Once in a while (and I have said this before many times) a guy just needs to get out on the water, enjoy the world around him and catch a few nice fish … and this is just what my friend Duane and I did this week, fly fishing, here on the St Croix River. Like most people life is busy, sometimes very busy … and to have a river of this quality in my backyard is truly a blessing!

The water was cool and dark … our tannic water really looks black on a hot summer day which brings to memory the Doobie Brothers song about ‘old black water’! The real eye candy comes with the blue skies and gorgeous lotus blossoms that provide an incredible juxtaposition to the dark water.
While the day started out slow, it turned around about two miles downstream when I hit a pocket of pike and some big, healthy smallmouth that were eager to take a big pucker lipped popper! All in all it was one of the more memorable days and to be able to spend it with a good friend makes it even better.
The photos below are of two recent friends, Mark and Ken, who traveled up this past weekend (Friday and Saturday) to get some help with their fly fishing and to learn how to fly fish from a float tube. Both gents were a pleasure to be around and to work with and Ken truly showed some perseverance as he both learned how to fly fish and use a float boat all at the same time …. no easy feat!

If you are interested in a one day or two day outing with me here locally on one of our many lakes to spruce up your fly casting, learn how to fly cast or as the guys did … to learn to fly fish from a float tube, give me a shout out at flyfishingwithjeff@gmail.com and we can set up a time and get you out enjoying the world of fly fishing and float tubing.

As always, you can leave a comment below or reach me at my email address listed above and I will do my best to get back to you with my best answer.
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