Fly Fishing - In Search of the Chase
Rick Chapo
We put the raft in on a warm morning in Sept. without a cloud in sight. My expectations were not high, since a warm sunny day tends to put the fish down, at least on this stretch of the Colorado. When the fish aren't rising, I go straight for tandem streamers; there is nothing more exciting than a big pissed off brown chasing your streamer off the bank in shallow fast moving water. Dredging the bottom with a nymph just doesn't do it for me. If I break out a nymph'n rig, I must have exhausted all other options.
The first quarter mile of water put a bleak outlook on the remaining 9 house of river ahead of us, not a single chase through some of the higher quality water on this stretch!! My invited guest on board had no experience throwing a heavy awkward tandem streamer rig, and was fairly discouraged after nearly throwing his shoulder out with only a handful of well-placed casts. I always talk of the exciting chases, but now; he must think I am full of it. I now know the frustration that guides must endure while watching miles of quality water go by without a singe well placed or completely untouched. "There was probably a nice fish it that pocket we just passed", came out of my mouth far too many times than I care to recall.
About 3 miles into our float, which is exactly what it had become, a sightseeing float, the weather began to change. Here came the clouds, an encouraging sign, of course unless the wind comes with it. Here came the wind, and next thing you know, our beautiful sightseeing float turned into a back rowing battle to keep the boat heading downstream. Luckily, this did not last long, but the rain did begin to fall.
Within a few minuets after the rain subsided, the mayflies were swarming and the fish were rising. Were eddied out in several prime spots and began to catch fish in the swirling foam. Just about any well-placed cast was rewarded. Time went by unnoticed, until suddenly I realize that we had only traveled half way to our take out and more than half of the day was gone. Pushing through the slack water and hammering the moving water with the streamers was now becoming very productive. Finally, I could prove to my guest how exciting the chase could be. It seems that every other cast produced an aggressive brown, either territorial or just plain hungry.
We landed several nice fish while powering through the final stretch, arriving at last light. A turn in the weather sure can turn on the fish and bring on the chase.
About the author: Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. fly fishing journals are great gifts. Visit http://www.nomadjournals.com/flyfishing.cfm to see journals for fly fishing trips and fly fishing vacations.
The latest information and news on Fishing Advice :
Ice fishing, or hard-water fishing as it's known to serious ice anglers, is popular in those locations where the ice has thickened to at least 4 inches.
Good fishing should hold up despite weather (Galveston County Daily News)
Although typical January weather ? cold, rainy conditions ? may not be the most pleasant for anglers, fishing should be good.
Denis Peirce: Fishing for some good news (The Grass Valley Union)
The holidays are over and the year has changed. The days are short and the water is cold. Can you tell, I have the fishing blues?
Ice fishing tourney will be biggest yet (Mobridge Tribune)
The 8th Annual Mobridge Chamber Tourism Ice Fishing Tournament promises to be the biggest yet as more than 300 teams have registered to vie for the more than $50,000 in prizes.
Changes in fishing rules now in effect (Lexington Clipper-Herald)
With the coming of a new year, new fishing regulations take effect in this area and local anglers should note the new changes.
Sri Lanka: SLA imposes new restriction on fishing in Jaffna peninsula (TamilNet)
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Jaffna has imposed new restrictions since 1st of January 2009 on fishing in Jaffna lagoon and in the seas of the islets of Jaffna citing security reasons, sources in Jaffna said. Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has become increasingly concerned of the of the infiltration for the LTTE, sources added. Meanwhile, Jaffna Government Agent (GA) has made arrangements for canned-fish to be ...
Bass Boats Make Fishing Fun (PIZZAHEROS)
These sleek vessels are designed to give fishing enthusiasts the ultimate edge in finding their quarry.
Freezing temperatures: Ice-fishing season begins and it's a 'big ice party' (...
Every year, on New Year's Day, thousands of men toting only the bare essentials - a sleeping bag, fishing rod and booze - trek to northern Ontario for a ritual they wouldn't miss if hell froze over.
Local fishing spot plagued by vandalism (WVVA Bluefield)
Repeated vandalism at one local fishing spot has club members asking for the public's help in finding those responsible. Volunteers with the Falls Mills Fishing Club say the vandalism began back in September
RI institutes new commercial fishing rules (NBC 10 Providence)
Rhode Island has some new changes for the commercial fishing licensing program.