It was one of those days. I am usually the guy up hours before the sun, driving with a cup of hot coffee and a purpose, trying to be the first one at whatever creek I am fishing. The long work week and an even longer Friday night, found the sun already peaking its head above the hilltops as I started up the truck and made my way to Oak Creek for my first day of fly fishing of 2011. Not a great start to the day.
It was the busiest day I have ever seen on Oak Creek. I stay away from this creek during the summer because of the hordes of people who descend upon Sedona and this tiny bit of water. Normally in the winter, I will not see another person all day and it’s close proximity to the west valley is appealing. On this particular day I must have seen at least 10 other fishermen and several of them on the specific section of the creek that I was fishing. When fishing for these spooky browns, stealth is of the utmost importance and when there are people everywhere you turn, that can make the sneaking very difficult. My guess is that the first warm day of the year had brought fishermen out of the woodwork and straight to this small creek.
I fished all day and I fished hard. The canyon warmed nicely and must have been in the 50’s during the warmest part of the day. Bugs were plentiful, but the fish were not. Mayflies were in the air and under rocks. Sections of the creek were covered with caddis casings ready for spring time temperatures. Spiders and butterflies, were everywhere on the banks of the river, while the water was clear and not too high. I cycled through just about every fly in my box and then did it again. Nothing seemed to peak any interest.
At the end of the day, I sat on the tailgate of my truck eating a bowl of Easy Mac contemplating the happenings of the day. I have not been skunked in quite a while and the little action I had experienced throughout the day was disheartening. I had seen several fish, moved a couple of them and only had one solid hookup through the whole Saturday. To call the day “slow” is an understatement. But after everything, getting to the water late, forgetting my Gink and one of my key fly boxes, seeing tons of people on the water, and no fish to the net, it was a good day. Life is kind of like that. Everything may not go exactly the way you had planned it, but ultimately it is the journey along the way that makes it worthwhile.
Ben from where I’m sitting that sounds like a pretty darn good day. You’re lucky to be able to get out. I’ve been stuck in this ‘winter wonderland’ for what seems like forever now and the images of ice free water, sun, and bugs feels like it’s so far off. You’re right about the journey making it worthwhile. There’s something to be found in every outing, even if it’s non-productive in terms of our aspiriations for the day.
Thanks Bill. It was a beautiful blue bird day and I am very thankful not to be shoveling snow or worrying about freezing pipes. You are definitely right, perspective is everything.
Ben
The weather is perfect here, but with a broken rod keeps me away from the river. Maybe I should just take the Lanber, even worse pop a worm on a hook.
Your lucky to get out! I’m jealous!
Good luck to you Rohan. I will be getting those flies in the mail sometime this next week.
Ben
Hey man any day in the canyon is a good day.
I was looking at the flow chart a week or so ago and it said the creek was running 300 cfs, which is crazy high. I think it must have been a warm day up in Flagstaff or something. Maybe that shocked the fish a little bit… just an idea.
I think that one bug looks like a cricket with a leg missing.
The flows have been crazy but they looked pretty good yesterday. I thought it was a cricket too except the tail on it had me thinking stone. I am definitely not the expert on that. Thanks for stopping in.
Ben
You summed it up perfectly in that last line- ” ultimately it is the journey along the way that makes it worthwhile.”
Great post and wonderful pictures.
Thanks Kari. I appreciate the kind words.
Ben
A very worthwhile journey indeed. I say any day on the water is a good day.
I do believe that is a Black Field Cricket that has obviously seen better days, it’s missing two of it’s legs.
The local creeks here in SoCal are often magnets to hoards of people when temps are on the rise as well.
Excellent post as usual Ben, thanks for sharing the day on the water.
Thanks Benny,
I can’t blame everyone for being out. This weekend has seen some incredible weather for us. Thanks for the tip on the bug and the kind words.
Ben
Strike out. No good.
Tell me about it. One of those days…
Ben, nice write-up, looking for my first day of the year here in a few weeks on the San Juan and Animas, then maybe hit Oak Creek on the way back to Tucson. Curious, did you get a water temp?
Cheers,
Jason
Blue River Fly Company
Thanks Jason for the kind words. Sounds like you have a nice trip in front of you. I did not get a water temp but it was warm enough to see good size BWOs coming off the water. I am going to be hitting the Juan a little later this year so I look forward to hearing how you did. Thanks for swinging by.
Ben