Old Stomping Grounds

Back in the University days a few of the Chubs crew frequented a small creek in Ohio to escape studying and football practice.  We drank Labatt, smoked bugler, found a bunch of cow and deer bones, and caught a few smallmouth.  We also got harassed by the Ohio grassman at one point for checking out his hut.  

 Grassman hut circa 2008, he threw rocks at us. 

 Back in the day the cows would watch us fish and drink

On a college budget it was tough to let go of any lure, even if it was a 30 cent curly tail 

Five years later we were able to head back there, nab a few smallies and rock bass before heading to reunion events.  

 Back in this with the fly rods

Damn fine creek 

Winter's Cum and Gone

Winter's cum and gone again

Unfortunately I have only fished the early season driftless twice, both in march, both cold with slow spooky trout.  Mainly just tying knots and drinking beer next to a stream.  The chubs have eluded me so far this season, but spring is here and I will catch a chub one way or another!

No more snowy banks, time to break out the chacos and get the feet wet

Took a break from spooking trout to hang out with this sculpin who didn't seem as bothered by my presence.  Trout can be assholes, but sculpin are always cool, and they make an awesome IPA. 

He could be on the cover of a beer bottle 

Something a trout sometimes eats 

Capniidae

First dry fly trout of the year, we're on to bigger and better chubs.  

Driftless 2015 Opening weekend

Spring is here, it was in the 40s for opening weekend this year about 4x warmer than last year and about 4x more fish caught.  Early season fishing is perfect for those who prefer the juice of the barley.  You don't have to be up early to catch fish, so there's plenty of time to eat and get rid of a hangover. The bite really shuts off in the afternoon, so there's plenty of time to build that hangover.  

Scouting out a nice bend 

Nice little streamer eating brownie

Back in this 

Ardbeg, Dale's, Chili 

Its been so long since we last met

It looks tiny, but it's waist deep in there

CUM's Southern Adventure

The chub lovers headed south this November for a shot of salty surprise.  We caught a few fish and drank lot of Lone Star.  This was my first time fishing saltwater on the fly, and I would go back in a heartbeat.  I caught a flounder on a gurgler which I didn't think was possible. Redfish are just badass. I don't think there's a fish that has gotten my heart racing as fast as the big red I lost under my kayak (musky included).  

Flounder on the fly

 Searching for tailing reds

Eel on cutbait

Looking out at the bay

It feels like your fighting a frisbee

We're a small dedicated group of mullet fly fisherman 

Ol' Red

Ugly mug

Matagorda sunset 

Steelhead Skunk

A group of us headed to Michigan New Years day in a futile attempt to catch some winter steel.  Unfortunately no one hooked up, but we spent 3 days hiking around a stream, tying flies, and drinking whisky so all is good.

The trip started on a bumpy note, with our last member delayed from running off the road and hitting a support cable.

 Making flies that are repulsive to steelhead

 Unfortunately all six of those bottles are now empty

 someone please make a rod with heated guides 

 After spending all day trying not to get wet/fall in the river, we willingly jumped right in.  

  We been through every kind of snow there is. Little bitty stingin' snow... and big ol' fat snow.

A beautiful place to not catch any fish 

 Fly Poker

Under the water, carry the water

Musky or Bust

Driving through a snowstorm at 2am on October 4th my esteemed fishing partner and I had high hopes for catching Musky on the fly.  Despite many attempts the two of us have not had the best luck Musky fishing.  Before this trip I had only caught one, while I was smallmouth fishing, and it was about the same size as a smallmouth.

  Mr. Ded Fish aka Chub timer had never caught a musky, after years of trying.  We each have had our missed opportunities, we have each brought a friend musky fishing for the first time and watched our so called friends reel in multiple muskies in the same day while getting skunked ourselves.

 This time felt different, we felt we had a solid chance, but after "sleeping" in the car for 3 hours followed by 2 days of camping in wind/rain/snow and no fucking fish our hopes were running a little low.  If I've learned anything from reading about musky fishing (other than apparently I suck at it) it is  you have to keep the faith. 

On our final day we had about 4 miles of river to cover before our take out.  Our plan was to fish every corner of the 4 mile stretch, and strip set everything and anything that moved.  This day was different than the previous two, the sun was out, and not quite as windy.

Mr. ded fish has a well documented problem for losing fishing gear, and while casting I noticed a strange stick floating in the water past the boat, that upon further inspection had a reel attached to it, fortunately we recovered the rod.   I took it as a good luck sign.  

Casting to the mouth of a small creek I felt a bump, strip set and wound up with this guy, not a monster by any means, but my best musky to date.

 About an hour later ded fish got his as we were cruising in the current past a small point.  

 Both fish were landed in the last 2 miles of our float. 

How your fingers look after 3 days of stripping musky flies

The heroes of our trip

Northwoods short

Two members of the Chub crew tried to hook up with some Wisco musk action in early August. Muskies were seen, some even ended up in the proximity of our flies, but the esox proved to be too elusive for our crew this time.

Our attempt to keep the blood suckers away was futile 

We only eat the finest processed meats and mass produced beer

 It can be tough to admire a fish when a mosquito is biting your face

Love the Northwoods