On The Bench

 

An early winter evening finds me tying.At left, a hare's ear and partridge hackled wire-wrapped flymph that I'll use in slow, shallow water here in a little while. 

Trout hang in warmer shallow water in winter but still must have the comforts of  shelter and drift. I suspect the warmer water feels good to their frosted fins.

Grey silk. Copper wire. Partridge hook in 14 wide-gap heavy. 

I'll let you know.

This weekend sees a trial of my cold weather gear - or most of it, anyway. I am desperately excited about getting back into the forests.  Some of my newer bits are not so excited about coming in the mail.

A friend wrote and asked why I didn't get a "hot tent." 

Fact is, I'm embarrassed. 

I have four tents in fine order. I don't need a fifth.

I've always thought of hot tents in the same vein as small boats: they're lovely but I don't want to deal with one. 

So, I will endeavor to make due with solid gear that is serviceable with the weather dipping into the teens. More than that and I really don't need to be out in it.

I hope the post holiday weather is doing you well. 

Keep 'em buggy. I miss tying in person on Monday nights with a couple pints in me; but, I can't spare time for the covid. I'm tying in my Fortress of Solitude.

Maybe soon, we'll all fly like Superman.

Prost.

Get your mind right, Luke.

 

Alan over at Small Stream Reflections went fishing with his missus. I was going fishing on Mill Creek here myself today.

I awoke to the picture at left.

Not precisely the trout weather for which I was hoping.

Today was a reckoning of my winter camp plans.  Heavy wet snow can do that.

 

I awoke to heavy wet snow as I mentioned. Now, if I'm not a little careful this weather could kill me. Maybe I shouldn't be so cavalier.

Maybe I should stick to some state forest campgrounds instead of wild camping. Okay. I can see it. Agreed.

Maybe I should be clear in leaving word of my plans. Okay.

Maybe I should take enough back-up food for a day or so. It isn't a hard thing to do.

Maybe I should rig an  a-frame awning over my tent using a ridge pole. I can use under-lacing to support the sides like in the mountain-leader class.

I can erect a separate storm awning to catch the heat of the evening fire and provide a place to keep gear dry and  do cooking out of any winter rain. 

I'm going to use a car-camp base camp here until early spring. I'll avoid lake-effect snow zones. 

I am going to the woods.

I took the dogs for a snow walk not long after snapping the picture above and it was glorious. Beargirl and I did a couple easy miles on a trail near our house in early afternoon. Lovely.

We drove over to the sailing club to eyeball the lake - frozen.

It was a grand winter's day without any trout. 

I shopped for snowshoes. Whew - none of those left int he country. I guess I know the popular Christmas present I didn't get. It'll work itself out.

I'm going up the country - Canned Heat.

Prost.

Lovely, dark and deep

 

 

At left, Lou the foxhound practicing his winter camping technique. He's on his comforter (yes, he has his own) as a bottom quilt and uses a light bath towel for his top cover. 

I'm working on the winter camping.

It's going to be a solo event for a while because it is Michigan and most folks are cold-averse.  I have most of an inch's mix of ice-sleet on the ground right now. That ice coupled with an occasional bout of actual rain strains any gear.

I'm betting on better conditions on my own runs up north: more snow and less ice.

What I need : consideration.

I'm a wood-fire sort of camper/cook and that means cutting, bucking, and hauling the fuel.  Jeans are fine for this activity in spring and summer; but, in winter I need stouter waterproof gear. I'm not too interested in abusing my gore-tex bibs doing timber operations. Waterproof  hunting trousers are on the way.  The bibs I'll wear when actually out in rain.

I also upgraded the size of my camping saw from a small pocket-sized Silky saw to a forearmed size beast of the same make. These Japanese gardening blades are quite handy. For winter camping I want to attack material larger than 4" in diameter. I will also sharpen my ax.

A top quilt and a sleeping pad with a higher R-value also were in order as upgrades over my spring/summer gear.

So, I'm outfitted down to zero degrees.

I'll use a stout Marmot tent, rig a tarp shelter for reflective heat capture around the evening fire, and practice prepping meals at home so I am doing minimal prep work before cooking.

I'm not willing to invest in a hot tent. I'm not sure how much longer I'd be using one given my trout buddies remind me the alternative to winter camping is drinking scotch by the fire with the pets lying all over me. Hmm.  

They tease me now because I wouldn't make the trip to go steelhead fishing in Alaska several years back. I refrain from pointing out that they do not go steelhead fishing presently here in Michigan for hundreds of dollars and thousands of miles of travel less. Meh.  It is hard to beat a toast fireplace.

In winter camps, I'll be fishing largely from the banks and will wear my composite Korker soles for the best grip. I'll fish glass as I will inevitably fall. Glass is very forgiving.

I will also test my set-up for oversight. I have little margin for error short of loading-up and driving out. Let's cover the oversight part early in the process.

My proving grounds at right: the north meadow with a campsite and fire ring.  We used to have some grandcub camping events there. I still maintain the pitch.

Next weekend? Maybe the weekend after.

I miss the woods. I miss being out and not hear any vehicles. I miss the adventure of simple camping.

A pipe, a fire, a tin cup holding scotch, a book, and stars overhead.

I hope the bears are hibernating. I'll be cooking bacon and sausages. I won't have enough to share.

Prost.