What the F*ck is a Half back!?

First things first. I have to give a huge shout out to my MTFTM crew, we're a little spread out this weekend but I know that the spirit of last falls adventure lives strong...

This song is for you....

Happy Friday!!

How the heck is everyone!?

I hope you are as stoked about things as I am. For some reason I feel as if I could burst at the seams and shellack the world with my loving insides! I have been pouring over my old fishing journals lately and a couple of things occurred to me, firstly I am hopelessly in love with natural world and secondly it has become incredibly important for me to reflect on past experiences. Its seems that reflection of past experiences allows me to appreciate the "moment"a little more and this makes me happy. Don't worry I'm not going to touchy feely you to death, so lets get on with the business then...

I was organizing my lake fly-box last night and I started reminiscing about a day of fishing I had with some buddies. The day sticks in my head not because of fantastic fishing but rather stands out because I learned something new and now I'm going to reflect on it.

My friends and I were working in a back bay of the lake we were on. We were catching trout but not with any regularity, it was especially frustrating as you could see large fish everywhere actively feeding.

Then quietly, another boat moved into the bay. The occupants of the other boat were fossils and they reeked of a lifetime of experience. They parked on the shoal of the bay and began working wet lines from the deep into the shallows. They used continuous short strips and immediately started hooking up! The two old codgers proceeded absolutely light us up! They had at least ten fish to our one!

WTF!!!

Having slaked their thirst for huge trout the old boys exited the bay, and as I watched them slip away I asked my buddy if he knew what fly they were using. He replied, "Half Backs dude". I looked down my nose at him and said, "What the f*ck is a Half Back?"

 I had never heard or of a Half Back and was honestly a little embarrassed, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the fact that the Half Back pattern and its variations has been around longer than I have been alive. It can be fished in lakes and river in various different sizes and colors and when tied on to your line at the right time it is deadly. It just so happens that right about now is the time that I will start using Half Backs as a searching pattern in lakes.

I like to hit my HB's with a generous dab of UV epoxy to help prevent them from coming to pieces after catching a few fish.

LONG WEEKEND FISHING REPORT!!!!

Almost all of our local lakes will be fishing well this weekend, reports of strong hatches and willing fish are coming in from all over the area. That said some lakes may still be turning, as of Tuesday Lazy Lake was a mess as it had just flipped. I would expect though that the majority of lakes in the area will be fishing well.

The deeper hatches seem to have tapered off and the fish have moved into the 20ft and up range in search of prey. Exploring lakes with your eyes peeled will pay dividends this weekend as you will be able to see fish hunting. Look for Swallows buzzing the surface of the lake as this is a tell tale sign of bug activity. Taking advantage of the "morning"and "evening" bite, these times will be productive as fish move up onto the marl to feed.  

Expect to see a wide variety of different bugs out there so make sure that your box is stocked!!

Don't let any inclement weather scare you away from the lakes.... Good things happen in the rain...

Have Fun This Weekend and Be Safe Out There!!!

Peace and Love,

Spence