Panoramic Photo 03

Cuyahoga River, Ohio

 

Panoramic Photo 02

 Crooked River, Ohio

Panoramic Photo 01

 

Crooked River, Ohio

She Rarely Freezes

 

The Cuyahoga River, Ohio

Hike Photo Journal 1.16.2022

Down Stream of Brandywine Falls, Ohio

Well, it’s been two weeks since I got outside, and I could not take anymore! I got out to Brandywine Falls, Ohio. Except this time, I put my waders on to traverse into the gorge and hike up the creek. Now first and foremost this is very dangerous folks! A lot of the ice has a lot of air in it and is very brittle. 

I have a great pair of trekking poles that I use and took my sweet ole time to get to the falls. I accented 375 feet into the gorge. I created my own switch back trail to get down to the bottom. I waded through some anchor ice. Anchor Ice is formed by super cold water and as the ice chucks come down after being dislodged for else where this is where they come to rest. This will lead eventually to a solid ice sheet across the creek and that’s providing it does not thaw.

Like a prospector I probed each step through the ice. If the ice has entrained air, it will be brittle. This is a huge safety concerned for what I was doing.  I worked up the creek and although I have been here several times I had never bee on its creek bottom.

I wore my waders and my wading belt because you never know when you’re going to fall. My great grandfather always said to me. There are two types of fishermen those who have fallen and those who will fall.

I worked my way up to the partially frozen falls. I saw some enormous ice stalactites. I got into the gorge before the sun had a chance start her melt. With all the shale this would be a Nantucket Sleighride type of issue (minus the whale and harpoon) if there was a flash runoff / flash flood. I was in the most dangerous spot I the bottom of the gorge. I spent thirty minutes down in the bottom taking photos.

I began my traversing out of the gorge bottom.  The total elevation change was 352 feet, and it was not pretty! I used tree roots and counterbalancing my own weight. I even had to even know it’s been a while use a hand and arm lock to climb some rocks in waders also!

I hope you enjoy the photos and video.

Sonder

 

A dumb place to stand!

Todays Hike and Photo Journal

Brandywine Falls - 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Stiching Photos

 

As you fine folks know I am learning about photography. I am learning about depth of field, focal length, lighting, and editing. My editing is very basic, and I do not over process my photos. I have come to a crossroads, and I think I found a great panoramic stitching software for FREE! Its called Hugin.  First off, I use GIMP to edit my photos and its free also and almost a powerful as Photoshop. It can be found here https://www.gimp.org/downloads Hugin can be found here http://hugin.sourceforge.net/download

 Gimp comes recommended by my ole time and trusted friend 

Through trial and error, I have stitched these two photos together and I am very impressed. Now I realize that I took decent over lapping photos for this to happen (they call these control points), but still great job for a free program.

Another Example

Wetter Than Water - Lake Erie - Steelhead Fishing

 

Well after yesterday’s drive, I decided to head out and fish around noon today. I would leave after a big breakfast and full thermos of coffee. The rain was off, on, off, and on again all day. The great thing about Conneaut Creek it built nothing like the other Lake Erie tributaries in Ohio. She’s mostly a West and East Creek “flowing to Lake Erie”. Most of the other river and creeks in Ohio that flow into Lake Erie are North to south “flowing to Lake Erie”.

That also means the rain affect her differently than other creek and rivers her size. I arrived at the spot and got geared up and was excited. The creek is up and prime time shape for swinging.  Most people with the flow is like this they shy away. Its to fast to bobber fish with an eggbeater or fly rod.

I strapped my Scott 7wt switch (L2H1157) with 118 grains of T-14 (8.42 feet). I pulled 3 feet of 12# seaguar mono off my spool and tied on my Punk Cheerleader intruder.

The creek had 18-26” of visibility but moving. I waded across the river and thought to myself yes, she a little angry as I crossed her. 

I was determined today to fish the hang down more incase I had some fish who could not commit.

I fished cack-handed today. The river was flowing from left to right. I would take a time out and take a panoramic shot and then the rains started. I felt like forest Gump “upside down rain, stinging rain, fat rain, and sideways rain.

I was using a longer piece of mono to keep my anchor from blowing with the wind.  My first grab of 4 grabs would come mid river in a slick “a slick to me is an eddy where multiple currents cancel themselves and make it appear that the water is flat”. 

I stepped down and repeated my cast at a 30 degree down stream cast. I would start at casting distance of 40 feet and then work up to 70 feet. I worked this area times in the same manner. The rains had increased and one of the rocks I was watching was now submerged. I knew it was time to leave soon. I was into cast three I believe. Then the Manistee who was not happy with his latest life choice made it known. My running line slapped my rod and the drag set the hook.

I applied side pressure to the clearly fresh fish. He was gallant in his efforts but was released quickly. The rain was so bad lol it would have been awful trying to get his photo. He was about 27 inches long and a three-year class fish. He was fresh and clean with no battle scared or lamprey marks.

I crossed back through the creek and my wading staff was making that singing sound! Good choice to get out of here. I headed to Pennsylvania to attempt to swing some flies from Elk Creek to the Lake. Mother nature said nope not today you aint! Lol 

The wind was not manageable, but some good photo opportunities were had!