{"id":13550,"date":"2017-08-17T13:00:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-17T20:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=13550"},"modified":"2022-01-06T06:48:07","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T14:48:07","slug":"fishing-like-osprey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2017\/08\/17\/fishing-like-osprey\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing Like an Osprey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ospreys are creatures I\u2019ve felt a bond with throughout my life. We share a common pursuit\u2014stalking and utilizing a hunting approach to target fish. A sharp eye essential for spotting fish, and then it\u2019s a matter of slipping into position to cast. The aquatic, dive-bombing raptor has a few more advantages, like the gift of flight to spot fish from up high and naturally polarized eyes allowing them to see through the glare.<\/p>\n

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As a mere human, I\u2019ve constantly felt frustrated standing on the banks watching fish rise out of reach of my casting abilities or not being able to cast due to vegetation in my casting zones. My NRS Osprey standup paddleboard<\/a> allows me to cruise my favorite high alpine lakes stalking trout from a solitary standing position. And while my stance on a paddleboard doesn\u2019t offer the same level of spotting ability as an Osprey raptor, I feel it\u2019s the next best thing. The Osprey SUP alleviates all that frustration.<\/p>\n

The maiden voyage of my fish-hunting craft was on the waters of Smith and Morehouse Lake, about an hour east of Park City, Utah. The first time I saw the lake was with a couple of fly fish guiding friends. We targeted small graylings and brook trout on micro dry flies in a small pool at the lake\u2019s tailwaters. As I walked the banks, I was awestruck by the scenery\u2014the mountain ridgelines surrounding the lake were stacked with trees and rocky ledges. I knew an evening session on the lake was in order.<\/p>\n

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So one late afternoon, midweek, my friend Matt and I loaded up his rig and drove into the Uinta Mountains. The clouds sitting over Park City began to drizzle as the wheels were turning. We decided to push forward and roll the dice. Hopefully, we\u2019d have different weather at the lake. The gods were in favor of us this day, as the clouds began breaking up 10-15 minutes into the drive. As we pulled up, the final clouds separated, and the sky broke open allowing the beginning of that magical golden light.<\/p>\n

We scrambled unloading and getting down to the shoreline with our gear. The glassy water was interrupted by the dimples of trout picking bugs off the surface of the lake. My hands worked efficiently snapping mounts into place, setting the NRS Ambush Tackle bag in place, rigging my fly rod and reel with a foam beetle with white legs and a purple belly with a quick cinch knot on the 6x tippet and off I went.<\/p>\n