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.

Some Days Are Just Good

I met up with a friend the other day to fish Spring Creek. The plan was to hit the Trico's, but when we got over there it was sprinkling on and off, so we figured it probably wouldn't happen. I had a feeling it would be a good day fishing due to the overcast skies and the slight milky color Spring gets when a little bit of water is add to it.

We started the day nymphing, and it took about twenty minutes to figure out which flies to use but once I did the fish were on. The fly combo of the day was a tan San Juan Worm and a Green Weenie. Now, I know a lot of you guy cringe at fishing these types of flies, but they produce results, and results are what I got. It wasn't long before I had picked up a few fish, but nothing over 13"-14".

Then, I started to notice Trico's hanging out over the water. I kept a close eye on them, because if I can I would rather fish a dry fly any day. Soon I began to notice risers. They would turn on and then turn off, so I threw on a Trico spinner. I missed one right away, and the excitement began to percolate, but something just wasn't right.... I was laying out some perfectly drag free drifts with no takes. You know what I mean, the ones where you know if a fish is there it's going to take, you've just seen it so many times you can tell when it's the right drift. Well, it wasn't happening, I tried every Trico pattern I had with the same results, so I figured they must be taking something else that I just couldn't see. Maybe it was a BWO, maybe it was a midge. I never did find out.

After about an hour of frustration, I decided to put the nymphs back on. First cast... fish, within another two minutes... fish. I took the hint and left the nymphs on. We fished for a little while and it began to rain and my friend decided that he was going to take off. I figured I was catching fish and had a rain jacket, and a few hours before I needed to go anywhere, so I stayed. It wasn't long before it began to pour. I thought the fishing was pretty good before this, but it was on fire after. For the next two hours it was; cast, lift, release. Before I knew it, I know that I had brought about 40 fish to hand, and all before 1:00. It turned out to be a great day. One that I won't soon forget.

Vacation

The View As We Ate One Night

My family and I went on vacation this week. All I can say is wow, what a great time!!

We stopped in Baltimore and went to a game at Camden Yards. What a nice ballpark, next to PNC so far it's the nicest I've been to.

Then it was on to Ocean City with the family and great friends. I had a great time, but it's the beach how couldn't I?

I have more pictures but sharing from the I-pad is really tough so this is the one you get.