I don't measure a successful day on the river by how many fish caught, but by what I learned or observed. The above quote by Thoreau sums up my ideas on fishing, particularly fly fishing. By walking the river and observing its surroundings a good day "fishing" may not produce a single fish.
Some people may not quite understand that logic. Far too often a good day is measured in bag limits, whether fishing or hunting. I don't believe that many people can say that a good day fishing produced absolutely nothing.
This time of year it seems that steelhead are lacking in big numbers and stretched throughout the river. All the better to move "commando" style; throw some line here, walk upstream into enemy steelhead territory, break through some ice crossing the bank, panic, realize water is only a foot deep, repeat.
Maybe Thoreau came up with his philosophy after a day (or a few days) spent on a river with no fish coming to hand, read: a crappy day fishing. Either way it's a great quote to justify spending a fishless day in a frozen landscape.
Last saturday I spent much of the day on the Vermilon River, which happened to be nearly frozen over. No fish came to hand, not even as much as a bump. Some would rate this as a pretty lousy day to be on the water. However, fox, squirrles, mink, deer, and geese were on the move across along the frozen waters as were made evident not by their physical presence, but by their individual signs. I truly enjoy days like that. Analyzing fresh tracks in the snow is a love of mine. I think the fly fishing is just a great excuse to get out and do some observing.
A shot of coffe in the morning to get things moving:
It may not be Washington or British Columbia, but the Vermilion is a pretty sight.
Dressed up for the weather; fly fishing commando ninja.
Get out there and don't catch anything.
