Dear Musky

Dear Musky that has my fly,

         I just wanted to let you know that I will be returning soon. I hope that you will be able to hang out for a few short moments, so, I can get my fly back.

Sincerely,

Justin

An exact replica of the fly I lost.

Musky on my mind, again....

I have been in hot pursuit of landing my first musky this year, so, I took another trip to the Northwoods with my best friend The Fat Gordo.

I was standing on some rocks working a pool, and I heard something thrash on the shoreline behind me under an overhanging tree. My first cast was wide, and didn't stir anything up. My second cast landed under the tree inches away from the shoreline. MONEY. After 2 short strips of the line, my fly was replaced with the head of a musky. After I strip set and felt all of the weight, I yelled out to the Fat Gordo, "I've got a Musky!" 

The fight was short, and as I was stepping off of the rock I was standing on, my fly popped loose, and I watched my unicorn swim away.

I casted back to the same spot to show The Fat Gordo where I hooked up, and as I was telling him about the eat, that same musky came out of nowhere and took a swipe at the back of my fly. We were both in surprised. After more than a few casts into that same general area we moved on. We estimated both estimated that musky to be about 30 inches.

The smallies are my favorite. Every single one I have caught up there has been an absolute brute.

BASS-UKA!

As we waded up river, we came across this area that had a ton of cover with weed mats and lily pads. I worked the outsides of the pads and didn't see any action. Then I turned and looked at the weed mat next to me. I casted past it, and worked my fly back, and as it was about 12 yards in front of me, mass chaos began....

A huge musky shot out from underneath that pad, and engulfed my fly with all of it's rage. A double strip set, and I had a musky on, and it was pissed!! I have never seen more violence in the water from a fish in my life, and I'm not going to lie, my knees shook. I cannot even explain what happened next, but as the fish was thrashing like a manic my line shot back towards me. I dropped a major F bomb. The musky must have caught my line past the leader when it was rolling.

Somewhere in the Northwoods, there's a big 35-40 inch musky with a 6/0 cotton candy looking fly in it's mouth. =(

The Fat Gordo working an area he had a mid 30's musky follow.

Always ready for battle.

Catch & Release

Camp food

Just going over some itinerary with Dave (Urban Assault Fly Fishing) for our upcoming Musky Country trip. Got me thinking about food...

I'm always jealous of the meals that Jeff (High Plains Fly Fisher) has cooked up on his trips. I'm curious what everyone else enjoys cooking out there.

What are some of your favorite campfire grilled meals?

Some chicken I cooked up on a Missouri float trip.

The search for teeth...

Time to start prepping.

Got me some new materials to play with at the vise.

New Toy

Received some awards points from my employer to use towards a prize/gift/small bonus.

I cannot wait to start using this for my fly tying. I have a lot of foam and balsa wood that needs shaping.

Exciting things are on the horizon at my fly tying desk.

Change of mind

I had all the materials out on the desk ready to tie a bunch of size 14 / 16 flies. Before opening up any of the materials, I stared at my vise for a few moments, and a certain fish that has eluded me crossed my mind.

Musky.

The big hooks in my hook storage were just calling to me it seemed. So, I packed up all of the materials I had already placed neatly on my desk, and begun to pull out some 5/0 hooks, foam, buck tail, flash, and grizzly hackle.

The end result.

This should attract some bass, pike, and hopefully, musky.

This is the year.

I just want to fish.

Okay, winter....enough already! I've lost count of all of the subzero days we've had. I know it's well into the double digits, and I don't care to Google it up.

I don't even need Spring or Summer at this point, 30 degree weather would suffice. Just enough to get out on a river without having to worry about dodging icebergs. I just want to breath in some fresh morning air without my nostrils freezing shut or looking like Harry and Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber, while out ENJOYING the outdoors. There is no enjoyment in single digit weather, unless you're an ice fishermen or a polar bear.

Anyone have any big fishing trips planned? I'd love to hear about 'em!

I am still trying to figure out where I will be wetting a line. My fishing goals this year are to fish/explore new water/places.

In April I will be spending 3 days in Fort Myers, Florida. I'll be able to fish part of the time, and I hope to hook up with some salty fish...tarpon, redfish, grouper, sharks...pretty much whatever the hell wants my fly in it face.

Then I'll be in Orlando for 7 days, and I'll be able to fish a limited amout, but I have day dreams of catching bass bigger than 5lbs.

And of course, I have to make a Fall trip to a magical place, Musky Country. This is the year I slay the King of the North.

I'll end this with a thank you, to Mike over at Troutrageous! for showing some love to my blog. If you haven't checked out his blog, you should.

Musky Show

Show season begins here in Chicagoland...

First up was the Chicago Musky Show, at Harper College in Palatine, IL.

I've gone to this show the past 3 years, and the it is clear that they have lost some vendors. Cortland was the only booth there this year that had fly fishing stuff, but only for showcase. I really just attend this show to see all of the beautifully handcrafted lures, ice cream, and to hang out with my friends that enjoy chucking 2x4s for musky.

Highlights of the show (for me)...

1. There were these handcrafted beautiful wood boats there, that I did dare to ask how much one would cost. One thing that really stood out was the bada$$ hood ornament....which was a musky.

2. The ice cream is always a highlight of this show. Unfortunately, the vendor does not have a store, and only does fairs, fests, and craft show.

3. Snakes! I am not a fan of snakes, but I was feeling saucy and decided that I wanted to hold one. A custom rod builder had some live snakes at his booth as a way to draw people in, to see the rods he builds. He incorporates snake skin into some of his builds for some extra fanciness.

Next show is the Chicagoland outdoor show...which is our big show, and I am very much looking forward to this one.

Beautiful

Another shot.

Fish-Dank with the Yum Yum Ice Cream lady. Such nice people and outstanding ice cream!

Not a huge fan of snakes. I believe this is the first snake I've ever held.

7" musky tubes I bought for a friend.

Musky.

4/0 - 6/0 hooks, grizzly hackle, buck tail - and lots of it. Musky was the focus of my thoughts the past few months, as I prepped for a 3 day trip to Flaters Resort in Holcombe, Wisconsin. The resort is located where the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers intersect. It's a small family owned/operated business with some great people. I recommend it if you're thinking about going up to the area.

Day 1 - Friday 10/11/13
We arrived early, and decided to wade and fish a dam on the Flambeau River. We were skunked. They didn't have any of the turbines open and the water was low. Should have listened to the guy who just unloaded his boat when he mentioned that the fishing would be tough for us near the dam with no turbines open.

The Fat Gordo, Fish Dank (with duck face), and myself

Shortcut! - Didn't feel like wading back up river.

After checking in, and getting dropped off with the boat only halfway in the Flambeau River, The Fat Gordo was the only person ready to fish. While Fish Dank and I set up our gear, Gordo was greeted on his first cast by a 30" musky following his buck tail spinner to the shore. Then after 10 minutes of floating Gordo gets another follow, but from a much bigger musky. It was an extremely windy day, and it did not help my mediocre casting abilities (I am the only fly fisherman. My other 2 friends were tossing big lures.) The day ended with myself and Gordo landing 2 smallies. The wind proved to be too much for me toward the end of the float. My fly came in contact with my rod 1 too many times while casting, and I broke off the tip section of my rod. (Possibly the fly hitting it. Thank goodness for that Redington warranty)

Love me some smallies

The Fat Gordo with a fat Wisco smallie.

On the hunt..

The one that got away.....in my dreams. I just love it up there!

Day 2 - Saturday 10/12/13

Floated the Chippewa River for about 9 hours. Fish Dank was the only person to land any fish - 2 northern pike and 1 smallie. No fly fishing for me, but luckily I did bring my bait caster and a small lure box. We saw tons of adult and juvenile bald eagles. We also got to see 3 deer cross the river in a rather deep stretch - pretty cool! The wind had us behind in schedule, and we floated down river in the dark for 1.5 hours - not cool - depending on me and a small head lamp to search for possible dangers ahead. We made it out safe, and to Flaters 75th Anniversary party. Free booze and sloppy joes! Can't beat that!

Blue skies in the morning.

Fish Dank and his smallie.

Northern Pike and Fish Dank

One of many bald eagles we saw. Absolutely beautiful!

Fish Dank transformed into the Gordon's Fisherman

Watching the sun set on the Chippewa River.

Day 3 - Sunday 10/13/13

Short float on the Flambeau River. Fish Dank tossed a buzz bait and hooked up with a pike. He also, had a few blow ups from another pike and a smallie. After we checked out, we stopped by another dam and fished from the shore. Saw a guy in a boat in the middle of the river catch a fat 45" musky. 

...and that concludes my trip. I miss those rivers, already. I cannot wait to return to them next year. Hopefully, multiple times...with a spare fly rod! I have a custom 10 wt being built very soon.

Enjoy some other pictures.

Maybe Santa will bring me a better camera :)

Love the colors of fall in Wisconsin.

Friday's dinner - Lamb steaks and Revolution Brewing Anti-Hero IPA.