Posted on June 30 2023
The combination of higher water levels, which covered streambed rocks and the dense smoke from the Canadian fires which muted the sun's water warming effect, have kept the freestones in play and I decided to try to take advantage of the opportunity in my quest of a ten fish day.
The morning - Fished two pools on the BK. The path to the first pool was so grown over I had a hard time even finding it. Waded out into a pool that obviously hadn't been fished in weeks and was refused by the first four fish I rose (two of which were good ones). Then settled down and proved to be a master at getting a fly into the tiny little mouths of yearling fish (three rainbows and one brown). Total catch was two two year old browns. Second pool had some rising fish and I landed a couple of 14 inch rainbows along with two more two year old browns. Three hours of fishing and six fish landed (I don't count yearlings).
The afternoon - Was spent tying flies, doing a crossword and maybe just shutting my eyes (they were burning from the smoke) for a minute or two.
The evening - Fished a run on the EB that I haven't visited since last year. The well worn trail said others have endeavored to keep the fish on their toes. Fished from 5:45 until 8:00 when everything came to a halt. There were isos hatching and fish rising when I got there and the fish were seemingly happy to eat my flies. Ended up landing six mostly three year old fish. A 17 inch rainbow beat out a 16 inch brown for fish of the day. Lost two large, hot rainbows at the end of the day and maybe muttered "excrement" on the second one.
Planned to end up at either junction pool (no fish rising there) or at the Lordville riff (five fishermen there) but was happy enough with the days effort to park the car, take off the waders, go into the camp and make a Perfect Manhattan.
Thursday I fished the WB game lands and had rising fish sporadically, Had a couple refusals, 3 takes and landed a 20 inch Rainbow who leapt 4 feet out of the water in his attempts to escape.
At the end of the day, I went to Stockport on the BR and found the parlkng lot full, I thought wow, there must really be something going on.
I was surprised to find the plethora ofd cars was due to a Trout Unlimited fishing camp taking 15 of its campers for some time on the stream, each with his/her own teacher, 15 pairs spaced appropriately in that big ripple.
The smoke was also getting to my eyes. When the particulates reading was higher and rising Friday morning, I bailed on the fishing plans and drove home.
Thursday I fished the WB game lands and had rising fish sporadically, Had a couple refusals, 3 takes and landed a 20 inch Rainbow who leapt 4 feet out of the water in his attempts to escape.
At the end of the day, I went to Stockport on the BR and found the parlkng lot full, I thought wow, there must really be something going on.
I was surprised to find the plethora ofd cars was due to a Trout Unlimited fishing camp taking 15 of its campers for some time on the stream, each with his/her own teacher, 15 pairs spaced appropriately in that big ripple.
The smoke was also getting to my eyes. When the particulates reading was higher and rising Friday morning, I bailed on the fishing plans and drove home.
I’d sign for that in a heartbeat.
Angler119-Congratulations sounds like you had a successful day. I fished the Willow in the morning and evening and the “king of the stockers” reign continues .Landed 18 + stockers ( number of , not size of) on a #20 cdc caddis . But the fish of the day was a gorgeous 16 “ brown on a # 20 brown ant . I’ve caught some nice fish on the Willow this year including several 18/19” ers but lately the river seems to be dominated by hoards of stockers. Not sure why. Have the bigger fish moved out to the deeper areas? Spring holes? Still, a lot of fun. Can’t wait for the “zone” to get going.
A119 Congrats on your great day!!! I hope to have one half as good. Nice job!!!!!
Another good day! And as you predicted the Aquaduct repair has officially been postponed another year. Now if the sulfur zone would just get going! I don’t remember a year where it has taken so long to kick in.
“And a good time was had by all !”