Landlock Salmon VideoHi Speed Only
After a six day work week I found myself asking the question why are you hauling your 55 year old body out of a warm bed at 4am to go flyfishing in a wind driven rain? The simple answer is I like to flyfish. I especially like to flyfish with Jeremy and Austin and they were my flyfishing companions for the day. I like flyfishing with Jeremy because he is a pretty darn good flyfisherman. I always learn something when I flyfish with him. He is technical enough to find the right method that will take fish. So more often then not flyfishing with Jeremy means you will catch fish. And flyfishing with Austin is always a breath of fresh air. He is a good flyfisherman, but more then that a good kid that brings humor, enthusiasm and boundless energy to every trip. Anyway I climb into the King Ranch pick up Jeremy and Austin and head for the East Outlet. After 8 days of rain it is hard to believe we will find any water that is not blown out. Jeremy calls the river flow info number and reports the flow is at 511. (It boggles my mind as to why all the rivers and streams we have passed are at flood stage yet the EO is at 511.) It is going to be a great day he says. As we drive through Abbott on the Moosehead Trail Jeremy exclaims “There they are!” As we are still 45 minutes from the river I have no idea what he is talking about. I do know that he is insistent on me turning the truck around. He directs me to a convienance store. I pull into the parking lot and there in the window you can see egg sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil rotating on a warming tray. He looks at me and says “They shine just like a chrome fish.” You gotta love it, he spotted them from the passenger seat of the King Ranch at 55 mph. Amazing.
Once we arrive at the East Outlet I am very surprised at the number of flyfisheman we encounter. We aren’t the only crazy people on this Sunday morning. The good news is the East Outlet can accomadate a fair number of people so finding a spot is not a major concern. Our fishing begins on the north bank of the river. Jeremy isn’t long before a fish is connected to the nymph. He is flyfishing with sinking line. He quickly brings the fish to hand, and releases the chub back to the Kennebec. Certainly not the species he had hoped for. I have seen a couple of Salmon rise on the opposite shore. I find the best wading route and head across. I have completed my second cast of the black nose dace streamer. The swing is complete and I begin the strip. WHAM, a huge Salmon slams my fly. I set the hook and anticipate the battle. It is short lived, the leader, the fly and the fish have seperated from my flyline. Bad knot? Bad leader? Probably one of the two but since this is my article it was the size of the fish that caused this unexpected seperation. After several more cast and changes in offerings the fish seemed to have vanished.The 3 of usdecided a coffee break at the Moose River Store was in order. When we return to the river Jeremy suggests we fish further down stream. This proved to be the right choice. Jeremy decided on flashback pheasent tail nymph rigs with strike indicators. The accompanying video shows the results. Austin is the first to hook up. He nonchalantly drifted a nymph with a dropper attatched through a deep run. He was quite surprised by the subtle take but quickly regained his composure and masterfully hooked and played the fish. The fish were fat and fiesty, and they fought well. The acrobats of a landlock salmon attempting to lose the fly are always thrilling to watch and these fish did not disappoint. Each fish took line off the reel and used the current to hunker down before they made long runs and vaulting leaps. So all and all it was a great day. We all caught very respectable salmon, had some laughs, and of course enjoyed the breakfast sandwiches. Thanks guys for a great day. It did beat staying in a warm bed, watching football, and taking naps. You would have to be a flyfisherman to understand why!
Great read Pat. I’ve asked that 4am wake up question 100 times. Your exactly right, this is what we do. Looks like great times fellas. Nice LL Austin! Nice to have a low water option after eight days of rain.
unfortunately I decided to stay in bed that morning. I guess the rain drove me under my rock. Glad you had a good time.
Great job guys, sounds like fun! Good thing you didn’t let the rain discourage you guys. You can always tell who the die hards are by how they let the weather affect them, that is it doesn’t affect them!
Kodiak – exactly! i know you understand because when i lived in alaska – i think i saw the sun once every couple weeks. southeast alaska is literally a rainforest. nobody ever asked what the weather was gonna be – because it was always the same. rain, rain, rain..and just when you got sick of the rain – guess what – more rain. so – it was either fish in the rain or not at all…so, needless to say, i got pretty used to fishing in the rain, sleeping in the rain, eating in the rain…..
actually kodiak one more thought,
i think alot of guys wait for the “perfect” day. not me – cuz i know it is just an illusion. very very rarely do i ever experience the perfect day – why? cuz they just don’t exist!
Tarpon – always too much wind – dirty water – storm front blows through
Albies – always had a cold snap – big wind – big surf – lots of weeds
trout spring – sooooo many black flies – water is too high
trout summer – water is too warm and too low
fall trout – water too high – windy – cold – rain
winter steelheading – FREEZING! literally 28 degrees is a heat wave – but i expect the morning to be in the teens and sometimes single digits – snow – freezing rain and slush – i remember jason having a great steelhead trip in idaho – caught some awesome fish – but he woke up every morning to slush just pouring down the river – he had to sit and wait for the sun to “warm” things up just enough for the slush to melt.
fly fishing in a boat – the motor always fails – always low on gas – the electronics never work – casting is always tough – sees are always big
so – some might call it pessimistic – but i just call it reality. cuz, more than not, there is always something that is working against me – the trick is to find a simple solution.
Great trip Pat
You guys are right about fishing when you can, and not waiting for “the right conditions”
My best trip this year it poured all morning with wind gusting 30 to 50, and I had a ball!
You have to “live in the moment”
Jeremy, did you get a chance to try the vertical indie?
Nice trip. I went last Monday and my whole day went like Pat’s first fish – never got one to net but there were fish and takes. Gotta love it.
You guys are gonna make me buy a waterproof camera – that shot of Austin putting the Salmon back and the Salmon swimming off it just too good.
Fish On
hi mike – i really like the underwater stuff – just adds another dimension to the fly fishing photography – and when so much of what we do happens underwater – it only makes sense. by the way – i love the reel – so glad i got it.
i hope to try shawmut at some time this fall and even during the winter. i have heard the it fishes well during the fall and even the winter – but for one reason or another i always thing “shawmut = spring.” well this year i am definately going to fish it year round. i would imagine those rainbows come back to the typical holding spots and can be taken with nymphs… let me know if you got any good tips for me.