Chief and Midger

Midger and Chief - 5th Annual Big Woods Summit

Hell, one didn’t even know about Jim Croce. Flatlander Flies, single ply toilet paper in the shitter, a water drinkin Pro Staffer and a host of other abnormalities nearly sent the Chief packin from the 5th Annual Big Woods Summit by midday Friday. Everything around him seemed headed straight to hell in a hand basket. Hell the whole lot couldn’t even catch a dumb trout if it was placed in a wash tub! Well at least no one was dancin around like a Kansas City faggot. That was a good thing. The only good thing. Well, that 6 pound buffalo meatloaf was a good thing come to think of it. Come to think of it another good thing was the official RBF Hot Shower Stall. But other than that, things were quite dismal.

Moderation taken to the extreme.

The Chief was indeed distracted and headin for despair. He had just finished off a case of Straub Special Dark when Midger arrived. Midger’s arrival brought the Chief’s blood pressure back down to where head stopped poundin. After the customary greetins, the Chief had a sidebar with Midger, Second in Charge of the RBF Pro Staff. Chief described the earlier distressing affairs and requested that they fish the First Fork together. “Amend it, thus provided we don’t fish with bait”, responded the strappin young lad as he cracked open a can of beer. Midger was reassuring. “Don’t worry Chief, everything will be alright,” he calmly said as he handed the Chief a bag of fresh, aromatic herbs grown by his lovely wife.

The Rossiter Lodge Beat waters were up and slightly discolored after the night's rain, perfect for these talented anglers often described by others as ospreys. They observed the waters and it was decided that since the Chief was highly skilled in dry fly fishin, the Chief would have the responsibility of bringin those bastards up to a dry fly while Midger could more skillfully cover the middle with a brace of deadly wets. The Chief tied on one of his famous RBF Half’n Half’s in the ETS version. After the blasted thing hit the water, Midger asked, “What are you fishin with Chief…a gum wrapper?” Just then that “gum wrapper” disappeared into the gullet of a stocked brown trout. Chief promptly renamed his famous fly the RBF Gum Wrapper.

“Nice Chief!” exclaimed Midger as he netted the Chief’s catch. It was good to be brothers of the angle, they thought. Together they skillfully fished, catchin both stocked and wild fish, laughin and sharin turkey huntin and tomato growin stories and whatever crossed their minds. It was almost like they were on the Golden Beat.

Almost the Golden Beat

Then Chief asked if they had to abide by those delayed harvest rules. “No Chief, we can keep’m,” responded the VP of Catch and Release. They had somewhat of a conundrum on their hands. “Look,” pronounced the Chief, “you brought those bastards into the world, you can take them out of it!” "And I'm with you!" The Chief made a formal appointment amendment declaration then instructed Midger to gather a forked stick and they would commence to harvest enough stocked trout for an appetizer for the Chief’s Paella later that evening. The limit would be placed at six.

Life is Good!

They worked as a team, fishin the fertile waters of the First Fork. They focused on catchin that Orange Trout the Chief spotted the evening before. Chief spotted that bastard again when he flashed at his famous RBF Gum Wrapper. It didn’t take them too long before Midger hooked, netted then rapped the Orange beast with the back of a Gerber knife blade finally shovin him down the forked stick. It was time for a beer. They celebrated. The boys packed beer, not bottled water.

“Chief you lay this Orange Trout on top of your Paella tonight and it will be good!” instructed Midger. The boys continued to catch fish, releasin all the wild trout and others not worthy of the paella pan. There were a few hearty laughs when Midger’s elderberry forked stick broke on the way back to the Rossiter Lodge and his catch fell into the muddy waters of the First Fork. Ospreys as they are, it didn’t take long before they were back on a stick.

Orange Trout Poachin away in Chief's Paella

And to think they wondered if the Chief could make yet another tasty paella!

A morning fishin with the Chief, a belly full of Paella, Yucca and the Chief’s Hard Cider and Winter Pear Wine were a bit too much for the Youngin as he slept soundly while the others swapped fish stories and other lies.

He's dreamin of Orange Trout

The Chief’s day was good, the Paella was tasty and the Big Woods Summit was salvaged…thanks to Midger.

"Soc un gran pescador!"

We were somewhere around Orviston when the Yucca began to take hold...

Except instead of seeing dive bombing bats I was hallucinating about carnivorous Green Drakes devouring the stockies in First Fork. And that was after only one glass of Yucca.

Truth be told, we were a well behaved bunch this year, which drove the Chief to distraction. We either need new blood or we need the irregulars to return along with the bacchanalia.

Glen gave you the fishing report, which was the same story for all of us. Here Glen explains to Bunyan the difference between a Green Drake spinner and a midge spinner.

Which Bunyan quickly noted and cranked out a couple dozen on the vise back at camp.

After all the fishin, food, and other assorted activities it was time to shoot the breeze around the ol camp fire.
A pet peeve: At least twice during the BWS a younger prostaffer needed education about common American cultural icons. For example, the Chief regaled us about his encounter with Greg Allman and the aforesaid prostaffer asked "who is Greg Allman?" And, the same prostaffer had never heard of, or read, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (not to mention having no knowledge of the gonzo journalist himself). I tell you, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

BWS - 2009

Well, since nobody else is doing it, I guess I'll step in and recount the angling events that took place....

My journey started off, with the intent to fish a small freestoner on the way there, where ever "there" is. I'm not at liberty to disclose the location, though you can see it on Google maps if need be. Do you know you get a check mailed to you everytime you write "Google" in a blog? Opps, there it was again....Yep, saw it on a chain e-mail, so you know its true! Anywho, there I go again gettin off track...Focus....focus...OK, I'm better now...

I hadn't fished this freestoner in quite some time, so anticipation ran high. Long story short, the weather was dark and dim, with sprinkles and drizzle here and there. The weather so far this season, despite some warm dry weather, has mostly been cool and damp. Today was no exception. When I arrived, the water level looked about normal, and as it always is, the water was gin clear. No fish were feeding. A few small stones were buzzing around, but no mayflies.

After hiking downstream a good ways, I stopped and studied. About that time, I started to notice some sulphers emerge, then followed by a flurry of green drakes. Yessir, this was going to be a field day...NOT. All day long I saw squadrons of sulphers, dozens/hundreds - lots for a freestoner, and saw 2 fish rise, which I rose and missed both. Missed a couple of others too, both of which caught me by surprise when they rose. A slow, tough catchin day for sure...But the place is still pretty sweet!

When I arrived at the Rossiter, eating and drinking began in earnest for the weekend - Thank God, I was thirsty! Kudos and thanks to Mike for his hospitality!

The next day, which always follows the previous day for some odd reason.....Anyway, this day dawned, and had the promise of clearing skies, and also more angling anticipation. We were going to visit a stream I never fished before. I can't wait for Alzheimer's to kick in - then they will all be new again to me! This stream was at least at one time, Class A water. The stream looked amazing - clear, fast, and in spots, deep. I caught one lonely fish, and I believe that was our average for each of us, and all we had to show for a entire morning of angling.

Then Andy struck paydirt....Truth is, he ran ahead of me all morning, and when I caught up with him, he kicked me shins, then jumped right in this awesome pool and promptly caught this fish. Good thing I have a short memory, or I wouldn't have taken his picture! A nice, above average wild Brookie.

Matt plies the waters...

I would have taken a pic of the Chief, but he resorted to using the stealth spray, and I couldn't find the bastard. He didn't sneak up on any either, so the spray's effectiveness has come into question. A full review from the staff is pending.....

This stream's bottom land was very unusual for a stream in this area. In the sense that it had mostly sycamores growing in the riparian zone. Most streams have hemlocks, pines, maples, willows, or some other tree, but not usually sycamores. Probably a result of the intense timber activity that took place about 125 years ago.

Larger streams also will have an abundance of sycamores, but its rare to find one this size with trees like this.

The evening on the larger stream, produced some good risers and an incredible variety and quantity of insects. Very impressive!

The next morning was almost magical too.....

But nymph fishing yielded nada.....

So upstream to a trib we went......

Mike and I beat this water to a froth, and not a fish came to hand. Very interesting water though. Deep, fast, and some nice/nasty undercut banks. Prime habitat for browns, one would think. In fact, hell, it looks like New Zealand, South island....

The rest of the day gave way to drinking and eating, as the fishing was proving to be too tough and unproductive. Truth be told, my own feeling is that the drought that we have been mired in for the last three years, may have taken its toll on the resident fish population. There are just not the amount of fish as we have seen in the past. The streams in the north central part of the state appear to have taken the brunt on the damage caused by the drought. I even got a letter from AL Gore saying that this is a direct result of global warming. Good thing he invented the Internet too, or I wouldn't be here doing this right now. Not to fear, this is not the first bad drought, nor will it be the last. The streams will bounce back. If there's one thing that can be said about wild trout - they're tough and are survivors!

Did I mention the yucca flowed, and the beer was cold?



Kickin Back..

Just another lousy weekend in paradise.....Thank you sir, may I have another!

Just Helpin Out

Ya know, I started thinking that some folks out there in cyberspace might think all of us guys, and of course Carrie, are nothing more than a bunch of dumb fisher folk, with nothing better to do than eatin, drinkin and fishin. Well, I’m here to tell ya, you’re mostly correct. I mean, fishing, as noble as it might appear, doesn’t feed the hungry (in most cases), or clothe the naked, shelter the homeless either. And I understand all of that. So when I get a chance to do something for a friend of neighbor, I’m all about that. So when I saw this cat, that appeared lost, I quickly thought that I might be able to do something real nice for someone who lost a pet. Unfortunately, I was rather impaired at the time, so I never did figure out whose cat it was. I mean, I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but I know a lost pet when I see one. And I just love cats, except feral cats, but that’s a story for another time. But yes, I love cats, medium well actually, with a nice gravy, and mashed potatoes. But I digress. When you’re 15 and still in 6th grade, it’s pretty apparent that life is gonna be more difficult for you than most folks. You realize your shortcomings are large, and life’s is gonna be hard. But like I said, I know a lost pet when I see one. So if anybody knows someone who lost a cat in the vicinity of Central Pee Aye, please let me know. It would be nice to be able to facilitate a touching moment between a pet owner, and their happy, glad to be back, cuddly pet cat.
Below is a poster that I attached to a telephone pole, so that someone might see their cute, lost pet.

Culinary Delights of the 5th Annual Big Woods Summit

Bowhunter's Iron Skillet Camp Breakfast

Bunyan's Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

Bowhunter's Six Pound Bufallo Meatloaf

Bowhunter's Grilled Buffalo T-Bones

PF&BC Stocked Trout Sizzlin' in the Pan

Chief's Orange Trout Paella

Midger's Yucca

(Recipe by FlyRodder)

There were many other culinary delights enjoyed at the Summit that were not photographed. Examples were Agrontrutta's Reduced Salt Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies, Bowhunter's 3-Eggs Omelet and the Chief's Octopus in Garlic Sauce.