The Coot & Claret

It's been a very busy stretch of life lately, but some new plans will be chasing me back to the vise soon to tie some insurance flies for a trip. The "Coot & Claret" is an original pattern that has worked some magic for matching those little western Mahoganies on multiple past trips. I'm not loyal to any particular hook and use Daiichi #1550 or #1480, Partridge Spider L3A and Dohiku #301. The tail is rusty dun rooster fibers, the body is Pearsall Gossamer #191 Claret or Kimono #321 Tokyo Rose. The hackle is a Coot wing covert tied very sparsely. I fish these down and across on the swing, or powdered and cast upstream to cover rising fish. There's something to be said for these old style spider and flymph patterns, they are fishing insurance you shouldn't leave at home. Till next time ....

Favorite Places

We all have a favorite place we go to to reset, recharge and refresh. This is mine. My closest people know where I go to get away, but I'll just say it's somewhere in the Pa Wilds and leave it there. With the days getting shorter and the air and water temperatures starting to cool after a brutally hot summer, this place is calling out to me. A wise man should always listen. It won't be that long before our wild trout start to color up for the big dance, and I'll return to the mountains to enjoy them until I start to see them pairing up. I don't think I'll wait that long though before I pitch a tent here, enjoy some cowboy TV and sip some brown water. Nothing like a favorite place. Till next time ....

Happy Places ...

We all have places and points in our lives that were defining and set us on a path. This one speaks to a place that is very special to me. While I won’t call this one out by name, those of you that know me well know the back story. Think about yours and enjoy this one. Till next time …

My first true wild char

I found here as a boy

A first glimpse of native beauty in all its wonder

Tangerine fins trimmed in black and white

A living galaxy of stars and planets in haloed spots

Glittering jewels and gems

Marbled lines on an olive canvas

Wild perfection swimming in bright currents

A lifetime later I still move upstream

Return to where it began

To find beauty in the shade of Hemlock and birch

Bring descendants of that first to hand

Restore peace in my soul

Whiskey and wood smoke

And bring that young boy back