I was a couple of weeks off on my prediction of the start of hatch season. It's been unseasonably cool here (highs in the 50s and low 60s, and we had temps in the high 20s a couple of nights this week), and water levels have been high.
Unfortunately, water levels have dropped significantly. But, since the temps have been cooler than normal, the water temp remains (or at least it was Friday and Saturday) in the upper 50s. So I figured even fishing skinny water wouldn't stress the trout too much.
And the trout are still there, though bunched up in the deeper holes. I spent Friday afternoon hanging out at the Pavilion Hole to see if we might see some bug action. Up to now it's been sporadic at best; some March Browns and a few Sulphurs. Friday afternoon started out much the same, a few Sulphurs (big ... size 10) coming off, but not particularly impressive numbers. Fish were not rising, but they were looking up. My fishing technique, however, was a bit off. I managed to hook five trout, the biggest an 18 incher (who was surpsingly in a small pool just below the Pavilion Hole, or so I thought it was. More later), but only landed a 10 inch stockie Rainbow.
I headed back to the PH after dinner, around 7 or so. And when I got there a huge (for the West Branch) hatch party was going on. Big March Browns, Sulphurs, and more Green Drakes than I've seen on this creek, were coming off the water. Interestingly, the fish weren't really rising to them (perhaps waiting for the spinner fall after dark). A few trout showed some interest in a Sulphur I tossed around the hole, but no fish to the net.
The next morning we watched Robin chicks leave the nest built on our lower deck, then decided to make it a day down at the PH. Again, nothing much going on in the afternoon until about 4 or so when the shadows started covering the holes. Anticipating another big hatch, I came well armed with "Trout Whisperer"-tied Green Drakes.
I managed to coax a small Rainbow up to a size 12 Sulphur that I had tied on the night before.
But that was it, at least for the Pavilion Hole. So around 5 I moved down to a small pool just below the PH to see if I might get another shot at the big Rainbow.
I tied on one of Bob's Drakes (which exactly matched the Drakes coming off), and cast it up to the right corner of the pool where there was flow and would move the fly into the trout's feeding lane. It only took one cast. The trout slowly rose and without hesitating took the fly.
There wasn't much of a battle, as there was nowhere for the trout to run. But it still took me a few minutes to get him/her to the net on my 3 wt. When I got the fish into the net, it was clear that my estimate from the pervious day was off. It was an easy 20 inch fish; amazing that something that big is swimming around in such a small stream.
The rest of the evening was spent having a great streamside dinner
Followed by a campfire, accentiated with a little bourbon and a cigar
The hatch Saturday night was completely different than the night before. A good number of Drakes, but only a few March Browns and Sulphurs. I fished until dark, but couldn't elicit a strike. So we sat by the fire, sipped brown liquor, and I resisted the temptation to run for the rod when we heard a splash.
About as good as it gets in God's Country. Now we could use a little rain.
Tight Lines,
Mikey D Fishing
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