A Great way to start 2009!

I was able to string together some days off from work and some vacation leftovers into a great trip for some LMF fishing and camping to end 2008/begin 2009 the best way possible.

I made it to Beavers Bend park about 8:30 Monday night and got the tent ready for the night. I had enough light to get things going and ready for 2 days of camping. The Boy Scouts in the other campground were a bit wound up but I forgave them quick enough, and the beer started kicking in so I didn't care about them after that.

Up early and off to the river for some trouts on Tuesday morning. I love the river there and was really ready to hit it.......where did all these people come from?!? DAMNIT!!! I must have run into the middle of a festival of people who intended to ruin my great feeling of solitude and peace. Alright, just make your way through Lost Creek and back to the Bluffs and all will be well.

I find the Bluff area in great shape and start to look for elusive, wily fishes. None found my offerings tempting back there so I worked around to the stream under Cold Hole where fish had started to hold. I am doing fine until the heavily layered bait chunker stumbles up to my hole. He proceeds to stand on a rock right over the fish I am working, then while I am tying up again drops his spinner right in where I was fishing. That is not bad enough but then he catches the fish which he drops on the rocks before lobbing it back in the water like a softball! UGH! I hastily retreat to the truck and a bit of sanity.

I hit the Upper Footbridge and move to the Pillars for some pocket water work. I see Woodruff and get introduced to Pat Waters and Tom Atwood of the LMFRF. I move down to the Pillars hole and begin working fish there. Around 2:30 I head to town for some errands I am needing to run. On the way back I stop and chat with Linda at 3 Rivers for a while before I make my way back to the Evening Hole and fish until dusk. The night ends with some college ball and a few beers. Not to mention me trying to start a fire with wet wood for about an hour and a half. Quite the mountain man I am!

I wake the next morning and break camp, Boo is coming in and we are moving to a B&B for New Year's Eve. I know it is not the most manly way to rough it but I have to say the B&B thing is great. We got home made breakfast both days and they even did some laundry for me! I was blown away with the service there! It is called Reuben's Rest and I highly recommend people try it. It is like going to your parents' house without the bickering, fighting and guilt.

On to fishing, I went back to Lost Creek and found that lots of people had left. The area was much quieter than the day before so I set up there again for a bit. I worked down to the Evening Hole this time and got into lots of dinks before I found a nice sized Bow and had a blast stalking him until he hit the faithful old Partridge and Orange soft hackle. I headed to the B&B to clean up for dinner and wait for Boo.

After a nice quiet dinner for New Year's Eve we got some sleep and I got a late start to the New Year but still found the park fairly empty. I moved to Z2 this time and found the fishing there is getting back to the more difficult side of the equation. I did get a fairly nice Bow on but he shot me the fin with an LDR before I headed out for lunch. After getting some food I made my way back to the EH for what turned out to be a great timing on a lot of fish rising to chase emergers. They were chasing some tiny little insects though and I had trouble getting a fly small enough on to get their interest. Plus I had forgotten my wader socks and was now wondering why my feet didn't quite feel like they were there! I left the stream headed to the room and took a shower and realized that my feet were still a little blue and without all their feeling! Won't be doing that again.

I woke next to the wonderful Boo Friday morning and we went down for breakfast. She left to feed the kids at home and I went to the river for a bit more fishing. This time I worked LC and finally found the right fly to make the fish get going. I had about 12-15 fish on in an hour and a half of work there. Mostly dinks but still fun to hit on the 3 wt. rod. I finally gave the hole to a younger kid and his Dad when I headed to the shop to order some new boots. I chatted with Jess and Linda for a bit before heading to Z2.

When pulling up I noticed a familiar green car with a Drake sticker on it and knew that my friend Scott was in the water somewhere. I got my gear out and headed down to the water. I made my way to the section I enjoy and found a person fishing; I asked if I could "share" the hole and started working. He left shortly after and paused on his way out. I moved down to try the area he had and after seeing a few rises decided I needed to get closer to them. This is where it gets stupid; after thinking to myself that this isn't the best idea I kept heading across. I found the rocks I know are there that are slick and angled just in time to take a spill! DAMNIT!!!

I gather up any of my pride that is left and head to the truck. As I approach the mighty black steed, Nissan, I find my buddy Scott there waiting to see me. He had been the person I "shared" the water with! Talk about not having a clue. We talked for a bit and I changed for the drive home. It was great to see him again and catch up some. We BS'd for a good half hour or so and plan to hit the LMF together soon.

I didn't get any pictures this time but you all know how pretty it is there so there is no point to that. Plus you all know what a 10-12" rainbow looks like.

Needless to say it was a good time and I will be back there soon. Keep reading, I plan to be better about posting this stuff up this year. Whether you guys like it or not! HAHAHAHA!!!!!