More Frustration

Went to Klineline Pond today after work. What a waste of time. The fellow standing next to me was using a fly under a clear bobber filled with water same as me. He caught six or seven trout and I never even got a strike. Nothing. I am suppose to go out tomorrow, but I do not know where to go for my Saturday dose of humiliation.

I wish I was good at fishing.

I wish I was good at something.

Update On Tying

I talked to my brother Larry on the phone and I knew he had tied flies but did not know if he still did. He told me he tied for a few years in the 80s and had just two weeks ago dug out all his tying stuff and gave it to a charity for an auction. He told me he quit tying because he was allergic to the cement and he just found it easier to buy flies.

I ordered a new book called "Ten Easy Ties" on a recommendation from a new tier on www.washingtonlakes.com. He said that he tied all of them and they turned out good looking. I think it would increase my confidence and give me good practice.

I went to the website of Ian Colin James [http://www3.sympatico.ca/ianjames/]. Wow what a cool site. Lots of great information and he has a great sense of humor. He has a step-by-step instruction for a fly called Megan's Minnow and it looks really good and not too difficult to tie. I want to tie this up and send it to Brother Larry since he said he had not made time to fish for a long time. He lives in Montana, only the absolute best fly fishing state in the union! I have uploaded an image of the minnow as tied by Ian and I will upload an image of mine when I get it tied.

No Fishing...yet

Last night I was looking over a couple of books I have on fishing Washington and my Washington State Gazzateer to find some new places to go fishing. I got all excited about going and I might just go this week-end if I can. My in-a=laws will be up from California and my daughter will be down from Tacoma so I probably will not get to go out fishing, but there is a creek that crosses 41st Steet just north of town that used to be stocked and now is not...sounds great. I will at least drive by, maybe stop and take a look.

I was told there were no fish in Burnt Bridge Creek. I was reading last night that there are fish, just not fish that most folks want to catch. Carp and suckers. I would love to add them to my life-list.

This spring is going to be awesome!!

Cold Fishing

Went out to Klineline Pond Saturday Morning because I read a report of a fish planting and it is a small pond and how hard can it be catch a trout in a small pond when there are so many.

Got there about eight in the morning. Some guy had a fire going in one of the fishing piers...mmm that is weird, did not know that was legal. Fished a Berkley trout worm for a while then tried a spoon. Then my hands were so cold I could not tie on anything else. Wanted to beat up the guy with fire and take it from him. Not having any fun. Dress warmer next time. I was in my Jeep and out of there by eight-forty...I am such a wussy.

Maybe I will wait for spring.

New Passion

Well, I have not been out fishing since my last post, but I have found a new passion. I am going to learn how to tie jigs for fishing. I went to Sportsman’s and bought a fly tying kit and have been “studying up” on what to tie and how to tie. The wife 'O my life bought me a beginner’s book at B & N and it has a lot of the basics in it, very helpful. My wife is so sweet and very supportive of all my fishing stuff.

Since I have the vice and tools I thought I would go and get the material to try out this whole tying thing...I was so excited I picked one of the Bright Butt Buggers from Hillbilly Geek's posts on Washingtonfishingfools.com and went down to Sportsman's.AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH...they do not have all the right stuff. Oh, well I will improvise and make up my own color scheme. They do not have Kevlar thread in black, they do not have 6/0 thread in black, I got everything else and the worker-bee told me I could go across the parking lot and get some black thread at Joann fabrics. So off I go to get my thread. They have never heard of Kevlar thread, ok, ok, how about your strongest synthetic thread in black. Great I have everything...now I am really getting psyched. When I get home the thread spool will not fit in the bobbin holder I got in my kit...poop. I did hear about a fly shop over by Costco here in Vancouver...I will try there....the adventure continues

one fish at a time...

Lewis

Catfish at Night

Went out to Lacamas Lake Friday December 28 after work. Did not get out until about 45 minutes after dark. There I sat with my lawn chair and my gas lantern, listening to the unseen water lap up on the rocks. It was nice.
I tried a gang hook with a nice fat crawler Texas rigged with no results for a half hour or so and switched to beef liver. No luck there either. Maybe I am in the wrong spot, maybe I am using the wrong bait? I may never know...how would I know? Who would tell me?

I guess I will go to Klineline Pond and catch trout. It is a small pond and they stock it with pretty good size trout...even a blind squirrel finds a nut in a place like that.

I want so bad to be a good fisherman, but there is no one to mentor me...no one to teach me.

Holy crap I want to go fishing

I hate that there is no fishing around here during the winter unless you want to catch steelhead. I want to catch steelhead, but I do not know how and I am having enough trouble figuring out how to catch trout without adding to the frustration. I went to the usual spots where I have caught fish all summer and there is nothing.
I have been considering going on a guided boat trip in the Washugal. It is only $65 and I could catch a winter-run steelhead. There is another guide service that guaranties you will catch a steelhead or salmon or your next trip is free. Why would I want to go again if I did not catch any fish?
I hear people say all the time that it is not about the catching fish. It is about getting out on the water. BULL FEATHERS!! For me I need to catch fish. If I get skunked it ruins the whole day for me. I was defeated. Also I can really only justify the money I spend on fishing by supplementing my food budget with fish.

Maybe I will go up to Daybreak Park and try this week-end...