Running With The Buffalo Midge

Or should I say "Running Away With The Buffalo Midge"!???  Because that is what the Brownies did.  Today on the Provo River, we had a prolific Buffalo Midge hatch.  I had them all over me...I was "bugged out", I guess you could say.  And I was on the time clock.  I don't usually try to squeeze in a fishing trip, unless I have ample time...which means 4-6 hours.  Today, I had exactly two hours on the water before I would have to head back.  But, I heard that things were hatching up there, so I had to break out the new 10 foot fly rod.  It needed more excercise. = )

I was greeted by 6-8 inches of new snow in the past few days.  Which isn't much, unless you have to make new tracks instead of walking over a beaten path! Ha.  Of course, I take the higher road less traveled.  So, now I only have 1.5 hours to fish.  Being on the clock just isn't as much fun.  The Buffalo Midges came out about a half hour after I got there.  The water was quiet with no rising fish.  I walked past two deep pools with three fly fisherman in each of them.  This always makes me laugh.  Why they hang out in the same spot, every time they go.  Ok...so, I'm not a dry fly expert.  And maybe it is fun to wait and wait for that fish to come up and grab the fly.  Maybe, someday, I will find out.  But, I was on a quest for nymphing and putting down some midges and stoneflies.  I had heard that stones had really kicked it this week.  Nothing bit though on those... Oh...check out my newly patched Patagucchi's!  Nice geometric design, don't you think?  = )

I was on my last hour and it was crunch time.  Buffalo Midges came out on the water...and all in a blink of an eye, fish were rising in front of me on the end of a gentle run.   Time to change the flies.  A Buffalo midge and a Zebra midge.  Bam! Fish on..."Incoming"!  Outgoing... What the heck happened there?  He was 2-3 ft in front of me and broke off! Ahhh... Again...  Bam!  Fish on..."Incoming"!  Oh, this was a nicer Brown trout...I wanted this one.  As I reeled him closer to the rocks in front of me, I felt the snap of the line.  No way!  Outgoing...  Ok.  Fifteen minutes left before I would have to pack it up and take the long walk back to the parking lot.  Bam!  Fish On..."Incoming"!  The third brown to wave his fins at me...reeling, pulling in line...there he was!  Getting the net ready...Snap!  Outgoing... Ahhh... What was the problem today?  a) not enough time and rushed things and brought them in too fast  b) not a quick enough set and they wiggled their way off at the end  (although, they ran off with the midge each time)  c) poor knot tying of my flies   Yeah...that's probably it.  Well, I said goodbye to the sipping Brown trout.  Oh, those twenty or so of Provo's finest, had another hour to play.  But, they would have to play with the real Buffalo midges now.

 

It was time for me to head home and hand over the keys to the car to a very excited 16 year old going to his Junior Prom!  He was worried that I wouldn't get back in time...he knows about my lengthy excursions!  But, I got back 15 min. before I told him that I would.  Way to go, Mom.  So, all was good.  Now, about those break offs...I won't say they were good.  There's only one thing worse than a skunking.  And that is losing three fish that are brought in and look you in the face and say I'm "Running With The Buffalo Midge"!  And so they did.

Ahhhh...fly fishing.  Gotta love it.