Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Fall Colors

 photo PA171792_zpsypahoc7o.jpg
Got out last week with a couple of buddies on one of my favorite Ozark rivers. The weather couldn't have been any better, cool mornings where a jacket and a cup of hot coffee was much appreciated and warm, sunny afternoons. While I had hoped to get some photos of great Fall colors while on the river I was a little disappointed in the leaves this year.
 photo PA171790_zpsmg9vqc4i.jpg
With a very dry late Summer we ended up with lots of yellows and browns and not much red or orange. But there were still enough colors in the trees to make the hillsides glow as the morning sun hit them just right, Mother Natures palette.
 photo PA171805_zpsmjadxida.jpg
This trip was more about just getting out and enjoying some good company on the river before old man winter sneaks back into the picture (which is right around the corner in case you havn't checked a calendar lately).
 photo PA181816_zpsajem9y0d.jpg
 photo PA181818_zps0zeynzvb.jpg
 photo PA171797_zpskvctc9ds.jpg
 photo PA181807_zpsesmsdoj7.jpg
 photo PA171800_zpsu2kxdhvu.jpg
 photo PA161782_zpswunfwbqa.jpg
 photo PA181812_zps7zutwjyi.jpg
The river was low and clear, typical late Summer/early Fall conditions and the fish were spooky because of it. The conditions weren't right for hucking big flies, which happens to be the preferred method of almost everyone I fish with, so we broke out the small wooly bugger patterns and the indicator rigs for the weekend.
 photo PA171799_zpsqierugb8.jpg
 photo PA171804_zpssi7hubkt.jpg
The fishing wasn't what I would call tough although all of the better sized fish seemed to see us coming before we could get a cast off. The joys of fishing in gin clear water!
 photo PA171783_zpsbqwdxbhc.jpg
Although the fish were all on the small side, the fact that you're catching wild rainbows (and annually stocked browns) and not just some 12 inch "trucker" from the local hatchery definitely increases the enjoyment factor. One of these small wild rainbows tends to fight as hard as one of their stocked brethren that are twice their size. And although the trees were lacking in vibrancy, the fish seemed to be sporting their Fall colors nicely.
 photo PA181820_zpsbdchn7oc.jpg
 photo P1080609_zps804f92b3.jpg
When you take into account the wild fish, beautiful Fall weather and some great company to share it with...I'd venture to say that it was definitely time well spent.
 photo PA181822_zpsfi5vsag2.jpg

Monday, October 12, 2015

Fall Break

As kids we grow up looking forward to both Spring Break and Summer Break for most of our lives, and then we grow up and they yank the rug out from under us. I look back now with fond memories of Spring Break fishing trips with my Father and long Summer vacations spent at the lake cabin with my Grandfather, chasing fish with almost every spare minute we had. These days my breaks have to come in the form of vacation days spent and I always try to plan a stretch of days in early Fall to get out and enjoy my favorite time of year. This past week was my annual "Fall Break" and I managed to get out on several separate occasions to get my boots wet. No real story, just time spent enjoying the weather, some good company and the brief chance to spend some time doing what I love.
Here's a couple of pics to sum up the week nicely...
 photo P5081011_zps9gto6nea.jpg
 photo P5081019_zpsuuvrjllw.jpg
 photo P5091062_zpsdiw441ph.jpg
 photo P5141105_zpscsvp3clx.jpg
 photo P9261702_zpskioztcie.jpg
 photo PA011710_zpsyo4qqf02.jpg
 photo PA011714_zpssly3yftx.jpg
 photo PA011717_zpsnqndtdhi.jpg
 photo P5191249_zpsjht9hxi6.jpg
 photo PA011725_zpsx8xslz1f.jpg
 photo PA011713_zpsksmgq74z.jpg
 photo PA061728_zpsz1pytfuw.jpg
 photo PA061731_zpsvjwh22i3.jpg
 photo PA071738_zpst65xkasr.jpg
 photo PA071741_zpsmumurshg.jpg
 photo PA071745_zpso0kopzjn.jpg
 photo PA071748_zpsc2fnbpy8.jpg
 photo PA071742_zps1a5t14mu.jpg
 photo PA081767_zpszgmbdva5.jpg
 photo PA061735_zpstm9xnkih.jpg
 photo PA081768_zpsq3wyr5n8.jpg
 photo PA071749_zpsmqtmx22y.jpg
 photo PA071750_zpsrof6s9xl.jpg
 photo PA071759_zps4akoitrb.jpg
 photo PA071757_zps4syh1lhd.jpg