Hero to Zero.
After last weeks amazing bite, this week was rough. We had an early week cold front and a complete blow out the first 1/2 of the week.
I snuck out Thursday as well, with intentions of chasing Sheep’s but didn’t see any. I did manage one little Red, and second follow, but that was it. The white pelicans made an appearance though which was pretty cool.
Friday found similar conditions and with sheep still on my brain, I went a completely different route and area. Tidal movement wasn’t great with an efficient of 60 vs the 110 we had last week, but at any rate I figured I’d could drag up something.
First area was a bust, there was just enough wind to screw up the visibility, and the few fish I did see, were deep, so I headed up river to a creek mouth that has some good mass to block the wind. Unfortunately there were no sheep there either. I did see a couple decent reds, and two slob trouts.
With a quick fly change I set out for the trout. Just as luck would have it, lefty’s law kicked in and here comes the blooper reel. The first opportunity was perfect, they were paired up over sand and about 50’ out. At this point the wind had died down and the no see ums found me to be perfect table fare. Thinking wind was a fly fisherman’s worst enemy, was proven to be completely false. No see ums getting under your glasses and in your eyes, mid haul, takes the win. Not to mention my feet looking like they were sprinkled with pepper. After blowing that shot, I got out the bug attractant, in hopes of deterring them lil bastards, but that only seemed to make em more intent.
It’s at this point I should probably start another paragraph or drop a few more commas, but I’ll continue on with my run on sentences and tales of woe.
After making a big circle I came back around to find the pair of ole girls laid up on the sand again, and get another shot off only to be completely ignored. This went another time or two to mo avail. By now my little area is getting crowded. With the addition of boat traffic in the main channel throwing wake and the other infidels encroaching on me I figured i go chase reds in the marsh.
I make my way, way into the back and almost immediately spot a red in a cut. Perfect setup, perfect cast, zero interest. I get a couple more shots on him, and he could give two $hits. Never spooked, never followed, nothing. Undeterred I continue on.
Next cut I ease into yields a small school of reds with 6 fish, all mid slots. First shot is on the money, I get a follow than a turn. I’m a little embarrassed to admit how much time I spent casting to this bunch, but it was definitely good practice. At one point they fell in with the mullet and went where they went. The reds would separate occasionally, I’d make a shot, and they’d either turn and go a different a direction or ignore the fly all together. Other times, I’d anticipate the path, get the fly in position, they’d swim up to it, see it, and turn. I got a couple other follows from em, but it always ended the same. I tried different flies, different methods of strips, bump, bounces you name it, I gave it all a go. All for naught.
Not wanting to get caught in back with the tide falling, I decided enough was enough and called it quits for the day, with a fresh skunk on board. It’s been a minute since I smelt that smell, but if nothing else, fishing is as we all know can be very humbling at times.
