pictures from the last 2 weeks on the road...

below there are a ton of pictures that are too big and very ****ty 7th-grade reading-level account of the last 2 weeks



I had surgery to repair some torn ligaments and cartilage in my right hand. I was in a cast from my elbow down on my right arm… I am right handed. So I hadn’t been doing anything for a few weeks… except eating painkillers and watching TV. With an impending 2 weeks on the road I had the Doc cut me out a few days early and hook me up with something manageable. This was my new setup for the trip…



With the casting covered I need to scheme a way to keep the beers close
these are Patent Pending and will be available at FishUSA soon...




I was pumped to doing ANYthing… let alone fish. I booked it hard out of a hard steady late May Yinzburgh rain. I was hoping to make it in time to buy a license and catch a late after noon fix. A buddy lined me up with a great kickoff spot and a shop with a bunch of stuff I can’t find at home. I get to the warm-up spot. 2wt, dries, and a bum hand.






I spent 3 days working prep for a heavy undermanned next week. The kind of **** that would make my stomach turn for 3 days before and long hours of useless worrying.
BUT… I had a glimmer of hope… 4-day weekend… fish my way north for 3 then travel back to the real world on the 4th.
I ripped north in search of my first famous water









I spent a good amount of time chuckin streamers and nymphing… no luck.

BUT then the bugs started
Lots of bees and some big skeeters






And the fish followed…
(there was a real nice 16+ bow, but I was still trying to learn how to manage with 1.5 hands)



I have no idea what this would entail… but judging by the locals, woodcabin crank plays a role



Time to head even farther north…




I set up shop with a room and tried to forget the outside world. I love the idea of exploring new water alone. Looking a map a just picking an unknown section of blue… the idea of "F it, I’m heading there”. I spent 2 days fishing at a pretty good pace… up at 700 lurking in the shop sipping coffee and picking brains- 800 cornbeef hash/eggs/toast- 930 in the water or moving to a new spot until it gets too dark to see. These two 13hr days put me on a few really nice sections of water. This water is different from home, while the idea fishing downstream is not new, it is rarely how I pursue resident trout… different casts, mends and drifts. Cool, a new tech will give me something to focus on and slip into the right mood. The mood it normally takes 2 days on the water to find… past the thoughts of “when where how” beyond needing to meet the expectations you set while planning a researching. Not having to force yourself to relax…but rather, relaxing…








spent some time waiting for bugs and it was nice to have the beer close by







spent the next few days just rolling the dice on access points and sections of water… some were better than others
all were better than work

















Orgy?
These things were everywhere killing trees





Did the whole work thing for 3 days and tried to stay sane in the evening watching hockey in enemy territory.





My first thought was getting out of town… I wanted to be back in the woods. On the drive up I debated getting a room and pulling a repeat of the weekend before or setting up my tent. Both options brought the idea of a fixed location... no good. The prior few days were nothing but self-imposed scheduling down to every 10mins. I wanted freedom… and had my SUV. I loaded up the cooler and set the expectation of fishing hard. In the water early, beers around my neck, crawl in the back, wake with the sun. I love the feeling when after staring at the current for too long you switch to something stationary… only to find the grass swirling like a bad trip. The next few days were filled with constant feeling of being in the moment. A constant stream of thoughts and ideas unraveling… none of which I can remember.
I didn’t know what day it was and never looked at a watch
Some days were sunny and some had rain…
I fished hard but also caught my self staring and spacing out for unknown amounts of time…
Some nights the doors were open and there was the 20s
Bugs were on and then they were gone
Fished late and a night ended early when I was too deep to tie on a fly

But, one constant… I caught every fish on top









my luxury accomedations







In the mornings I would jump back to the shop for my only meal of the day… coffee and cornbeef hash. I’m a sucker and would always get roped into a quick game of fetch with the shop dog

















It was great to be mobile and no ties
Just load the rods and go



found some interesting areas



and kept good company



I spent time waiting for the bugs
And drinking





then just follow some close dirt road
untie
drink and few more
and climb in the back





with all the bugs coming off, it was fun to watch the birds work











With the changes in weather and fronts pushing through I got bored in the off times
Not that I was going to nymph… but I wanted to see what was going on





then it was back up top…





I like em over easy






9hours in the car heading home on the day I forgot/didn’t think was important… but someone remembered

KJH ,   just an AWESOME post. Fantastic stuff man.

You done good with 1.5 hands. heal fast and keep up the good work.

KJH, Excellent pics.  What type of camera did you use for the underwater ones?  Looks like you had some nice relaxing time with your buddy.

Ditto on the underwater trout shots, VERY COOL. Looks like good brew too, I rock an oberon ale shirt all the time.. Bell's is good stuff!

Great post. My kind of trip... Get in the car and just go explore. Good job on pix!

KJ, awesome pics. what kind of camera doe yo have for the under H2O pics? Those were F*&king awesome !

thanks guys

all the pictures were with my olympus 1030sw


here are a few more water shots...

the blurryness from the beers and it was like 945pm


if you are in auto mode, it has to do with what you camera "thinks" is the subject
look at the shot with the sky behind me...the sky has correct exposure and I am dark
press the shutter button half way with the sky in the center of the little display box... in that case it was the bright sky
then get your correct framing... the sky isn't blown out, but I m under exposed

for the "flowing water"
get your auto exposure reading on a darker object
then while shooting the moving water and the shutter will stay open longer and will give you the look you want
make sure to stablize the camera on a rock or something sturdy... as the longer exposure will pick up any of your movement and F the shot

make sense?
this was with my 720... before it was stolen

ORIGINAL: KJH807

the blurryness from the beers and it was like 945pm


if you are in auto mode, it has to do with what you camera "thinks" is the subject
look at the shot with the sky behind me...the sky has correct exposure and I am dark
press the shutter button half way with the sky in the center of the little display box... in that case it was the bright sky
then get your correct framing... the sky isn't blown out, but I m under exposed

for the "flowing water"
get your auto exposure reading on a darker object
then while shooting the moving water and the shutter will stay open longer and will give you the look you want
make sure to stablize the camera on a rock or something sturdy... as the longer exposure will pick up any of your movement and F the shot

make sense?
this was with my 720... before it was stolen

 
Yeah..... that's exactly the kind of pic I'm talking about. I'll have to get out and play with some different shots.

Kev, that was just great. Thank you so much for sharing that.
And could you please, email me the underwater pixs!
Just a great releif to see such a nice tread.

KJH,
Unbelievable pics, you sure seem to make the most of the trips you take, the attention to detail is incredible. Alot of things most people would never notice while out.  Thanks for sharing.

Great pics!

Great pics dude! must have been fun matching the hatch and catching a couple dozen wild brookies

what part of the state were you in young fella?

kevin, i said it before and stick by it, you're an artist with the camera.   i could look at your pics all day.  man, i enjoy your work.