Back on the Water
- Thread starter Bajema
- Start date
charles sullivan
Life of the Party
I am not sure if I have met you. I do know that you are a Whatcom guy. I am sure that I will one of these days.
I understand about the stresses that come. It's been a really tough 2+ years for most people. Sounds like a really tough 7 years or more for you. It builds up. I suspect that you made a good choice by taking a sabbatical of sorts. Good for you to put it all together. Fishing can really help.
The worst thing for my mental health in the past year was the no steelhead fishing. It has honestly thrown my whole world off. I am sure that covid, sick and dying parents, children's struggles, wife's job stresses and changes all played a role. That consistent get away and easing of my personal tensions in the fall and spring was gone though and those tensions just kept piling on.
I am honestly a bit inspired reading your post. You made a plan and you are enacting it. My own plan is a series of actions, some taken and some postponed. Fishing again is the one that I should probably put higher on the to do list for mental health's sake. Thanks for the post.
I understand about the stresses that come. It's been a really tough 2+ years for most people. Sounds like a really tough 7 years or more for you. It builds up. I suspect that you made a good choice by taking a sabbatical of sorts. Good for you to put it all together. Fishing can really help.
The worst thing for my mental health in the past year was the no steelhead fishing. It has honestly thrown my whole world off. I am sure that covid, sick and dying parents, children's struggles, wife's job stresses and changes all played a role. That consistent get away and easing of my personal tensions in the fall and spring was gone though and those tensions just kept piling on.
I am honestly a bit inspired reading your post. You made a plan and you are enacting it. My own plan is a series of actions, some taken and some postponed. Fishing again is the one that I should probably put higher on the to do list for mental health's sake. Thanks for the post.
Bajema
Life of the Party
I hope you can get back out fishing and that it can be restorative for you.
Bajema
Life of the Party
Headed up to the hills for a little fishing this morning. It a couple familiar spots that were still running a little high. Couldn’t find any fish, but had a nice time regardless. I’ve got some ideas for some other spots to try later this week and hopefully connect with some wild trout.
Beautiful spot there! It looks like some places here in B.C. Water looks quite milky, like snow or glacier runoff. What species of fish would be in there?
Really glad you got out. Next time, let's hope some fish find your offerings. That would be the icing on the cake for your well-deserved efforts.
Fingers crossed my health issues let up enough to allow me get out there again too.
Really glad you got out. Next time, let's hope some fish find your offerings. That would be the icing on the cake for your well-deserved efforts.
Fingers crossed my health issues let up enough to allow me get out there again too.
Bajema
Life of the Party
This is mostly snow runoff, some glacier. The clarity was actually not too bad, at least compared to further downstream. I think I’ve mostly got rainbows through here, but also an occasional brook trout which I assume over time migrated down out of some of the higher lakes they were stocked in.
Bajema
Life of the Party
Headed back into the hills this morning, this time to fish a section of water that was new to me. The drive up was uneventful. I had a bit of a hiccup when I got to the stream and realized I'd left my fly box back at the car. So I hiked back out, grabbed it and hiked back in. Not a big delay. The water was beautiful. Lots of nice pools with hungry little trout. I missed a lot of takes (I think I'm still a bit rusty) but I did manage to land two. More importantly though, it was just a lot of fun to be out there. There is something so peaceful about being in the middle of nowhere, miles from anyone else, with all that nature for you to enjoy. Truly a great morning.
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Bambooflyguy
Legend
Nice you’re going fishing again....and with bamboo!!
charles sullivan
Life of the Party
I am a bit inspired. Dries? Any pattern is fine?
I may just take an afternoon here and do that.
I may just take an afternoon here and do that.
Bajema
Life of the Party
I just fished dries and the fish weren’t picky about the pattern. I just used what I had in my fly box, some CDC & Elk caddis and some parachute flies I think I got from a swap years ago. The trees weren’t picky about the patterns either, so I need to do some tying to restock.
Catch any dollies up there?
The fish up in that zone have never been picky in my experience. I usually just bring some attractor dries like stimulators or royal wulffs and then some hares ear or beadhead prince nymphs.
Bajema
Life of the Party
Didn’t catch any dollies.
Bajema
Life of the Party
Back out on the water this morning. Went up to the hills to check out a stretch of water that I've had some luck on in years past. All the pieces seemed to be in place, with the exception of the fish. Worked my way downstream swinging soft hackles, which has worked well for me before, but it was not the ticket today. Oh well, there are worse places to get skunked.
Bajema
Life of the Party
Another morning another stream to explore. Things started out a little slow but picked up as I worked my way upstream. Lots of hungry fish going after my fly, even though there small, it's a rush to see that flash of silver darting up to the surface. Managed to hook a few, which was nice. Overall a great time! Being able to get out and fish regularly has been a real boost to my mental health. There's something about the fresh air, flowing water, and solitude that really make an impact.