Recently Sanders and I made a trip to one of the most fishy looking rivers on the planet Earth. The South Platte. To me, fishy is technical, confusing, and incredibly hard to fish. Just my style. Fishing isn’t really fun unless you work at it. This day was that very definition of the word fun. It was the best bad good day a person could have. Good: Watching healthy fish feed in every seam. Bad: Well, I guess that deserves a story.
The day started early with a phone call that I thought was my alarm. It was Sanders, I answered.
Me: Hello?
Sanders: You ready?
Me: (thinking Sanders was lost in my part of town trying to get directions) Where are you?
Sanders: In front of your house.
Me: What time is it?
Sanders: 6:00 am
Me: Shit! I’ll be out there in a minute.
As I scurried out the door trailing my boots, bag, and fly rod behind me I thought that even the best good bad days ever begin with a hitch, right? My hair was matted down from the pillow and there were creases in my face from sleep. It’s ok when you are fishing. I guess that applies when I’m not at work. It was cold in the morning. In the rush, it went unnoticed. Before I knew it we were off. Then again, maybe I didn’t know. I hadn’t yet fully awakened. To the gas station for crullers and coffee! Closed. Ok, to the river!
If I remember correctly it was in the teens. That’s too cold for fishing. Not because it is hard to endure, but because of line freeze. Being from New Mexico, I know cold. It is a place where fishing in the morning is a pipe dream with days that start from 0 and go up from there into the 50’s. Here, it’s just cold. All day. That canyon never saw 35 that day.
When we peeled ourselves from the warm car to greet the river I was chilled to the bone. Must have been 33 degrees. I’m not cold when the temps drop below 33 or when they are above 35 or so, but when it is in the 30’s woah nellie. We gawked at the river and the fish that were crowded therein. I walked along the ice that had collected on the waters edge. I had forgotten to bring the studded soles and was slipping around in the snow and ice. I felt like a child. I knew at some point it would give way, and it did. I’m glad I was wearing waders. I was ecstatic that the water was only knee deep. Hiking over snow covered boulders where the river was impassible was impossible. This is what I needed. Punishment. Punishment for a prior skunking. After wetting the lines in a few pools and coming up with nothing, I was only left with hope. Then, when we least expected it, success!
All of the time driving was worth it. Enduring the cold, worth it. Falling through the ice, worth it. Scrambling out of the house, worth it. Sanders stealing my glasses and holding them hostage, worth… Wait, that wasn’t really worth it. A day with a good friend and a few fish in the cold is the best bad good day I can think of.
Lesson 17: Test ice before walking on it. You never know how deep the water really is.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Nice. Although now I’d have to think twice before going fishing with spectacle-stealing-Sanders. 😉 p.s. I love the new header. Or perhaps it isn’t new and I’m just unobservant. That’s a possibility. Haiyaha, no?
November 13th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
It isn’t very new, but you did take that picture! Sanders assured me that they are safe. It was totally my fault for leaving them in his car. Just trying to pass the buck.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Amazing story and congrats on turning hope into success…
Ben
November 13th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I’m sure it was because I had mojo in my mailbox. Thanks Ben!
November 13th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Well friend, not too bad a day after all. I once adventured out under similar circumstances…and also went through the ice. Then I grew old and wise. I’m glad you posted this.
November 13th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
I’m glad you enjoyed reading! I feel like chasing pelletheads. Know any good local catch and release ponds?
November 13th, 2011 at 6:59 pm
I’m glad to know that I can rely on you two meeting us earlier for the next Frenzy! Haha… I know about treading softly on ice forming banks…either that or OOPS!!
November 13th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
So long as I wake up! Heck, Sanders was up way earlier than I was. The kid in me made me walk on the ice…
November 15th, 2011 at 7:07 am
Takes me back (long before cell phones) when my fishing buddy laid on the door bell to wake me. My wife wasn’t too happy about that.
Iced up river… well, read my comment on Sanders post.
Been there, done that and I don’t know if it’s just an excuse, but I agree with what cofisher said… “Then I grew old and wise.”
Thanks for the memories!!!
November 15th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Ha! Larry, well said! Doorbells and magazines have apparently outlived their day. Opting instead for cell phones and tablets. I have to hang with you and Howard sometime and just listen to your stories, I could probably listen for quite sometime.
November 15th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
A few fish were caught…no one died…i’d say that makes for a pretty good trip. looking forward to the next time!
November 15th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
One of these days we will have “one of those days”! Where we can’t keep the fish off the flies. Until next time! Cheers!