This year has been a pretty busy year so far. I really needed a few days to relax, straighten out a few ideas and empty the head. I didn't get a chance to cast a line out all year, until the end of August. It's probably the last time this year too, but it turned out to be some fabulous three days of fishing.
The area was hit pretty severely earlier this summer, yet all seemed to have recovered pretty well. The weather during the three days was wonderful. A few days before my trip there was some light rain giving the river that slight amount needed to get in shape. By the time I arrived the water cleared up. The level was a bit lower than I expected but it was perfectly fishable. The day I traveled back home was extremely wet. So, talk about being lucky!
I always wear a vest when fishing, this trip I exchanged it for a hip pack. I wanted to see if a hip pack is a serious alternative to my trusty mesh vest. Organizing a hip pack is more work than I thought.Here's a verdict after three days using a hip pack. What I liked: keeping my boxes and accessories organized in one place. What I needed to get used to: keeping the belt snuggly to prevent the pack from wobbling but this also meant that turning the hip pack from back (when fishing) to front (when changing tippet, etc.) was a lot more difficult than expected. What I hate: the bag hanging around my waist means that it can get wet (although the inside stayed perfectly dry) when I kneel down to approach the fish quietly.
A hip pack keeps all the weight around an area you hardly feel the weight, but I think I'll still go back to my trusty mesh vest. The hip pack will be kept in 'pole position' when I decide to give it a try again, but within hours I missed the ease of use when wearing my vest.
I also finally got the chance to try out my new 'old' rod. This rod performed way above expectations. The rod feels so light in the hand and it casts so smooth, yet with authority, I was utterly amazed. In fact I liked it so much, the other rods I also brought to give them some flight time stayed in the tubes.I wonder why rod companies keep pumping out ultra stiff rods while fishing a smooth moderate-fast rod is such a more pleasant fishing experience. Rod that loads well from 10 to 40 feet yet with reserve power to get past 60 feet when needed.
I tried to shoot some more footages (alone!) but the great fishing resulted in ending up with only a few useable video clips. To watch the video in HD, click here.
