Fishing in The Sun is For Sallys

One week from now I'll be legally drugged on pain meds recovering from a short surgery. I'll probably be useless. The weekly Knitting Club, I mean Fly Tying Club, is going to have to continue without me. Really guys, save yourselves. Don't look back.

Over dramatic maybe, but it is true, I go under the knife one week from today to have some garbage removal done on my right ankle. The one that has repeatedly smacked me in the face by giving out at inopportune times, locking up and causing me to step on it while it is akwardly sideways, and has generally made my life miserable for the past year and a half. I'll be getting my revenge via arthroscopic surgery to remove some bits of other parts of my ankle that don't belong where they are and to shave down a few bumps and ridges that aren't supposed to be there. I'm hoping this will make much more comfortable wading for me this year.

So, since I'll likely be grounded for opening day of trout (April 1), I am going fishing on Saturday. My favorite local river has been too dangerous all year. If it wasn't flows, it was anchor and shelf ice that kept me away. Now, armed with new, very supportive and studded wading boots, I plan on attacking it chuck and duck fashion looking for something to connect with... even if its a foul hooked 2ft long sucker like the dead one we found last April on the bank. Not that I'd ever snag a fish intentionally... but I can't say I'd be upset to feel a tug at the end of my line the 2nd weekend in March.


Right now, the weather gods are encouraging me to go. Overcast, maybe a little rain, and fourty-seven degrees of goodness. Lets just hope it doesn't cause some catastrophic melt off... which is entirely possible, since its supposed to be a nerve wracking 42 degrees and rainy on Friday. If that river is known for anything it is known for rising fast and being absolutely unforgiving in its power during high flows. Wish me luck.






Oh yeah, and I'm getting ready for a trip this summer that may net me at least one, if not more than one new species on the fly. And I'm talking gentlemanly species too, not the roughfish that match my personality.


Wish me luck on this weekend, and on that surgery thing too.

Reality Check: Its still winter and we've got a long way to go.

Yeah, its still winter.

Summer:

Now:

All we need is a month of warm weather. Right. I wish I had brought my ice auger and jig rods, there was plenty of ice to walk on (I can say that because I was too chicken to try it and find out I was wrong).

A Weekend To The Green State

Since my wife constantly plans better birthday getaways for me than I can ever imagine to try to do for her, I decided to go all out this year. We took a trip to northern Vermont for two and a half days so she could see a city she hadn't ever seen before and so that we could both enjoy the local cooking talent that this area is known for.

You know that I'm a wanna-be foodie and beer-ite so this was an awesome trip for both of us. Here are some photos.

Otter Creek Falls

My wife's Mocha Cappuccino at the Storm Cafe

My lunch, easily the leanest and most tender cut of corned beef on an awesome sandwich with a great salad.

 

... and that was just one day. We ate a lot more amazing food made from local products, and I drank more beer than I should have. We shopped, we walked, we hung out, and we had fun. I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.

Spring Flows in February?

I was thinking of trying my favorite trout river on Monday (after our fantastic surprise weekend away for my wife's birthday) but this graph says otherwise.

Looks like a winter walk in the woods to my favorite place to be is more realistic. I'll bring the fly rod and hope for some hidden wild gems, but more importantly, I'll bring the camera and promise to take some photos.

Thoughts...

Its winter. Its not just winter - its a particularly cold and snowy winter.

This time last year I was complaining about not catching any fish but still happy with the progression of my casting and my fly tying ability. I will say, I am happy with the progression of my fly tying ability but I haven't cast a rod since November. Well, thats not true. I think a few weeks later I cast my new fly rod a few times before the sub zero temperatures drove me inside. But that was just in my yard.


I'm reading, but as Gierach says, a good fishing book is only about 1/3 as satisfying as any fishing trip. I'm also tying, and I'll post some photos. I think I've got enough different flies tied up to do a daily fly splat for at least a couple of weeks. This time I won't torch my hosting and screw up the posts.

I know I should be thinking about trout and, honestly, I am excited to try to catch a few more trout this year than last, but my thoughts go back to catching America's fish, the Black Bass. I've found several small brook trout streams that despirately need attention but I can't get my mind off of this.

Clearly and easily the single best day of fishing I've had. Even better than hooking into two 20+ pound Salmon in one day.

Don't remember what was at the end of that line?

One of the bigger Smallies I've caught thus far and, by far, the hardest fighting in that current. Took me several minutes to land him for fear of breaking off or pulling the hook out of his lip. I caught another there a week or so later that was a few inches longer and fatter than that guy, but had no camera.

So, call me crazy, but its smallmouth bass and panfish that get me excited about the quickly but not quickly enough approaching spring/summer/fall season, not trout. Enjoy a few photos from last season.

Pan Fried Lake Trout

Went ice fishing a week and a half ago up north - ended up getting an assist on catching a nice 22" Laker so my buddy gave me one of the fillets. I was very appreciative since I hadn't ever eaten Lake Trout and wanted to try it. A lot of people say that it has a strong, sort of muddy, oily taste but I found this Male (maybe thats the key) to be nothing but delicious cooked this way. People say that grilling them is a must, but my propane tank is frozen to my porch and dead empty, so I had to find another way. A way that didn't make the house smell bad and that my wife might actually eat it. So I did.





Let the fillet rest for ~1 week before eating it. When you take it out, rinse it with COLD water and trim any grey or brown fat/meat away from the fillet. I think these two steps are the most important for a flavor and smell that isn't over whelming.



Cut the fillet into strips about the size of chicken tenders.

Mix one part Corn Starch, one part Corn Meal in a bag or on a plate

Season to taste, I used Thyme, Cajun Seasoning (basically salt and pepper with different kinds of peppers), Onion Powder, Garlic Salt, Parsley, Smoked Paprika, and Crushed Red Peppers

Crack one egg in a round bottom bowl or on a plate and scramble, I mix a little chipotle tobasco into the eggs for the flavor not the heat. (You can use Milk if you don't want to use eggs, takes some of the fishy taste out of stronger meat... didn't need it with the LT)

Dip strips in egg so they're lightly coated

Either dredge in the flower on the plate or "shake and bake" in a bag, paper bag prefered.

Heat up oil in a pan. I like Peanut oil, but whatever you've got works. Butter and Olive oil burn at a low temperature so cook the food longer and make sure not to over heat the oil if you use those.

Pan fry approximately 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Less for the thin (tail) end, more for the thick end.

Serve with BBQ sauce of choice or don't. They're good dry too.

My wife, who's very picky about her fish (and HATES salmon) absolutely loved these LT strips. Enough that she said she wouldn't mind if I brought more home to eat. The house smelled EXACTLY like I had just pan fried some chicken so no bad smell and I didn't have to melt the ice off of my porch to get my propane tank out so I could get it filled. Sorry, no photos... we ate it too fast.

So Long, Big Guy

Possible the saddest of days in our house hold.

So long, big guy...