It’s never easy coming back from a fly fishing vacation, though it’s possible the blow is softened a bit when your home is surrounded by blue-ribbon trout rivers, some alpine lakes and a few streams.
What isn’t softened is the roadburn; Zombie-ism took hold on Friday, and like The Undead, I mostly staggered around, frightening children and mumbling incoherently.
Saturday was the opposite. With winter coming on, I demonstrated initiative and repaired the 200,000 mile, 20 year-old Bronco; blew many clay targets out of the air; and watched a sporting event on TV (drinking a beer!).
By the end of the day, I needed a hose to wash all the testosterone off.
Blowing Shit Up
After successfully shooting nothing, I'm back for a second attempt...
The clay targets I blasted out of the air with my 20 gauge did not die in vain; being slow learners, the organizers of last year’s Bogey charity sporting clays shoot invited me back for a repeat performance, apparently misled by the fact that last year, I did none of these things:
- Shoot Myself
- Shoot Anyone Else
- Shoot Anyone’s Car
After demonstrating competence like that, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I was invited back. This time – without beginner’s luck working for me – I’ll have to practice a little to beat last year’s score of 61 (on a course Raine described as “challenging”).
Frankly, anything over 70 would be lovely. And yes, the whole thing’s for charity, so I’m blasting to better mankind. Or something like that.
The Local Fishing Report
I’m hearing rumors (whispers, mind you) of a few October Caddis downriver, but there are allegedly some decent numbers of the big orange bugs showing up around Cantarra. Like everything else this year, they’re a little late, but then, most of us are too.
Rumors of late afternoon BWO hatches abound, but with me starting another teaching cycle (I’m teaching an online marketing boot camp the next three weeks), time on the river will be in seriously short supply.
That’s too bad, because at least one guide (OK, two guides) have seen clients catch some big fish.
That said, we’re finally seeing some cooler weather – the kind that reminds fish that fall is here, and that now would be a good time to eat a lot of bugs.
Which is where us fly fishermen enter the picture. You’ve been warned.
Also Coming To A Blog Near You
Tonight I start teaching another three-week Online marketing boot camp, so time on the water may be in short supply.
Still, I’ve got actual, live data on the McCloud Hydro relicensing gig, and some perspective on what’s going on around that.
And I still plan to write a wrap-up of the Montana Road Trip 2010. The fishing wasn’t very good (in fact, it rose the level of “good” only once) and – in the grip of some kind of photographic ennui – I didn’t shoot too many pictures.
Still, I understand your need for closure.
Also, there’s other stuff. Probably lots of it.
See you in class, Tom Chandler.
Tom,
Since finding it, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. And, you were right, other bloggers have been willing to take a .pdf copy of my book for review consideration!
Thanks,
Jeff
jeff vande zande(Quote)
Yeouch,…that shotgun is stunningly beautiful.
Don(Quote)
Keeping the world safe from small orange discs, one disc at a time.
Smarter and Better Looking Brother(Quote)
Wait a minute. It was just a couple weeks ago you were complaining about not being able to get into the high country due to too much snow. And now you’re telling me that there are October caddis. That can’t be right. What happened to Summer?
fishskicanoe(Quote)
Correct.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Ditto Don.
Kentucky Jim(Quote)
In truth, it’s a little beat up – it was honestly used for a long time by someone who knew how to shoot, but then (unfortunately) it was put away in its case damp and left to sit for a bunch of years.
It’s taken a lot of cleaning – and it still looks a little ratty – but I prefer the hell out of that to something that’s brand new. Sorta like a fly rod with a well-used, sweat-darkened grip…
Tom Chandler(Quote)