Fishing & Drinking, Nothing New

Fished one of my favorite streams on Monday, and had a great day. For whatever reason the dry fly fishing has been poor this year but the nymphing has been amazing. The average size of the fish on this stream never ceases to amaze me.

Beautiful Spot Pattern

Something Tried To Grab This One

I Love This Stream

My family and I went to a pirate game Sunday, after that we stopped at Fat Heads on Carson St. I had a couple of Head Hunters, man that's a world class IPA. I would recommend any of Fat Heads beers as a matter of fact. Every one that I've had so far has been excellent. I also got a growler of their Lambic Sour, which was a first for me. I enjoyed it, but it's not a style I would go for every time. I'll try another though.....

Beauregarde's Blueberry Belgo Sour

Fat Heads

Live Your Life

Am I the only happy person on the planet? Sometimes it seems that way..... Some people spend all their time bitching and being unhappy. Well, I've got news for you people. THIS MAY BE YOUR ONLY SHOT AT THIS. Not saying it is, not saying it isn't, but if there's a chance that it is, do you really want to spend it being miserable? Well, I sure as hell don't.

Am I saying things are perfect?
NO
But I'm really too busy living and enjoying it to complain.

Now that I'm done with my ironic rant, let's get to it. What's going on in my world?

Fishing all over the place

Making good (and some bad) beer

Tasting as many beers as I can

Tying flies (some good, some bad)

Hanging with my peeps (yes, I just typed that)

Adventure..... As many and often as I can

LIVING! And I don't just mean being alive, I mean living

So, haven't been posting. Some of you don't care, some of you do, but I'll be posting a lot more in the future, I just let it get away. Sorry.

No Time

The past couple months could be the busiest of my life. Heck, I've barely had time to fish. I said barely, this means I've gotten out, just not as much as I'm used to or want to. It's ok though, because I've been doing some fun things.

My family and I went to an indoor water park in the Poconos and I fished while I was there, but... it didn't turn out so well. That's ok though because I had a good time, fishing, and with the family at the park.

I got to fish one of my favorite streams on my birthday, and although the water was low and clear I connected on a few nice fish. One was around the 18" mark, and all were taken on top. It started to rain and usually during a good rain the fishing really turns on, but I just don't think I was there long enough for that to happen. There were other obligations so I had to take off before it got good.

This week I got to do something that I've been waiting to do all my life, and I wasn't sure if it was going to happen or not... Go to a Pittsburgh Pirates playoff game!!!!! I've told my wife for years that if it happened (they make the playoffs) I wouldn't miss it, and I'd do whatever it took. Well they made it! After all those years of following one of the worst teams in baseball I was finally rewarded for my loyalty. There were years that I thought I may be the only person in the country (other than the players) wearing a Pirates hat. I was rewarded beyond what I could have ever imagined. The energy at the stadium was so amazing, it was truly unbelievable. It's something that I'll never forget as long as I live.

The Fishing:

Small Brown

This Brown Was Big Enough That I Had To Put Him In The Witness Protection Program

The Rain Came

A Nice View Even In The Rain

The Game:

The View From My Seat

The Atmosphere Was Amazing

My Friend Having A Good Time

How About Some Video's

The Way It Began from TwoFisted Heart Productions on Vimeo.

This last one is local, which is good to see.

Simms Gortex PacLite Wading Jacket

I am a firm believer that if you are going to do a gear review, you need to wait at least a year before doing one. Your opinion on a purchase can change a lot over a years time. Did it hold up over that year? Does it function the way you though it would? Are there design flaws? Would you do the purchase it again?

I bought a Simms Gortex PacLite wading jacket about a year and a half ago from a guy "used" (I put used in quotation marks because it hardly looked used when I bought it) for $100. When I bought this jacket, my thinking was that I would never buy a jacket for $300 (new price) but at 1/3 the cost it might be worth it. I know they have changed the style of the PacLite since this version. This version is more like the new G4 ($479-way too much) than PacLite (now $229).

I thought that it would be a nice jacket for when it rains, and in the fall and spring, if needed. I was completely wrong on a lot of things about this jacket!!!! I wore this jacket all year round. By layering underneath this jacket, it worked great for any condition. In the fall and spring it works well over a long sleve shirt. In the winter as many layers as you need. In the summer just over a t-shirt. It keeps out the wind, rain, and snow. What more can you ask?

Some of the good aspects of this jacket:

• Two large front waterproof pockets
• One large waterproof rear pocket that can also be used to self-stuff the jacket
• Two Simms style zingers
• Velcro sleeves
• Large hood
• Velcro fly dock

The bad:

• Sometimes the water can get in on the casting arm, but unless you have gasket sleeves that's going to happen.
• The short style of the jacket. I know this is for wading but if it wasn't so short, I would wear this even when not fishing.

 This jacket turned out to be one of the best investments that I've made. After owning this for a year, I don't know what I did without it. I even think I would pay the original price if forced to.