sport recreation

The Joy of Fly Fishing in New Brunswick

Fishing For Trout on the Shepody River, New Brunswick

Posted: 20 May 2012 05:04 AM PDT

Casey stopped on the way so I could snap the this cool scene

Got out for a day of trout fishing on the Shepody river with Casey on Friday. I have to say that it got a tad windy with 30 km winds. It was so windy I'm sure I saw two birds flying backwards.

All Birds Are Grounded Til Further Notice Due To High Winds

I grabbed all my gear from the truck and put it in the boat while Casey was checking to be sure all systems were a go before launching.

BTW: The boat launch we used is on highway 915 just off highway 114 at Riverside Albert. I think it's called humpback bridge.

Just as we were launching we saw another boat with couple of guys who were trolling slowly towards us. We took a minute to say hi and ask how they were doing. They hadn't been there long and had only one trout so far.

I looked in the water and asked if the water here was always this colour. I decided to try my new Fujifilm XP20 camera and took an underwater video. I put the camera under the water less than a foot and couldn't see it. The visibility was all of about one foot making me think we were in for a tough day of trout fishing. Of course I kept that to myself.

Soon we were seeing more and more people walking to the river side to fish trout. They were flocking there by the dozens. I guess the word gets around quickly when a fresh run of sea trout come in.

We fished for a while and came to a point where the river splits. The boat ahead of us took the right fork so we took the left.

Something I have noticed with Casey that I really like is the respect he gives others who are fishing. Every time we got close to anyone on the bank he would slow right down so that the boat wake wouldn't bother them.

As a guy who doesn't own a boat and fishes on foot, from my float tube or in Jamie's canoe I appreciate when those with boats take the time to think of others.

Fly Fishing For Trout

The weather people told us to expect 30 km winds but I still brought my fly rod hoping the wind wouldn't pick up until later in the day. I was wrong. I made a few short casts which were pretty controlled but not far from the boat. As I increase my cast I had less and less control.

I feared for Casey's safety and was sure he wasn't up for an ear piercing so I put the fly rod away for another day.

With no chance of catching a trout on the fly I then grabbed my spinning rod and put on my secret weapon for the day, a Original Dardevle Spoons (Yellow/Red Diamonds, 2/5 oz.) , don't tell anyone.

I was sure it could handle the wind and stay on track. I made a cast to the shore, not meaning to land it on the shore but I did. Then I gave it a yank as it was just on the mud and a bit of grass.

Well about 30 feet of my braided line snapped off. I've never had this happen in all the years I've used braided lines, very strange. Now my new Five of Diamonds lure was on the river bank and the water was too shallow to pull the boat up to the shore.

I decided I would go get it and took off my shoes and socks, rolled my pants up past my knees and climbed overboard into 47 degree water. The water was only a foot deep here but the mud was another foot deeper and it was more than gross. Funny as all get out and after a couple of hilarious moments I retrieved my lure.

Now that should have been on video as I'm sure it was the funniest moment of the day.

The Only Trout I Saw, All Day

I put that rod away and grabbed my second rod, tied my lure back on and made a cast to shore. Nothing, but just as I got the lure back to the boat I saw a trout following it. The water was so murky I could barely see the trout's back and it was just a couple of inches under the water. It never actually touched the lure.

It's not very often we get skunked but 'hey shit happens'. It's always great to catch lots of fish but a day out on the water with Casey is always a good day and beats going to work every time. If laughter is good for the soul we have pretty healthy souls.