Van_Cleaver
Member
- Joined
- May 11, 2007
- Messages
- 742
Hadn't fished in over a month (any kind) and finally got away for a bit. Got to the stream around 5PM and checked the water at Brodhead Park, 72. Went upstream a few miles and got just under 70. That and the fact that it clouded up and the sun was off the water made it worth trying. Water was low and very clear. Fished only fast runs and pocket water, and got a few trout pretty quickly fishing a caddis and ant dropper down. There were a lot of bugs, some Isos and also some giant Gray things (Hex maybe?) and a few fish were rising though not steadily. I put on a no 12 gray parachute and had my best night of the year on top. Every fish was caught in super fast water, nothing in any glides or flats. Nice mix of healthy browns (mostly stream bred) and stocked rainbows. A good drift (which usually required a pile or recoil cast and some fast mends etc.) over a known riser usually resulted in a take and most were savage.
Sun morning after getting little sleep on my buddy's couch I took him back; the water had cooled (65) and it looked to be prime for some good fishing; NOT! Water was just as clear, sunny skies etc. and the fish just were tough. I took five fishing down and dirty in some whitewater spots most self respecting flyfishers would avoid. My buddy got the skunk.
After going out in a local lake and getting baked in the sun we had a beer and relaxed and I decide to try again; my friend was too beat up. I determined I was going to fish on top no matter what and then head home. Conditions mirrored the night before except nothing rose at all, including the time frame. Despite that I rose a fish here and there missing frequently. I connected on my third take, and managed to land a few as well. Combination of lack of sleep and general fatigue and less aggressive fish was showing. Almost ready to quit there was a bad patch when I missed one, hooked and lost another, and broke off in a period of about ten min. Determined not to end my trip like that, I retied and headed back toward my truck. On the next to the last good run I got a subtle take and with a mellow hook set landed a small rainbow. As if to make up for my earlier inept showing I proceeded to hook the next four takes in a row all nice browns. Feeling balance had been restored I left before dark not really caring if there was going to be a dusk event.
Sun morning after getting little sleep on my buddy's couch I took him back; the water had cooled (65) and it looked to be prime for some good fishing; NOT! Water was just as clear, sunny skies etc. and the fish just were tough. I took five fishing down and dirty in some whitewater spots most self respecting flyfishers would avoid. My buddy got the skunk.
After going out in a local lake and getting baked in the sun we had a beer and relaxed and I decide to try again; my friend was too beat up. I determined I was going to fish on top no matter what and then head home. Conditions mirrored the night before except nothing rose at all, including the time frame. Despite that I rose a fish here and there missing frequently. I connected on my third take, and managed to land a few as well. Combination of lack of sleep and general fatigue and less aggressive fish was showing. Almost ready to quit there was a bad patch when I missed one, hooked and lost another, and broke off in a period of about ten min. Determined not to end my trip like that, I retied and headed back toward my truck. On the next to the last good run I got a subtle take and with a mellow hook set landed a small rainbow. As if to make up for my earlier inept showing I proceeded to hook the next four takes in a row all nice browns. Feeling balance had been restored I left before dark not really caring if there was going to be a dusk event.
