I just spent 9 days in a place that is special to me. I have been coming here behind the locked gate for 8 or 9 years, often 3 weeks at a time twice a year. The usual time of my visits are March and December, rarely during proper time to fish for steelhead.
One of the biggest reasons I have had to be there died two weeks after I watched her last year. Ruby girl - I am forever grateful
Best dog that wasn’t my last guy.
Arriving early evening I drove upriver as shade began to fall an a favorite run and fishing was on my mind. Trout fishing is good, but there are a couple steelhead above the falls, and I am in the hunt.
I visit with friends the first evening, but am up early to hit a favorite on the property, before they get up
After sending them off I fished like an addict for 2 days. One spot after another, with no feedback, no trouty plucks, nothing. I knew one had been caught so I was confident and pushed. I didn’t fully enjoy being there, I was focused on fishing. I enjoyed the beauty around me, appreciated the wild horses, sheep, and deer on the hillsides, but my focus was on my swing, and waiting for the persistent pull.
The rest of day one in order, I believe I saw a fish roll at the bottom of my last run of the day
You get the idea, I fished a lot of good water, I felt that I covered it well, but man it was dead out there. Seeing a fish roll helped. I saw plenty of trout, and October Caddis.
Third day I hooked a small fish in one of the spots above. It came out of the water 3-4 times, came at me, we fought in close and it came unbuttoned - I got most of what I was after, and confirmed that they were around.
@singlehandjay came in that evening. We fished that night and Saturday without much feedback. Sunday was the only day I was there with cloud cover, it was the only day I landed a fish.
The MOD has mojo.
I finally relaxed on the fishing, I was still obsessed when I could fish shaded water, but relaxed when the sun was hard on the water. I was finally taking it all in.
I had one more eat that didn’t stick, and got mouthed one time close to the end. Caused 3 fly changes for a total of 4 passes, and a visit on my last morning of fishing.
Right place right time, like so many things.
One of the biggest reasons I have had to be there died two weeks after I watched her last year. Ruby girl - I am forever grateful
Best dog that wasn’t my last guy.
Arriving early evening I drove upriver as shade began to fall an a favorite run and fishing was on my mind. Trout fishing is good, but there are a couple steelhead above the falls, and I am in the hunt.
I visit with friends the first evening, but am up early to hit a favorite on the property, before they get up
After sending them off I fished like an addict for 2 days. One spot after another, with no feedback, no trouty plucks, nothing. I knew one had been caught so I was confident and pushed. I didn’t fully enjoy being there, I was focused on fishing. I enjoyed the beauty around me, appreciated the wild horses, sheep, and deer on the hillsides, but my focus was on my swing, and waiting for the persistent pull.
The rest of day one in order, I believe I saw a fish roll at the bottom of my last run of the day
You get the idea, I fished a lot of good water, I felt that I covered it well, but man it was dead out there. Seeing a fish roll helped. I saw plenty of trout, and October Caddis.
Third day I hooked a small fish in one of the spots above. It came out of the water 3-4 times, came at me, we fought in close and it came unbuttoned - I got most of what I was after, and confirmed that they were around.
@singlehandjay came in that evening. We fished that night and Saturday without much feedback. Sunday was the only day I was there with cloud cover, it was the only day I landed a fish.
The MOD has mojo.
I finally relaxed on the fishing, I was still obsessed when I could fish shaded water, but relaxed when the sun was hard on the water. I was finally taking it all in.
I had one more eat that didn’t stick, and got mouthed one time close to the end. Caused 3 fly changes for a total of 4 passes, and a visit on my last morning of fishing.
Right place right time, like so many things.
