Trip Report: Another Quick Hour

I got out fishing after work for a few hours today. I arrived on stream at 415 and hopped back into the car at 515. Uncertain what stream conditions to expect I found my choice stream running at regular depth with about a foot of visibility. This stream is a headwater and most areas of the stream aren't much deeper than a foot. Skies were sunny, light winds, and temps in the low 40's. 

 I had an orange scud tied up but after a few very subtle takes (that I missed) I decided to try a gray size 16 zebra midge. Adult midges fluttered around sporadically and fish surprisingly took notice. 

Browns were concentrated in faster water but I found two little brookies sitting near the back third of a long, slow run. Love me some brookies!

This was the big fish of the day, probably only about a foot long. I still had a number of fish only nibble on the midge and missed at least five or six after setting the hook and failing to connect. I never found a need to tie on a dry but a size 18 matts midge skittered across the surface would have enticed at least a few strikes. Runoff is likely afflicting streams anywhere but close to their sources. I drove by another smaller stream today that looked clear and ran at a normal rate of flow. The two streams I experienced today never dirty for more than a day or two so I anticipate that despite runoff there will be fishable water if you know where to look.

Trip Report: A Quick Hour

Despite having work obligations I sneaked out to a nearby stream that's within cell reception for a quick hour. I arrived on stream at 230pm and fished until 330pm. Temps hovered around 30 degrees and skies were cloudy. Upon arrival winds were calm but quickly picked up to a chilling breeze. Snow and sleet fell throughout my hour of fishing and conveniently ceased as soon as I hopped back into the car.

This was the big fish of the day, about 12 inches. He took the orange scud so lightly that the indicator only ticked to indicate his presence. After a brief fight on the three weight he came to hand.

After catching six fish above this spring seepage I fished a decent little pool downstream.

 Fish continued to take the orange scud readily. After landing another half dozen I decided to call it quits. On my last cast I pulled in a tiny brookie! It's nice to see them hanging on in this watershed.

Trip Report: Skunkin'

A friend of mine recently acquired a 10 foot two man fishing raft. He's been dying to get it on the water and I must admit I was stoked to see this thing in action. Today was the first day we both had free so despite high winds we gave 'er a go. We fished from around 1030am to 5pm, although we took a solid lunch break and spent some time just bullshitting and paddling down the river.

The boat came from a guy out in Utah, Dave Scadden, who puts together some neat fishing pontoons and rafts. We had no issues after a little getting used to paddling in current and strong winds. The winds definitely sucked.

 We had a great time but landed nothin'. We switched off on the sticks and cast streamers on my buddies 8wt. I and one fish come up and nip at it but I set the hook prematurely and missed it. We spotted a bunch of carp and/or suckers but very few game fish. Can't wait for next time!

Trip Report: Slow But Steady

Today the fishing was slow but steady. I arrived on stream by 10am and headed home by 230pm. My chosen river was running clear but gained a brownish stain as they day progressed. Snow fell until around 1230pm which may have impacted stream temps and slowed the bite. Air temps hovered in the high 20's but a slight, constant breeze made it a bit chilly. All takes were very subtle and most fish came from slow, deep water.

 Most fish took the orange scud in the morning and a size 16 gray zebra midge later in the outing. I did land three on a size 22 quill midge emerger around 11am as fish fed furiously on emergers for about 20 minutes. After that I only spotted very sporatic risers.

I always like fish face pictures! This guy clearly fell victim to the zebra midge. After a buddy showed me some pics of a 22 inch brown trout he caught earlier in the week I decided to dedicate a little more energy toward fishing streamers. I dredged a few deep pools but the only streamer type fly I can tie is a bugger looking fly. After coming up short on the streamer I resolved to learn some different patterns. More on that in a minute!

I've also been trying to take more scenery pictures.

As you can see we had good cloud cover all day. Just after snapping this picture I noticed a fish rising up ahead. I re-rigged with a black size 20 Matt's midge and heaved it out there with my WVF 7' 9" three weight. I've been working on taking the time to add tippet when fishing dries to avoid spooking fish with short leader/tippet.

It worked! This skinny bastard sucked down the midge and put up a mediocre fight before coming to hand. Overall it was nice to get out but I think the temperature fluctuations we've experienced over the last few days left the fish a little confused. Upon returning home I went right to the vise and tied up a few streamers for tomorrow!

I still have some work to do but this feels like a good start. Tomorrow I am drifting a much bigger river with a friend who just got a 2 man fishing pontoon/raft so the new flies will get tested.

Trip Report: Cold, Windy, Trouty

Today I chose to fish a spot that required a decent hike. I arrived streamside around 930am. Air temps started around 10 and rose until I left the water to 18. The wind picked up around 11am which caused guides to ice up frequently. At least it was sunny!

This spot fishes really well in spring, summer, and fall but I haven't had the greatest luck in winter. Today was no different, but I did catch some fish! I started out fishing an orange scud but after missing a few subtle takes I switched to the pink squirrel of prey.

 Fish took nymphs fished bounced along the bottom. I did spot one fish surface today and noticed a few midges fluttering about. I also spotted one really nice trout in the 16-18 inch range from a high bank but upon making my way to a fishable position he spooked. The stream was cold, low, and clear which added to the challenge.

Not huge but this was my big fish of the day, probably 13 or 14 inches long. He put a great bend in the 7' 9" three weight! Eventually I tied into a few brookies as well.

 They both took a gray zebra midge bounced along the bottom. I spent more time hiking than fishing and after 5 hours of freezing my ass off it was time to head home. It was nice to get out and find a little success on the stream on such a sunny, cold, windy day.

All of next week looks great for fishing. Shelf ice should be melting away on most streams over the next week so getting out before stream temps drop (from runoff and ice melt) will be crucial for success.

WVF Fly Rod Sale!

Check out this 9ft 4wt Whitewater Valley fly rod. The rod is built on a sleek blue fast action graphite blank perfect for everything from mile long role casts to delicately placing dry flies at a distance! My 3wt built on the same blank has quickly become my favorite rod.

Whitewater Valley Fly Rod

I'm currently working on replacing defective guides on a mass produced rod, it's a pain! Then I'll be doing a 7' 9" 3wt on a that sleek blue blank with a stacked bamboo reel seat and orange wraps with blue accents. Anyone interested in having a new rod built before spring hit me up soon!

Cold temperatures have kept me and most other fisher people off the water over the last few weeks but with temps forecast to reach the mid teens tomorrow I think I'll give it a shot. I got out to check some local waters today and streams seem low, clear, and cold. Some areas are frozen over but most sections of stream I visited today were fishable.