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You know the one about them, how these guys came
upon one and as each felt about the creature, each
came up with differing opinions on what it was. So
it was with those of us fishing Rocky Ford Creek,
WA last weekend.
Just as the blindmen each 'saw' the tail as a 'rope,'
and the trunk as a 'snake,' and the leg as a 'tree,'
so did those looking for and finding fly fishing
conditions on the stream.
We arrived late on Friday afternoon and spend the
rest of the day socializing, then after a bit more
from 8am to 9am on Saturday, drove the short ten
miles from the campground to the stream. Many had
chosen other places for the day and only four of
us hit 'Rocky.' This is a stream which basically
starts at a hatchery, forms a stream, then a pond,
then a stream again, then another pond; on and on
that way gnawing it's way through the desert for miles.
Fairly constant water temperatures provides a rather
constant batch of trout food, scuds, nymphs, emergers
and dry's. Our first morning found the little bwo's
just finishing up and the occasional rise by patrolling
fish, for sure there was no pattern to anything going
on. I and my wife both chose three weights, the other
guys went for 5's. Standing on the edge of the main
impoundment each of us saw something different. And
commenced to ply our trades accordingly.
Now, it is not important that we only use dries for
trout, just quirky I guess, but it's our preference.
The others used every fly they owned, well, almost,
but you see what I mean. It didn't matter under the
circumstances, anything worked. . .somewhat. And that
was the wonderful part of the place for our Central
Washington Fish-In, 2003. There was something for
everyone, even bigger lakes for panfish or trout
for the float-tube gang.
My wife and I 'saw' cruising trout, big ones, and
attempted to get a fly in front of where we hoped
they may appear next. We had to change flies a few
times, finally hitting on a fly that had no counterpart
on the stream. They had been taking a tiny light fly,
we gave them a bigger dark one with upright wings (Wally
Wing or Lady's Fish Finder), took rainbows from sixteen
to twenty-eight inches; fun stuff.
The guys with the scuds and such did about as well,
several fish of varying size. Pound 'em up? I suppose
you could call it that, but, we were casting to fish
we could see and which seemed to have at least a
passing interest in the offerings, sometimes following
and refusing, sometimes taking them.
Sunday found a small herd of FAOL'ers scattered about
the area; no problem, there is plenty of room for all.
Once again, each in his own way, finding exactly the
right situation for his preferred method and then
having a go at it. And each having a wonderful time
and all catching fish. We all found what we came for.
How can you improve on that?
~ James Castwell
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