Planning a quick scout trip tomorrow for smallmouth and largemouth bass, chores are completed so I can raze havoc at the tying bench.

I’m not sure what I’ll find as it’s a new lake and a small feeder creek, can’t fish the creek as it’s closed until April, and the lake is a man made impoundment rumored to have steep banks and unknown water levels.

It’s an adventure, and I crave the exercise so I’ll be traveling light, minimal gear, no food, and boundless enthusiasm.

Scout trips are what my Dad used to call, “Fishless Fishing Trips” – where the “getting out” was the main event, and the “getting bit” was a possibility, albeit slim…

Kokanee Salmon, Eagle Lake Rainbow, Small and Largemouth Bass, Crappie, and Bluegill are all inhabitants – with 10 miles of bumpy dirt road their only protection. The locals call it a “3 beer trip” – meaning, you can drink three beers after you leave pavement – and before you see water.

I banged out a dozen Angelina spey-style streamers and I have plenty of trout stuff, so one fly box will cover me. The above picture is the “Angry Goldfish” one of my favorite scout flies for bass, it’s tied “spey” style using Angelina hackle: 5 turns of Opal, 3 turns of Watermelon, topped with Fuschia and Onyx fibers.

Ought to wake something up…

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