Who needs fireworks?

Starting somewhere around the first week in November I start jonesing for 4th of July weekend on the Deschutes. Every year we float the river with friends over the 4th looking for a good time and potentially an early summer steelhead. Launching at Mack’s Canyon is a short 24 mile float through the roadless section of the lower, lower Deschutes. I had the priveledge of working this lower 24 miles for the previous month running trout trips and knew every camp was overgrown and tick infested so I wasn’t upset when our standing date with friends was cancelled. So what to do? We hemmed and hawed around a bit about possible road trips far far away but settled on easy. A nice jet boat trip, just Marni and I, to relax and maybe fish and maybe not.

The Mayor with a July Hog.

I had been up the river on the 3rd with the Hood River “fish boy” Gabe Cunningham and the river had been kind. With my itch scratched, my mindset was that of a camper not a fisherman…or so I claimed to my wife. So we packed up our backpack size camp and headed up the mighty Deschutes the afternoon of the 4th, no fireworks just each other’s company and the river. Had I not scratched my itch the day before I might have been upset to see one group spread out acrosss the vast expanse of Wagonblast but I was just camping out so whatever. We made our way up the remaining rapids to the middle lower lower and found a nice shady camp sitting on a two hour fish, gotta love July.

A note from Grandma Froggy

Gabe admiring a sweet rod!

My young grandson moved to Hood River at a young age. He and I fished for trout, bass, salmon. I was able to teach him the basics of fishing.

Gabe was 6 or 7 years old when he started dropping in at the Gorge fly shop. He asked lots of questions, admired lots of flies.

Gabe asked the shop to put pictures of him and most any fish he caught in the store window. The Gorge fly shop did that for him .

Make your own Caption!

The shop even helped Gabe out from time to time with flies and equipment. For no reason other then to be nice and support a little boys interest in fishing.

The little boy is now a 15 year old young man and is a fine fisherman. He still drops by the Gorge fly shop frequently.

I drop by from time to time when I need a new rod or reel . I find quality and reasonable prices. I can't resist a few new flies while I'm at it.

Thanks, Gorge fly shop,
Grandma Froggy


Learn more about Gabe in "What's up with Gabe".

Gorge Fly Shop

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Gabes Review: Airflo Super Dri Elite Trout

I paired the Airflo Super Dri Elite, with my 5 weight Sage Launch.

Pros: This line glided through my guides like melting butter. I felt like I could cast into my backing. It has a firm but forgiving stiffness, that allowed for great fish fighting power. When casting, it laid out a very straight landing. For stripping it was very smooth feeling. It didn’t burn me when striping while setting the hook on big fish.

Cons: There really is not too much to complain about with this line. One thing that I noticed about it was when nymphing with a strike indicator, that extra drag made the tip of the line sink under the surface. This made it a little difficult to get a good hook set.

This line really seemed to be the all around performance line. I also got to fish some still water with it stripping heavy leach patterns, it performed outstandingly. I would definitely get this line if you were looking for a line that will get the job done for just about every freshwater fishery that you could think of. From short casting tiny dry flies to spring creek trout, or ripping a big streamer through deep dark hole’s for monster browns, this line will make your eyes grow!

Gabe

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

What's up with Gabe

What's up with Gabe: 2013 Catch Up

So what’s Gabe been up to you ask?

Well Gabe is getting a little older now and suddenly girls may have topped the list of most important species to pursue so he GAVE UP FISHING! Hold on! While there may be some truth to the girl part rest assured that fishing is not going to take a back seat to any other interest. Girls if you want to hook this young man you may want to start with taking up the sport of fishing. Yep, Gabe is still hard on the quest to catch fish with every available minute possible.