It has been literally months since I sat down to update this, and there is so much to tell.
First of all, as I write this, know that the trout season is essentially over. There is still the extended season for certain areas, but fishing in the turbulent headwaters that I frequent finishes as of tomorrow.
To begin where I left off earlier in the season, I had some moderate success on my first few outings. Even though I had only been out on the water a few times for an hour or so each outing, I had picked up the rhythm of my new rod and was enjoying the difference it made when casting, finding that it provided me with much more control, enabling me to place my casts so precisely into difficult areas with relative ease. I was confident that this season I would be actively pursuing more trophy sized fish since I could now get to where they would be hiding.
Then fate played its hand. The weather turned, and from mid May it became very hot and dry, making conditions very poor for the type of waters I liked to fish. For a few weeks I didn’t get out at all, but towards the middle of June I decided to go out for a couple of hours to a spot on the Credit, about 20 minutes from my house. I just had to go and cast a line, even though I knew there was little chance of any action.
Much to my surprise I caught a beautiful little brook trout within ten minutes of entering the river. There were quite a few families enjoying the hot weather on the river bank, and the children were excited by the catch when I held it up to show them. This had a stimulating effect on them though, and they started to play closer to the river, paddling in the shallower, less turbulent areas, and even throwing rocks just to watch them splash. I couldn’t blame them, they were just being children and after all, it is their river too, but needless to say I wasn’t going to catch anything in that area for a while, so I moved upstream to the rougher water where they couldn’t follow.
I fished for another twenty minutes or so when I saw a few inflatable rafts heading towards me from upstream. As I waited for them to pass I debated packing up and going home, as there would be no fish caught today. But I had only been out for about half an hour, and I thought I could at least get in a few more casts, so as they floated downstream out of reach, I started up again.
Now I’ve said it had been a hot stretch, and when weather is hot the fish lie in the deeper pools of the rivers, or under the shade of the bank if possible. They don’t eat much, so the way to catch them is to use a technique called nymphing. You use a fly that resembles an aquatic fly in its early stage of life, the nymph stage, and you usually drift it just off the bottom of the river, an inch or two above the river bed. If you’re lucky you’ll put it in front of a trout and it may decide to eat it.
In normal weather, this is how 90% of the fish are caught, but in normal weather they’re more active and will actually go out of their way to eat. This wasn’t normal weather, so I’d have to be lucky and practically hit a fish on the nose to have any luck. Still, knowing the odds, despite the children, rocks and rafts, I still decided to give it a little more time and a few more casts.
I placed a nice cast just under a willow tree, in a prime location at the head of a little pool, and as I retrieved it I felt resistance and my indicator submerged. I yanked up slightly to set the hook, but it wasn’t a fish; it may have been a submerged log or a rock on the river bed, but whatever it was it wasn’t what I had in mind. On top of that, when I tried to set the hook my brand new rod snapped! It had a grand total of about 6 hours on the water, and now it was broken.
Very resignedly, I reeled in my line, picked up the broken piece of the rod, packed up and went home. I was a little disappointed, as I didn’t get a chance to really try out the rod, but as it has a lifetime warranty I knew there would be a chance in the future. The next day I packed it up and shipped it off to Seattle (where it was made) so that they could honor the warranty.
A few weeks later, I took my old rod for a trip up to the Saugeen River, as the weather had given us a little respite with a couple of days of rain. It was still far too hot for the fish, but I like the area and the drive is relaxing, so I decided to give it a chance. I caught a few small trout, but nothing that was worth talking about. Once again, I encountered at least a dozen inflatable rafts on one of my favorite stretches of the river, which ended my day. The drive was nice as always, so I could take solace in that, but the truth is I was frustrated by the interruptions of the boaters, and still smarting about my broken rod.
A day or two later I contacted the manufacturer, and was given an ETA on the process. My rod had been received by their shipping department and was sitting with all the other broken rods waiting to have a warranty inspection/repair (they don’t repair the rod, they just ship another new one). I was informed that it would be a minimum of three weeks before it was even started.
It wasn’t the best news, but given the delays faced by suppliers, retailers, manufacturing and the economy due to Covid-19, I couldn’t really be upset. Every aspect of our lives has been affected by this virus, and this was just another example of how. I resigned myself to a long wait, and if I had to use an old rod for the remainder of the season then I would. I was much better off than so many others, worldwide, so I had no grounds for complaint.
I didn’t get out too much for the next month, due to weather, and other activities that kept me off the water, and honestly as much as I love this sport, there just wasn’t the same appeal. Still, I managed to get out three or four more times with mixed results, but on two of those occasions I was interrupted by rafters again. It had certainly been a very strange season.
Near the end of August, with approximately one month left in the season, my wife and I went out to a supplier to pick up a few inexpensive items that I needed, leaders, hooks etc. I had picked up what I came for, and were on my way out when my wife convinced me to go back and look at the rods. It didn’t take much effort.
I saw a rod that I had spoken of a few weeks prior. It was on sale at that time and it was an incredible deal, but I decided against getting it and the sale had now ended. As I was looking at it, my wife pointed out that the sale sign had not been removed from the rack, so at that time I decided to buy it on the condition they would still honor the price. They did, and I walked out with the most aesthetically beautiful rod made, in my opinion, one that I held when I first saw it.
It is made by Guideline, a Swedish manufacturer, and is a stunning, cobalt blue rod with the highest grade of cork handle, ash colored. But looks don’t make it good, and I couldn’t wait to get out with it and put it to the test. When I did I couldn’t believe the difference it made. It is exquisitely balanced, and so light! From the very first moment, I noticed my casting had improved markedly. I was able to place my fly in spaces that I wouldn’t even consider before, and land them within inches of my target.
Just for perspective, when I first took up this sport I bought a highly rated beginner/intermediate package. I then bought a decidedly better rod to begin this season, from Redington, a very respected and good quality rod manufacturer. That rod was a very big step up, but the Guideline is light years ahead of it in quality and performance. All of a sudden I had found my passion again. It only took several hundred dollars to find it (but it was on sale, sort of). I had returned to my state of ataraxy.
It was fortunate because the weather cooperated as well, and I was able to get out a few more times. I had a few outings where I spend 5 or 6 hours on the water, enjoying what had attracted me to this sport in the first place; the scenery and the art of casting a fly rod.
I managed to catch some nice little fish as well, but overall this season everything has been on the small side, which seems to be the defining statement of this season. During my trips I’ve had occasion to speak with quite a few anglers from all corners of Ontario and of all skill levels, and they have said the same. In fact, most of them have not even been catching the small ones.
And so tomorrow this odd season ends. I hope it’s an anomaly, and not an harbinger of things to come. I’ll probably get out a few more times before the end of the year, as there are some decent stretches for brown trout that are open until December 31. There are other areas that are open all year round, but I don’t typically go there as they aren’t as scenic, and the type of fishing is different; fishing for steelhead (migratory trout) instead of brown or brook trout isn’t my thing.
As usual, I’ll spend time tying flies for next year, and I will also anticipate the arrival of my warranty replacement. I contacted Redington last week and they told me they will have a new batch of my rod ready for shipment on or around October 20, so I may be getting a new rod for Christmas! I’m actually looking forward to it, but I don’t think it can replace the Guideline. However, it will have its own place and time, as it is a 5 weight rod, and my newest is a 6 weight. They will each have their own place in the arsenal.
Next year I hope things are closer to the normal we knew before Covid. I have a challenge on my hands to make my expensive new equipment pay off, and I know that if we even get a little closer to what we once knew then I’ll have a great season ahead of me, and I’ll keep striving to become better. I’ll wrap this up for now, but will provide updates through the off season with various new ties and maybe even a few more fish tales. Until next time 🙂
Come Fly With Me 