Best Ride of 2011

I played hookie for the last hour of work and got in an unusually long weekday ride for a Thursday (almost 50 miles in all).  The weather was perfect.  The air was crisp, but not hot, the sun was shining and there was little to no wind.  The route was perfect, it was mostly low traffic country-ish roads that passed numerous lakes, rivers, ponds, climbs, descents, etc.  Rides like this are why I ride bikes.  I've ridden longer routes this year and faster rides this year (average was only 19 mph), but for whatever reason, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this ride--just being out on the road by myself was awesome. 

This was almost the "perfect" ride--if not for a near miss that would have made this perfect.  I was feeling pretty good and going at a pretty good clip down a long descent on 139th Street in a tucked position.  I looked down and saw that I was going 43mph.  All of a sudden I looked to my right and saw a cop hiding on a side street shooting his radar gun....YES! I thought.  Finally a chance to get a speeding ticket on a bike--the crown jewel of cycling dork-dum!  That would have made this the best ride of all time.  I'm not sure what the speed limit is there (maybe 25 or 35 mph), but I probably was speeding.  Unfortunately, Barney Fife didn't budge.  Still was the best ride of the year, but would have been icing on the cake to get my first speeding ticket on a bike...maybe next time.

Current River 5/14-5/15; Crane Creek 5/16

Fantastic fishing trip last weekend on the Current River.  The Current is quickly becoming one of my favorite rivers for several reasons: (1) its a large river, yet not so big that you can't wade any section; (2) there is enough water that even on days were its "crowded" you can go hours without seeing other people; (3) the fish always seem willing to cooperate.   I already want to return.

The trip itself turned out to be surprisingly good, given the potential conditions would could have faced.  Although it rained all Friday night on the way down, the rest of the weekend the weather was great and, surprisingly, the river was not blown out.  It was cold and overcast all weekend, but at least the river was in good shape.  We fished the Tan Vat access Saturday morning and in Montauk park Saturday evening.  As is the norm, I forgot my camera in the tent and didn't take any pictures.  We had a good day fishing picking up quite a few fish throughout the day.  At some point during the day I caught fish on just about everything I had in the box: steamers, nymphs, emergers, and dry flies.  

Sunday we fished the tan vat access up towards the park.  I started off slow but then picked up a bunch swinging streamers.  Lots of fun. 

I was able to cap off the weekend with a Monday work/fish combo.  Work took me to Cassville, Missouri for a morning hearing that was finished by 10am.  So I got to fish a third day in a row. I hit Crane Creek and had a great afternoon. 

The contrast between the Current and Crane is dramatic.  Crane is a small Creek that is narrow enough to jump across in some spots.  The creek holds wild, genetically pure McLeod rainbow trout.  Trout in this river survive by being skittish.  If you approach to quickly or cast a shadow near the river, they bolt.  Decent size trout in this river are like ghosts.  They are present but not seen, they're always hiding in cover.

This was my third time fishing Crane and I finally think I'm figuring it out.  The key is patience and stealth.  You literally have to crawl to some holes on your hands and knees not to spook fish.  Fishing this way is fun.  It slows you down.  Instead of just heaving flies at good looking water, you have to spend ten or fifteen minutes approaching a hole and really evaluate your approach, ie where your first cast needs to be, where your shadow will hit, etc.  Fishing this way is lots of fun, it definitely makes you more connected to the stream because you've really got to absorb your surroundings and if you don't take the time to do so, you won't be successful.  I managed to pick up 4 and had three more on that I lost.  This is a very rewarding style of fishing.