise up the banks...PERFECT conditions for chaos that brings good fishing. We slid the Crawdad down the bank and we were off:
VWake caught a good 'un right off the bat that charged at the boat as he struggled to get tension on the strip set. A nice Musky in the first 10 minutes. We managed a few lagging follows...but not quite the aggressive charges I expected the murky water to bring.
A few hours later, watched VW lure a musky out of the muddy water into the clear where it paused for a second. A quick/perfectly sliced Keep-away turn caused the musky to charge and crush the fly...#2 in the boat.
We kept fishing strong, with a few more nice fish spotted; but our luck ran out, as the fading light dimmed the fish activity. The river was up, but still looked good; keeping our hopes high for the next day of fishing.
Day Two: after a coma-like sleep from the previous day's exhaustion, we drove to explore some new river stretches I've been eyeballing on GoogleMaps. Even after tracing many miles to headwaters, the cfs flow had doubled, and the muddy waters were unwelcoming. We made the most of it and explored to find some of the most impressive river stretches I have ever seen...got some very scary hollows, though-- hoping not to encounter some of the locals next time we return.
Plan B: We then headed towards home with intentions of fishing another drainage. Crossed a couple bridges--Nope, it's flowing high and muddy with 2" visibility. VW had some family obligations and decided it would be best to return home; so we returned to his truck and loaded up his gear.
Jay called me and was up to fish, so we agreed to meet at a river hole that I've been wanting to fish for Years. I drove through the mountains...got to the water...MUDDDDY! Darn! I scramble back from the mountains and find Jay driving; and we settle on our last and only hope for clear water...BINGO!
We drug the Crawdad through some timber and launch into a perfect flat water hole with structure and stained/but clear water with 4 ft visibility.
15 minutes on the water, my line gets tight off some deep timber...Damn, I'm hung up...Nope! the bottom starts moving and the choppy gray water reveals a massive slick boil that looks like a manatee tail wake. I sink the hooks in, and the battle's on. Jay's hollering out of excitement, and I am trying to keep my cool as this massive beast has me nervous as hell. Big head shakes, lunges under the boat, gator rolls spinng into the line: the whole package deal while trying to battle a big fish on a fly rod. We got her netted in the Frabill in a couple minutes, then off to the bank for some photos. A solid, very fat fish just over 48 inches. She kicked away with a strong splash.
No more hookups, but with the fishy conditions...every cast felt like it could happen again. We ate a good dinner on the ride home, and kept looking at the photos of this awesome fish. Truly a moment I'll cherish with my brother:
Now the flies from 2 days fishing are drying for the next trip:
VWake may post the other pics off his camera. Can't wait til the next trip.
Travis
