Posted on August 25 2023
On August 10th the blog title was "The Next Day They Say Chance Of Showers, Be There". Were you today? 'Cause if you came and you brought your olives, ignored the call of the "Sulfur Zone", and fished the freestones you should have a big smile on your face while drinking your celebratory beverage. I sure do.
The fishing - It just had to be good and it was. Started at 1:30 and there were a few olives and a like number of rising fish in a light drizzle. By three thirty, on my third stop, there were enough olives along with a few isos to get more fish feeding. On my last stop at 6:15, I walked into water covered with olives and rising fish that were eager to eat anything put before them.
Before the last stop I had had a good day. Landed a 21.75 inch brown along with a nice mix of browns and rainbows. There were not a lot of fish up, but if you saw a rise and made a good cast, the fish ate. From 6:15 'til 8:15 you wondered where all the fish came from. If you made more than half a dozen casts without hooking a fish, you were surprised. All year classes of fish were represented, refusals were far and few between, and the fish ran and jumped like it was April 24th instead of August 24th.
Even if it isn't raining, take the cure. Leave your sulfurs at home. Bring isos, olives, ants, a Cahill or two and maybe a couple of white flies if you are going to fish the BR. If it's bright and sunny it probably won't happen until the sun is behind the hills. But if it's overcast with maybe a little rain you should be in business by mid afternoon.
BB – Sometimes when you are in the presence of excellence you just sit back, listen, and soak in the wisdom……..the DNA sample will come later….hopefully after a few Perfect Manhattans.
Great Caesar’s Ghost! You had 119 cornered on the bench and wait! What? Not rummaging through his vest for sulphur boxes? No DNA sample from his whiskey glass? No hair sample from the beauty salon? Lucky!
Once I ID’d him back at the Cowlick. Yes, it was the Black’’s Law Dictionary in his back pocket. I will Persue this Scarlet Pimpernel and nemesis of 18” trout and get my copy if ASOTD autographed – and not with his nom de plume!
The reporting is accurate and all the tips are there. Remember “ fish the foam and spread out”.
Back to the WSJ crossword and the OED….
Angler119-Congratulations on a fantastic day. A21.75brown is an amazing fish. Wonderful. You’re right about fishing the freestones, but my son in law ,Frank and I couldn’t resist the siren call of the red barn one last time. Really good sulpher hatch around 1:30 and lots of rising fish. 3 hours of casting( not catching) in the drizzle yielded no fish. Saw quite a few trout ignore my fly and pick off a sulpher dun right next to it.Didn’t notice any olives.Next time I heed the wisdom of Angler119 and stick with the freestones. Did manage a 13”brown on the Willow which still won’t save me from a seat on the”bench”
From 11 to 1 not much on the BR.moved to the WB. By about two there some sulfurs, but few risers by the men’s club. I saw only 2 risers. Eventually the sulfurs were joined by olives. The 2 fish were maybe 30 feet apart and 20 and 15 feet from shore. They were not easy. I spent over an hour offering one fish then the other a variety of flies. As time went on it was clear they preferred the olive duns, but not mine. Finally I hooked each of them on an ermerger. Both came unbuttoned quickly. Then I could find no more risers. Moved to the middle WB and caught a half dozen small browns who showed themselves and broke off one good fish. Stayed until 8 and got to show off to the 4 or 5 drift boats going by that mostly looked like they had given up.
From 11 to 1 not much on the BR.moved to the WB. By about two there some sulfurs, but few risers by the men’s club. I saw only 2 risers. Eventually the sulfurs were joined by olives. The 2 fish were maybe 30 feet apart and 20 and 15 feet from shore. They were not easy. I spent over an hour offering one fish then the other a variety of flies. As time went on it was clear they preferred the olive duns, but not mine. Finally I hooked each of them on an ermerger. Both came unbuttoned quickly. Then I could find no more risers. Moved to the middle WB and caught a half dozen small browns who showed themselves and broke off one good fish. Stayed until 8 and got to show off to the 4 or 5 drift boats going by that mostly looked like they had given up.
Great job A119!!
I should have picked the freestones and/or stayed longer because there were no bugs on the Main or lower WB where I was. Overcast…no wind…light rain…but no bugs! I didn’t get shut out, but I sure spent a lot of time looking at quiet water…
Sorry that I didn’t recognize you either Dennis. Hopefully we get the chance to fish together someday soon.
Wow!! Great day I am all for giving the freestones a try. The change would be good. Thanks for the info
Jim N I was below you watching you catch all those fish. Great job. I wish I realized it was you