Delaware Trip 0n June 19th

Ah yes, every once in a while the Gods do shine down and grant Big Daddy Jimmy a day on the river.  Not just any river, the West Branch and Main Stem.  

Not just any guide.  The best darn guide a young boy can have, Ben Turpin.

We put in at Balls Eddy and floated to Buckingham.  Over the course of the day, we literally saw just one other drift boat.

We got into a steady, if unprolific, hatch of Cahills over a few hours and I managed a few nice fish.

The largest was a 20" brown which came on a #18 PT nymph.  He came wheil we nymphed some fast riffles as the boat moved through them.  The fish jumped like I lit his ass on fire.

 He wasnt the fish I was the most proud of though.  

That award went to a brown that I saw rising on a bank in shallower water on the West Branch.  I saw her come up, and thought she might be good.  Its the smaller dimples that excite you, because you know those fish are the ones that matter.  They are much more controlled in their rises so to speak.

The next time she rose, I was able to see her so well, I could tell the distance between her dorsal and caudal fins and I knew I wanted that fish. Ben told me to get out and wade to it, so I did.  I got about five fet up from her and about 25 feet away.  I threw a down wing cahill emerger in size 14 via a well placed reach cast.  I fed line as it washed down into her lane and she didnt hesitate.  Slurp.  Game on.  She fought well and we measured her at about 17".  It really rocks when you put it all together.

the 17" fish I waded to and my buddy, Lee Barnes, who will be a Hacklebarney member soon.

On a side note, I used my backsaver on the trip as you can see from the pics.  It really did help.  My back wasnt killing me in the morning after standing for 12 hours.

We had a real slow period from 3:30 to about 7pm where things just kind of ground to a halt.  

The main stem had no bugs for a while.  We did see this guy though.  He just sat there thinking "What are you going to do about it?" I wondered if he was going to drop a father day gift down into the boat, but he spared us.

 When we finally made it to Buckingham, there were bugs again and therefore more fish.  I hooked into one and it felt like a nice fish, but it managed to come unpinned without me having a chance to see it.

Anyway you slice it, it was a great day on one of the East coast's finest rivers.

On a side note, I think Rich Tullo should consider a hat like mine.  For some reason, I see him in a cowboy hat hanging out at a Honky Tonk.  He looks like an extra from a bar scene in "Every Which way but Loose," trading punches with Clint Eastwood.  I think its the side burns.  

Thats just one man's opinion.

The Member of the Month - Dick Hepper

Yes Folks, we celebrate yet another unique member of the Hacklebarney family.

Dick lounging in front of the party camper.

This member of the month for June is Dick Hepper, Hacklebarney's Minister of Discipline.  Dick has to be one of Hacklebarney's most senior members.  He was born in 1843, and served in the Northern Army in the Civil War.  

Gotcha.  Dick is 90, but I bet you believed it for a second.  

The funny thing is, Dick can still out-cast and out-tie half the members, and he still shows up to any and all meetings unless he is on a fishing trip.  He puts more time in on the water than most as well.  God bless this man!

Dick's not afraid of getting dirty when there's work to be done.  Here he is hooking up his propane tank.

Dick can tell a story with the best of the them, and in true fisherman form, most are, well, embelleshed.

If you havent met Dick, just ask him about Ted Williams, and he'll keep you entertained for half an hour.  

Of all the guys from the chapter my wife has had the pleasure of meeting at the banquet, Dick is her favorite.

Dick and John Eng sharing stories on the Beaverkill.

So, everyone raise your glass to Dick Hepper, Hacklebarney's June member of the month.

This Thursday June 11th's meeting

Our first speaker is Rich Thomas. Rich is the current exec for the NJ State Council for TU. While many of us know the micro about TU, Rich is in the unique position having a handle on NJ issues and has attended many TU National meetings. This will be a great opportunity to learn about TU from the Chapter level up.

Prior to taking on the State Council Chairman role, Rich was the NJ National Leadership Council (NLC) representative from 2007 to 2012. As NLC Rep., Rich worked closely with his fellow NLC Reps. from around the country to map TU’s mission in each member state. Also in this role, Rich chaired the Delaware Watershed Conservation Workshop which focused on improving the trout habitat within the watershed by insuring equitable flows from all reservoirs. This group worked closely with other workshops which focus on understanding and limiting the impacts of gas development within the Marcellus Shale region. Rich has past experience as Central chapter Vice President and President, Central Region V.P. and also with thermal studies, river clean-ups (Musconetcong River), introducing the Central NJ Boy Scout Council to fly fishing and river stocking.

Our second speaker is our own chapter member and former President, Cliff Behrens. It is hard put to find any of us with Cliff's experience, from land locks in ME and the Dacs, to bonefish or stripers off the Vineyard and a few more I may have missed. This month Cliff will discuss his baby tarpon quest  and Yucatan adventure. In May, 2015, Cliff and his wife flew down to Compeche, Mexico, a UNESCO heritage site for what the Yellow Dog Fly Fishing destinations people booked as a couples destination. Learn more about his and his wife Sue's adventure on Thursday night. If you ever witnessed the passion of people like Richard Brautigan in the pic titled "Tarpon" you will appreciate his quest for these fish and enjoy a good story.

So we'll see you this Thursday at The American Legion Hall at 7:30.  RIGHT?!?

South Branch Sunday, June 7th

I had a few hours last night, so it just made sense to get some time on the water.  

As the Musky had been my destination for the last half dozen outings, and we had good rain last week, I thought to change things up.  

The decision was made to hit my favorite stretch on the South Branch.

I rolled into the parking lot around 6:30pm and put on the wading boots.  If you have fished with me, you would know I never wear waders in the Summer, unless I'm on the West Branch or its abnormally cool.  

I made my way through the woods and got to the bank.  I scanned the water for a few minutes. The water was up a lot and on the muddier side.  

Sure enough, there were already fish feeding on top.  

I threw a Sulpher emerger and had a few drifts pass over the fish with no love.  It was clear I chose the wrong fly.  I quickly switched to a medium rusty spinner and made a few passes with that fly.  After the 3rd or 4th pass (right before frustration set in) I saw a nice stockie rainbow porpoise and suck in my fly.  It fought well and I released it back to the cool dark water.  I have to give credit, the rainbows the state stocked this year have been very nice fish.  Strong and clean with no nipped fins, etc.

Anyway, I slowly waded up river and tried to throw to any risers I saw.  Within about 20 feet, I had hooked a little wild brookie of about 7 inches.  I got to a very productive pool and there were just fish coming up all over.  I hooked a really nice 10" wild bow with beatiful fins and parr markings.

I then saw another fly fisherman pop out right across the river.  He went to cast right towards me, and I saw his suprise when it registered I was standing there.  He offered to move, but I was happy to continue my walk up river and told him so.

I couldnt put anything together up river though, so I left the water and walked back to my car, pretty happy with the experience, the beautiful weather and life in general.  I drove home excited to watch Game of Thrones.  

The scene with Stannis' daughter still haunts me.  Thats another story and another topic, but suffice it to say, Stannis is a POS.