Hatching a Plan TR

Got away for a few days to beat the heat, drought and hoot owls, looking for bugs and fish looking up. Word was caddis (egg-layers) in the early morning, PMDs a little later and caddis/spinner falls in the evening. Drive south off the interstate was solid rain, something I hadn't seen in 3 weeks and this greeted me at the turnoff to the campground (must be a good sign, right?)

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psd8qjams3.jpg


Crack of dawn I found some noses poking up in the slower water and managed a nice 'bow on a soggy CDC & Elk

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psksxyfclv.jpg


One or two other rises but things turned off pretty quickly, so I started roaming a bit, seeing what I could pound up (nothing but a few swirls) and taking in the scenery.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psrhsjvfjq.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psgxtqihjp.jpg

Got chased off by storms rolling off the Gravellys but they stopped early enough that the bugs were back out and the yellow warblers were singing in the willows.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psiyodstmu.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psbp1pbwdu.jpg


Only a few scattered rises, though and a handful of fishes, 50/50 between the caddis and rusty spinner; blind squirrel luck, no clear pattern. Next few days saw even less bug activity and the PMDs never materialized. Plan A was to head into the upper end of the Park and see if the early summer had dropped the flows to fishable levels but storms had muddied them up so on to Plan B. Scored a streamside campsite in town but instead of trying to find a spot on the river amongst the hordes (lots of 4 plates and I certainly wasn't the only 7) I headed for some alone time on a nearby creek 'till the evening bug events. Although they weren't pushovers, the fish weren't nearly as picky as their relatives just downstream and foam things worked as well as anything.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pszq003kd2.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pstvq2xjtg.jpg


Evening brought out the bugs

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psey0hey24.jpg


but only a few of heads; even so I managed a couple so goodness.

Next morning the tricos were massing at the parking place; I got on the river early enough to find some good water and become part of the process

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psovwzirpd.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psllaw6sta.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psambogxjl.jpg

Again though, only a few risers, even with a pretty nice spinner fall and I botched my only shots by quick-striking.


One more stop to make on my gradual arc NW. Wanted to see if the cutts would come out and chew on some foam

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2umkkvg6.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psav9fv2xb.jpg


Hang a left here and head west for the mountains

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps00vrhme0.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psfbr9bvnh.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psfqxievto.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psvgoeituj.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pskxlzydmx.jpg

Stream was in good shape, decent flows

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psneevus78.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pscigd7ix0.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pskh6yesh3.jpg


not a ton of productive water, but everywhere it turned green there was usually a nice fish or two

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psmhkmbhox.jpg


Rounding third and headed for home

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pslh6urakq.jpg


Regards,
Scott

Thanks for the report, Scott. I love photo-essays.

Don't know if fishing was great but scenery was beautiful.

Knucks

Epilogue


http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psfsch8x8o.jpg


'tis the season



Regards,
Scott

Nice pics Scott. Wish I was there!