I wanted my fix, thought I’d kicked the habit, but it was still there and as it’d been a long time, I really felt the need. My bro in law was supposed to join me because he felt the need as well, but sadly it was just not going to be. I put the blame on the orange guy in the States contriving to have the straits of Hormuz closed. Either that or B. in L.’s home office decided against it for him. But it had been a long time since I’d enjoyed a day out on the water and a fishing fix, as the weather had been, well, rotten. Being a man of some leisure, I decided to keep office hours for the day and as my old mentor Freddy the Fisherman used to say “Don’t go out there until the sun’s on the water.” The AWD was pointed eastwards at 9.15 and while it was foggy up the valley, there was sun on the water lakeside around 10am, when I watched and was entertained by some people trying to launch their large boat, with one guy even stripping off and immersing himself in the water at the back of the boat. Then Silver Frog was slipped in, but the motor was reluctant to start….very reluctant. However after a time of trying different ways and means it was coaxed into life, so I gurgled out past the 5 knot buoy & then let the 15 horses gallop, it was time to look for fish.
Pulling into a first favourite spot, fish #1 drifted into sight, but a sudden, untimely line tangle meant I didn’t get the cast away, however that was sorted, then lo and behold it came back past, looking beautiful and light brown in the morning sun. A nymph was dropped ahead and to it’s left whereupon it suddenly accelerated onto the fly. Woo Hoo hookup time, then Boo Hoo snap off time. Stole the fly it did, but maybe it was lack of practice on my part. Moments later a 2nd fish was spotted, sitting immobile in the sunshiny shallows, so I lined it! Lack of practice again. A 3rd swirled right by the boat, but saw me and stealthed off, then a 4th one took off before I even knew it was there. Meanwhile the “Parrys” were providing an incessant backing track of squarks and whines, while flotillas of swan took off when they saw the boat – must be duck shooting soon. Fish #5 was in very good condition and sitting doing nothing, so to keep up the tradition I lined it. Best I go to casting school methinks, or get out here more often. In my defence the water was very skinny, the trout wary and the sun was behind me, plus I was upwind! I scared a 6th or maybe it was the same one as it was in the same area.
It was great sighting all these fish, then I saw #7 but it was a stick, yeah nah, yeah NAH! Oops too late its gone now. Then 3 came slowly into view at once, however not one was keen on a small hair n copper, so my thinking was a pheasant’ tail should do the trick.
After the fly change #11 appeared but a muffed cast (again) led to a wind knot. By now you’ll be thinking this guy’s not great as a fisherman and that was what I was beginning to think as well, but I was having a very nice time around the sunny margins, so put any negative thoughts aside and………. had lunch. As often happens when you breakout the sandwiches it’s the cue for another trout to appear, #12. At this point a drone came snarling around to disturb the peace and it’s not the first time I’ve had one overhead while fishing out here – the lake environment is changing.
I switched to an old favourite fly I call Lady in Red and thought it would do the trick and it did. Lucky fish #13 was a little ahead of the boat, so out went the fly and there was a hookup, a brief hookup, because the fly was barbless, so I performed a strategic mid lake release!
Sticking to this fly, it went out over the stern as I tried some harling on the way to the next spot and hit a very enthusiastic fish, enthusiastic about escaping, which it did, so bye bye #14.
What a funny old day it was, but as the adage goes, the worst day fishing is better than the best day working. I’d seen heaps of fish, enjoyed glorious sunshine, had several takes albeit brief and some favourite spots to myself, plus it was a workday. Not exactly a “worst” day and I’d had my fix.
