2023 Fish-Pic-O-Rama

[mikebob]

So I’ve been just lurking for a while now, but Rasputin’s energy and writing has got me to log back in. I can contribute a pair of G3 waders in large tall with size 14 feet if that keeps you dry warm and safe winter fishing.
Thanks for keeping things positive brother!

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Rasputin, I'll send a box of winter flies your way as soon I get over covid (again):



Heavy stuff, mostly bright and shiny:


Large and small Barr's Slumpbusters (I fish these in slower, shallower water), ISBD's lazy jig streamer (these sink very fast) and large and small hi vis Griffith's gnats:


Small unweighted nymphs, scruffy emergers/ cripples, mole/shuttlecocks:


Visiduns and little parachutes + a few bigger ones for fishing in front of hard-to-see emergers. Also a few soft hackles:

[Rasputin]

Ooh, shiney! Foot surgery sure is good for your fly box! It's a veritable plethora!

Sorry to hear you got Covid, may you recover quickly, fully and with little discomfort.

It was a beautiful day out today, however I spent most of it inside cooking.

[MarsB]

So I’ve been just lurking for a while now, but Rasputin’s energy and writing has got me to log back in. I can contribute a pair of G3 waders in large tall with size 14 feet if that keeps you dry warm and safe winter fishing.
Thanks for keeping things positive brother!

Oh, didn't realize Ras needed an XL. Mine are just L, size 11-12 bootie. Yours may be a better fit.

[Rasputin]

Oh, didn't realize Ras needed an XL. Mine are just L, size 11-12 bootie. Yours may be a better fit.

You guys are too kind, such concern for a silly fishing mystic. I do wear a 11-12 shoe size, but I wouldn't need an XL, I'm 6'4" ~170lbs. (like a stick figure). I expect that size 14 waders wouldn't fit well into a wading boot that fit me well, but of course I have never had modern stocking waders (I think they have neoprene booties, no?).

I found the most recent leak in my hip boot (this time it tore on the heel welt used for getting the boots off). I expect that because I spent so many hours in the sun this summer, that the UV rays have compromised the integrity of the PVC.

Anyway, it's been snowing today, and my son gave me some fat wool socks, so Imma goin' fishin'.

[mikebob]

Ras, I’m 6’3” and go 200 these days. All leg and ape arms. The waders I’m offering would definitely fit you well, room for warm layers or simply tighten the belt when not. The Sasquatch sized feet (13/14) do take up some extra boot space but also leave room for extra thick socks. I can also offer some size 13 freestone boots, but they’re felt soles so not so great for winter.
I’m in West Yellowstone, so easy to get to you. Maybe even an excuse to roadtrip to the zoo.
Don’t be shy. Hit me up. You’ve brought some real joy to a lot of us here.

[Rasputin]

In spite of my newly repaired boots leaking worse than they did before I "fixed" them, and not getting even one bite today, I mostly enjoyed my outing today. The sun came out and my cold feet (yes the boot that wasn't leaking before, did today) didn't make me unhappy. I guess I didn't expect much. After crunching across sheets of ice, and feeling the water making its way up my leg above my ankle, I took a few pics, and was content enough, having given myself permission to leave as soon as I felt I'd had enough.

[Rasputin]

Ras, I’m 6’3” and go 200 these days. All leg and ape arms. The waders I’m offering would definitely fit you well, room for warm layers or simply tighten the belt when not. The Sasquatch sized feet (13/14) do take up some extra boot space but also leave room for extra thick socks. I can also offer some size 13 freestone boots, but they’re felt soles so not so great for winter.
I’m in West Yellowstone, so easy to get to you. Maybe even an excuse to roadtrip to the zoo.
Don’t be shy. Hit me up. You’ve brought some real joy to a lot of us here.

Well, being shy and guilt ridden is sort of my wheelhouse, but if you're coming to town, I would bite. After today's trip to the river, I don't think my hip boots can be repaired to keep the water out. As I've mentioned, I've been going into analysis paralysis with all you folks offering waders and boots. I never want anyone to put themselves out on my account; I even apologize to God when I pray for help. It's all a bit much to process, and know how to respond functionally.

[mikebob]

Ras, I sent you a pm with some contact info.
And a shout out to JohnB and tgapp (and all others) for starting this “ let’s get this man out of leaky hip boots” train. I’m all about passing along what we can.
Happy holidays all!

[Iowagriz]

I met Ras at the bowl last year, and although we only chatted for 5 min, I believe that I can attest to his radness. I'm not even a fisherperson, and I'm even finding myself checking in on this thread. Cool to see this stoke amongst the maggots.

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[The Reverend Floater]

It's still 2023, right?

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[Rasputin]

That looks like a manageable sized tarpon (says he hoping he got the species right this time).

As for all of the wader well wishers, I've be informed that one of you sent some waders and boots to me, so others can rest in the goodness of their intentions, and once I get reskinned I'll be back to standing in freezing waters and taking pictures of the streams, and hopefully some fish will appear as well.

Today the leaks in my boots led me to the other type of fishing I do, where I walk around and seek open hearts to combine with and hopefully magnify. It was a good day.

[The Reverend Floater]

So today we were in the mangroves fishing "hallways" and two tarpon literally jumped into the boat inside of two minutes. That was not on the bingo card, but apparently it happens.

Here's Valentin rescuing one of the jumpers.

https://youtube.com/shorts/lkJ2S4xG3...d1_OzAMIlWWGqL

And some more tarporn and snookums, too.

[John_B]

That looks like a manageable sized tarpon (says he hoping he got the species right this time).

As for all of the wader well wishers, I've be informed that one of you sent some waders and boots to me, so others can rest in the goodness of their intentions, and once I get reskinned I'll be back to standing in freezing waters and taking pictures of the streams, and hopefully some fish will appear as well.

Today the leaks in my boots led me to the other type of fishing I do, where I walk around and seek open hearts to combine with and hopefully magnify. It was a good day.

Good deal Rasputin! Thanks to whomever was able to track a pair down more rapidly than I. Enjoy the warmth R!

[The Reverend Floater]

Aforementioned poon.

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[Rasputin]

Good deal Rasputin! Thanks to whomever was able to track a pair down more rapidly than I. Enjoy the warmth R!

They arrived a bit over an hour ago, and I am very excited, I will be vastly more comfortable, I think they are actually just the right size, with room for heavy socks. They actually seem too good for me, I've been wearing cheap hip boots with gorilla tape, flex seal, and patches made out of rubber gloves, they are not pretty like these waders. The wading boots are burly, and it seems it won't even hurt when I kick rocks (which I do periodically because I am sort of clumbsy, and this is amplified when wading).

I usually spend Saturdays reading the Bible, and engaging in prayer and spiritual contemplation, but I think fly fishing with warm feet will be restful enough for my day of rest this week. The waders might not be as holey as my hip boots, but I think God likes to encourage my agency of freewill by doing different things, and I am always praying while fishing (especially prayers to catch many great fish, like those Jesus sent into his apostles' nets).

The waders and boots were a profound gift, something I would not ever have had without such an intervention, and I think all the mags who offered have done a great work in their hearts. Thank you all. It was a group intention that culminated in a manifestation of providence, just right.

[swimmy]

What a feel good thread this turned out to be.

[Rasputin]

It wouldn't seem right to end the year without one last day of fishing, especially since I now can stand in the freezing waters without my feet getting wet, so after spending the morning in my standard study of scripture, I stuffed myself into waders and boots, and fired up the truck, to go someplace different with hopes of catching some fish. While the spot looked promising, there was persistant ice along the shore which made drifting casts problematic. The line really like getting hung up on the saw edged ice. I was patient though, and persisted at it for a while not getting any action. I ventured out on the ice, which was transparent in places, and was pleased to see many fish of the 6-10" size zipping around under the ice, while this wasn't as good as catching fish, it made me happy, and I attempted to catch it on video:





Though I caught no fish there, other than the flitting shadows under ice, it was gloriously beautiful.





Not satisfied with seeing fish and the beauty of the day, I pulled up stakes and went back to the last place I caught a fish, and soon after arriving, standing comfortably in non-leaking waders midstream, I got my first bite of the day, then another take which was on briefly. Then I slid downstream a bit further, and was about to move on when my indicator got abruptly sucked under, and the hook held. I saw immediately the flash of a decent sized fish which I excitedly yarded toward my net. Once in said net, I modestly cut off his tail with my camera, so as to not show off too much.





I then proceeded down river toward the confluence, but found someone else fishing there, along with a partner and two puppies.





So I walked a couple hundred yards past them, and cast my line fruitlessly. My camera was not fruitless though.





As the sun set, the couple departed, and I headed up to the confluence, where my patience was rewarded by a feisty whitefish.





Then, I hooked two fish on the next two casts, one trout (by the way it fought), and another whitefish. They both came off, as I had way too much slack for a good set (I guess I was surprised to get bites immediately after landing one). Content with the outcome of the day, tired, and hungry, I headed home with a tale to tell of my last fishing day of the year.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Got out fishing for the first time post foot surgery (and fucking covid again). Took my mom and my four year old along. The four year old almost slid down a snowy bank into the river, but got hung up on a hummock, which was a nice break. I gave him gummy bears and told him to keep away from the edge. It was a solid deal for both of us.

My mom is no great fly fisher. She has never quite mastered the basics enough to allow her to enough pay attention to the other basics. "Mom, you just put your shadow over those fish you're casting to." "I did?" If she fishes regularly she starts putting it together enough to catch some fish, but... that wasn't what happened yesterday, even with some forgiving conditions for this time of year. Most of the fishing she has done is from a boat in the ocean with heavy tackle. Fussing over little trout details doesn't come easy.

I managed to catch a little rising rainbow on a microscopic parachute pattern shortly after we arrived. Then the wind picked up and I didn't see any other fish rise. Switched to a black size 20 nymph with pink bead which typically serves me well on this river during the winter and caught a few more. One put up a darn spirited fight for this time of year. An older couple was walking by with their dog while I was playing the fish and my four year old let them know, "Hey! Hey! My dad's got a fish! Look!" I wanted a picture of that fish, but I accidentally dropped it in the river while I was showing it to my kid. It's probably better that I didn't get the pic as the fish wasn't all that impressive to look at. Some fish are better remembered without visual evidence.



Unfortunately my recently chopped up and sewn back together foot hurt pretty good . There just isn't quite enough room around my big toe joint. The boots hurt before my surgery too when they would press on my now-removed bone spurs. I've always preferred lighter, more flexible wading boots, but I think the current state of my foot probably requires stiffer sole and bigger toe box. Any recommendations for something stiff and roomy, but fairly light?

[MarsB]

^I've been impressed on the stiffness to weight ratio of the Orvis Pro. Pretty roomy toebox, be sure to size up.

[romeo tango]

.
would someone do the honor and kick off a new thread?
I'm not worthy ....

.

[Harry]

I headed home with a tale to tell of my last fishing day of the year.

As the OP, I can’t think of a better sentence to quote for the close out to this thread.

See everyone in the 2024 thread.

/thread.




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[Rontele]

[Rontele]

[Rontele]

December Stellwagen Bluefin