Trophy Display

I won’t lie.   I wanted to win the 2  Fly Contest.  I don’t know why, but I did.  I figured the best two flies to use would be a #10 Rusty Spinner and a #10 2XL Hare’s Ear but I chose a Caddis and Beadhead.  I believe that you must have confidence in your flies and I can catch trout in sewer with those flies.  The rest is history.  The infamous trophy is being displayed in our living room next to my antler collection.

Blue Wing Olive Summit

Well it’s that time of year, vote for your choice of weekends for the Blue Wing Olive Summit.


I believe there may be a Trout Legend fishing contest the weekend of the 9th.

Voting will end March 2nd   Good Luck

Annual Christmas Summit

Today the annual Christmas summit was held on Spring Creek. Today’s event was highlighted with the new Big Woods Summit Grand Champion award. This coveted award was determined by the 2 fly fishing competitions held this past May and sponsored by the Rossiter Lodge. This award was delay during the annual BWS because of the thousands of hours of R&D that was required for development of the award.

Chief was crowned the Champion during the event.

Chief being presented the New BWS Grand Champion Journal.

The coveted BWS award…..Won using a Caddis and a beadhead...

Rules for the annual BWS event.

1. Winner must display the award in a living section of the house and post a write up on the RBF Blog

2. Winner will add something to the award.

3. Winner must present the award to the next winner and read the journal entry at the BWS.

4. The award will be determined by the annual fishing competition or in special case by the Chief and VP’s

Good Luck and Carry On

And yes we did manage to catch some fish...

Season's Greetings

Various reports via social media indicate that the annual Christmas fishin gatherin was a success today. Look forward to any and all reports of the goings-on from Spring Creek today. In the meantime, here are a few meager pics of my few and far between flyfishing sojourns around south central ND this summer. I found a quiet place to target small mouths with a fly (streamers and poppers) on the McClusky canal about an hour north of Bismarck. The canal is a remnant of the last big pork barrel western water project in the west. It was to take water from Lake Sacagwea to central and eastern ND for irrigation of field crops. Never was realistic and basically was a boondoogle. Its lasting legacy is as a fishing spot for the likes of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agrontrutta parked alongside the McClusky canal in southcentral ND.

A couple of smallmouths that fell for streamers.

Hope all prostaffers and their family enjoy a peaceful and loving Christmas time and a prosperous New Year. Carry On!

Buddies

POP

Michura, Edward S., 90, of Franklin Borough, went to be with the Lord on November 6, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on October 21, 1922 in Johnstown. Son of Anthony J. and Mary (Chula) Michura. Preceded in death by his parents; brother, John; sisters, Cecelia McCarthy and Helen Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Cecelia A. (Tremul) Michura, Franklin Borough; son, Edward J., married to the former Diane Hutsky, Beech Creek, PA; beloved granddaughter, Katie Anne, wife of David Petersen, Linden, PA and several nieces and nephews. Edward was a graduate of Franklin High School. He was a US Army Veteran serving during WWII in the 26th Infantry Division with the 328th Anti Tank Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge. Edward retired from Bethlehem Steel Wheel Plant after 39 years of service as a Millwright. He was a member a life member of the Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Company; life member of the NRA; charter member of the WWII Memorial Society; member of the Greater Johnstown Retired Men’s Club; the Yankee Division Veterans Association; M1 Garand Collectors Association and the SGT Michael Strank Post # 5107 V.F.W. Edward was a member of the former Assumption of the B.V.M. Catholic Church which later merged with Sacred Heart Catholic Church as the Church of the Transfiguration. He enjoyed woodworking; puttering around the house and all sports, especially Conemaugh Valley High School football, AAABA and going to Steeler, Pirate and Pens games. Edward was a master craftsman. He loved relaxing and hunting at his St. Cecelia Camp with his entire family. Edward was an avid deer hunter up until his 89th birthday. He kept a camp diary that is a literary treasure. Edward also kept an interesting daily diary. He simply loved spending time with his family and hunting with his son. At Edward’s request there will be no public viewing. Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday (December 17th) at the Church of the Transfiguration, Fr. Robert C. Hall. Inurnment will be at Assumption Cemetery with military rites conducted by Menoher Post #155 VFW Ritual Team. The family is being served by the Baker-Harris Funeral Chapel, Conemaugh. The family suggests contributions be directed to Franklin Borough Volunteer Fire Company, 1125 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15909  in memory of Edward. On line condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com.   

2013 Winter Freeze Out

This year we are adding another event. The Winter Freeze Out, fishing is optional. Food and refreshments will be the primary focus of this event (like it’s not at the other events). If the weather is too arduous we can all meet at my house. Chief is looking forward to this since he cannot attend the Christmas gathering. So make sure you select a weekend in the polling section.


Carry On and Good Luck

Annual Christmas Fishing Gathering 2012?

Given the proximity of December and the desire to try and plan things out in advance I would(as the junior most member) propose the 15th of December as the annual meeting. Understandably that its about a month away and surely enough time to take it to a vote.

From the Chief

Sad news to report.  Pop passed away on November 6.  He was 90 and had been suffering a bit since last hunting season, in and out of the hospital with COPD.  It came unexpected.  He seemed to be improving when I last visited on his birthday, October 21.  Mom wanted me to go through his things.  Pop was getting ready for hunting season!  Pop was a very unique man.  He spent his life amusing me and Mom.  We hunted together since I was 8, missing only those years that  I was in college.  He had a catcher's mitt and he caught me up through high school.  He was my best friend and hero.  I was never to worry about him because he "survived a depression, fought a World War, made it through 3 great floods and survived 5 Republican presidents."  He was a master craftsman.  I  will post photos of the rifle he built for me when I graduated college.  www.wharrisfuneralhome.com

I will be having back surgery on the first day of deer season and I will probably be retiring shortly after.  I am hoping that I will find at least some relief from my pain so that I can hunt and fish again.  I made Bowhunter and JohnW blog administrators and hope you guys keep this thing going.  I have been terrible in keeping this blog active. I just can't sit at a computer in comfort. Carry on and GOOD LUCK.

Oh yeah......I bought a 2013 Chevy Suburban LT, tan with black leather, loaded.  I go and just sit in it to get relief with its heated seats.  That sumbitch will be just great for steelie fishin!  I can haul the entire Pro Staff and their gear!

Hey - Please try to keep the Annual Christmas Fishing Gathering tradition alive.  It's great fellowship and a good way to celebrate who we are.  Let me know if and when.  Pops Memorial Mass will be December 17.

Land of Giants

Sometimes life deals you a second chance. After returning from an abruptly truncated fishing vacation, I got the chance to return to Montana for short break at the end of September. I met my sister for a brief family reunion at Craig, MT where her son, Mike, guides on the Missouri River. A few of the prostaffers probably remember Mike from our epic western summit adventure to the Bob Marshall Wilderness a few years ago. Mike was busy with clients most days so he had one of his guide buddies, Norm, take me on a section of the Missouri between upper Holter lake (near Gates of the Mountains) and Hauser dam.

Gray cliffs of Madison limestone rose steeply on each side of the river creating a sense of splendid isolation as Norm took us six miles above the lake on his jet boat to a place called Land of Giants.

A section where the Madison limestone has folded

Norm taking my sister and I to Land of Giants. Norm divides his time
 between Craig, MT in summer and Santa Barbara, CA in winter
 where he is a commercial diver for abalone

Norm rigged me up with a Czech nymph followed by a small caddis dropper all suspended beneath a small balloon indicator. I didn’t have to stare at the indicator long before it quivered and disappeared below the surface. I landed several fat 15-18 inch rainbows before the football-sized hen bow in the pic below nearly took me to the backing. We measured it at 20 inches and guessed the weight at about 4 lb. That's why they call this Land of Giants!

20-inch hen rainbow. Thanks for great net work Norm.

Norm helping Agrontrutta with another fine LOG rainbow

And that’s the way the day went, staring at that little balloon and reeling in big fish. I broke off several like the one in the pic above. My last fish was a perfect end to the day, a 21-inch male bow with a hint of a kype. Land of Giants indeed.

21-inch missle-shaped buck bow

I also got to fish a bit with Mike and we pulled in several good fish on the Missouri just below Holter dam. And, no trip to Craig is complete without burgers and beer (plenty of Blackfoot IPA during this trip) at Isaaks. Sadly, however, the Trout Shop Café is no longer in business. They expanded the lodge space to include more rooms for flyfishers (including yours truly).

Where the elite (flyfishers) meet to eat - Isaaks, downtown Craig

I also explored a small bit of Little Prickly Pear creek in the canyon section above some large private ranches. I hope to get back sometime to thoroughly check out that lovely little stream.

Little Prickly Pear Creek

Sometimes life gives you second chances. Don't pass them up!

 

Paradise (valley) Postponed

It has been a while since I’ve had anything worthy of an RBF Pro Staffer to post. And, despite some fun fishing for small mouth bass on the McLusky Canal (a remnant of one of the last pork barrel big water projects here in the west) this summer, I’ve not done any significant fishing since last September. So, I looked forward to my September vacation in Paradise Valley, MT as eagerly as the Chief looks forward to a fresh keg at the eternal tap in St. Marys.

My wife, Cricket the flyfishing beagle, and I set out for Livingston via Red Lodge on Labor Day weekend. Late summer was very dry here in central ND but nothing like the crispy conditions in the Treasure State. Smoke from the Mustang complex fire on the MT-ID border hung thick in the air from Red Lodge to Livingston. The beartooth plateau was a dusty khaki color as we made our way along highway 212 to the Park where the bison were bunched up along the Lamar river riparian edges, the only source of green grass in the northeast corner. We stopped at the upper end of Soda Butte to fish for part of the afternoon and I picked up a few feisty browns on brown drakes. The Lamar was the color of the café au lait at the Café Du Monde in New Orleans so I diverted to Slough Creek and pounded the banks with no luck. No matter, it was a gorgeous day and we were on vacation.


The Better Half and Cricket the Flyfishing Beagle in the Beartooths

Soda Butte, NE Corner of YNP

We stayed at the Yellowstone Valley Lodge (http://www.yellowstonevalleylodge.com/) just south of Livingston for the week. The Pine Creek fire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqk_90cq2gs&feature=related) just across the river had burned about a thousand acres a few days before we arrived and each night we watched the flare ups on the mountainside from our back porch.

I spent the next day on DePuy’s spring creek. When I called about availability the guy said “Come on over, stop at the big house, and ring the doorbell.” “Big house” was an understatement. This place was straight out of Gone with the Wind—an imposing structure of pure white with massive front columns. I rang the doorbell and a spritely elderly woman greeted me and asked me to sign in and pay the fee. The inside of the house was just as imposing (and shocking) with a massive red-carpeted grand staircase and decorative swans on each step. It took a while on the stream to reorient after experiencing the antebellum time warp. I fished the middle section near the angler’s hut (next to hwy 89) for most of the day and took a number of fish on everything from a #20 baetis to #8 Dave’s hoppers. It was a good day and I returned to the lodge tired but wired.

DePuy Spring Creek Cutt on Baetis

DePuy Cutt on Dave's Hopper

I had a plan for the rest of the week: a day meandering around Paradise Valley with my wife and beagle and then a day or two of hard fishing in the Park. It was not to be.

The next morning, feeling a bit stiff and tired from pounding the water at DePuy’s I looked forward to lazily exploring some of the sights in the valley. We stopped at Knoll’s flyshop near Pray where Pat Knoll spent about an hour explaining the history and rationale of the shop. Then, after another stop and short hike by the bridge near Emigrant, every muscle in my lower back began to twitch, then stiffen, and finally completely seize up. I was immobile. We returned to the lodge where I gulped a handful of Advil and crawled into bed for the next two days. Realizing that my condition was not improving (much) we simply packed up and my wife drove us home.

Well, the point of this interminable post was not to solicit sympathy (my back finally loosened up at home and I wallowed enough in self-pity—just ask my wife and dog), but to set up the next post wherein I describe a last-minute consolation trip and a journey to the Land of the Giants on the Missouri River. Stay tuned Pro Staffers.

Trout nose cells follow magnetic fields

I can see it now: Chief's new RBF magnetic hooks!


"Michael Winklhofer of the University of Munich led a team that found magnetosensory cells from a rainbow trout's nose, which contained iron. The finding may shed light on how animals sense the magnetic field of the Earth."

http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dLltCjrbAWCdxImBCidmoiBWcNVbkI?format=multipart

Too Hot to Fish

It's just too hot to fish.  Might as well enjoy one of the wonderful sights of summer...a Potter County Babe.  

P.S.  The tricos started on Spring Creek.

This Gentlemen is a BUFFALO!

Did you sneak up on him or did you stop him on a deadly charge?  Yikes!

Big Woods Summit as Witnessed by the Chief

Mike "Sleeps with Bison" Bowhunter, VP of Culinary Affairs

The best ever, despite not having Yucca.  The omission of Yucca, the Official Cocktail of the Pro Staff, on Saturday before the Paella Feast will never happen again on my watch.  We did however enjoy that damn deadly apple drink that Sleeps with Bison prepares.  I mostly enjoyed the fellowship, especially with our military members.  We are very thankful for their continued service.  Thank you Midger for arriving after 6 PM on Friday so that I could win the 2 Fly Contest.  "Judgment Day" was read before our annual awards ceremony.  Award winners will be announced later.  The food this year was simply incredible.  The only thing Mike's Deluxe Burgers needed was your mouth.  If you went to bed hungry, it was your own damn fault.  Hell, Bunyan woke up hungry; stuffing himself with a chunk of Lasagna the size of a car battery covered with leftover American Fries for breakfast. I had to look away.  I pray that God pardons our gluttony.  Midger and I spent most of Saturday preparing the Paella Feast.  We insured that we were sufficiently libated with bourbon shots during the process.  Hours later, I experienced a port wine blackout shortly after instructing Midger to put the paella fire in simmer.  I must admit that the Paella was one of the best I have ever prepared over the fire.  The Pro Staff enjoyed fishing a Brown Drake Spinner fall after the Paella Feast catching many trout.  After fishing, I rested peacefully in the Mobile Command Unit while the others closed up the Old Tanner Inn.  GlenG and I spent a quiet Sunday morning sitting and talking on the Rossiter Lodge porch drinking freshly brewed coffee from our coveted  RBF mugs. The others were recovering from shuffleboard, Potter Co. babes and beer.  Sunday night was very peaceful.  Sleeps with Bison and I casually fished the First Fork  Many dumb trout were caught and released on the RBF Gum Wrapper.  Monday morning was quite different.  The fish would not cooperate, as their bellies were full.  I even tried spinning tackle.  The RBF Girl sure looked good in those cutoff jeans.  Sleeps with Bison and I vowed to keep this annual passage going so that Agrontrutta will have an opportunity to visit with us possibly in his retirement.  This event would never be possible without the outstanding men that attend this ungodly affair.  We all should be thankful that we have such humans in our lives.  As time goes on, I will add to this blog things that are noteworthy and things that are not.

Brown Drake Spinner Falls at the Big Woods Summit

The Brown Drake Spinner

The Brown Drake is a true ephemera.  You will only meet a Brown Drake Spinner Fall on two to three nights in early June.  We were lucky this year.  I have chased the Brown Drake Spinner on Big Pine Creek for many years in the 1980's.  I only got lucky three times including one time during mid-day before a mighty storm.  You see, Brown Drake duns hatch sporadically in the afternoon and evening.  The duns are of little importance as they get airborne almost immediately.  Fishing a #10 2XL nymph during the day and evening will catch trout as they are focused on this prolific food source.  That explains why Jonny Ranger netted 21 trout on Wednesday using a #10 Hare's Ear Nymph.  The large spinners will gather in the late evening over the water.  They may get as low as head high.  Then without any explanation, they will return to the trees and later fall in the wee hours of the night when you are asleep.  This year on the First Fork, they fell on three nights around 9 PM!  On two of the nights, they fell through an incredible caddis flight.  The number of bugs can not be explained.  Best estimate is 100 billion caddis per minute flying at break-neck speed up the creek.  This went on for nearly an hour.  Bowhunter thought that the Brown Drakes were emerging because he saw "duns" floating with upright wings.  They were in fact spinners, not quite yet spent.  The spinners have clear, well marked wings with very long tails.  They were spinners and the trout took as many as they could.

RBF Gum Wrapper

RBF's Gum Wrapper proved to be very effective.  The Brown Drake version is tied with two hanks of white poly yarn and 10-12 strands of Micro Silver Crystal Flash for wings and coc de leon fibers for tails.  Bowhunter and the Chief enjoyed great fishing Sunday night as the spinner fall was not as dense as previous nights, giving the trout a better chance of finding our flies.  Often times, the morning after a Brown Drake Spinner Fall can produce good fishing.

Nice wild brown taken during the morning hours with a RBF Gum Wrapper

Memorial Day at the Big Woods Summit

BWS Summary

This year’s summit was one of the best one’s yet. We encountered coffin flies early in the week and a tremendous Brown Drake hatch and spinner fall later in the week. Throw in caddis, olives, Cahill’s and any other bug you can think of and that sums up the fishing.  RBF Gumwrapper was a killer

So let’s move on to the high lights of the weekend ½ pound burgers with bacon and cheese and Saturday night Paella, moved up to afternoon because of the Brown Drakes.

Top it off with Hydrotherapy and that gives you an idea of what you missed.

P.S. Next year look forward to a Hydrotherapy Fishing Contest

2 Fly Contest

Chief does it again.... winning the 2 fly contest held Friday from 6-7:30

Big Woods - Saturday nite Paella

If its Saturday nite at the Big Woods Summit then they must be enjoying the Chief's outstanding paella. The pic from above was from the 2008 summit. Here is the sequence of events that usually precedes the final product: First, there is a Yucca making session at about 4 p.m. Yucca is a frozen concoction that lulls you with its sweet and smooth taste and then knocks you out when you aren't looking. After the yucca, Chief is usually sufficiently lubed to prepare the paella fire and gather all the fixins. Everyone mostly sits around and watches the Chief do his magic with rice, saffron, mussells, onions, shrimp, etc. that eventually results in the delicious fare in the photo above. After pounding down several plates of paella, the prostaffers ruminate over the events of the day and stare at the camp fire. Round about midnite the hardiest of the bunch make their way down the road to the Old Tannery Inn for some after dinner aperatifs, shuffle board, and ogling the big woods belles. Presently, everyone makes their way back to Rossiter Lodge and some shut eye. At least thats the way I remember it. Heres hoping everyone murdered those dumb trout in Potter County this weekend and no one set themself on fire (I'm looking at you Chief). Go ahead and laugh! Agrontrutta