Spey Nation

Just returned from three days of Spey Nation.  While the actual event is one day it takes a day to get all the associated gear and supplies up there and a day to break it all down, plus travel.  A great time was had  and it was a photographers dream.

 

Frank Swarner goodness

 CD Clark adding a little art to the schedule

More of Frank's flies

 Stunning

 G Loomis reels

 Vera getting ready for raffle madness.

 Set up time

 They look lonely

 Hatch reel eye candy

 Doesn't get any better than this.

 Patrick Ross

 Geoff and Vera

 Eric Reed of Beulah rods

 Dave turning  up the heat

 Long walk back to the cars

 Simon Gawesworth

 Catching every words, as they should

 Tim Rajeff of Echo Rods

 That's a tight loop and he makes it look way too easy

 Nick Pionessa of Oak Orchard Fly shop showing some pointers

 Hanging out in the heat

 Bernie and family with a little well earned R&R after cooking lunch

 Andrew Moy of Tight Lines Fly shop and East Coast Spey

 More Nick

 Nick and Vera

 Mike Barrand of Vision

 Dave calling out the golden tickets

 A beautiful tying desk won by a Gerry fan

 Happy Mystic rod winner

 Charlie Dickson very happy to win a T&T rod, just another one for his collection.

 Grand prize winner, next stop Spey Lodge in BC

 Matt Richardson very happy to have won a Beulah 7 wt platinum rod

 

 Done

Carp carp carp

Some photo's of the carp outing.  Carp pose some real challenges to any fly fisherman and being able to get them consistently will make one a much more skilled fisherman.  Over the years they have earned my respect as a gamefish. 

Pat's Carp

Been a little while since I posted anything all due to being backed up with good things.  So my friend Pat and I hit some H20 in search of ole rubber lips and we found him.  Got some neat footage of his carp take. 

Brookie Love the Final Installment

So Geoff and I are alternating fish as we fish up river.  The trout are exactly where one would expect them to be and the fish are willing participants as they pounce on the elk hair caddis whenever one drifts by.  Some times the fish are so small they can't even fit the fly in their mouths.  After fishing for a while we come upon a deeper pool and its Geoff's turn.  He immediately hooks the first brown and as we are both watch the battle a small submarine emerges from the depths of the pool.  At first I can't quite get my mind around what I am seeing as it doesn't jive with the creek size.  Since I can't embed Vimeo I have provided the link if one wants to see the ensuing encounter.

Back in the Game

I haven't been able to do video for a while since my old battle wagon of a computer couldn't handle the data load.  Well after saving up for a while a new computer has been procured and I am back in the game.  So here is some footage from last year, albeit short in duration. 

 

Brookie Love

While on our yearly fishing trip to the fabled Delaware River we hit a small brook trout stream on the way home. There is something deeply special about brook trout fishing in a small stream.  Maybe a part of it has to simply do with that fact that this is the type of fishing that I cut my teeth on growing up although with worms and not a fly rod.   Fishing such small intimate water that demands short but precise casts that are consistently rewarded with the eager take of wild brook trout filled me with immense satisfaction.  Part of that satisfaction had to do with the casting and another just marveling at the stunning beauty of our native trout.  Well that's enough of my spewing I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Also there was a bit of a surprise in this little creek more on that later.