HazMatt
01-04-2006, 01:53 PM
Just got back from the world (ok - US) wind tour of the Holidays. Spent the last couple weeks in 3 time zones and 4 states with our families.
I did get the chance to get out and do some fishing with my father-in-law on the Muskegon River in Western Michigan for a day, though. They live about 45 minutes from the river and what a great river it is! I took along my spey rig and was swinging flies within minutes of reaching the river. It was very low and VERY cold - I didn't even want to check the water temp since I got to break through 1" ice on the bank. The water was running crystal clear and you could wade about halfway out into the river - didn't need a wading staff as the whole river bottom is made up of about 1-3" river rock. It was so nice - I could almost run down the river compared to the unseen hazards in the Deschutes. Spent the good part of the day there and when I couldn't feel my knees anymore (the feet were long frozen), decided it was time. I had some bumps, but likely was the bottom. On my last hole, I was swinging through a deep hole, and I saw a shadow following my fly on a couple casts. I changed flies to a pink sparkle bugger. I cast for the last time when bump, bump, I set the hook and my rod actually came to life!!! I actually had a fish on!! Saw some flash in the water and was thinking "NO WAY!" It wasn't fighting very hard, but I figured it was the water temp and lulling everything to slow down. I finally got it to the surface and I had caught a 24"---------Beautiful-------Bright Chrome --------- CARP!! It actually had a gold tint to it - pretty as a matter of fact. It could have been a Drum after thinking about it.
My father in law then informed me "This river is full of those things!" Argh...
All I was thinking was "This would be hysterical to post on I-fish", so I actually lined it up to take a photo, but realized I couldn't feel my hands by that time, and didn't want to risk dropping my camera in the drink, so sorry guys, no pics. Just imagine - 20 degrees, wind, some sleet, 4" of snow on the ground - breathable waders with too tight of boots - I think you get the picture.
It is a great river, though and I felt pretty good in the fact that I was able to actually shoot some line with a type 6 tip on my spey line. (That was a first for me.)
I did get the chance to get out and do some fishing with my father-in-law on the Muskegon River in Western Michigan for a day, though. They live about 45 minutes from the river and what a great river it is! I took along my spey rig and was swinging flies within minutes of reaching the river. It was very low and VERY cold - I didn't even want to check the water temp since I got to break through 1" ice on the bank. The water was running crystal clear and you could wade about halfway out into the river - didn't need a wading staff as the whole river bottom is made up of about 1-3" river rock. It was so nice - I could almost run down the river compared to the unseen hazards in the Deschutes. Spent the good part of the day there and when I couldn't feel my knees anymore (the feet were long frozen), decided it was time. I had some bumps, but likely was the bottom. On my last hole, I was swinging through a deep hole, and I saw a shadow following my fly on a couple casts. I changed flies to a pink sparkle bugger. I cast for the last time when bump, bump, I set the hook and my rod actually came to life!!! I actually had a fish on!! Saw some flash in the water and was thinking "NO WAY!" It wasn't fighting very hard, but I figured it was the water temp and lulling everything to slow down. I finally got it to the surface and I had caught a 24"---------Beautiful-------Bright Chrome --------- CARP!! It actually had a gold tint to it - pretty as a matter of fact. It could have been a Drum after thinking about it.
My father in law then informed me "This river is full of those things!" Argh...
All I was thinking was "This would be hysterical to post on I-fish", so I actually lined it up to take a photo, but realized I couldn't feel my hands by that time, and didn't want to risk dropping my camera in the drink, so sorry guys, no pics. Just imagine - 20 degrees, wind, some sleet, 4" of snow on the ground - breathable waders with too tight of boots - I think you get the picture.
It is a great river, though and I felt pretty good in the fact that I was able to actually shoot some line with a type 6 tip on my spey line. (That was a first for me.)