Be on the lookout for a masked, low-holer. Last seen Jan 24th on the Lower American River. Suspect is a male, wearing all back neoprene waders, with full face mask and silver sunglasses. Considered armed and dangerous with a spinning rod/reel and spoons.
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So without any warning, and no eye contact, this guy strolls down the bank and "low holes" me. The picture doesn't really show just how close he is, but my fly is swinging about 4' BELOW where he is standing. I said, " hello, my fly is right in front of you". Because of the river noise I had to repeat, "my fly is directly in front of you!". He said "oh", moved down the bank a few steps, and sets up to make a cast. Many scenarios went through my head, but I didn't feel like getting too aggressive. I stripped out more line and made about as long a cast as I could make. I figured i'd swing my fly as close as I could to him, and if it touched him, all the better. Just as my fly came under tension, I got a good grab. Now my focus was off the space invader, and back on the fish. Several casts later, and no more grabs, I'm stepping down closer to the masked interloper.....and it is not that cold so I wonder why this guy is wearing a full faced mask. My fly is swinging past him and I'm stripping the fly back within a few feet in front of him. I thought about giving up and moving, but I'm guessing he wants where I'm standing, so I stayed. I continued to push him down, and at some point he had enough, or he was done fishing that spot, and left. Fun stuff on a urban fishery.
briansII