I’m pleased to say Granny was feeling spry this morning. It’s gorgeous here in Wisconsin so that probably helps. We had a nice breakfast on the back porch then my phone rang and it was an old Idaho buddy Shannon McCormick. Though he still lives in the Jackson Hole area he has WI roots and visits every June. He and one of my Hayward fishing pals, Josh Hulbert, were checking in to see how Granny was doing, and if well, if I was up for fishing today.
Gosh, my waders were lumped on the kitchen floor from getting off the river after 10 PM last night. All my gear was soaked from the storm. But Granny gave me that look – almost a “what are you waiting for”. Off I went.
It was an easy one too. Josh picked me up at my house and we went to a musky lake he had good luck on last fall. We met Shannon there. It’s a pretty one but unfortunately the wind was far exceeding its forecast. All we had was a set of oars for Josh’s drift boat and a trolling motor. We went for it.
Though a musky day, I only brought my 7-weight. I hate to sound like a whiner but my damn shoulders are toast. I made a few cast with my under-gunned rod for the first 20 minutes then I took the oars for most of the day. As long as I don’t raise my arms above the shoulders it doesn’t hurt much.
Long story short, the fishing was absolutely deadsville. The guys hucked flies to all the good looking places to no avail. We didn’t even have a follow. At least that we saw. But, there’s a stream that exits this lake via an ancient cement dam. I mean seriously, one of the old classics. We were aching to get out of the wind for a few minutes so we pulled the boat up and walked to the dam. Josh handed Shannon his rod and said, “Go down there and make a few casts”.
Josh and I watched from above. I know these places. It happens on the first cast or it doesn’t happen at all. Well it happened. You can see Shannon’s fly – one second from being crushed by a very nice and lengthy walleye.
Josh and I had front row seats. High above and looking down with our polarized lenses, we saw this hefty walleye grab the musky fly. Impressive being the fly is more than 6” long. But he ate it and Josh and I scrambled down the steep grassy hill for photos.
It was a great short day on the water with old friends. It may be till 2025 before I fish with Shannon again but you’ll see Josh a bunch from here on out. We avoided a blank by a hair. Back at it tomorrow – somewhere!
Jeff why are you not fishing cicada hatch?? It’s epic and it’s close
Chris, these last ten days are the first time home since March. I’m enjoying being close to the nest and I’m working so I have to be. And though a few butt kickings of late, if I dug deeper our fishing is good. And I think I’m at least 4 hours to the northern edge of the Cicadas.