It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 14:20


New Topic Add Reply
Author Message
Post 02 Jul 2020, 14:02 • #1 
Guide
Joined: 04/19/17
Posts: 202
Location: Virginia
A friend turned 50 this week and we decided to celebrate his maturity milestone with a visit to a couple of Shenandoah trout streams. Normally our park streams are too low and warm to fish by the end of June. This year, however, we’ve had ample precipitation, flows are fantastic and the water is still deep and cool enough to fish without guilt over stressing the fish.

Action was slow but steady on dries, scenery and surroundings were fantastic and we’d gotten a good workout by day’s end - just shy of 8 miles up and down 2 drainages.

I fished my 64p again and my friend fished his Eagle Claw glass. Flies were para Adams, Royal Wulff and a hippy stomper for a little variety.

This was also my first chance to use a new Grayle water filter bottle. A couple of friends turned me on to them and it ended up working great. Drank purified mountain water all day without having to carry it in on my back. (No financial interest in Grayle at all and not trying not push them on anyone. Just sharing for any who may be interested.)

Image

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 14:38 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
AWESOME photographs GordonS!!!


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 16:04 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
terrific, thank you - that is one GREEN stream..

hadn't heard of the Grayl bottles, I use a Sawyer bottle they don't make anymore. It's great not needing to carry water in the mountains, just refill from the stream and go on.
Maybe will get a Grayl for backup..


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 16:12 • #4 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/22/07
Posts: 871
Location: Out West
Nice country & water & photos, thanks. Ol’ copperhead only looking a little pissy there.


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 16:15 • #5 
Master Guide
Joined: 11/11/13
Posts: 774
Location: US-CA
Gordon, your photos are stunning.


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 16:39 • #6 
New Member
Joined: 06/30/20
Posts: 13
That’s a birthday!!



Z


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 18:03 • #7 
Master Guide
Joined: 04/05/07
Posts: 373
Location: Belmont Bay, Virginia
Love it! Particularly that snake shot.

Always enjoy seeing that Barclay rod /Tiemco reel combo.

Time to tie some big beetles ...


Last edited by Yeti on 02 Jul 2020, 19:40, edited 1 time in total.

Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 19:20 • #8 
Guide
Joined: 02/05/15
Posts: 262
Location: Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Nice photos. Believe that is a Northern Water Snake. They can have a nasty disposition but the bite is a lot less worrisome.


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 20:12 • #9 
Guide
Joined: 04/19/17
Posts: 202
Location: Virginia
Thanks for the kind and positive comments.

BlackHackel is correct on the snake ID. A harmless northern water snake. No threat except the skipped heartbeat when you almost step on it. To the credit of others, this is PRIME habitat for both copperheads and timber rattlers.


Top
  
Quote
Post 02 Jul 2020, 20:31 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/26/12
Posts: 1188
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
That is a TON of good water in SNP for this time of year so late on the spring / early summer clock !

Yes, GRAYL is the "new" KATADYN (the former heavyweight champ of water purification systems ... why sales declined I have no idea ... no product on the market was even close to it's total capability and ease of use) !!

Pecos


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 07:14 • #11 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/08/06
Posts: 796
Location: RenoNV/FranklinWV
I use my Sawyer mini filters for a lot of years, $19.95 (2 oz) and they work like a charm, I can backwash the filter to clean it out too. I might consider the Grayl (15.9 oz) if I was going overseas somewhere, but goodness they're expensive and heavy.


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 09:07 • #12 
Master Guide
Joined: 06/07/12
Posts: 865
Location: US-CA
Great sharing. Sometime when I am back to traveling East again for work I am going to have to get out there...


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 09:19 • #13 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Pleasant photos - Happy Belated BD


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 11:00 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/21/06
Posts: 3080
Location: Orygun
great shots...Yeah, those Northerns certainly have a bit of an attitude.


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 11:15 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/31/15
Posts: 1238
Location: Northern Rockies
Fantastic photos! Though, that snake shot really gives me the shivers.


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 15:08 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
It's great to see such a big Brookie. I should have headed that direction today. I ended up trying the Gunpowder and the temps went up and the tubers came out. However I did get the best refusal I've had all year. The fish came up two feet in the water column gave a really quick look and headed back to the bottom.


Top
  
Quote
Post 03 Jul 2020, 15:12 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Great shots ! The snake photo is very dramatic.


Top
  
Quote
Post 04 Jul 2020, 06:33 • #18 
Guide
Joined: 07/13/17
Posts: 330
Location: US-NC
We need to get up soon G! Looks like a perfect day.
-D


Top
  
Quote
Post 06 Jul 2020, 08:32 • #19 
Master Guide
Joined: 06/10/13
Posts: 624
Location: US-MO
Awesome post and photo's. Love me some 64p!


Top
  
Quote
Post 06 Jul 2020, 09:40 • #20 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/09/05
Posts: 2524
Location: US-CO
rsagebrush wrote:
I use my Sawyer mini filters for a lot of years, $19.95 (2 oz) and they work like a charm, I can backwash the filter to clean it out too. I might consider the Grayl (15.9 oz) if I was going overseas somewhere, but goodness they're expensive and heavy.


I used to use the Sawyers, but one failed on a factory seam and would not work one day into a 4 day backpacking trip. Fortunately I had purification pills just in case, but I won't buy another one. I now have a Lifestraw squeeze bottle that works well for day trips and I bought an MSR Trailshot that is very light for longer trips.

I have found that if my water purification system requires mouth-suction to get water through the filter, that I will not drink enough because it is a PITA to drink.

In general, I try to keep a half liter of water from home in my rucksack for emergencies.


Top
  
Quote
Post 06 Jul 2020, 16:44 • #21 
Guide
Joined: 06/19/14
Posts: 126
Location: Columbia, MO
Shenandoah is beautiful; old-growth forests and clear mountain streams. Great pics, except maybe the snake. Don't like Mr. No-shoulders.

Thanks,
steve


Top
  
Quote
Post 06 Jul 2020, 20:57 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Awesome photos!


Top
  
Quote
Post 07 Jul 2020, 09:09 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/18/12
Posts: 1712
Location: Bozeman, MT
Excellent!


Top
  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  

New Topic Add Reply



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: chaoticscott, csmielke, Del Gue, El Gato, jimmymac448 and 16 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
Google
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group