Flakes & Flies

Saturday may have been the best possible combo for winter fun. My main ski area Caberfae opened the Friday after Thanksgiving. I was suspect of the snow and crowds, but wanted to check out my new boots after some custom fitting work.

Friday night, I decide to pack up the trusty Element with ski gear, and fly fishing gear. Caberfae is only about 25 miles from some great steelheading on the Pere Marquette river -- one I'd never fished before.

Turns out Saturday is BEAUTIFUL skiing -- blue skies, few traces of those nice fluffy clouds you see in ski area brochures, and surprisingly good snow. Didn't see a single rock or stump. Just a great morning.

But...

I now had visions of those cartwheeling chrome beauties on my mind. And fishing a river that's legendary, but that I've never tried. That's when the lift lines suddenly got REALLY long. Even skiing as a single, it was crowded. My cue to exit to the parking lot and trade ski boots for waders!

A short drive, with a stop at Baldwin Bait & Tackle for some suggestions, and I'm at the Green Cabin access point on the PM. Still sunny skies and almost 40 degrees. What a stunningly beautiful and peaceful place. I can see now the appeal of that river. Nice gravel flats, sandy tailouts, and lots of nice holes. Relatively easy wading, and great access. I hiked a mile or so upstream and waded back down to my starting point.

Saw a few jumps and splashes, but didn't hook up with anything. Well, except a few logs and snags. Lesson learned for the day -- I need to brush up on my knot and rigging skills if I'm going to do this. I ended up with some sort of half-ass rig after making do with what was in my vest, and in my memory from a quick demo at the local fly shop.

Fished until the sun hit the horizon and saw only one other soul -- a guide who floated past me in a drift boat with a client and some sort of cockapoo kinda' dog. Odd sight. But you see all manner of stuff when you get out...

This weekend, they're calling for snow in that area and I don't have commitments on Saturday, so I think I'll repeat! Flakes and flies seems the perfect wintertime combo - at least for me.

Tight lines!

-Sean-