Funny how life and reality are sometimes at odds with one’s gut. A couple of texts in the past weeks (“…thinking about fishing the canyon…” and “…fly fish…sat or Sunday afternoon…”) have met with the expected and immediately response from my more primal side of…
“YES!”
An earlier attempt, however, ended up not working out, thanks to the COVID-19 situation and the downstream impact on work, but I think a part of me, in spirit, did sneak out and at least feel the water.
On this Saturday, though… heck, yes!
Geared up (I thought) and heading out, my buddy and I enjoyed the nearly 60-degree temp, the clear skies, and the lack of wind as we drove the few minutes from my family’s temporary home (yes, still there) to the base of the canyon.
The drive along that glistening ribbon of trout habitat was absolutely beautiful…and also regularly dotted with fellow fishermen.
Clearly, we were not the only two with this plan in mind.
Large numbers of guided floaters, some appearing to brutally froth the water, they were casting so rapidly, but not that many wading; as we planned to do.
Arriving at one of my favorite wading locations, reserved for when the river is below 1800cfs (1400-odd, just before I lost signal), we found three cars already there but observed that our fellow fishermen were all upstream of the spot where I like to wade, anyway. There is a commonly used slope to put in, just upstream of a long row of trees and brush. From there, you can wade farther upstream for hundreds of feet, where there is something of a rut along the bottom of the rise up to the parallel road. Nice wade, and I’ve done it in the past…
… but …
… the section you miss, downstream of there and somewhat hidden from the road by those trees and the brush, is far nicer, has overhang areas, ruts, and good sized rocks, and on a day with only 1400cfs is wadable from the bank out to perhaps 30′ from shore.
Perfect for two guys to split up, working different parts, and occasionally trade off the “near side” for the “middle path.” I think this is actually a much nicer stretch, but getting through the underbrush to the start point is not as easy as the upstream slope-from-the-road entry point. Why not work for the better experience?
The water hit only 50 degrees, when I took a moment to check, but the sun was warm and the breeze still very gentle. I particularly noticed the warmth of the sun because I had forgotten to bring my cap! With my old vest (retired by fire), the cap was attached to it by a strong alligator clip and a section of paracord that was built onto the back edge of the hat band. Having not found an exact replacement, and being a creature of habit, I grabbed the vest when it was time to load the truck…forgetting that the vest had no hangers-on except the magnetically adhered net.
I need Vitamin D, right?
I saw only saw 3 fish, in the time we were in the water.
One that my buddy landed (he hooked another but it self-released, presumably out of fear of giants).
One that a fisherman on a passing drift boat landed, with the aid of his guide, a long net, and 10+ minutes of flogging the water under a particular overhanging tree.
And one that took a drifting, grey Caddis from the surface just close enough to make me think I had a chance with the next few casts.
I suspect the caddis may have either not actually existed, and the fish was just showing off his best snatch-from-the-surface technique, or was in on the gag and they were both laughing at me.
Makes no difference, though. A day fly fishing is a good day, with the occasional catch being just an added bonus.
Stay safe, everyone.
Tight lines.