My wife wanted me to stay closer to home this past week, so I fished a wet-side lake instead of heading east over the pass. If you've been to this lake, you'll probably recognize it from this photo. When I arrived, it was calm like this, but surprisingly hardly any fish were rising. Usually, there are lots of the little fish rising and occasionally a big fish. Not a good sign...
The first couple of hours were fruitless; just seemed like the fish were off the bite for some reason, even the small ones weren't being cooperative. Maybe the full moon? I finally managed to hook a big one, but it jumped and flipped the hook. Maybe things were picking up. It did seem like the fish were starting to get more active as more fish started rising. I saw one big fish roll near the edge of some sunken branches, so I made a cast in that direction and hooked it, a 19 incher that was colored up, but it fought quite well:
Shortly thereafter, in about the same area, a big silvery fish jumped clean out of the water within casting distance, so I again made a cast in that direction and hooked it. This one was a 22 incher and looked much better than the first fish:
After that the fish stopped rising and the action died down. Later on I did accidentally hook a big fish while doing something on my phone while my fly was just hanging in the water by the side of my pontoon boat. Maybe I should have been fishing something under an indicator if the fish wanted something that wasn't moving very much? I had been just casting and stripping a BH Olive Rabbit Fur Leech, but I don't think the particular fly pattern made much difference for these recently planted fish. I don't think the fish are eating much of anything, other than Power Bait.
Wildlife sightings: At the lake I saw or heard Bald Eagles, a Red-tailed Hawk, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Robins, Song Sparrows, Tree Swallows, Western Flycatchers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Pacific Wrens, Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Ravens, Crows and Red-winged Blackbirds. The Merlin app also identified by sound (but I was unable to verify): Hermit Warbler, Purple Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Varied Thrush and Black-throated Gray Warbler. Also saw a Garter Snake swimming across the lake. On the drive I saw Red-tailed Hawks, Ravens, Crows, Gulls, Swallows, American Robins, Starlings, Canada Geese, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds and Pigeons.
Wildflower sightings: On the drive or at the lake I saw Daisies, Lawn Daisies, Wild Roses, Mustard, California Poppies, Storksbill, Hawthorns, Elderberries, Salmonberries, Trailing Blackberries, Fleabane, Scotch Broom, Mock Orange, Oregon Grape, Common Camas, Red Clover, Palmate Coltsfoot, Bleeding Hearts, Trilliums, Dogwood, Madronas, Yellow Waterlilies and Buttercups.
Although it was admittedly tough fishing, it only takes one nice 22 incher to make my day. Before you head out to this lake, be advised that when you turn onto the gravel road leading to the lake, there is now a sign posted saying that the road is closed for logging operations and that the gate could be closed and locked at any time. I didn't see any active logging operations in progress or any logging trucks, but proceed at your own risk.
Rex
