What a day. Today felt like the first day that it wasn’t winter. The trees were green, the flowers were in bloom, the bugs were everywhere, the trout were rising, the temperature was very warm and it felt good to be from Maine. After a long winter of cold gray skies and frozen fingers and guides, I appreciated every minute of warmth. I fly fished with Chris R and Greg B today. As soon a Chris stepped into the water and casted a muddler minnow across river a nice Brookie snapped at his fly. Chris took a few steps down stream and the fish whacked at the fly again. Greg B was fly fishing above us and i could not help but to be reminded of this exact time 2 years ago. It was on this river on a day similiar to this that the first flies and fins “fish tale” was written. You should take a moment and click on the archives and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the fresh water section. You will see the fish tale entitled “A New Fishing Buddy & BIG Brown – Maine.” See, that is how this entire thing began. I met Greg that day and we needed a way to swap fly fishing stories and photos. Hard to believe how many laughs and fish tales have transpired since that day. Anyway, I tied on a prince nymph with an adams wet fly dropper. I kept the drifts close to me and high sticked my way through a nice run. Then I felt a tug and I set the hook. I nice wild brookie came to hand. We got some photos and released him. Chris had to call it quits and head back to Bath, Maine. It was great fly fishing with him and I am looking forward to him returning to Maine in the fall. So, Greg and I continued to fly fish. Greg hooked and landed a beautiful wild brookie on some sort of red mudler minnow. I don’t know, and I never ask…he probably spray painted it or something. Whatever, it worked. I decided to put on an indicator, lengthen my leader and add some split shot. That was just what the doctor ordered. I hooked 3 brookies back to back. Like so many times before, in so many rivers, the trout were hugging the bottom and as soon as I got my flies down to them I started hooking lots of trout. I worked my way downstream and kinda got lost in my own little fly fishing world. I ended up way down stream and was brought out of my fly fishing haze by the sound of a honking horn. It was Greg passing by me and letting me know he was headed home. That’s the thing about good fly fishing buddies. You don’t really have to say hello and goodbye because you know that it won’t be long before your saying one or the other again.
great article. I will take your advise and read the original flies and fins story. You have built quite a community here. I am sure it will continue to grow. We will all make new friends, catch more fish from more waters and have more stories to tell.
By the way, Greg uses his wifes finger nail polish to dress up flie….
I to am amazed at all the fishing we have done since the begiking of flies and fins. I remember that evening well, you sat in front of the computer and I brewed some Starbucks coffee that you had brought and we were off, litterally. I’ve always apreciated this sight and all the fishing we have done, thanks for the fun and the good fishing,
I knew you guys would hook into to some fish as soon as I left. They must have caught a wiff of the Yankee fans I have to deal with on a day to day basis. lol Oh and I knew that somehow a picture of me and my poor casting would end up on here. 🙂
But I have to say I had a great time meeting new friends and learning from the experience. It was a pleasure meeting both Jeremy and Greg. I can’t even explain how forward I’m looking to fish with them again this fall. Maine is probably on of the most beautiful states I have fished. Just getting a glimpse of a nice 12″ brookie that Jeremy landed made my week. I have to say that this site brings fisherman from all over the world together and makes them better fisherman because of it. I’ve fished quite a few areas in the United States. And to be honest I have only felt comfortable enough with my skills fishing local waters. I’ve been out west and did the whole guide thing. But I felt the experience of fishing with Jeremy and Greg just taught me more as a fisherman than fishing with a guide. I love Maine and it’s vast wilderness. But I’m a guest in a land that’s seen a lot more fisherman than myself. Having Jeremy and Greg there to show me the ropes meant a lot. I thank you both. Anytime either of you are in my neck of the woods please don’t hesitate to set up a time we can meet and fish the streams and rivers I’m familiar with. I thank you both again.
ChrisR
It was our pleasure.