Changing It Up

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

-Albert Einstein

Looking at a Thingamabobber too long can drive a man insane. Don't be afraid to do things differently, you might have more fun while you do it. 

I fish the same big body of water a lot. Some like to call it The Hooch and don’t believe it to be a good demonstration of a Trout Stream. I happen to love the Chattahoochee, since I can be there in 20 minutes. Everyone that I have taken out on it can’t believe how peaceful it is, yet so close to the city. The problem is, after fishing it for a while, it can be repetitive. If I catch Fred, our term for stocker, from the same spot one more time, I might feed him to an Osprey or Hawk. This is why I have recently started changing it up and turning the same stretch of water, into something new.

With the recent popularity of Czech Nymphing, I had to try it out. With some help from a Team USA member in exchange for golf instruction, I got pretty good at it. Once you have a fly resembling anything close to the bugs in the water, and can get contact with your flies, it’s the most effective way to fish if you want to catch a ton of trout and it also works great with tricky fish in trophy waters. So after doing it for a while and catching 20-50 trout when I was going to the Hooch, it became boring looking at two colors of mono and waiting to see it stretch a little.

This is when I decided to change up the way I fished. I needed a new challenge because I couldn’t take looking at Fred (12” Stocker bows) being pulled out by a 10-foot rod from the same spot anymore. Every time I’d fish with a friend, we would talk about how boring the Chattahoochee was becoming. That’s when I knew it was time to challenge myself with something new.

The first day changing back to short rods, fly lines that actually came out of the guides, and dries was one of the most fun days I have had on the Chattahoochee since starting to fly fish. Laying out casts with distance and accuracy, along with getting the feel for mending a 14-foot leader was all new again. You get to go full Ninja on rising trout from 40+ feet away. They have no idea what you did until you set the hook.

Upstream from one of my favorite spots is dead flat water, which we never fished. All the sudden a 14’ Trout Hunter leader, on a full flex 4wt makes presentation easy. The fish had no idea I was close. Watching trout come from under rocks to eat a split wing dropper felt like it took 10 minutes. It was hard not to rush setting the hook. The feeling of hooking into a rising trout is amazing and like setting off a firework.  There’s no coincidence all state lines around Georgia have tons of Firework Stores that look like they have enough money to buy a small island. I couldn’t wait to hook my next fish.

We have also been chucking a ducking a good bit. It’s a hard way to get hook ups, but even a chase gets your heart pounding. Who doesn’t like going through a streamer box full of articulation and dreaming that the next State Record brown is near and hungry? Takes a big fish to eat a big fly, and one factor is in your hands.

From this change in tactics, I have hit tons of different water that never get touched. If you only have time to hit water next to the parking lot, this is the best way to fish. No matter what time you get to Jones Bridge, Island Ford, Bufford Dam, or Settles, somebody has already dredged a fishhook through every deep hole within eyesite of the parking lots. I bet you nobody has fished a terrestrial by the bank or ripped a streamer through downed logs yet. I can also tell you there won’t be anyone taking ownership of these spots and calling them his hole. Some people forget parks are not their personal property. These people usually only average catching 5 Fred’s a day from the most prime water on the river.

All summer we have been fishing dry dropper or streamers on the Chattahoochee. Watching a fish explode on Kelly Galloup’s Sex Dungeon is one of the best experiences a trout bum can have. I have fished with every trout rod I own from one I got 20 years ago, to the newest and lightest rods made. They are like golf clubs; you can’t have enough fly rods in your lifetime. Women have jewelry and men have fly rods and guns. She wants a new diamond, you want a new Helios 2 and Ross Reel. It levels the playing field. I can finally tell you about how the different fly rods cast since there isn’t a Thingamabobber and two heavy nymphs attached. There is only upside to doing things differently and makes you a more complete angler in the long run. You want to go on a big trip somewhere and not be able to hit a riser with a dry because all you do is drudge the bottom on your home stream? Use it, learn it and take it with you on the river.

Bow Season Prep

With bow season quickly approaching, it is never too early to start practicing/preparing for the start of the season. Every hunter knows somebody, or is the one, who has hurt his shoulder as a result of archery. That is why this is such an important time of year to start training to hunt.

First, I would weaken the pounds of your bow when you finally pull it out of the closet. Think of shooting a bow like an exercise with heavy weights at the gym. Anyone who has been to the gym and lifted weights all their life, would not take nine months off and return to lifting the same weight nine months later. It takes time to get up to pulling back 70 pounds, like you did last season. Someone with no running experience does not start with a marathon. There is no reason to ruin your season before it even begins by totaling your shoulder.

Second, take your time shooting. Do not expect to shoot 100 times the first time back. If it is only ten times, this is better then no practice or over practicing. Don't blow your shoulder the first day back. It is hard to resist not continuing to shoot, but some times you just need to walk away. 
Next, try some simple exercises during the summer to help strengthen your body. Simple rotator cuff exercises can go a long way. I found this video from Youtube that might is worth your time to watch. The trainer mentions it early, but do not attempt to do heavy weights. A light weight will go a long way. Rotator Cuffs are very fragile.

Finally, get your bow tuned ASAP. This is a great time to get anything you want done to your bow, before all archery shops get packed a week before season opens. If you want the best help, this is the time to go get it. Otherwise, the person doing the work might speed through the check up instead of being thorough. With as many things that can go wrong with a bow, this is the last thing any archer's equipment should receive.

With this said, get out there and enjoy letting your arrows fly. Check out Peach State Outfitters to get some motivation for hunts available when the season opens. Remember to always check them before you shoot. Nobody wants a broken carbon shaft impaled in their hand. With a hot summer on the way, practicing with your bow can be a fun excuse to get some sun for a while. 

Simms Headwaters Day Pack Review

I purchased the Simms Headwaters Day Pack from The Fly Shack in preparation of a fishing and camping trip to North Georgia. If you look in many of the fly fishing magazines you can find a Fly Shack add with a 10% discount code, free shipping on orders over $35 and no sales tax. Throw in $4.00 gas and you save about 20% on the purchase, unless you live across the street from your local fly shop.

First impression out of the box, it was smaller then it looks in the pictures. There is a spine, not shown in this picture, which keeps the backpack from sitting flush to your back while carrying it. At first I was disappointed with this feature, since it took space away, but after using it on a hot day, I enjoyed it.

There are a lot of different pockets and dividers that aren't mentioned on the Simms' website. The main compartment has two small pockets at the top of it, that worked well for holding my camera, wallet, phone, keys. The main compartment is divided in the middle and can hold food, extra reels, dry clothes, rain jacket, or hat and a CamelBak bladder in the other. There is a hole in the top of the backpack that is made to run a tube through in case the bites on, and you cant take time to grab a bottle from the side pocket.

In the back pocket of the day pack, it is divided into many different sections. I found these very helpful for carrying extra tippet spools, leaders, fly gink, split shot, thingamobobbers, and a very slim fly box of midges. All things necessary when taking a few novices along on the trip. Best way to get beginners into fly fishing, give them flies, leaders, tippet, and strike indicators until they are comfortable with the foreign language of fly fishing.

The only part that I don't like about the pack, is the straps that lock around your waist while hiking. I feel the pack is too small to ever carry anything heavy enough that you would need these straps. They just make it easier get part of the pack wet while wading, unless you lock them around you when you fish. That would be the third belt on counting the one around your shorts and a wading belt.

The pack has two clips on the back and shoulder straps that allow you to clip
in the Headwaters Chest Pack while hiking or fishing. I haven't bought the chest pack yet, but after enjoying the day pack so much, I see one in my near future.

Overall, I think the pack is well worth the purchase. It was effective and not uncomfortable to wear while fishing. It will help you hike into streams not over run with spinning gear, bring your lunch and snacks for the day, and keep all your gear organized. I leave mine "loaded", so when it is time to go fish, I can grab the pack and head to the water without having to search through my gear selecting the right things for that day.

Dukes Creek

Went fishing and camping at Dukes Creek with a couple friends over Easter weekend. Unfortunately for the fly fishermen, a large part of the Smithgall Woods property was occupied with turkey hunters, so fishing the larger water was out of question. Went in search of whoppers, and ended up with small natives. At least a fish on, is better than no fish at all.  The section we fished a small mountain stream with many small pools, and a lot water falls. A size 16 dirty bird, introduced to my fly box by Kevin Howell of Davidson River Outfitters, started catching fish for everyone in the group. On the way out of the camp site on Dukes Creek Sunday, I witnessed my first Mayfly of the season. It is beginning to be the best time of year to grab a fly rod and start throwing dry flies.

Southern Woods

Spent a weekend down at Southern Woods Plantation, in Sylvester, Georgia, fishing, eating, and talking with old and new friends. Their are some monster bass in the ponds scattered throughout the property. My new version of the gill buster seemed to be very effective, with my fly rod, catching many brim and bass.

During the trip I was able to stop by the new English Cocker Spaniel's pen and get a picture of the puppies that are growing up so fast. The guides have been looking after these puppies more than their own families.

Benji is working hard to get everything ready for next season. He never stops working around the property. Anyone fortunate enough to get down there and hunt next season, will get to see all of his hard work done in between quail seasons.

New Fly Rod

After some urging from the guys in the Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of  Trout Unlimited, I decided that I wanted to start building my first fly rod. To start, I thought wanted to find a cheap rod to serve as a crash test dumby for my build. After researching, I found it better served to get a nice rod to start, instead of building two mediocre rods that wouldn't be as enjoyable to cast. I needed rod that could throw big streamer patterns and handle sinking line for fishing, not always catching, trophy trout and bass. The final decision was the sage Xi3 790-4.

For around $370, with free shipping Angler's Habitat, I was able to get my first fly rod building kit. Lucky me right? It was better than the option of paying the retail $725 price and I got to take my time and add a few personal touches to it, not to mention claiming it as my own.

As you can see, the rod build has been going well. Mud hole does a very good job of putting informative videos on YouTube to help beginners. It has taken some time, but for half the price of the store bought rod, it is worth it. Can't wait to test it after finishing the new rod.

Welcome to Harrison's Outdoor Adventures

This blog is a display of every sportsman's crazy pursuit to conquer the biggest and best things that nature has to offer. It spreads from waking up at crazy hours in the morning to slip into the woods, to hiking for hours in search of untouched brook trout streams. Not to mention, the money spent to make one perfect cast, choose the correct bait imitation, attract the biggest game to the land, and execute the perfect one time shot.

Many days are spent without any reward for all of the time spent pursuing the outdoors. It is all worth it for the one moment where everything comes together as dreamed of for years. After catching the biggest fish or harvesting the largest big game animal of your life, a person becomes hooked on this quest to spend as many hours and dollars as possible to do it again, with something larger in mind.

On this blog, I will document my journey to conquer the life of being a complete sportsman. This will include posts about things relative to the outdoors that I am doing in the field, and in the comfort of my own home. I will write about different hunts, fishing trips, equipment, and projects that I am working on. My goal is to make this a very informative page that helps current sportsmen and encourages others to take part in the outdoors.