In The Club ... A Spinney Adventure

            Hello all and thanks for checking in for this special Wednesday Edition of the O’Grady Fly Fishing Adventures. As our readers know, I try to add a little “O’Gradyesque” insight to every blog I write, but after last week’s “Fifty Shades of Flyfishing” blog , I knew I had to clean this one up a little bit.  What a shame because what a lot of fun I could have writing about the “first time ever” experience I had today. Having been in the flyfishing business for as long as I have there has always been something I hear people brag about and I am forced to nod along with like I have also experienced this bliss, and in case your mind was going to something non fishing related I’ll clear things up and tell you right away that this bliss I had been missing out on was having a fish run me to my backing.

I saw a picture on a website last week where a guy was holding a nice healthy 15inch fish, but then ruined it for me by stating that the fish took him to the backing. Often in the shop, I get handed phones with beautiful fish filling the small screens and then my heart drops when the whole backing thing comes out. It’s always the same for me, I start with jealousy and then I start justifying that people ought to fight the fish a little quicker, yep that makes me feel better. Well people, I am thankful to say that today I have officially entered the “to my backing club”. Way better than the mile high club, at least for the day it was.

            Today Cat and I made our way up to Spinney and met up with Cody and his cousin Scott. We got our boats in the water about 8:00 and Cat began hooking fish right away. I was hopeful that this would be the day that Cat would get en fuego, but things for her slowed quickly. We fished many different depths and when we finally went to super shallow water we began to move fish. After switching to a dry-dropper it wasn’t long before my hopper disappeared, I lifted my rod and the reel began to scream. I couldn’t believe the beauty of the sound (thank you Sage!) As the reel began to slow, the bow leapt out of the water a long ways away. I figured he would pop loose at that distance, but he stayed buttoned. Glancing down I saw the breath taking view of backing running through my eyelets. After the fish slowed, I began to reel and the fish made another fifteen yard run. It was a great battle which ended with me landing the gorgeous 22inch bow.

All in all it was not a spectacular day of fishing, but now that I’m in the club my day was perfect. Between the four of us, I think we got a total of a dozen to the net, but the company was outstanding. We stopped for dinner in Guffey on the way home and I think the backing thing was brought up once or twice, but about the time I started letting the pride take over Cody started talking about the salt. Oh well, it was awesome for a while and not something I’ll ever forget.

We got some great bug pictures today, but got less fish pics due to the fact that some of the fish tired quickly, so to give you something fun to see we put together a little video. As always Connell, Cat, Winston, (Cody & Scott), and The Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for reading….

Spinney...Feel the Love....

 As I looked up, the scene had never been any more perfect. The outside cool temps and the passion filling the car had sweat dripping down the windows. After taking a quick sip of water I looked up and realized that Cat in her Buff, had never looked any more beautiful. I leaned over to see if she was ready and at that moment she gasped and arched her back, a droplet of water had fallen off the window and slowly ran down her back. The passion could have been cut with a knife and after what seemed like an eternity, and no verbal communication, our hearts said it was time. Cat slowly reached over and put her hand on the zipper. A huge lump formed in my throat as I heard every click as she began to open the package. The sound quickened to a buzz and then the zipper was opened. Cat closed her eyes and slowly reached in, she could not believe how it felt in her hand. As she eased it out, she got a huge smile on her face and said “are you ready”, I could hardly contain myself and I said “yeah, lets fish”. Cat then pulled out her brand spanking new Sage Accel.(9.6 foot 6 wt.)

What’s up all, Do we in the O'Grady household love our fishing a little too much? Not a chance! I wanted to start by saying oh what a difference a week and a half can make. Last trip up, Cat and I felt like we were the Royalty to Spinney and this trip we came home at the end of the royal procession. But one thing I can truly say, even a slow day on the lake with Cat is better than…well most things. The weather was absolutely perfect today with the only serious wind being while we were eating. Fish just seemed to be really spread out today; it seemed every time we felt like we were getting dialed in the fish would go somewhere else. We only managed to get a total of 6 fish to the net today but for me it was exactly what was needed, a day away from work. As always Connell, Cat, Winston, and The Drift Fly Shop want to thank you for reading….