Southwest Florida Fishing Report 08-14-12

This report is sent to you by Tight Loops Flyfishing

Kate took one look at me this morning and wailed.

“Waaaaahhhhh!” she yelped. “I want summer baaaack!”

I just grinned, reached into one of the pockets on my lightweight red hunting coat to make sure I had a fistful of training incentives, and told her “Don’t worry about it, Red. This only LOOKS like the start of bird season. It’ll be hot again by Monday.”

Which is true. The 54-degree overcast after a night of drizzle and wind already has given way to air temp in the mid-60s. The weather-guessers say it’ll be a solid ten degrees warmer every day next week, and the hoppers will keep on flitting around.

Just like they were on Wednesday, when we ambled in and around the Manistee River near Ghost’s old ghost town of Deward. There were precious few mayflies or caddis dancing over the water, but the place was literally crawling with pale green hoppers.

I’ve been bothered with a pinched nerve that’s kept my shoulder stiff and sore, so I just hiked through the woods with Kate and looked for signs of grouse. She had planned on spending most of her day off puttering with plants, flowers and herbs, but decided an hour of casting over moving water would be good for her soul.

She raised a half-dozen (a couple of them were pretty respectable brookies, too!) and stuck a few that shook the barbless hook, then decided she had sufficiently scratched her itch, and we retired to the Jeep for cold beverages and warm chocolate chip cookies. Everybody was happy.

I spent the past two days doing interviews for the new book I’ve started researching. It’s a detailed look at Michigan’s woods, waters and Great Lakes, and the politics and greed that have kept us on the brink of disaster for a hundred years.

Fortunately, a lot of good people who worked very hard in the DNR to prevent catastrophe have been very willing to talk with me. It outta be interesting. Lots of really good quotes and candid insight to what went on “inside.” I’ve title it Danger In Paradise.

Speaking of books, Ghost! Field Journal of a Bird Dog continues to sell steadily. I’m doing another signing in Traverse City at Horizon Books noon-2pm Sept. 8, so stop by if you’re in the area.

Later that day I’ll be hanging out at Fieldsport’s new location on Hammond Road, then I’ll be at the Ruffed Grouse Society dinner that night. I’ve donated a guided grouse hunting trip and a couple of books, and there will be a TON of other really cool stuff (including things for women and non-hunters) in the raffles and auction.

The RGS banquet, to me, symbolizes the kickoff to bird season. Which is precisely why I spent time running through the woods this morning with Heart and Tug. The Sept. 15 Grouse Opener will be here in a blink, and we all need to firm up a few muscles before the serious business begins. Fortunately, the puppy is becoming very intense, yet still listens when I call.

Of course, Kate reminded me that Tug is a “young” two, and probably won’t inflict me with the notorious “Terrible Twos” until NEXT season. WOW, what a great thing for me to look forward to experiencing. Again. But, every dog goes through it, so all you can do is grin and bear it.

We had a fine time this morning, and will do it all over again tomorrow. Tug, especially, really wanted to snoop around in the thick stuff along the river. I can only IMAGINE how much scent must have been hanging in the air. Monday, we’ll finally add some quail to the equation and let Heart and Tug get a real snootful.

I had several calls and emails last week for grouse bookings, so give me a call soon if it looks like you can break loose come October. And don’t forget that hoppers will be driving large brown trout and beautiful brookies absolutely insane for the better part of this next month before I put away the four-weight and pick up the 20-bore! (Of course, we DO have the opportunity for Cast & Blast days all through October—and the Chinook salmon will be wallowing around in a little creek just 30 minutes away!)

Tight Loops, Capt. Tony