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Easy does it.

Posted on May 24 2023

Drove down to the camp this morning - uneventfully. When I left on the 13th the grass needed mowing, the apricots on one of the trees were about the size and shape of a prune pit, there were lots of baby peaches, the apple blossoms were falling and the whole river system was wade able and exploding with bugs. 

This morning the grass was 12 to 16 inches high, thankfully without any rain it wasn't lush (except around the winter deer turds). There were so many kinds of grass seed (all on tall wiry stalks) I could have opened a seed store. It took four hours get the entire lawn into a semblance of order. Took a walk around the yard and found that last weeks freeze killed the apricots, the apples seem to be fine, the peaches seem to have had some loss but there will still be plenty. The orchids which I left hanging out on the roofed in porch seemed no worse for the 10 days without water.

I was tired and took a nap, awoke at 5:30, felt reasonably good and decided to drive east and see what if anything was happening. Should have waited another hour as the bugs and fish did. There were iso husks on streamside rocks, and by 7:00 there were caddis egg layers in the air along with March Browns, Cahills, isos and assorted other flies. Did well early, getting eight fish to come to the fly. The first four refused the last four ate and were landed. The last hour was spent watching boils by several good fish that never acknowledged a cast. Finally went down into slower water, made a good cast to a rise and hooked a16 inch fall fish. Called it a night and walked (slowly) back to the car.

It was good to be back down to the camp, but I probably should have been assigned to a smaller stream for rehab. Have made strides these last three days but it's clearly going to be a while before I've got "game" again.  

6 comments

  • Jorgen: May 24, 2023

    Happy to see you’re back on the water, but sorry you ended a good day with a fall fish. I hooked 5 big ugly ones (and no trout) last weekend, despite trying to ignore many delicate rises in slower water. Luckily, 4x tipper allowed me to horse them in and remove my fly without defiling my net. Do you have any words of wisdom for avoiding them?

  • The Other Dennis: May 24, 2023

    Glad to learn you are recovering. Take care of yourself and keep us all informed on the fishing.

  • Ed Dmith: May 24, 2023

    Great!!Glad to see your on your way to a full recovery. And rehab through catching nice fish is the best way to recover.

  • Dennis: May 24, 2023

    Welcome Back!!!!!!’ I ve really missed the reports. I’ve had a couple good days on the water. I was on the upper west. We had a great spinner fall the other night.
    Stay well and I look forward to your reports.
    I’ll take it easy on the questions till you recover

  • Jim T: May 24, 2023

    Great to see that you are back Missed your report as a daily feel to to river.

  • Andy B: May 24, 2023

    Very glad to hear you are on the mend and could get on the water. Here’s to your continued recovery and your further return to the river system. Fished upper WB all day yesterday. Lots of bugs, including Hendricksons that the fish seemed to be on. All of our group’s fish were caught on those flies.

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