salvelinusfontinalis
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,267
I had a blast today! Now when i say this it wasent like the fishing was phemoninal or anything but the experience was first class.
I arrived at the stream around 10:00 am. The air was steadily warming and I knew the fishing was going to be slow. Unfortunately this was when I could go. I have a feeling if I went eariler in the morning I would Have caught more fish. To my suprise unlike most times at the Nature Park, no anglers were there. There was however about 50 children in what appear to be some sort of church group. They were below the parking area in the grass at a picnic table.
I got my gear and worked that nice riffle under the newly constructed wooden bridge. Next thing I know all those children were watching me fish. Asking me if I caught anything yet, telling me my rod looked funny and my style of dress was even funnier.
They had me laughing with all of there comments and questions.
After I was done I worked my way upstream to a nice hole. After a little while I could hear the lady leading the group of kids talking about nature and what birds they were seeing. Once those kids saw me they were asking her 50 questions. "what kind of rod is that?" and she replied...."a fly rod." then the comment that had me rolling. "You mean hes fishing with flies!" it went on and on and quietly and politely the womens tour of birds become the sal fishing show. :lol: To my suprise the lady came up to me and said, "excuse me, im sorry, but can you do me a favor and teach the kids something about your craft? I wanted them to learn about nature but they are just to interested in your style of fishing."
I said with a smile, "of course I would and they can still learn about nature while doing it"
They got a lesson on mayfly ecology and how trout feed on them. They also got a lesson on trout, what kinds and tolerances of water temps and pollutants between each species. I asked them, "what way am I going to try to catch fish today?" They all looked puzzled and this little girl replied, "as fast as u can?" OMG i lost it, I love the way kids think. I said, "no", smiling. We have to find out whats hatching. I had them catching bugs for me and I rolled a few rocks and found a few caddis larva. Once we determined that the main hatch of the afternoon was black and cream midges we stalked down a rising trout. Now I had to catch the dang thing or disappoint the kids. :-o Well, after trying midges and it wasent working, I noticed how the fish was feeding very sporadic with very long intervals between rises. I told the kids I had an idea. (little did they know i have read multiple places that a black ant on the quitte is killer. shhh! they dont gotta know). I tied on a small black ant and WHAM! 2 casts later they got to see a nice 14 inch rainbow. We voted, and the fish was returned to fight another day. I was glad for that I hate to eat trout. Then they got a lesson on terrestrials.
As (we) fished I was picking up bottles and trash and putting them in my pack. I told the kids how giving back feels good. It helps our enviroment, makes the area more beautiful,helps the animals and the trout. Next thing I knew i had a trash brigade each child had a few bottles or paper and it all went into my car. LOL now im gonna have to clean all that out.
After it was all said and done the lady who kindly asked me was very pleased. She said that was better than what she had planned. I told her I had alot of fun doing it, thank you.
I only caught one fish today. But watching those faces light up when they saw a trout came to hand after all there efforts was priceless. Thier comments and humor I will always remember. I hope I made an impression on them like they made on me. The kids had fun today, but I think I might of had more because they were there. I wasent going to go fishing today, now im glad I did. :-D
thats my stream report.......midges, ants and kids......the fishing is slow but the laughter and fun is prime :-D
I arrived at the stream around 10:00 am. The air was steadily warming and I knew the fishing was going to be slow. Unfortunately this was when I could go. I have a feeling if I went eariler in the morning I would Have caught more fish. To my suprise unlike most times at the Nature Park, no anglers were there. There was however about 50 children in what appear to be some sort of church group. They were below the parking area in the grass at a picnic table.
I got my gear and worked that nice riffle under the newly constructed wooden bridge. Next thing I know all those children were watching me fish. Asking me if I caught anything yet, telling me my rod looked funny and my style of dress was even funnier.
They had me laughing with all of there comments and questions.
After I was done I worked my way upstream to a nice hole. After a little while I could hear the lady leading the group of kids talking about nature and what birds they were seeing. Once those kids saw me they were asking her 50 questions. "what kind of rod is that?" and she replied...."a fly rod." then the comment that had me rolling. "You mean hes fishing with flies!" it went on and on and quietly and politely the womens tour of birds become the sal fishing show. :lol: To my suprise the lady came up to me and said, "excuse me, im sorry, but can you do me a favor and teach the kids something about your craft? I wanted them to learn about nature but they are just to interested in your style of fishing."
I said with a smile, "of course I would and they can still learn about nature while doing it"
They got a lesson on mayfly ecology and how trout feed on them. They also got a lesson on trout, what kinds and tolerances of water temps and pollutants between each species. I asked them, "what way am I going to try to catch fish today?" They all looked puzzled and this little girl replied, "as fast as u can?" OMG i lost it, I love the way kids think. I said, "no", smiling. We have to find out whats hatching. I had them catching bugs for me and I rolled a few rocks and found a few caddis larva. Once we determined that the main hatch of the afternoon was black and cream midges we stalked down a rising trout. Now I had to catch the dang thing or disappoint the kids. :-o Well, after trying midges and it wasent working, I noticed how the fish was feeding very sporadic with very long intervals between rises. I told the kids I had an idea. (little did they know i have read multiple places that a black ant on the quitte is killer. shhh! they dont gotta know). I tied on a small black ant and WHAM! 2 casts later they got to see a nice 14 inch rainbow. We voted, and the fish was returned to fight another day. I was glad for that I hate to eat trout. Then they got a lesson on terrestrials.
As (we) fished I was picking up bottles and trash and putting them in my pack. I told the kids how giving back feels good. It helps our enviroment, makes the area more beautiful,helps the animals and the trout. Next thing I knew i had a trash brigade each child had a few bottles or paper and it all went into my car. LOL now im gonna have to clean all that out.
After it was all said and done the lady who kindly asked me was very pleased. She said that was better than what she had planned. I told her I had alot of fun doing it, thank you.
I only caught one fish today. But watching those faces light up when they saw a trout came to hand after all there efforts was priceless. Thier comments and humor I will always remember. I hope I made an impression on them like they made on me. The kids had fun today, but I think I might of had more because they were there. I wasent going to go fishing today, now im glad I did. :-D
thats my stream report.......midges, ants and kids......the fishing is slow but the laughter and fun is prime :-D
