On the Lee of Mount JIri-san

This past weekend we loaded up the whole family for our first ever trip down to Jeolla-do to the sides of Jiri-san mountain. On several recommendations we ate, slept, and fished in Hadong county, probably one of the more beautiful places I have been to in Korea. Once we arrived the trip was wonderful, we stayed in a traditional Hanok style guest house, ate fresh water crab chigae, and my wife let me explore up a cascading mountain stream coming off the side of the mountain. The travel to and from, however, will forever lock the location away as an experience probably never seen again. I touched the spirit of the mountain, felt her breeze, ate with her people, and communed with her sprites. Thank you Jiri-san and thank you James for sharing.....

Furry legs and all.

Sleep tight, I promise not to crawl into your ear

On the stream of the cave worshipping Adjumas

Little cherries and mayflies

Find THIS pool.

My caddis pupa

Few days ago, I and a friend go to creek fishing in a spot about 1.5-hour drive from Taipei. We did some aquatic insect searching in the creek, and we saw some big and pretty caddis pupa. After we came home, I keep thinking the caddis pupa, about how should I imitate it, and how should I manipulate it.

So I tied this caddis pupa tonight, and it spend me about 30 mins to tie single one. Hope it work well on my next trip.

teasers from Mongolia....

My friend S.H. Yoo (flycaster2000) sent me a few teaser shots from fall trips in Mongolia. He also sent me a detailed month by month trip details and what one can expect during the months between May - Oct. S.H was recently in Korea for a few weeks and has just returned back to China & Mongolia, where he works and lives.

Chicago Troutbum

A great site for latest on Midwestern waters. Elegantly written, beautiful photos, and interesting point of views. They are pros. Check out more at:

http://chicagotroutbum.blogspot.com/

belly boating lake delavan...

I took the float tube out on Lake Delavan, Wisconsin. The winds were blowing hard, water was murky, and that means I was paddling pretty hard too. My legs are mush right now but I feel like if I keep this up, I'll have incredible hulk legs. The people on the bass boats were staring at me like they've never seen a belly boat. The only thing that saved me from feeling super embarrassed was the fact that I was catching more fish than anyone out there...at least in the near vicinity. I have to admit, it did feel a little ridiculous when a bass boat passes you by and waves the hand, and I wave back from my belly boat. I hooked into a bunch of gills and crappies, and even hooked into a couple of medium sized northerns. I forgot to bring my steel leader so although I managed to bring it close, when it shook it's head - I knew his razor sharp teeth would slice through the line. When the first pike came up I said politely "please don't turn your head"... but it did. I got a good look at it and I also realized that I still don't know how to handle a pike without a net. When the second one came up I asked not so politely, "f*cker don't you dare turn your head"...but it did again. It was the first time on Lake Delavan on the belly boat, but I can tell it won't be the last. I'll just make sure I'll go on a less windy day.

top 20 crappy things

the top 20 things that can make you say "oh crap" while fly fishing... (please add to list)

(list not ranked)

1. the fly stuck in the branch above the prize trout...and the impending inevitable spook of that trout.
2. being out in the stream and forgetting your line clipper.
3. leaky wader.
4. fishing in mosquito infested place and they like you.
5. having line tied up on 7X tippet...you can't untie this for sure...three times in one day.
6. losing your indicator ball and watching it flow smoothly down the river. psychologically disturbing.
7. ice on the guides that form every 2 casts.
8. took your new eco-friendly studded vibram sole boots and face-planted right infront of your friends after bragging how sticky the freaking thing is... (CharlesTheFishFinder)
9. On the way back home from group (More than four people) fishing trip and freeway driving for almost an hour, you find out that you left your cell phone on top of restaurant table.(ksanchun)
10. losing your indicator ball and watching it flow smoothly down the river, and helplessly witnessing a fish attacking the ball...(soboro)
11. fly stuck on the back of your shirt (center position where you can't reach) while fishing on middle of lake on float tube.
12.
13.
...

20. taking your buddy to your "mind blowing" secret creek and swearing him to secrecy, then not being able to raise even one fish. (mrlee)

name of this fish?

Caddis, Hank-

Do you know what the scientific name of "top mouth"? A reader was asking on the post (http://fourseasonsangling.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-miss-pingling.html ) but I don't know the actual name other than top mouth. Thanks.

admittance to greed

I found some ferocious looking treble hooks hidden away at the corner of my bass fly box ... secretly tucked away behind the fluffy marabou buggers. My thought at the times was that I would attached these onto one of the pike stinger flies. I had forgotten about these hooks for a while, and when I discovered them again today - I felt a slight flush of shame from my greed. I stared at them for a little while and closed the box back up, leaving them where they were. Maybe I'll catch a mean big fish on it, maybe I won't... it doesn't matter, it will sit there and remind me of things. Maybe one day, I'll throw them out...maybe.

* the image is just reference image, actual is similarly mean looking.

now all I need is pipe & a hunting dog...

The proper boat...

I ran across some images of a good looking boat and found it it's called the Texas Creek Boat. I followed it's trail to the article on Garden & Gun. It's built by John Townes “J.T.” Van Zandt.

Read more about it on: http://gardenandgun.com/article/texas-creek-boat

Now that's what I call a proper boat.

almost perfect

Over Easter weekend, I had a chance to fish the Catskills, New York area with my friend Fishfinder. There's been heavy rain the past few days and we knew there was a good chance that the rivers would be blown out. The weather was still chilly and we could see the last bits of ice on the shaded areas of the banks. The water was running angry in many of the rivers we wanted to fish, so Fishfinder took us to a few of his favorite spots in the upper reaches where the water would be more tame. Upstate New York is scenic in every way possible, and the rivers have the characteristics that make it an instant favorite for me. We did not catch much fish, but the joy of being out in this beautiful place made up for most of that. We wandered from river to river, checking out spots where we would return in better conditions. We had enough beers at night to get stupid, but sometimes that's exactly what we need to get mind off the work and other things in life that can weigh one's spirit down. Being in the right company when fishing is good is nice, but being in the right company when you're not catching fish is downright critical. Thanks for the trip Fishfinder, see you again real soon.

Since we wern't busy catching fish, we have a bunch of photos.

낚시가서 고기가 않잡힐때, 그 상황을 괜찮게 해주는것은 좋은 친구다. 정말 재미 있었다 현철아, 곧 또 만나자. 그리고 그때는 다 잡아 버리자.