...but if yew try sometimes...yew just might find...yew get whachew nee-heed. Awwwwww, baby.

This evening between 6 and 8 PM I had what may have been the best fishing I've experienced up to this point in my fly flinging career.

Tired.
Thumbs torn and sore.
Spirit buoyant.
Pictures now.
Story later.

Some good bass on the fly right there.

Way to go Dusty - it don't git no better than this!!!!!
George

We've reached that time of year where I've got to burn my use-it-or-lose-it-vacation-days. Therefore, yesterday I got up early so I could enjoy my day off in its entirety by fishing running 4 miles, working on the $@%! sprinkler system, and tilling SWTRHWMBO's and the Small Person's garden.

Once those minor chores were out of the way, there were still a couple of hours of daylight left and SWTRHWMBO was still up to th' salt mine. I decided that I could sneak off for a few minutes just to get some casting in and see if I could scare up at least a strike. I should mention here that I made a trip out to Lake Athens on Tuesday for about four hours and didn't even see a fish.

Imagine my surprise when the Upside Down Frog I was throwing got sideswiped by a medium sized submarine freight train within the first five casts. I figured that, like most of the fish I catch, was a fluke. That fish got CPR'ed and I went back to casting, which resulted in another fish just a few minutes later. And another. And another. Other than to release the fish, I didn't move from that spot for about 45 minutes. I think I pulled at least 7 fish from that shallow, narrow piece of water. At least two of those were on consecutive casts.

I'd like to tell you that it was my amazing skill as a fly flinger and the awesome design of the UDF that won the day, but I think the fish were just hungry. I fished it fast...slow...let it sit...stripped it as soon as it hit the water...in open water...in the weeds...the only place I didn't catch a fish was in the dirt, and there were a couple that I thought were going to chase it up on shore.

After ten or so quiet casts, I moved down the shoreline a bit and found them again. They weren't all huge, but they were all bass. A couple of good solid, nice fish, some mediums, and tons of yearlings.

It was all so amazing to me that I retrieved the Small Person so that she could see the fish striking. She had a great time spotting them before they hit the bugs. She also helped me strip in a few of them, including the two she's pictured with. I wish I had her little spinning rig with me, I think she could have torn them up!

Speaking of torn up, there were two casualties yesterday: my thumbs and a UDF. My thumbs will heal, the UDF will have to be retired. These bass have the sharpest teeth I've ever run across. I don't know how many times I retied my bug yesterday, but it was at least every other decent sized fish. After I don't know how many fish, I noticed the UDF wasn't as bushy as it had been when I started. It didn't come apart, but the repeated strikes were taking their toll on the deerhair. I've lost a few of these bugs due to poor knots or bad casts, but this will be the first retired with honor (what's left of it, anyway).



What an awesome couple of hours it was. I have no idea how many fish we caught, I'm just thankful for the time on the water and being able to share it with my daughter. Now I've shared it with my internet fishing buddies.

And that's the way it was, May the tenth, twenty thirteen.

That's what it's all about right there my friend!

That was some beautiful green trout, that is the type of fishing trip that keeps us fishing. Thanks for the pictures and nice report.

Looks like a good time was had by all. I have often thought someone should mount a half dozen used up flies to donate to a FFF club auction. Looks like you might have a start with one.

Looks like your little person is growing up. You might have to start looking for a 6.5 to 7 foot 3 weight rod for her sometime in the near future.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

monsters

Thanks for all the kind words, gentlemen. I enjoy sharing all these experiences with y'all, especially since several of you were so instrumental in getting me so involved in our weird, wonderful little sport. It's even better when I actually have fish to show off.

The Small Person wanted to try casting yesterday, but between the tall grass, the heavy rod, her small stature, and the 2/0 Gamakatsu hook, I just wasn't fer it. I do think there is a fly pole in her future at some point.

Dale, I think your idea about well chewed flies is a really interesting one. What if we got several folks to kick in a fly or two that's been well used? What if we further got those folks to send in an unmolested fly of the same pattern? The two mounted next to each other would make a pretty cool before and after on a board. I'd be more than happy to donate the UDF above and a freshly tied clone to such an endeavor, especially for a worthy cause. I could even throw in an extra to actually fish with, if that would be interesting. Any thoughts?