My Beginning Film Presets

I've started building some of my own film stimulations/presets. I've purchased some commercial preset like those from Luminar and other from individual photographers, but I'm more interested (right now) simulating old film recipes. 

Here is what I have come up with today. I feel these will fall in the "Nostalgic" category, but they aren't based on any specific film brand/type.

Nostalgic - warm

Nostalgic - cool

I just realized one of my favorite sayings comes into play here: The more you learn, the less you know.

Lake Sonoma Hike

Yesterday's rain showers made for enjoyable hiking this morning at Lake Sonoma. The trails were damp and cool, and the low fog made everything soft and quiet.

This was a loop out around Bummer Peak mostly on the North Slope Trail from the No Name Flat Trailhead.

Iron Canyon Weekender

Iron Canyon Fishing - Northern California

November 9 through 11

I journeyed up to Iron Canyon Reservoir in Northern California for two and one half days of lake fishing and camping. Iron Canyon is a PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) lake that is mainly filled by an underground aqueduct and is used for hydroelectric production. The water comes from McCloud Lake about 20 miles to the North, and empties into the Pit River and becomes part of the Pit River hydroelectric project.

It is stocked with trout during the Spring and Summer, but has a great population of large holdover rainbows and big Brown Trout. Surface fly fishing for Rainbows from a boat or personal water craft is usually productive in Spring, Summer, and Fall. On this trip, things were quiet so I never put our Flycraft in the water and ended just fishing from shore.

I had a productive morning on Thursday when I arrived, landing 8 or 10 fish, with three decent size browns in the 15 inch range. All released alive except one 15 inch Rainbow that I kept. I fished for about 4 hours at the spot where the underground aqueduct comes in which is alway a good spot when the water is flowing.

Went back to the same spot Friday morning but the inflow wasn't running and fishing was slow. I did hook three fish but lost them all. I'll blame that on barbless hooks. :) The masses showed up Friday night and there were people camping in dispersed places all around the lake. I spent a few hours Saturday morning trying different places, but couldn't find any willing fish. I decided to pack up and make the 4 hour drive back home.

All in all, a great three days camping and fishing in our beautiful Northern California Trout Mecca.

Lake Sonoma Trout Action

Lake Sonoma land-locked Steelhead. Technically, it's just a trout, but...

About 14 inches. Caught on a homemade steelhead spinner. Released alive.

I caught her twin the other day using the same lure. Also released.

Hackney Diamonds

 https://open.spotify.com/album/1AxMcdQRLguJqSZMxvRNdO

https://classicsdujour.com/the-rolling-stones-unveil-new-single-angry-and-detail-new-album-hackney-diamonds/

Upgraded Tundra Exhaust

Our 2005 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4X4 (The Sherpa) has taken us on, and continues to take us to, many amazing places and on amazing adventues. This is a great old Toyota and I have it serviced on a regular schedule and upgrade/replace the common minor things that need fixing/replacing. But with 350,000 miles on her, the big things are starting to need replacement.

A few weeks ago the shifting component in the steering column needed replacing and that was fixed. Loving the new tight smooth shifting this has provided. On our recent trip up through Oregon, the muffler failed (rusted out from the inside and welds failed) and now that has been replaced. We have a custom exhaust system on this truck and we replaced the loud growler muffler that was on it when we bought it, with a more modern, efficient, standard muffler that gives us a comfortable muffled hummm. No more waking up the neighbors when we leave on a trip, or from a campground at 3:00am. 😁

While fixing the exhaust, the mechanic pointed out that the rear motor mount was old and cracked, and was part of the reason the old exhaust failed (engine torque on the exhaust system). Full motor mount set ordered and will be installed next Tuesday. Hopefully leaving on a fishing trip next Wednesday.

The Power of Solitude

The Power of Solitude: https://stevemccurry.blog/2017/07/26/the-power-of-solitude/

The Rusty Nail Trolling Fly

A trolling fly I have designed. This is for Brown Trout fishing during the Fall season. Trolled with an intermediate sinking fly line, or cast and stripped over shoals and in the shallows. It would imitate leech, crawfish, and baitfish.

This is version one. I think I need to add more "nail" (black), and reduce the rust in the tail and hackle.

Mottled Leech - Size 6

Thin Mint Trolling Fly

My version of the Thin Mint pattern tied as a trolling fly.

 

Size 8.

Fall In Sonoma County

 I'm looking forward to many more morning rides in wine country as the grape vines do their Fall Thaaanng!