Fishing the Little Popo Agie River

This morning I headed up into the mountains to do some serious fly fishing on some areas that I am familiar with. While I haven't fished the Little Popo before, I've fished its cousin the Middle, and several other streams in the area.


Today, I decided was the day that I am going to fish only my flies until I catch something with a fly I have tied myself. Well it paid off. Fishing for about 5 minutes, I caught my first fish of the day on an Elk Hair Caddis.





I clipped off the fly to save as a memory, and tied on another fly of my own, a Light Cahil. A short time later, I caught a small brookie no bigger than my hand. As the day went on, all brookies were very small.


After a while some weather moved in, bringing thunder and lightning with it. So I went back to the truck for about 45 minutes.








Finally I came across a fly that I believe bdesavage created in one of the monthly swaps. It has antron for a face forward wing, and a furled off hook tail with some hackle as well. The fish loved it for a while on the surface. I let the slime stay on it, and it soon became a sinking fly. That seemed to work just as well. I would cast it into the lane, and let it slowly sink. If the fish ignored it, I'd give it a quick strip to get the fish to notice it. If they noticed it, I'd give it a couple of small strips to keep them enticed, then all I had to do was hang on when they'd take the fly.










Overall, a total of 6 rainbows, and 2 brook trout were brought to hand. I saw several larger fish resting on the bottom. I plan on going back with some streamers in the near future.

Cya,
Paul

Welcome to 2010!

Here we are, New Year's Day. I hadn't really meant to go this long without posting, but sometimes I still forget that I have a blog...and am in serious doubt that anyone actually reads it (except those people who browse through it once it posts on my Facebook profile). It's a good year so far...I slept in until 930, which I know doesn't sound all that impressive, but given over the last 10 days I've had off, I haven't slept past 830, I'll take the extra hour. Ah, a glorious 10 days off. Give or take...might be a little more. I finished up my shifts with a night shift the Tuesday before Christmas and have barely thought about the place since then. Well, alright, I've thought about it, mainly because I have to get myself readjusted to night shifts since I'm back on them tomorrow night...and I've barely been able to make it past 10pm without at least dozing off on the couch. I made it until 1230 or so last night, so thought should help the official prep night tonight.

And it's Bowl Day! We're currently watching the Buckeyes take on the Ducks...and obviously hoping for a Buckeye win! It'd make for a great start to the year for Paul...which consequently means a great start for me! Christmas was great, my parents were here to visit, and Paul also had the last 10ish days off. It's been great to have this time off with him over the holidays.

So what of 2009? I mentioned in a previous post that I would rehash it. But, I'm not feeling like it today. I had a lot of changes, and hope that I grew better as a person. Highlights - learning how to fish and going camping with my husband, being selected for the leadership program, starting to volunteer, reading some excellent books, and I think growing closer to my husband and family. The down spots? Eh, why rehash those... they're in the past now and I'm dang happy to leave them there.

So what of 2010? By the way... it's Twenty-Ten to me...though I forget myself sometimes and say Two Thousand Ten in weak moments. It's going to be a great year, I just know it. Career-wise? Who knows what will happen. I know I'm hoping to become a stronger meteorologist and get more into the meat of my science. I'm hoping to continue leadership activities and really hope to help others in my office who are ready to stretch the leadership muscles. In my personal life? You know, as long as my husband and family continue to love me, I will feel like a success. I'd love to keep a cleaner house, and maybe actually keep up with laundry so I can avoid the "marathon" days. Of course, I want to continue volunteering. It's kind of relaxed the last couple months...moreso with the shelter than with the food bank. I love doing both activities, but it's harder to convince myself to walk dogs when it's in single digits and/or blowing snow. I wouldn't mind working on the old art of true letter writing. I have some friends that are not on facebook or email (*gasp*) and I miss contact with them. Better yet, I have friends who utilize both those means, but still don't talk to a lot, or at least not as many meaningful conversations of times past. So there you go... my resolutions are to be tidier (don't hold me to that one!!) and a letter writer....and to be a better scientist. Kind of generic resolutions/goals...but I feel alright with them.

Alright, I think that should about sum up my first blog entry of the new year and decade. Congratulations to all of us for making it here...and I raise a glass in toast that we'll all remain healthy, happy, and content for the next year, or ten, or 70. :) Happy Twenty-Ten!!