Oh My Gosh! I caught a fish!
It's been a very slow year for fishing for me. I haven't caught a thing so far, but I also haven't been fishing 2 or 3 nights a week like last year. I've only been out 6 or 7 times this year.
Well on Saturday I went to the Bear river. It was a very hot 107 degree day in the foothills. My hope was that the river was still cool enough for the trout but warm enough to get a good hatch going. With the snow melt the runoff has been tremendous lately. 2 weeks ago the river was a good 2 feet above normal and roaring. Now it looks more normal.
I got the the river about 7 pm and put my waders on over my shorts. It had dropped to the mid 90's and there was no way I was going to wear fleece under waders and then hike in a half a mile to my favorite spot.
I rigged up and started hiking. I tried fishing a few pools from the bank with a PT nymph but couldn't get anything to happen. As I was reeling in I turned downstream just in time to see a fish jump in the big calm pool about 50 yards away.
Holy Cow, They're jumping!
So I hiked down and switched to a dry fly before wading in. It was at that moment that I regretted not wearing fleece. It may be 95 degrees outside but that river was still snow melt and I felt it. But the fish were jumping and within a few minutes I barely noticed.
I had about a half a dozen strikes but they hit so fast that I couldn't set the hook in time. They were hungry.
I floated my little pale yellow dry fly down the same stretch another half a dozen times when he hit it. The fight was quick and easy and I soon had a nice 10 inch rainbow in my hand.
Whoo Hoo! I'm a fisherman again.
I would think that fighting a fish would have spooked the others but as soon as I released him there were 2 or 3 other fish rising about 20 feet away. From the same spot I cast to them and got one more strike. I set the hook and felt him wiggle but he threw the hook.
I kept presenting my fly to the risers but it was getting too dark to see my fly. (I've since learned that this is when I should switch to a wet fly and swing it). As the darkness came and the bats started to dart about the fish stopped rising as well. So I hiked back out and was home by 9:30 just in time for a cold beer and a swim in the pool.
I always enjoy getting out. But actually catching a fish now and then sure adds to the experience. :) I'm heading back out tonight. I'll let you know what I find.
