While the sailing has been slow we have been very busy doing other water related activities and spending more money on the boat! We took advantage of a sail pre order discount and ordered a new main and head sail for out boat. We will receive these new sails in February of next year. So we will finish out this season with our old sails then start the year off next year with brand new sails. We can't wait to get rid of these old baggy blow out sails and see how real sails perform. We will also be installing a new furlur for the 135% Genoa which I am totally stoked about. Now we can drop the main then sail into anchor under the head sail and easily dose it from the cockpit. We can also reef the headsail with the furler as wind conditions call for it so that will be sweet as well.
Since sailing has not been doable we returned to our kayaks and stand up paddle board. Being on the water is still being on the water, no mater what the vessel. In addition to paddling, the rivers have finally gotten down to fishable levels so we have been fly fishing every chance we can.
I went to a local river last Tuesday with Bill and fished there for smallies. This year I had a little better understanding of fly fishing and which flies to use so I felt like I stood a better chance. We both had good success with each of us landing over 25 small mouth bass in about 2 hours. Bill used a spinning rod with a floating minnow crank bait while I was fly fishing with a brown wolly bugger with a little flash. I was slaying them along the edges of the river just off the current while Bill was catching his out in the middle of the river in the current.
Thinking others would not believe our success we went back two days later this time armed with our Go Pro. The sky was sunny and the water was still a bit lower and cooler so the fishing took a while to get going but once it did it came right into it. I wound up with 18 smallies for the evening and this time I had video for proof LOL!
The area we were fishing was about a mile up stream from where we enter the river and it is a rugged walk up the stream bed over rocks and slick surfaces. Cindy's sister Dottie really wanted to go fish this area but with a replaced knee both Bill and I feared it might be too rugged for her. So I came up with a plan to float down with in our kayaks from the next bridge up stream. Once we got on location I could hop out and anchor the kayak to a rock and let Dottie fish that area. So we set a date for that Saturday to do that but Dottie was unable to go. Still unable to sail, Cindy and I decided we would still float the river and fish a bit.
So we loaded up the tandem and headed to the river. It had not rained in close to a month and there was maybe a 20% chance of showers so we really did not pay much concern to getting wet. We put in and headed downstream checking out things as we went. Neither one of us had been on this section before and it was a really nice paddle. We saw lots of large fish, mostly carp, darting out and away from our kayak. The river bed was mostly sand and gravel so not a real good place to fly fish as there was no cover for the fish. About half way to the spot I wanted to fish the rain started. It was just a light sprinkle but that soon gave way to a steady drizzle. We sat under a large sycamore tree for probably 20 minutes thinking it would pass but no such luck. Time to break out the 99 cent emergency plastic ponchos. One thing is for sure, you are not going to win any fashion shows with these babies but you will stay dry. We continued on down stream in the rain.
Once we reached the fishing area I hopped out and tied out kayak to a rock then helped Cindy out. I showed her where to fish and let her have at it with her very own blue fly rod. Blue is her favorite color so when I saw this fly rod I knew I stood a good chance of getting her to give fly fishing a try. We both had fished for several minutes when Cindy hooked into a nice smallie. I coached her on retrieving the fish while I made my way to her to remove it from the hook for her. Small price to pay to get to fish with your sexy little BFF!
Not many women would be willing to paddle in the rain, much less stand in the middle of a river fly fishing in the rain all while wearing a plastic bag on her head. Luckily Cindy is quite the trooper and still is a real looker, even with the bag covering her head!
Cindy was ready to catch some more after landing her first one but it was not to be. Not sure why but it was just a off night for this area. We even tried the honey hole that had produced good numbers for me both times prior. I could see them rolling under a log but no takers for our flies.
It was going to be dark soon so we headed on down stream to the ramp and loaded the kayak on top of Pearl just as darkness fell. Even with the rain and only catching one fish we still had a great time and look forward to doing that section of river again.
Ever notice how the wind always blows on Mondays? Sure enough, we go back to work and there was a nice steady breeze all day long that we could have sailed in had when been able to get to the boat. We were both busy after work so we missed our chance. The wind has since died again and it may be several more days before it returns. We hope to spend the night aboard the memory Maker this Sunday as it is Labor day weekend and we have Monday off. Hopefully Mother nature will be kind and give us some sailing winds Monday. They are forecasting winds out of the sw at 7 so hopefully they are right. This big high pressure area is pretty much parked right over us and till it moves it will be a broken record for hazy hot and humid with light winds.
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