August On Sugar Creek

I called Frank Terkhorn on Saturday night…our conversation was quick and frankly to understand it you would almost need to speak our code, our fly fishing code that is. “It’s still running under 100 and the rain they were supposed to get last night, it fell west of our entry. I think we should be good as long as we can get started and off the creek by 2 or maybe 2:30”, I said to Frank.

The next morning, like clockwork, Frank pulled down into my property a few minutes ahead of 8am, within ten minutes we had packed my Creek Company Voyager, a couple rods, some flies and a few Gatorades and were off. 75 minutes later we eased into the Sugar Creek Access Area where we got quite a surprise as the parking lot was full and there in the middle of all the cars were a few fellows selling flies. What we found out was that there was a group of veterans who were paired up with other fly-guys and were scattered out just up and down from the access fly fishing…they were all a part of the Wounded-Warriors program.

I made my way downstream a half mile or so, stripped out about 40 feet of line off of my 6-weight rod, tied on a new fly I had tied the night before and started my day with a bang as just a minute or so in I made a cast into the shallows and saw a wake coming my way…a healthy 12 inch fish nabbed my fly with enough gusto to make me think he was much larger and my day on Sugar Creek was officially off and running.

You have to understand Sugar Creek to actually get it, but my time on this waterway is precious to me and frankly I drink in each and every moment; each time I leave the creek I do so with a bit of melancholy as I simply can’t wait to get back. It is indeed a special place, special not only because it is such a great fishery but special because of the beauty of both flora and fauna that exist in abundance…and right here in our backyard!
This was an odd day on the creek as the water was once again down, below 100 CFS (cubic feet per second) which was nothing short of amazing for the simple fact that we drove north through several counties that were or had been in a flood watch the prior few days and all of the other creeks along our path were up, flowing hard and not very fishable. It was also a day that was overcast with periods of rain; anywhere from light rain to a few showers that ‘dampened’ everything but my spirits. Most odd for me was that this was Saturday and I only had a few of the usual spectators; canoers, kayakers and tubers…that usually dot the horizon. All in all it was one of the most pleasant days I have ever experienced on Sugar Creek.

The fly fishing was also very good as on the day (5 hour float) I landed about 40 smallmouth of which only one was over 15 inches but there were so many nice, chunky 12-13 inch fish that it hardly seemed fair to do anything but grin from ear to ear. The change in the weather along with having the right fly and the water being fairly low just set the entire day up for constant action and no matter how big they are…a smallmouth will seal the deal with a fight that I personally feel is second to none.

One spot in particular that always seems to produce certainly didn’t let me down…before I even slipped into position I could see several minnows exploding up and out of the water trying desperately to escape whatever was in hot pursuit. I knew that this had to be a smallie and positioned myself at just above the riffle; I placed my fly across stream where it would fall and tumble down through a set of boulders. Just as I went to make an upstream mend I felt a tug and lifted my rod…on the other end was a ‘yumper’. This little fellow of about 12 inches flew up and out of the stream several times before I could settle him down and bring him to hand. As far-fetched as it might sound-it wouldn’t have been any different than watching a big tarpon jump over and over out on the ocean and it made for some very good video.

I have said this before…I hope that it won’t sound frivolous to mention it again…but I love to fly fish more than anyone, period. I love everything about it from the hard work and troubles to the exultation of landing a trophy…but what I love the most is sharing it with a good friend. Someone who understands and cares about the sport as much as anyone I know…and Frank is just such a guy; actually make that just such a great guy. Each time we fish it is a treat and one that I simply don’t take for granted-as I truly know how much each of us loves to fish and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.