Prospector
Well-known member
Time Fished: 630pm to 910pm
Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees, light wind
Water: A little off color, 61 degrees, seemed like a strong flow but it is the norm. actual cfs was 560’while the historical average was 537
Insects: Hatching: ISO Duns, golden Stone, cahills, sulphurs. Then spinners came at dark.
Nothing was happening when we arrived so I swung a few different flies but had no strikes. When the Sulphur hatch started I switched to a dry and none of my Sulphurs worked. Lots of rising fish but mostly on the small side. Our buddy had a better sulphur than me and caught 1 and missed several. The hatch had a very abrupt start and very quick ending. Not sure I’ve seen a hatch that didn’t have a gradual build up and gradual end. Is that typical for the West Branch?
In the lull after the hatch I tied on a ISO Dun and decided to fish it down trying to raise a fish. I did catch one just as the spinnerfall started. Lots of fish rising. Left the ISO Dun on for awhile and later put on a rusty spinner and was able to bring one more to hand. The 15” fish in this river are really thick. Both fish I caught were rainbows. My buddy caught 3 small rainbows and 2 very heavy browns in the 15” range.
Had 3 drift boats go past and didn’t see them catch anything.
Most of rising fish were at max cast distance making them tough to catch due to fly drag and strike detection.
Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees, light wind
Water: A little off color, 61 degrees, seemed like a strong flow but it is the norm. actual cfs was 560’while the historical average was 537
Insects: Hatching: ISO Duns, golden Stone, cahills, sulphurs. Then spinners came at dark.
Nothing was happening when we arrived so I swung a few different flies but had no strikes. When the Sulphur hatch started I switched to a dry and none of my Sulphurs worked. Lots of rising fish but mostly on the small side. Our buddy had a better sulphur than me and caught 1 and missed several. The hatch had a very abrupt start and very quick ending. Not sure I’ve seen a hatch that didn’t have a gradual build up and gradual end. Is that typical for the West Branch?
In the lull after the hatch I tied on a ISO Dun and decided to fish it down trying to raise a fish. I did catch one just as the spinnerfall started. Lots of fish rising. Left the ISO Dun on for awhile and later put on a rusty spinner and was able to bring one more to hand. The 15” fish in this river are really thick. Both fish I caught were rainbows. My buddy caught 3 small rainbows and 2 very heavy browns in the 15” range.
Had 3 drift boats go past and didn’t see them catch anything.
Most of rising fish were at max cast distance making them tough to catch due to fly drag and strike detection.
