"Changing to the Past" Day One of Three

This year I am working to discover new water and to go back and fish some water that I haven't been to in a few years. It can be frustrating and it can be rewarding. But heck, even when I go places I have been to in the past, places that "I'm sure" I'm going to catch fish, I don't always catch fish. Go figure. I think that I have gotten pretty good at catching Carp on the fly. That means I want to catch Carp every time I go out.

I got out last week for three days of discovery and rediscovery. I left home later than I meant to so after the 3 hour drive to the river it was already 11:30. Okay, so I was lollygagging, big deal.

On day one I started at a place I have fished but not for three years. It is actually a gorgeous piece of water. I have caught fish there in years past so this isn't quite the risk that going to some place totally new is. I saw a few fish jump a ways out in the river and I saw three fast cruisers. That was it for almost three hours of wading. That seems so unfair to me. How could a thing like that happen to me? Most people are way better looking than me but still, I'm one of the nicest guys I know. How come those dang Carp weren't there? I've caught fish there before. There were pock marks all over everywhere. Where the heck were they today?

I drove down the river to some new water that I have wanted to try for years. From the highway it sure looks good. I parked at what looked like an easy access point. As it turned out I walked for over an hour and a half but never really found a good place to get into the margins of the river without immediately being in deep water. It was a surprise because the bank was so level. At the end of the day I had not seen a single tailing fish. Not one! Grrr....I ain't pretty, but I'm pretty dang nice; stuff like that shouldn't happen to me.

Here is a picture of me holding all of the fish I caught today.


Days two and three are coming.