Gear Lust

Been having a bit of a run-in with gear lust just lately. You know the feeling, "Do I need a gravel bike with disc brakes? What about a skinnier ski for those hardpack situations when it hasn't snowed in 10 days and the temps have been in the single digits? Dang, having a second Muskie fly rod that I could put an intermediate line on would be cool. Maybe I need that cool new superlight road bike?" Damn near bought a Kona Jake the Snake 'cross bike on Saturday.

Then I went for a bike ride yesterday.

That simple act reminded me of why I love all this stuff so much. It's time spent outdoors. It's the sights, sounds, and smells. The feeling of the sun warming you on a cool Fall day. The strain of muscles that sit at a desk too much.

And its freedom. Freedom from the tedium of a job, a house, and a life. Where you can just escape for some pure "me time". Last Monday as part of a whirlwind trip that included Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I got to float the storied Big Two Hearted River. Yup, the one of Hemingway lore. I've waded it a couple of times, and even kayaked it years back. But seeing a river from a raft or a drift boat is just another experience. We didn't catch much - or even turn much - but it didn't matter. I got to spend a day with my Dad, and a good friend. On one of the most remote rivers in Michigan. In a place where cell phones don't work and GPS' can't be trusted. Truly off-the-grid.

This phase of gear lust will pass. And until it does, I need to remember - use the shit you already own. That will give you far more joy. When you wear it out; you can get something new!

-Sean-

UP Power Weekend Day Three: A Date with Sal

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted - Summer's a busy time!

Day Three of my UP Power Weekend was the original purpose of the trip. A return to the St. Mary's River at the Soo (the U.S. side). A year earlier I'd booked a day with Capt. Brad Petzke of Rivers North Guide Service. If you want an Atlantic Salmon on the fly in Michigan, Brad's your man. We've also done trout and steelhead trips with him and both have been excellent. This guy knows the UP like few others.

Last year was my first taste of Atlantic was last year in early July. I'd been wanting to do this for a while and it was totally worth it. I hooked and landed a 10# or so fish. Hardest fighting fish I've ever had on. Absolutely kicked my ass. I was left with an adrenaline rush comparable to what I felt after riding the U.S. Olympic bobsled course at Park City, UT. Jacked out of my mind.

Dad, however, as not so fortunate. While he got a ton of whitefish (mmmm, good eatin'), and some very nice resident rainbows, only landed one rather small Atlantic Salmon. Think bait. Uh, yeah...

So this is revenge fishing for him. For me, I mostly want him to get one. If I get one, cool.

After a little too late night with my friend Beer, 4am rolled around far too early. But it puts us on the water not long after 5 and I'm watching my first bobber by 6am.

And then it starts...

On my third drift, I miss one. Bobber goes down. Angler totally spaces. And fish gets away. Awesome. We're not really going to have THAT day are we? As it turns out, no, we are not. Within a few minutes, I've got another one on. And it runs right back to the motor, wraps up in the prop and I'm off. OK, Sean, time to up your game. Especially after Capt. Brad admonishes me to "control your fish, sir". My bad.

Some days on the water, it's all you. And others, it just isn't. I've been skunked plenty, lost good fish, and had a few epic days. There are so many factors - weather, water temps, angler skill and focus, and sometimes just plain luck. That last item is the important one. More solid shots = more fish in the net. It's that easy.

Not too long and BOOM - bobber down! This one's a good fish. Right away we get a couple of solid jumps. I love acrobats, though with every leap, your odds of landing the fish decrease. And this fish is a runner - unusual for an Atlantic, I'm told. While steelhead make long runs that quickly send you into the backing, Atlantic Salmon really don't. They fight HARD, but generally stay in a more compact area. Pretty quickly, I'm into the backing! This one isn't giving up, either. I've got the fighting butt locked against my wrist and I'm putting a serious bend in the Scott Radian 908/4. This fish has some go! Finally we get him netted. A few quick photos and a little drink to revive this beauty and we're back at it.

My first and largest of the day.

Of course, now the adrenaline hits. I'm literally shaking from the excitement. This is the rush of Atlantic Salmon that I love. I get it a bit from steelhead, but not like I do with Atlantics.

Once again, within a half hour, I've got another one on. Not as large or aggressive as the first, but solid nevertheless. This is FUN! Not long after this one finds the net, ANOTHER! I've got three fish boated and it's not yet 8am.

Sunrise Sal

By this time, I'm getting a bit bummed out for Dad. He's missed a couple of takes (easy to do on Atlantics as the take is often very subtle) but had nothing on. We try switching sides of the boat and I hook another. So that isn't it.

After a while, decide it's time for a break and move to another spot and switch over to throwing streamers. With Atlantics, it's a crap shoot. Just depends on what they're eating that day. I pick one up, and both Dad and I score big whitefish (yay -- dinner!).

At this point, I've got four in the net. Dad lost an EXPLOSIVE hook-up. Brad and I were left speculating on whether it was an Atlantic, a steelhead, or some new species of freshwater shark. This thing was BIG and ANGRY. Shortly thereafter he lost another.

So now it's time for a break. Have a little lunch. Talk some smack (if you're me and you've boated four fish). And refresh. Lunch is a good time on the water. Brad is a fun guy to hang out with, and always interesting just to shoot the shit with. We both have a lot of common interests off the water, so there's always something to talk about. And lunch lets you recharge. Refocus. And find your game.

Lunch break's over, I'm two drifts in and bobber down. This time, I have the clarity to set the hook -- and hand it to Dad. He jumps in and fights a solid Atlantic into the net. YES!!!! The Old Man's on the board now. Of course, he doesn't want to take the credit, blah, blah, blah. But he's fought and landed his first adult Atlantic Salmon. Super cool.

Dad's first REAL Atlantic Salmon!

Confidence plays such a big part of fly fishing. And it's really hard to know you can do some things until after you've done them. Fighting and landing an Atlantic last year taught me I could do it. This fish turns my Dad's day around. Now, he's Mr. Atlantic for the afternoon (though I did pick up three more). We ended the day with a dozen boated between us.

But, Dad got the cool fish of the day. For the last hour or so, we moved to another spot and threw streamers. At day's end, Brad calls "last cast". And Dad hits one. I've fished a fair number of days with guides and I've never seen that done. To make it even sweeter, he does it on a streamer.

Last cast - have you ever seen a happier angler?

As we're motoring back to the launch, I remark to Capt. Brad that this would go on my "Epic Day" shortlist.

One final note - the UP is a complex fishery. Access can be easy, weird, or impossible due to a variety of factors. If you're considering exploring this wonderland, book a day with Rivers North and Capt. Brad. Nobody knows the waters of the UP like this guy. And he's just a stand-up, solid dude.

With this day in the rearview mirror, six hours of driving home was a breeze. Thus endeth this UP adventure!

-Sean-

Up Power Weekend: Day One

Saturday was decided to be Escanaba Day by Dad and I. The Esky is a river I really enjoy, though I've only fished it a few times. The settings are pretty, and the fish are usually plentiful. Probably doesn't hurt that my first day fishing it I got fish on dries, nymphs, and streamers all within one day.

But first, we needed some detours (hey, you don't want to be out there TOO early). I'm a big fan of Rapid River Knife Works. Handmade, by Michigan craftsmen. I've had one of their Skinner Series knives for a few years and been extremely pleased with it. Recently I noticed some new knives on their web site, so I thought a repeat visit was in order. After making the poor kid behind the count pull out about 87 knives, I settled on a nice elk antler-sided folder (oddly, not pictured on their web site). Like my other knife, excellent quality at a very fair price!

Marble's Outlet, a few miles down the road, is the UP's newest fly shop. Dad had met the owner on the river one day, so we paid him a visit. Owner Jim couldn't have been any nicer. Great guy to chat with. Gave us some solid river intel and showed us around the place. If you're in the area and need some gear, a great place to stop. For a new shop, he had a nice selection of inventory, especially tying materials.

Next we made a stop along the river to check out a smallmouth spot Jim had recommended. Looks solid. Perhaps I'll get back there, though if I'm in the UP, I'm generally more interested in coldwater species.

By now, it's mid-afternoon. Time for a late lunch and perhaps a beer or two. Since we're in the "big city" of Escanaba, that means Hereford & Hops. Food is serviceable, while the beer is actually pretty good. Thirst quenched and belly filled, we're off to the river. Jim's given us some pointers on a stretch we've fished before that's been producing lately.

Now the dilemma - what to fish. On a stretch that I know, I'm partial to taking two rods - one with a dry or nymph rig, and the other a streamer. Streamer is easy - Scott Radian 907/4, Ross Evolution LT III with Rio Outbound Short line. Boom. Done. I really WANT to fish my fancy Scott G2 5-weight. But the wind is blowing hard and picking up velocity. I'm thinking I need the 6-weight advantage to cut the wind. So it's the Scott A4 906/4, Abel Creek Series AC2 standard arbor reel, and Scientific Anglers GPX line for dry flies.

I love my Abel clicker reels AC2 Creek Series shown here.

Now for the disappointment - can't tell you where we were. Yeah, if you know the area, you can probably guess. But if you don't, you're not finding it from my blog. Sorry, but I make it a policy never to reveal spots a guide's taken me to. The best guides spend a ton of time developing their list of spots so they have good water for their clients. I feel very fortunate that a few have been generous enough to share them with me. But I won't post 'em up on the Interwebs. Figure it out yourself, or better still book a day with a guide. In the UP, that's simple - Brad Petzke of Rivers North is THE MAN in da Yoop!

After a short walk, we find the areas Jim had shared with us and set up. Dad's downstream running an stimulator, with a bead-head nymph below. I find some likely looking water and start in with the a similar rig with slightly different flies. Fairly quickly I'm hooked up. And just as quickly, I'm off. After fishing a bit more, I dredge the streamer through the run. Zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch.

Now I'm starting to get puzzled. I realize that  we basically walked up, waded in and went to work. And we're trout fishing. Mr. Trout is now in my head. Am I really in the right spot? What am I throwing and why? Time to sit a spell and have a look at the river.

Glancing upstream I notice a riffle with a nice tail-out. Hmmmm. Time for a walk. After wading out, I start running the hopper-dropper with the stimulator and a pheasant tail nymph below. I grid the water out in my mind and start to work it. It's not long before I have a few refusals. OK, Mr. Trout, now you're WAY up in my head. Good friend and primo guide Jon Ray taught me a simple lesson - trout don't miss. If a trout rose and didn't take your fly, that means there was something they didn't like about it. But, they are looking at my flies. So I'm in the right ballpark. Time for a trip back to the bank and a sit (and maybe a sip of the bourbon in my flask...). I notice some smallish white flies fluttering by occasionally. Ah-HA! the #12 Ephorons that Jim sold us! Re-rig and back out I go. Before long, I've got a mid-teens brown to-hand. I don't get to do it enough, so I do really love getting a trout on a dry fly. A bit later I hit another one. I've noticed that smaller trout seem to show themselves at the surface more readily after you hook them. This one does not. Heads straight for the bottom. Unfortunately, this one breaks me off. Bummer.

On the drive back to the cottage we encounter a MAMMOTH  hatch of bugs. The windshield sounds like it's raining. Wow - had a great day, but sorry to have missed that. A damn fine day in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

-Sean-

The Upper Hand

While I get a lot of traffic on this blog from Michigan, I also get a ton from locations around the world. So, first a little explanation of Michigan geography.

If you know anyone from Michigan you'll know that we're a unique state. You can basically show someone a "map" of the state with both hands. The Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten. By tipping the other hand on its side, you've got the Upper Peninsula. The Mackinac Bridge connects to the two, bridging the Straits of Machinac where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet.

The two Peninsulas couldn't be more different. Back in the 70's, the Upper Peninsula (or UP as it's more commonly known) even tried to form it's own State. Unfortunately, they overlooked one minor issue - all the money, and all the population (i.e. tax base) is in the Lower. Oops. "Yoopers" are the from the UP, while "Trolls" (as Yoopers refer to them) live below the bridge. I am proud to be a Yooper by birth. But, I left shortly thereafter. My family has had a place in da Yoop since the early 90's, on Lake Michigan just outside Manistique.

Last weekend I took advantage of a day booked over a year ago to chase Atlantic Salmon with guide Brad Petzke of Riversnorth Outfitters to expand into a full-on Yooper Fishing Fest with my Dad. Over the course of three days, we covered a lot of backroads, a lot of water, and caught a wide range of fish using a wide range of techniques.

If this feels a bit like a movie trailer - it is. Look for a broad range of upcoming posts on our antics.I'll be mixing in some gear reviews as well - this was a first outing for a whole new fly fishing rig set-up just for small UP streams.

Stay tuned.

-Sean-

Soo True

Ever since the first time I saw Capt. Brad Petzke's presentation on fishing for Atlantic Salmon in the St. Mary's River in Sault Ste. Marie, MI (called "The Soo" by Michiganders), I've been intrigued. The opportunity to catch this rare species, coupled with the legendary fight makes it pretty attractive.

But in the early days, my hard-earned budget for guides was typically spent learning new spots, new fishing styles, or building my skill set. I don't have access to an appropriate boat, nor the necessary gear to even consider doing this on my own. Nevermind that the St. Mary's has fast, tricky currents, major shipping traffic, and many other challenges...

Last year though, the "bucket list" (I hate that term, for the record) came to include doing Brad's program to catch an Atlantic. Want proof that Brad's the MAN for this program? Check his availability. The best dates go fast. I'd been looking at 2014, when July 2, 2013 opened up! As this was the day before my Dad's 70th birthday, I locked it down quickly.

The morning started off slow, and EARLY (5:15am). Dad quickly hooked - and lost - a sizable whitefish. This is another fun aspect of the Soo fishery - it's a mixed bag of species. Then he landed a few whiteys. As a general rule, I'm a catch-and-release angler. But whiteys are another story. These aren't a sport fish - they're a DINNER fish! Suddenly Dad turns into Captain Whitey -- with strike after strike. Meanwhile, I'm getting nothing. Oh, except for one SOLID bobber down. Immediately, I realize I just missed my first Atlantic Salmon. DAMMIT!

After a couple of hours fishing the chutes of the Hydro Dam, we move to another location. One of the things about fishing with Brad is that he likes to keep his secrets. He's spent years scoping out the Soo (as well as a lot of the rest of the UP) and knows some amazing places. So, I feel compelled to keep his secrets. This spot proves fruitless for Atlantics. But...

Dad with a 23" rainbow!

Dad hooks a personal best 23" resident rainbow! After a quick fight, this beauty is landed, photographed, and returned to the river safely. Then I get a 17" rainbow myself! OK, now I'm on the board! Dad hits another teener and we decide it's time to return to the Hydro dam and have a lunch break.

After lunch, as predicted, we mostly have the chutes of the dam to ourselves. It's pretty cool to watch Brad hopscotch us along the dam. Dad picks up a juvenile Atlantic, so at least we've seen the species. By now we're to the point in the day where I'm starting to wonder, "Is it going to happen?" when WHAM!!! Bobber down! A hard, well-timed hookset (not always something you can count on from me) and I'm on my first Atlantic Salmon. Experienced guides always amaze me with their ability to quickly and deftly perform a multitude of tasks, all while coaching the client to not freak out. Within seconds, Brad has us unhooked from the dam, has my mammoth pile of line up with me on the back deck (where he had me move) and is spinning the line up onto the reel so I don't have to handline one of the most challenging freshwater sport fish around.

So, here we have an interesting new challenge. I'm left-handed (as is my Dad). And, of course, I've got this fish hooked on a right-hander rig. I've fought and landed my fair share of wrong-handed fish, but it seems like it never gets any easier. Somehow this time, I found the mental clarity to just put the rod in my right hand and reel left.

This fish has some GO! That's a 9 weight bent in half!

The fight on this fish is just astounding. It's as strong as even the biggest steelhead I've had on and unlike a steelie, this thing just doesn't let up! I'm starting to feel like one of these Hemingway characters who needs to get strapped into the fighting chair. I've got a 9 wt. Scott A4 bent in half for most of the time.

Yeah buddy - my first-ever Atlantic Salmon!

Eventually, I start to get the upper hand - gaining more line than I'm giving. As we ease the fish to the net it's evident this one's a solid beast. Brad estimates around 10-11#. After a few quick pictures, and back in the water we go. As I'm holding this stunningly beautiful fish in the clear blue water on a bluebird day, I think of how lucky I am. I live in a biologically diverse state with a wealth of outdoor opportunities. As of right now, the St. Mary's river is the only place in the United States where you can catch an Atlantic. And I've been fortunate enough to make friends, like Brad Petzke, who know how to help you access these opportunities. To make it even more surreal, Brad points out that there are no clipped fins - meaning this could be a wild fish. Sweet. I'm hooked. See ya' next year, buddy!

If you want a truly special experience, check out Riversnorth Fly Fishing and Brad's program. In fact, if you want to experience any of the magic of Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the fly, Brad's your man.

Swing a Big Stick

Great video featuring some of Michigan's top (and coolest) guides fishing the new Scott T3h two-hand rod. Check out Jon Ray, Brad Petzke, and Kevin Feenstra fishing this cool new stick. Great work capturing it on film comes from Erik Rambo of Snap-T Productions.