I haven't been out much this spring/early summer, but during July I did manage to make a few outings and get the line wet.
1) Did a hike-in lake with my twin daughters while camping. Found a nice lake after a 4 mile (one way) hike that had some surprisingly big (12-14 inches) rainbows who were actively feeding right in front of us. We didn't have a lot of time here, and there was a thunderstorm moving in, so we got down to business quickly. First cast - nada. Was looking to get the attention of a fish that had just surfaced a foot off the bank - but nope. Second cast out to 5 feet of water near a drop off - now I got his attention. Watched him come off the bottom and smash my dry fly. Line ripping and acrobatics ensued. My daughter managed a pic of the action.
After that, I quickly set up my daughters and within minutes one of them was landing a nice big bow and no sooner did she land that then my other daughter nails one as well (see video below). We got a few more before the storm hit. Brought some home for dinner.
2) Next up was a short outing with my youngest son. We kayaked and fished both from the yaks and from the bank. He was slaying them on the spinning rod. I didn't really get to fish much as I was helping him so much (he's not as good at handing slimy fish as my daughters...). But I did manage a handful of 8-12 inchers on a dry fly before we called it quits.
3) I took my buddy out in the kayaks. Fishing wasn't as hot, but he got a few and I got 5 or 6 wild cutties, bows, and cuttbows. 9-12 inchers.
4) I got a chance to do a rare solo trip. So I did some exploring of new territory. It paid off well. Found some hungry trout with most in the 11-14 inch range. A few 5-8 inchers in the mix. But it was crazy action. Nearly every cast. A mix on the surface (EHC, Stimulator) plus subsurface (damsel nymph, woolley buggers). But sub surface was much hotter action. Even put my phone down to record a video (see below) - which I have never done on a solo trip. Was just having too much fun and wanted to remember it.
1) Did a hike-in lake with my twin daughters while camping. Found a nice lake after a 4 mile (one way) hike that had some surprisingly big (12-14 inches) rainbows who were actively feeding right in front of us. We didn't have a lot of time here, and there was a thunderstorm moving in, so we got down to business quickly. First cast - nada. Was looking to get the attention of a fish that had just surfaced a foot off the bank - but nope. Second cast out to 5 feet of water near a drop off - now I got his attention. Watched him come off the bottom and smash my dry fly. Line ripping and acrobatics ensued. My daughter managed a pic of the action.
After that, I quickly set up my daughters and within minutes one of them was landing a nice big bow and no sooner did she land that then my other daughter nails one as well (see video below). We got a few more before the storm hit. Brought some home for dinner.
2) Next up was a short outing with my youngest son. We kayaked and fished both from the yaks and from the bank. He was slaying them on the spinning rod. I didn't really get to fish much as I was helping him so much (he's not as good at handing slimy fish as my daughters...). But I did manage a handful of 8-12 inchers on a dry fly before we called it quits.
3) I took my buddy out in the kayaks. Fishing wasn't as hot, but he got a few and I got 5 or 6 wild cutties, bows, and cuttbows. 9-12 inchers.
4) I got a chance to do a rare solo trip. So I did some exploring of new territory. It paid off well. Found some hungry trout with most in the 11-14 inch range. A few 5-8 inchers in the mix. But it was crazy action. Nearly every cast. A mix on the surface (EHC, Stimulator) plus subsurface (damsel nymph, woolley buggers). But sub surface was much hotter action. Even put my phone down to record a video (see below) - which I have never done on a solo trip. Was just having too much fun and wanted to remember it.
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