Prospector
Well-known member
Only 2 of us were able to make our annual June week on Kettle Creek but we had lots of water, low temps and cloudy days to start the week. This kept insect activity high and allowed us to land a combined total of 267 trout. We spent every day on Kettle but also trekked up a few tribs throughout the week during slow times. Details by day are below.
Sun. 6/4 I fished 1230 - 845pm
Air temp was 50 at 1030am just before a hard rain hit the valley, but it was short lived and it didn't hurt the water clarity. Flow was in the 350 range and water was fast but pretty clear. Water temp stayed in the 49- 50 degree range. By 3pm lots of insects were hatching including Large & small BWO, Light Cahill, Pale Evening Dun, Dark Blue Sedge, March Brown. This was the second best day of the week in terms of fish caught.
Mon. 6/5. 1030 - 845pm
Cloudy water was flowing about 350, had a good color and was 52 degrees. The day started slow again but hatching became heavy at 3pm as clouds remained all day allowing hatching to extend until rain came at 7pm. The fish were really active and I had the right fly. The insects were similar to the day before with green drakes and brown drake duns added to the mix. After the thunderstorm, the fish stayed turned on. Air temp was 65. This was by far the best day to fish.
Tue 6/6 The thunderstorm late last night put a heavy tinge in the water so I tried another stream in the morning. My buddy chose to stay on Kettle all day and he caught 30. I fished 5pm-9pm. Very few rises but Brown drake, green drake, and March brown spinners were present plus large dark caddis. Rained off and on throughout the evening. Fish were very selective in the area I fished.
Wed. 6/7 10-6pm; 645-845pm
Kettle. Water temp 52 at 730am, Water temp 54 at 11am, cloudy day, 63 degree, sun peeked out in afternoon. Not much rising until 2pm then it was very good while cloudy. Sun would halt the hatch and cloud banks would pass over and speed it up. Light colored Duns were largely ignored. Slate drakes and small BWOs / Paraleptophebias were the flies of choice. Spinner fall was great no matter where you were but some spinner falls were just jaw dropping. The sheer number of insects made it hard to catch fish.
Thu 6/8. 10am-Noon. Kettle
Caddis (large dark, small green), Dorothea, rotunda, once sun came out rises stopped. Wets worked as well as dries on this day. Water temp 54 degrees
1230-530pm Cross Fork Creek
Caddis, lots of mayflies. 54 degrees. Fish were turned on pretty well and we're looking for yellow flies. Flow was fast.
630-900pm. Kettle
Not much rising until 730pm. Spinners were lighter, lime sallies most abundant, small golden stones, large dark caddis. Decent spinner fall but not overwhelming like last night. This made poly wing spinners more effective. Nearly every fish grabbed it on the first cast to a rise.
Fri. 6/9 10am- noon
Fish were lethargic all day due to bright sunny skies. Not much insect activity. Got a few strikes on wets. Dries not very effective until almost 9pm. In AM water was 54 and evening it was 58. Weather was sunny and 73. Fished both the main stem and a trib where the native fish were more active. Insect activity was low everywhere.
Sun. 6/4 I fished 1230 - 845pm
Air temp was 50 at 1030am just before a hard rain hit the valley, but it was short lived and it didn't hurt the water clarity. Flow was in the 350 range and water was fast but pretty clear. Water temp stayed in the 49- 50 degree range. By 3pm lots of insects were hatching including Large & small BWO, Light Cahill, Pale Evening Dun, Dark Blue Sedge, March Brown. This was the second best day of the week in terms of fish caught.
Mon. 6/5. 1030 - 845pm
Cloudy water was flowing about 350, had a good color and was 52 degrees. The day started slow again but hatching became heavy at 3pm as clouds remained all day allowing hatching to extend until rain came at 7pm. The fish were really active and I had the right fly. The insects were similar to the day before with green drakes and brown drake duns added to the mix. After the thunderstorm, the fish stayed turned on. Air temp was 65. This was by far the best day to fish.
Tue 6/6 The thunderstorm late last night put a heavy tinge in the water so I tried another stream in the morning. My buddy chose to stay on Kettle all day and he caught 30. I fished 5pm-9pm. Very few rises but Brown drake, green drake, and March brown spinners were present plus large dark caddis. Rained off and on throughout the evening. Fish were very selective in the area I fished.
Wed. 6/7 10-6pm; 645-845pm
Kettle. Water temp 52 at 730am, Water temp 54 at 11am, cloudy day, 63 degree, sun peeked out in afternoon. Not much rising until 2pm then it was very good while cloudy. Sun would halt the hatch and cloud banks would pass over and speed it up. Light colored Duns were largely ignored. Slate drakes and small BWOs / Paraleptophebias were the flies of choice. Spinner fall was great no matter where you were but some spinner falls were just jaw dropping. The sheer number of insects made it hard to catch fish.
Thu 6/8. 10am-Noon. Kettle
Caddis (large dark, small green), Dorothea, rotunda, once sun came out rises stopped. Wets worked as well as dries on this day. Water temp 54 degrees
1230-530pm Cross Fork Creek
Caddis, lots of mayflies. 54 degrees. Fish were turned on pretty well and we're looking for yellow flies. Flow was fast.
630-900pm. Kettle
Not much rising until 730pm. Spinners were lighter, lime sallies most abundant, small golden stones, large dark caddis. Decent spinner fall but not overwhelming like last night. This made poly wing spinners more effective. Nearly every fish grabbed it on the first cast to a rise.
Fri. 6/9 10am- noon
Fish were lethargic all day due to bright sunny skies. Not much insect activity. Got a few strikes on wets. Dries not very effective until almost 9pm. In AM water was 54 and evening it was 58. Weather was sunny and 73. Fished both the main stem and a trib where the native fish were more active. Insect activity was low everywhere.
