All posts by Zach Boynton

Uncategorized

Fighting the losing battle

Never before has a man had to beg to the gods of cold to bring on the ice. But on the day of January 7, 2012 this angler got down on one knee outside, in shorts and a tee-shirt in sixty degree New Jersey weather and made that first attempt at asking what I did wrong to receive the punishment of NO ICE this late in the season!!

Nevertheless, fishing treks on.

January 2012 has started off unseasonably odd but the fish are the same ‘ol fun as 2011. Making way through the rough of the Jersey woods, I gander over at a little river I’ve been eying for years. Brush and prickers always steered me away from this little pearl. I should have taken the saying that goes something like,  ‘anything worth fighting for is worth having’ into consideration.

Drop canoe and load my gear in tow. I take off down the river, fly rod in hand. Armed with a frog pattern I purchased from Crossroads in Chestertown, NY, I cast out towards the shore line. First cast must have been right on the money. In comes a 21 inch brown trout. Second cast out. 23 inch brown trout. Third cast? You better believe it. Such a gem I found out here in the woods of Jersey. 29 brown trout later (and 1 pickerel of course!), my grin can be seen from ear to ear for miles one end. The warm weather must have the trout thinking it’s Spring and they haven’t eaten much since Fall.

I don’t mean to toot my own horn about my fishing skills but in January here in Jersey I think I deserve a quick ‘Toot Toot.’

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Hidden Treasures

Ever hear the talk of those legendary ponds, mythical rivers or the best of the best fishing spots. We have all heard of these amazing fishing places, these monster fish holes those epic “spots”. Have we ever checked them out to determine the validity of these stories with high anticipation of that record setting fish? Of course we have! Did we catch that 15 pound bass? Well.. I’m pretty sure you can answer that yourself.

Determined to find the hidden treasure I had heard so much about, I escaped from the real world just for a few hours to venture off towards one of these hermetical, only once before seen, wonders of Sparta, New Jersey.

While I was gearing up, I could have sworn I heard the woods and ridges laughing at me, mocking me. All I could think about was how up over that ridge lies my dream pond. No, it was a lake. Hell no, it was an ocean from the stories I had heard lined with trout and bass as far as the eye could see. So I set off up over the hills.

IT DOES EXIST!! Sweat from excitement was soaking my brow as tied on my Swimming Frog (Size 2). Not going for just any fish, I was going to become the new legend of Northern New Jersey. A few casts brought a few hits from some pretty big lake monsters. Now mind you, this “lake,” is said very lightly. About 100 feet across and 200 feet long at about 8 feet at the deepest depth. Just trying to start my own legendary status!

There it was, my trophy fish. This fish gave one hell of a fight, probably from fending off the other record setters around ‘his’ lunch. I’m yelling for everyone to come see, but I forgot I was alone deep in the woods. I pull the fish out of the water, a pickrel. I was definitely a new legend to these parts, just don’t let the word get out about my record setter.

Legendary Status
Adirondacks

The Lonely Boquet River

The last week of the Landlock Salmon run out of Lake Champlain seemed the perfect time to take a weekend trip to the Boquet River. I took a little inside knowledge and a few hints from friends on the secret spots that only the locals know about. Psyched and ready, I take off Thursday night and trek the 5 hour drive to the Boquet River. I woke up to a picturesque little village nestled in the wooded hills of upstate New York. One deep breath of fresh air at 5 in the morning and my adrenaline begins to rush. I felt a sense of home as I entered the local bait shop to get a few tips of the water. The civic legend ‘Buck’ lent me a few tips on flies and spots while boasting his monster catches and his local luck on the Boquet. I listened carefully to his directions, thanked him and was off.

Buck's Legendary Spot

There I was, hiking 3 miles down river and to my surprise finding the exact spot, that I could recall, Buck had mentioned. I crack open a beer and set-up my grill in anticipation of a great day filled with Landlocked Salmon and Brown Trout. As i wade in the water and tie on a Green Butt Skunk, I gently gazed around at the serene forest surrounding me. I listen carefully for any noise, but to no availability is there a sound to be heard. I find the perfect place to cast, and set out my fly. As night lingers on the Lonely Boquet River, void of noise, people, and now known to me fish, darkness brings about a subtle hue over the water. My emotions are perplexed and my adrenaline drained, my excitement of catching that big Salmon had sense floated down stream just as quickly as my luck had with that deep morning breath. A good skunking was the only thing in my sights as that 3 mile hike back to camp, empty handed, seemed like a 20 mile up hill battle with my confidence. Never before had a skunking hurt this much.

The dark lonely hike home