Fishing Silver Creek is beginning to look like a habit, and it isn't even winter yet!

I drove up to Pinetop-Lakeside to meet my friend Mike Caparoso at his house Wednesday night, 12/7/17. His friend, and now mine, Bill Bendt had joined him and they had dinner waiting for me. It is a very rare thing when someone else plans the food on a trip, but this was one of those rare times - and it was very much appreciated by me. Thanks Bill and Mike!

We were on the creek by about 10:00am yesterday and I was immediately into a fish that took a black and blue Simi Seal Leech with silver bead head. The hits were steady, if spread out, during the day and I landed maybe a half a dozen fish, lost about the same number in LDR's (long distance release), and simply missed the strike on so many fish I lost count. Finally, I checked the fly. It was missing the hook point! I quickly replaced it and started getting more fish on, though landed very few.

Mike and Bill fished Friday, the 8th, but I opted to come home. This is not like me, but I'll say this - it was really cold up there! So cold that I simply didn't want to get chilled again.

Both Bill and Mike have expressed an interest in a custom rod. Bill's requirements are very unique. He wants a 3wt. rod that is either 10' or 11' feet long, with a moderate or even slow casting action, to be used as a nymph rod. Both Orvis and Sage make blanks that fulfill those requirements, but they are very expensive blanks. Mike has somewhat more average rod needs. He wants a 9' 5wt. with moderate to fast action. Well, this rod type is the most popular rod of all, so it should be relatively easy to find a blank in his price range.

With a repair to do on Bill Elk's rod, plus these 2 rods, January should be a pretty busy month for building rods! If you are reading this and are interested in a custom rod, please just give me a call!