With fishable time winding down I decided to fish a spot that I wanted to revisit since I had great luck there a few months ago. Last time I was here I caught a lot of fish which slowed my progress. Every time I finished fishing a bend in the river I wanted to go a little further but I didn't have the time that I had today!
I fished hard from 830 to about 12 without a single fish to hand! I saw no fish rising. With bluebird skies I didn't expect much. I picked up the pace after an hour or so of fishing. A little ways into the canyon stretch of this stream I encountered a deep, slow, mucky stretch. I waded through it, sinking about two feet into the muck with each step. It was exhausting to trudge through. I had to do this on three separate occasions. It was worth all the work though!
At around 1 the fish really turned on! I caught 'em on the pink squirrel of prey and another funky little fly of my own invention. Most fish were sitting in the bottom of deep pools and fast runs. As I waded through one of those aforementioned deep, slow, mucky stretches I spied a few really nice fish swimming around but I was so eager to get through that I didn't try to fish.
This guy wins for the biggest fish of the day! He came from a fast run and I set the hook weakly, thinking I was caught up on a rock or branch. He took off and the battle was on. As you can see I won.
I call these guys spotty #1 and spotty #2.
I wanted to keep fishing but agreed to meet my wife at 4 in Winona to pick up a bed for the guest room. I turned around at 3 thinking that I only walked a mile at most. I walked and waded non stop until I returned to the car at 445! My back hurts, my legs hips and legs are sore, and I'm generally exhausted. I can't wait to get out again tomorrow!
