Blue Skies and Ultra-Violet Rays
October 4, 2021 was awesome from beginning to end. Hoping for low crowds on a Monday following the 56th Annual Rose Holland Trout Derby weekend, nine FATC guys headed to Montauk State Park. Steve Baker, Bob Hassett, Derrik Kassebaum, Scott Payne, Dave Knight, Vernon Preston, and Jim Craig carpooled from the Eureka commuter lot, leaving at 6:15 AM. Kenny Klimes and Rick Dorr met them at the park.
Our expectation for the crowds to be gone on Monday after the big weekend derby was evidently a popular expectation. Lots of other eager fisherman began to appear soon after we got on the water. You can’t really blame them. Everyone just wanted to chase some trout on a beautiful day.
Once we geared-up near the Naturalist Cabin, everyone headed out to their favorite spots–from the spring to the bolder. We made sure a couple of our less experienced brothers got a partner to help boost their game. Despite the many fishermen on the water, most guys reported lots of cooperative trout when we met at lunch.
Speaking of lunch…it wasn’t just the fish stories that provided entertainment. As they prepared for lunch, some guys unknowingly laid their rods, vests and hats on the ground where there just happened to be a nest of really angry bees/yellow-jackets—whatever. Once we noticed these angry, swarming devils around their stuff, we thought maybe we could just wait them out and they would calm down. They never really did, and the guys got impatient to get back on the river. So, those guys VERY carefully retrieved their gear with only one bee successfully landing a sting in defense of its home. Pretty lucky for all concerned, if you ask me, and pretty entertaining for those of us who got to watch.
Commercial Interruption: As you should know by now, November 18-22 FATC is hosting the Altar Fly Fishing (AFF) trip, “Soul of a Pastor.” This is an extended weekend where AFF provides programing, including fly fishing, designed to nurture pastors who may be dealing with the dangers of burnout and exhaustion. Please save these dates on your calendar! We will soon be asking for and needing your help that weekend for guiding and meal preparation.
Well, if the morning was good, the afternoon was great. The crowd significantly dwindled, the weather was beautiful, and it seemed like the guys really fine-tuned their presentations resulting in lots of fish. Two flies certainly carried the day: the red zebra midge and the crackleback with some guys using them in a dry-dropper combination. Other very productive flies included the orange perdigon, black zebra midge, and the infamous yet proprietary hair of the dog nymph.
After one member dried out from an unplanned dip in the river that afternoon, all nine of us enjoyed a great fellowship meal at Arandas Mexican Restaurant in Salem.
If you haven’t been out lately, I hope you’ll plan a FATC trip soon. This fantastic weather won’t last much longer.
