It’s a rare day that I can take off in the middle of the week for a fishing trip. This past week Steve, a Fly Fishing bud invited me to hit the stream mid week. Given the amount of grief I have dished out to him over the past several months when he bails because of his busy schedule I figured it would be hypocritical of me to turn him down, at least that’s how I rationalized the trip it in my own mind. So mid week we were on our way to the beautiful Oak Creek.
With Fall colors setting in along with the crispness in the air it was a great day to be on the creek. We could see from the road that the water was running well, I found my self anticipating the first cast. The day started out a little slow. One brown, who was hiding under one of the many large Oak Creek boulders hooked up right off the bat, and just as fast he spit the fly. Despite the early hookup things were slow for the first few hours. As the afternoon set in we both started to hook up more and more. By the end of the day we both had landed several beautiful fish and had a great time away from the office. I wish that was the end of the story, sadly, it’s not. An hour or two before dark I decided to tie on a new fly, I unzipped my bag, and one of my biggest fears played out. My main fly box with 500+ flies, mostly tied by myself, was gone. I’m not sure where over the previous two miles it was lost, but it was clear my box had fallen out of my bag when I failed to re-zip it properly. It’s one of those lessons learned the hard way. After Steve and I spent the last couple hours searching, we relinquished the search and considered it a sacrifice to the river gods.
Lessons Learned-
Put your contact information in all your fly box’s.
Consider fishing with smaller fly box’s (don’t put all your egg’s in one basket).
And most importantly always make sure your bag is zipped up.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Nate, glad you were able to make it out to Oak Creek, those Browns can be tough at times, but they are worth it when brought to hand–I think the Browns in that stream are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen, especially in their dark fall colors, as your photograph illustrates well (I’ve landed some beauties myself there as of late). Sorry about your lost fly box; I’ve had that happen before too, and it is no fun. I’ll keep my eye out for a fully-stocked box when I’m wandering along the stream, and let you know if anything turns up!
Iain
Nate,
I here in Sedona and fish oak creek couple of times a week drop an email with the area you lost the box and I will be on the lookout.
Frank
Nate,
Received your email, weather permitting I’ll be up in that area on Monday will keep you informed.
Frank
Hi,
I am going to Oak Creek tomorrow (planned it about 15 minutes ago sorry for the short notice…finally can get out of work!!). Any suggestions? I was thinking of being up stream from slide rock. Planning on throwing wolly buggers and bead headed nymphs.
Thanks,
Derek
Hey Derek, Good luck tomorrow. Anywhere North of Slide Rock is good. There
are also some great areas south of it. I think you can hit just about
anywhere in the canyon and do well. I really like the catch and release
section as well. Being that it is so cold I would keep you flies small (size
18-20). I don’t fish streamers very often but I think a bugger might be a
bit big for this time of year. I usually fish a size 16 nymph with a 18 or
20 trailer. I did see some small black winter stone flies while I was up
there. Make sure you are stealthy the creek is crystal clear. Good luck and
let me know how you do.