Playing the Numbers Game (TR)

[ScottP]

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.






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



sometimes it's better that way




base camp established




Not a bad site.





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



morning, too

[ScottP]

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.




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).








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



gives me a chance to spot some fauna

sporting it's summer coat but retained the white sneakers









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

[ScottP]

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




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





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



this is the one you're looking for




La Nina (legal from here on down)




Honking pretty good thru here






soft water along the edges looked like a better bet

[ScottP]

and it was




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




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




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




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




Regards,
Scott

[John Rhoades]

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

[ScottP]

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

[oldster]

Thanks for the pics Scott. Wish I was there!