Playing the Numbers Game (TR)

Original plan was to fish another tailwater on the east side but sketchy weather forecast led to the conclusion that towing the trailer, even over relatively gentle LowLow Pass, with the potential for snow/black ice probably wasn't a great idea. Lots of moisture on this side but it's mostly rain down low and even though the rivers are up, I know one that'll be clean and the skwalas may be coming off (it's not That River, btw).

It's been a wet April; there's a creek out there somewhere.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pse5owh71z.jpg

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


Mixed bag of sun/clouds on the drive over hides the low hilltops

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9slly4y3.jpg

sometimes it's better that way

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pskf3b8mlb.jpg


base camp established

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psqj51svdj.jpg


Not a bad site.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9j2cfaj0.jpg

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

A bit close to the road, but in a 15 minute walk around the camp I saw varied thrush, Williamson's sapsucker, pileated woodpecker, western grebe, common mergansers, common goldeneye, loon, wooduck, yellow-headed blackbird, Wilson's snipe.

It does evenings pretty well

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pswf5bvque.jpg

morning, too

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pswfomiem8.jpg

Time to go fish. Truck is a lot lighter without all the splitshot, Thingamabobbers and weighted nymphs; this is the time for hackled flies and chewy foam things.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...e/IMG_6183.jpg


Upper meadow stretch is pretty, but off limits 'till general season opener (come back then and you'll find some decent fish willing to look up, until the "crowds" clean them out or put them down for the summer).

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psti7sxoj2.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psqu6r0wrr.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pshkxf6iml.jpg


I'll leave 35 to the log haulers; I only have 1 spare so I keep it a bit lower

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psv9y7njw2.jpg

gives me a chance to spot some fauna

sporting it's summer coat but retained the white sneakers

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7oakp15e.jpg

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

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pspih2drv0.jpg

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

there's a ruffed grouse in there somewhere; the camera doesn't handle low light on a drive-by snap shot very well

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psqqbgmpg5.jpg

not nearly as much flora, yet, but the western trillium were out

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


Countdown; channeling Dick Clark, Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadiens

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psy3gi3bfl.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psbblz76nc.jpg

for whatever reason, halfway down you get this (good for about 1/2 mile in either direction)

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

this is the one you're looking for

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pstbbhyg2n.jpg


La Nina (legal from here on down)

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


Honking pretty good thru here

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psm6dirayr.jpg

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


soft water along the edges looked like a better bet

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psr0htxx2f.jpg

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pso4jelakn.jpg

and it was

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...pskhtwsu3i.jpg


strictly browns on this trip; was hoping to see some 'bows up from the big river or maybe a cutt or two, but no complaints


road was closed due to flooding from here on down but the topwater Jones was fed

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


on the drive out, hadn't seen these here before

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


200 yds further up and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2wdqdosj.jpg


never got within 10 degrees of freezing so I think I made the right call. Did I mention it's been a wet April?

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


Regards,
Scott

As always, I enjoyed your report, Scott, even if every one of your pictures makes me want to shorten my own planned departure date to MT by a day per picture (I had planned to leave just over 2 weeks from now).

By the way, how many watts are your solar panel(s), and do they do a decent job keeping your battery (batteries?) charged?

John

Thanks, John. It's a 120v panel; folds and fits into a neat suitcase. Does a great job keeping the trailer's battery charged.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks for the pics Scott. Wish I was there!

Thanks for sharing, do you have a step by step for that hopper? Good looking pattern

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 1hook

do you have a step by step for that hopper?

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A blast from the past; that Rogue variation was my first attempt at an SBS. Lines kinda blur between stonefly (in this case) and hopper; seems to work as either.

Regards,
Scott

Awesome thanks